Evening star., 1940-09-10

Mr.. Dirksen. 1T seems to me Con-
gress must deal with that question
as 1t goes along But there has
been no abuse of that in recent
years"
Inquiries About Payment.
Representative Lewis asked if the
Federal subsidy" to the District-he
obviously meant the annual Federal
payment toward support of the
Municipal would con-
I. Tue to have TO be approved by the
Budget Bureau under the reorgan-
i6ation plan.
There may be revamping of the
tax structure whereby the Federal
subsidy may be reduced rather than
increased" Mr.. Dirksen answered.
Representative Schafer said he be-
lieVed the real solution for the Dis
trict's problems is to give the dis
franchised people here the privilege
of voting so they can run their own
Government and relieve Congress
of this duty.
Representative Dirksen replied
that quite few people feel the
same way" but added, there is a
sharp divergence of opinion on the
subject"
He explained local suffrage is q
controversial subject and should
not be injected into a plan to mod
ernize the District Government. y
You're putting the buggy before
the horse" shouted Mr.. Schafer
You should give the people suffrage
first and let them run the kind OF
Government they desire"
The Kennedy reorganization bill
which would go into effect within
80 days after its enactment into law,
is an outgrowth of a comprehensive
study made of the Municipal Gov
eminent for the Senate and House
District Committees by the firm OF
E. o. Gritfenhagen of Chicago.
The original plan of the Griffen-
hagen firm called for city manager
to serve as the administrative head
of the District government. leaving
the Commissioners to serve as the
governing body. AS a compromise
to this proposal Mr.. Kennedy wrote
into his bill provision for an "ad-
ministrative assistant" for the Com
missioners who they would have the
authority to appoint.
The administrative assistant would
be required to make detailed studies
and Investigations of all depart
ments for the purpose of enabling
the Commissioners to determine
what changes, If any. should be
recommended or effected in the fu-
ture to make the municipal govern
ment more efficient and to provide
greater economy in operation.
In addition to the Office of ad-
ministrative assistant, two new po-
sitions would be created under the
bill-a director of finance and di-
rector of personnel.
Would Direct Several Units.
The director of finance would have
under his management and control
the Office of auditor, the collector of
taxes, the budget officer, the pur-
chasing officer, the disbursing officer
and the Office of assessor.
The director of personnel would
be the head of the Department OF
Personnel and would be required to
perform all of the duties with re-
spect to administration of the pro-
posed independent civil service sys-
tenn for the District.
The Department of Law would
consist of the present Office of the
corporation counsel. There are nc
changes recommended in the Law
applicable to this department which
would thereafter be known, how
ever, as the Department of Law.
The functions of the Department
of Engineering and Public Works
would consist of all the duties now
performed by the Engineering De-
partmeEt Of the District govern
ment.
The functions of the Department
of Personnel comprise all admins
/ trative functions of the District lr
respect to the management OF tht
personnel of the District.
| The Police Department would
continue in accordance with existing
law, except there is added to Il
the office of poundmaster.
Fire Department Changes.
The functions of the Fire Depart.
ment continue IN accordance with
existing law. There are no changes
contemplated.
The functions of the Health De-
partment will continue in accord
ance with existing law, except thai
the Commissioners may, in the fu.
ture, select a health officer from any
source and may, in filing q vacancy
il deemed necessary, request thl
President of the United States te
designate an officer from the United
States Army Medical Corps, the
United States Navy Medical Corp,
or the United States Public Health
Service.
The Board of Education and the
Public Library trustees remain in
dependent, but other boards anc
commissions would be placed undel
the proposed department Of licenses
Boards and commissions which