Evening star., 1943-10-21
Limited Suffrage Bill
For District Assai|ed
In Trade Board Report

Declaring that representation in
Congress was the only solution to
the complex problem of munich
pal government for the District, the
Washington Board of Trades Law
and Legislative Committee last night
brought In report disapproving a
measure now before the Senate that
would grant ordinance making pow
ers to the District Commissioners.
Carefully reviewing the proposed
measure, the committee reported
that the present form of commission
government generally had worked
we'll and that matters relating to
the local government were so closely
allied and interviewer with those
relating to the Federal Government
1t was doubted whether Congress
would grant the District full con-
troll over the affairs Of the District
such as is found in other munich
palities.
The framework Of the measure
the committee reported, was such
that complete autonomy could not
be given Washington residents.
Congress to Control Funds.
The committee, headed by Joseph
c. McGarraghy, pointed out that
provisions of the proposed bill did
not clearly distinguish between
the legislative power retained by
Congress and the ordinance making
power of the commission. Any law,
ordinance or regulation promulgated
by the Commissioners would have to
be approved by the chairmen Of both
the House and Senate District Com
mittees. constituting complete veto
power of any act OF the Commits
Sioners.
Thus. the Commissioners could
legislate entirely TO the wishes of
their constituents yet be thwarted
by the power held by the District
Committee chairmen And even
though such legislation might be ap-
proved originally. overriding legisla-
tion could be enacted by Congress
at any time
Another point the committee en-
phasized was that District funds
would not be controlled by the
Commissioners but by Congress. It
doubted whether Congress would
relinquish its exclusive power over
these funds and added that it is
automatic that control of the purse
strings is most important factor
in any government"
City Manager Setup Hit.
The committee also hit the pro-
posal to entrust the administration
Of local affairs to a city manager,
appointed by the Commissioners
with the approval of the Senate,
declaring such a move would not
bring the Government closer to the
people.
In advocating Congressional rep
resentation for District residents.
the committee maintained that
many residents with voting resi-
dence in their respective States
would not 'be willing TO surrender
those valuable rights for the right
to vote for a Commissioner on a
Board OF Commissioners of the Dis
trict OF Columbia having such linz
tied power and significance. There
fore, II is believed that a vote such
as proposed in the bill. without ma
tional representation, would not be
representative and would be fraught
with evil"
While recording itself in opposi-
tion to the bill the committee also
indicated its willingness to aid Con-
gress in working out a Just and
feasible plan to give Washington
ians control Of local affairs. but not
at the cost of foregoing the right
to a voice in Congress.
Capacity Crowd There.
The report was read at the or
ganlzations first autumn meeting.
which attracted a capacity crowd to
the Willard Hotels main ballroom.
John A. Reilly, chairman Of the
Third War Loan drive. told the
audience a fourth drive is due in
January and that unless the pessi-
mistic attitude of too many cam
paigns is dispelled the Government
may invoke a compulsory savings
program to finance the war. He
praised the board for its role in
putting the recent drive over the
top and urged the members TO even
greater efforts in the forthcoming
campaign.
Other speakers We're Capt. T. C.
Cassell, who talked about the paper
salvage program; A. G. Neal who
discussed the Potomac Electric
Power Co.'S role In the fuel conser-
vation program. and william r.
johnson, a missionary to China for