Evening star., 1939-11-04
Seal Program
For D. {. Rule
Wins Support
Kitchen Cabinet
Divided Over Traffic
Jurisdiction Transfer
BY DON S. WARREN.

Lines OF argument over important
details of the proposals of Corpora
ton Counsel Elwood H. Seal for re-
organization Of the municipal gov
ernment were taking more definite
shape today at the District Building
as result of yesterdays session of
the Commissioners kitchen cabi-
net"
General approval of Mr.. Seals
tentative scheme was indicated in
that the committee considered and
approved the framework suggested
for the first six of the proposed 13
departments, but the cabinet" quar-
tet was divided three ways over his
proposal to abolish the Department
Of Vehicles and Traffic and to trans
fer its functions, except licensing, to
the Police Department.
Also there were indications the
group will split over Mr.. Seals pro-
posal to transfer jurisdiction over
the District hospitals from the
Health Department back to the
Board of Public Welfare, where it
was placed under the Welfare Act
of 1926. Mr.. Seal said committee
discussion showed that Maj. Daniel
j. Donovan, District auditor, was
prepared to oppose the change,
when that section Of the draft is
reached.
Departments Approved.
However, it appeared that more
than one report will go to the Com
miSSionerS from the kitchen
cabinet, Seal said he would stand
pat on his recommendation on both
the disputed items and leave the
choice up to the Commissioners
Commissioner Melvin c. Hazen is on
record as opposed to the hospital
transfer plan offered by Mr.. Seal.
The group is scheduled to meet
again Monday morning to resume
action on the draft, section by Sec
ton.
In keeping with arguments that
the municipal establishment should
be "streamlined," the committee
voted general approval of the desig-
nation, in the proposed new organic
act, of the following six depart
ments: Finance, Law. Public Works,
Personnel, Police and Fire. The
seven others included in the Seal
plan would be Health, License, In
surance, Corporations, Labor, We'll
fare and Recreation Departments.
One important new post would be
created under the plan for the
Public Works Department. now
known as the Engineer Department.
As revised by the committee, the
plan would call for a director of
public works, other than the Engi-
neer Commissioner. He would
supervise the work of the major
engineer divisions, such as the con-
struction, inspection, highway, sani-
tary engineering, surveyors Office
and the Office of the chief clerk of
the department.
Public Works Setup.
Mr.. Seal had proposed that the
Public Works Department be headed
by the Engineer Commissioner, but
other cabinet" members persuaded
him, it was reported, that the Engi-
neer Commissioner should be re-
lieved of much of detailed super
vision over these operations because
he has so many responsibilities as a
member of the Board of Commis-
sioners, the Park and Planning Com
mission, the Zoning Commission, the
District Unemployment Compensa-
ton Committee and the like.
In the clash of opinion over the
disposition of the Department of
Vehicles and Traffic, Capt. H. C..
Whitehurst, director of highways,
championed continuation of the
present arrangement, with the de-
partment reporting direct to the
Commissioners as a separate agency.
Maj. Donovan and Richmond B.
Keech, vice chairman of the Public
Utilities Commission, suggested that
If a change were made. the engi-
neering phases of the service should
be transferred to the Engineer De-
partment { which would be named
the Public Works Department. and
the license work to the proposed
new license department. Under any
of the schemes, traffic officials would
depend on police for enforcement.