Evening star., 1937-08-07
Reorganizing
Continued From First PageD

in which 1t lacks the balancing effect
OF differing viewpoints.
Kennedy declared all executive
functions relating to the municipal
government should be concentrated in
the Commissioners as a board.
None of such functions should be
in separate Federal departments or
bureaus" he said Control over
parks and streets should be removed
from the Interior and Treasury de-
partments, except that the great ma
tlonal parks. easily described by
boundaries tRock Greek Park and the
Zoo, for example, should remain in
the National Park Service and should
be in the budget of that service.
Executive Branch's Activities.
The executive branch OF modern
municipal government has many pure
ly administrative functions. 1t also
has many quasi-legislative functions,
such as the preparation and promul-
CATION Of regulations pertaining to
safety, health, etc. In the District
tflnse latter functions are OF special
importance because Of the obvious
difficulties incident TO the considera-
ton by Congress of minor bill. Of
purely local nature
The Commissioners should have
wider ordinance making power. This
Is matter Of genuine Importance. 1t
is suggested, therefore. that the dele
CATION of quasilegislstve powers by
the Commissioners be as broad as con-
stitutionally possible 1t should be
spelled out IN as much detail as Is
practical in general act conferring
powers upon the Commissioners and
the various boards The executive
branch also has many quasi judicial
functions. the most notable being the
hearing and decisions of complaints,
revocation of licenses. etc"
Kennedy explained the Commits
sioners should be given final power
over all purely administrative func-
tons Of the District government, and
at the same time. should be entirely
free from any routine administrative
detail.
The Commissioners. he declared,
should be free for supervisory func-
tions, constant investigations and in
spections. regular consultations and
conference with the congressional
committees having legislative powers
over the District. and for the careful
consideration of policies in all phases
Of the District government"
Proposed Departments Duties.
The duties OF the proposed eight
departments, as outlined by Kennedy,
follow:
l. The Department of Finance
would have the following divisions:
Budget, accounts and audit, purchases
and supplies tax assessment, tax COL
lection and pensions.
2. Safety-This department would
have the following divisions: Police,
fire, traffic, auto inspection.
3. Welfare-This department would
have the following divisions: Public
assistance. unemployment compensa-
ton, adult penal institutions, juvenile
training schools and parole. In addi-
ton this department., according to
Kennedy, should have citizens
board Of parole
4. Works and engineering inspec-
tion-This department would have the
following divisions: Highways, sewers,
water. parks and trees, coming, archi-
lecture. surveying and inspection
5. Education - This department
would have the following divisions:
Schools, libraries and recreation.
6. Health-This department. would
have the following divisions: Hos
pitals, contagious and infectious dis
eases, clinical service, garbage and
rubbish removal and health inspec-
ton
7. Licenses-This department would
have the following divisions: Profes-
sions and vocations, businesses, mar
kets, weights and measures. insurance,
boxing and wrestling and alcoholic
beverages
8. Personnel This department
would have the following divisions:
Appointment, classification and COM
pensation records and ratings. reas-
signments, retirement and workmen's
compensation.
Kennedy drafted his reorganization
plan after four, months study Of the
present municipal set-up. He said he
submitted his proposals mot with any
idea that they are q cure-au method,
but simply as basis for the enact
ment Of such laws rs will carry out
the general idea to give the District
more ef1cient government and to
the citizens Of the District as much
control over their purely local affairs
as possible"