Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-25
Report Calls
Licenses Unit
Basica||y0k
Management Office
Urges Changes in
Some Operations
BY CHARLES ID. PIERCE
Star Staff Writer

ny CHAHLES ID. PlEhCE
Star Staff Writer
A study of a controversy
plagued District Government
department recommends Ger
tain changes in operation but
calls the agency's basic organi-
cation sound"
However, the report pre-
pared by the District Manage
mert Office on the Department
of Occupations and Professions
was described by Joseph Gill
man. chairman of the District
Board of Registration for Pro-
fessional Engineers, as "only a
feeble step on a mile long jour-
ney."
The District Council of Engi-
neering and Architectural
Societies last September
sharply criticized the depart
ment and said operation of the
professional engineers board
was hindered by affiliation with
this department.
While the management office
study makes no direct refer
ence to the councils request
that the engineers board be
given an independent status, it
states:
Little, If any, evidence was
uncovered to indicate that SER
vice to the public furnished
through the individual boards
has deteriorated."
Believes in independence
1.-THE recommendations in
this study would give some
measure of relief" Mr.. Gilman
said. but If the study is con-
tinued it will be found that the
engineers do not benefit from
the administrative assistance of
the Department Of Occupations
and Professions. We were a
happy ship until we came under
this department"
The District Council of En-
cheering and Architectural So
cieties has charged that the de-
partment made working condi-
tons unpleasant" for the staff
of the engineers board and
treated the board "as a vassel."
Twenty-one licensing boards
and commissions are under the
jurisdiction of the Department
Of Occupations and Professions.
Most of these formerly indie
pendent boards, which license
doctors. architects, nurses,
BARRIERS, undertakers and
others, objected when they were
first placed in the department
in 1858.
The District Commissioners
last summer asked that the
management office investigate
operations Of the department.
This request was prompted by
complaints of friction between
the officials Of the department
and some of the professional
boards under its Jurisdiction.
Recommendations made in
the study by Joseph Chicherio,
District management officer,
include the following:
l. The Department of Occu-
pations and Professions should
be under the jurisdiction of one
District Commissioner, prefer
ably the president of the board,
rather than the full Board of
Commissioners.
2. The director of the depart
ment should meet more often
with the members of the pro-
fessional boards in his de-
partment.
8. Boards within the depart
ment should be divided into
two categories, Scientific,
Technical and Business Group"
and ARTS, Crafts and Trades
Group"
Improvement Seen
The proposed change in the
law would keep the non-pay
status clause but give them the
power to make arrests while on
duty with regular officers, and
the right to compensation if
they are hurt on duty.
The Department of Occupa-
tons and Professions is headed
by Robert F. Cogswell, who said
yesterday he will step down
from the directors job in June.
He had retired, but his term of
service was extended for one
lyear by the Commissioners.