Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-13
Reorganization
ActionHingeson
Adjournment
Senate Committee
To Delay Decision
Until After Hearings
BY DON S. WARREN.

by DUN >. WAhhEN.
The fate of the House-approved
bill for reorganization of the Dis
trict government, a somewhat pale
version of the Griffenhagen plan
from which controversial features
were stricken, today appeared to
depend on how much longer Con-
gress remains in session.
The Senate District Committee,
with seven members present and
with one other member reporting by
telephone, decided during a closed
conference this morning to delay
It's decision on the bill until formal
public hearings are held Whether
Congress stays at work long enough
for this is problematical
Chairman King announced. how
ever, he would appoint a subcom-
mittee Immediately to conduct the
hearing and would ask its members
to go to work" right away, sug-
costing that hearings might be be-
gun possibly as early as next Mon
day.
Opposition Expressed.
Unexpectedly. some opposition to
the bill-which closely approxi-
mates the program which had been
sponsored by the Commissioners
has been expressed by two leading
nictrint Nf1oio1c ononrIino n
ports following the session.
Melvin c. HaZen, president of the
Board Of Commissioners, is under
stood to have stressed that the re-
organization plan would cost the
District additional money, and Maj.
Daniel j. Donovan, District auditor
and a member of the Commission
ers' Kitchen cabinet" which drafted
and sponsored a reorganization plan
somewhat similar to that finally ap-
proved by the House. is said to have
made several arguments against
features of the bill.
The action of the District Com
mittee was in the nature of con-
firmation of the position taken by
Senator King who had previously
said he thought hearings would be
necessary. He told reporters after
the meeting:
The House had this subject before
Its District Committee for quite a
long time and lately adopted it. The
bill comes before us now at the
last minute and we would be ex-
pected to report out the measure
dealing with very important subjects
without holding hearings. 1 can't
see that we should do that"
Talk of Adjournment.
Senator King refrained from ex-
pressing any thought that the bill
was killed for this session, although
he said there was talk at the Capitol
that Congress might be able to ad-
Journ a week from tomorrow. How
ever, he suggested that instead of
adjourning Congress might take a
recess.
Even if Congress adjourns, he
said, the fact that Senate hearings
were held would place the bill in a
position for early hearings at the
next session. In this event both
houses of Congress would have to
consider the bill as new matter.
Senator King reiterated that the
bill contains many features he be-
lieves desirable, some of which he
said he personally urged. Among
these he mentioned the proposal to
establish a civil service system for
the District.
On the other hand he emphasized
again that District officials had told
him the proposed new program
would add to District operating costs
by several hundred thousand dollarJ
a year"
Additional Cost.
Asked if the most of this cost
would not result from creation of
the District civil service plan he
said that while the civil service
would cost a considerable sum there
were other items. There is, he
said, the finance officer who would
have to have staff, budget officer
who would have a staff, and the
proposal for an administrative as
sistant to the Commissioners who
would also have to employ a staff"
Meeting with Senator King were
Senators Overton of Louisiana.
Tydings of Maryland, Reynolds of
North Carolina, Hughes of Della
ware, all Democrats, and Senators
Capper of Kansas and Bridges of
New Hampshire, Republicans.
Senator McCarran, Democrat, of
Nevada was not present but tele-
phoned his view that hearings
should be held. Attending the
meeting also were Commissioners
Hazen, Young and McCoach and
Maj. Donovan, Corporation Counsel
Elwood H. Seal and Capt. L. c.
Whitehurst. director of highways.