Evening star., 1939-10-14

Health. License. Insurance, Labor
and Welfare Departments The
twelfth, if it is stated in the pro-
posed new basic law, would be the
Recreation Department. There is
some strong sentiment for this, since
the present jurisdictional scheme
lacks basic law support.
The Finance Department., which
also would include the proposed new
position of budget oflicer. would
take over the present functions of
the following: Auditor, assessor. COLI
lector OF taxes, the now unofficial
position of budget officer" purchas-
ing officer and disbursing officer.
The functions of the Engineer De-
partment, except as may be other
wise specified by law. would include
those now performed by the follow
ing agencies: Department of Con-
struction, Department of Inspection,
Department of Highways, Depart
ment of Sanitary Engineering, Sur
veyor's Office. Office of Chief Clerk
and Office of Municipal Architect.
This plan would contemplate desig-
nation of an officer of the Army
Engineer Corps, u. S. A., as Engi-
neer Commissioner, to serve as one
OF the Board of Commissioners, as
at present, this official to be head
of the Engineer Department. This
department would be divided into
not to exceed three divisions, each
to be directed by an assistant engi-
neer commissioner under assign
ment by the Board of Commits
sioners.
Police-Fire Link Avoided.
Whereas the so-called Griffen-
hagen plan placed the Police and
Fire Departments in Department
OF Safety, the plan now being
drawn would leave the two units
separate. District officials generally
nave said they could see no advan-
tage in creating a new high -salaried
position over the chiefs of the Police
and Fire Departments nor any rea-
son why the Board of Commissioners
would have any trouble in dealing
with the heads of two departments,
whose functions largely are differ
ent
Transfer of the Traffic Depart
ment to the Police Department is
suggested by some officials on the
ground that. outside of fee and re-
cording matters, and engineering
assistance. most of the work is sub
ject to police enforcement. A battle
is expected on this score, however,
since some well-organized forces in
sist traffic control works best when
engineering. educational and en-
forcement matters are centered un-
der one head
Under the Police Department. in
the pending scheme, there would be
placed the office of poundmaster,
the present Department of Weights,
Measures and Markets, as we'll as
some of the traffic control functions.
License Department Functions.
Functions to be placed under the
proposed new License Department
would include the following:
Board of Accountancy, Board of
Examiners and Registrars of Archi-
tects. Board of Dental Examiners,
Board of Examiners of Veterinary
Medicines. Board of Plumbing,
Board of Steam and other Operat-
ing Engineers, Board of Pharmacy,
Board OF Optometry, Nurses Exam
lining Board, Commissioner on Lii
censure to Practice the Healing Arts,
Alcoholic Beverage Control Board,
Real Estate Commission, Boxing
Commission, superintendent of Ii
censes, Department of Motor We
hicles and Traffic insofar as it re-
lates to the issuance and revocation
Of motor vehicle operators licenses,
permits, registration and title Ger
tiflcates and the keeping of records
relating thereto. and the recorder of
deeds, insofar as that Office relates
to the receiving, recording and re-
leasing of motor vehicle liens.
The proposed bill provides that
wherever necessary the Commission
ers would be authorized to appoint
from practitioners of the respective
professions, sciences, trades and
callings in the District, as part-time
employees of the municipal govern
ment. resident examining boards.
Other provisions of the pending
draft call for an increase in the
powers of the present Insurance De-
partment. including power to regu-
late and fix rates in the fire insur-
ance field, along with the creation
of rating bureau.
The proposed Labor Department
would have jurisdiction over the ad-
ministration of all laws relating to
employer and employe. except as
might be otherwise specified. There
would be created an Industrial
Board of the District of Columbia
to be comprised Of five members, all
appointed by the Commissioners,
two to be representatives of labor,
two to be representatives of en-
ployers and the other to be repre-
sentative of the public. The direc-
tor of the board would be selected
by the Commissioners from a list of
three names suggested by the Labor
Board members.
Would Combine Several Units.
The board would take over the
functions of the District Unemploy-
ment Service of the Department of
Labor insofar as they relate to the
maintenance of a public employ
ment service in the District; the
Board of Education insofar as it re-
lates to the regulation of child labor
within the District; the office of the
Superintendent of Licenses insofar
AS it relates to private employment
agencies.
This section Of the proposed draft