Page Two THE NEW BERN MIRROR, NEW BERN, N. C. Friday, February 16, 1973 By an overwhelming vote of 64-17, the Senate has paraed a bill to require Senate con firmation of the Director and Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Hie bill, which I intn^uced, if it becomes law, would apply to 0MB Director, Roy Ash, and his Deputy, Frederic V, Malek, and all future directors and deputy directors. The measure provides that the Senate have an opportunity to inquire into the qualifications, background, and fltness of th^ officials in the same manner as is required for virtually all other policy making positions in the executive branch of the government. The questiMi arises as to why Congress has raised this issue after many years of allowing the matter to lie dormant. The Bureau of the Budget was established in 1921 by the Congress. At that time, the Senate favored confirmation of the Budget Director. The House, however, took the view that the position was merely one of gathering certain financial data for the President and of performing certain personal services to the President. New Bern Loon & Jewelers Your Reliable Diamond & Watch Store. 215 MIDDLE ST. Butteric & Simplicity Patterns and all types of notions and Dress & Suit Material. THRIFTY FABRIC SHOP Kinston Highway Dial 637-6565 Usifonii Service Fer Prefessioials RENTAL SERVICE OWNER & OPERATOR IN NEW BERN 71S OEORAKNIIIEO 636-2422 Congress at that time concluded that the Director and his deputy would not wield major powers and allowed the Presioent to make these appointments without confirmation. Over the years, however, vast changes have occurred in the structure, responsibilities and authority of the Office of Management and Budget. Even the name of the agency was changed in 1970 to the Offlce of Management and Budget. The Bureau’s once small staff has now grown to about 700 persons. What was once a bureau with limited housekeeping duties has developed into a super department with enormous authority over every activity of the Federal Government. Now with the Federal budget representing about one dollar out of every four spent in the country, the Director of 0MB has powers never before asserted in this country. Members of Congress are often dismayed when they seek the opinion of an executive department or agency in respect to some legislative proposal affecting that department or agency. No reply is given by these offices con cerning any fiscal matter without the permission of the Office of Management and Budget. What this amounts to is a ban on all financial data in volving the executive branch unless and until the 0MB decides to release it. I certainly do not take issue with the President’s need for officials to assist him in exer cising management and control over the Federal budget just as I do not quarrel with him having officers to carry out our defense policies. It is iroinic, however, to require the senate to confirm the appointment of a second lieutenant or the promotion of any Army officer and deny the Senate the power to pass on the fitness of individuals who manage the fiscal affairs of the country. Hie issue involved relates to the role that Congress should play in developing the Federal budget. I favor a reduction in Federal spending, and I think that in order to achieve this, Ccuigress is going to need to have access to a great deal more information than it is now able to receive from the departments and agencies. At the present time, the Executive branch through the 0MB has a virtual monopoly on the budget process. It is paradoxical and Reai Estate Transfers Kenneth Morris INSURANCE & INVESTMENTS • 301 Pollock St. Dial 638-4141 Zayt0uu*s Cabiuets WE SPEGIALIZe IN CUSTOM MADE CABINETS ins QUEEN ST. - PHONE SSS-SSSO New Bern. N. C. JOHN ZAVTOUN OWNER OIL;. COWT.I.L MANAOCR Ray McCotler Realty Co., Inc., to Clarence Ray Jordan and wife, Sondra Jordan. Property in Wilson Creek Heights. Norris G. Dillahunt and wife, Helen M. Dillahunt, to Jimmy H. Thompson and wife, Jacqueline C. Thompson. Property on New South Front Street. Ada H. Mattocks and husband, Herman E. Mattocks, to John Richard Moore, Jr., and Sonia Mattocks Moore. Property on Trent River. James W. Shank and wife, Helen S. Shank, to Mark Sherwood Splain and wife, Henrietta Mills Splain. Property in No. 6 Township. J. G. Dunn, Jr., and vrife, Margaret G. Dunn, to Lee Russell Sanders, Sr., and wife, Mildred Whitford Sanders. Property on Queen Street. Glenn Gray HasseU and wife, Lois S. Hassell, to David A. Jones and wife, Peggy W. Jones. Property in Riverview Park. Alvera Bryant Jarman to Alvera Bryant Jarman and husband, David Jarman. Property on Jones Street. Carrie McCoy to Katie Pugh Codgell. Proparty in No. 1 Township on River Side Road. Carrie McCoy to Ervin Gardner. Property in No. 1 Township on River Side Road. Harold I. Dowling and wife, Elsie F. Dowling, to James B. Cox and wife, Deloris D. Cox. Property in No. 7 Township. Branch Banking and '^st Company to Charles William Kafer and wife, Rebecca M. Kafer. Property on Forest Drive. Leonard G. Rice and wife, Elizabeth G. Rice, to Dewey M. Haye anc wife, Evelyn Rice Haye. Property in No. 2 Township. Roberta K. Hokanson to Charles Joseph Johnston. Property in Havelock Park. T. S. Fulcher and wife, Lela belittling for Congress to have to wait until such time as the buitaet comes before it in a total package before it can bi^ undertaking its tasks of ap propriating monies. Within the time frame, this sometimes amounts to legislating in virtual darkness. Unless the Senate can require confirmation of the Dir^tor and Deputy Director of OAffi, Congress cannot hold 0MB accountable to it in any fasMon nor have access to vital data needed to establish levels of revenues and expenditures. Hiis is the heart of the debate now going on over this issue and it relates directly to a reasonable restoration of power between the legislative and executive branches of the Federal Government. Simpkins Fulcher, to Ronald L. Fulcher and wife, -Byrtle R. Fulcher Roy G. Fulcher and wife, Peggy Ipock Fulcher; and Thomas G. Fulcher and wife, Brenda Fulcher. Property in Sunnyside. Phillip Haywood Koonce and wife, Marilyn M. Koonce, to Beasley-Kelso Associates. Property in Wiison Creek Heights. T. A. Karam and wife, Marion E. Kram, to Tryon Realty Co. of New Bern, Inc. Property in Southgate. Tryon Realty Co. of New Bern, Inc., to Callie A. Sutton and wife, Ruth H. Sutton. Property in Bemview Park. . Paul W. Crayton and wife, Flossie D. Crayton, to Bruce Lucien Paradis and wife, Polly H. Paradis. Property in Havelock. DEALER'S AUTO SERVICE Expert Body Work • 24-Hour Wrecker Service Auto Painting 429 FIRST ST. 637-5466 DAY or NIGHT Scott TILE AND CARPETING LCSCOnjR. 637-3923 ESSOTANE GAS SERVICE FOR COOKING, HOT WATER 6 HEATING • TANKS FURNISHED FREE Scott Gas Co. 221 Middle - Ph. 637-3179 (Product Humble Oil Co.) Cottsn ^unsiaC cJ^oms, One. “The Home of Dignified and Friendiy Service” PHONE 6S7-3f8t 2201 NEU8E BLVD. P. O. BOX 2323 NEW BERN. N. C. 28S60

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