Evening star., 1951-11-30
Details of Gen. Robinson's Plan
For District Reorganization

Home, Public Utilities Commission,
zoning Commission, Board of Zon-
ing Adjustment. Zoning Advisory
Council. Washington Aqueduct,
Architect of the Capitol and Com
mission of Fine Arts.
Gen. Robinson said, in the text
of his report, that special consid-
Grafton was required for the fol-
lowing:
Child Labor. Consideration
might be given to transferring the
responsibilities of the Board OF
Education with respect to the
child labor laws to the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor;
1t is recommended that the views
of the school authorities be sought
on this.
Employees Compensation Com
mission, in the Federal Security
Agency. adjudicates all claims fol
compensation for injury or death
incurred in line of duty. and ad-
ministers the act relating to such
compensation both for municipal
and private employees. excep,
policemen and firemen. The Dis
.trict does not pay the general ex-
penSes of the commission, but pays
all compensation for the genera
funds. AS this function is related
to laws of national scope any in
tegration into the municipal struc-
ture should be the subject of spe-
cial congressional legislation and
Should not be accomplished under
the Reorganization Act.
Public Schools. Construction
of public schools should remain
with Public Works. as at present
Consideration might be given to
the possibility of more economical
operation by having certain house
keeping functions, such as build
ing and grounds maintenance and
certain property functions, per-
formed by appropriate depart
ments of the municipal govern
ment. 1t is recommended that
views of the school authorities be
sought on these subjects.
The Commission on Mental
Health is required by law to ex-
anime alleged mentally i'll persons
inquire into their affairs and the
affairs OF those made legally re-
sponsible for their care and sup
port. and make recommendations
to the court. The commission
consist Of eight physicians and q
lawyer, appointed by District
Court. each for a four-year term
All members are subject to the
administrative supervision of the
chief justice and an associate
justice named as a liaison officer
between the court and commits
sion. The clerical force is ap-
pointed by the District Commits
sioners and the commission Is sup
ported by District taxes. Although
the suggestion has been made that
this agency might be integrated
into the Department Of Health,
its functions appear properly to
rest with the courts.
The Board Of Indeterminate
Sentence and Parole appoints its
own staff. subject to approval by
the Commissioners. and has COM
plete and independent RESPONSE
bility for determining the time OF
release and rehabilitation of ex-
prisoners who come under its jur-
isdiction. The board should con-
tinue in its present form as an
Independent board with full and
final authority as at present, but
should be administered by the
Department of Corrections.
The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, since its
scope is Federal as we'll as mu-
nicipal, should remain as at pres
ent. However, it's power of dis
approval of real estate transac-
tions not acquired through the
Capper-C -Cramton Act procedures
should be reduced to an advisory
status only.