Evening star., 1953-07-31
Fowler 5 Job
May Hinge on
Direct Reports
No Decision Yet
On Resigning, D. c.
] Budget Chief Says

Continuation of the services of
the Districts veteran budget of
ficer, Walter L. Fowler, may de-
pend on the ultimate decision of
the Commissioners as to whether
he may report directly to them
or be kept subordinate to General
Administrator Schuyler Lowe.
Mr.. Fowler told The Star he
had reached no decision to re-
sign or to retire and he added he
had neither issued nor indicated
anything constituting IAN ulti-
matum."
He did say, however. he
thought the budget officer should
have freedom to go directly to
the Board of Commissioners with
problems of city budget, finance
or estimates of revenue, since he
is responsible for those things.
'If I find there is any feeling
about this matter" he said, cor
that there is no need for my
services. then I would not want
to stand in the way and I might
as well step out" he said.
Pleased With Bill.
He said he was quite satisfied
with the 1854 District appropri-
alton bill as finally passed by
Congress containing a recon-
mendation in the conference re-
port that he should be allowed
to report directly to the Com
missionerS.
He stressed that he had no
desire to take over the control
of the District management Of
flee and never had asked for this.
He added that he had no per-
sonal conflict with Mr.. Lowe, in
charge of the city government
reorganization work, and thought
that Mr.. Lowe should continue
in charge of that work.
The issue, came to the surface
in the Senate agains last night
when Senator Morse, Independ-
ent. of oregon, denounced the
conference report recommended
ton to free Mr.. Fowler from
the jurisdiction of Mr.. Lowe, as
a violation of the intent of Dis
trict Government reorganization
and decision made earlier on
the District supply bill by the
Senate.
He recalled that the Senate
had knocked out on a point of
order, as legislation on an ap-
preparation bill, the earlier
recommends ton by the Senate
Appropriations Committee that
both funds and function of the
District BUDGET and management
Offices be separated from Mr..
Loves department and be put
under the direction of the budget
officer, Mr.. Fowler.
This provoked a formal state
ment from Chairman Case of
the Senate District Committee,
an ex-off1cio member of the APP
preparations Committee on the
District budget. in support of
the position of Mr.. Fowler.
Senator Case Stoutly defended
the recommendation that the
Commissioners allow Mr.. Fowler
to report directly and freely to
the Commissioners. He agreed
that the plan to transfer funds
and functions was out of order
under Senate rules but con-
tended that this was question
of congressional rules and did
not go TO the merits of the issue.
Sees Step Necessary.
If we want to keep the serv-
ices of Mr.. Fowler as budget
officer" he told the Senate, "it
is necessary that we take him
out from under the Jurisdiction
of Mr.. Lowe and let him report
directly to the Commissioners"
He said he was convinced this
would be in "the best interests
of the District"
The Districts budget officer,
Senator Case declared. should
not have to filter his ideas on
city finances through a director
of General Administration"
Senator Morse repeated his
assertion that if the District
reorganization plan should be
AMENDED, he would be ready and
willing to urge its consideration
by a legislative committee but
that changes should not be put
through under any rider on an
appropriation measure.
The recommendation included
In the appropriation measure,
Senator Morse declare
amounts to political pressure
on the District Commissioners. :"
He commented also that if Mr..
Fowler Quits because he can't
have his way, then I'd welcome
l..