Evening star., 1939-02-18
Analysis Of D. {.
Merger Plan
Is Launched
Officials Expected
To Oppose Some
Sections

When given an opportunity the
Commissioners will oppose certain
features of the Griffenhagen plar
for reorganization of the District
government, it was indicated today
as a group of District officials pre-
pared an analysis of the plan for
the advice of the Commissioners.
The Commissioners are known to
be opposed to the proposal to strip
the Board of Education of all its
powers, but are in favor of many
of the suggestions, particularly
those for further departmentaliza-
ton of the city government.
Meanwhile, it was revealed that
the membership of the Citizens
Efficiency Commission, headed by
former Corporation Counsel E. Bar
rett Prettyman, is to be called to-
gether soon to make comparative
study of its recommendations and
those of E. o. Griffenhagen and AS
Sociates. It is understood that this
is to be done at the request of Dis
trict officials.
od1h dt ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Since the Commissioners favor
retention of the Board of Com
missioners as the head of the city
government, according to all indi-
cations given in the past, they have
hesitated so far to make any pro-
nouncement on the Griffenhagen
plan, which calls for the substitu-
ton of city manager or business
manager as the administrative au-
thority and the creation of coun-
Gil. either to be appointed or elected,
as the policy making or governing
body.
On this point Commissioner Hazen
has said:
"As Commissioners we are sort of
In an embarrassing position to make
any declaration because approval of
this plan as it stands would abolish
our jobs"
After some days of informal study
Of the Griffenhagen plan the Com
missioners have assigned Mai.
Daniel j. Donovan, auditor and
budget officer; Corporation Counsel
Elwood H. Seal and Capt. H. c.
Whitehurst, director of highways,
to prepare a comparative study of
the Griftenhagen plan. the so-called
Prettyman plan, and the earlier re-
organization recommendations of
the Brookings Institution.
Organized analysis of the Griffen-
hagen proposals is expected to de-
velop into detailed study in the
coming weeks.
Chairmen of the Board of Trade
committees met yesterday with two
representatives of the Griffenhagen
study for a question and answer
period of informal discussion. 1t is
thought the chairmen will call meet
ings of their committees in a week
or so to study the report as it ap-
plies to their assignment.
At the same time the trade boards
Committee on Public Schools met
at the Harrington Hotel yesterday
under Craftsmanship of George E.
keneipp. 1t is understood the COM
mittee members showed sentiment
opposed to the Setup of the school
system under the reorganization
study.
Wilbur S. Finch, chairman of the
Local Suffrage Committee of the
Federation of Citizens Associations,
said he hoped to bring before the
meeting Of the Federation tonight
the recommendations of his COM
mlttee concerning the report. Mr..
Finch said he could not discuss the
report prior to consideration by the
Federation, but it is indicated his
group will approve the general prin-
ciples of the report. Since his
committee deals with local suffrage,
1t is expected he will suggest this
method of council election.
Meanwhile, Supt. Frank w. Ballou
Is studying the report with a view
to reporting to the Board of Educa-
ton possibly at its next meeting.
Members asked for a digest of the
provisions affecting the school sys-
tenn.