Evening star., 1954-10-10
City WiIIGef
New Agency
In Two Weeks
VocutioauI Service
For Disabled Will Be
18th Separate Unit
By Hector McLeon

49," s
By Hector MeLeon
The District government In
two weeks will acquire its 25th
separate agency - the Depart
ment of Vocational Rehabilita-
ton.
This became apparent yester-
day in a poll Of all three Dis
trict Commissioners, following a
recommendation by the Citi-
zens' Advisory Council favoring
Independent status for the
agency.
The Commissioners are slated
TO act at their next regular
meeting Tuesday when they con-
slider what to do with the District
Rehabilitation Service.
Congress Ordered Transfer.
The service, established in
1929, is a Federal agency oper-
ating under the Office Of Voca-
tional Rehabilitation of the De-
partment of Health, Education
and Welfare. Under an Act of
Congress approved last August
3. it must be transferred to Dis
trict administration by Novem-
Der /.
Despite a bid by Public Health
Oficer Daniel L. Seckinger to
bring the agency into the Dis
trict Health Department, which
he heads. Corporation Coun-
sells opinion ruled the District
could do only two things with
the service-put it under the
Public Schools or set it up as
an independent agency.
After public hearing and on
the recommendation of the Citi-
zens' Advisory Council that it be
made independent, Commissioner
Renah F. Camalier-under whose
jurisdiction the new department
will be-said yesterday he would
support independent status, de-
claring, THAT was my recon-
mendation in the beginning.
am very, very pleased to know
the council has voted that way"
Approved by Prentiss.
Brig. Gen. Louis w. Prentiss,
the Engineer Commissioner,
agreed. o m m e mt ing. That's
been my idea all along"
Asked If he would 60 along
with the council recommends
ton. Samuel Spencer, president
of the Board of commissioners
reviewing yesterdays Fire Pre-
vention Parade-said, Its not
official. We haven't acted yet,
but you might say we're likely to
do So" !
A Council report. drafted by
Councilman William j. Smith.
pointed out it had been urged
that the transfer be made Octo-
Der "a to simplify mechanical
problems of payroll handling. /
Indications yesterday were that
1t would be made the next day
Monday-for all practical pur-
poses. unless it is delayed to per-
init a formal transfer ceremony.
Staff Of rs.
While the prospective Depart
ment of Rehabilitation is small
one-it has a staff of 26, includ-
ing medical conSultantS-it COM
pareS favorably in size with
others which report directly to
the DisSict Commissioners, like
the Office of Civil Defense. the
Veterans Service Center and the
Motor Vehicle Parking Agency
It's function. according to its
present chief, Tom G. Rathbone,
Is Ito assist persons with physical
or mental disabilities to return
to gainful employment"
In the process, the service pro-
vides medical treatment-on a
contract basis with doctors. sur
geons and MISUNDERSTANDING
and other training, job place
notwithstanding payment for
special permits or license-and
follow up" to see that handi-
capped persons are securely es-
tablished in their new jobs. Mr..
Rathbone explained. About / 900
persons are OH a waiting list for
the agency's help, he said.
Handles 5000 a Year.
The service, he added, deals
with some 5000 persons a year
and returns about 300-or 10 per
cent-of them, to gainful en-
ployment annually.
The budget for the current
fiscal year, which ends next
June 80, is $325,96 he said, IN
cluding $4,000 from the Dis
trict and $205,966 in Federal
grants. The agency may receive
another $4,000, he added. if
certain special projects are ap-
proved, bringing the total to
about $341 900.
One unSolved problem for the
District government is where to
put the new agency. Located for
about three years in the tenn
porary building at f420 Pennsyl-
vania avenue N. W., the service
is supposed to vacate at least
80 days after it is transferred
to the District. a matter now
being studied by Archie G. Hut
son. the Districts director of
Buildings and Grounds.
Chief is Pleased.
Leaving the physiologically iso-
lated status of Federal agency,
Mr.. Rathbone declared, IT am
more than pleased at the trans
fer. We can do the job the peo-
pie of the District want done. I
just hope the people of the Dis
trict will tell us what they want
and we1l try to give it to them"
To help the agency through its
transition period, he has chosen
q citizens advisory committee,
which includes Peter Better.