Evening star., 1939-12-10
Reorganization Report
Due December Is.

The Commissioners are ex-
pected to make their report on
the reorganization of the District
government on Friday of this
week. So far there has been no
intimation as to what the recon-
mendations will embrace.
1t is expected that the numer-
4, Gus sound criticisms brought out
during the hearings of the eiti-
zens will result in corrections
which will meet the public view-
point. There has been rather in
sistent demand that the Com
missioners respond to many sug-
gestions that some form of suf-
frage be included in the plan
which will be sent to the sub
committee of the House District
Committee.
There is no recollection of the
Commissioners of the District
ever having made a definite re-
port to any committee of Con-
gress regarding any kind of
suffrage for the District except
for national representation.
In March, 1880, the late Repre-
- sentative George S. Graham of
Pennsylvania, then chairman of
the House Committee on the
. Judiciary, referred to the Com
missioners the Norton resolution.
q On March IL, 1880, the Commits
sioners made a favorable report,
which was published by the local
: press of that date. The report
was very comprehensive and
clear-cut. 1t gave four sound
reasons for the conclusions of the
Commissioners.
The concluding reason given
was as follows: "It is believed
that both Congress and the Dis
trict of Columbia will gain much
through the better facilities for
authoritatively making known the
needs of the residents on both
local and national matters, IS
there is now no actual official
channel available for such pur-
pose. and it is our belief that it
is only through the elected rep
resentatives of people that their
views and desires may be directly
reflected"
s. In the opinion of that Board of
Commissioners, it was their judg-
Ynent that there existed no sound
reason for withholding the power
from Congress to grant to the
residents of the District the right
to voting representation in the
Senate and House of Representa-
tives and among the electors for
President and Vice President.
They held that the result of such
reform would be beneficial.
While a proposal to amend the
Constitution would have no place
In a draft of a charter for the
District of Columbia, still there
would be no improperly in the
Commissioners including a frank
=, statement in their accompanying
report, in which they would urge
. that the subcommittee use its
influence to secure the passage Of
the proposed constitutional
amendment for national repre-
sentation as a matter Of vital
necessity. This is needed to make
effective any form of local gov
eminent.
Alcohol Addict Rehabilitation
: Is an Unmet d. c. Problem.
There is no place provided
under the District government to
which an addict of alcohol may
be sent for proper treatment and
possible rehabilitation. The work.
house at Occoquan or the Jail are
the only places where the judges
of the Police Court may send
those appearing before them who
show the need of q regular course
of treatment for their physical,
moral and spiritual welfare.
Just after Commissioner Hazen
came into office he began to ad-
yocate the establishment Of an
inebriate farm for the carrying