Evening star., 1939-02-19
Federation
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citizens. 81 being the number sug-
gested by the federation.
4. That the minimum Qualifica-
tions of all members of the govern
ing body shall be those set out in
the Organic Act of 1878 for District
Commissioners.
S. That all executive power shall
be centralized in single chief ex-
ecutive.
Executive to Be Appointed.
6. That the chief executive officer
shall be appointed by the governing
body; that his sole qualification for
Office shall be adequate training and
experience in the administration of
governmental affairs; and that the
salary Of such Office shall be suf-
ficient to induce competent persons
to seek and accept appointment to it.
7. That approval be given in
principle to the departmentalization
of the executive functions, but that
in any event, the public schools of
the District shall be controlled by
an elective and autonomous school
board.
8. That the heads of the several
departments shall be appointed by
and subordinate to the chief ex-
ecutive officer; but that their ap-
pointment shall be with the advice
and approval of the governing body,
and that the law shall provide that
they be chosen, whether or not a
merit system is adopted, from COM
petent residents of the District who
neither have nor claim a legal resi-
dence or exercise voting privileges
elsewhere.
A ninth recommendation urging
that all judges hereafter appointed,
at least to the municipal courts,
snail have the same residence quail
flcations as suggested for heads of
departments of the executive branch,
was referred to the Committee on
Laws and Legislation for report.
Battle on Special Order.
Prior to consideration OF the re-
port. Federation delegates engaged
in a verbal battle over whether
the reorganization recommendations
should be made the special order
of business. Several delegates,
among them Jesse c. Suter, F. J.
Mcdonald and Grover w. Ayers.
opposed consideration until citi-
zens' groups have had a better
opportunity to study the Griffen-
hagen report.
This is one of the most impor-
tant subjects to come before the
Federation for long time said
Mr.. Suter. Il feel that the dele
gates should be given a chance to
make thorough study of the plans
suggested.
President L. A. Carruthers was
forced to rap heavily with his gavel
to restore order several times when
half dozen delegates tried to gain
the floor at the same time Finally,
the motion to make reorganization
the special order of business pre-
vailed by vote of AZ to 8.
The Griffenhagen report was at
tackled by several delegates for its
failure to make provision for an
elective governing body. Wilbur S.
Finch, chairman of the local Suf-
frage Committee, declared. however,
that he had been informed that
advocates of local suffrage will be
given an opportunity to testify at
congressional hearings on the re-
organization plan.
Charges Suffrage Opposed.
Harry N. Stull charged that most
Of those who were opposing i'm
mediate action on the federation's
reorganization plan "are dead
against suffrage and wouldn't vote
for it tonight, tomorrow or 10 years
from now"
Col. Luther r. Maddox demanded
that voting privileges be provided in
any reorganization plan which Con-
gress may adopt. The Griffenhagen
report, he said, does not provide the
right to vote land unless we get
suffrage now, we won't get 1t in our
lifetime"
Calling the suffrage question the
most important part of any plan for
municipal government reorganiza-
ton. Delegate w. J. Tucker de-
clared:
Here we have the spectacle of
630, 900 people divested of the rights
of self-government The dictators
Of Europe could feel justified in
pointing the finger of scorn at de-
mocracy which allows such a situa-
ton to exist. The citizens of WASH
ington are humiliated and disgraced.
We want a proper reorganization of