Evening star., 1943-10-17
Home Rule HEARINGS
To Start November ;,
McCarran Announces
By ], A, O'LEARY.

BY J. A. O'LEARY.
Chairman McCarran of the
Senate District Committee yes
terday set Tuesday, November
30, for the start of public hear
lngs on his new home rule bill
for Washington.
He made it clear at the same time
that he will give sympathetic con-
sideration to changes that may be
put forward to improve the details
OF his plan, which calls for election
OF board of seven commissioners,
who would appoint a city manager.
The McCarran bill would give
Washlngtonians the right to vote
only for the commissioners, as dis
tinguished from the broader ques-
ton of representation in Congress
and voice in presidential elections,
which is pending in the Judiciary
Committees of the House and Sen
ate as proposed constitutional
amendment.
Congress Retains Veto Power.
Congress, and, in the opinion
OF some critics of the McCarran bill.
the chairmen of the House and
Senate District Committees, would
be given an opportunity to veto
legislation or ordinances promul-
gated by the elected city commits
sioners. Congress also would retain
the function of appropriating funds.
II think it is advisable to fix the
date for beginning hearings on this
bill far enough in advance so that
there may be ample opportunity for
study of the bill by those individuals
and groups which may be interested,
and in order that there may be time
Tor both individuals and groups to
formulate their ideas, submit sug-
gestions and prepare themselves for
presentation of their views" Sem
ator McCarran said.
The hearings will be conducted
by a subcommittee consisting of
Chairman McCarran and Senators
Tryings, Democrat of Maryland;
Overton, Democrat, of Louisiana;
Burton. Republican, of Ohio, and
Bushfield, Republican, of South
Dakota.
Sees Issue Met.
While this bill is the product of
many months of work, should be
the last to contend that it is per-
feet" Senator McCarran continued.
Il believe the bill accomplishes its
primary objective, which is, in brief,
to place squarely before the Con-
gress the issue of self government
for the District of Columbia,
through the vehicle of bill which
is constitutional and which is work.
able. 1t is entirely possible the bill
can be improved while still adhering
to this aim"
The senator said he already has
received number of suggestions
worthy of study, and added:
1T is obvious that the people of
Washington are thinking about this
bill. 1 believe it is important that
they should do so. A full and free
expression of public opinion on this
bill is not only necessary in order
to secure its favorable consideration
by the Congress. but is a right which
the people of the District of Colum-
bia should not be denied.
Will Accept Changes.
"Wfile believe that it is import
ant to avoid broadening the bill by
inclusion of side-issues, or amend
ing it to include provisions of a
controversial nature, I stand ready
and willing not only to accept, but
to sponsor any changes which will
improve or strengthen the bill while
still retaining the advantage of pre-
sentlng clear-cut and we'll defined
issue"
Senator McCarran urged District
residents to do some good, hard
constructive thinking about this
BILL" and either submit their views
in writing or prepare to attend the
hearings.
The separate-proposed constitu-
tional amendment dealing with ma
t1onal representation is sponsored
in the House by Chairman Summers
of the Judiciary Committee, and in
the Senate by Senator Capper of
Kansas, ranking Republican on the
District Committee. AS introduced
last February, it merely empowers
Congress to provide that there shall
be in Congress and in the electoral
college, members elected by Dis
trlct residents, in such numbers and
with such powers as the Congress
shall determine. The proposed con-
stltutional amendment also would
preserve the powers Of Congress to
amend or repeal any representa-
ton granted