Evening star., 1940-04-19
House D. T.. Unit
Action on Revamping
Plan Sought Monday
Kennedy Drops Idea Of
House Consideration on
Next District Day
By JAMES E. CHINN.

The House District Committee at
its meeting Monday will be asked to
approve the latest revised edition
Of plan for undermining the mu-
nicipal government.
Representative Kennedy, Demo-
crat. of Maryland, chairman of a
special subcommittee in charge of
reorganization legislation, said to-
day he hoped to have the modified
plan in shape for full committee
consideration Monday.
At the same time, Mr.. Kennedy
announced he had abandoned his
earlier plan to seek House action on
a reorganization bill Monday. It is
his present intention to wait until
May 13 to call up the measure.
Tax Issue Expected Up.
In view of the determination of
the District Committee to make an
other effort Monday to force House
consideration of bill providing for
combination retail sales-income
tax, Mr.. Kennedy said 1t would be
folly" for him to make an attempt
to call up the reorganization pro-
gram.
Il want the House to give serious
consideration to the reorganization
program and vote it either up or
down." he declared. Il don't want
to jeopardize its consideration by
having it called up the same day
the District Committee seeks again
to have the House take up the tax
bill"
Several weeks ago the House fiat
ly refused to consider the proposed
legislation calling for 2 per cent
tax on retail sales and a levy on
earned income in excess of $4,000
a year.
Monday is the last so-called Dis
trict day. of the month in the
House-the day devoted to consid-
Grafton of local legislation. The
first District day" in May is sched-
uled for the second Monday in the
month, which is May 13.
Mr.. Kennedy said he did not be-
leve q two-week delay would be
harmful" to the reorganization
legislation. since Congress probably
will remain in session until early
in June. The additional time, he
pointed out, will give his subcom-
mittee and the full committee suf-
ficient time to perfect the bill.
The reorganization plan has beer
tentatively approved by two Of the
five members of the subcommittee
Chairman Kennedy hopes to gel
the Endorsement of the remaining
three members before the end Of
the week, so the revised bill can bt
reported to the committee at its
regular meeting Monday.
Drastically Revised.
In present form, the program fol
revamping the municipal setup is
radically different from original
plans considered by the subcommit-
tee. For instance, a proposal by the
Commissioners that they be author
lied to create paid council Of nine
citizens to advise them on tax,
budget and legislative problems has
been scrapped, leaving the top
organization Of the municipal ma
chine substantially as it now exists
The principal changes-all de-
signed in the interest of greater em-
cheney and economy in the munich
pal service-would reshufne and con-
solidate various existing bureaus and
agencies into II departments. In
addition, the plans provide for an
administrative assistant to the Com
missioners. His job would be tc
make continuous studies of the va.
rious municipal departments and
submit recommendations to the
Commissioners as to alterations he
believes would be needed to increase
efficiency and economy.