Evening star., 1933-09-03
BY REX COLLIER.

| 25 years ago the illustrious Teddy
sought vigorously-but vainly-to do
! the same thing.
; Old-timers recall that Franklin
Roosevelt's impetuous fifth cousin ran
! into a veritable hornets nest of oppo-
| sition from citizens. officials and par
ticularly from members OF Congress.
and the one-man government proposal
! died an ignominious death in COM
mittee pigeon-hole at the Capitol.
| 1t is not known whether the present
, White House Roosevelt is aware OF the
| efforts once made by his cousin to re-
organize the District government, but
| the plan which the President is salo
| to favor is remarkably like that adVo-
Gated and rejected quarter Of a CEN
! tury ago.
Delano Influence Seen.
Theodore Roosevelt was won to the
single executive plan by close friend
and unofficial adviser, James B. Rey-
! nolds, who had made ''confldentlal
study OF District affairs and who had
submitted his findings and recommen-
dations in lengthy report to the Presl-
dent In the present instance, Presi-
dent Roosevelt is reported to have been
considerably influenced by his uncle.
Frederic A. Delano. who is regarded as
the Presidents chief adviser on local
problems.
In view OF the revival of the one-man
proposal. it is of interest to review the
somewhat hectic career of the original
Roosevelt recommendation.
REYNOLDS. a New Yorker referred TO
as "a special investigator of many queS-
tions for Mr.. Roosevelt" had been in
-, Drnc
investigation that would terminate IN
definite. practical recommendations to
me in reference to the city's present
needs and most notable defects. meas
ured bv the highest standards OF good
administration in this country and else
where"
Offered Several Reports.
REYNOLDS submitted number Of pre-
lintinary reports bearing on sundTy To-
cal problems and in final report, made
public bv the President on May 9, 1907,
recommended:
|. Creation of the Office of governor
of the District of Columbia at salary
of $4,000 per annum. the appointment
to be made by the President.
2. Appointment by the President OF
commissioners in charge Of the various
departments of the District government,
:
engineering, charitable and corrections
and labor. each commissioner to re-
ceive $4,000 per annum.
8 Establishment of municipal
council consisting of departmental COM
missioncrs and authorized to serve as
public assembly for the passage OF
city ordinances.
T. Formation of a Citizens Advisory
Committee of 100 to represent "all gen.
eral civic interests
In supporting these recommendations
Reynolds said:
The present administration of the
affairs of the District of Columbia by
three commissioners has the advantage
| of the intimate association and fire.
uuent conference of three executives Of
equal rank. But it has the inevitable
defects of divided responsibility. con-
! fusion of authority and of administra
ton by board instead of by single re-
sponsible executive.
Urges Conventional Rule.
While in certain respects the Dis
trict has the government of terri
tory. it is. in fact. a large city ana
its administration should conform to
, the methods adopted in other large
cities Of the country. After careful
consideration of the subject and con-
ference with many citizens of the Dis
trict, and of other cities, I recommend
serious consideration of the sub
stitution of a single chief executive for
the present Board of Commissioners.
! For this official. the title of governor
/ has been suggested. as he would be
governor of the District Of Columbia
as we'll as mayor Of the city of Wash
ington. the duties Of both Offices now
ho thrca Dictrjpt
missioners
Reynolds recommended, furthermore,
that the eligibility for the Office of
ruling head Of the District be extended
to permit the President to go outside
the city in selecting a governor" for
the District. The present civilian Com
missioners are required to be actual
residents of the District, with at least
three years of residence behind them,
and to have claimed residence nowhere
else.
Would Consider Outsiders.
Reynolds said that while residents of
the District naturally would have pref
erence," he. thought the President
should be free to consider the availa-
bility "of successful and experienced
mayors in other cities Of the country
VINO might be especially qualified to
UtEOlIle the ClllSi eSeCullNe CIIlCeT OF
the National Capital
The municipal council of the depart
mental heads was to formulate munic-
pa! ordinances in public session. sub
Ject to the approval of the governor
after notice in the press and after pub
lie hearings. He pointed cut that this
arrangement would tend 10 relieve Con-
gresS OF unnecessary burdens of Dis
trict administration"
The President would have been en-
powered to name the citizens commit
tee OF 100. composed of representatives
OF all elements and varied interests"
OF the District in connection with all
questions of social reform and admins
tration." The recommendations of this
committee. he said. would have weight
with tie President, the Congress and
with the administrative officers of the
District of Columbia.
Met Storm In Congress.
Publication of this report without
comment by the President, precipitated
storm of disapproval in Congress and
out Members of both houses voiced
strong objections to the plan in inter-
views and in statements for the press.
The matter was not taken up formally
on the floor
The city's leading business and civic
organizations joined in the discussion
and many of them went on record
against the proposal after lively debates
There was mass meeting of citizens
associations at which a special Joint
Citizens Committee was appointed to
study the matter and make a report.
Following series of public hearings
the committee adopted resolutions fav-
oring election by the people of the Dis
trict of a delegate in Congress and
of a board of seven Commissioners to
govern the city.
Several days later the President sent
the Reynolds report to Congress as part
Of special message recommending re-
appeal as a pauper was taken under