Evening star., 1940-01-14
BY DON S. WARREN.

"A meQlCdi OlUCeT OF Llle OIltcu
States Public Health Service or the
Army or Navy Medical Corps would
be detailed as head of the District
Health Department under the terms
of the Commissioners heretofore
secret plan for reorganization OF
the municipal government, accord
ing to reliable reports heard late
yesterday at the District Building.
The source of the proposal for this
sensational turn in District reorgan-
ization maneuvers remained an Of.
fetal mystery, as key officials refused
any pertinent comment.
Apparently, approval of the plan
by Congress would mean the de-
parture of DR.. George C. Rutland
as health officer, for the new official
repeatedly would be detailed in the
same manner as an officer of the
Army Engineer Corps is detailed
as member of the Board of Com
missioners
There was a refusal of comment
at the District Building on this
point, as on all others. however.
The Commissioners plan for reor-
ganization. carefully veiled from
public view, now is in the hands Of
the Budget Bureau for review. 1t
will probably be made public tomor-
row. however. at the demand OF
representative Kennedy of Mary
land. chairman of special subcom-
mittee of the District Committee in
charge of reorganization legislation.
Origin of Plan Undisclosed.
As soon as word of the reported
plan to change control over the
Health Department was heard. spec
ulation began as to who had pro-
posed it, but there was no official
answer. Commissioner George E.
Allen, who was persuaded by Presi-
dent Roosevelt to take reappoint-
ment as Commissioner to take
charge of the reorganization study,
said: The Commissioners have pre-
pared reorganization plan and
have sent it to the Budget Bureau,
in compliance with the executive
order of many years standing. Un-
til it has come back from the Budget
Bureau we Commissioners are not
free to make any comment"
On top of the health officer dis
closure, members of the House Dis
trict Committee learned last night
the heart of the reorganization plan
provides for creation of a council
of nine members to advise them on
tax. budget and legislative problems.
The council, it is understood, would
be appointed by the Commissioners,
and the personnel selected from va
rious civic, business and labor
groups. Reports said it would be a
paid body.
Suffrage Proviso Planned.
There is no provision IN the plan
of the Commissioners for local suf-
frage Representative Kennedy has
indicated. however, he proposed to
write a suffrage plank in the reor-
ganization program. He also has
declared he intended to give the
present voteless residents of the Dis
trict the privilege of naming the
offices they want filled via the bal
lot.
Mr.. Kennedy said he is tired" Of
waiting for the Budget Bureau to
pass on the reorganization plan Of
the Commissioners and expects them
to have copy available when they
appear tomorrow before the full
House District Committee.
At the District Building, it was
said, the Commissioners would have
copy of their plan in their pockets,
and if ordered to do so, they would
turn it over to the committee. even
though Budget Bureau approval
might be lacking.
Griffenhagen Plan Backed.
Mr.. Kennedy is supporting the re-
organization plan developed by the
Chicago firm of Griffenhagen g. As
sociates. A bill he has introduced
which embodies this plan. would
retain the present commission form
of government, but the Commits
sioners would merely serve as the
governing body of the District. A
new offlce-that of city manager
would be created. The city manager
would be the administrative head Of
the government.
The Commissioners plan, it had
(see REORGANIZATION, A-sJ