Evening star., 1944-02-06
.kcCarran Gives
Pledge 10 Push
For Home Rule
Promises District
To Remain Active
On Capitol Issues

His plan for a Washington home
rule plan and his views of legisla-
ton permitting District residents
to vote in presidential elections
were outlined yesterday by SEN
ator McCarran in his valedictory
as chairman Of the Senate District
Committee as among his continu-
ing detectives.
Promising to remain active in
the work Of the District Commit
tee. though giving up its chairman
ship to head the Judiciary Com
mitsee, he called for elimination of
the Capitals slums, protested that
the city's private and public hos
pitals were not up to standard and
predicted further improvement in
the water system.
Stressing concern over the suf-
frage issues, he said:
my study of the subject leads
me to believe that the trainers of
the Constitution never intended
that the District should have in
any sense the status of a State.
I think 1t would be a colossal mis-
take to give the District the status
of q State.
d. C. Entitled to Voice.
"At the same time, I have a firm
conviction and determination that
the people OF the District should
have voice in the selection of
their public servants. .
Between the question of no
status OF State for the District
and the question of giving a right
|of-way to the people of the District
to govern themselves, there comes
IA question of why eligible citizens
OF the United States residing in the
National Capital should not have
the right to cast their vote for
President and Vice President.
II shall try to carry on with the
so-called home rule bill which I
have introduced and on which have
had some very valuable assistance
from Senator Burton
Water System Unsatisfactory"
The District water system, he said
has been and still is in a very
unhappy and unsatisfactory condi-
tion." Abiding to the control of
the supply system by the Army
Engineer Corps and the distribution
division under municipal officials, he
said:
1T has no central head. It is
conglomerate of authorities who in
no way cooperate. I think we have
accomplished something in that we
have brought about little co-opera-
ton between the various divisions
OF that system"
Protesting that health conditions
IN the District are not what thev
should be and that generally public
ana private hospitals are in q ~de-
plorable condition" Senator McCar-
ran SAID those in charge of the
health OF this District have not rem
oered even a reasonable degree of
service"
Referring to the Gallinger in
curry made by Senators Holman
or Oregon, Bushfield of South Da-
kota and Buck of Delaware. he
declared any comment that they
denied prospective witnesses the
right to be heard lis unfounded
and false to the very core"
ID. C. Hearings Planned.
Senator McCarron said he would
call subcommittee hearings soon on
the baby broker" bill and antici-
pated action would be possible soon
on the bill to liberalize provisions
OF the teacher retirement system
to benefit those with the armed
services.
He listed the consolidation of the
police and municipal courts, brc o.
ening Of the powers of the Board
of Public Welfare, creation of the
District Recreation Board, the
wartime pay raise for policemen,
firemen and teachers as among leg
islation he had the privilege of
fostering as District Committee
chairman.