Evening star., 1955-06-05
Too Many Try
To Run District,
'CamaIier Says
Hits interference
By U. S. Agencies
In Locol Affairs

Former Commissioner Renal
II. Camalier said last night tina
there are "too many agencie
trying to run the District"
The embattled Constitution
avenue bridge, for example
would be half constructed b!
lnow" If the commissioners hat
full authority. he told his RE
port to the People" audience ovel
Radio Station WWDC.
The current Constitution ave
nue. bridge-tunne controvers!
grew out of conflicting interest!
of several Federal and cit.
agencies.
The District is In favor Of .
bridge. already authorized BY
Congress. But park and Other
Federal groups have brought
progress to q halt by proposing
| q tunnel.
Mr.. Camalier did not find fault
with the parks or other agencies
themselves, which he said were
doing a magnificent job"
But he said, "Let the Com
missioners run the District
There is too much interference
from other agencies"
Likes Commission Plan
The former Commissioner said
in answer to questioning by
newsmen that he thought the
commissioner form Of govern
ment was a good one, If the
members of the board had full
authority (which they do not
have"
He said that the Districts
situation would be better If its
citizens had a vote. He expressed
the view that If the citizens had
had q voice in the government.
the accumulated need for a $305
million public works program
would not have arisen.
He said he thought District
residents should have a voice in
government affairs and in the
election Of officials. and II hope
and pray we will have national
representation, because that is
what we deserve.
Mr.. Camalier said 1t was hard
to place responsibility for such
a huge accumulation of city con-
struction needs in the face of
the city's growth, and that he
could not blame any Of his pred
ecessors. He said that, some
how. no one seems to have taken
the lead"
Deplores Apathy
On leaving the District Build
ing. he said he regretted that
"the halls are bare" of large
groups Of citizens attending pub
lie hearings or advising with the
commissioners.
He added that he himself in
tended to be present as a witness
in future public hearings on city
affairs.
II wish the citizens of Wash
ington would 60 back to the
District Building and put on the
pressure that used to be there" :"
he said. He referred to the days
when the public works program
was under discussion. He called
that bill the city's greatest step
forward" during his term Of
office.
II all the citizens would get
together to exert their influence
on city problems, he said. I'VE
could accomplish wonders"
But Mr.. Camalier said he had
mo regrets" as he left Office.
He said he greatly appreciated
the cooperation and farsighted-
ness of city department heads
and employees.
"It is just this cooperation
and farsightedness that makes
the job of commissioner inter-
esting and worthwhile-even ex-
citing" he declared. without
that spirit, the office would be
a bore"
On his final appearance on
the weekly broadcast, Mr.. Cana
lier was presented with a "sta-
ton proclamation" in recogni-
tion of his service to the city
and an emblem in the form of
a Good Luck Horseshoe" byl
Ben Strouse, vice president and
manager Of WWDC.
The proclamation cited Mr..
Camalier's loyal and untiring
efforts in behalf of municipal
affairs" during his term of Office. |
during which his duties included
supervision of health,
welfare and other city depart