Evening star., 1952-04-27
The Plan That Won

The Plan That Won
Until the Budget Bureau pumped
for the council-manager plan, the
interest of citizens generally in the
Commissioners reorganization plan
was anything but acute. Some civic
organizations were on record in
favor of it. Others had reservations.
Some, in fact, preferred the Fowl 1
er plan, which had been presented
to the Commissioners more than al
year ago by the District Budget OF,
ficer. This blueprint called for re!
tention of the existing commis-
sion form, including the Engineer
Commissioner. It would have
shifted and consolidated municipal
activities into 13 departments with
in the framework of the commits
sion form. The key innovation
would have been the creation of a
new administrative office directly
under the Board of Commissioners,
to supervise and direct all admins
trative functions. This official
would have had the title of "execu-
tive officer"
The Fowler plan was designed not
only to bring more business like
methods to the District Building,
but also to meet the frequently.
heard criticism that the three Com.
misSioners tend to divide among
themselves responsibilities that
should be exercised jointly rather
than individually.
The Commissioners made the
Fowler plan public without COM
j ment on April 2, 1851. Former En-
gineer Commissioner Gordon Young
subsequently indicated approval of
the plan, but he was succeeded q
month later by Gen. Robinson who.
after a study Of the proposal, ex-
pressed his disapproval. Commits
sioner Donohue asked for time to
study it.
Robinson Plan Provisions
Last November, the Federal bud
get director asked the Commissions
ers to submit their recommenda.
tions for District reorganization by
December last. Three weeks later
Commissioner Robinson came up
with his own plan. It eliminated
the proposed executive officer and
regrouped District agencies into 18
departments, plus a number of in
dependent agencies. Administrative
responsibilities of the Commission
ers were to be divided by a majority
vote of the board.
The Commissioners then studied
both the Fowler and Robinson
plans and on November 20 an
nounced acceptance of the Robin
son plan in principle. Several days
later the Robinson plan was pre-
sented to department heads for
their comment. It is said that a
number of District officials criti-
cized the Robinson plan, either
openly or covertly. In any event.
1t underwent numerous revisions
before 1t finally was sent to the
Budget Bureau as the "Commis-
sioners' Plan"
This plan now has been approved.
but it is not yet in it's final form.
Among changes already made or
contemplated are these:
l. Language making it plain
that the Commissioners must func-
tion as board in setting policy,
adopting ordinances and so forth.
instead of exercising individual
authority and responsibility.
2. Inclusion of the Recreation
Board among agencies to remain
independent. This agency had
been slated for integration under
the original plan.
g. Elimination of the Recorder
of Deeds from the integration pro-
gram, because of pending legisla-
tion dealing with that office.
Other revisions undoubtedly will
be made before the plan takes final
shape for presentation to Congress.