Evening star., 1951-11-30
Commission
Rule Indorsed
ByD.C. Heads
Robinson Proposal
Is Fuvored Over
City Manager Plan
By Horriet Griffiths


Engineer Commissioner Bernard
L. Robinson's reorganization plar
as a basis for further discussion
in their job Of drawing up a Dis
trict Government reconstruction
proposal.
Following a meeting of the city
heads yesterday afternoon, Brig
Gen. Robinson said they had de-
cided to start on the framework
of a commission fern of govern
ment. rather than the commits
s;on-manager form proposed by
Budget Officer Walter L. Fowler
The Engineer Commissioner
plan would organize city agencies
into three bureaus, each reporting
to a Commissioner. At the same
time. the Commissioners would sit
as a board to determine basic
policies for the city.
Is Under Fowler Plan.
Under Mr.. Fowler's plan. the
government units would be fitted
generally into 13 departments
reporting to an executive officer.
The Commissioners would super
wise municipal activities on a
policy-making level.
Gen. Robinson's plan will be
referred to department heads, in
cluding Mr.. Fowler. for comment.
The city heads have been instruct
ed to submit reorganization plan
to the Budget Bureau under the
Reorganization Act Of 1949 by De-
cember Is.
A public hearing on his pro-
poSal had been suggested. but Gen.
Robinson said the time limit may
result in the city heads submit
ting a tentative plan to the bu-
reau, with the understanding that
further revisions would be sug-
gested later.
The Engineer Commissioner
presented the details of his sug-
gested rearrangement of city
agencies to the Commissioners
yesterday. Previously he had out
lined the basic framework and
philosophy.
Broad Ordinance Powers.
The plan suggests that the ex-
ecutive order implementing the
reorganization should provide spe-
cifically that the Board Of Com
missioners exercise broad ordi-i
nance-making powers, thereby
relieving Congress of any neces-
sity for legislating on minor mat
ters Of municipal regulation. such
as the size of rock fish. daylight
saving time. killing starlings.
ETC."
This order. according to the
also should not grant
specific authority to the Commits
sioners to form. abolish. consoli-
date or transfer parts or all of
city agencies and departments.
and to fix their responsibilities
and limitations of authority in
the interests of economy or eff
cheney.
Gen. Robinson recommends that
some 20 semi-autonomous or sep
arate boards and agencies con-
cerned with District affairs be in
tegrated into the municipal gov
ernment, and that six others re-
ceive special consideration on this
score.
He suggests the three bureaus
include the following departments:
Bureau of Public Safety-Po-
lice Department, Fire Department.
Department of Civil Defense and
Department of Commerce and
Labor.
Bureau of Public Welfare
Health Department, Medical De-
partment, Welfare Department,
Department of Corrections and
Department of Housing.
Under Public Works.
Bureau of Public Work-De-
partment of Highways, Depart
ment of Vehicles and Traffic, De-
partment of Equipment Manage
ment, Department of Sanitary
Engineering, Department of Build
ings and Grounds, Department of
Inspections and Department Of
Redevelopment.