Evening star., 1937-09-26

Reynolds Stresses Value of
Advisory Polls as Pro-
Vided in Measure.
WOULD REGISTER VIEWS
ON MUNICIPAL ISSUES
Senator Points Out Result Need
Not Be Binding-Littls Ex- ,
pense Anticipated.
BY j. A. OLEARY.

Legislation to allow Washingtoni-
ans to express their wishes on i'm
portant local issues by voting in ad-
visory referendums will be pushed
when Congress reconvenes by Sena-
tor Reynolds, Democrat, of North
Carolina. he announced yesterday.
The Senate District Committee will
be asked by Reynolds, who is one
OF its members, to hold public hear
ings ON the question early in the
next session to get the reaction Of
civic organizations to the proposal.
Meanwhile. the North Carlinian
summed up his own view of the bill
as follows:
Il am going to push the PROPOSE
ton, because I think the residents
OF the District certainly are entitled
at least to register their preferences
on major municipal problems. even
though the result would be advisory
and not binding as to the final de-
cision."
Would Reflect Sentiment.
Reynolds pointed out it would offer
means Of meeting the argument
sometimes advanced in connection
with District legislation. that Congress
is unable to tell what the local COM
munity favors or disapproves.
The North Carolina Senator empha-
sized. however, that the referendum
system should be conducted in way
that would call for little or no ex-
pense, and he believes it can be done
on that basis. He believes volunteer
workers could be enlisted, and that
polling places could be set up either
IN business places or in public build
ings.
Commissioner Allen has been the
leading advocate of the referendum
plan for the past few years. In 1884
the Commissioners tried to conduct a
referendum in Takoma Park to get an
expression as to whether sentiment
Of that area was for or against the
granting of alcoholic beverage licenses
IN the neighborhood. Arrangements
were made for registration of voters
and a day designated for the casting
OF ballots at polling places. The ref
erendum was not held however. Some
OF the applicants for licenses cha
lenged the authority of the Commits
sloners TO conduct the referendum
under existing law, and court order
was issued restraining the city heads
from going ahead with the balloting
District officials decided not to appeal
from the court order.
Adjournment Blocked Action.
Commissioner Allen, however. con-
tlnued his interest in the subject and
had prepared the bill which Senator
Reynolds introduced just before Con-
gress adjourned last month. 1t was
too near adjournment to take the
measure up, but Reynolds felt its in
PRODUCTION at that time would enable
District residents to study its 19tailed
provisions during the recess.
The bill would give the Commission
ers specific authority TO conduct a
referendum whenever they deem it
advisable to obtain an expression of
the sentiment, either of the whole city
or a particular neighborhood. on anv
public issue.
Although not more than two ref
erendums could be held in a year.
any number of questions could be
submitted on one occasion. The
Dill makes it clear that the result
would be advisory only and not COM
pei the Commissioners to do or re-
frain from doing any act.
The voting list would be confined
to citizens of the United States. 2l
or more years of age and who have
lived within the District for at least
a year prior TO the referendum. In
its present form the bill also would
exclude persons who have . vote
elsewhere.
The commissioners would be ALL
thorized to appoint an election board
Of three members to arrange for
and supervise the holding Of the
referenda. This board would Law
out the voting precincts and make
all necessary rules and regulations
to govern balloting.