Evening star., 1939-08-27
Reorganization One
OF Many D. {. Bills
Facing Congress
Next Session to Take Up
Leftover Measures
From Calendar

Measures OF vital interest to the
District are included in unfinished
business automatically subject to
action at the second session of the
Seventy sixth Congress next winter.
1t will not be necessary to re-
/ introduce these bills, but they may
be taken up where they were left
at the close of the last sesSion-on
the calendar of either House or by
committees.
The most important District legis-
lation slated for early action at the
new session is reorganization of the
municipal government.
Several reorganization plans are
pending before Senate and House
District Committees. Early hearings
are expected before both commit
tees.
King Plans Conferences.
Chairman King of the Senate
Committee announced before he left
for his home in Utah, a few days
ago that he planned to hold series
of conferences with the Commits
sioners and other officials concern.
ing reorganization, perhaps some
time in September, in preparation
for public hearings
The Griffenhagen plan, drafted
by firm of Chicago experts COM
mlssioned by Congress, provides for
the consolidation and reorganization
of certain departments and for a
city manager. The Commissioners
would be retained, but they would
act as policy making body, with
increased powers. The city manager
would carry out the executive func-
tions now performed by the Com
missioners.
Chairman King has indicated that
he opposes certain features of this
plan, but might favor a modified
system of government along the
same lines He has not committed
himself definitely on any municipal
| set-up, but says he wants to study
the matter further.
Each Member Gets Copy.
At the close of the recent session,
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee gave each men,
Der copy of the Griffenhagen re-
port, with its accompanying charts
and statistics. and asked them to
study the plan during the recess.
Various other plans of simplifying
and revamping the municipality
have been suggested, and all these
will be considered together at the
committee hearings. Each commit
tee is expected to draft a reorgani-
zation bill acceptable to a majority
of its members. Such differences
as may exist between Senate and
House measures could be smoothed
out in conference.
The plans vary from simple con-
solidation of bureaus to one by Rep
resentative Kennedy, Democrat, of
Maryland setting up municipal as
sembly for the District. The House
committee has referred all reorgani-
cation suggestions to a special sub
committee, which is expected to
open hearings early in January.
Taxi Bill on House Calendar.
The long -agitated bill to limit the
number of taxicabs was reported
favorably by the House District
Committee last session, but failed to
reach the floor OF the House. It
remains on the House calendar. A
companion bill is pending before the
Senate District Committee Spon-
sors of this legislation will renew
their efforts to get it through early
in the winter, assuming there is not
a special session meanwhile.
Another bill of wide interest is the
proposed uniform small loan law.
This measure is before both COM
mitteeS and is certain to be taken
up.
The House held hearings on the
loan bill last session, and the Com
missioners urged its enactment, but
the committee failed to report it.
The Senate Committee has not
acted on it. The measure would
affect loans of $500 or less and pro-
vide for interest rates based on those
showed IN many states.
Racing Bill May Come Up.
The perennial attempt to estab-
lish racing and pari-mutuel wager
ing in the District may be renewed
Such bill is pending before the
judiciary subcommittee of the House
District Committee. 1t remained
there last session after the Commits
sioners opposed it. A similar meas
ure is before the Senate District
Committee.
A bill requiring scientific tests for
suspected drunken drivers is among
| the safety measures which the COM