Evening star., 1940-03-09
SpIitof Suffrage,
Reorganization
Issues Is Seen
Stage Set for Action
Monday by House
Subcommittee
BY DON S. WARREN.

SOUSOII1IulItlS
BY DON S. WARREN.
Belief that the Reorganization
Subcommittee of the House will
separate suffrage and proposals for
revamping the municipal govern
ment into two distinct issues and
place them before the full House
District Committee prevailed today
at the Capitol.
At the same time there were indi-
cations of growing support in the
subcommittee for continuation Of
the commission form of government
as against the suggested substitution
Of city manager form.
The plan would be to report a
separate suffrage bill to the full
committee, without recommendation,
as first step toward getting the is
sue on the floor Of the House, where
a decisive vote might be taken
This would leave proposals for re-
vamping the municipal machinery
available for consideration on their
own merits.
Civic Spokesmen Link Issues.
Civic spokesmen who have taken
the lead in championing the suf-
frage cause have insisted in the past,
and many of them at the hearings,
which were concluded, there should
be no reorganization which did not
include the vote.
Several subcommittee members
have declared they had no desire to
'bottle up" the suffrage issue in the
committee.
The compromise between deter
mined advocates and opponents of
suffrage In the Reorganization Sub
commttee-suggested by Represent
ative Dirksen, Republican, of Illi-
nois-was agreed to yesterday by
Representative Nichols, Democrat,
Of Oklahoma. Predictions were
heard that at least one more vote
IN the subcommittee of five men,
bers can be found for division of
the issues.
Representative Kennedy, Demo"
crat, Of Maryland, chairman of the
subcommittee, announced he would
make a fight in the subcommittee
for favorable report on his plan
of reorganization, into which he has
promised to insert suffrage provi-
sions. However, there are reports
of sufficient opposition in the sub
committee to kill the plan if Mr..
Kennedy insists on keeping the
issues together In a single bill. He
has planned, in the past, to file a
minority report if that happens, so
as to get the question before the
full District Committee.
Monday Action Foreseen.
The stage is set for action Mon
day, when Chairman Kennedy plans
to consult with members of his
group On their program, in the hope
of getting final action on details of
the bill. Mr.. Kennedy said he hoped
to submit a report to the full COM
mittee by a week from Monday.
From comments Of several sub
committee members there appears
to be growing belief that there is
need for reorganization of the mu-
nicipal setup totally aside from the
suffrage question.
Mr.. Dirksen. said he is prepared
to support a revamping plan some
what generally along the lines Of
the plan offered by the Commis-
sioners. While subcommittee mem
bers so far have refrained gener-
ally from making final commit
ments on details Of the reshunling
of District agencies, there have been
indications some changes would be
suggested in view of objections
made by certain Federal officials.
Informed of the program sug-
gested by Mr.. Dirksen, Mr.. Nichols,
an opponent of the suffrage plan,
declared:
"I'll be very happy to see this
suffrage question brought right out
on the floor of the House. There is
no disposition on my part to bottle
1t up in the subcommittee"
Sees Reorganization Need.
He added: Certainly some re-
organization should be effected in
the interest of efficiency and econ
omy." He held, however, that the
revamping plans should be handled
separately from suffrage.
The proposed compromise move
apparently depends also on placing
the suffrage question before the full
District Committee without a rec
ommendation from the subcommit-
tee. Mr.. Kennedy, not a party to
the compromise proposal, Is ex-
pected to move there for favorable
report on suffrage as a part of the
reorganization bill, unless he Is con-
vinced meanwhile it would be los
ing battle and one that might vjeop-
ardize the whole reorganization
prospects.
Mr.. Dirksen, who has not declared
himself on the suffrage side Of the
question, said he wished to see ac-
tion on a plan for revamping the
District administrative machinery
and reiterated his view that the suf-
frage issue also should be allowed 10
go to a test of sentiment on the
floor of the House.
While maintaining that Washing
ton has a good government, he said:
"There is some duplication of work
and some waste. I am not so san.
guine, however, as to believe reor.
ganization will produce any great
savings in expenses. Perhaps moi
any. But still some changes might
work for better service and greater
efficiency.
Likes Commission Form.
II like the commission form o.
government.
'It seems to me that we wouls
do well to separate the reorganiza
ton plan from suffrage. treat then
separately. I would suggest tina
the subcommittee send the suffrag'
plan to the full committee with
out a recommendation and let tn
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