Evening star., 1934-09-02
BY JESSE C. SUTER.

reorganization OF the DlSCrlCL
government have manifest
growing interest in the sub
ject and warrant an explana-
ton of the problem. The entire
matter is to be the subject of a
study by a subcommittee Of the
Senate District Committee for
which a committee, composed of
the District auditor, peoples coun-
sci and a representative of the di-
rector of the budget of the United
States has been making a survey.
Several volumes have been COM
piled which give the history of the
various governments which have
operated in the District, the func-
tions of the several departments
and branches and the general gov
ernmental set-up. A final volume
embodying this committees find
ings and recommendation is yet
to be compiled and submitted to
the Senate Committee.
For a number of years there
have been proposals put forward
in Congress and in the press for
changes of one kind or another in
the District government. Some
time ago a House subcommittee,
under Craftsmanship of then Rep
preventative and now Senator Glib
son Of Vermont, held extensive
hearings and made intensive
studies Of many branches of the
District government, but never sue
ceeded in bringing about any great
changes. From time to time duties
have been transferred from one de-
partment to another, new depart
mentS have been created and the
activities of the local government
expanded without any definite
planning as to the most efficient
organization. These changes have,
as rule, been accomplished
through items carried in the an
nual appropriation bills resulting
in some duplication of activities
and some miSfits Of organization
which 1t would seem desirable to
remedy.
The reorganization idea has
come forward at the present time
principally from two sources. In
the first place the White House is
said to favor the substitution of
a city manager plan Of government
for the present commission form,
and further is inclined to carry
over into the District government
the idea of a reasSignment and re-
arrangement of duties to bring
about a more efficient business or
ganiZation. In the second place,
Senator King, chairman Of the
Senate District Committee, desires
to simplify the District legislative
burden on Congress through en-
larging the powers of the District
Commissioners and also to bring
about some logical reorganizations
which he deems necessary to make
the District government function
more along the lines of a modern
business establishment.
The problem, therefore, is seen
to be divided into two parts, one
being a change of the form of
government and the other simply
an internal business reorgani-
zation and regrouping of activi-
ties so as to give the most salts
factory service by the munich
pality. Internal grouping and re-
organizations are periodically re-
quired in any expanding business
and usually are preceded by just
such surveys as have been made.
Changing the form of a gov
ernment Is far more difficult
problem and there have been a
comparatively few radical changes
of the District government during
the 134 years since the Federal
Government began doing business
at this stand. There was no uni
fled government of the District
until creation of the so-called ter
ritorial government in 1871. Prior
to that time each portion of the
District had its own government.
Prior to 1846 there were five dis
tinct local governmental jurisdic-
tions within the 40 miles square"
These were the Corporation of the
City of Georgetown, the Corpo-
ration of the City of Alexandria,
the Corporation of the City of
Washington, the County of Wash
ington and the County of Alex
andria. When in 1846 the Vir-
ginia portion of the District was
ceded back to Virginia there were
three separate jurisdictions re-
manning, the Corporations of
Washington and Georgetown and
the County of Washington.
The territorial government con-
solidated these three in 1871 and
for the first time there was really
a government of the District.
Many students of District history
and its government regard this
consolidation of these petty "prin-
cipalities" as the chief virtue of
the territorial regime. Space will
not now permit the discussion of
CilC oCNCl al ClldIlBcS VI SONtIIlIilcIlL
before and after the territorial
form, but those interested will
find concise and interesting ex-
position of the subject in the
chapter entitled District Of Co.
lumbia-Origin and Form of Gov
ernment" in the Congressional
Directory of January, 1884, at
page 389. The reading of this
chapter is recommended for any
one contemplating a study of the
government of the District of Co
lumbia, especially with reference
to any question Of reorganization
or change of form.
The foregoing will serve as an
introduction to further discus
sion of the reorganization problem
at a later date.
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To End September IS.
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