Evening star., 1937-02-07
More REORGANIZATION?

A study OF the recent nScal relatlOnS
report and of new sources of local taxa
ton are planned by Senator Kings Dis
trict Committee. But the Senator seems
primarily interested in the subject of
local governmental reorganization and
1t is assumed that most of the $4,000 he
has requested of the Senate would be
used to defray the clerical and other
expenses in connection with hearings on
that subject.
If by proposals for reorganization one
means an overhauling of local agencies
In a manner designed to increase their
efficiency and, therefore, give the tax
payer more for his money. such pro-
posals should have the active interest
and support OF everybody. Governmental
machines, like other machines, need
occasional tuning up and the substitu-
ton Of new parts for those that have
become worn out. But so many local
governmental proposals have been
launched in the past few years without
noticeable benefit that one may wonder
whether the usual approach to the sub
feet is not fundamentally defective.
1t will be recalled that the late Bureau
OF Efficiency made thorough studies OF
the local government. accompanying
them with legislative proposals. Some
of them were valuable, but as whole
the bureaus activities created resent
p1ent at the District Building. The last
effort at reorganization, marked by vo-
luminous reports on history and organi-
Eation-in some respects duplicating the
monumental work of DR.. Schmeckebler
and his associates at the Brookings In
stitution-petered out in the end, with
William A. Roberts, former peoples
counsel, submitting the final recommen-
dations on his own behalf; recommended
tions which have never been made pub
lie. The recent fiscal report suggested
that the District government has grown
haphazardly for nearly sixty years, with
the result that it now has cumbersome,
unintegrated framework" 1t proposed
an investigation "by men OF technical
competence" which probably means ex-
perts at $50 day.
Under the close annual supervision OF
the Budget Bureau and members OF Con-
gress, who pass on every dollar appro-
priated for the District, it would seem
that reorganization in the interest OF
efficiency and economy would be pro-
gressive and continuous. Such, appar-
entlv. is not the case. May not the fault
lie in the lack of responsibility and
initiative on the part of the municipal
officials to accomplish their own savings
and economies? If the Commissioners
were instructed to perfect plan OF re-
organizing and undermining and to SUBJ
init it with legislative recommendations,
more might be accomplished in the end
than by bringing in outside experts
anxious to advertise their own pet
theories.
The story is told Of the county agent
who visited an old farmer with the plea
that he attend the demonstration OF
better agricultural methods and who was
met by a stretch, sigh and a shake
OF the head.
= mo-" said the farmer, Il amt going.
AS a matter of fact, I don't farm half
as good now as I knows how"
The same thing may be true at the
District Building. Perhaps our munic-
ipal officials do not farm now half as
good as they know how. They need the
stimulating effect Of having responsible
ity-and some of the power-placed with
them, and not divided among so many
agencies and individuals with schemes
of their own and ambitious to see them
made effective.