The Washington times., 1919-08-26
HOME RULE
BILL FOR D. c.
NEARS DRAFT
Congressman Clark Would Let
City Administer It's Own
Affairs.

Abolition Of the present form Of
government OF the District Of Colum-
bia, and putting the administration of
District Affairs in the hands Of a COM
mission OF i've, to be selected by the
people, is proposed in q bill being
drafted by Congressman Frank Clark,
OF Florida.
7 thinksit Is generally agreed that
the present system Is highly unsat-
isfactory," said Mr.. Clark. after
many years Of study Of local Affairs,
] believe have a plan that will Of
fer a solution.
"A subcommittee Of the House
District Committee win shortly begin
its Investigation OF the various
branches OF the District government
Ny plan, proposed for the District,
would provide q basis for q complets
reorganization of the District gov
srnment"
Has string Tied to It
Mr.. Clark's plan is not full local
self-government, but Is local self
government with strings to It, since
il win provide that Congressional ap-
provsl must be given ordinances and
appointments Of the proposed COM
mission Of 1--WE.
eAll the petty details that have
harassed Congress for years should be
left in the hands Of a commission"
Mr.. Clark stated. Ny bill would
place in the hands Of the commission
the management OF all departments
OF the District government.
Ordinances should first be passed By
the commission end then sent to Con-
gress for approval Unless they car
ried approp priEtions, approval by Con-
gress would, I believe, be perfume
tory"
Gives CommisEiOners Power.
The burden Of District management
would be on the proposed commission.
and not on Congress, under the proVf-
sions OF the Clark plan.
Let the people elect their Commis-
sioners. Then let the Commissioners
be accountable to them" Mra Clark
says.
Great care should be taken in
determining who should and should
net be electors. I propose to in
corporate IN my bill q provision to
the effect that registration places be
opened IN various wards Of the Dis
trict. Any resident Of the District,
over the age Of twenty-one years,
may present himself for registration.
he must first prove that he has not
been convicted Of any crime, nor has
he had his civil rights taken from
him.
'Tf properly administered. such a
provision would keep OF the regis
tration lists many undesirables."
As far as other details are con-
eerned, the usual requirements for
registration In other municipalities
Win be incorporated in the Clark bill.
Plan Has Support.
Mr. Clark stated that he had dis
cussed q new form Of government for
the District with other members, and
was convinced a change from the
present system would meet with sup
port from many quarters.
The Clark plan is a compromise
plan that he expects to be supported
both by those favoring complete fran
chise for the District, and by those
opposed to removing the management
OF the District from Congress.
Because Of his interest in District
affairs, many persons have furnished
Mr.. Clark with papers and data Of
various kinds setting forth charges
and complaints affecting certain
branches OF the District government
Il viii place all data have in the
hands Of the subcommittee named to
conduct the investigation Of the Dis
trict government" Mr.. Clark said.
Most of the information viii give
the committee has to do with the
police department.
Under the plan propose, the peo-
Die Of the District would hold the
commissioners accountable for the ef-
heiency or inefficiency Of the police
and other departments. As IL now
rtaudE no one is responsible"