Evening star., 1939-07-30
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

"A new plan Tor mOdernlZlng the
District government which would in
crease the present Board of Commits
sioners from three to five members
and give the voteless residents merely
a "squawking" voice in its operation,
was advanced last night by Repre-
sentative Dirksen, ranking minority
member of the House District Com
mittee.
At the same time, it was dis
closed, Attorney General Murphy
had sent to Chairman Randolph Of
the District Committee. a five-page
letter, vigorously opposing a pro-
vision in the Inflated Kennedy re-
organization bill transferring cer-
tain local functions of the Offices Of
the United States attorney and the
United States marshal to proposed
departments of law and public
safety.
Mr.. DirkSen member of the re-
organization subcommittee of the
District Committee which buried the
Kennedy bill until the next session
of Congress, said he believed his
plan which would retain the present
commission form of government, and
yet give the Commissioners increased
powers and more direct administra-
tive responsibility, would eventually
result in far greater economics than
are possible under the present set
up.
Public Meeting Provided.
The Kennedy reorganization bill.
Mr.. Dirlssen pointed out, fails to
provide any representation for the
disfranchised residents in the opera
ton of the municipal government.
His plan, however, would force the
five-man Board of Commissioners to
hold at least one night meeting each
week, at which the public would
have the privilege of "ventilating"
grievances against any action that
had been taken or contemplated.
"Voteless as they are" he declared,
"the residents of the District should
be allowed an opportunity to voice
their opinions before the governing
body at least once week"
Mr.. Dirksen's plan, which he in
tends to push at the next session of
Congress as substitute for the
Kennedy bill, also provides for de-
partmentalization of the heterogene-
GUS array of municipal agencies.
Each of the five Commissioners, who
as board would constitute the gov
erning body, would be delegated to
control certain departments. For
instance, there might be a depart
ment OF revenue, department of
public health, and a department of
public safety, such as provided in
the Kennedy bill. But under Mr..
Dirksens plan the Commissioner in
charge of these departments would
be held directly responsible to Con-
gress for the operation of the de-
partments under their supervision
rather than the entire Board of
Commissioners.
Public Affairs Officer.
The principal department, Mr..
Dirksen said, would be the one Of
public affairs. The Commissioner
in charge of that department would
serve as both the ceremonial officer
of the District as we'll as the chief
liaison with congressional commit
tees. He would not, however, be held
to account for some shortcoming or
inefflciency in department of one
of the other Commissioners.
Mr.. Dirksen's plan also would re-
tain the present autonomy of the
public school system, but he would
place the Board of Public Library
Trustees directly under one of the
Commissioners. The Kennedy re-
organization plan, however, would
not destroy the independence of
public schools or the Board of Lii
brary Trustees.
Mr.. Dirksen said his reorganiza-
ton setup likewise would not split
the Department of Vehicles and
Traffic as recommended in the Ken
nedy plan, but would leave that
agency intact and under the i'm
mediate control of a Commissioner.
Taxing Up to Congress.
Unlike the Kennedy plan, Mr..
Dirksen would not delegate the
power of fixing taxes and appropri-
ating public funds to the Commits
(See REORGANIZATION, A-12J