Evening star., 1950-02-02
Planning Board
Domination by
Architects Hit
House Group Hears
PIeu for Varied
Representation

There are too many architect
members of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission,
an American Institute of Archi-
tects said today.
Horace w. Peaslee, chairman
of the Institutes committee on
the National Capital, suggested
pending bill to reorganize the
commission to carry an amend
ment to provide for a more varied
profession representation.
Mr.. Peaslee testified before a
House District Subcommittee
which today heard the bill gen.
orally indorsed by spokesmen for
several other groups.
Early Draft Cited.
Mr.. Peaslee pointed out the
first draft of legislation authoriz-
ing the commission Is years ago
included the provision he recon-
mended, but that the final draft
omitted it.
OF the present appointed men,
bers, Mr.. Peaslee said three are
architects and one is an engineer.
He said that he thought only one
member should be an architect.
He said that the suggested
amendment relating to supervi-
sion of Federal and District prof.
'ects in Maryland and Virginia are
of vital concern to the citizens
of those States for their protec-
ton, not for the aggrandizement
of the commissions powers.
The same applies, he went on,
to the question of previewing reg
ulation-the commission taking on
even arduous routine checks 10
forestall conflicts of interest.
During the quarter century of
its work, it has spent far more
time trying to overtake such con-
.fiicts than it would have taken to
prevent them" he said. I'm both
instances, nothing is involved, but
"a brief interval to find out what's
brewing. with the final decision
always in the hands of the agency
most concerned"
Council Backs Bill.
Mr.. Peaslee also favored more
active participation by members
OF Congress as proposed by a
clause permitting chairmen of the
House and Senate District Com
mittees to act for the Congress-
men. He said that it obviously Is
impossible for the chairmen them
selves to sit in on the meetings.
Mrs. Franklin G. Sartwell,
chairman of the 1nterfederation
Council, said the council heartily
favors early passage of the bill.
She said her group favors "leg-
islation which make possible CO.
ordination of planning in all
areas"
The council has delegates from
citizens association federations of
Arlington, Fairfax, Montgomery
Counties and the District.
Miss Harlem James voiced sup
port of the bill by the Committee
of 100 on the Federal City of the
American Planning and Civic
Association.
Statement Presented.
Miss James presented state
ment for C. Melvin Sharpe. chair
man, approving establishment of
the National Planning Commis-
sion" which would increase the
citizen members from four to
eight, two from the District, one
each from Maryland and Virginia
and four at large.
The statement stipulated it's
support of the bill was subject to
such amendments as they may be
needed to bring the measure in
line with the reorganization of the
executive branch of the Govern
ment and minor Qualifications of
the qualifications for citizen mem
bers.
Miss James also expressed sup
port for the bill from the Ameri-
can Society of Landscape Archi-
tects and the Washington Chapter
of the American Institute of Plan
ners.
She also read a copy of a reso-
luton adopted in June by the
Maryland National Capital Park
and Planning Commission indors-
ing the proposed legislation in
principle. =