THE FEDERAL-STATE-LOCAL PARTNERSHIP 55 



desirable if its chairman were not only a Secretary of one of the par- 

 ticipating departments. It has been suggested that the Vice Presi- 

 dent be its chairman, which in many ways would be highly desirable, 

 especially so long as the Vice President has an active interest in 

 such matters. 



The Council should expand its responsibilities to cover all phases 

 of beautification as well as recreation, and this would mean that 

 departments other than those now represented on the Council would 

 be increasingly involved. The Council should include such depart- 

 ments, even if only on an associate or part-time basis. The Federal 

 Power Commission is a case in point; it has literally thousands of 

 withdrawals on record for potential power sites, and its power of 

 condemnation can be superior to that of the State in which it wishes 

 to see something constructed. Whether, where, and how construc- 

 tion proceeds can be vital to this program. 



Simplifying Federal procedures also suggests that the BOR might 

 become more directly attached to the Council rather than remain as 

 a Bureau in a participating department. In an independent position, 

 it would find cooperation with all departments of the government 

 easier to secure. If the BOR remains essentially a clearinghouse 

 and dispenser of funds rather than an operating agency or a coor- 

 dinating force that is, if it coordinates by leadership rather than 

 directive (and this is inevitable and perhaps desirable) such a 

 transfer of responsibility would be thoroughly practical. 



In the interest of expediting activity in the States and within the 

 Federal Government, adjusting policies to changing needs, and main- 

 taining smooth relationships among the Federal Government, the 

 public, Congress and the States, an Advisory Committee to the 

 Council should be established by the President, and should periodi- 

 cally provide reports to the President as well as advising with and 

 reporting to the Council. This Advisory Committee should consist 

 of representatives from Congress, of citizens (including businessmen) , 

 and of people directly concerned and interested in the problems and 

 projects of the States and localities. It is highly unlikely that any 

 formula developed at this conference or by Federal agencies will 

 be wholly satisfactory over an extended period of time; such a Com- 

 mittee could call for adjustments in the procedures of all the con- 

 cerned parties until a satisfactory formula is found and whenever 

 circumstances require a change, the formula could be changed. In 

 other words, the Committee could continuously monitor relationships 

 and expedite adjustments. 



