Evening star., 1937-02-28
CONGRESS TO OPEN
STUDY WEDNESDAY
ION JACOBS REPORT
Three subcommittee Will
Hear Survey Head in
Joint Session.
D. c. SERVICES MERGER
IS DESIRED BY COLLINS
Provision of $4,000 for Private
Death Chamber at Jail Also
Is Indicated.

The Jacobs fiscal relations plan will
have its initial congressional exam
ination Wednesday at joint meeting
of the House Subcommittee on Appro-
priations in charge of the 1898 District
supply bill and the two special SUBJ
committees of the District Legislative
Committee appointed to study the sub
1ect.
Arrangements for the joint session
were completed last night by Chair
man Collins of the Appropriations Sub
committee. A telegram was sent
j. L. Jacobs, Chicago efficiency engi-
neer, who made the latest fiscal re-
lations survey, to appear as the first
witness.
The joint meeting was suggested by
Representative Kennedy, Democrat Of
Maryland. chairman of one of the two
special subcommittee of the Legisla-
tive Committee. He wanted the mem-
bers OF his subcommittee particularly
to hear the testimony of Jacobs. so
they would not duplicate the examina-
ton when the efficiency expert appears
before this group.
Awaits End Of Testimony.
Kennedy does not plan to call Jacobs
before his subcommittee until he COM
pIetes his testimony before Collins
group.
Aside from completing arrangements
for the joint fiscal relations hearing.
Collins indicated that the 1888 ap-
preparation bill would carry an item
of at least $4,000 to establish a pri-
vate death chamber at the District
Jail. He described the existing condi-
tions under which electrocutions are
carried out in the dining room of the
Jail as "disgraceful."
The proposed new death chamber
probably will be placed in small addi-
ton to be erected to the present Jail
building.
Collins also disclosed ne proposed to
bring about in the 1888 appropria-
ton bill all unifications of District
services as are possible at the pres
ent time. He believes there is en-
tirely too much overlapping of serv-
ices to make for efficient adminitra-
ton.
Consolida tions Considered.
Already the subcommittee has
taken under consideration proposals
to consolidate the Metropolitan and
Park Police Departments and the
municipal playground and public
school playground activities. as well
as the transfer of the Childrens Tu-
berculosis Sanatorium in Glenn Dale
Md, and the adult tuberculosis hos
pital from jurisdiction of the Board
Of Public Welfare to the Health De-
partment Gallinger Municipal Hos
pital also may be shifted from juris-
diction OF the welfare board to the
Health Department
The Appropriations Subcommittee
spent the entire day yesterday con-
sidering estimates of agencies under
direction of the welfare board These
included all District penal institu-
tions-the Jail. workhouse and re-
formatory-and the children's re-
ceiving home The witnesses included
Elwood Street. director of public well
fare; Thomas M. Rives. superintendent
Of the Jail, and Col. w. L. Peak, su-
perintendent of the reformatory.
The subcommittee will resume its
hearings tomorrow at 10 am. Chair
man Collins said an effort would be
made to complete the hearings by
Tuesday, so the subcommittee could
begin its study Of the Jacobs fiscal re-
lations report the following day.