Evening star., 1934-03-20
GREATER POWERS
FOR C|TY'S HEADS
FORECAST BY KING
Senator Reiterates 0ppoSi.
ton to Manager Form
of Government.
FAV0RS GENERALIZATION
UNDER COMMISSIONERS
Only One Major Piece Of Legisla-
ton Likely to Be Pressed
This Session.
Chairman King Of the Senate Dis

Chairman King Of the Senate Dis
trict Committee predicted today the
study of the District Government now
nearing completion would lead to
consolidation of municipal agencies
and the centralizing of greater au-
thority in the Commissioners, but re-
iterated his opposition to changing
the present basic commission form of
Government or adopting the CITY,
manager plan.
1t was stated at the District Build
ing that the committee OF officials
designated by Senator King to make
the survey last Summer has not yet
convened to draw up final recon-
mendations. The volumes Of their
report thus far submitted have been
historical in nature, merely describing
in detail the present set-up and
duties of each municipal unit.
Consultations Favored.
Senator King said while he does
not know what will be proposed in
the conclusions to be submitted next
month by the officials making the
study, he believes the final report will
deal primarily with consultations to
improve the existing form Of Govern
ment, such as merging of the Metro
politan and United States Park Police
forces, and the joining together of
other agencies.
Senator King also intimated that
consideration may be given in the
forthcoming report to a revival of the
proposal advanced more than 10
years ago to transfer the power of
appointing the Board of Education
from the judges of the District Su-
preme Court to the Commissioners.
This idea was advanced many years
ago in connection with a former
movement to broaden the general
powers Of the Commissioners, but met
with considerable opposition among
local civic bodies, and no action was
taken.
Senator King made known last
Summer that he was against one-man
government for the District, and re-
stated today his belief that the board
Of three city Commissioners is sat-
isfactory and sufficient form of local
government, although he believes re-
sponsibility and authority over various
municipal agencies should be CEN
tralized in the Commissioners to a
greater extent than at present. Sen
ator King indicated If the forthcom-
ing report should propose a larger
! board OF commissioners to make city
ordinances, with a city manager to
carry them out, he would oppose such
a change.
Will Press Regulations.
As to broadening the general pow
ers of the existing board to make mu-
nicipal regulations, thus relieving
Congress of acting on some of the
minor bills it must pass at every ses-
sion, Senator King pointed out he al
ready has such a bill before the Dis
trict Committee and hopes to have it
passed at this session.
This measure probably is the only
one touching on changes in the Dis
trict government that is likely to be
pushed at this session. The recon-
mendations that come in next month
from Assistant Corporation Counsel
Roberts, District Auditor Donovan
and the Budget Bureau representative,
F. j. Bailey, will be given study by
Senator King during the recess and
taken up at the next session If they
meet with his approval.
FavOrs Aid in Legislating.
The Senator recalled that in the
last Congress he had bill drawn to
allow the Commissioners to designate
some District official to be present
in the House or Senate when local
legislation is being considered, to ex-
plain the details of such measures,
but not to vote. He did not reintro-
duce the bill, however, at this session.
Commissioners Hazen and Allen
| made known they would favor some
| consultations of municipal divisions
and duties, such as are likely to be
suggested at the close of the pending
inquiry.
AS to the question of separating
District estimates from the Federal
budget, and having them sent direct
to Congress by the Commissioners,
Senator King indicated he would
wait until the pending study of the
city government is completed before
considering that. Such change was
advocated forcefully Saturday by
Senator Capper, Republican, of Kan
sas, who took the view that the local
needs present an entirely different
problem from the work of the Fed
eral Budget Bureau and should not
be handled by a Federal agency.