Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-23

How shall the District of Columbia be
governed?
This, in effect. was the proposition SUBJ
mitted to subcommittee of the commit
tee on law and legislation of the Cham
Der of Commerce some time ago. The
subcommittee after holding several meet
ings and listening to statements from in
dividuals and organizations made it's re-
port yesterday afternoon to the full COM
mittee on law and legislation, OF which
Attorney A. Leftwich Sinclair is chair
man. The findings Of the subcommittee
were in brief:
That the present commissionership form
of government meets all the require
ments.
have voice in making the laws that are
to govern them and in selecting the Off
GERS who are to execute the laws.
That Congress create commission to
determine whether it is advisable to grant
the District representation in Congress
and the electoral college.
Ernest II. Daniel. chairman of the sub
committee, before reading the report
traced the work of the committee in the
more than five months that the matter
has been under consideration. He said
d0uTeSScS HdU DeeIl tldOe D6iOTc lue SUD-
committee by James B. Reynolds, author
of the Reynolds report; by Julius Kahn.
representative from California; Thomas
c. Noyes, Henry E. Davis. formerly
United States district attorney for the
District: N. ]. Weller, Emmett Adams.
representing organized labor, and Will
liam Nick. Clayton, f. W. Oyster. l.. W.
Dyre, A. F. Woods, J. Walter Mitchell
and Evan H. Tucker, representing the
citizens associations of the District.
Change in Method.
1t was recited that the committee found,
in studying the present form of govern
ment, that the methods in vogue in adopt
ing District ordinances and in the con-
duct of civic affairs frequently give rise
to criticism, and a change in the mode of
municipal administration. it was thought
would be salutary.
Mr. Sinclair as chairman of the COM
mittee on law and legislation acted with
the subcommittee as member Elk officfo
and signed the report which was adopted
unanimously.
In arriving at its conclusions the SUBJ
committee considered the reports of adj
dresses delivered at recent banquet
United States by the Washington Cham
her Of Commerce and the Washington
Board of Trade, and notable series of
articles on the subject of the growth of
this country prepared by an expert and
published in a local newspaper. and other
articles Of weight and authority publish
ed, from time to time. in other local news
the subject was also prosecuted by the
committee. in the course Of which it con-
sidered much other data submitted to it.
The Findings in Brief.
II was deemed inadvisable to enter into
detailed discussion of the accumulation
of facts and arguments submitted, and
contents itself with reporting that it found
vigorous local sentiment favoring un-
restricted suffrage; strong sentiment in
favor of no change at all, and a fast
spreading sentiment. which promises to
rapidly increase in strength. in favor OF
continuing the present form of municipal
government. with the privilege. however.
Of elective representation in Congress and
in the electoral college, thus indirectly
securing to the citizens of the District
voice in the selection of municipal execu-
tives and consideration in local affairs.
After careful study and deliberate
consideration OF all the views expressed
and data submitted the report states.
land as result of the Independent in
vestigation and research by the commit
tee, it has reached certain conclusions
which are submitted as follows:
'First-Your committee believes that
the plan of government recommended by
the Reynolds report Is wrong In princi-
pie and would prove unsatisfactory and
harmful in practice.
"Your committee. therefore, recon-
mends that the Washington Chamber of
Commerce place itself on record as
strongly opposed to the form of govern
ment proposed for, the District of Co
lunlbia in that report.
"Second-Your committee believes the
commission form Of government for the
District of Columbia meets all the re-
auirements of the District as completely
as any that can be devised.
"Your committee believes that whatever
dissatisfaction with the present form of
government there may be is due to the
prevailing methods of administration.
Daily Board Meetings.
.The act Of Congress, as amended
which created the existing form of gov
eminent, provides for board Of COM
missioners, and while no mode of pro-
cedure Is prescribed by that act for the
transaction of the public business, the
act seems to contemplate that the bust
ness of the District shall be transacted
by the Commissioners. sitting as a board.
Your committee believes that IL the Conn
missioners would hold daily board ses-
sions, open to the public, for the trans
action Of the public business, and act to-
gether as board, the questions arising
for consideration would be more expedi-
tiously and satisfactorily disposed of than
heretofore, and there would be less
ground for dissatisfaction on the part of
the citizens with the administration of
municipal affairs.
Moreover, 1t Is believed that certain
changes should be instituted In the meth
DDS Of doing business in some OF the sub
ordinate branches of the government
with a view to preventing vexatious de-
lays
f"Third-Your committee recognizes the
importance of the continued supremacy
of federal authority in matters pertaining
to the national government. and it be-
heves that the form Of government for
the District Of Columbia should be such
as will enable the general government to
insure to the executive, Congress. the
courts and the executive departments
of the government located within the
boundaries of the District OF Columbia
absolute immunity from local interference
at all times.