Evening star., 1939-07-09
Reorganization
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NeOI9uHIAOVOn
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taxation. But If they should decide
that additional revenue is needed
and 1t should be derived from a new
and untaxed source, Congress would
have to be asked to provide the
enabling" legislation.
Divorces Budget Bureau.
The bill also would divorce the
Budget Bureau and Congress from
any control over the expenditure of
District revenues. 1t specifically
provides that the Commissioners
shall have authority Ito make ap-
preparations from the public funds
of the District and provide for pay
ment In accordance Herewith of all
obligations lawfully incurred for any
purposes within the powers of the
District"
Mr.. Everett explained that ap-
proval of such a plan would pave
the way for abolition of the House
and Senate appropriation subcom-
mittees which handle the annual
District supply bills. He said the
only appropriation detail with
which Congress would have to con-
Germ itself would be with respect
to the amount of the annual lump
sum payment toward municipal ex-
penses-a subject that is carefully
avoided in the reorganization bill.
Mr.. Everett explained the broad
ened powers to be given the Com
missioners, who would serve as the
governing and policy making body
OF the municipal corporation under
the proposed new setup, would be
ordinance making primarily. The
chief purpose of this plan, he said,
is to relieve Congress of an end
less burden of detail" The delega-
ton of this ordinance making au-
thor1ty to the Commissioners, how
ever, he said, would not deprive
Congress of any power over the Dis
trict and that the local government
would continue to operate only un-
der authority of Congress.
Agent of Congress.
In other words, Mr.. Everett said
the Commissioners would merely act
as the agent of Congress, and that
Congress would always remain in
the background to rescind any
action it felt was improper.
Specifically. some of the ordinance
making powers that would be vested
IN the Commissioners, which now
require congressional action, would
be:
l. Authority to limit the num-
Der OF taxicabs for which a bill is
now pending on the House calendar.
q Authority to own and operate
public utilities and retail mar
kets," and control the production,
distribution and use of electricity.
8. To close streets and alleys.
4. To fix the time for turning
street lights on and off.
5. To prescribe fees for inspec-
tlons of property required by law
or ordinance.
s. To grant public utility fran
chises.
7. To sell or lease District owned
property in excess of the amount
ueeueu lOI puOllC use.
One section OF the bill provides
for an arrangement whereby the
Federal and District governments
would enter into contracts to pay
one another for special services-a
plan copied from the discarded
Jacobs formula for adjusting the
long troublesome fiscal relations
problem. As an illustration, the
District would have to pay the
Government Printing Office for
printing, the Bureau of Standards
for testing materials, and the Civil
Service Commission for holding
examinations and certifying eligibles
for District positions.
The Federal Government, on the
other hand, would have to pay the
District for the water it uses, the
cost of sewers installed on Gov
ernment property, and for special
police and fire protection. The pay
ment for the Police Department
for instance, would be based on
services of policemen who guard
foreign embassies and legations
and escort the President on his trips
In the District. The Fire Depart
ment would make a charge for
fghting blaze on a Government
reservation.
Holds Federal Payment Necessary.
The contractal service formula
was recommended in the Jacobs
report as substitute for the pres
ent Federal lump sum payment. Mr.
Everett, however, declared the plan
as embodied in the Kennedy bill
does not contemplate such a step.
He pointed out Congress Nigh,
take the position that since Wash.
ington is the Nations Capital, ane
that its expenses are above thu
average of other municipal govern.
ments for that reason, and, too
because of the added cost of monu
mental bridges and municipal build.
1ngs that must be erected here, 6
Federal payment would always b.
necessary to make up that diff
ference.
The bill also discloses that thu
plan for consolidation of recrea.
tional activities is far more exten'