The Washington herald., 1916-01-06
D. c. HEADS SEEK
AUTOCRATIC HOLD
Measures introduced in House
Would Establish Gigantic
District Pie Counter. :
THIRTY BILLS PRESENTED
Abolition of Boards of Education and
Charities Urged Centralized
Power Is Sought.
BY JOSEPH p. AMIN.

Providing. incidentally or otherwise, for
the establishment of a District pie
counter" of ambitious proportions, some
thirty bills prepared under the direction
of the Commissioners and intended TO
lend legislative sanction to appropriations
estimated for this year, were introduced
In the House yesterday by the chairman
of the District Committee.
IL there were to be enacted, even In
large part. the Commissioners would
head a centralized government with ap-
pointive powers and autocratic prestige
hard to overstate. Without the check
OF Legislative assembly or representative
council. three men appointed by the
President. without particular qualifica-
tions. would have absolute control of
every official activity in the District,
barring only the courts and the national
government.
Would Abolish school Board.
One bill provides for the abolition of
the present Board of Eduration and su-
perintendent of schools, providing for a
director of education appointed by the
Commissioners at a salary of 81, 900. and a
board of education comprising five bona
fide residents of the District, all to serve
for three-year terms without pay. The
bill specifically provides that except as
otherwise provided all authority. etc,
now vested in the superintendent of
schools shall be vested In the Commits
sioners, and further that all promotions,
appointments, demotions, etc, shall be
made by the Commissioners. It is pro-
,vided. however. in this connection. that
no promotions shall be made except on
the recommendation of the officer hav-
ing direct supervision over said teacher
Another change, recommended in the
estimates and provided for by special
bill. contemplates the adjustment OF the
Board of Charities and the co-ordina ton
of all charitable activities under a direc-
tor Of charities, appointed by the Com
missioners
Among the "pie-counter'' measures are
found proposals for the vesting of all
appointive pbwer in the Commissioners
with respect to the treatment of Public
Library. the register of wills, the re-
corder of deeds. the Temporary Home for
ex-Soldiers and Sailors, the National
Training School for Girls and the Indus
trial Home School.
Want Annual Assessments.
Other measures involve the making OF
annual instead of triennial assessments
and the incidental organization changes
in the office of the District assessor and
collector of taxes; requiring the recital
of the true consideration involved in the
transfer OIL Utie 10 prOperty, Eranting
leave with pay for per diem employees;
authorizing the Commissioners to collect
garbage when a contractor fails to fuifil
the terms of his contract In this respect;
provision for a proposed agreement be-
tween the Commissioners and Maryland
authorities, connecting Maryland sewers
with District trunk lines in order to OBJ
viate the pollution of Rock Creek, and
numerous other bills of more or less in
terest
with the three Commissioners and a
number of their subordinates present,
Chairman Page of the subcommittee on
District appropriations yesterday dug in
to the task of writing the annual Dis
trict bill. The hearings will continue
for several days before the work of ad-
justing commences.
Among the bills introduced in the SEN
ate yesterday were civil service pen
sion measure. reintroduced by Senator
Penrose; a national prohibition amend
ment by Senator Gallinger; a bill for
the revision of the Juvenile Court law
in the District: and bill for the erec-
tion OF a memorial to Alfred Noble.
Representative Frank Clark, of Florida,
chairman of the Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds, has introduced a
bill providing a $4,000 factory building
for the Postoffice Department here for the
manufacture of equipment.