Evening star., 1940-02-18
City Heads Hit
For Deaf Ear
To Vote Pleas
Federation Charges
Commissioners Seek
Brood Powers

Accusations that the District Com
missioners sought to "clothe them
selves with many broad powers" by
denying pleas for self-government
were voiced last night by the Fede-
ration of Citizens Associations.
The city heads, it was charged,
would assume practically complete
municipal legislative power over
District citizens, except in the mat
ters OF taxation and appropriations. !"
AT recent hearings on plans to re-
organize the District government,
the Commissioners were blamed for
"coldly responding to fervent pleas
Of citizens for some measure of
home rule.
Resolution Adopted.
In so criticizing the Commits
sioners, the federation adopted
resolution expressing:
Keep disappointment at the
adamant attitude of the Commits
sioners toward pleas by the citizenry
for a reasonable degree of official
participation through the ballot in
the affairs of their local government.
vigorous opposition to creation of
q Citizens Advisory Council, either
appointed or elected. ,
"Reiteration of the demand that
legislative and executive functions
|pf the District Government be sepa-
rated; that all municipal legislative
power be placed in a governing body
elected by the people. and that ex-
ecutive power be centralized within
q single person"
Finch Report Accepted.
A report presented by Wilbur S.
Finch and later adopted by the fed
Grafton labeled the Commissioner
plan for revamping the municipal
setup as one under which they
would "clothe themselves with many
broad powers beyond the powers of
municipal administration officers
and which are exercised only by mu-
nicipal legislative officers duly
elected by the people," The Com
missioners were accused of trying
to palm off" their plan as one of
internal reorganization only"
Although debate on the motion
eensoring the Commissioners was
comparatively brieft it resulted in
several denunciations of the city
heads from the floor. notably one by
William Mex. Clayton of Bright
wood.
Assailing the Commissioners for
failing to take cogn:zance of the
sentiment for a vote" Mr.. Clayton
said the Commissioners believe in
the oligarchy that exists here" and
under which Washingtonians live as
political serfs." Mr.. Clayton wa&
roundly applauded when he said
anybody opposed to suffrage for
the District is un-Arnerican. f
There were. however. a few who
spoke In defense of the Commis-
sioners. Edward A. Kane of Michi-
gan Park said he personally was
against suffrage. preferring good
government of the best minds."
The subject of snow removal
cropped up again and found the
federation urging Congress to pro-
vide new equipment to cope with
snowfalls in the Capital.
Plows and Tractors Urged.
After listening to a report on
snow removal prepared by Baxter
Smith Of North Capitol, the fedora
ton suggested that Congress dip
into the gasoline tax fund and over
a three-year period furnish the city
with 80 snow plows and SIS tractors.
1t was figured the equipment would
cost $4,000.
The federation's scheme would
call for so plows and 20 tractors
the first year, is plows and 20 trac-
tors the second year and Is plows
and Is tractors the third year. 1t
was estimated the plows could be
purchased for $500 each and the
tractors for $1,000 apiece.
At the same time the federation
approved committee report which
said the disputed 2 to 8 am. parking
ban to facilitate snow removal was
justified and should not be changed
The Federation also voted to CO.
operate with Southeast citizens in
obtaining either a bridge or tunnel
across the anacostia River at South
Capitol street and commended Con-
eress for launching an investigation
into baby adoption methods,