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

This objective underlies pl
"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 so 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 COMMITTEES, In
reporting its general plan, said q
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
strean1lined 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 BRIEF
lily 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 Oh
examining those suspected OF menta.
ailments. The law department
would take over determination o.
the competency OF a person u
handle property.
Advisory Status on Welfare.
Welfare: All powers vested II
Board of Public Welfare. The Citi'
zens' Board would be continued with
only advisory status. The new, de-
partment also would be given corltro
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 ad.
yisory status. The Congressional
Joint District Committee would de.
termine which park and play areas
were used primarily for the beneh,
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, pounc
master, Department of Vehicles
and Traffic, United States Parl
Police operating in the District ano
the Zoo police, except for thei
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 oy
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, it woule
take over the work of the recorder
of deeds office, which would bt
abolished.
To Absorb Engineer Unitss
Public Works: 1t would Absorb
generally the District engineer divl'
sions. Notable additions would be
control of the Washington Aquedue'
and development of the Anacostis
flats. now under the District engi.
neer of the Army Engineer Corps
and. transferred from the Park anc
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 o
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 Servics
and the Vocational Rehabilitation
Service. 1t also would administer
child labor laws and the District
employment compensation benefits
Commerce: Functions of the Alec
holic Beverage Control Board, Dis
a patch on his eye and said he hac
been treated first the night before
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