Evening star., 1941-05-16
StudyForecasts
Setup Change
In Planning Unit
DeIono Withdruws
Retirement Move
Pending Survey

rSOT SdIl1AdIlOil Ol tIlC nuliAAiA2ceio a
tive structure of the National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commission
was seen today on the heels of
President Roosevelt's disclosure
yesterday that he is requesting the
Budget Bureau to make a study of
the commissions present setup with
an eye to improving its efficiency.
The President revealed the move
In. making public an exchange OF
correspondence between himself and
Frederic A. Delano, chairman of the
commission. In his letter Mr.. Del
ano withdrew an earlier request
that he be retired, with the observa-
ton that it would be better If this
were postponed until the President
"be given time to consider the
whole subject of creating a better
setup' for the commission.
The President replied that he
would ask the Budget Bureau to
make such a study as soon as pos
sible if Mr.. Delano would remain
rs chairman for the next few months
In order to "dislocate the commits
sions daily functions as little as
possible"
r Machinery cumbersome"
Mr.. Delano's letter described the
original commission as a "cumber-
some piece of machinery" implying
that little improvement had been
realized since its last reorganization
in 1926. The letter also outlined
some of the commissions faults as
seen by Mr. Delano. This part OF
the letter read as follows:
admittedly the original scheme
of a Park and Planning Commission
was perhaps the best that could be
worked out Is or more years ago,
but at best it was a somewhat cum
bersome piece OF machinery set up
in order to accomplish coIordina-
ton between the District Commit
tees of the Senate and House, the
District Commissioners, the Chief
of Engineers Office, the Public
Buildings and Public Parks Office,
etc.
The commission was given only
one important administrative duty,
and that was the purchase of land
for parks and Fairgrounds. Other
wise it was solely planning and CO.
ordtnating committee. That it has
worked as well as it has is largely
due to the four private citizen mem
bers, who have given generously of
their time and thought.
''The ex-officio members, originally
seven in number, now six, have in
several cases given no time to the
commissions work, or have sent
representatives (not always the
same attend meetings. There
has been no direct tie-in with the
Commission of Fine Arts the Bu-
reau of Public Roads or with the
Bureau of the Budget.
I "The failure at times of our rela-
tions with the District Commission
ers, and the not unnatural criticism
of the District Government that the
Park and Planning Commission was
authorized to do the planning, but
that it (the District Government)
must find the money, is easy to un-
derstand. And yet the Park and
Planning Commission has always
been called before the Bureau of the
Budget and Appropriations Com
mittees of both Houses of Congress,
and has had the duty as we'll as the
opportunity to express its views and
explain its position.
For all these reasons it seems
as If my retirement from the COM
mission suggests that it is now an
appropriate time to reconsider the
setup on a sounder basis"
Asked later if he would enlarge
upon the letter, Mr.. Delano said
he hoped, in writing it, to bring
about the airing of the opinions
of everybody concerned. To the
question of whether he had any
concrete suggestions to make look
ing toward improvement of the
commission, he replied:
II am not trying to tell people
what to do. I ask only that con-
sideration be given the need for
improvement"
Created in 1924.
Congress created the commission
In 1924, under the name National
Capital Park Commission" to ac-
quire land for park, parkway and
playground purposes. Two years
later, its scope was enlarged to in
clude general city planning and its
name changed to the National Cap
ttal Park and Planning Commission.
AS set forth in the act of 1926,
Its. duties are those of preparing
developing and maintaining a COM
prehenSive, consistent and CO.
ordinated plan for the National
Capital and its environs, which plar
shall include recommendations t6
the proper executive authorities al
to traffic and transportation, plats
and subdivisions, highways, parks
and parkways; school and library
sites, Fairgrounds, drainage, sew
age and water supply; housing
building and zoning regulations
public and private buildings, bridge;
and water fronts, commerce and in.
dustry and other proper elements oi
city and regional planning"
Besides Mr.. Delano, the three
other citizen members of the plan
ming body are Henry v. Hubbard
Cambridge, Mass; j. C. Nichols
formerly of Kansas City, Mo, anc
recently named chief of the supply
section, Production Division, Office
of Production Management, anc
William A. Delano, New York City
McCoach Ex-officio Member.
Ex-oficio members are Newton B
Drury, director of the Nationa
Park Service, executive officer
Maj. Gen. j. L. Schley, chief Of
Army Engineers; Col. David Nc.
Coach, jr., Engineer Commissioner
Earle H. Clapp. acting chief ot
the Forest Service; Chairman Rey.
nolds of the Senate District Com.
mittee, and Chairman Randolph o.
the House District Committee.
Mr.. Delano, who is n, helped
draft the legislation creating tht
planning body and was a membel
Of the first commission. He ha!
been chairman since 1929.
Speaking for the commission yes
-