Evening star., 1939-11-15
Bates 10 Weiqh
Commissioners S
Plan for D. {.
Hozen's Proposal
For Citizens Board
Brings Discussion

Brings Discussion
Representative Bates, Republican,
Of Massachusetts,, member of the
special subcommittee of the House
District Committee in charge of the
municipal reorganization program,
said today he proposes to give serious
consideration to any plan recon-
mended by the Commissioners.
He made the statement as an
answer to the subcommittee chair
man, Representative Kennedy, Dem
ocrat, of Maryland, who has said if
the Commissioners submit another
new plan of reorganization they
would be exceeding instructions
given them by the subcommittee.
The Commissioners have before
them now a reorganization plan
drafted by their Kitchen cabinet"
of advisers.
Mr.. Kennedy has taken the posi-
ton that all the subcommittee want
ed from the Commissioners was a
critique of the modernization plan
embodied in his bill which is based
on recommendations of the Chicago
firm of E. o. Griffenhagen g. Asso-
ciates.
Bates Cites Experience.
"The Commissioners know more
about the problem than any one
else" declared Representative Bates.
THE experience they have had in
running the municipal government
is invaluable at a time like this. Per-
sonally, I will be very happy to re-
ceive any kind of suggestion or any
plan they may propose for increas-
ing the efficiency of the Districts
municipal machine. It's the only
fair thing 1 could do
Representative Kennedy plans to
hold meeting of his subcommittee
early in December to consider vari-
GUS reorganization proposals.
Considerable off-the-record dis
cussion developed meanwhile, at the
District Building over the trial bal
| loon" sent up late yesterday by
Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen for
the creation of citizens board to
work with the Commissioners on
proposed new taxing and budget
making prerogatives.
Suggests Six or Nine on Board.
Mr.. Hazen offered for public con-
sideration suggested addition to
the reorganization plan which would
call for the appointment of board
| of six or nine citizens who would sit
with the Commissioners if they were
given powers to adopt taxes and
budgets.
Such a group would be appointed
either by the Commissioners or by
the President, under the tentative
proposal of the Commissioner. This
is somewhat similar to the proposal
of E. o. Griffenhagen, head of the
firm which developed the plan for
revision of the municipal establish
ment, built around a city manager
form.
Commissioners George E. Allen
and David McCoach, jr., withheld
comment on this and other features
of the plan offered by the kitchen
| CdDlleU.
One official said the plan would
fail to cure the lack of direct con-
troll by District residents in their
government since the proposed en-.
larged board would still be an ap-
pointed board, instead of one elected
by residents. 1t is on this ground.
also, that some District officials are
definitely opposed to the suggestion
of some members of the Commis-
sioners' Committee that the Board
of Commissioners be given power to
adopt tax levies.
Prefer Taxing By Congress.
So long as there is no elected city
government, these officials hold, the
taxing power should remain with
Congress, as well as final control
over budget making, although some
leading District officials hope that
Congress will approve the suggested
plan to permit the Commissioners
to formulate their budgets and to
send them direct to Congress with
out the present requirement of be-
ing passed first through the hands
of the Federal Budget Bureau.
While the kitchen cabinet" was
unanimous in recommending
change to permit the budget to go
direct to Congress, the group was
split two to two over the proposal Of
Corporation Counsel Elwood H. Seal
to give the Commissioners taxing
powers. Richmond B. Keech, vice
chairman of the Public Utilities
Commission, sided with Mr.. Seal on
this point, while opposition was
registered by Auditor Daniel j.
Donovan and Capt. H. c. White
hurst, director of highways.
Hearing Scheduled November 27.
Meanwhile, the Commissioners
went ahead with plans for a public
hearing on the proposals of the
Kitchen cabinet" which is to be
held IN the District Building board
room November 81, beginning at
1890 am. Mimeographed copies of
the plan are to be made available at
the Office of G. M. Thornett, the
Commissioned secretary. Those
who wish to be scheduled for state
ment in the hearing are requested
to notify Secretary Thornett.
The Commissioners announced
they had decided to withhold their
individual comments on details of
their committees plan until after the
public hearing, so as to gain the
benefit of public reactions before
they began to commit themselves on
individual features.
Mr. Hazen threw out his sugges-
ton for consideration prior to the
hearing, ito see what will be the
public reaction" He said his thought
was to bring the city government as
close as possible to the citizens and
taxpayers, in connection with the
proposed increased powers on taxa
tion and budget making.
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