Evening star., 1938-05-01
EXPERT T0STUDY
DISTRICT MERGER
WILL Be CHOSEN
King and Kennedy to Meet
Tuesday to Decide on
Their Selection.
$4,000 IS AVAILABLE
FOR DEVELOPING PLAN
Senator and House Member Have
Different Views on Time
Necessary for Job.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.


First actual steps to bring about
reorganization of the District gov
eminent in the interest of efficienrv
and economy are expected to be taken
this week by Chairman King of the
Senate District Committee and Rep
resentative Kennedy, Democrat, Of
Maryland, ranking ma jority member
Of the District Committee.
With $4,000 available in the 1889
District appropriation act for a COM
prehensive survey designed to de-
velop a reorganization plan, Senator
King and Representative Kennedy
have arranged a conference for Tues
day to select an expert to make the
study. Several municipal engineers
connected with a Chicago firm who
applied for the job have been notl-
fled to attend the conference.
Mr.. Kennedy who was instrumental
in procuring the $1,000 appropriation,
believes the study can be undertaken
Immediately and probably completed
before adjournment of Congress. He
said the job involves only an analy-
sis OF the various plans already rec
commended for new municipal set
up, the selection of the best fea-
lures of each, and the drafting of
legislation to bring about the change.
Wants Summer Inquiry.
Senator King, however, does not
believe the survey can be carried
out that expeditiously In the frsJ
place, he thinks it is far too iare
in the present session of Congress
to attempt to initiate reorganiza-
ton legislation. His idea is to have
an investigation plan submitted to
the new Congress when 1t convenes
in January.
Two reorganization plans have been
developed in the last year. Mr.. Ken
nedy prepared one. The other was
drafted by special committee select
ed by the Commissioners for that pur-
pose which was headed by E Barrett
Prettyman, former corporation coun-
sci.
Ihe Prettyman committee plan was
designed primarily to increase the
powers of the Commissioners. 1t also
provided for consultations of various
municipal departments.
Mr.. Kennedy's likewise called for
consolidation of departments to avoid
overlapping of municipal services, Its
principal feature. however. provided
for creation of an advisory council to
aid the Commissioners in solving mu-
nlcipal problems.
Convinced of Necessity.
Long an advocate of reorganization
OF the District government Mr. Ken
nedy said certain observations he made
in recent months convinced him a new
set-up is becoming more and more
necessary to increase the efficiency of
the municipal machine
Il am confident thousands of dol
lars are being wasted every year be-
cause OF lnefflciency at the District
Building" he declared. Now is the
time for reorganization-ar reorgani-
zation that will increase efficiency and
at the same time result in a more eco
nomical operation"
Mr.. Kennedy said he had been in
communication with the municipal en-
gineers in Chicago and they have
promised to be in Washington Tues
Gay for the conference. 1t was his
original plan to have the reorganiza-
ton survey made by William A. Rob-
erts, former peoples counsel, who was
member of special committee of
District officials which made similar
study several years ago for the Senate
District Committee.