Evening star., 1951-06-17
Case Proposes
Reorganization
Of D. {. Now
Would Stort Reforms
Without Waiting
For Legislation
By Harold B. Rogers

By Harold B. Rogers
Senator Case. Republican, of
South Dakota, last night called
for reorganization of the District
Government, as far as possible,
without waiting for legislation.
The ranking minority member
of the Senate District Committee
announced he will place his pro-
posal in the form of a resolution
before the committee tomorrow
morning.
To promote efficiency and econ
omy in the municipal set-up, the
Case plan would require the DIS
trict Commissioners to study two
existing plans for reorganization.
make formal report to the Dis
trict Committee, and cooperate
in charting a definite program for
action on administrative changes.
The best parts of the two re-
organization plans would be
studied by the city heads. They
are the pending, but blocked, Ke-
fauver-Taft bill for home rule and
reorganization, and the program
recommended by District Budget
Officer Walter L. Fowler.
Would Submit Legislation.
The Commissioners later would
be required to submit proposed
legislation to implement ANY
further reorganization of the Dis
trict Government, clearly beyond
the powers of the Commissioners,
which they may deem advisable
in the interest of economy and
efficiency"
Important District legislation
will be considered this week by
Congress, including the annual
appropriations bill, bill to
tighten law enforcement, and ex-
tension of rent control.
Senator Case SAID he hopes to
speed the orderly reorganization
of the District Government with
out waiting further for congress
sional action on reorganization
legislation, such as the kefa'Iver-
Taft bill. This measure is dead
locked in the Senate District Com
mittee by 6-to-6 tie vote
The Kefauver-Taft bill would
give limited form of self-sovern-
ment to the city, and reorganize
its administration. The District
Commissioners would DE abolished,
an elected city council and elected
school board would provided. and
a city manager selected by the
council.
Similar to Fowler Plan.
The reorganization program of
the Kefauver- Taft bill, it is pointed
out in the Case resolution, is
similar in certain respects and
aims to the Fowler proposals" now
pending before the District Com
missioners.
Mr.. Fowler's program would
streamline the sprawling District
government units into 13 COM
pact departments. reporting to an
executive officer, under the Dis
trict Commissioners. No provi-
sion for home rule or elected Off
GERS is included in the Fowler
plan.
About 70 per cent of the Fowler
program could be put into effect
without legislation, according to
estimates.
The Commissioners recently
called on their agencies and de-
partments to review and polish up
their programs, as the next step
toward whatever reorganization
plan for streamlining may be
adopted.
Informal Conferences.
Meanwhile. informal confer
ences have been under way at the
Capitol with a view to working
out some kind of a compromise
between the Kafauver-Taft home
rule bill. and a measure sponsored
by Senator Case for an advisory
council of 81, to help the Com
missioners, and a non-voting dele
gate in the House.
The House-paSSed appropria-
tionS bill carrying $137.7 million
for the District next fiscal year
beginning July / will come before
a Senate appropriations subcom-
mittee for public hearings at 10
am. tomorrow.
The subcommittee, headed by
Senator Hill, Democrat, of Ala
bama, plans to hear first from
the District Commissioners, Mr.
Fowler, and department heads
Other witnesses from civic organi-
cations and the general public
will follow.
Among the urgent pleas ex-
pected to be laid before the Hill
group will be those for restoration
of the $1.2 million slashed by the
House from the $12 million Fed
eral payment toward costs of the
city.
Rent Control Legislation.
Legislation to extend District
rent control beyond its termina-
ton June 80, and make important
changes in the present law, is
scheduled for action this week on
both sides of the Capitol.
The Senate District Committee
plans to act tomorrow on a bill
approved by its judiciary subcom-
mittee. The House District Com
mittee has slated a session for
Tuesday morning on a somewhat
similar measure approved by it's
judiciary subcommittee
Although different in some de-
tails, both bills would extend rent
control for one year to June 80.
1852, place curbs on new housing
built since 1948. authorize a 20
per cent increase in rents since
1941, including raises already
granted, and leave hotels, board
ing and rooming houses free of
controls.