Evening star., 1959-06-15
The Federal Interest

The Washington Board Of Trades pro-
posals for a drastic Shakeup in Wash
ington area planning reflect a general
community sentiment of Illustration and
dissatisfaction. In view of the delays
and interminable controversies which
have surrounded such needed develop
ment projects as new Potomac River
bridges, the desire for something better
Is understandable. We are not at all
convinced, however, that the Board Of
Trade has found the proper solution to
these ills.
Certainly no one can oppose the
boards position that regional planning
needs strengthening. Neither do we
quarrel with the idea that some sort Of
planning staff might be set up within
the District government to coordinate
city development projects. Perhaps, as
in other cities, this staff could ride herd
on a continuing, cohesive capital pro-
gram of public works. We do not, how
ever, concur that because these things
are true the National Capital Planning
Commission should be junked, with most
of its functions parceled out to the Dis
trict and to a new regional body whose
control would be lodged entirely in local
jurisdictions of the area.
The apparent intention Of this "im-
provement" is to transfer planning
largely from Federal to local control
and, in so doing, to remove the conflicts
between Federal and local interests and
between what one board offlcial called
theoretical" and practical" planning.
The fact, however, Is that Washington
Is a city of unique, built-in conflicts in
which the most prominent feature is
and must continue to be the interest OF
the Federal Government. The need,
therefore, is machinery which is pat
termed to these complex needs, not ma
chinery which supposes that such basic
conflicts will vanish just because an
agency is diSbanded.
We do not mean to say that the Plan
ming Commission has not contributed
actively to difficulties in the past. 1t has.
But these failings have resulted largely
from other factors than the organiza-
tional makeup Of the commission. They
have resulted in no small degree from
budgets so inadequate that good plan
ming has been impossible, from petty
personality problems, from over-zealouS
Federal ex-oficio members, from stu
pid political appointments Of members
who have lacked even the interest to
devote time to their jobs, and from
general by passing of the NCPC by other
Federal departments.
Many Of these faults now have been
corrected. Congress approval Of sub
stantial budget ($400000) for the first
time will give the commission the re-
sources for type Of planning which
distinguishes other cities. The most i'm
portant next step is the appointment Of
a successor to the retiring chairman.
Harland Bartholomew, who should have
the personal prestige and influence
which will command respect for COM
mission decisions. For it is the loss OF
such respect that has diminished the
great effectiveness which the commits
sion once enjoyed.
We commend the Board Of Trade for
the forthrightness of its proposals, and
for its high sense of fair play in with
holding them until the new Planning
Commission budget was enacted. No
change, of course, can be made without
legislation and these recommendations
add one more note of emphasis to the
need for sweeping review of the whole
planning picture by Congress. We are
confident, however, that Congress will
never forget what the Board OF Trade
seems to have forgotten-that the Fed
eral Government never can be dealt out
of any organization which so greatly in
fiuences the growth and development OF
the National Capital region.