Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-19
Commissioners
AgreetoRevise
Board Setup
Amended Plan Puts
Limit on Action
AS individuals

The Budget Bureau today had
under consideration a letter from
the District Commissioners, Offer
ing to amend the Commissioners
plan for reorganization of the
District Government to meet GER
tain objections raised by the bu-
reau.
The letter, made public at the
District Building yesterday, deals
Plonnine Commission Vigorously Opposes
City Manager Plan. Poee Bis.
Civic Federation Hits Budget Bureou
Plan. Poee BIZ.
with the powers of the Commits
sioners under the proposed reor-
ganization plan to delegate their
authority to Subordinates. The
Budget Bureau objected to an
early draft of the plan on the
ground that this power was too
broad.
The bureau also has drawn
up a plan of its own for reor-
ganizing the District Government.
Far more radical than that of the
Commissioners, it would abolish
the present form of govern
ment and set up Streamlined
city-manager government. Both
plans have been submitted to the
White House. The President is
expected to decide between them
next Wednesday.
Recognizes Limitation Needed.
The letter, signed by Commits
sioner F. Joseph Donohue, agrees
that over-delegation of powers
might be possible under the origi-
nal District Building plan.
I'VE might say that such
development was not our intent
and would not occur under the
present Board of Commissioners"
Mr.. Donohue wrote. But it
obviously could occur with a
change of heart or under other
commissioners.
Recognizing this we now
favor incorporation in the Execu-
tive Order of the necessary word
ing properly to limit the powers
of delegation"
The order referred to is the
order expected to be issued from
the White House under the Gov
eminent Reorganization Act. 1t
would become law unless disap-
proved by either HoueS of Congress
within so days.
Could Exclude Some Agencies.
The Commissioners letter
pointed out that delegation of
power should not be limited in the
case of certain agencies. The Com
missioners should have adlninis-
trative control but should not
have authority to review the de-
ciSionS of such agencies, Mr.. Dono-
hue said. Among these, he named
all bodies on which one If the
Commissioners sits as member;
occupational and professional ex-
aiming boards and the three
coming agencies.
Among specific agencies that
should operate independently, the
letter named the Anatomical and
Parole Boards, the Minimum Wage
and Industrial Safety Board, the
Board for Condemnation of In
sanitary Buildings, the Board for
Condemnation of Dangerous ard
Unsafe Buildings. the Rent Con-
troll Office and the Coroner.
Executive Order Opposed.
Meanwhile, opposition to re-
organization of the District Gov
eminent by Executive Order APP
peared to be developing among
congressional leaders. Here are
the comments of some of them
on the proposed plans:
Senator Johnston, Democrat, Of
South Carolina, senior member Of
the Senate District Committee
and chairman of the Senate Post
Office and Civil Service Commit
tee:
Il don't think the President
ought to legislate on this subject
in this manner. I'm getting tired
of all these Executive orders
which, in my opinion, should not
be used except for absolutely
matters.
Some of these reorganization
orders have good things in them
(See REORGANIZATION, A-l0.)
Quarrel Over Dollar Debt