Evening star., 1933-07-16
CITY MANAGERP[AN
INVITES VOTE MOVE
Roosevelt Told Move to Alter
: Organic Act Will Bring
| Franchise Demand.
(Continued From First Page)

Reichelderfer (Who is president OF the
boardD and Gen. Herbert B. Crosby.
the civilian Commissioner, has become
not only a mystery. but also source OF
some irritation to local Democrats.
Several reasons have been advanced
for the delay in making the appoint
ments. The first is that the President
has had matters Of great national I'M
port to keep him busy and to keep HIN
from giving time to considering the
many candidates who have been rec
commended for these two places. The
Nation, it Is said must come ahead of
the National Capital. which is getting
along very Well under its present ex
ecutive heads.
Another suggestion is that the PreSi-
dent is considering the advisabillty OF
proposing to Congress e change Ill the
form OF government in the District OF
Columbia and that when he has made
up his mind about that matter he will
offer District Commissioner appoint
mentS with string tied to them, an
understanding that the new Commits
sionerS will make no trouble about re-
signing their offices If a new plan of
government is to become effective. 1t
IS said that the President will offer
these appointments with a definite
agreement they are to last, for example,
slonerS will make no effort to block the
adoption of the city manager plan.
A third reason for the delay may be
found in the fact that large number
of candidates for the Office OF CommiS-
sioner. some of them with very strong
backing, have been recommended and
that the selection of only two is bound
to bring heart burnings and resentment.
Somebody's toes are likely to be trod
upon.
Among the Possibilities"
The local Democratic organization,
represented by John B. Costello. DEM
ccratic national committeeman. and
John B. Copoys. chairman of the
Democratic State Central Committee of
the District. has recommended Malcolm
8. McConihe and Ernest G. Walker for
appointment as District Commissioners.
The organization is standing on those
recommendations. There are others
who have strong backing including
Melvin c. HaZen, for years surveyor OF
the District. who has been forwarded
by Admiral Cary T Grayson, who head
ed the Roosevelt Inaugural Committee,
and other influential Democrats. The
woman member of the Democratic Ma
tional Committee for the District, Mrs.
j. Borden Hartman, has her advocates.
ODStNAf
George Allen and many others are on
the list of Commissioner possibilities.
The recommendations for appoint
ment as District Commissioner have
been handed to Postmaster General
Farley. who also happens to be chair
man of the Democratic National Com
n1ittee and chief dispenser OF patronage
for the administration. Weeks ago II
was reported that Mr.. Farley had sent
1,et ,,ff frnt for IN
six names from which to pick the two
Commissioners. And predictions have
been made from week to week that the
President was soon to make the ap-
pointmentS.
II the President turns down the local
Democratic organization in the Selec-
ton of the District Commissioners 1t is
not likely to make for harmony IN
Democratic ranks here. 1t is known
that the organization as represented by
Mr.. Costello and Mr.. ColpOyS was not
considered when the recent appoint
nlent of Charles A. Jones to be manager
for the District of the Home Owners
Loan Corporation was made. Should
there be no recognition OF the organlza-
tion in the selection OF the District gov
eminent heads. the situation politically
IN the District will be more muddled
than ever. 1t would be surprising state
of affairs if the President ignored entire
" the organization in 2vieW OF the man
ner in which the controlling elements in
the local organization fought for the
nomination of President Roosevelt at the
Chicago convention year ago, voting
the Districts six votes Solidly under
the unit rule for Roosevelt. when part
of the delegation was seeking desper-
ately to break away.
Mrs. Norton For Citizens.
Mrs Norton, chairman Of the House
District Committee, is absent from
Washington. 1t is known, however.
that she looks with approval on the
idea that the citizens Of Washington
should be given a greater voice in the
conduct of their own government, and
1t is believed that she would not be
ayerse to allowing them to elect the
head or heads of the city government.
Senator King. asked yesterday if he
approved the plan to have city man
eser for Washington, said:
The city is too big and too impor-
tant to put one man at its head as
manager and to look after legislation
the imposition of ordinances and regu-
lationS-aS well as the executive ad-
miniStration."
Senator King said that he might
agree to the appointment OF city
manager to be the executive head OF
the District government, provided a
commission of three was retained to
deal with all Legislation" the formu-
lation of police regulations, the deter
mination of school building. water de-
velopment. zoning and the like.
1T might be advisable to appoint
city manager who would carry out the
policies of the Board Of Commission
ers" Senator King said But he quick
" added:
II consider Washington the best
governed city in the country today.
We have had excellent Commissioners
in the past Republican and Democrat
alike Under the present system, each
Commissioner becomes manager In
his own department, executing the
commands OF Congress and OF the
Board of Commissioners in its leglsla-
tive CAPACITY 7 see no reason to adVo-
cate a change in the form OF govern
ment"
Praises Incumbents.
Senator King paid tribute TO the IN
cu,nbent Commissioners Relcheioerief
and Crosby. whom he characterHeo ae
fine men" o,
II would oppose the franchise mere
said Senator King, when he was asked
what his attitude would be TO tne eiec.
tion BY the people OF city MANAGE
if the proposal came up IN congress
There are other members of Congress,
however who feel strongly that th'
people Of the District should be given
q vote !,
Senator King said that because ne
did not advocate a change in the COM
mission form of government for the
District did not mean that he was noC
in favor of some reorganization OF tne
local government. He Is at preseht
chairman of subcommittee OF tlie
district Committee which is surveying
the District government for the very
purpose of recommending changes. he