Evening star., 1939-02-17
Ry LANES E. CHM.

Anticipating opposition to certain
features of the Griffenhagen reor-
ganization plan Representative Ken
nedy, Democrat, of Maryland, urged
House members today to study the
proposed new setup for the District
government with open minds"
Mr.. Kennedy, who sponsored the
study of the municipal government
by Griffenhager e. Associates which
resulted in development of the new
plan, also intimated that many
changes may be made in the orig
inal recommendation before legis-
lation to establish the so-called
"streamlined" form of municipal
government is placed before the
House.
His appeal to the House member
ship was contained in a prepared
statement. which will appear in the
Congressional Record.
Warns of Controversial Details.
mo doubt most OF you in read
ing the (Griffenhagen) report will
find details with which you do not
agree" said Mr.. Kennedy. That is
the case with me and with my COL
leagues on the committees and is
not at all surprising. 1t is hardly to
be expected that any one could de-
velop such comprehensive plan,
comprising so many details, affect
ing so many vital interests and in
volving so many controversial ques-
tions, on which every one could
agree on first reading.
Il ask you to read the report with
open minds, with the idea foremost
that here is a serious and earnest
attempt to provide a sound and
practical solution to a problem that
has baffled those interested in local
government in the District for many
decades. 1t is entitled to serious
consideration.
Il ask you to study the plan as
whole, that you reserve judgment
on any details with which you are
not in agreement until there has
been full opportunity for discus
sion"
Suggests Full Discussion.
Mr.. Kennedy explained it was
never intended that the Griffen-
hagen plan be adopted in its exact
form, or in any form, until after
there has been full and free discus
sion to bring out the merits and
dement's Of the plan as a whole
and in its many parts"
He also warned: please remem-
Der that each recommendation is
based on careful reasoning and that
you may find the reasons cogent
enough to overcome your first i'm
pressions when the matters have had
full discussion. But as to any real
questions on which you may remain
unconvinced, ask you to direct
your attention to amendments in
such details rather than to oppose
the whole plan"
Mr.. Kennedy pointed out the pres
ent commission form of government,
now over go years old, consists of
"hodge-podge, conglomerate
mess of agencies operating in all
sorts of degrees of independence of
each other, without possibility of a
a common plan or unified opera
tion.'
Congress Acts as Council.
Through lack of a local govern
ing body clothed with adequate pow
ers of local government" he de-
clared, "the Congress of the United
States has been compelled to act as
a city council for the District and
to set its ponderous machinery in
motion in matters of the most trivial
detail of no national interest what
ever"
He said conditions had become in
creasingly acute, and that demands
of an aroused citizenry" for relief
had become more insistent.
1T is urgently to be impressed
on you," he added, that now is
the time for action"