Evening star., 1934-09-16

not Satisfactory. II Is SAID py many
that the Government of the District is
frequently run, not by q Board Of
Commissioners, but by three Commis-
sioners acting as the heads Of their
respective departments.
1t is unquestionably the theory Of
our city Government that 1t be gov
erned by q Board of Commissioners,
and the people of Washington are en-
titled to have the Judgment and ex-
perience Of three Commissioners with
relation to city problems and not OF
,ne Commissioner under whose depart
ment the particular problem may fall.
The selection Of our Commissioners is
made in accordance with what is
known as the organic act, which pro-
vides that they shall have been actual
bona fide residents for at least three
years prior to their appointment. This
provision, 1t is said by many, has been
frequently violated in fact and in
spirit and that 1t would be highly de-
sirable If the three-year residence re-
quirement be raised to five years.
--< Civilian Heads Favored.
It Is my feeling that there should
be three civilian Commissioners Sc
| lected from bona fide residents OF the
District who have adequate knowledge
of and interest In the District and its
problems.
The elimination Of an Engineer
Commissioner appointed from the War
Department would not prevent close
contact with the Federal Government
in District affairs nor would 1t in any
wise change the present policy Of ap-
pointing Regular Army officers as As
sistant Engineer Commissioners.
Whether or not a change in the
form of Government will accomplish
the election of the Commissioners
| and /or other city officials by direct
vote Of the people Is being studied.
Certainly on highly important ques-
tions involving taxation, large city i'm
provements, important changes In edu-
cational matters and like problems. 1t
| is proper that at least a referendum
should be afforded the people.
There has been a great deal said In
regard to the abolition or curtailment
of powers Of certain boards now ap-
pointed by the Commissioners and ior
the District Supreme Court. The
Board of Public Welfare, the Board
of Education, the Board of Library
Trustees and others are made up of
outstanding citizens who devote much
time and attention to public questions.
| It should be said that In some in
stances corrective measures can be
offered to place the boards in posi-
ton to be more useful to the public.
I do not advocate the abolition OF
these boards and the GENERALIZATION of
their power within the Board Of Com
, missioners.
| Council Plan Considered.
There has been much said about
the possible change to a city manager
plan Of government here and con-
cerning the appointment or election
Of a City Council. Certainly there are
few who would advocate the appoint
ment Of city manager unless certain
checks and balances were provided. If
a city manager plan is provided, Ger
tainly many problems present them
selves with relation to the selection of
the City Council.
One Of the outstanding and most
desirable provinces of such a Council
would be with relation to estimates,
budgets, expenditures and taxes
Great, care should be taken to give
such q Council proper authority, to the
end that it might function In the
best interests Of the people.
At the present time the Budget
Bureau is in control Of the District
budget submitted to the Congress, and
unless approved by the bureau the
Commissioners have difficulty in OBJ
tanning from the Appropriations
Committees consideration Of items
which they consider necessary. Our
budget should be presented directly
to the Congress by our own Board
of Commissioners and department
heads. Should there be change in
the form of government to include a
City Council there would be no Jus
tification for continuing the present
budget arrangement.
A board of three civilian Commits
sioners with q City Council, in my
judgment, would certainly be superior
to a city manager with or without
Council.
Fiscal Situation Inequitable.
fair and unjustified condition exist
ing anywhere than our present fiscal
relations with the Federal Govern
ment, and certainly any change in a
form Of local government that would
likely bring about a more equitable
fiscal relationship with the Federal
Government, all other things being
equal, would probably be strongly ad-
vocated by residents Of the District.
There are many problems related
to any suggested plan which would
require further careful study, yet it
is generally admitted that the exist
ing local plan Of government is sus-
ceptible to numerous beneficial mod
ifcations.
The United States Bureau Of the
Census recently announced that the
District now has o population Of
nearly half a million people, and the
influx for governmental service Of
additional thousands during recent
months undoubtedly carries 1t be-
yond the half-million mark. To deny
community Of half . million people
in the District or any other place the
right Of representation in the Senate
and House of Representatives of the
United States is q definite failure to
recognize an inahenable right. The
half million people Of the District Of
Columbia are justly entitled to vote
for their Representatives in the Sen
ate and House OF the United States
and for the President and Vice Presi-
dent of the United States. I cannot
too strongly state my firm belief that
q fair and proper presentation Of this
situation to the voters Of the United
States would very soon result in
constitutional amendment, If, in fact,
one be needed.