Evening star., 1939-11-28
D. {. Suffrage Plea
Demanded as Key
10 Recognizing
Spokesman Repeat
Wish, Some Fovorine
Independent Agencies
Continued From First Page.)

tuOSPSUOSut NSSHIIeS
Continued From First Page.)
see the provisions made more spe-
cific regarding qualifications of ap-
pointees and methods of appoint
ment."
Majority Held Favorable.
MI. Henry. who said the Petworth
Association had a membership Of
some 1,400, reported that the great
majority were in favor of some form
Of suffrage. He heartily approved
the plan to permit the Commission
ers to formulate annual budgets and
to send them direct to Congress, but
noted that the plan did not require
the Commissioners to hold public
hearings on the estimates and in
sisted this should be done. He also
argued that the proposed new Or
ganic act should require the Com
missioners to keep budget data and
related information open to the
public.
Mr.. Henry said one of the most
praiseWorthy elements in the Seal
plan was provision for real local
civil service. He suggested the need
Of some changes so that employees
in District institutions beyond the
boundaries of the District should be
made subject to the merit system
rather than leaving such appoint
ments open to the "spoils system" !"
Mr.. Henry also voiced fears that
under present wording of sections
dealing with the creation of a pro-
posed new license department, the
Commissioners might not choose to
appoint some of the examining and
licensing boards, such as the Alco-
holic Beverage Control Board. He
argued that appointment of such
boards should be made mandatory
instead of being left as permissive.
The Petworth group, Mr.. Henry
said, approves the plan to confer
on the local governing body such
additional powers as would make
it unnecessary for Congress to deal
with numerous minor problems,
but we believe a locally elected
governing body would be the best
kind" He continued: "Petworth
opposes the granting of taxing pow
er to any local governing body, un-
less such body Is elected by the To-
cal taxpayers. We prefer that that
power be retained by Congress
rather than be given to any ap-
pointed group"
Act Alone Needed.
Mr.. Wood declared that the time
was coming for the granting of suf-
frage to the District and protested
that this element had been ignored
in the Seal plan. He said he IA
vored suffrage, both local and ma
tional, and declared that a mere
act of Congress was needed to pro-
vide local self-government. He said
District sentiment was over
whelmingly in favor of giving Dis
trict people voice in their gov
ernment.
Mr.. Wood also said that perhaps
the Board of Tax Appeals should be
enlarged but that the agency should
not be eliminated. He also con-
demned the unreasonable censor
ship" now exercised over the Dis
trict budget by the Federal Budget
Bureau and voiced approval of the
plan for q municipal civil service.
Col. Maddox declared his group,
which he said was one of the largest
and most representative civic groups
in the city, was of the opinion that
no shifting or shufling of person.
mel in the District Building, or even
the creation Of new offices. would be
Of any benefit to the citizens 80
long as the officials and personnel
remain mere agents of the Federal
Government, owning and giving
their allegiance solely to the ap-
pointive power and, like the Presi-
dent. the Congress and other higher
agencies of the Government, having
little or no interest in the wishes
of the group of American citizens
whose only function, so far as the
civic Federal agency, is to supply
the bulk Of the funds to support it. u
Wants City Manager.
Col. Maddox said his group was
definite in its position. 1--WE want a