43 HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE OX SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 



Again in I960, Teague told the witnesses that he wanted them to 

 present their programs in a way that could easily be explained to 

 other Congressmen on the floor: 



These are complicated programs, and we need their explanation in layman's 

 language. I would like you to prepare what you would say to somebody on the floor 

 who has heard none of the technical hearings, and knows little about it. Otherwise 

 there is a good chance before this is over that you will get cut in appropriations. 



It is instructive to read the record of the growing sophistication 

 of the subcommittees and their members, as each year progressed. 

 When the first budget hearings were held in 1959, almost everything 

 had to be accepted on faith. But as the years went by, fortified by 

 intimate knowledge drawn from field inspections, excellent staff 

 investigation, and private conversations with field officials or private 

 industry representatives out on the firing line, the subcommittees 

 took more initiative in reviewing the budgets of agencies under 

 their jurisdiction. 



Late in 1959, Chairman Brooks decided to make another move 

 to change the general jurisdiction of the four permanent subcommittees 

 which in January had been given subject-matter titles. On December 

 15, he wrote to every member of the committee, and used a very per- 

 suasive argument to support his desire to do away with the subject- 

 matter titles and simply give numbers to the subcommittees, retaining 

 the same chairmen. His December 15 letter explained it by arguing 

 this way: 



By now it has become apparent that the jurisdiction of the committee far exceeds 

 the functional titles which have been allotted to the subcommittees. As a result, it 

 has become necessary to handle different matters because the subject did not properly- 

 come within the jurisdiction of the subcommittees originally appointed. If we would 

 merely use numerical subcommittees, each subcommittee could be expected to have 

 considerable additional jurisdiction without being bound by its present functionalized 

 title and jurisdiction. 



As a matter of fact, I have checked into this matter, and I find that other com- 

 mittees, such as the Armed Services Committee, have also found it best to use numer- 

 ical subcommittees rather than limiting the jurisdiction of subcommittees to their 

 titles. 



Chairman Brooks solicited the responses of all members of the com- 

 mittee, slipping in the phrase at the end of the letter: "In the absence 

 of serious objection I plan to put this program into effect in the near 

 future." Perhaps it was the spirit of good will of the Christmas 

 season. Perhaps it was the large number of "it makes little difference 

 to me" responses the chairman received from many members. But 

 when the committee convened in January I960, Chairman Brooks 

 could report that an overwhelming majority of his committee had 

 endorsed the idea, so it became a fait accompli. 



