Evening star., 1953-02-11
Case Requests
Reports From
City Heads
Seeks information
On How They AIIot
Time on Duties
BY Don S. Worren

By Don S. Warren
Chairman Case, Of the Senate
District Committee; it was
learned today, is gathering ad-
ditional data in support of his
bill to expand the size of the
Board of Commissioners from
three to five members.
The South Dakota Republican
confirmed reports that he had
recently asked the Commission
ers to tell him how they divide
their time among the various
departments and services each
one SuperviseS.
Has Received One Reply.
Senator Case said he had re-
ceived one reply and that he
did not plan to release the re-
ports until public hearings are
held on his measure some time
next week.
They will be held by the
Judiciary Subcommittee, headed
by Senator Barrett, Republican.
Of Wyoming.
Senator Case said that 10 days
or two weeks ago he wrote the
Commissioners asking them for
a report on how they handled
their work loads.
One of the letters went to Brig.
Gen. Bernard L. Robinson, for
mer Engineer Commissioner,
whose place in the District gov
ernment now has been taken by
Brig. Gen. Louis w. Prentiss.
Senator Case has declared the
basic purpose of his plan, now
twice formally approved by
President Eisenhower, is to en-
able the Board of Commissioners
to handle more work. He plans
to sponsor a bill to transfer some
ordinance-making duties from
Congress to the city heads. An
other purpose is to increase the
chance of appointment to the
| board of a Negro and a woman
Senator Case has already
placed before the District Com
mittee a report showing that
no city of 100000 population OF
more has a city council as small
as three members.
COnfers With Adams.
Meanwhile, speculation that
President Eisenhower might
soon appoint a new District
Commissioner.was given impetus
late yesterday, after Senator
Case went to the White House
for Q conference.
He talked there with sherman
Adams, assistant to the Presi-
dent. hatet. neither would out
line just what was said.
In fact, Senator Case Told re-
porters he had gone to see
Mr.. Adams primarily to discuss
South Dakota matters and
that incidentally" something
came up about District affairs.
He was insistent, then and
later, however, that he had not
recommended anyone for ap-
pointment as Commissioner. AS
he described it, there was some
Casual discussion" of an in
definite number of names of per-
sons, most of whom had been
mentioned in the press or group
meetings as candidates.
Talks With Mrs. Coffin.
Senator Case did not specify
what names were discussed ex-
! cept to recall that some days
ago he had talked about the
post with Mrs. Howard A. Coffin,
Republican committeewoman for
the District. He said he was
not sure she was an active can
didate.
Senator Case said he did not
know if the President was plan
ming to appoint a Negro or a
woman to the board.
Senator Case told Capitol Hill
reporters he had taken to the
White House a copy of the latest
chart showing the duties and re-
sponSibilitieS of the three city
heads. He obtained it from
Schuyler Lowe. director Of gen.
eral administration in the re-
organized city government.
Senator Case has outlined two
reasons for enlarging the Board
Of Commissioners. The basic rea-
son, he said, is to enable the city
heads to take over more city
law-making work now done by
Congress. He is preparing a
bill on this. The other was that
an enlarged board might make
more likely the appointment Of
q Negro and q woman.
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