Evening star., 1940-09-10

House, but during debate on the
bill the maximum attendance was
40, according to a count from the
press gallery. The vote on the pro-
posed amendment of Mr.. Holmes
shows only 43 were present at that
time.
IL Administrative Departments.
The bill would place the present
heterogeneous array of more than
so municipal bureaus and agancies
lnder II administrative departments,
increase the powers Of the Commits
Sioners and create an 'administra-
tive assistant" to aid them in work.
ing out a plan alter the original re-
organization plan goes into effect,
further to increase the efficiency
and economy of municipal govern
nent
The IL departments into which
the various bureaus and agencies
would be consolidated are designated
as follows:
Finance, law, engineering and
public works, personnel, police, fire,
health, insurance. licenses, public
welfare and vehicles and traffic.
Aside from a separate civil service
system which would control the
filling of vacancies In the municipal
service, the bill would completely
divorce the Federal Budget Bureau
from control over the annual Dis
trict budgets. These budgets, in
stead of first being submitted to
the Budget Bureau for Approval,
would be transmitted directly to
Congress after Being prepared at
the District Building.
Another feature of the bill pro-
vides for consolidation of the Police
and Municipal Courts into one court
consisting of two branches-crim-
inal and civil.
The Board of Library Trustees
and the Board of Education would
continue their autonomous char
acter under the bill. All other
boards and agencies, however, would
be placed under the IL proposed
departments.
Chief participants in the debate
on the bill Yesterday were Repre-
sentatives Schafer. Dirksen. Case
and Stefan, Republican, of Nebraska
a member Of the Subcommittee on
Appropriations, which frames the
annual District supply bills.
Representative Lewis. Democrat,
of Colorado asked several questions.
Mr.. Dirksen opened the debate
by pointing out the bill had long
and careful" consideration in the
District Committee. He also called
attention to the fact that its spon-
sor, Representative Kennedy, is
winding up eight years of service
in the House, having been defeated
for denomination in the Maryland
primary last May.
1T will be a fine testimonial to
Mr.. Kennedy to pass this bill" Mr..
Dirksen declared. 1T will stand as
monument to him when he leaves" p"
Sees Increased Efficiency.
Mr.. Dirksen also expressed belief
that the reorganization plan as en-
bodied in the bill would increase the
efficiency of the municipal service
and pave the way for economies in
the operation of the District govern
ment
The District, you know" he told
the House, grew something like
Topsy"
Mr. Schafer, who, when Mr.. Ken
nedy made the initial attempt to call
up his bill, asked if it was the meas
ure to give the bureaucrats here the
right to fire every employer" and
questioned the protection provided
for the municipal workers against
wholesale dismissals.
Mr.. Dirksen assured him District
employees now have no protection
and the bill contains provision to
give them protection.
Charges Monopolies in ID. C.
MIR. Schafer then charged there
is a vicious" milk and liquor mo-
nopoly in the District and sug-
gested that whisky snoopers and
snifners" be placed under the police
department instead of the Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board.
At that point Mr.. Stefan in
uuired if the reorganization plan
would effect greater economies IN
the operation of the municipal gov
ernment.
That's the avowed purpose of
this legislation" replied Representa-
tive Dirksen.
Mr.. Case wanted to know why
the bill proposed to divorce the
Budget Bureau from control over
the District budget.
Mr.. Dirksen, explaining he was
speaking from a rusty memory,
said he believed 1t resulted from a
desire of the Budget Bureau ito get
out from under" in handling details
of the District budget, and also to
satisfy demands that the Commits
sioners be given authority to control
municipal expenditures.
rs there a provision to prevent
lobbying for APPROPRIATIONS" asked
Representative Case.
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