Evening star., 1939-07-08
Meeting Called
To Act on D. T..
Reorganization
Kennedy's Group
To Consider Revised
Plan Tuesday
Bv JAMES E. CHM.

First actual steps to start the
Kennedy bill to modernize the Dis
trict government on its legislative
journey through Congress will be
taken Tuesday by the Reorganiza-
ton Subcommittee of the House Dis
trict Committee.
Representative Kennedy, Demo-
erat, of Maryland, sponsor of the
bill and the subcommittee chairman,
called the meeting so he can discuss
various features of the plan with the
members, and give them an oppor-
tunity to suggest changes for i'm
provements.
1t is Mr.. Kennedy's hope that the
subcommittee will approve the bill
without delay, so it can be favorably
reported to the House in time for
consideration on the second District
day of the month-July "a. If the
subcommittee approves the reorgan-
ization plan Tuesday. special
meeting of the full District Com
mittee may be held later in the
week to consider it.
King May Sponsor Senate Bill.
Meantime, the Kennedy bill may
be introduced in the Senate by
Chairman King of the Senate Dis
trict Committee.
Senator King conferred late yes
terday with Mr. Kennedy, Commits
sioner George E. Allen and E. o.
Griffenhagen and Frank o. Everett,
officials of the firm of Griffenhagen
Il Associates, which developed the
original reorganization plan, and
told them if the plan as embodied in
the bill meets his general approval,
he would sponsor it in the Senate.
A copy of the BILL together with
the account in The Star yesterday
OF the report prepared by Mr.. Ken
nedy to explain it. was taken home
last night by Senator King for study
Senator King also plans to discuss
the bill today with the District Com
missioners.
Copies of the modified District re-
organization bill introduced by Mr.
Kennedy were sent to the Commits
sloners today, but 1t was indicated
the city officials would not confer
with congressional leaders on the
measure until the first of next week
Just before leaving the District
Building to take part in the opening
OF The Star-American Legion Soap
Box Derby, Commissioner Hazen
called Senator King and explained
he desired to study the revised re-
organization legislation over the
week end.
Since the Reorganization Subcom-
mlttee of the House District Com
mittee held extensive public hearings
on the original plan for undermining
the District government, no further
hearings are to be held by this group.
Senator King said the Senate Dis
trict Committee would hold hearings
only in event various interested
groups in Washington have supple
mental evidence to offer.
Vigorous efforts are to be made to
have the reorganization bill enacted
before the adjournment of Congress.
Mr.. Kennedy believes there will be
no undue delay in either the Sen
ate or House because of President
Roosevelts approval of the final re-
organization plan as embodied in
his bill.
May Hasten District Day.
Should Congress show a sudden
trend toward adjournment before
July "a, the next District day in the
House, Mr.. Kennedy probably will
ask the Rules Committee to report
out a special resolution to give the
bill privileged status so it can be
called up before that date.
House members who have followed
Mr.. Kennedy's efforts to reorganize
the municipal government seemed
reluctant to comment yesterday on
the revised plan which would con-
tinue the Board of Commissioners
as the governing and policy making
body and create a new position
that of administrator-to serve as
executive head of government. Rep
resentative Collins, Democrat, of
Mississippi, chairman of the House
Appropriations Subcommittee in
charge of the District supply bill,
said he would not make a fight on
the House floor against the plan,
although he would vote against it.
Mr.. Collins does not believe the
reorganization plan will lead to any
economies in the operation of the
District government.