Evening star., 1939-11-28

his organization objected to the
creation Of a single licensing de-
partment. He said the Seal plan
was mot clear" as to what it pro-
posed to do with various registration
boards. He characterized abolition
Of the Board of Tax Appeals as a
backward STEP"
William E. Spicer, of the District
Institute of Public Accountants, took
the stand shortly after and expressed
similar opposition to doing away
with an independent tax appeals
body. Under Mr.. Seals proposal,
he said, the citizen has not real
appeal
1T just amounts to asking the
Government to change its mind"
he said. He also objected to the
Commissioners having the power to
tax.
Opposes Hospital Transfer.
Eta Taggart of the Washington
ions stressed the importance of
national representation in any re-
organization plan. She opposed the
transfer of the hospitals and the
merger of the traffic department
and demanded that under any reof-
ganization the jobs should 60 to
bona fide District residents. BY
bona fide, she said, she referred to
residents who have no legal or vot-
ing residence elsewhere. She also
asked that civilian be substituted
for the present Engineer Commits
sioner.
Mrs. Elizabeth Sullivan of the
Progressive Citizens Association Of
Georgetown, asked that the numer-
GUS ley boards be kept intact. She
said that Mr.. Seals proposals were
somewhat indefinite and asked him
point blank whether the proposed
administration would be IAN office
boy" to the Commissioners or an
administrator. Mr.. Seal explained
that the administrator would enjoy
power conferred by the Commits
sioners.
William j. Tucker of the Ana
costa Citizens Association opposed
any reorganization until suffrage is
provided, either before or coinci-
dental with such reorganization.
Final speaker before the recess
was James E. Maxwell of American
University Park Citizens Association,
who said he wished to support re-
marks made yesterday by DR.. George
C. Havenner, speaking for the
Northwest Council.
Some hope was held that all sched-
uled witnesses could be heard be-
fore the end of todays session, but
the Commissioners have made no
effort to restrict any of the speakers
to time limits, wishing to give all
full opportunity to explain their
viewpoints. A night session was
mentioned as possibility.
Numerous speakers late yesterday
voiced demands for election of the
top governing body of the District,
but there was sharp diversion over
the question of a city manager-city
council form unless coupled with suf-
frage.
Rufus S. Lusk, president of the
Washington Taxpayers Association,
appearing as one of the most forth
right champions of a city manager
form of government, declared this
should not be restricted to considera-
ton of the question of suffrage.
Darr Opposes Lusk Views.
Just a few minutes later, Seton
Darr. president of the District Bar
Association. but appearing as a
spokesman for the District Suffrage
Association, entered the challenging
statement that he knew of mo city
in the country" where considera-
ton of the political phase was
separated from the form of city ad-
ministration. To me-" he declared,
"the suggestion that suffrage has
nothing to do with reorganization
is an astounding statement"
Earlier, spokesmen for the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations and
other groups had urged that the
proposed reorganization bill be
amended to provide for an elected
council.
Harry S. Wender. speaking for the
Federation of Citizens Associations,
favored the plan to combine the
Municipal and Police Courts into a
city court for the District: opposed
the suggested abolition of the now
separate Department of Vehicles and