Evening star., 1953-06-29
District Ends
First Year Of
Reorganization
Five Agencies
Still Operating
Under Old Setup
By John w. Stepp

Departments and the proposed
centralized administrative setup
for the city's 10 professional and
Occupational boards.
In addition, one non-contro-
versial agency is in midair, only
because the Commissioners
haven't come to it: the dog
pound, an adjunct of the Metro
politan Police Department.
AS for the remaining govern
ment agencies, of which there
were "a before organization set
in, all have been teleScoped into
a mere IS, consisting of 13 "de-
partments." eight offices" and
four boards"
Coroner Plan Approved.
Today. the commissioners ap-
proved the recommended plan
for the coroner's Office, which
would leave it a separate entity
and make no change in its
workings.
Earlier, the city heads heard
members of the Board of Public
Welfare and SpokeSmen for the
professional and occupational
boards speak out against the
proposed reorganization.
Welfare Board Chairman Ed
gar Morris and other members
spoke in favor of retaining the
policy-Setting nature of the body,
rather than creating an adviS-
ory board.
The city heads were told they
would limit the effect of the ex-
perience and interest of citizens
who contribute their services
without payment if the reorgan-
ization plan were adopted.
Camalier Lends Support.
Commissioner Renah F. Cana
lier strongly indorsed the pres
ent set up, and expressed fear
that the change might allow
politics to creep in" Commits
Eioner Samuel Spencer agreed
that the board had done excel
lent work, but he said the COM
missioners must consider the
most effective way Of handling
welfare functions.
In the professional and occu-
pational board hearing, opposi-
ton to the reorganization plan
was registered by virtually all
speakers, including Attorney
John w. Townsend, who spoke
for several of the boards.
District Assessor James L..
Martin, who is member of the
Real Estate Commission, how
ever, said his group favors the
proposed change. He said the
commission was in need of some
new regulations and expressed
belief that the reorganization
would provide an opportunity
for the changes.
Mr.. Townsend urged the sta
tus quo. He accused Mr.. Lowe Of
trying to "Steamroller' the new
plan through and to stampede"
the commissioners into taking
action which should be given
more consideration.
Some Won Fight.
Most of the "a originals went
with apparent submisSivenesS
into the consolidated Setup.
Others protested violently against
being reorganized, and won their
case with the commissioners.
These, notably, we're:
Vehicles and Traffic Depart
ment - Slated for distribution
between the Highway Depart
ment and the new Licenses and
Inspection Department. Traffic
officials and strong public repre-
Sentation prevailed on the city
heads to leave Vehicles and Traf-
f1c alone. except for an adjust
ment of traffic engineering func-
tionS performed both by it and
the Highway Department.
Health Department-Two bu-
reaus, public health engineering
and food inspection, were slated
by the reorganizers to be alb
sorbed by the new licensing de-
partment. Health officials and
public representation, again,
combined to beat down this plan.
Parole B0ard-The reorganiz-
ers had planned to take the in
stitutional parole officer stah
from under the jurisdiction of
the board and place it in the
Department of Corrections. Pa
role Board and public protested.
Status quo obtained.
The three controversial depart
mentS that should, but not nee
essarily must, be reorganized be-
fore the Tuesday deadline, pre-
sent these unresolved issues:
Professional and OccupatiOnaI
BoardS-The reorganizerS want
to establish a central admins
trative Office to handle the cler-
ical, budgetary and other house
keeping" details for all 10 boards
The boards, now functioning in
dependently of each other and
every one else except the COM
missioners. fear the proposed
new Setup as q threat to their
independence. Spokesman are
due to renew their objections tc
the city heads in a hearing to-
morrow.
Welfare Department-The re.
vamping plan appears Satisfac.
tory to all concerned, except fol
the provision to abolish the Wei.
fare Board. which for ~ year,
has determined public welfart
policy here.
Health Department - Thi,
represents the welfare situation
In reverse. This department
has no policy-making board al
present, and the reorganizer'
want to keep 1t that way, with
an advisory council added. Blu,