Evening star., 1954-10-08
An|ndependeni
Rehabilitation
AgencyUrged
Advisory Council
Asks D. c. Heads
To Take Action
By Hector Mclean

4AC SltIACIlo AONloO1y SOuIlC1l
today. by unanimous vote, urged
the District Commissioners to
make a separate. independent
agency out of the District Re-
Mobilization Service.
The service, now functioning
under the Office of Vocational
Rehabilitation of the Depart
ment of Health, Education and
Welfare, will be transferred to
the District government from
the Federal Government this
month.
The District Health Depart
ment had urged that the service
be given to it, but the council
called the request legally i'm
possible.
"a HObsOn's Choice"
Council Chairman William E.
Leahy said the group was faced
with "a HobSon'S choice" because
the law passed at the last session
of Congress would allow the
service to be set up either under
the Board of Education or as a
separate agency.
A committee report to the
council, presented by William j.
Smith, noted that the Depart
ment of Health, Education and
Welfare and the District govern
ment both want the transfer
made on October "a. The date.
Mr.. Smiths report said, repre-
sents the start of a new payroll
period" which would "obviate
some of the administrative prob
lens that would otherwise attend
the transfer"
Mr.. Leahy urged that staff ia
cilitieS for vocational rehabilita-
ton which are available in the
Departments of Health and We'll
fare be made available to the new
agency.
He also warned that the
agency, now largely financed by
Federal funds, may have to crack
down on applications for help
from physically handicapped per-
sons when the District, out of
the taxpayers pocket, must foot
the bill"
Not Material Problem.
At the moment, however, he
pointed out, this is still not a
material problem since the
financing is largely from Federal
funds and it makes no differ
ence whether applicants are resi-
dents of the District.
Schuyler Lowe, District director
of general administration, said
applicants for help from the
Federally operated service now
have only to declare their inten-
ton of becoming citizens of the
District.
Any breakdown presumably
would bring the agency's policy
into line with that of the Depart
ments of Health and Welfare
which will give aid only to per-
sons who have been residents of
the District at least a year.
Under the councils recon-
mendation the rehabilitation
service which pres m b ly
would be on a level with the
other major departments OF the
District government-would re-
port directly to the Board of
commissioners.
Decision Postponed.
The council postponed any de-
cision on suggestions to set up
an advisory committee to guide
the policies of the rehabilitation
service.
The chief of the service, Tom
G.. Rathbone recently established
a 1O-man citizens advisory COM
mittee, composed of persons
prominent in District civic
affairs, to guide the agency
through it's transition from Fed
eral to local status.
In other actions the council
resolved to dedicate its present
meeting room on the fifth floor
of the District Building to the
memory of Mrs. George c.
Thorpe, who died recently. A
bronze plaque will be presented
at ceremonies within couple of
weeks to members of her family.
She was the first woman men,
ber of the council and the first
member to die in office.
The council also requested
Traffic Director George E..
Keneipp to appear At the next
regular meeting to discuss the
possibility of letting motorists
keep the same license tag num-
ber year after year on payment
of a premium fee and to dis
cuss the possibility of speeding
up traffic now delayed by turn
ing automobiles.