Evening star., 1939-11-29
Reorganization
Continued From First Page.)


vacancies. He approved the idea
in the section, but thought it was
too loosely drawn. He also insisted
that persons appointed to District
jobs should be those who stand high
est on the register from the exam
ination of applicants, rather than
that the selection be made from
"among the highest" insisting that
the latter phrase would leave too
much latitude to the appointing
power.
Maj. johnson also declared the
reorganization should call for uni
fed department of labor, operated
by full-time officials; and proposed
that recreation activities of the Dis
trict government should be consoli-
dated under the Board of Educa-
ton, instead of under the proposed
board of recreation. He held that
recreation activities amounted to
more than supervised play, that it
constituted education in the use of
leisure time. Provision for an elec-
tive city council should be made, Maj.
johnson said, and he voiced opposi-
ton to the proposed transfer of mu-
nicipal hospitals from the Health
Department to the Welfare Depart
ment.
Hits Restaurant Plan.
Julian I. Richards, speaking for
the Washington Restaurant Asso-
citation. protested that under the
Seal plan the Commissioners could
form an association, similar to the
welfare and recreation associations
which operate restaurants and
other facilities on United States
properties, and thereby have the
District enter into competition with
private business
He agreed that in some cases it
Is reasonable for Government units
to provide eating establishments for
employees who for one reason or an
other cannot go to privately op-
Grated restaurants and under ques-
tioning by Commissioners Melvin C
Hazen and George E. Allen voiced
belief that the restaurant associa-
ton would agree to the granting of
power for the establishment of
restaurants on District property pro-
vided private interests were allowed
to bid on the operation and the
award made on a competitive bid
ding basis.
Otherwise, Mr.. Richards said,
privately operated restaurants might
be faced with the worse kind of
unfair competition" He protested
that Government officials who op-
crate restaurants on Federal prop
critics are not required to pay real
estate taxes or even the cost of
heating and lighting.
Makes Plea for Suffrage.
Mrs. Ruth Buchanan made a plea
for suffrage for the District and
urged Commissioner Allen to take
the lead in the movement. She also
voiced severe criticism of Corpora
ton Counsel ElWood H. Seal, chair
man of the kitchen cabinet" for
proposing that jurisdiction over the
hospitals be taken from the Health
Department and returned to the
Board of Public Welfare. She de-
clared that conditions at CALM
ger Hospital were awful" when it
operated under the Welfare Board
but that great improvement in its
service to the INDECENT sick had
been achieved in the few years since
control was shifted to the Health
Department.
Frederick S. Weaver, speaking for
the National Panhellenlc Council
urged franchise for District peo-
pie and argued that any plan for
reorganization of the District should
make it possible for colored residents
to take a greater part in the life and
activities of the District. He urged
the justice of providing more jobs
In District service for colored resi-
dents and voiced objection to pro-
posals to transfer from the Office of
the recorder of deeds the recording
of liens on motor vehicles and the
recording of business charters.
Agree on Four Issues.
Aside from spirited arguments fol
election of the governing body of the
District-with special emphasis or
the city manager-city council
plan-supported by numerous speak