Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-15
Open Hearing
Sought on DC.
Reorganization
McCorron May Call
Meeting This Week
On Reorganization

Chairman McCarran of a special
subcommittee of the Senate District
Committee announced last night he
would try to get the members to-
gether some time this week to ar
range for public hearings on the
Kennedy bill providing for reor-
ganization and modernization of
the municipal government here.
He added, however: Its very hard
to get groups together at this time
with adjournment talk in the air."
Senator McCarran, Democrat, of
Nevada, who was selected by Chair
man King of the District Committee
to head the special subcommittee,
indicated he did not approve the re-
organization plan embodied in the
Kennedy bill. At the same time he
pointed out he had not had time to
confer with other members of the
subcommittee to learn their views.
Serving on the subcommittee with
Senator McCarran will be Senators
Tydings of Maryland and Reynolds
of North Carolina, Democrats, and
Capper of Kansas and Bridges of
New Hampshire, Republicans.
Procedure Delays Progress.
Senator King has insisted that the
subcommittee hold public hearings
on the bill before it Is considered
by the full District Committee--a
procedure that would serve auto
matically to delay further action on
the measure at the present session of
Congress if adjournment comes
within the next week or two.
The bill was passed by the House
last Monday without a dissenting
vote after slumbering on the
calendar since last May 1t would
consolidate various municipal agen-
cies and boards with the exception
of the board of library trustees and
the board of education under II adj
ministrative departments, and pro-
vide an administrative assistant"
to aid the Commissioners in plan
ming other steps to increase the
efficiency and economy of the mu-
nicipal service.
Believes Principle Is Wrong.
Senator McCarren said he be-
lieved the reorganization plan as
embodied in the bill starts from the
wrong premise altogether"
The important thing is to give
the votless people of Washington
some voice in the selection of their
city officials" he declared, then 60
ahead and reorganize the city ad-
ministration to whatever extent is
necessary.
This bill wouldn't save any
money. In fact, it probably would
increase the cost of running the
District government. The District
Government already has a pretty
confusing set-up and I think that
the bill would add to this con-
fusion"
On the other hand, Senator Cap
per, who is the ranking minority
member of the District Committee,
told neWspaperrnen he is rather
favorably inclined" toward the bill,
but would reserve a final decision
until after the proposed public
hearings.
Il think there is much merit in
the BILL ne declared, especially
the provisions to give added au-
thority to the Commissioners. The
chief question in my mind at this
time is whether the reorganization
plan would increase or reduce the
cost of operating the Municipal Gov
eminent"
Senator TyGings also revealed he
as to his position. At the same
time. however, he expressed an opin-
ion it might be possible to eliminate
from the measure some of its So
called controversial features" so it
might be approved in some form be-
fore Congress adiourns.
Seek United Front
Meanwhile. the Commissioners
planned to meet at 10 I'M tomor-
row with members of their So-called
Kitchen cabinet 20 seek to estab-
lish united front on the reorgani-
Eation proposals.
While the Commissioners are on
AOIoiu loi app ONdi VI kIOsI diIl
very similar to that approved by
the House, Maj Daniel j. Donovan,
auditor, and Commissioner Hazen
have pointedly raised questions as
to increases in cost of the munich
pal government that would result
from the program.
The session tomorrow was called in
the hope of arriving at entire agree
ment on what program to recon-
mend when the hearings are opened.