Evening star., 1932-12-09
Branches Abolished
In Hoover Plan.

It is recommended that the Rock
Greek and Potomac Parkway Commits
sion be ebolished. I pointed out in my
memorandum on the Department OF
the Interior relating to public works
that the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission is performing
similar functions. There is no necessity
fer the continuance of both commits
sions. In the executive order dealing
with the consolidation and grouping OF
public works activities have provided
for the transfer of the administrative
duties, powers and functions of the
Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway
Commission to the Department OF the
Interior and the temporary retention
of the commission as an advisory BODY
until such time as 1t is abohSheo as
herein recommended.
Transfer of the operation, protection
and maintenance OF the parks, park
,UdyS, Fairgrounds and Tecredtiondl dc-
tipities OF the District OF Columbia from,
the Office of Public Buildings and Public
Parks to the municipal government OF
the District Of Columbia:
At present the operation, protection
and maintenance of the parks, park
ways and certain of the recreational
activities in the District of Columbia
are placed under the jurisdiction OF
the Office of Public Buildings and
Public Parks The appropriations are
made from the revenues OF the District
OF Columbia.
The Office Of Public Buildings and
Public Parks also serves as service
agency to the various departments and
establishments in the District of Co
lumbia in that it has charge OF the
maintenance, protection and operation
of the Government buildings.
In the executive order on the De-
partment CT the Interior I have trans
ferred this Office to the Interior De-
partment in accordance with the plan
to consolidate and group all service
agencies in that department
The function of managing, protecting
and operating the local parks, park
ways and recreaticnal activities is
purely municipal in character The
municipal government of the District
of Columbia now operates certain play
grounds and recreational activities. The
transfer of these activities of the Oflce
of Public Buildings and Public Parks to
the municipal government OF the Dis
trict of Columbia would serve two
fold purpose-O it would consolidate
the control of all parks and playground
activities in one place, and 90 it would
relieve the Federal Government OF the
local in character and which are paid
for out of District of Columbia funds.
I recommend that legislation be en-
acted transferring these activities to
the Jurisdiction of the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia.
Abolition Of the Employees
Compensation Commission.
As previously indicated, one Of the
functions of the Department Of Labor
is the protection of the interests of
labor, and the functions of the En-
ployes' Compensation Commission in
the administration Of the longshore-
mems and harbor workers act. which
requires certain private employers to
provide compensation for the injury OF
their employees, and the act of May II,
1928, providing compensation for en-
ployes of private industry in the Dis
trict of Columbia, fall clearly within
this, category. Accordingly, have pro-
vided bv executive order for the trans
fer of these duties to the Department
of Labor.
1t has also been indicated that the
powers and duties of the Employees
COMPENSATION Commission which have
to do exclusively with relationships be-
tween the Federal Government and its
own employees properly fall within the
jurisdiction of the Civil Service Com
mission. I have therefore provided in
an executive order for the transfer OF
these powers and duties to the Civil
Service Commission and the temporary
continuance of the Employees Compen-
sation Commission to serve in an ad-
visory capacity to the Civil Service
Commission until it can be abolished
by legislation.
When the foregoing transfers have
been effected there will remain no real
occasion for the continuance of the
Employees Compensation Commission.
I therefore recommend that it be abol-
ished.
National Training School for Boys.
The Reform School of the District of
Columbia was organized by the act of
May 8. 1876. The name was changed
to the National Training School for
Boys by the act of May 81, 1908. 1t is
controlled by board of seven trustees,
appointed by the President. There are
also two consulting trustees; one a
Senator. appointed by the presiding
officer of the Senate, and the other q
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