Evening star., 1939-03-31
Final Draft
Of New Setup
Expected Soon
Tentative Revision
Reveals Changes in
Griffenhoeen Plan
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

The final draft of a proposed
new organic law for the District.
designed to carry out recommends
tions in the Griffenhagen report
for undermining the municipal gov
eminent, probably will be completed
next week, it was announced today
by Chairman Kennedy of the Re-
organization Subcommittee of the
House District Committee.
A tentative draft of the proposed
legislation, prepared by Griffen-
hagen & Associates. the firm which
developed the reorganization plan
Representative Kennedy said. al
ready has been changed in NAM
respects, and other alterations are
anticipated.
The tentative draft follows closely
the new plan of organization SCI
forth in the Griffenhagen repor
although it reveals in more detsi
the functions of various officis
and agencies under the propos
setup.
Authorizes Utility Ownership.
For instance, it is proposed
grant authority to the DistI.
government to issue bonds, appr,
pirate its own funds and own a,
operate public utilities. Powe
proposed for delegation to the MI
nicipal government by Congress il
clude all those customarily exc
cised by municipal corporate
under a State charter.
The proposed tentative draft
the legislation also fixes the mer
bership of the City Council !;
seven and makes provision for !,
tention of the Commissioners ".
may be in Office at the time
adoption of the organization pl.
as members of the council. Sa,
aries of the Commissioners. HOY :
ever. would be reduced from $50
to s2,5OO year, the amount prt-
vided for members of the council.
Another proposal in the tente =
tive draft of the proposed organ
act is that. the council elect from
it's membership a mayor and vice
mayor. These officers would be II
ceremonial" heads of the Distri- .
government.
! In accordance with the origina
recommendation the Griffe.' hagen
legislative plan provides that .nem-
bers of the council shall be ap-
pointed by the President. There is
an alternative section. however. pro-
viding for election of members OF
the council by proportional rep
resentation methods If Congress de-
/ cides at some later date to give the
| District local suffrage. In such an
event the council would determine
the qualifications of the voters who
would thereafter elect councilmen
| for two-year terms.
Some Residential Restrictions.
While the tentative draft of the
legislation stipulates that members
of the council shall be residents OF
the District for at least three years,
it does not make any such pro-
vision with respect to the admin
istrator or city manager, who woulc'
become the executive head of the
municipal government under the re-
organization plan. The admins
traitor, whose salary would be MOI
less than $4,000 year, would be
selected by the council. The Crit
fenhagen firm merely provides he
/ should be a citizen of the Unitec
States and selected on the basis o.
his qualifications, without regard
to his political or religious opinion
or affiliations.
All powers of the municipal cor
poration would be vested in tn
council, but it would be specifica,
ly prohibited from interfering witt
the administration of the District
government by the city manager
The council, however, would be au-
thorized to investigate the financia
transactions and operations of an,
department and the conduct or off.
cial acts of any employe.
Two Types of Boards.
The tentative draft of the BIZ
provides for two classes of board
or committees. Permanent board
would be appointed by the counci
for six-year overlapping terms
while temporary committees OF
boards may be selected by the city
manager or department directors
Permanent board members would be
compensated for actual time spent
in performance of their duties
Members of temporary committee
would draw no pay.
Broad advisory powers would be
given to such boards as the Boart
of Education and the Board oi
Library Trustees, but they woulo
lack administrative control over any
department. Rules promulgated by
a director of any department, suct
as the schools and library. however
would not become effective until ap-
proved by the board.
Mr.. Kennedy said proposals ir
the tentative draft of the proposed
legislation should not be accepted
as final in view of changes already
made and those which are likely tc
be made in the next few days. Al
the same time he deplored the pre-
mature" publication of the tentative
draft.
prepared for Comments"
In a prepared statement issued
to the press, he said:
1.-THE release of the proposed or
ganic law for the District Of Co.
lumbia was entirely premature and
unauthorized. This is only tenta-
tive draft in process, prepared fol
comments and suggestions for i'm
provements. This draft has beer
changed in many respects since II
was first copied, and Is still in proc
ess of being edited, and changes ar.
still being made.
TT is hoped that a typewriter
draft will be ready for members Of
the subcommittee some time next
week."
Another public hearing on the re.
organization plan will not be held
until next week.