Evening star., 1939-07-07


Compensation Board
would be continued. The department
would be organized internally by
divisions and would be provided with
the best available procedures sys-
tematically integrated to provide the
most effective and economical serv-
ice. Coordinate divisions of unem-
ployment compensation and employ
ment office service would be pro-
vided.
Administration of modern
and comprehensive public health
program, including control of
preventable diseases, public
health nursing and school health
services. sanitary and food in
spection, vital statistics, and pub
lie health education operation Of
clinics and hospitals and medi-
cal and laboratory services to
other departments.
Such functions would be trans
ferred from agencies now exercising
them, including specifically the
health officer, the Board of Police
and Fire Surgeons, the coroner as to
medical examinations and the
Morgue, the Anatomical Board, the
alienist, the municipal hospitals and
sanatoria, and miscellaneous boards
and committees.
Would Continue Health Officer
As Head of Department.
The health officer would be con-
tinued as director of health and
head of the department. which would
be organized into divisions with duly
lntegrated, modern procedures.
Public assistance, including all
forms Of general and categorical
relief; care of dependent, neg
lected and delinquent children;
operation of charitable and cor
rectional institutions other than
hospitals and sanatoria; admin
lstratlon of laws relating to in
determinate sentence and parole.
Such functions would be trans
ferred from other agencies now
exercising them, including specifi-
cally the Board of Public Welfare
and the institutions under its con-
troll, the Board of Indeterminate
Sentence and Parole, the probation
department of the Juvenile Court,
and the attorney general (as to
designation of institutions for sery-
ice of sentences.
The director of welfare as head of
the department and the Board of
Public Welfare and Board of Inde-
terminate Sentence and Parole. as
boards of the department, would be
continued
The social service case work now
separately administered under the
director of public welfare. the Juve-
nile Court and the Board of Inde-
terminate Sentence and Parole
would be united under the super
vision of the director of public well
fare, facilitating consideration as a
unit OF every case requiring social
service treatment and the rendering
Of broader services to the boards and
the court, which would be relieved
of the duties of administrative su-
pervision.
The jurisdiction of the Board of
1ndeterminate Sentence and Parole
would be viewed as much broader
than is now the case. embracing the
whole history of the case of each
person under sentence and the
making Of decisions in each such
case on the basis of full case his
tories presented to it, in matters of
classification, assignment to institu-
tions and transfer from institution
to institution, as well as parole and
discharge, all of these processes be-
ing regarded as steps in the progress
OF each person under sentence from
commitment to complete restoration
to society. The social service staff,
while studying the family and neigh
borhood background of each case,
would also be dealing with all mat
tiers which the case might involve
OF social adjustment outside any in
stitution.
Design. construction, mainte-
nance and operation of street,
sewer, water, building and other
public Improvements, except
parks and Fairgrounds: operation
and maintenance of public build
ings; inspection of other build
ings, structures and appurte-
nances; planning and zoning;
street cleaning, and COLLECTION and
disposal of garbage and other
refuse.
The physical development and
maintenance of parks and play
grounds are excepted, not on prin-
ciple but because of the Federal
policy of administering the parks
of the District and its environs as
unit under Federal control. 1t
would be more in line with the
plan of organization provided if a
separation between local and ma
tional park projects could be worked
out and applied.
Several Present Agencies
Affected by Transfers.
Such functions would be trans
ferred from other agencies exercis-
ing them, including specifically the
existing Engineer Department.: Zon-
ing Commission, as to preparation
of plans: Department of Vehicles
and Traffic. Department of Weights,
Measures and Markets; Public Lii
brary; Board OF Education. and Fire
Department and miscellaneous
boards, committees and commissions
dealing with subjects within the
field of functions of the depart
ment of the District. The functions
of the chief of engineers of the
United States Army as to water
supply also would be included.
The department would be headed
by director of public works who
would be required to be a qualified
municipal engineer. 1t would be
provided with a board of public
works as board of the department.
It's organization into divisions would
be subject to review and such ad-
justment as to organization and
procedures as might be found con-
ducive to more effective and eco