Evening star., 1939-02-26
.Capper Would
Retain School,,
Library Boards
Toxpoyers' Group
Backs Principle
OF D. G. Plan
By ]. A. O'LEARY,

ing minority member of the Senate
District Committee, came out yes
terday against abolishing or cur
failing the powers of the Board Of
Education or the Board of Library
Trustees in the proposed reorgani-
zation of the District government.
The Kansan, who has followed
District affairs closely for many
years, made it clear he was not
opposing the Griffenhagen report
as whole. On the contrary, he
indicated he regarded it generally as
step in the right direction, and
indorsed specifically the suggestion
it makes for removal of District
estimates from Federal Budget Bu-
reau control.
Another development last night
was announcement by the WASH
ington Taxpayers Association that
it favors the reorganization report
in principle, with proviso that il
new local governing body is set
up at least a three-year District
residence requirement be retained
as condition to appointment.
Meeting Planned Tuesday.
Meanwhile Representative Ken
nedy of Maryland, chairman of the
House Subcommittee on Reorgani-
zation, made plans for meeting
Tuesday morning to fix date for
beginning public hearings and to
map a plan of procedure in con-
sidering the subject.
II am in sympathy with the stand
taken by Mr.. Quinn for preserving
an independent board of educa-
ton" said Senator Capper, referring
| to Henry I. Quinn, member OF the
District bar, who resigned from the
School Board 10 days ago in order
to be free to oppose more vigor-
ously that part of the reorganiza-
ton report which would reduce the
board to an advisory committee in
a new department of education, un-
der a director.
II think the school system has
been going along pretty well under
the present system" the Senator
went on, adding that he sees no
need for the proposed change.
81 would not be for that, either"
said the Kansan, referring to the
section of the report which also
would replace the Board of Library
Trustees with an advisory commit
tee. II think the present library
system has worked we'll"
Report Called Fine Effort.
Generally speaking" he contin-
ued 1.-The Griffenhagen report is a
fine effort to improve the program
here for city government. The city
manager, or administrator, sugges-
ton ought to be seriously considered.
It has worked in some other cities.
We ought to go into it carefully to
see how it would fit in with the
peculiar conditions under which the
National Capital is governed. One
of the best things in the report is
the suggestion for eliminating DOM
lnation of local needs by the
Budget Bureau
The Griffenhagen report makes
provision for boards or committees
in certain departments, but it draws
a distinction between the powers
and duties of a board and COM
mittee. For example, it states that
each board of a department (but
not a committee) should have ce.-
tain appeal. rule-approving and
fact finding functions. In the case
of the school and library systems,
however, the report recommends
only advisory committees.
Representative Kennedy indicated
recently that he would be willing to
retain the Board of Education and
the Board of Library Trustees if he
becomes convinced the present
method of supervising these func-
tions is preferable
About % years ago a movement
was started to deprive the Board
of Education and the library trus-
tees of administrative power. but
the House District Committee at
that time turned down the proposal
after public hearings.
Two Points Emphasized.
The Washington Taxpayers AS
sociation based its approval in prin-
ciple of the plan on the contention
that "it is better to have a three
quarter organization than none"
and upon what it believes to be
two generally accepted truths con-
corning the theory and practice Of
municipal government:
"One, that there should be one
executive who is responsible for the
administration of a city govern
ment.
Two, that there should be some
sort of city council which will have
only legislative and ceremonial
functions. This council should be
composed of men truly representa-
tive of the citizenry of Washington"
The association, in support of the
city manager plan, pointed out that
the two "best governed" cities in
the United Statess Cincinnati and
Berkeley, have this type of admin
istration.
The taxpayers group also backed
the contention of Representative
Kennedy that the suffrage question
should not obscure the issue ofsthe
need of streamlining our govern
ment."
Suggestions Made.
While urging that other organi-
cations take the view that the whole
plan should not be scrapped because
of few Objectionable parts. the
association made the following spe-
cific suggestions:
That only bona fide citizens of at
least three years residence be MEM
bers of the council.
That II directors of various de-
partments are too many, when the
usual number Is or Z.
That it should be made clear
there will be an independent budget
setup before the District budget is
completely divorced from the Fed
eral Bureau of the Budget.
That city manager be selected
without regard to politics or resi-
dence and upon merit basis, and
that a salary large enough to make