Evening star., 1949-02-20
Civic Problems, Civic Bodies
d. @. Government Reorganization Study;
No Cure Offered for Anomalous Status
By Jesse 6. Suter


By Jesse c. suter
Few of Numerous Plans Reorganze d. c. Government
No less than 2 plans reorganz the local have
tee of 100 was offered on February 1885, plan briefly
outlined this column last Sunday The text and
tied permit outline of Of only few and the
mere mention Of some others.
The Reynolds plan of so7s Of Importance because its
President Theodore Roosevelt said at that time
that the President Seeed % M that THE time In haa s
than that then provided by law He
wanted ocer to be appointed at the pleasure
removable by the Executive at his discretion
The President appointed James Reynolds to make
an INVESTIGATION regarding the the affairs Of the
Of Columbia In the instructions to Mr. REYNOLDS the
practical me in to the cy
needs and most notable defects by the
of good administration in this country and elsewhere
Reynolds Plan, 1so7-S.
Mr. Reynolds April 49, 1907 submitted his report TO ne 1o
the Board Of He suggested that liberty
e and Of other cities
position Recommendations OF the report were summarized
l. Extension civil service all minor offices in
Creation of the Office salary Of perhaps
nes and public works engineering charities corrections
and housing should each be con-
council composed Of
constitute aa. public s o Tor Oh
Citizens Committee Of po to represent all general CIVIC
Plan of IA Citizens Associations-1sos.
the Of formulating plan for change IN the
Of delegates citizens associations was held the Riggs sna
the site Of Keiths Theaer December H. sOo
resolution was adopted pre1aceo 0S p'eam'ie fe's IVA
The resolution as G sa sne republican
Of in the Capital Of the Republic the
and for the respectfully submit the following plan as
best suited in our IN % ss e sna asses e w.t.
place of three there @ sa be ter o
his election to such office by the quail
ned Of said District >.u...,on.u.
shall be elected by the people i've Commissioners
shall resided the District for not less than years
States be authorized to appoint five Commissioners
those elected by the people to represent the people ns s
shall be selected from five different sections OF the
g. The term Of office and Commissioners
The Governor shall exercise executive and
authority now vested law in the three
other authority delegate to him He shall have
Of legislative and authority
exercised by the Board Of ana such 0'nf s
District Of Columbia contributes more IN
the states Of the unon there shan be Delegate
who shall have s 1esa sa oce S the District not
male shall be qualified voter IN the District lot OF
said District for not less than year election
district not less than three months prior to the day OF election hs
paid less than $500 assessed real or property
sae'ofa spiet of Columbia. sSasl any '~''' '
ballot system and stringent registration and eiecon law"
with severe penalties fraudulent registration voting
January Galinger presented the docu-
en memorial behalf of these citizens aso-
referred to the Committee on the Dstr1ct OF
Columbia and ordered printed.
This convention citizens associations antedated by
formation Of the Federation of Citizens Assoca
No action appears been taken this proposal
Some Of Important Plans.
permits only brief reference to few OF the
important proposals offered during recent years Among
these was general plan which the outcome OF extensive
study Columbia Its Government and Admin
saton" the instance of the Institute for Government
Research produced volume Of over 300 pages puosned IN
1928 This followed 1929 by the publication OF
Brookng Institution under the title OF Ths
Administration Of the District Of Coumbia-
Suggestions for Change by Laurence F. and \"
The King Mcleod would confer general broad
Commissioners Other bills proposed abolish the
office Of Engineer Commissioner and SUBSTITUTE tnro CIVILIAN
elected Board of Education
Senator King chairman Of the District
reorganization OF the municipal structure was
made survey Peoples Counsel William Roberts Dis
F. j. Bailey representing the
Budget results of such abors covered seven mmeo
graph volumes numbered II to VI volume 10 contain tne
plan, never completed
9345 centralized ultimate authority
administration in the hands Of the Commissioners Objections
raised against provisions increasing the power
independent boards
Commissioners named committee OF IL citizens
to investigate efficiency possibilities Of reorganaton OF
District government The committee after much suoy re-
ported q plan which discussed and dropped.
rnnhagen Associates engaged by authority OF Con-
gre make and suggestions for smpldcaon ana
modernaon of the the plan proposed
and council and radical redistribution OF depart
later revised under the Kennedy DILL t H. I0So
7et Congress- failed to obtain approval
either the citizens Congress.
proposals for reorganization nave peen ncuoeo
Senator McCarran which set up
locally elected under charter be granted by Con-