Evening star., 1934-10-21
COUNCIL MANAGER.
FORM Of D. c. RULE.
IS URGED AS BEST
[. A. Carruthers Contends
Withholding OF Vote Is
un.AmeriCan.
BY L. A. CARRUTHERS,

D4 fhs ShkSASO AAA<AsOt
President OF the Forest Hills Citizens As
sociation and chairman Of the Fiscal Re-
lations Committee Of the Federation Of
"HE District of Columbia has q
population greater than that
OF any of eight States, pays
L more taxes for local govern
ment than any Of IL States
pays for State and local government
combined and contributes more TO the
Federal Government, through the pay
ment of the Federal income tax, than
any of 20 States, but has no voice In
either national or local government.
This Is un-American. And no valid
reason has been advanced for further
withholding this right and privilege
from half a million people who are as
we'll qualified to exercise the right OF
suffrage as any similar sized group in
the United States. For the reasons
above stated favor a constitutional
provision which will permit the fullest
recognition, granting the citizens Of
the District of Columbia the power to
participate in the election of a Presi-
dent, proportionste representation in
both branches OF Congress and home
rule in local government.
Free From Graft.
1t Is generally recognized that our
present local government Is free from
graft and wasteful extravaganza, and
that those charged with the admins
tration Of government are men Of the
highest type. The most common criti-
cism has been that the local officials
have not been responsive to the wishes
Of the taxpayer, but instead have been
more interested in following the die
tates Of few members Of Congress.
Under the present administration
there seems to be a pronounced in
clination on the part Of responsible
District officials to confer with the
tax-paying public on subjects of public
policy, including the enactment of
needed legislation. This responsive at
titude Is in the nature Of an innova-
ton for which the taxpayer and the
general public are very appreciative
The efficiency of government is not
determined by the particular form of
government, but by the types of per-
sons charged with the administration
Of it. The most modern and approved
form will not satisfy when ineficiently
or dishonesty administered. There
are three general forms of municipal
government at the present time, known
as mayor council" Commission" and
"council-manager" For the District
Of Columbia, considering that it must
function both as a State and a mu-
nicipality, favor the council-manager
form; the council to consist of five
members, four elected by district, one
from each quarter Of the city, one
elected at large. to be known as mayor.
the election to be by non-partisan bal
lot, and the council to act as q legis-
lative body with the power to appoint
a manager who would have absolute
control over all matters relating TO the
municipal government. =
..~ Coordination Needed.
Splendid and personally unselfsh
service has been rendered BY the
boards charged with the administra-
ton of education, libraries, welfare
and parole. but their interests are
centered In their own particular
activities and to that extent their
actions are not unselfish. A board,
composed Of prominent influential
citizens interested in a single activity,
may secure a consideration and ap-
preparation out Of proportion to its
actual needs as provided in the bud
get, and at the expense of some other
just as deserving and essential activ-
ity, but lacking the influential spon-
Sor. believe that the best interest
Of all Government activities will be
served by creating q department of
education and department Of pub
lie welfare to administer these
activities, just as the police, fire,
health and highways are now admin
istered. This would tend to CO.
ordinate interests, eliminate shifting
of responsibility, expedite service and
place the responsibility of all Gov
ernment activities under one general
head. In earlier years such govern
mental activities as are today admin
istered by boards or trustees were
not public institutions supported by
taxation, but were only Quasi-public
and were largely dependent on tuition
or fees and a board of management
and control was necessary. The idea
of continuing these activities, when
they became public functions, under
the management of independent,
non-paid, non-partisan boards or
commissions was to keep them re-
moved from the influences Of poll
ticians. But with the provision that
all elective officials be selected in
dependent of party designation or by
non-partisan ballot this objection is
largely removed.
Referendum Asked.
In order to assure q responsive at
titude on the part Of elective officials
I favor q provision for the recall of
members of the council and a referen-
dunn on their legislative acts, except
those designated as emergency, with
a provision that would prevent
small disgruntled minority from de-
manding either q referendum or re-
call. With an elective council and
~