Evening star., 1939-04-27
Meeting 10 Review
Griffenhagen Plan
Called by Kennedy
District Commissioners
Will Be Invited
To Present Views

A special meeting to review the
Grlffenhagen plan for modernizing
the municipal government has been
called for next Wednesday by Chair
man Kennedy of the Reorganiza-
ton Subcommittee of the House Dis
trict Committee.
The District Commissioners, who
already have >gistered their op-
position to the proposed new setup,
will be invited to outline their views
with respect to changes made in the
original reorganization plan. The
principal alteration would consoli-
date all local courts into a munich
pal court.
Certain features of the plan were
discussed at an executive meeting
OF the subcommittee yesterday in TIE
office Of Chairman Kennedy. Before
the subcommittee meets again it is
expected that President Roosevelt.
who has taken keen interest in
the proposed revamping of the
municipal government, may make
known his views on the Griffen-
hagen recommendations.
Review by Kitchen Cabinet"
The Commissioners kitchen cab
met today began review of COM
ments submitted by various District
government department executives
on the Griffenhagen plan.
The Kitchen cabinet" so dubbed
by the Commissioners, is headed
by Corporation Counsel Elwood H.
Seal, two other members being Maj.
Daniel ]. Donovan, auditor and
budget officer, and Capt. H. c.
Whitehurst. director of highways.
Comments from the department
heads on the Griffenhagen plan
were asked by the Commissioners
at the instance of Mr.. Kennedy.
The committee plans to make brief
digests of criticisms or commenda-
tions given by the department ex-
ecutives to the Griffenhagen plan
as it pertains to their specific func-
tlons and duties. 1t is understood
the department heads have found
cause for many objections. The
Commissioners have indicated they
will take the digests as prepared
by the Kitchen cabinet" and sub
NIT report based on them to the
Kennedy committee an an early
conference.
Postcards Are Received.
Meantime it was reported at a
meeting of the District Postcard
Campaign Committee last night
that postcards from District citi-
zens, urging that the Griffenhagen
plan include recommendation for
popularly elected and enlarged
City Council, are being received in
great numbers by Chairman Jen-
nlngs Randolph of the House Dis
trict Committee.
The meeting was informed that
10000 cards already have been dis
trlbuted among Washington resi-
dents of voting age. The need for
speeding up work during the next
two weeks was stressed if the goal
OF 25.O0O cards is to be achieved
before the bill reaches the floor of
the House. 1t also was agreed that
petitions should be circulated.
Schedule of Meetings.
Plans were formulated for reach
ing the public with cards and Pc
tlons through meetings of organ
lzatlons, through busy community
and shopping centers and through
personal contact. It was voted to
hold meetings in all sections of the
city and to establish committees
representing the various commune
ties.
This schedule of sectional meet
ings was drawn up: Northwest Sec
ton. tonight at 8 o'clock at the
Thomson School. Twelfth and L
streets NV: Southeast, tonight at
8 o'clock at No. II precinct, Nichols
avenue and Chicago street Sc;
Northeast, tomorrow at 8 pm, John
Burroughs School. Eighteenth and
Monroe streets NE.