Evening star., 1953-08-07
Head
ToQueNAides
On Programs
Due Next Month;
Presidents Choice
Of Non Resident Hit
By George Beveridqe

Harland Bartholomew, nation
ally prominent city planner, said
today he wanted to confer with
officials here before giving de-
tails of how he will conduct his
new job as chairman of the Ma
tional Capital Planning Com
mission.
The 63-year-old st. Louisan.
paid consultant to the commits
sion since it was formed in 1926,
was named to the post by Pres
ident Eisenhower yesterday. He
succeeds DR.. Joseph D. Lohman
Of Chicago, who retains COM
mission membership.
On vacation trip in Michi-
gan, Mr. Bartholomew was given
word of the appointment by The
Star. He told a reporter by tele-
phone he would make no i'm
mediate comment on how much
time he plans to devote to the
job or what steps he has in
mind to attack Washington's de-
velopment problems.
Views Well known.
His views, however, are we'll
known. The commissions stand
on most issues reflect advice
given by Mr.. Bartholomew in his
role as consultant.
Officials guessed that that role,
at least on paid basis, will
end with the appointment. For
major studies made by his st.
Louis consulting firm. Harland
Bartholomew and Associates, Mr..
Bartholomew has been paid on
a job-contract basis. On oc-
casion, he also has received a
per diem rate of $75 a day as
consultant. In addition, Off
cialS said, he has given countless
services over the years without
pay.
The new chairman said he has
not decided when he will come
to Washington. Commission aides
guessed it might not be until
after September /, the effective
date of his appointment.
The appointment-as did DR..
Lohman'S last fall-raised i'm
mediate comment as to the wis
dom of having a nonresident
direct commission activities.
John A. Remon, Washington
citizen member and vice chair
man. said he felt it desirable to
have a resident chairman who
could keep in constant touch
with the commission staff.
He has performed such duties
frequently in DR.. Lohman's alb
sence. DR.. Lohman has come to
Washington in advance of
monthly commission sessions,
with occasional trips in between.
He has said he feels he has been
present whenever the job de-
manded it.
Some commission members
agreed privately with Mr.. Ra-
mon that appointment of a resi-
dent chairman would be advan-
tageous. But most said that Mr..
Bartholomew wide experience
and familiarity with Washington
problems fully justified his ap-
pointment.
Mr.. Bartholomew was nomi-
mated by Interior Secretary Nc
Kay and was supported strongly
by a large number of park and
city planning groups. DR.. Lob
man, an authority on communi-
ty race relations, was named last
year by President Truman on
the recommendation of former
Interior Secretary Oscar Chap
man. There were reports he
might be replaced as chairman
Immediately after the Republi-
cans took over.
Asked to Stay On.
The White House reportedly
has asked DR.. Lehman to stay on
as a commission member, and he
has given no indication that he
would not do so. He presently is
on a tour in the Far East.
Mr.. Bartholomew's consulting
firm has had a hand in the de-
velopment of literally hundreds
of communities. It's work in
cludes studies dealing with COM
prehensive plans adopted by 90
cities throughout the country.
Mr.. Bartholomew helped draw
up the city's zoning regulations
in 1920, and played a progress
sively larger part in studies as
years went by. His most re-
cent include the District rede-
velopment plans, bridge and
highway proposals and trans
portation problems.
On current issues, he has ad-
vlSed against the proposed E
street bridge over the Potomac
River and has urged high
level commission study of trans
portation problems.