216. Memorandum From the Chief of the Legislative LiaisonDivision, Central Intelligence Group (Pforzheimer) to the Director of Central Intelligence (Hillenkoetter)0
Washington, May 29, 1947.
SUBJECT
- Unification Bill in the House
- 1.
- Reference is made to our conversation, in which you requested information on a report that the House leadership would not take up unification legislation this session.
- 2.
- The following confidential information was secured for me from the
Chairman of the Rules Committee, Mr. Allen:
- a.
- The unification bill is considered controversial; and once the Party has secured its basic program, (taxes, appropriations, labor legislation, etc.) the House leadership does not contemplate going into further controversial matters.
- b.
- While there has been no definite decision or vote on the matter, current thinking is to let the measure ride for this session and not bring it up.
- c.
- A few Congressmen—notably Wadsworth of New York—are eager to bring it out and may be able to force it through the Rules Committee.
- 3.
- As Mr. Gamble, (R., N.Y.), told me the other day, Chairman Hoffman of the House Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments is perfectly willing to go ahead with the hearings and report out a measure. However, he takes the position that the President himself has delayed action by sending up the two reorganization bills, both of which must be acted upon within 60 days or automatically become law. The Committee, having virtually completed hearings on these two measures, is now faced with a third reorganization bill, (the one on housing), which was sent up this week, and which therefore will delay the merger hearings further.
Walter L. Pforzheimer
1