Evening star., 1934-05-06
ID. c. GOVERNMENT
IS PROPOSED
|BY Citizens UNIT
Council of Residents and
Congressman Suggested
in Lieu of Vote.

A plan proposing a new form of
Government for the District was
submitted by special committee of
Columbia Heights Citizens Associa-
tion at its last meeting.
The committee. headed by Alton B.
Carly. former president of the asso-
citation. and W. H. Comedy. introduced
the plan after the committee had
come to the conclusion that Con-
gress was not in favor of complete
National Representation for the Dis
trict.
The association deferred action on
the committees proposal until Its
next meeting.
1t was realized by the group that
Washington Is the only capital in
the world without the power and
representation as other cities through
out the world and SO the following
plan was proposed:
Personnel of Council.
That the governing body of the
District would be known as the gen.
eral council, and would consist Of
five members of the Senate, five
members Of the House, appointed as
one of the regular standing commit
tees; five residents who have lived
in the District for a period of at
least three years, to be known as
the local council, to be elected by
the people, one from each Of the
four cardinal sections. northwest.
northeast, southwest, southeast, and
one to be elected at large from the
extensive section in the combined
northwest and northeast areas bor-
dering on the Maryland State line.
Each of these groups would select
chairman, the one in the Senate
to represent the District before that
body. and one in the House to do
likewise, and one in the local council
Duties Of Council.
Items affecting the interests Of the
District would. as a rule, first be
considered by the local council, and
its conclusions would be submitted to
the general council, which would
consider all matters of business
pertaining to the conduct of affairs
Of the District at stated meetings,
decide upon all laws, appropriations,
tax levies, etc, and would advise with
the President over local appoint
ments. which should as far as pos
sihle be made from residents Of the
District.
The budget director would have
control only of that portion of the
appropriation made by Congress as a
proportional share of the District
expenses The preparation Of the
local budget would be in the hands
of the general council.
Plan of Election.
The initial election for members of
the local council would be conducted
by a joint special election committee
selected by Congress, which would
decide upon the date Of election, the
method of nomination. the qualiflca-
tions and registration of voters, terms
of Office and all matters pertaining
thereto. The purpose Of the plan
would be to Iberalize the election
of the local council on a nonpartisan
basis and especially to afford all per-
sons who pay taxes to thereby express
their interest IN the business Of Dis
trict affairs.
BY this plan. it was explained, a
limited representative form of Gov
ernment in accord with accepted
American traditions would be estab-
lished and the long expressed wish
of the residents of the District would
be realized
Items concerning District affairs
thus could be negotiated without the
tedious and oftentimes discouraging
delays now experienced.