Evening star., 1952-08-16
G.S.,:NllL s.
FIdnnIhg b0a
Is Confused by
Lohman Mamma
Chicago Man Picked
By Truman to Head
Commission Here

tions specialist. to the National
Capital Planning Commission has
revealed a confusing aspect of the
new law reorganizing the COM
mission.
DR.. Lohman was named to the
commission yesterday by Presi-
dent Truman. He also was desig-
mated chairman.
/. Apparently a number of people
in the District. including some of
the staff members of the planning
commission, were expecting a Dis
trict area resident nominated by
the District Commissioners to be
appointed.
Situation Outlined.
Here's the situation.
The planning commission, by a
law that went into effect last
month. now consists of IL mem
bers. It used to have 10 members.
The old commission was made
up of four citizens appointed by
the President, four ex-officio
members (the heads of the Forest
Service and the National Park
Service, the Chief of Army Engi-
lneers, and the District Engineer
Commissioner. and the chairman
of the House and Senate District
Committees.
The new commission was
changed to include five citizen
members. The Forest Service
chief was dropped, and the Com
missioner of Public Roads and the
Commissioner of Public Buildings
added.
What the Law Stated.
The law stated that the five
citizens should include two who
are bona fide residents Of the
District or it's environs. In addi-
tion, it said, one of these two
residents of the District area
should be appointed from among
three nominees submitted by the
Commissioners.
Since the law went into effect,
the planning commission staff has
stated publicly that the additional
citizen member was to be nomi-
mated by the Commissioners.
Apparently the White House
thought differently. For DR.. Lob
man is neither a resident of the
District area nor a nominee of the
Commissioners.
Commissioner F. Joseph Dono-
hue said frankly there is confu-
sion on just what should have
happened.
He said the Commissioners took
the matter up at recent meet
ing and tried to decide whether
they had to nominate some one
or not. He added:
"Since there was a state of con-
fusion, we decided to sit tight.
Since no one asked us to nomi-
nate, we didn't"
Calls 1t Accomplished Fact.
Regardless of whether the ap-
lpointment was right or wrong, Mr.,
IDonohue commented, it is an ac-
|compliShed fact and he is not
Igoing over to the White House to
lraise the issue.
John A. Remon. who has been
chairman of the planning COM
mission and will be replaced in
that job by DR.. Lolman, took a
different view. Mr.. Remon re-
mains on the planning conmis-
sion, but not as chairman.
Mr.. Remon pointed out that
the new law requires that two
} members be from Washington. Mr.
|, Remon is a District resident, AZ
is Hilyard r. Robinson, another
planning commission member.
There are two," Mr.. Remor
said. THAT fills the requirement
of the law. I think the appoint
ment was in accordance with the
law"
He said the spirit of the law
was to see that two local mer
were on the planning commission
and that. since that is the case
President Truman could appoint
any one else he saw At.
!, Other Citizen Members.
The other two citizen member.
are Frederick Bigger of Pittsburgh
and Albert r. Greensfeld Of st
Louis.
DR.. Lohman will join the plan.
ming commission with a reputa.
ton that has preceded him Il
Washington. He is well known here
for his work In the race relation.
field.
In 1948, he was head of the stat
, of the National Committee or
! Segregation in the Nations Capt..
tol. This group studied the race
i, problem in the District and ISSUED
, a highly critical report of segrega-
ton practices here.
) In 1850. he came to Washington
, at the request Of the Interior De.
5 lpartment to help handle the dis.
orders that broke out, when the
public swimming pools here were
lopened to all races. He has beer
advisor to the Interior Depart.