Evening star., 1940-01-16
Kennedy 10 See
Roosevelt on
Revan1p Views
Hopes for Interview
Soon; Makes Plans
For Series of Hearings

SOOnS NukeS TtuHS
For Series Of Hearings
Chart on the Commissioners
Reorganization Plan, Page Az.
Chairman Kennedy of the special
subcommittee of the House District
Committee in charge of reorganiza-
ton legislation announced today he
planned to find out from President
Roosevelt just what portions of the
program of the Commissioners he
approves before taking any further
action.
The full District Committee yes
terday pried the plan of the Com
missioners from them in advance OF
Budget Bureau approval, but then
portant details that had not al
ready leaked out" in advance at
the District Building. The Commis-
sioners had attempted to surround
their program with secrecy because
of an executive order which directs
them to get Budget Bureau approval
of proposed new legislation before
making it public.
From press reports Commissioner
George E. Allen was drafted back
into the District service by the Presi-
dent primarily to take charge of
plan for reorganizing the municipal
government here" said Mr.. Ken
nedy. From press reports, too, I
have learned he has discussed such
plan with Mr.. Roosevelt on several
occasions.
Hopes For Early Interview.
II want to find out before make
any further move whether the Presi-
dent favors this program of reor-
ganizatfon the Commissioners are
sponsoring. I will seek an audience
with him at the first opportunity"
The plan of the Commissioners, in
many respects, differs from the re-
organization program Mr.. Kennedy
is sponsoring. His plan is based on
recommendations of the Chicago
firm of E. o. Griffenhagen & Asso-
ciates, that made comprehensive
study of the present municipal gov
eminent setup at the direction Of
the House and Senate District Com
mittees.
Mr.. Kennedy said he had not yet
had time to make study Of the
plan of the Commissioners, but in
dicated he was disappointed" be-
cause it did not include provision
to give the disfranchized residents
of the District the privilege of elect
ing their municipal officers.
He described as "sop" to those
seeking local suffrage proposal in
the program Of the Commissioners
providing for the creation of an ad-
visory council of nine members.
Points to Provisions.
"Such an advisory council will not
give the people of the District any
more degree of representation than
they now have in the affairs Of their
government" he declared. "The
council, first OF all, would be ap-
pointed by the Commissioners, and
would be required to make reports
directly to them. And there is no
suggestion in the plan Of the Com
missioners that the nine members
of the council would be either rep
resentative of the various groups in
the District or of the various Sec
tions of the city"
Mr.. Kennedy said he also did not
approve at this time another major
recommendation of the Commis-
sioners to put the District Health
Department under supervision of an
officer of the United States Public
Health Service.
"I cannot understand the reason
for such a proposal" he said. my
Idea in urging reorganization of the
municipal government was to give
the people here more control over
their own affairs. That, of course,
cannot be done if the Commissioners
want to bring in an official OF the
Federal health service to direct the
activities of the Health Department
instead of leaving that work to a
doctor of their own choosing"
To Plan Hearings.
Mr.. Kennedy said he would have a
more detailed statement to make on
the plan of the Commissioners
within several days. Meantime, he
explained, he would seek a confer
ence with the President, and arrange
with his subcommittee to start an
other series of public hearings on
the reorganization plans-the one he
Is sponsoring and the one recon-
mended by the Commissioners.
Public hearings were held by the
subcommittee last year on the Grif-
fenhagen plan. Mr.. Kennedy point
ed out another series of hearings Is
necessary because at that time the
subcommittee did not know def
nitely the recommendations of the
Commissioners and no opportunity
was given to advocates Of local suf-
frage to argue their case.
In addition to Chairman Kennedy,
the subcommittee Is composed OF
Representatives Nicholas OF Okla
homa and McGehee of Mississippi
Democrats, and Dirksen Of Illinois
and Bates of Massachusetts,, Repub-
ncans
Meanwhile, q comparison of the
Commissioners proposals with those
on which public hearings were helo
last November at the District Build
ing revealed more than a dozer
changes had been made, mostly OF
minor nature, however.
Two of the major variances have
alerady been reported dealing with
the paid advisory council and the
replacement of Health Officer
George G. Rutland by an Army
Navy or Public Health Service
officer.
Little Hatch Act"
Three others which should bt
mentioned are the introduction Of
"a little Hatch Act" into the Dis.
trict and the transfer of recreation
from a previously proposed depart.
ment of recreation to the Board o.
Edncatjop and elimination of 6