Evening star., 1939-03-08

autnOrlty OF the Congress. The Dis
trict Commissioners were not con-
suited during the preparation of the
report and therefore have no knowl-
edge of the data or reasons upon
which the conclusions are based ex-
cept as presented in the report itself.
With respect to the existing organ
ization, the report appears to allege
gross complexity, illogical ALLEGATION
of functions, division of powers,
disunity. lack of practically and
confusion, all to such an extent that
1t would lead the uninformed to the
conclusion that the existing govern :
ment is totally inefficient and in
effective. The Commissioners do not
concur in the picture thus pre-
sented."
"Some Changes" Acceptable.
The Commissioners, however, ad-
mitted that some changes" in the
governmental structure may be de-
| slrable, but expressed the belief that
the existing structure in the main
has proven satisfactory.
The report (Griffenhagen an
pears to be based upon the assump-
ton that the Congress can and in
tends to delegate to the District a
large measure of its legislative au-
thorlty, including measures involv-
Ing present and future financial
obligations and perhaps the taxing
and appropriating powers" declared
the commissioners. If such Is the
intention of Congress. then it is
believed that the creation of some
form of governing legislative body
is essential.
On the other hand, if the Con-
gress intends to or must retain
It's full legislative authority, even
though by an organic act or other
wise, a broader administrative au-
thority is delegated, then the crea-
ton OF governing legislative body
separate and distinct from the ad-
ministrative body is not considered
necessary or advisable.
Under these conditions there ap-
pears to be no more reason for the
creation in the District of Columbia
OF body separate from the admins
trative authority for the purpose of
formulating administrative regula-
tions than there would be to set up
such a body in the Department of
Agriculture. War or Interior merely
because the Congress delegates to
these departments powers to make
regulations for the administration
OF farm programs, waterways or
parks.
Would Settle Issue First.
Summarizing, the Commissioners
are of the opinion that the creation
OF governmental structure such as
proposed by this report (Griffen-
hagen. including a governing body,
should be preceded by definite con-
clusion by the Congress as to the
nature and extent to which it is
willing or can delegate legislative
authority to a governing body Of
the District Of Columbia
Further dissecting the Griffen-
hagen plan, the Commissioners
pointed out it provided for an ad-
ministrative officer to be appointed
for an indefinite term.
This, for all practical purposes, u
they said, means lifetime or near
lifetime appointment. In this officer
is to be lodged full administrative
authority. including powers of ap-
pointment and removal of subordi-
mates, subject only to broad general
policies to be made by the proposed
governing body"
The Commissioners also explained
that the District is peculiar" among
cities because of its relationship with
the Federal Government, and said it
would not be desirable, even if pos
sible, to dissolve this relationship.
The existing commission form of
government. with it's method of ap-
pointments, qualifications of Com
missioners, length of terms and Fed
eral controls, the Commissioners
said, appears to us to strike q
workable balance between the local
and Federal interests to a much
higher degree than any other system
yet devised"
Criticize Projected Departments.
The so-called defects" the Com
missioners found in the Griffenhagen
plan were largely in the proposal for
merging the present heterogeneous
array of IS agencies under II de-
partment heads. In this connection,
they said the number of depart
ments proposed is believed to be
excessive" and pointed out that
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