Evening star., 1937-08-08
KENNEDY SEEKS
D. c. SENTINEL Mt
on REORGAN|Z|NG
Urges Plan Be Studied Until
Congress Meets in
January.
PROGRAM PROVIDES
EIGHT DEPARTMENTS
Federal Budget Bureau Would Be
Stripped of Power to Dictate
on Finances.
BY JAMES Z. CHIN.

OF Maryland announced last nlgDt he
did not propose to push his plan for
drastic reorganization of the District
government until the people to be
affected had spoken.
He wants the Commissioners. NUM-
cipal department heads and civic
organizations to study the program
seriously in the next three or four
months, and tell Congress when it
reconvenes in January whether the
plan, or any part of it, has sufficient
merit to be adopted
1T is my thought that if this matter
is given the serious study to which
1t is entitled and if all parties con-
cerned are given an opportunity to
be heard" said Kennedy. the House
District Committee could present to
Congress appropriate legislation with
complete, detailed information in a
manner that feel would be given fair
consideration by every member of
Congress, and would work to the sd-
vantage of the citizens of the Dis
trict of Columbia"
Proposes General Overhaul.
Kennedy's plan proposes to over
haul the municipal government-to
give it the first general reorganization
since the present commission form
was established in 1873.
The major features of the program
are these:
/, Consolidation Of nearly all mu-
nicipal activities under eight new de-
partments to prevent overlapping and
duplication.
q Creation of an advisory commit
tee Of five citizens and the chairmen
of the Senate and House District
Committees to consult with and advise
the Commissioners on all municipal
problems
3, Appointment of a special budget
ofhcer to prepare the annual budget
on a scientific basis. and strip the
Federal Budget Bureau of its authority
to dictate financial policies of the
District by allowing it to comment
and suggest only on the estimates of
the Commissioners and recommend"
the amount Of the Federal payment
toward municipal expenses.
4. Establishment Of merit system
for all municipal employees system
modelled after civil service, but sep
arate ane distinct because of the
peculiar qualifications required for
many municipal activities entirely
different from general Federal service,
and because of the propriety of local
residential requirements for positions
paid from local tax revenues"
Studied Set-up Four Months.
Kennedy developed the plan after
o four months study Of the municipal
government set-up 8 duty assigned to
him by former Chairman Norton of
the House District Committee at the
time she appointed him chairman of
8 special subcommittee to frame the
new tax bill, now at the White House
awaiting the signature of President
Roosevelt.
The eight new departments sug-
gested by Kennedy and the activities
they would embrace follow:
/. Finance-Budget, accounts and
audit, purchases and supplies, tax as
sessments, tax collections and pen
sions
q. safety-Police, fire, traffic, auto
inspection.
3. Welfare-Public assistance, un-
employment compensation, adult penal
institutions, juvenile training schools
and parole. In addition this depart
n1ent, according to Kennedy, should
have a citizens board Of parole.
4. Works and engineering inspec-
tion-Highwsys sewers, water, parks
and trees, zoning, architecture, sur
veying and inspection.
5. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., libraries and
recreation.
g. Health-Hospltals, contagious and
infectious diseases, clinical service,
garbage and rubbish removal and
health inspection.
7. Licenses-Professions and voca-
tions, businesses, markets. weights and
measures, insurance, boxing and
wrestling and alcoholic beverages.
9. appointment, classi-
ncation and compensation records and
ratings, reaSsignments. retirement and
NOiknSH compensation,
Would Form Cabinet"
Directors OF these eight depart
ments, according to Kennedy, should
constitute an informal cabinet for
consultation with the Commissioners.
The entire plan of consolidation is
designed 10 relieve the Commissioners
OF many detailed duties, so their at
tention can be concentrated in execu-
tive functions.
The Commissioners, he declared
Should be free for supervisory func-
tions and inspections, regular con-
sultations and conference with the
congressional committees having leg
islsttve powers over the District, and
for the careful consideration of poll
cies."
Kennedy struggled with the problem
of selection of an advisory committee
10 the Commissioners for several week,
and failed to reach definite conclu.
sion in his final program.
"It may be" he said, that the more
practical way to select this committee
would be by presidential appointment
or by the election by the people Of one
member from each of five designated
districts"
Six Would BE Independent
There are six municipal activities
which Kennedy believes should no
be placed under the proposed eigh
new departments. but should remain
as independent Offices. These are:
/. The corporation counsel's Office
=. Unpaid boards Of public spirited
citizens created for certain policy.
making functions.
3. The National Capital Park anc
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