Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-11

Chairman King OF the Senate
District Committee today vir-
tually killed the Kennedy bill to
reorganize and modernize the
District government. Senator
King pointedly announced his
disapproval of the bill after So
minute conference in his Office
with Commissioners Young and
McCoach and a group of other
District officials.
The fate of the House-approved
plan for recognizing the District
Government may depend on the
outcome of a conference the Com
missioners we're scheduled to hold
today with Chairman King of the
Senate District Committee. 4
The conference was arranged after
meeting late yesterday between the
Commissioners and their Kitchen
cabinet" a group of leading munici-
pal officials, headed by Corporation
Counsel Elwood H. Seal.
It was understood the city heads
reiterated their support for the bill
at the Kitchen cabinet" conference,
but agreed to suggest one major
amendment that would eliminate
the proposed position of admins
| trative assistant" to the Board OF
Commissioners.
Under the bill as passed by the
House, the administrative assistant
would be required to make COM
prehensive study Of the municipal
organization to determine if any
further changes in the municipal
set-up could be made to increase
its efficiency and economy.
Post Not Justified"
While the city heads had sug-
gested creation of such a position
more than a year ago as an alter
native to creation of a much more
expensive position of city man
ager, they concluded there was no
real justification for this extra posi-
ton.
Preceding the conference with the
Commissioners, Senator King indi-
Gated he was willing to follow any
recommendation the city heads
might make as to the reorganization
plan.
Representative Kennedy, Demo-
crat, of Maryland who sponsored
the reorganization bill declared he
would be willing to accept the pro-
posed change of the Commissioners
to remove the position of an admin
istrative assistant.
Willing to Compromise.
MY sole objective is to get this
bill through Congress at the present
session because I know it will save
the taxpayers of Washington money
and at the same time increase the
efficiency of the municipal govern
ment," he said. THE Commission
ers asked for the administrative
assistant because they did not like
the idea of a city manager. I am
willing now to give them anything
they want so long as the present
set-up is modernized in the interest
of efficiency"
Mr.. Kennedy called Senator King
on the telephone late yesterday and
suggested that during his conference
with the Commissioners the SUBJ
committee of the House District
Committee, which originally ap-
proved the reorganization measure
be invited to the conference. He
said the members of this committee
might be able to answer questions
that might arise.
Dirksen on Subcommittee.
Mr.. Kennedy is chairman of this
subcommittee. The ranking minor
ity member is Representative Dirk
sen of Illinois, who Monday aided
Mr.. Kennedy in pushing the bill
through the House without a dis
senting vote.
Mr.. Kennedy is confident that if
the Senate District Committee will
report the bill favorably, it will be
approved by the Senate before the
adjournment of Congress.
Representative Kennedy pointed
out that Senator King had previ-
ously assured him he would support
any legislation that the House APP
proved on District reorganization.