Evening star., 1934-12-30
Bill Being Drafted Seen
fright in Principle" by
Senate Chairman.
VETO AUTHORITY HELD
MOST IMPORTANT PART
Greater Control Over School Sys.
TEN Is Favored by
Senator.

Chairman King of the Senate Dis
trict Committee, who has long been
an advocate of broader powers for the
Commissioners, said yesterday he re-
CARDS the bill now being drafted by
Corporation Counsel Prettyman as
right in principle" although he has
not studied its detailed provisions.
The Senator said he will confer
with the Commissioners on the SUBJ
ject as soon as the measure is in final
shape.
The most important new feature OF
the bill Is the broad veto power il
would give the Commissioners to di-
rect or prohibit action by any board
or agency financed in whole or in
part by District funds. which pro-
vision would take in the Board OF
Education. Senator King indicated
yesterday he is in favor of giving the
Commissioners greater authority over
the SCHOOL system.
Discussion Is Independent.
The renewed discussion of increased
power for the Commissioners is goine
forward independently Of the pro-
posed study Of District reorganiza.
tion, for which special Senate SUBJ
committee was appointed last Sum-
~
Oklahoma, chairman of the subcom-
mittee, said yesterday no time has
been fixed for meeting Of his group
The proposal will be supported in
principle, at least, by Peoples Coun-
sci William A. Roberts, it was an
nounced yesterday.
Roberts said he plans to submit a
recommendation to this general effect
to members Of the Senate District
Committee in connection with his re-
port on proposals for reorganization
Of the District Government.
While he has not studied details OF
the bill drafted for the Commission.
ers by Corporation Counsel E. Barrett
Prettyman, nor committed himself to
them, he said he was convinced great
er authority and responsibility should
be centralized in the Board of Com
missioners as the real heads Of the
municipal government.
Roberts is serving with Mai. Daniel
j. Donovan, District auditor, and F.
j. Bailey Of the Budget Bureau OF
the committee named to make a study
OF reorganization Of the District gov.
ernment for the Senate District Com
mittee. He plans to submit his rec
concentrations In this regard to Sen
ator King Of Utah, chairman Of the
full District Committee, if the chair.
man Of the Subcommittee on Reor.
ganization, Senator Gore Of Oklahoma
decides not to hold public hearings on
the subject,
Sees Recreation Needs.
The peoples counsel declared yes
terday control Of the recreational IA
cilities Of the District should be
placed under the District government
rather than some commission con-
trolled by Federal officers. He would
make an exception in the case OF
play areas distinctly Federal in char
acter, such as the Monument
Grounds and Columbia Island, where
there is not the need in his opinion
Of the close contact with the public
as would be the case in other play
areas. Roberts, however, would not
class the Zoo in this category, be-
cause Of its character as a place fol
education and entertainment OF
masses Of people.
Roberts believes there is a danger
In having Federal agencies controlling
areas paid for by local taxpayers, be-
cause Of what he regards as a ten
dency on the part Of such officials
to give too much attention to the
Federal character of developments.
He will support the plan for q
director Of education named by the
District Commissioners, with an ad-
visory committee, also selected by the
District heads. He believes the plan
should carefully provide for co-ordi-
nation of Federal District and school
authorities and their powers under
the new set-up.
WILLIE LIE OIL 10 expand the pow
ers OF the Commissioners presumably
would involve an ultimate control
over all playground facilities on
which District funds are expended, 1t
Is said the Commissioners expect that
subject will be covered in a separate
measure to be offered as q result of
the conference on coordination of
recreational facilities.