Evening star., 1952-05-16

DeIegoting Authority
And Reports to
Congress Involved
The Commissioners are consid-
Iering two resolutions clarifying
points raised at yesterdays con-
|gressional committee hearing on
the District government reorgani-
Ization plan.
The city heads found members
OF the Senate Committee on Gov
lernment Operations cautious but
open-minded in their reception of
the proposal, sent to Congress by
President Truman.
In reply to committee question
ing, the Commissioners are pre-
Iparing resolutions setting forth
their intentions for delegating au-
thority and for reporting back to
Congress under the reorganization
Brig. Gen. Bernard L. Robin
son, Engineer Commissioner, saio
the Commissioners hope to have
the statements ready for presen-
tation when the hearing is re-
sumed at 10 am. Tuesday.
Under the pending plan, the
Commissioners are delegated con-
troll over some 95 different agen-
Icies, boards, commissions and
Offices. These agencies are to be
abolished, so far as earlier au-
thorizations are concerned, leav-
ing the city heads free to re-
establish and reassemble their
functions and controls.
Wants Report.
Committee Chairman Mcclellan
questioned the Commissioners
closely as to what they could ano
would do under the plan. He also
expressed the view that there
should be requirement for them
to report back to Congress in Il
months or two years.
Senator Mcclellan, while he as.
sured the city heads he had an
open mind on the plan, expressed
concern over the broad powers tc
be given them and whether the
reorganization power would con-
tlnue indefinitely.
Gen. Robinson answered that
this was the Commissioners de-
sire. He outlined, for the commit
tee. the proposed assignment OF
the 95 agencies to IS departments
as the first years objective.
Senator Dworshak, Republican
OF Idaho, after the hearing, said
ne was favorably inclined toward
the reorganization plan, because
l know. through my contacts with
the District, that there is great
room for Improvement"
He said he referred especially to
the field Of efficient administration
so that the budget would not con-
tlnue to expand each year.
Sees Some Checks.
1T seems to me the Commits
Sloners are to be given a fairly free
nand," he commented on the plan
but subject to some congressionaI
checks against excesses or abuses, >
Senator Case. Republican. OF
south Dakota who sat in on the
nearing, called the proposed citi-
zens' advisory council one of the
best features of the reorganization
proposal.
He suggested, however, that thi,
council should have the power tc
initiate matters for advising thu
commissioners, rather than merely
considering those referred to it by
the city heads.
He warned against a tendenc,
OF some advisory boards to act
merely as cheering sections TO,
policies already decided by theil
agencies.
The council, as described to the
committee yesterday, would in.
Iclude a tentative nine members
selected for their knowledge Of
the District, ability and standine
in the community.
Senator Case is on the witness
list for the resumption of the
hearing.
He is expected to support the
plan in his statement, while
stressing that he does not con.
slider it a cure-all.
However, the provision in the
reorganization plan for a citizens
advisory council, together with
other pending legislation to give
the District a voteless delegate
would carry out objectives he has
sponsored.
Sitter Would Testify.
Another scheduled witness is
Representative Sitter, Republican
OF Pennsylvania. He favored a
Budget Bureau plan to give the
District a council-manager type
of government.
The President turned down this
plan in sending to Congress
the Commissioners reorganization
plan. This contemplates a stream
lined version of the present setup
Other witnesses expected in
clude Clifford H. Newell of the
Federation Of Citizens Associa-
tions. Mrs. Lloyd Luther of the
League of Women Voters, Mrs
Henry A. Bartlett, chairman OF
the Citizens Emergency Commit
tee on Reorganization; Louis J.
Walinsky of the Washington
Chapter. Americans for Demo-
IaYrotin Aafi4y1