Evening star., 1940-04-22
Farley Called
on
DC. Merger
Committee Seeks
To Get Bill Before
House May 13
BY JAMES E. CHINN.


The House District Committee to-
day decided to hold a special execu-
tive session tomorrow at 10 am. to
consider the latest revised edition of
the plan to modernize the municipal
government.
The meeting, it was said, will be
held at the request of Representa-
tive Kennedy of Maryland, chair
man of a special subcommittee in
charge of reorganization legislation.
Recent changes made by the sub
committee in the original reorgani-
zation plans for revamping the mu-
nicipal machine were outlined to
the full committee at an executive
session today by Mr.. Kennedy. He
is anxious that the full committee
approve the legislation so it can be
placed on the House calendar in
time for consideration May 13.
AS finally approved by the sub
committee, the reorganization plan
does not provide for any changes in
the top setup of the municipal gov
ernment, but calls for the reshuf11ing
and consolidation of various munici-
pal agencies into II departments.
In addition, it provides for an ad-
ministrative assistant to the Board
Of Commissioners, whose duties
would be to keep a close check on
the activities Of the departments
and report the need for any further
shifts in the interest of efficiency
and economy.
John Russell Young, new Dis
trict Commissioner, today pledged
his full and close cooperation to
the committee.
Making his debut as Commits
sioner before the committee at the
invitation of Chairman Randolph,
Mr.. Young said he realized its men,
bers had hard job legislating for
the disfranchised residents of the
District and he wanted to be helpful
you can count on me as a close
cooperative worker" he declared.
Commissioner Young was intro
duced to the committee members by
Representative Randolph and oc-
cupied seat Of honor at the COM
mittee table adjoining the chair
man.
introduced by Randolph.
In introducing the new Commits
sioner, Chairman Randolph pointed
out he had long been intimately
identified with the civic life of
Washington and that his father at
one time had been a member OF
the House.
The committee subsequently ap-
proved two bills.
One Of the bills favorably reported
already has passed the Senate. II
would amend the life insurance code
to remedy what Corporation Coun-
sci Elwood H. Seal described as
an oversight" in the original life
insurance legislation. The other au-
thorizes the Commissioners to bor-
row $500, 900 from the P. w. A. to
erect a new building for the Record
er Of Deeds.
Loan Already Authorized.
Representative Nichols, Democrat,
of Oklahoma, author of the latter
bill. said he did not believe the
legislation is really necessary since
the Commissioners already have
authority to borrow funds for con-
struction of the new building. But.
he explained, passage of the bill at
this time would forciblv impress on
the Commissioners "it is the will of
Congress" that the building be
erected.
Miss Winifred Crosby. committee
clerk, read letter from Representa-
tive Shafer, Republican, of Mich
igan, who is convalescing at his
home in Three Rivers from a serious
automobile accident. Although still
in cast, Mr.. Shafer said he hoped
to return to Washington before ad-
journment of Congress and resume
his activities on the committee.