Evening star., 1934-07-15
Commissioner Oppose S
Shift to Rule by Dis
. trict Officials.
SOME IMPROVEMENT
BELIEVED POSSIBLE
Forrier Attitude for Local Con-
troll Changed by Study of Sue
cessful Organizations.

continuation OF the BOARD OF EOu-
cation and the Board of Trustees of
the Public Library as separate entities,
not subservient to administration to
the District Commissioners, is favored
by Commissioner George E. Allen.
Making his first public statement
on the now much discussed proposals
for reorganization of the municipal
government. Allen yesterday announced
his personal belief that control over
the school and library systems should
not be shifted TO the District Com
missioners.
Allen told The Star:
Personally. l believe that the most
good can be accomplished with these
boards functioning as they now are
set up"
The Commissioners statement is
regarded as of particular significance
since recently there has been some
new agitation for bringing the ad-
ministration of the schools and libra
ries under control of the Commits
sioners.
Some Changes Possible.
Allen is known to favor the grant
ing of adequate powers and response
, bility to the heads of the District gov
ernnnent to assure smooth and salts
Flying operation of the municipal gov
ernment. He said yesterday he be-
lieves some changes might be made
to good end, but that he now Is
convinced there is no real reason to
change the form of administration
over schools.
He said he is not inclined at
| present to contest move to have the
/ members of the Board of Education
appointed either by the President or
| the Board of District Commissioners
| instead of by justices of the District
| Supreme Court, but that he was not
prepared to champion even that
change. Members of the Board of
! Trustees of the Public Library now
are named by the Commissioners.
When Allen first assumed Office last
! November, he was of the opinion a
number of changes in the form OF
Government here would improve ad-
ministration. He then was inclined 70
the thought the schools and libraries
should be brought under control OF
the city heads.
after serious study of the District
! government, and after watching its
actual operation over period oil
months, however, have changed my
mind about the schools and libraries, .
Allen said.
st find that the trainers Of our
/ ri
er and more far seeing than was. !
am nov convinced there Is no need
| for this change.
why should we upset the apple
cart when the apples are good and
| when the cart is running along
! smoothly?" he asks.
The many proposals for reorganiza-
| tion of the District are being studied
at the request of the Senate by COM
mittee consisting of Lewis w Douglas.
director of the Budget Bureau, who
| is being represented by F. J. Bailey;
| Maj. Daniel j. Donovan, District
auditor, and William A. Roberts, peo-
pies counsel, formerly special assistant
corporation counsel.
A great mass of information on how
the District government now is made
up has been compiled and laid before
the Senate. A final volume to be sub
mitted next session is to contain an
outline of suggested changes in the
government.
Roberts recently asked Washington
residents to send to him their ideas
as to whether some of the proposed
changes should be placed into effect.
Among these were questions about the
control over the school and library
systems.
Specialized Fields.
In reaching his conclusion about the
control over the schools and libraries,
Allen has recognized that these are
specialized fields of an educational ma
ture, actually operated by persons of
specialized training.
He believes also that the admin