Evening star., 1954-06-09
D. c. Reorganization AssoiIed
On Failure to Reduce Budget

Vii OHUIC ~ ~
District officials have been
raked over the Goals by law
makers for failing to show dollars
and cents savings under the city
governments recent reorganiza-
ton, it was disclosed today.
The Capitol Hill blast was re-
yealed with release for publica-
ton of the transcript of closed
door hearings on the Districts
record $172.4 million budget for
the next fiscal year before the
District subcommittee of the
House Appropriations Committee.
The budget bill goes to the full
committee tomorrow and is to be
debated on the House floor early
next week.
988 New Jobs Asked.
Chairman Wilson, Republican,
of Indiana demanded bitterly, as
city officials pressed their plea
for 988 new Jobs.
Can we continue to expect
higher and higher costs as a re-
suit of the reorganization? Are
we going to continue to get more
personnel, more investigators and
more of this and more of that
until the operating costs go
higher and higher?
MY understanding was that
through reorganization we even
tually would be able to cut down
costs and give the same service
and perhaps increase service
and efficiency"
His outburst came after Schuy-
Ter Lowe, director of General Ad-
ministration. had conceded that
staff reductions under the re-
organization program "are neg
ligible."
More Service Demanded.
Mr.. Lowe, however, insisted
that what we continually run
into, where one would ordinarily
expect to get reductions in per-
sonnel. is a pent-up demand for
more and more services.
For example, in one field,
dealing with housing, we had ex-
pected that there could be SUBJ
Stantial economies from certain
consultations of inspection.
However. what you have facing
us now is increased emphasis
on getting our housing improved.
The Commissioners are form
ulating a housing code. We are
seeking legislation through the
legislative committees, on in
sanitary structures"
Commissioner Samuel Spen-
Ger Joined in, declaring: 80
far as economies are concerned,
what has resulted has been i'm
proved service and improved or
ganization rather than cutting
down on personnel"
Recalls Economy Talk.
And he agreed with Repre-
sentative Wilson when the latter
declared: 1--WE started out a year
or so ago talking about the great
savings which would be accom-
pllshed by reorganizing the Dis
trict Government.
Nov it seems to me those
savings have been reflected in
increased costs. But your an
swer is that the services have
increased tremendously"
Mr. Wilson's remarks were
made before public hearings,
after which he commented with
surprise that no witness had
complained about the size of the
budget or asked for cutbacks.
BY and large, the five law
makers sat silently as District
officials presented their budget
requests from May 19 through
May 26. or voiced mild words
of approval.
The only recurring thread of
criticism was over lack of saw
ingS under reorganization. Rep
resentative Norrell, Democrat, of
Arkansas asked:
Hasn't this reorganization
constituted an incentive to
enlarge and expand rather than
to decrease expenditures"
This was denied by Brig. Gen.
Louis w. Prentiss, the Engineer
Commissioner, who added:
Il have found that we were
operating with backlogs of work.
1 have been striving to push my
organizations to reduce backlog
in order to give the kind of
service to the people that the
people. I feel, are entitled to. If
we develop more efficiency and
can reduce our backlog. I think
we are accomplishing one Of |