Evening star., 1943-12-17
City Manager
Plan Is Urged
For District
Civic Lecove Official
Tells Senate Group
Of Systems Success
Ey DON s. WARREN.

Ey DON S. WARREN.
Advantages of the elected council
city manager form of government
Tor municipalities, revolving around
concentration of possibilities in a
trained c'.e -utivc. were outlined to-
O." 10 the Senate District Subcom-
r1i,.cc Ttuoyirc the McCarran
"hcme ruic' bill by one of the for
nnlas Chief protaeonists.
Walter J. Millard. field secretary
Of the National Municipal League,
founded by former President Theo-
dorc Roosevelt and other national
fcurcS. told the McCarran group
thF;, While the city manager plan
vss initiated about 26 years ago,
there now are more than II 100000
residents OF cities ard towns living
urGcr such systems.
re said that George Washington,
Wlcn asked what kind of govern
ment should be provided for the
people OF the Capital City. had sug-
gestcd one headed by A "superin-
tenGent." to be selected by the COM
nil oncrs" and to be re- aponsible 10
tncm.
Cites Irish Cities.
1t is interesting TO note that you.r
he said to Chairman McCarran. are
reviving the method the Father of
the Country had suggested"
When the witness. who had come
TO Washington on another matter,
remarked that there is a trend to-
Waro the city manager form in
European countries as we'll in the
United States, and mentioned an
Irish city or two. Chairman McCar-
ran interjected, with a chuckle. that
this was the first time he ever had
heard that the Irish would allow
themselves to be governed MI.
Aiillard answered that the Irish were
engaged in government all over the
world.
Mi. Millard suggested a number
OF changes III the home rule" bill.
Among these were that the city
manager should be appointed for an
I indefinite term and that the elected
council should have the right TO
discharge him by bare ma ajoritv
vote-With provision for public
hearing only if the city manager
wanted hearing.
I Would Name Aides.
: Also. he suggested that the CITY
manager should have the power Of
appointing CITY department heads
under him, rather than having this
done by the council
! Divergent views We're expressed by
other witnesses and those appearing
with briefs and waiting to be heard,
/ w. S. Burke, speaking for the
Howard Park Citizens Association,
strongly indorsed the McCarran
plan, saying the time has come
when advances in our city govern
ment can best be made by the people
supporting plan affording them
place in their government"
The Commissioners. he said. had
not been as responsive" as they
could have been. particularly when
thinking OF all of the citizens"
! Mr. Burke, who is an Official with
the Defense Homes Corp. said he
oeplorea the injection OF racial
feeling" IN discussions OF application
OF the -Four Freedoms '
Denies "Bossism" Threat.
Anav elins questions b. Chairman
McCalran, MI. Burke said he looked
iorN ard to the day when the situa-
ton Of the colorcd people would be
regarded with interest rather than
with alarm
Or a question as to whether in
Washington. the alleys would con-
troll the avenues ii local suffrage
were granted as former witness
had suggested. Mr. Burke said he
knew OF no city where the ''illiterate'
or the Negro had been the con-
trolling element i'll elections. Citing
! Philadelphia. New York. Chicago.
st. Louis anG other cities with large
Negro populations as examples. he
argued there was no foundation for
linking "bossism' with the colored
vote.
( Since the Senate was in session
today, the hearings were recessed
after hearing the two witnesses. to
meet again tomorrow morning.
Among those yet to testify for the
McCarran plan are Harry S. Wen-
der, president of the Federation of
! Citizens Associations. and John H.
Connaugiton. representing the Pet
worth Citizens Association. Those
ready to oppose the plan who could
not be heard today. include Mrs.
Leslie Wright, representing the Dis
trict Federation of Women's Clubs.
and Marvin M. Mclean of the
Brookland Citizens Association.
Federation Opposes Plan.
Mrs. Wright made public a reso-
luton adopted by the women's
group disapproving the home rule"
plan and giving assurances the fed
GRAFTON will support any action bv
Congress which may lead to rep
resentation in Congress for District
residents
Her statement adds: mo solution
to the problem of municipal govern
ment can be obtained without vot-
ing participation in Congress. .
1t is doubtful if large ma jority Of
District residents would surrender
the right to vote in national cleo
tions for the privilege of voting for
members of the Board of Commits
sioners.''
Mr.. Mclean. who is scheduled to
testify later, took similar position
and contended that Washington
now has the "cleanest and best"
government of any city in the coun-
try with the least corruption and
lowest financial burdens He praised
Congress for the time and atten-
ton is has given to District legisla-
ton.
= r OF e