Evening star., 1952-04-21
Donohue Shifts
Stand on Status
OF Recreation
Commissioner Now
Says He Is in Favor
Of Independent Boord

Says He Is in Favor
Of Independent Boord
Commissioner F. Joseph Dono-
hue has reversed an earlier stand
in favor of integrating the District
Board under the juris-
diction of the Commissioners in
the city heads reorganization
plan.
Mr.. Donohue said he now favors
retention Of the boards independ-
ent status. Previously he and
Commissioner John Russell Young
had voted against Engineer Com
missioner Bernard L. Robinson on
the question.
The switch represented q VIC
tory for the board. which strenu-
ously had opposed loss of its in
dependency, and widespread citi-
zen protest.
Explains His Stand.
Gas long as we couldn't inte-
CRATE the Board of Education"
Mr.. Donohue said, I thought we
shouldn't integrate the Board Of
Recreation, either.
Wednesday. President Truman
is due to choose between the Fed
eral Budget Bureaus council
manager plan for city government
and the Commissioners own pro-
posal to reorganize within the
p r e S e n t three Commissioner
framework.
The measures are scheduled to
be presented to the President for
consideration at 3 pm.
Meanwhile Assistant Engineer
Commissioner Thomas ]. Hayes
III said he saw a recent clariflca-
ton Of the Budget Bureau plan
as one bringing it closer to our
commission plan"
He referred to the bureaus an
nouncement that appointments Of
department heads by the proposed
city manager would have to be
confirmed by the council.
Urges Powers to Match Job.
Col. Hayes expressed the view
that unless the manager is given
the authority that goes with the
job, some of the advantage Of
that form of government is lost.
The Citizens Emergency Com
mittee for Reorganization of the
District Of Columbia government.
which supports the Commis-
sioners' plan and opposes the
city manager form of government.
hopes for an opportunity before
Wednesday to present its petit
ton to the President or his repre-
sentative.
The Federation Of Citizens As
sociations will oppose the Budget
Bureaus plan with barrage Of
letters to the President.
The Restaurant Beverage As
sociation of Washington today
made public a letter to the Presi-
dent asking favorable considera-
tion of the Commissioners plan.
Advantages Of Changes Cited.
The letter expressed the view
the city heads plan was superior
because it would afford the Dis
trict "those administrative and
organizational changes which are
so necessary for the efficient and
effective coordination Of the
numerous and varied agencies and
departments concerned with our
municipal government.
"As this plan maintains the
basic organization of the present
commission SYSTEM" the letter
said, ut sensibly avoids the pitt
falls. that may well be entailcd
in making radical changes at
this time in the basic framework
Of the present form of govern
ment."
The association saw need for
many changes in the existing
setup. but it said they should be
affected only after considerable"
study.
Reorganization Program.
"The plan presented by Com
Robinson provides. we
believe, a program for reorganiza-
ton which reflects an intelligent
study and appraisal of the very
practical problems Of providing
continuous co-ordina-
ton of the District governmental
functions. the letter said.
I'VE believe that at this time
such changes can most effectively
be completed within the frame
work of the Commission forum.
which has been in effect since the
Act Of 1873"
In another letter to the Presi-
dent, Paul Cooke, chairman Of
the Greater Washington Area
Council of the American Veterans
Committee, supported the Budget
Bureaus plan for an executive
officer to manage the operations
of the District.
December Hearing Recalled.
The letter pointed out that at
the December public hearing on
reorganization, the council urged
the Commissioner to amend their
plan to include such an officer.
This official, Mr.. Cooke wrote.
would work under the direction
and policy making of a commits
sion. After reconsidering the
whole matter and the two plans,
the Executive Committee and
Program Committee regarded the
need for an executive officer in
lieu Of tri-partite operation group
as still paramount" the letter
said.
ave also reaffirmed its posi-
ton that the National Capital
Park Police should be left under
the Interior Department and not