Evening star., 1953-06-26
More Hearings
SET Mondayon
City Heads to Weigh
Plan for Abolition
Of Welfare Board

The Commissioners today
scheduled further hearings Mon
day on the two big remaining
issues in the District government
reorganization process.
The city heads, beginning at
10 am. will hear the Board Of
Public Welfare and spokesmen
for professional and occupa-
tional examining boards.
Meanwhile, they were to hear
United States Attorney Leo
Rover at 3 pm, today on the
subject of the Commission on
LicenSure to Practice the Heal
ing Arts.
Today, the city heads approved
non-controversial re-organiza-
ton proposals on Civil Defense,
the Civil Defense Advisory Coun-
Gil, the Corporation Counsels
Office, the Police Department and
Trial Boards and the Board Of
Police and Fire Surgeons.
The re-organizers' changes
recommended fo-- the Corpora
tion Counsels Office and Civil
Defense involve mostly such
minor features as re-assignment
of some personnel.
Would Abolish Board.
Meanwhile, the Citizens Ad-
visory Council will recommend
abolition of" the District Public
Welfare Board in line with the
urgings of the government re-
organizers it was indicated to-
day.
The nine-member body held
its neXt-to-last session on reor-
ganization yesterday. 1t for
warded to the Commissioners it's
reports on the welfare. profess
sional and occupational boards.
police. civil defense. corporation
council and dog pound programs.
That leaves only the coroner'S
Office for advisers to study. They
will meet Monday to do that.
Reaction Mixed.
While Chairman Robert v.
Fleming refused to disclose how
the council acted on any of the
plans, it was understood that
members not only voted to go
along with the reorganizers' rec
ommendation to end the Welfare
Board, but agreed, as we'll, to
the proposed revamping of the
professional and occupational
boards Setup.
Reaction to the proposal of
doing away with the 27-year-old
Welfare Board has been mixed.
Present board members, joined
by number of social worker
groups and individuals, oppose
the abolition plan. At least a
part of the Districts citizen ele-
ment approves.
Speaking of the decision on
welfare, in the light of the coun-
ellis stand against a health
board, one member declared,
We've got to be consistent.
haven't we?"
A letter to the city heads from
Attorney John w. Townsend on
behalf of seven boards. ac-
countancy, dental, architects.
veterinary medicine, optometry.
pharmacy and nurses, said it
appeared all 10 of the profess
Sional boards to be affected by
the reorganization plan will OPP
pose it.
In a statement of objections
MI. Townsend declared that
Administration Director Schuyler
Lowe was trying to steam
roller" his proposed depart
ment of occupations and profess
sions plan through.
Charges Stampede
He said this was despite the
objection of several
representing the
several professions.
He contended that Mr.. Lowe
was trying to stampede the
Commission in taking immedi-
ate action not required to be
taken by them until they have
a far better opportunity to con-
slider the many facets of this i'm
portant public question"
Mr.. Townsend said it was not
to create a separate
in the government
to reach a workable plan for
consolidation of reports to the
Commissioners by the profess
s;onal boards or provide a closer
arrangement.
StnrIioht Movies