Evening star., 1953-08-07
.CityHeadskeep
Fowler Under
.Lowe's0ffice
Decision Disreeords
Recommendation Of
Congress Conferees
By John W. Stepp


today gave the cold shoulder to
a congressional recommendation
that the District budget Office be
separated from the General Ad-
ministration Department and its
director empowered to report di-
rect to the city heads.
Commissioner Samuel Spencer
announced that the Office, head
ed by Walter L. Fowler, will re-
main where it was placed in a
reorganization nearly a year ago
under the supervision of Gen.
eral Administration Director
Schuyler Lowe.
This action was in accord with
recommendation yesterday by
the Commissioners Citizens Ad-
visory Council. 1t was, however,
contrary to the request of Con-
gresSional conferees who reported
out the Districts 1854 appropria-
ton bill last month. They asked
that Budget Officer Fowler and
his staff be placed directly un-
der the Commissioners.
Careful Study Made.
The text of Commissioner
Spencer's statement follows:
"The Commissioners have
studied carefully the question of
whether the Budget Office should
report directly to the CommiS-
sioners or should remain a part
of the Department of General
Administration.
1T is our Judgment that the
interests of sound government
of the District of Columbia will
best be served by continuing the
budget office as a part of the
Department of General Admins
tration.
This conclusion is in con-
cordance with the views of the
Citizens Advisory Council.
"One of the chief purposes
of setting up the Department
of General Administration was
to relieve the Commissioners Of
fiscal and administrative detail
and to make these matters the
responsibility of the Department
of General Administration.
Would Impair Purpose.
"We believe that the achieve
ment of this purpose would be
impaired if the Budget Office
were removed from the Depart
ment of General Administra-
ton and placed directly under
the Commissioners.
1T should be understood,
however, that continuing the
Budget, Office as part of the De-
partment of General Adminis-
tration does not mean that the
Budget Officer cannot take up
matters directly with the Com
miSSionerS. The Commissioners
doors are always open to him
and to the heads of other Offices
in the Department of General
Administration.
"The only requirement with
respect to this is that they keep
the director of General Admin
lstration informed"
At one point in the Congress
sional elaboration of the Dis
trict's 1854 supply bill. the Sem
ate Appropriations Committee
wrote in language to combine
the budget and the management
(reorganization) Offices under
the supervision of Mr.. Fowler
and to separate these agencies
from the General Administration
Department, with powers to re-
port directly to the Commis-
sionerS.
Stricken From Bill.
This proposal was stricken
from the bin on a point of order
raised on the Senate floor by
Senator Morse, Independent, Of
oregon.
Senator Morse commented to-
day that he approved the Com
mlssioners' action.
II think it strengthens the
cause of home rule" the Sena-
tor declared. II do not favor
members of Congress interfering
with the functions of the District
Commissioners. ! wish to state
that the position l took in the
matter was a plea for the Com
misSionefS to exercise their
powers without interference from
the Hill
Senator Case, Republican of
South Dakota, was predicted oac-
ceptance of Congress recomlnen-
dations, refused comment. Mr..
Fowler is out of town on vaca-
ton.