Evening star., 1935-02-24

should not oppose such salutary pro-
, vision, but ought to favor it as obvi-
| ously calculated to be helpful to them
as well as to the public.
Council Investigations.
The opportunities for accomplish
! ment by the council, in an advisory
! manner, are brought out most promi-
nently in the further proposal that the
council have power to hold hearings
concerning, and inquire into, any
branch of municipal activity, to enable
recommendations to the District Com
| miSsionerS or to Congress for increased
efficiency
The council, or a committee thereof,
would be empowered to require at
tendance of witnesses and production
of records. This last-named power
would enable the truth to be demon
strated, and thereby, in most instances,
enable correction of conditions requir-
ing correction to be obtained from the
District Commissioners themselves
without any necessity for congressional
action.
Feuefal control Unfmpaired.
It will thus be seen that the pro-
posal for an elective council in this
District, with the advisory powers
hereinbefore enumerated, will in no
sense alter or impair the Federal con-
troll over the Nations Capital, nor will
it take away from either Congress or
the District Commissioners any of the
hx, l,,,& yx,;JI
instead, tend to aid them in obtain
ing in the fullest measure the fair
play and efficiency desired by all.
Party Politics Not a Factor.
Since the proposed council will not
have the slightest control over the
expenditure of funds or over patron
age, the Intervention of party politics
is hardly to be expected. Such de-
Sirable protection from influence by
party politics is not now enjoyed by
the District Commissioners themselves.
Congress could afford even greater
protection to the council by legisla-
tive prohibition against political par
ties participating in any manner in
the election Of this council, or attempt
A4A6 w AAAAAoCAASO dAAJ VI IUS dCUlN4LlSS.
1t is believed, however, that the rank
and file of the people will themselves
resent, and effectively, any attempted
Intervention by any political party.
The citizens want the greatest measure
of fair play and efficiency, and they
know that such can be best attained
by choosing the best equipped and
most available citizens for member
ship on the council. They further
know that the Father of our Coun-
try" was right when he warned us in
his farewell address that such attain
ments can not he expected If the citi-
zens permit political parties to DOM
mate and control the selection of the
candidates to be voted upon.
In dealing with distinctly citizen
ship subject like the matter in hand,
it should be a sufficient reason to re-
ject a candidate that he is proposed
by political party. and. in conse-
quence, will naturally be subject to
its influence.
1t is believed that the beneficial re-
| suits in every direction from the acti-
| vities of this proposed council will
| result in a general awakening con-
corning the Nations Capital, and that
the time will not be far distant when
national representation for the Dis
trict will also be provided, so that
eminent British statesmen can no
longer describe the Nations Capital
as exemplifying the reputation Of the
taxation without representation is
tyranny" proclamation of our fore
fathers to the British Crown.