Evening star., 1940-02-09
dc. Heads Scan
Comments on
Reorganization
Cabinet, Civil Service
And Budget OfficioIs
Give Opinions

Comments from the Secretary OF
War, Secretary of Interior, Con-
troller General and Civil Service
Commission on the reorganization
proposals of the Commissioners to-
day were under close study by the
city heads and special advisers.
The bill was returned yesterday
from the Budget Bureau, where it
has been under scrutiny and is ex-
pected to be forwarded to Congress
for action within the next few days,
together with all comments. It is
hoped to have the bill at the Cap
itol no later than February 10.
The Commissioners continued their
silence on the proposals and refused
to divulge the nature of the COM
ments from the Federal officials nor
would they say If any changes in
the plan were contemplated. 1t is
understood no major objections were
voiced, however.
Congress to Get Bill Soon.
A conference of the so-called
Kitchen cabinet" was held in Com
missioner Hazen's Office, after which
this statement was issued:
THE Commissioners have today
received from the Budget Bureau
letter returning to them their plan
for reorganization. Attached to the
letter are comments made by the
Secretary of War, the Secretary of
the Interior, the Controller General
and the Civil Service Commission
These comments are being studied
by the Commissioners and their spe-
cial advisers. AS soon as these
studies are completed, which will be
within the next few days, the bill,
together with all comments, will be
forwarded to Congress for such ac-
ton as Congress desires to make"
Contents of the bill were made
public last month at the instance of
Representative Kennedy, Democrat.
OF Maryland, chairman of the Spe-
cial Reorganization Subcommittee of
the House District Committee, who
has a program of his own. The bill
calls for a paid advisory council for
the Commissioners, to be appointed
by the Commissioners.
At public hearings in November
on the Seal reorganization plan,
from which the Commissioners
plan developed, civic leaders ex-
pressed the desire to link reorgan-
ization with suffrage, and Repre-
sentative Kennedy has announced
plans to incorporate suffrage in his
bill, which is based on the Griffen-
hagen proposals and calls for a city
manager.
Substitute for Kennedy Bill.
The Commissioners plan is their
substitute for Mr.. Kennedy's bill,
which was introduced last session
OF Congress but did not come up
for hearings.
Sections Of the proposed plan
which affect the War and Interior
Departments include the proviso
that disbursements, wholly or in
part, from District revenues shall be
made only by the accounting Off
GERS of the District for such agen-
cies as the militia, the National
Capital parks, the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission, the
National Geological Park and the
Washington Aqueduct and other
District appropriations now spent
under direction of the chief of engi-
neerS of the Army. 1t is elsewhere
provided that the agencies named
would pay taxes to the District COL
lector and purchase supplies through
the District purchasing officer.
Other sections dealing with the
General Accounting Office, headed
by the Controller General, would
limit the control Of the accounting
Office to periodical audits of the
District disbursements and see that
they are in accord with the law.
The District also could ask for ad-
vance decisions on matters relating
to large disbursements and collec-
tions of revenue-a matter on which
1t is understood there now is some
doubt as to legality.
The Seal proposals included a
separate merit system for the Dis
trict.