Evening star., 1937-10-03
HOUSE COMMITTEE
|MAy AyHOLDMEET|NG
ION D. c. REV|S|0NS
Special Parley Seen Before
| Congress Convenes to "
| Consider Plans. -
ONE REORGANIZATION "a
SCHEME is COMPLETED
Changes in Tax Structure as Well
as Overhaul Of Municipal
Government on Agenda. -
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

A special meeting of the House Dis
trict Committee may be called in
advance Of the conven of Congress
to consider two general plans for
drastic reorganization of the munich
pal government
One scheme already has been COM
pleted. 1t was worked out shortly
before adjournment of the last session
by Representative Kennedy, Demo-
crat. of Maryland, who served as
chairman of the subcommittee which
framed the new revenue act, embody-'
ing the business privilege tax on gross
receipts and weight tax on motor
vehicles. 80
The other is now in process OF for
nation by the Citizens Committee on
Efficiency. appointed last Spring by
the Commissioners. e. Barrett Pret-
lyman former corporation counsel,
the committee chairman, expects TO-
have the plan ready for consideration
of the Commissioners the latter part
Of this month.
Tax Changes on Agenda.
Members of the House District Com
mlttee believe the reorganization plans
and a contemplated revision of the
Districts tax structure are to be the
two most important problems to con-
front them at the coming session and
are anxious to get both out of the way
early in the next session. Suggestions
already have been made to Chairman
Palmisano that special subcommittee
be named soon to study the problems
so they will be ready to report to the
full committee as soon as Congress
conveneS.
A check-up now is being made to
determine how many members of the
full committee are coming back to
Washington at least q month in
advance of the session. Several Of
them already are here and others are
planning 10 return within the next
two weeks.
Even if sufficient number TO form
two subcommittee do not return
Palmisano probably will name one
subcommittee to handle both problems.
Kennedy, whose home is in Balti-
40 N6PCNSta w lldIiltu
man of the subcommittee. He is
slated for the assignment not only by
virtue of the fact he is the ranking
majority member of the full commit
tee. but also because he directed the
framing of the tax act and has shown
his interest in the proposed reorgani-
cation of the municipal government by
deVelOninQ q definite nloD
Kennedy's Plan.
Kennedy's plan proposes to give the
municipal government its first gem
eral overhauling since the present
commission form was established in
1878. Prettyman's committee has not
yet disclosed the plan it has under
consideration.
The principal features of Kennedy's
program are:
1-Consolidation of nearly all mu-
nicipal activities under eight new de-
partments to prevent overlapping and
duplication.
2-Creation of an advisory commit
tee of five citizens and the chairmen,
OF the Senate and House District Com
mittees to consult with and advise
the Commissioners on all municipal
problems.
3|Appointment of a special budget,
offlcer to prepare the annual budget
on scientific basis, and relieve the
Federal Budget Bureau of its authority
to dictate financial policies of the Dis
trict by allowing it to comment and
suggest only on the estimates Of the
Commissioners and recommend" the
amount of the Federal payment to-
ward District expenses.
Establishment of a merit system.
for all municipal employees sys-
tenn modelled after civil service, but
separate and distinct.