Evening star., 1933-08-06
ECONOMIES CHIEF
AIM IN SURVEYING
D. c. GOVERNMENT
Senator King Looks for Ne
Far-Reaching Change in
Form of Rule.
LAUDS PRESENT SYSTEM
OF 8 COMMISSIONER
Capital Too Large for One Man to
Run, Chairman Declares-Gath-
ering Data Big Task.

The comprehensive reorganization
study of the District government being
made this Summer for a Senate sub
committee will deal more with inproV-
ing and co-ordinating activities Of the
present municipal machinery than with
far-reaching changes in the form OF
local government, if views outlined yes
terday by Chairman King of the Sen
ate District Committee are followed by
Congress.
Describing the scope Of the inquiry,
Senator King declared he is more cor
cerned with bringing about economies
and proper functioning of the present
form of government than in changing
the form. In this connection the SEN
ator elaborated on his previously eX-
pressed view that the system Of having
three Commissioners is preferable "a
the city manager system for Washing
ton. He also indicated he plans to re-
vive at the next session the propGjal
he has advocated from time TO time IN
the past that the general powers of tive
Board of Commissioners be broadenEl.
Present System Praised.
my present view is that the thresr
commissioner system has worked ad.
mirably," the Senator said, and with
the information 1 have thus far, I see
no reason for changing the system.
This city is too big to be turned over
to one man"
Pointing out that here the Commits
sionerS perform a legislative function
when they make regulations, the Sen
ator said 1t may be all right TO have q
city manager where you have a munic-
lpal council who formulate policies and
enact ordinances, and the manager is
merely an executive officer to carry out
the policies laid down by the council"
Recalling that he is definitely COM
mltted to the plan of increasing the
powers OF the Commissioners to handle
some of the less important questions
which now require congressional action,
Senator King pointed out that if that
course is followed the Commissioners
would have even more legislative au-
thority than they now have.
In discussing the scope of the inquiry
Chairman King emphasized that he
was voicing only his personal views.
since the subcommittee will not begin
to go into the subject of the reorgani-
cation study until near the time for
the reconvening of Congress in Janu-
ary. In fact, the municipal officials
designated as agents of the subcommit-
tee to gather data on all functions of
the city government are still deeply en-
crossed in the task and will be for some
time to come. They are Assistant Cor
poration Council William A Roberts and
Auditor Daniel J. Donovan. working in
cooperation with representatives of the
Budget Bureau. Senator King, as chair
man of the special subcommittee, has
been keeping in frequent touch with
these officials. and he described yeSter-
day the general lines upon which they
are proceeding.
Data to Be Assembled.
"One of the first things" he said,
lis to assemble all legal data, which
means a thorough examination of the
laws of Congress relating to the Dis
trict, especially regarding the restric
tions and limitations imposed by such
laws on functional changes or consoli-
dations. so that if additional legislation
should be required to effect needed
consultations and coordination. ap-
peals could be made to Congress for
authority to accomplish the necessary
we uluSL 1llSI IcdI JlLSI NLIdl
are the functions of the various mu-
nicipal agencies
The survey also will involve a study
of how many departments of the mu-
nicipal government there should be,
and what the costs of the various func-
tions are, including the relation Of costs
to personnel. he said.
Another phase of the study will be to
ascertain the relation Of the amounts
spent for the various activities to the
total cost of the city government, and
consideration of the question as to
whether too much is being spent for
certain activities or too little for other
purposes.
Senator King said many studies Of
municipal problems have been made by
research agencies such as the Brooklngs
Institution. and that the subcommittee
officials would avail themselves of such
studies in considering possible changes
that would improve the District govern
ment
I'VE realize" the Senator said. that
the government of the District may
not always be put in the same category
as other municipalities because Of its
position as the National Capital, which
affects the functions it has to perform. v
For More Discretion.
Among the questions the subcommit-
tee will consider, the Senator saic. is the
advisability of allowing the District
more discretion in the expenditure OF
funds. A temporary step in this di-
rection was taken in the current ap-
preparation act by authorizing, subject
to Budget Bureau approval, transfer OF
funds from one subhead to another
within certain municipal agencies, to
permit the best possible use Of sharply
reduced appropriations for this year.
The other members of the subcor1-
mittee who will serve with Chairman
King In considering the local reorgani-
cation study being made by Donovan,
Roberts and the budget officials, are
Senators Capper Of Kansas, and NC