Evening star., 1937-02-21
ENLARGED POWERS
FOR C|TYS HEADS
MAY Be PROPOSED
Hazen Suggests Study of
Old Plan by Committee
to Be Named.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
CONTROL ONE ISSUE
Absolutely Free Rein for Investi-
eating Municipal Set-Up Is
Favored.

Old proposals for enlargement of
the powers of the Commissioners may
be revived by the study of the Dis
trict Government set-up by'a COM
mittee of civic and business leaders
to be appointed soon by the city heads
This was suggested yesterday by
Commissioner Melvin c. Hazen as
which might be followed by the civic
group of from Is to 20 members.
The suggestion Immediately raised
conjecture as to whether the Com
missioners again may seek to gain
complete control over the Board of
Education, the Board of Public We'll
fare and other agencies directed by
semi-independent citizens boards.
Hazen declined to go that far in
his outline of the possible work of
the investigating committee. He re-
stricted his statement to the Sug-
gestion the committee might con-
slider enlargement of the powers of
the city heads as a part of its study
of the present municipal set-up. He
mentioned that Congress now must be
asked for legislation when street is
to be opened or closed or even lesser
matters.
Bill of 2 Years Ago.
Two years ago the Commissioners
prepared a bill for enlargement of
their authority and in it they sought
powers of direction and veto over the
citizens boards. There was immediate
protest from many civic groups as
well as from the affected agencies and
this protion of the plan later was
dropped by the city heads.
There was some indication. how
ever, that the Commissioners still felt
they should be given more complete
control over these boards.
Hazen has stated the Citizens In
vestigating Committee is to have an
absolutely free rein" in planning its
program and in selecting the subjects
of its report. The District, he said,
would find clerical help for the group
and otherwise assist.
The Commissioner said he antici-
pated the committee would call the
city heads and officials of various de-
partments for their views on the Dis
trict organization. Thus the way
would be open for them to propose
extension of their powers if they wish.
Hazen yesterday declared there may
be some dead timber" in the present
District establishment and he passed
the word that all District employees
"have got to get on their toes"
While he was figuratively welding
the ak, however he declared, Il do not
believe there will have to be any
wholesale slashes and I do not anti
cipate any scandals.
Talk of Inefficiency.
There has been lot of loose talk"
he continued, about ineficiency and
overlapping of work in the present
District government. II don't know
the answer. Department heads all in
sist they need more personnel than
they now have. That is undoubtedly
true in many instances. But some
divisions may be over-manned.
Il would like the committee to in
vestigate and give us its findings
There may be inefficient spots If so,
I would like to know where they are.
There may be some overlapping.
Some District officials have been
In their jobs so long they think they
own the place.
THE salaries of District employes
are paid by the business men and the
residents in their tax payments. They
are entitled to a city government that
Is as near 100 per cent efficient as we
can make it. I want to give it to
them
HaSen plans to name the members
OF the investigating group within 10
days. He plans to wait until the re-
turn of Engineer Commissioner Dan I.
Sultan, now on brief leave of alb
sence. He indicated he may offer the
post Of chairman to Robert v. Fleming
president of Riggs National Bank:
Lloyd B. Wilson, president of the
chesapeake & Potomac Telephone
Co.; or to DR.. William Mcclellan
president of the Potomac Electric
Power Co.