Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-28
District Heads
Hear Attackon
Housing Plans
Prentiss and SeurIes
Won't Co-ordinutor
Made Independent
By Miriom Gutenberg

The Commissioners today
a decision on the de-
tails of their proposed housing
merger after hearing an attack
on several aspects Of the reor-
ganization plan.
One of the points at issue was
whether all planning and CO.
Of slum clearance
and urban renewal" should be
vested in the director of the De-
partment of Licenses and In
spections where the new housing
division will be located.
Want Independent Co-ordinator.
Both Engineer Commissioner
Louis w. Prentiss and John r.
jr., executive director Of
the District Redevelopment Land
Agency. stressed their idea of
making the housing co-ordinator
independent of all the many
agencies involved in the housing
program and reporting directly
to the commissioners.
Gen. PrentisS commended Lii.
cenSeS and Inspections was an
operating department charged
with carrying out it's part of the
housing job and that the overall
plan for attacking sums and inn
proving the city should be de-
veloped at a higher level.
Reiterating his proposal for a
housing co-ordinator-as he de-
veloped it during Senate Appro-
priations Committee hearings
Gen. PrentiSS said that as soon
as funds are available, an over
all plan can be prepared with
the assistance of a program an
alyst, and Licenses and InSpec-
tions will have it's hands full
with its own work without hav-
ing to spend 80 per cent of it's
time talking to II other agencies
in the housing picture"
Mr.. SearleS argued that if the
co-ordinating function was put
in Licenses and Inspections it
would mean that some affected
agencies would be trying to CO.
ordinate other affected agencies.
Lowe FavOrS Joint Duties.
Schuyler Lowe. general admin
iStration director, said he visual
lied the director of Licenses and
Inspections in a planning and
co-ordinating role with his houS-
ing division as an operating
agency. He commended that PLAN
ming cannot be separated from
the administration of housing
regulations, and if they are sep
arated they might operate at
cross purposes.
Commissioner Samuel Spencer
commented that the incoming
director of licenses and inspec-
tons might feel planning was
not his job, but Herbert Fuhr-
man of the General AdminiStra-
ton Department said other de-
partment heads have planning
as well as operating RESPONSE
bilitieS.
Appeal Procedure Discussed.
Another phase of the reorgan.
ization plan to come under at
tack was the new procedure for
appealing decisions involving
licenses and permits. Assistant
Engineer Commissioner Giles
Evans, jr., called the appellate
procedure the most undesirable
part of the whole order. He
specifically opposed the idea Of
a hearing officer with power to
overrule departmental decisions.
He argued that a hearing officer
added an extra financial burden
and would duplicate existing
procedures. Supporting him was
C. T. Nottingham, superintend-
ent of licenses and permits.
Mr.. Thurman argued that with
the housing code and the tene-
ment regulations enforced effec.
lively, there would be a full-time
job for the hearing officer.
Plumbing Decision Put OFF.
The Health Department,
which was expected to put up
some protest, reported through
Frederick C. Heath, acting di-
rector, that it had no objections,
but raised a question as to
whether it can still force owners
to change plumbing connections.
After a long discussion it was
decided the Commissioners should
decide at a later date whether
plumbing fixtures should be re-
quired to be changed to meet
present plumbing rules or all
lowed to remain as they are
as long as they do not constitute
a health menace.
On the reorganization plan
under discussion, the Commits
sioners said they hope to reach
a decision tomorrow.