Evening star., 1952-11-02
First Of D. {. Surveys
On Reorganization
To Start Tomorrow
By John W. Stepp

By John W. Stepp
The first of the department-by-
department surveys of District
government under the reorgani-
zation program will begin tomor-
row with sanitary engineering op-
Grafton as the object.
Schuyler Lowe, director of the
General Administration Depart
ment. itself a new feature of
reorganization, announced yes
terday that a team of three will
conduct the study. These officials
are Herbert Thurman, Milton
Rodes and Joseph Chicerio, all
recently appointed officials of the
new management Office of the
administration department.
Purpose of the survey, Mr.. Lowe
explained. is to collect data that
will lead to recommendations by
his office to the District Commis-
sioners on whether and to what
extent the governments existing
agencies should be consolidated
in the interests of efficiency and
economy.
Four Steps Involved
Four steps go into the survey
procedure. The first will be a
systematic" gathering of facts
Then will come discussions of the
fact-findings with key employees
Of the departments involved, or
derly presentation of all views to
the Commissioners, and early de-
cision by the city heads.
The Sanitary Engineering De-
partment is first on the survey
list, according to Mr.. Lowe, be-
cause its present administrative
setup is among the simplest in
District government. It now con-
sists of the overall department
itself, headed by Harold A. Kemp
1t has four divisions: water, sewer
sewage treatment and sanitation
While not a division Of sanitary
engineering. the office Of the
water registrar-collector of wa
ter bills-may well be considered
in the study. Mr.. Lowe said.
The administrative chief empha-
sized to reporters yesterday that
the study will have none Of the
cloak and dagger or FBI ap-
proach." Instead, he said, "our
plan is to work everything out on
top of the table"
Rumors Circulated.
Even now. Mr.. Lowe noted. q
number of rumors that drastic
changes and methods are in the
offing are being circulated among
worried lesser officials of the gov
ernment.
II want to emphasize that the
purpose Of this survey is in
formative. I want to reassure
those concerned that the rumors
are malarkey." Mr.. Lowe declared
In a detailed memorandum to
the Commissioners outlining the
survey plans,' Mr.. Lowe repeatedly
mentioned employees concern over
the project and the need for try
ing to avoid circulation of what he
called excited stories" by worried
workers.
I'm spite of all precautions to
explain the survey procedure, -
Mr.. Lowe stated in his memo,
Commissioners and others may
expect to hear a few such reports.
There seems to be no answer
to such stories, other than the
obvious one that every one should
wait and let the survey report
speak for the management staff
and that every one will be given
"a chance to express his views at
the time the survey is completed. ii
The administration director fur
ther stressed that once the team
has finished its fact-gathering,
Sther he or one Of his staff will
confer with department heads and
personnel supervisors to get their
views on any phase of their office
functions.
Should these discussions fail to
resolve differences between the
ideas of the surveyors and the
agency officials. Mr.. Lowe said he
hopes to work out system where.
by conflicting ideas will be pre-.
sented to the Commissioners
simultaneously with the survey
reports.
He added. however. that unles.
the agency chiefs abide by thi.
procedure, the idea will be i'm.
practical.
1T would be unfortunate If sur.
vey considerations were to be.
come a matter of public contro.
versy and comment, or a basi.
for pressure upon the Commits
Sioners. before the report Is com.
pleted and recommendations are
made to the Commissioners" Mr.
Lowe wrote in his memo.
Pressure" Feared.
In connection with the possibilit,
of pressure being brought to beal
on the Commissioners by discon.
tented or anxious employees, Mr.
Lowe said:
I'VE realize. of course, that thu
Commissioners will desire tx
avoid any action that could bt