Evening star., 1939-03-18
D. T.. Home Rule Vital
In Reorganization,
SAYS Col. Sheriff.
Cincinnati City Manager
Urges Elected Council
Administrative Head

Real "home rule" for Washing
ton is the most vital need in con-
nection with proposed reorganiza-
ton of the District government, in
the opinion of Col Clarence o.
Sheriff., former official here who
has established an enviable repu-
tation for efficient municipal ad-
miniStration as city manager of
Cincinnati.
Congress should grant the city a
charter giving District citizens the
right to elect their own governing
body which would have broad pow
ers over taxation, budget making
and other local affairs, he said in
an interview today.
Refraining from direct comment
on the Griffenhagen reorganization
plan, Col. Sheriff. said he did not
want to advocate or oppose any par
ticular system for the District.
by and large, Washington has
quite an efficient and effective city
government as it is" he said, land
what say is not to be construed
as advocating anything else.
Favors Council Manager Plan.
But I do feel that, other things
being equal, what is known as the
council-manager plan is the most
efficient that can be devised, mainly
because it fixes the responsibility
for legislation on one agency, the
council, and responsibility for ad-
ministration and law enforcement
on another, the city manager"
The council-manager plan was
inaugurated in Cincinnati in 1926,
with the School. Library, Health,
Park and Recreation Boards con-
tinued as independent agencies.
Col. Sheriff. was asked his views
on the practicability of such main
tenance of separate boards under a
city-manager plan, in view of the
current controversy over the Grif-
fenhagen proposals to abolish the
Education and Library Boards here
except as advisory committees to
city executives.
He said it probably would make
for greater efficiency to group all
city affairs under one head, but as
a practical matter it was considered
best in Cincinnati to continue as
independent some of the agencies
that were functioning well rather
than jeopardize the whole program
by attempting to abolish their inde-
pedence. The citizens of Cincinnati
appear well satisfied with the way
it has worked out, he added.
State Is Part Of Setup.
AS a matter of fact, Cincinnati
could not well touch the School and
Library Boards there, because they
functioned as agencies of the State,
the School Board being elected by
non partisan balloting and the
Library Board being appointed by
the chairman of the County Com
mission. The Health, Park and
Recreation Boards are appointed by
the Mayor of the city, and their bud
gets are controlled by the city man
ager.
Col. Sheriff., who resided in WASH
ington from 1919 to 1926, serving as
an officer in the Army Engineer
Corps, military aide to Presidents
Hoover and Coolidge, and for five
years as director of Public Buildings
and Public Parks in the District be-
fore this service was incorporated
into the Interior Department., was
Cincinnati's first city manager. He
held that position from 1926 until
1880 and then was in private busi-
ness for seven years until called
back as city manager in 1887.
Minority Protected.
The city's legislative council Of
nine members is elected by the citi-
zens at large on proportional rep
resentation basis that assures at all
times a strong minority member
ship, he said. The council chooses
from among its members mayor,
who is the ceremonial and political
head of the city, and names as chief
executive a city manager.
"A most important element of this
plan" he said, "is that the city
manager is appointed subject to re-
moval at the will of the council, but
cannot be interfered with by council
members in his administration of
city affairs, thus completely taking
the city manager out Of politics"
City employees are appointed by the
citv manager Under a merit system.