Evening star., 1940-01-15

for the appointment of municipal
employees which would be separate
and distinct from the Federal civil
service except for the administra-
ton of the laws relating to the re-
tirement Of District employees
and the Classification Act which
said retirement and classification
laws shall continue to be admin
istered as at the time of passage OF
this act and as may be amended by
law"
Court Consolidation.
The District civil service system
would be established within six
months after approval of the Com
mlssioners' plan. After that the Sc
lection, appointment, transfer, pro
motion, demotion, suspension and
dismissal of District employees would
be done in accordance with regula-
tions promulgated by the Commits
sioners.
The reorganization plan also pro-
vides for consolidation of the Police
and the Municipal Court of the Dis
trict. 1t would consist of nine
judges, each serving a term of six
years.
The new court would be divided
into two branches-a civil branch
and criminal branch. The Presi-
dent would continue to appoint the
judges and name one of them as
the presiding judge.
The Office of the coroner would be
abolished and an Office of medical
examiner created. Two assistant
medical examiners also would be
appointed.
1t is stipulated in the proposed
bill that the medical examiner shall
be a doctor of medicine and a
skilled pathologist with not less
than two years actual experience as
a pathologist."
Provides Increased Powers.
The Commissioners also provide
increased powers for themselves in
the bill. 1t would give them, for
instance, authority to-:
Enact reasonable regulations to
secure and promote the general well
fare of the inhabitants of the Dis
trict, by them deemed proper for the
safety, health, peace, good order
comfort, convenience and morals of
the District"
The Department of Finance un-
der the proposed reorganization
plan OF the Commissioners would
consist Of the Office of the auditor,
collector of taxes, budget officer
purchasing officer and disbursing
officer. The auditor of the District
would become the director of the
Finance Department under the
plan. His position as auditor would
then be filled by person who in
the future would be identified as the
controller for the district.
The Department of Law would
continue to exercise and perform
all the powers and duties now vested
IN the office of the corporation
counsel land such other duties as
may be assigned to it by the Com
mlssioners." The corporation coun-
sci would become the director of the
law department.
The Engineer Commissioner. under
the reorganization plan, would con-
tlnue to head the Department of
Engineering. His duties would not
be altered materially under the pro-
posed new setup.
Personnel Department.
The functions of the personnel
department would comprise all the
administrative functions of the dis
trlct with respect to personnel. This
department would administer the
Districts separate civil service law
and classify other than those cov-
cred by the Classification Act, Off
GERS, teachers and librarians of the
public schools and officers and
members of the police and fire de-
partments. This department like
wise would provide standards of
efficiency for employees and certify
ellglbles for appointment.
The functions of the Police De-
partment would not be changed, but
this department would take under
its jurisdiction the office of the
poundmaster. and the Department
of Weights, Measures and Markets.
There would be no change in the
functions of the Fire Department
and it would not take on any addi-
tional duties. Both the superin-
tendent of the Police Department
and the chief engineer of the Fire
Department, at the time the pro-
posed plan goes into effect, would
continue as heads of those respec-
tive departments.
License Bureau Expanded.
The functions of the Health De-
partment would not be changed in
the reorganization scheme. But
those of the new License Depart
ment would take over supervision
of the following boards and COM
missions:
Board of Accountancy, Board of
Examiners and Registrars or Archi-
tects, Board of Dental Examiners,
Board of Examiners of Veterinary
Medicine, Board of Plumbing, Board
OF Steam and Other Operating