Evening star., 1943-12-19
Division Of Opinion
On Home Rule Issue
Battles McCarran
BY DON s. WARREN

Disappointment over results OF
two weeks of public hearings on the
home rule" plan for Washington
was expressed yesterday by Chair
man McCarran of the Senate Dis
trict Committee.
Referring to sharply divided
stands taken by spokesmen for
numerous organizations and indi-
viduals, Senator McCarran said the
hearings as yet have not produced
satisfying evidence as to whether
the mass of the people want the
vote for municipal officers.
After five witnesses had testified
yesterday, with some strongly op-
posing the proposal for an elected
city council, the hearings were re-
cessed until 1890 am. Tuesday.
Senator McCarran said he hoped
the hearings could be concluded
then, but that, If necessary, addi-
tional sessions would be scheduled.
Club Leader Heard.
Mrs Mary Wright Johnson, chair
man OF the legislation department
of the District Federation of Wom-
ems Clubs, which has gone on record
opposing the McCarran bill. said
she personally was convinced Wash
ington residents do not want to give
up votes they have in their home
States until they are granted rep
resentation in Congress.
When Senator McCarran asked
II she still would oppose local suf-
frage if Congress approved the
national representation plan, Mrs
johnson replied, mo, but local suf-
frage would be of no good until we
get the other" She said the posi-
ton taken aby her organization on
the "home rule" bill would be out
lined Tuesday by Mrs. Leslie Wright.
Describing conditions at Gallinger
Municipal Hospital as revolving"
Chairman McCarran argued that
without the vote all that Washing
ton residents can do Is hold up
your hands in holy horror" but that
II the people had the vote they
could compel city officials to clean
up the place.
Takes Issue with Senator.
Congress, he added, merely had
exposed the situation-"we have no
authority there" He added, You
could lay a billion dollars in that
place and it would have done no
good, since the trouble was in the
management"
Mrs. johnson took issue with this
view, insisting that conditions could
not be corrected unless adequate
numbers of workers were available.
Marvin M. Mclean of the Brook
land Citizens Association said it
seemed certain to him that provid-
ing for election of local officials
would plunge ''the government of
this city into the throes of partisan
politics and the corruption that so
frequently followed such govern
ment in other cities" would not i'm
prove the situation.
I'VE had better let well enough
alone" he declared.
Mr. Mclean argued 1t would be
difficult to determine who was to
be allowed to vote. He stressed
that civil service laws provide that
Federal appointments shall be ap-
portioned as nearly as possible in
keeping with the population of the
States and that such Washington
employees would not be allowed to
vote both here and back home.
Present Rule Defended.
He argued large portion of
these Government workers would
be |.lsfranchised here because of
maintaining legal residences else
where and that it would not be
proper to compel them to be gov
erned by the votes of District ma
tives and non-Government workers.
He concluded: 1--WE have the clean
est and best governed city in the
United States There is less cor
ruption here, lower taxes and more
advantages for less money than in
any other city. We are salts
fed with our government and don't
want to change it,
Other witnesses yesterday were
John L. Fowler Of the Rhode Island
Avenue Citizens Association, who
opposed the McCarran bill; James
L. Branca, for the Washington Com
munist party, who strongly urged
local government, and B. M.
Seibold, who emphasized that no
matter what the form of city man.
agement Congress would continue
to have the final authority,