Evening star., 1934-04-30
ICity Would Cain Some Measure
OF Representation If Granted
Referendum and Recall Rights
Desirability of Obtaining Community
Expression on Major Local Issues
Emphasized by Pending Legislation.

who would fill the vacancy caused by
the recall. With the Commissioners
thus selected from the community and
indirectly responsible to it, the power
of initiating local legislation and re-
quiring vote by Congress on such
propositions, and of referendum to the
limited extent of advising inf1uentially
upon local bills compulsorily referred
to them, might be vested in the Com
miSSioners. The Commissioners now
have under the law power Of initia-
| tive in respect to the local appropria-
ton bill, and in practice other local
bills have been perfunctorily referred
| to them by District committees for
| their opinion; but the Commissioners
are not now responsible in any way to
! the local community which they rep
resent, and the power of recall in
respect to them. even though exer-
cised indirectly through the President
| and subject to his veto, could hardly
/ fail to be beneficial in its effect. The
/ President now has practically abSo-
| Lutte and unlimited power OF recall IN
respect to the Commissioners, which
he would not lose if the community
/ had in addition the suggested limited
power of recall, which might on ac-
casion require him to name a sue
cessor to some incumbent who had
incurred the community's strong dis
pleasure.
Two Issues Before Congress.
In their present voteless condition,
| the people of the District do their
best to make known their views on
current issues by keeping up a live
| interest In their neighborhood citi-
Zens' associations and through the
city-wide trade and civic organiza-
/ tions.
/ There are two ma ior local issues
before Congress now that make this
an appropriate time to consider the
advisability of setting up some form
of referendum machinery in the Dis
trct. because they are both questions
that, in any other American city.
would be decided by the people them
selves.
One is the problem involved in the
1885 District appropriation bill, of
whether necessary Improvements
should be added to the budget esti-
mates to the extent that the present
tax rate would justify, or whether
the total of the bill should be held
down and the tax rate reduced.
The other is the bill drafted by the
Commissioners, and sponsored by
Representative Norton and Senator
King, to authorize the District to OBJ
tain up to 100000, 900 from the Public
Works Administration, Of which 80
per cent would be a Federal grant,
ard 70 per cent on loan basis to
be repaid over period of years. The
funds would be used to carry out a
number of necessary improvement
projects that could not be financed in
the annual appropriation bill under
present conditions.
The funds could be spent for ur-
gent Improvements at the Lorton Re-
formatory.| for a new tuberculosis
hospital, for additional school build
ings, for starting the Municipal Gen.
ter, for a new building at Gallinger
Hospital. for the sewage disposal
plant, and the Commissioners would
have discretionary power to allot
$2000,000 for continuing park and
playground purchases through the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission.
Must Sound Sentiment.
In other cities proposed bond issues
are determined by the voters at the
polls. Here in Washington the civic
organizations will have to sound out
sentiment Of the community as best
| they can while the bill is being de-
bated in the congressional committees.
This comment is made, not as an
argument against the pending bill,
because the Federal Government S
! public works plan of giving cities and
States 80 per cent of the cost of a
| project, leaving 10 per cent to be
repaid, in order to stimulate eco
nomic recovery, makes this proposal
more advantageous than an ordinary
/ straight bond issue would be. In
the case of this particular bill, there
probably would not be time to 60
! through the process of a referendum
even if the machinery existed, since
the measure will have to be consid-
cred quickly if 1t is to be acted on
| at all at this session. It is cited
here merely as an Illustration of the
type Of major question on which
it might be advisable and practicable
for Congress to permit the residents
OF the District to take a referendum
! vote, as means of making sure they
are meeting, in so far as possible
the view of the majority in the legis-
lation enacted for Washington. Such
leferenda would not interfere with
the legislative control Congress exer-
cises over the National Capital. but
| would be strongly advisory and would
leave Congress without a reasonab b.e
doubt as to whether it IVES acting in
accord with the wishes of the people
A Third Civilian Commissioner.
Chairman King of the Senate Dis
trict Committee has a bill pending
before his committee at present to
bring the existing commission form
OF government a little closer to the
people by substituting a third civilian
Commissioner, chosen locally, for the
Engineer Commissioner, who, under
existing law, Is always an Army
officer detailed to the District Build
ing from the Army Engineer Corps.
The Engineer Commissioner does not
have to be confirmed by the Senate.
Because of the high standard of
training Army engineer officers re-
ceive at West Point and their subse-
quent assignments, Washington is
assured of expert engineering super
vision by the present makeup of the
board. The local residence require
ment laid down in the organic act
! for the two civilian Commissioners is
not required in the case of the en-
gineer Commissioner, however, and in
most instances he is ordered to the
District of Columbia from a series of
assignments on river and harbor work
or similar engineering duties in diff
ferent parts of the country. He may
or may not have spent a brief period
of service In Washington earlier in
his career.
Residence Requirement.
| Copof for Di~n,e h;yJ ,xt,;ol H. H. 81