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either be considerably increased or
that there be no 'honorarium" at
all, leaving council work entirely on
a public service basis.
In his argument that the Recrea-
ton Board should be left inde-
pendent and not converted into a
mere advisory agent for the direc-
tor of recreation. Mr.. Wender said
survey of American cities showed
the majority have independent
policy administrative boards.
Shift Proposal Endorsed.
Robert c. Thompson, director of
vocational rehabilitation for Mary
land, indorsed the proposal to shift
the District Rehabilitation Service
from Federal to District control,
urging, however, that this be placed
under the elected Board of Public
Education instead of the suggested
city Labor Department.
A spokesman for the Rev. Mar
shall L. Shepard, recorder of deeds,
protested against the plan to trans
fer the appointment of the recorder
from the President to the director
Of the City Law Department and
to abolish the recorders Office as
a separate agency.
The witness, first deputy recorder
A. Oliver Thornton, declared this
would be "a departure from the
American pattern and an instru-
mentality contrary to intelligent
concepts OF good government under
our democratic processes.
Representative Bates, Republican,
Of Massachusetts said he never
could understand why the President
picked some one from outside the
District for the recorders job. He
noted in a tabulation submitted by
Mr.. Thornton that recorders of deeds
were elected in all but four of the
States, and wanted to know If that
wasn't more democratic plan than
appointment by either the President
or a law department director.
Mr.. Thornton replied, II see no
reason to differ from that view"
Banks oppose Proposal.
He had argued that the recorder
should be appointed either by the
President or by the court, since the
functions OF a recorder were quasi
judicial.
Spokesman for the banks, trust
companies and building and loan
associations objected to provision
In the bill which would provide that
the functions of the controller of
the currency for regulating non
national banks, trust companies,
building and loan associations and
credit unions be under the super
vision of the new District Depart
ment of Commerce.
Francis c. Addison, jr., president
of Security Savings and Commercial
Bank, testified to this effect as chair
man of the Law and Legislative
Committee of the District Bankers
Association. The same objection
was registered by c. Clinton James,
chairman of the Legislative Commit
tee of the District Building and Loan
League. ..
Will Draft Revised Bill.
Spokesman for Washington's Pub
lie Library yesterday won a sympa-
thetic hearing before the joint
committee on their insistence on
keeping separate, appointed board
in charge of the library system.
They suggested a board appointed
with the approval of the elected
city council. The board now is
named by the Commissioners.
Bowerman Testifies.
Albert w. Atwood, president of
the library trustees, and DR.. George
F.. BoWerman, former librarian, who
retired after 36 years service, were
among those who emphasized that
appointed library boards are the
general rule in American cities, even
in those with ceuncil-manager forms
of government.
Chairman Auchincloss thanked
Mr.. Atwood for his testimony and
said, You have made the face of
the committee red. We will con-
slider your views The House SUBJ
committee had recommended that
the Library Board be abolished and
that the elected Board of Public
Education take over policy making
for both the school and library sys-
TENS, and operate them through two
departments, each headed by an ap-
pointed superintendent
DR.. Bowerman said that, while an
appointed library board should be
continued, in keeping with tried
municipal procedure, he
is a suffrage advocate
and in general favors the home rule
bill.
Similar views were presented by
Miss Agnes Winn of the District
Branch of the American Associa-
ton of University Women, Mrs.
Philip Sidney Smith. a member of
both the Board of Library Trus-
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