Evening star., 1939-02-19
Police and Fire
Efficiency Hints
In Report Data
Discomfort Develops
Over Making Another
Reorganization Study

Reorganization Study
Secret data in the files of Griffen-
hagen & Associates, authors of
j the latest plan for reorganizing the
District government, it was reported
last night, show how the efficiency
and effectiveness of both the Police
and Fire Departments might be in
creased without additional person.
mel or equipment.
The information, it was said, will
be made available for use of the Re-
organization Subcommittee of the
House District Committee when it
begins study of the proposed new
municipal setup.
Meantime, there were murmurs of
dissatisfaction at the Capitol over
action of the Commissioners in ap-
pointing special committee of Dis
trict officials to develop another re-
organization plan, and requesting a
delay in public hearings on the Grif-
fenhagen program. 1t was believed
the object of the Commissioners in
these moves is to forestall action on
the Griffenhagen plan at the present
session of Congress.
Hopes for Hearings Soon.
Regardless of the attitude of the
Commissioners, Representative Ken
nedy, Democrat, of Maryland, chair
man of the Reorganization Subcom-
mittee, hopes to start public hearings
on the Griffenhagen plan sometime
this week. He said he anticipated
opposition to certain features of the
new program, but he did not believe
the entire plan should be condemned
for this reason.
ut was never intended that the
reorganization plan should be
adopted exactly as outlined in the
Griffenhagen report said Mr.. Ken
nedy. IF there are objections to
certain features, such as abolition
OF the Board of Education. we want
to know it. But I don't think at
tackS should be made on the pro-
gram as whole"
Representatives Bates, Republican,
of Massachusetts,, a member of Mr..
Kennedy's Reorganization Subcom-
mlttee, indicated he would oppose
any move to start hearings until the
commissioners are prepared to make
q report on the Griffenhagen plan.
The Commissioners, as we'll as
the residents OF the District, should
be given ample opportunity to study
the Griffenhagen report" he said.
And I don't think any changes
should be made in the municipal
government until it is proven they
are necessary"
Police Reorganization Hints.
Data gathered by the Griffenhagen
firm in its study of the municipal
government, it was intimated, dis
closes that Police Supt. Ernest w.
Browns annual plea for additional
policemen to patrol the streets could
be answered with an internal re-
organization in hissown department.
For instance, it was pointed out,
there would be no necessity to assign
two men to police scout car if the
Washington Police Department had
two-Way radio communication with
IT'S own broadcasting station, WPDW.
Furthermore, 1t was said, the Police
Department could relieve a number
OF officers from traffic duty during
school hours if the schoolboy patrol
system is extended.
AS for the Fire Department, the
Grlffenhagen experts are said to
have discovered it might be pos
elble 80 even eliminate several fire
companies by relocating fire engine
houses and "respotting' alarm calls.
The existing fire system, it was
explained, was developed in the
days Of horse drawn apparatus.
The alarm calls were arranged so
that no engine company was re-
qulred to travel a distance that
would exhaust the horses.
Now, however, with motorized
apparatus, it was said, the equip
ment is located in substantially
The same places, and the companies
respond to the same alarm boxes.
In certain instances, it was pointed
out, it might be possible for one
fire company to cover approximately
twice as much territory as in the
days OF horse-drawn apparatus.
Details Not Included.
The details of possible internal"
reorganization in the various munich
pal departments were not incl,A,ed
In the Griffenhagen report. it was
said, because this information
would 60 be- nd the scope of the
Inquiry as directed by CONGRESS.
Tse data. however, is available.
and will be produced if requested
by members of Representative Ken
nedy's subcommittee.
: Commissioner Melvin c. Hazen
and other District officials devoted
several hours Yesterday to an anal
ysiS of the Griffenhagen report.
They are expected to disapprove
the proposal, at least as it now
stands, for stripping the Board of
Education and the Board of Library
Trustees of all their powers, and are
! said to have found reason to dis
agree with other recommendations
and, even, some of the facts as out
lined by the reorganization experts
Meanwhile, there were reports that
the former Citizens Efficiently Com
mittee, headed by E. Barrett Pretty
man, former corporation counsel, is
ito be reconvened soon, at the re-
quest of some District officials. to
(See REORGANIZATION, Page B-3