Evening star., 1938-05-05
FIRM EMPLOYED
TOPLAN MODERN
D.C.G0VERNMENT.
Chicago Concern to Conduct
Survey With View to
Reorganization.
preliminary STUDIES
TO START WEDNESDAY
Congress Members Expect Report
to Be Ready at Start of
January Session.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

BY JAMES E. CHINN.
Definite steps were taken today by
the House and Senate District Com
mittees to modernize the municipal
government in order to increase its
efficiency and at the same time save
taxpayers thousands of dollars a year
The job Of working out a reorgan-
ization plan was given to the firm
of E. o. Griffenhagen & Associates
OF Chicago, which has specialized for
% years in public administration and
finance.
Selection of the Griffenhagen firm
was made by Chairmen King of the
Senate District Committee and Pal
misano of the House District Com
mittee. who were authorized in the
1899 District Appropriation Act to
spend $4,000 in developing a reorgan-
ization plan. The firms compensa-
ton, however, has not yet been fixed.
The firm has 80 experts on its staff
one Of whom will come to Washing
ton Wednesday to begin a series of
preliminary studies. Mr. Griffenhagen
will arrive later to direct the survey.
Representative Kennedy, Democrat,
OF Maryland, long an advocate of re-
organization of the District govern
ment, was largely instrumental in the
appointment Of the Griffenhagen firm.
He became familiar with the concerns
work some years ago when it was
called in by the late Gov. Richie of
Maryland to recommend reforms in
the State government.
Confers With Officials.
Mr.. Griffenhagen spent yesterday
In Washington comforting with vari-
GUS District officials. Senator King
and Representative Kennedy. He left
Immediately after being assured his
firm would be given the job, for
Worcester. Mass. where a similar re-
organization study is nearing compile
ton.
The District officials with whom Mr.
Griffenhagen conferred included Com
missioner Melvin c. Hazen, Maj. Dan
lei j. Donovan. auditor and budget
officer, and Elwood H. Seal, corpora
tion counsel.
Mr.. Griffenhagen was told by Sena-
tor King and Representative Kennedy
to make study of the various reorgan.
ization plans that already have been
developed, select from them the best
features of each. and draw up the
necessary legislation to put the mod
ernized municipal machine into actual
operation.
No time limit was fixed for compile
ton of the study. but both Senator
King and Mr.. Kennedy expect the
reorganization bills and a report to
be ready for consideration Of the new
Congress when it convenes in Jan
uary.
Reports to Be Studied.
The former reorganization reports
to be considered include one developed
last year by Mr. Kennedy, another
made by special committee of Dis
trict officials, and third produced
by citizens committee named BY the
Commissioners. The celebrated s5O,-
600 Jacobs fiscal relations report which
the House discarded last year also
is to be studied
Mr.. Kennedy said Mr.. Griffenhagen
was instructed mot to produce an
other report that will 60 on the shelf
but to develop reorganization plan
that will give the District a modern
municipal governmental machine"
THE District government is badly
IN need Of reorganization and modern
ization," declared Mr.. Kennedy. Few
changes have been made in the COM
mission form of government set ur
IN 1873. AS a result. there are over
tapping and duplication of services
which are proving costly to the
taxpayers. am confident a $4,000
investment at this time in a good
reorganization plan will save tax.
payers thousands of dollars in the
years to come. And also believe it
will increase efficiency at the District
Building"