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that you people are doing might be for nought, is it your opinion that 

 we should extend, if it is agreed by the members, both the length of 

 time for the Council and the Commission, or one or the other ? 



Dr. Wenk. The two are connected in the legislation at the pres- 

 ent time in that the expiration date of the Commission is set by law 

 and the expiration of the Council is coupled to the expiration date 

 of the Commission. Several dates come to mind in connection with 

 your question, Mr. Karth. 



I had occasion to study the history of this legislation and found 

 that the original commission bill introduced by Mr. Rogers called 

 for the report by the Commission in 2 years. The interval provided 

 the Commission has thus been thought of variously as 24 months and 

 18 months. It was 18 months that was finally decided on in the legis- 

 lation. 



The issues are so complex a study of this kind needs to be done 

 comprehensivel}^ to lay the groundwork for whatever future legisla- 

 tion the Congress wishes to enact once and for all. I don't believe that 

 this is the kind of area that can be examined piecemeal and then 

 examined a second and third and fourth time. I believe the intent of 

 the Congress, when it passed this legislation and provided the Com- 

 mission with authority to recommend some restructuring of the Fed- 

 eral Government, looked on it as a major step. 



I can't speak for the Commission in terms of how they feel about 

 an extension. If I may suggest to the committee, this is a question you 

 might wish to raise with the Commission itself in terms of their feel- 

 ings about such an extension. 



With regard to the Council, I must say I share your concern about 

 its expiration just about the day of the presidential election, because 

 there is a strong possibility of a hiatus when the Council terminates 

 until such time as some new legislation is passed. 



Assuming, for example, that the Commission renders its report 

 either as now scheduled in July or if there were some extension for the 

 reasons that you raise, perhaps that fall, the next session of Congress 

 would be the tirst opportunity the Congress would have to act on such 

 legislation. 



Mr. Karth. Dr. Wenk, if you would permit me, it seems that if 

 the Council terminates in the first part of November, Congress cer- 

 tainly would be in recess or adjournment during the months of No- 

 vember and December. January is a very slow legislative month 

 around here, especially when a new Congress is being organized, and 

 I doubt seriously that any attention would be given to it during 

 January ; so we are talking about 90 of the 120 days really when this 

 report would get no attention from the Congress. 



This is an implement to the Congress. This is our baby, so to speak. 

 I just think, Mr. Chairman, that we ought to explore this. I have some 

 doubts whether or not we can make this as effective and constructive 

 as we felt it ought to be made when we first passed the law. 



I recognize, too. Dr. Wenk, that when this legislation was passed by 

 the Congress, when it was first initiated, nobody, of course, knew that 

 it would take 6 months to set up the Commission and on the basis of 

 the original dates, I suppose the Congress had a right to feel at that 

 time that it was appropriate, that the time limitations were proper. 



On the basis of the time that passed by during the time that tha 



