Evening star., 1943-12-26
Hopes
Home Rule Bill
Wi||Be0. kd
Committee Expects
Hearings to Be
Closed Tomorrow
By DON s. WARREN.

Closed Tomorrow
BY DON s. WARREN.
Hope for favorable report on
the McCarran "home rule" plan for
q new District government setup,
despite the conflict Of views voiced at
hearings before members Of the
Senate District Committee, was ex-
pressed yesterday by Senator Burton,
Republican, of Ohio.
A faithful attendant at the hear
ings and q stanch supporter Of
council-city manager. system of city
administration, Senator Burton sug-
gested there are possibilities Of
modification Of the measure as orig
inally drawn which might bring q
more united backing from District
residents.
Prominent among his suggestions
for modification is one for the ap-
pointment by the President Of at
least a minority, II not a majority,
of the members of the proposed
elected city council, as means Of
safeguarding Federal interests and
meeting objections to the ward sys-
tenn of councilman elections.
Hearings Continue Tomorrow.
Hearings on the measure are
scheduled to be completed at an
all-day session tomorrow, when
more than a dozen witnesses are to
be heard, leading of with Harry s.
Wender as spokesman for the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations.
Some Of the principal advocates
OF the McCarran plan for an elected
city council-city manager system
here have suggested these amend
ments to the bill: That District resi-
dents not be allowed to vote here if
they vote in their home States; that
the ward system of election has its
objections and at least some coun-
cilmen should be elected at large;
that there should be proportional
representation plan in the election
system to assure representation Of
minorities, and that the latter part
of the McCarran bill specifying a
congressional check and veto on the
acts of the council should be elimi-
mated.
Senator Burton said he thought
the congressional veto sections
should be eliminated or at least
simplified on the grounds that the
suggested machinery would be 'too
complicated"
Compromise Suggested.
Stating that to permit a Wash
ington resident to vote in two places
would appear improper as a funda-
mental matter, Senator Burton said
the thousands of Government work.
ers here who maintain voting resi-
dence in their home States deserve
representation in the Washington
city council and that this and the
Federal interests generally might be
served by providing for appointment
Of number of the councilmen. a.
In the view of the wide differences
Of opinion Of witnesses on the "home
rule" proposal, Senator Burton in
dicated the committee may con-
slider provision that the final draft
of the bill be submitted to a referen-
dunn vote before the proposed char
ter becomes effective.
This Is but one of a number of
important District matters awaiting
action by the committees or by the
Senate and House. There is promise
|of consideration, hearings or action
on one side of the Capitol or the
other on some Of the measures soon
after Congress meets again Janu-
ary 10.
Eleven Issues Unsettled.
Among these are:
/. Consideration by the Senate OF
the McCarran bill to provide a new
sanitary code for the District, au-
thorizing grade labelling of restau-
rants and calling for Federal in
|spection Of Government-ow eat
ing establishments, recently reported
by the Overton Subcommittee and
the full Senate District Committee
2. What to do about the contro-
versial and long unsolved problem
Of the boundary between the Dis
|trict and Virginia, in which mac
ton and uncertainty complicates
criminal procedure in no mans
land" cases.
3. The McCarran bills for amend
ment of the District code to author
ize the superintendent of insurance
to regulate fire and casualty insur-
ance rates and to change penalty
and bond rules as to insurance
companies and brokers. These were
reported favorably recently by the
Senate Committee after hearings
by the Burton Subcommittee.
4. A bill amending the charter
of Providence Hospital to permit
expansion Of its holdings, favorably
reported and now awaiting Senate
action.
Tydings Bill.
5. The Tydings bill to change the
name of Conduit road from the Dis
trict line to Great Falls to Mac
Arthur Boulevard.
6. Two House-approved bills, one
to amend the annual tax deed sales
system to provide means of clear
ing doubt about titles and the other
to permit the Mayfiower Hotel to
lay steampipes under DeSales
street, which are awaiting Senate
action.
7. Hearings are expected to be
called in January on the program
future and financing of the Ma
tional Capital Housing Authority
by the Senate District Subcommit-
tee. Members of the group are SEN
ators Burton, Tydings, McCarran
and Capper.
8. Hearings also are expected to
be held shortly after the New Year
by members Of the Senate District
Committee on the House-approved
baby broker" bill to license agen-
cies and individuals engaging In
child placement.
8. The House District Committee
may act soon on the bill of Repre-
sentative Hebert to broaden the
powers Of the District Commission