Evening star., 1947-07-09
Grant Opposes
AnyChangein
Planning Role
Wants Boord to Study
Autonomous in Any
D. c. Reorganization

Planning Commission should keep
its present autonomous and Federal
status, the House Subcommittee On
Home Rule and Reorganization was
told today.
Maj. Gen. U. 8. Grant III, COM
mission chairman, told the subcom-
mittee investigating reorga niSation
of the District government that the
commission should continue 10 be
the planning agency for the entire
metropolitan area.
He said 1t cannot be subordinated
to any one political division Of the
Metropolitan area If it is to continue
to coordinate the planning of the
various agencies, including those OF
the Federal Government.
II the commission retains Its pres
ent status, Gen. Grant continued,
its relations with any new municipal
government here would be similar
TO its present relations with the cor
responding agencies of the existing
District government.
Similarly, Controller of the Cur
rency Preston Delano told the sub
committee the control of his office
over District non national banks and
trust companies should be con-
tinHsd regardless of what decision
10 reached for home rule for the city.
Agriculture Official Rebuked.
He suggested, however, that the
Federal Home Loan Bank Board
might more properly supervise local
building ASSOCIATE tions and credit
unions now under the supervision of
his office
There are now in operation here
SIX non national banks, four trust
companies, "a building associations
and 20 credit unions.
B. T. Simms of the Agriculture
Departments Bureau of Animal In
dustry, although absent. drew a
sharp rebuke from Chairman Auch-
incloss for failure to reply to ques-
tions sent him by the subcommittee
under date of June II, and for fall
ure to appear as witness today.
S. o. Fladness, assistant chief
Of the bureau, appeared in behalf
of Mr.. Simms, who, he said, was
meeting with members of a House
agriculture subcommittee recently
returned from Mexico.
The bureau was called to testify
on its relationship with the District
under old regulations enacted by the
Commissioners giving the Agricul-
ture Department necessary powers
to suppress the spread of animal
diseases here.
Lynn Outlines His Work.
Mr.. Fladness said the department
had done nothing in that connection
for years and that he understood
the District now employs its own
veterinarian.
David Lynn, architect of the Cap
itol. outlined for the members the
work of the architect in connection
with supervision of the maintenance
Of District courts and work with the
District on its coming commission.
Gen. Grant told the subcommittee
he believed the composition of the
planning commission might be re-
vised to limited extent provided it
was not materially enlarged
He said in his own opinion the
commission might include repre-
sentative of the Federal Works
Agency, another representative of
the people of the District and the
architect of the Capitol.
Coordination Need Cited.
Yesterday, the Commissioners op-
posed continuation of land pur-
chased for District purposes with
District funds by the planning COM
mission.
Questioned on this point, Gen
Grant said yesterday was the first
he had heard of the matter, but
pointed out that such purchases are
made only after the location and
cost have been approved by the
city heads.
The commission chairman said
there are Al agencies doing construc-
tion work in this region, pointing up
the need for an agency such as the
commission to coordinate designs
The hearings will continue at 10
am. tomorrow. Witnesses will in
clude Alexander Wetmore, secretary
of the Smithsonian Institution;
John Ihlder, executive director of
the National Capital Housing Au-
thority. and James J. Maloney, chief
- @la Coorat Caruioa