Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-01-22

This objective underlies pr
crazy quilt" of District govern
up in the past IA years. 1t would
stimulate some contests where
agents of the city manager would
take over prerogatives long held
by appointed executives.
District functions performed by
more than go city and Federal units
would be transferred TO IL new
mainline departments. Some semi
Independent boards would be con-
tinued in revised form. Others
would be abolished or converted into
advisory agencies.
Some services now charged to
the District, such as the National
Guard and the Zoo, would become
Federal responsibilities.
Clear Definition Lacking.
The Home Rule Subcommittee OF
the House District Committee, In
reporting it's general plan, said a
clear definition is lacking in the
old organic act.
This has been the major reason
why municipal affairs have taken
SO much congressional time" 1t
added.
Each of the proposed new
streamlined departments would be
headed by a director named by the
city manager.
These would be health, welfare
recreation, public safety. finance
law, public works, highways, labor
commerce, corrections and profess
sional and occupational standards.
The new departments and the
authorities they would absorb, brle1
| ly stated
Health Department: All the pow
ers and duties of the present health
officer, plus those Of the coroner,
the Anatomical Board and some OF
those of the Mental Health Com
mission. The latter two agencies
would be abolished. The health
director would take over the work OF
examining those suspected Of mental
ailments. The law department
would take over determination Of
the competency Of person to
handle property.
Advisory Status on Welfare.
Welfare: All powers vested In
Board of Public Welfare. The Cltl'
zens' Board would be continued with
onlv advisory status. The new de-
partment also would be given contro
over penny milk and food conserva
ton programs and Mental Health
Commission work relating to de-
termination of the ability OF the
mentally i'll, or their relatives, to pay
for care.
Recreation: Takes over authority
vested in the Recreation Board, this
board to be continued in an 40.
visory status. The Congressional
Joint District Committee would de-
termine which park and play areas
were used primarily for the benefit
of District residents. The cost OF
these would be applied to the Dis
trict.
Public Safety: Merged control OF
the Metropolitan Police, the police
surgeons, Fire Department. pound
master, Department of Vehicles
and Traffic, United States Park
Police operating in the District ana
the Zoo police, except for their
function relating primarily to pro-
lection of buildings in the Zoolog-
ical Park. Functions of the park
and Zoo police, to the extent trans
ferred, would be administered by
the Metropolitan Police.
Finance: Functions Of the present
auditor, disbursing officer, assessor
collector of taxes and also those OF
the Treasury as to keeping District
accounts and acting as bank for
CITY funds, and the General Ac-
counting Office as to District &C
counts and claims.
Law: Aside from being legal ad-
wiser to District agencies. 1t would
take over the work of the recorder
of deeds ofice, which would be
abolished.
To Absorb Engineer Units.
Public Works: 1t would absorb
generally the District engineer divi-
sions. Notable additions would be
control Of the Washington Aqueduct
and development of the Anacostia
fats, now under the District engi-
neer of the Army Engineer Corps,
and. transferred from the Park and
Planning Commission. authority OF
purchase and sale of District public
land. In case of issues between the
department and the planning COM
mission as to the Districts master
plan" Congress would decide.
Highways: All the functions OF
the present Highway Department,
except the Automobile Board.
Labor Department: The functions
of the Minimum Wage and Indus
trial Safety Board, the District I'm
employment Compensation Board,
the District Employment Service
and the Vocational Rehabilitation
Service. It also would administer
child labor laws and the District
employment compensation benefits.
Commerce: Functions Of the Alco-
holic Beverage Control Board, Dis
trict Real Estate Commission,
License Bureau, the Boxing Com
mission, Department of Insurance
and Department of Weights and
Measures and Markets. The last
two named would be abolished. The
Boxing Commission would be con-