Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-06-04
Recorder Sees
No Efficiency
Gain in Transfer
Dr.. Shepard Opposes
Bill to Put Office
Under Commissioner
By WiIIiom A. MilIen

Lie ItcF. LII. AdISIldd4 ChCpdl0,
recorder of deeds, told the Judiciary
subcommittee of the House District
Committee today that passage OF a
bill to transfer his Office TO the Dis
triet Commissioners would not in
crease efficiency or benefit the
public.
The subcommittee was holding q
hearing on the bill introduced by
Chairman Koran of the House APP
preparations Subcommittee now con-
sidering the new District budget.
After today's session the hearing was
recessed until Friday morning.
Mr.. Koran, the first witness. said
the measure would save about $780,
900 annually in the recorders office
by introducing modern Photographic
copying methods. Under the present
law, the typewriter method OF copy
ing legal papers Is used. Mr.. Koran
also declared the Office. now indie
pendent. should be incorporated into
the District government.
Study Is Recommended.
DR.. Shepard said he was willing
10 adopt Photographic reproduction
OF the records, as the bill provides,
but suggested experts should study
how long the copies would last. He
said the Oldest photostats in this
country are only about 20 years old.
He estimated the cost Of two photo
stat machines at q total OF $21 800.
He estimated Is clerks, with sal
aries totaling $50, 900 annually, would
be dropped under the new plan. He
said the number of indexers and FL
ers would have to be increased, as
the Photographic machines work
fast. At present. he said, there is
. backlog of $4,000 land papers and
this is increasing at the rate Of 1000
o month.
DR.. Shepard opposed transfer OF
his office to the Commissioners. de-
claring both the recorder and Com
missioners are appointed by the
President. He said in the states the
recorder is elected directly by the
people, but in the absence of the
vote here, he should continue to
be named by the highest authority
the Chief Executive.
Savings Seen I'm Second Year.
DR.. Shepard described the pending
legislation as "the opening wedge
for emasculation of the Recorder
of Deeds Office" He declared his Is
the only Office in the District where
fair employment practices are car
ried out and this would not be con-
tinued If it went under the Com
missioners. He declared many en-
ployes in his group have 10, 20 or 80
years to their credit.
Introduction of the photostatic
method for recording would not
result in any saving the first year,
due to cost of machines, DIR. Shepard
said. but there would be considerable
savings the second year.
DR.. Shepard also opposed a pro-
vision in the bill TO transfer the
recording of auto liens to the Dtrec-
tor of Vehicles and Traffic. He
explained that this would mean
having two sets Of mortgages in
two different places, resulting in
inconvenience to lawyers and others
seeking credit and information.
Allen Presides Mt Session.
Representative Allen, Republican,
of California presided at the hear
ing, at which Corporation Counsel
Vernon E. West said the Commits
sioners favored the bill generally
Lee F. Dante, assistant corpora
ton counsel, testified in favor of
transferring auto liens to the traffic
director, saying it would eliminate
a large number Of steps and COM
plete paper work in one continuous
operation.
George E. Keneipp, director of
vehicles and trafflc, testified in favor
of the bill, also. He said the re-
corder has employees in the directors
Office now to care for motor liens,
resulting in some duplication.
George L. Hart, ir., representing
the District Bar Association. said
his group has not had opportunity
to study the bill in detail, but pre-
viously recommended installing pho
tographic methods for recording
legal DaDerS