Evening star., 1952-04-17
How Not to Improve Washington

It is said that President Truman is deter
mined to make constructive contribution to
better government in the District of Columbia
before leaving Office. That is a highly praise
worthy objective But it is hard to think Of
worse contribution than the one his Budget
Bureau has proposed that he make.
If Mr.. Truman should accept the District
reorganization plan prepared for him by the
Budget Bureau he would be defeating the high
purpose which he has set for himself, fouting
the will OF the overwhelming majority Of officials
and citizens of Washington and conniving in
scheme to saddle the Nations Capital with an
untried, unclear and unwanted system OF rule.
No greater disService to Washington could read
lily be imagined.
Why any of the Presidents advisers would
seriously suggest that he leave such heritage
of confusion and public resentment behind him
is beyond understanding. Equally inexplicable
is the secrecy and the haste which have sur
rounded the Budget Bureaus ill-conceived plan
for council-manager form of government here.
The District Commissioners read the first out
line of the plan in the press. No details of the
proposal as yet have been released. Efforts of
the Commissioners to obtain more information
have been fruitlesS.
Thoroughly justified was the indignation
expressed by representatives of leading civic and
business organizations at yesterdays meeting in
the Board of Trade rooms The resolution
adopted unanimously at this emergency rally
reflects the rising tide of popular opposition to
the Budget Bureau plan. That resolution was
not just negative gesture against that plan,
which was properly. called Unacceptable" The
President was informed that civic interests gen.
orally approve of the reorganization plan pro-
posed by the Commissioners plan which re-
tains the tried and proved commission form of
government for Washington, but with certain
changes designed to improve its functioning.
The President can i'll afford to ignore the
Commissioners other authorities, civic and busi-
ness leaders, citizens organizations and all the
other individuals and groups already on record
against the council-manager plan or yet to be
heard from. All of these persons or groups have
had ample opportunity to study and make up
their minds on the Commissioners plan. They
have had no chance at all to consider the
Budget Bureau proposal in detail-nor will they
If the plan is rushed to Congress under authority
of the Federal Reorganization Act. BY contrast,
the home-rule bills have provided for refer
endums. But under the procedure laid down
in the 1949 law, the plan would become effective
after go days unless a constitutional majority
of either the House or Senate voted against
it. The prospect of inducing 49 Senators or 2l8
Representatives to vote against the plan IN the
midst of their consideration of other important
Notwithstanding the forthcoming conventions
and elections-is exceedingly remote
If Mr. Truman wants to leave Washington
q gift for which he will be gratefully remem-
bered he will reject the Budget Bureaus coun-
cil-manager plan or any other unacceptable
version of it in favor of a plan retaining the
present commission FORM with whatever reason
able changes may be advisable to make 1t more
efficient and more adapted to the needs of the
A@In FF1 hiC
system suddenly-through resort to the 6O-day
Reorganization Act procedure-for something
that has been successful only in much smaller
cities than Washington would be to place In
Jeopardy the whole future development of the
Capital.