Evening star., 1939-07-07

tlICll OuI Ill q SyStctIldClC way uIlUcT
supervision especially adapted to the
functional field of activity. For ex-
ample, to the extent practical, there
would be grouped together account
ing and financial planning. control
and service functions; technical en-
gineering, architectural and me-
chanical and construction functions;
tax and other revenue and treasury
administration, and so on. 1t is ex-
actly the same principle as that of
division Of labor" that has been so
effective in the general field of
economics.
The functions and organization Of
the II proposed administrative de-
partments are provided for in
Articles v to XVI, inclusive, as sum-
married. briefly In the tabulation
that follows, with comments.
Financial Administration
Embraces Several Activities.
Centralized direction and oper-
alton Of complete and in
tegrated system Of financial ad-
ministration, including financial
planning, budgeting, accounting,
fiscal reporting, current auditing
Of cash and receivables, pre-
auditing of expenditures, prop
erty control, purchasing, and the
rendering of certain other ad-
ministrative services for all de-
partments of the Government.
Such functions would be extended
over all agencies of the municipal
corporation and would be trans
ferred from existing agencies, in
cluding specifically the present
auditor, purchasing officer, assistant
superintendent of the District Build
ing (as to central Office services)
and secretary of the Board of Com
missioners of the District, and in
cluding specifically the General
Accounting ONCE Except post
auditing), the Treasury Department
and the Bureau of the Budget of
the United States.
The present auditor of the Dis
trict would be continued as director
of finance and head of the depart
ment. The department would be
organized into integrated divisions
and the most modern and effective
procedures, including machine proc
esses, would be provided.
Probably no other functional field
affords equal opportunity for i'm
provements and economies, extend
ing to the entire service. Uniflca-
ton of the entire local government
service would be justified if only for
the results to be secured from such
system of modern, centralized,
financial administration as it would
give opportunity to apply.
Centralized personnel admin
istration, including services to all
departments and control to in
sure the carrying out Of estab-
lished policies, in relation to
classification and compensation
of positions, testing applicants
and certifying eligibles for ap-
pointment, maintaining service
ratings. controlling transfers and
other changes in the service AMI
separations from the service, and
administering retirement and
compensation provisions.
Preferably all this would be done
under modern, comprehensive and
unified personnel system for the Dis
trict. Examination and licensing Of
applicants to practice professions
and vocations under laws imposing
qualification requirements for prac-
titioners Except law, because such
examining and licensing are deemed
to be functions of the courts, and
regulating the practice of the occu-
pations licensed, also would be in
cluded. not because these functions
are related In purpose to the person.
mel functions, since they are not, but
because they involve the same test
ing techniques. To illustrate, the
agency that is charged with develop
ing the most effective methods of
determining the qualifications Of a
plumber for employment is in the
best possible position, through its
specialized staff and by means Of
the same methods, for determining
whether an applicant for a license to
practice as q plumber has properly
qualified therefor.
Such functions would be trans
ferred from all agencies now exercis-
ing them with respect to the Dis
trict. AS to central personnel func-
tions, there would be included spe-
cifically those Of the personnel and
retirement sections Of the auditors
office, the Personnel Board, the Wage
Board, the chief clerk Of the Engi-
neer Department, the Police and Fire
Trial Boards, the Board Of Commits
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