The Washington herald., 1915-12-07
Request Congress to Put
Schools Under One Direc-
tor with Advisory Board
of Would Reorgan-
ize the Board of Charities.
Seek Appointive Powers
Now Held by President.
Nearly Fifteen and a Half
Millions Asked for Budget.

| Sweepinc changes in the management
Of certain branches of the District gov
I ernment are advocated by the Commits
siouers in their estimate OF the expenses
. of the District for the next fiscal year
submitted to Congress yesterday. The
budget, one of the largest and most i'm
portant ever asked for the District
totals SIS, .SS7.a
The changes-whlch include a reorSani-
zation Of the school system and the ONCE
! of charities. and a change in the man
; ner of collecting revenue-are desired ior
, the purpose OF centralizing authority
over the District in the Commissioners.
The Commissioners ask for authority
to appoint the board OF children's guard
! ians now appointed by the judges OF the
Police and Municipal Courts: the board
Of charities, now named by the Prcsi-
dent; the recorder OF deeds, named by
the President, and the register OF wills,
now appointed by the justices OF the
District Supreme Court.
In support of these legislative requests.
the Commissioners point out that they
are responsible for the expenditures of
the District, but have no jurisdiction
over many branches Of the city govern
ment. They predict the changes vii!
increase the efficiency in running the
District. and point out that the reforms
they advocate are in line with the meth
DDS OF cities where the commission form
of government is proving successful.
The substitution of a director of edu-
cation and an advisory board of five for
the present Board of Education is ad-
vocated, because, the Commissioners
point out. at present the school system
is operated entirely apart from the city
government. The present board is ap-
pointed by the District Supreme Court
and is not subject to supervision by
either the court or the Commissioners.
Under the proposed plan the director
of education, who would be the present
superintendent of schools, would be the
legislative head of the schools with a
board of five appointed by the Com
missioners to act merely in advisory
capacity. This would bring the school
system directly under the control OF the
Commissioners.
Other Change. Important.
The recommendations for the office Of
charities and the board of children's
guardians are similar The Commission
ers ask for Il director of charities and
advisory board of five.
Another change requested Is that the
School for Girls be transferred from the
United States Attorney General, to the
District Commissioners. II also is asked
that the Water department be placed en-
tirely under the Commissioners. At pres
ent the water is brought into the city
and filtered under supervision of the
War Department.
Annual Tax Assessment.
Tp
ask for annual instead OF triennial as
sessment of property in the District an
nual registration of automobiles. and an
increase in the force of employees in the
assessors office. Under the present sys-
tenn the first registration of an automo-
bile is permanent. Tne National Capital
Is one of the few American cities that
has enjoyed such a regulation.
significant point in the list is a re-