Evening star., 1945-03-16
Congress Hold
On DC. Raped
ByKefduver
Constituents Resent
Time Work Takes,
Hearing Is Told

Representative Kefauver, Demo-
crat, Of Tennessee today told the
Joint Committee on the Reorganiza-
ton of Congress that the national
legislative body was foolish" to in
sist on retaining control over the
District government.
There is no real reason why we
can't set up local District govern
ment," he declared. A similar senti-
ment was expressed yesterday by
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee and several
members of the joint committee
which is studying proposals to
streamline Congress.
Mr.. Kefauver pointed out that i'm
portant national legislation now fac
ing Congress makes it difficult for
members to give adequate attention
to local Government here.
Service on the District Commit
tees is onerous," he said. "A dis
tant constituency gives little credit
to members for serving on District
committees. Some actually resent
their taking time to handle District
matters"
Checks Possible.
The witness explained that Con-
gress could set up system whereby
it could maintain vigilance over
local legislation without going
through the tedious task of pro-
mitigating it.
IF Congress wanted to keep check
on ordinances and laws passed by
the District Board or Council" he
said, lit could provide a provisional
order system, whereby the ordi-
nances or laws passed by the Dis
trict Board would be sent to Con-
gress to become operative after a
certain time unless acted on ad-
versely by Congress"
Mr.. Kefauver also recommended
a system, similar to that employed
in the British Parliament, whereby
cabinet officers and department
heads would submit to a tWo-hour
question period on the floor of Con-
II cSS DIV lCdoI OliCC CfCiy eWo WINS
A resolution by Mr.. Kefauver pro-
viding for such a plan is now pend
ing in the House, with a similar
resolution by Senator Fulbright,
Democrat, of Arkansas awaiting ac-
ton in the Senate.
Proposes Chairman Rule.
Methods must be found to enable
the Executive and Congress to have
a better understanding of the facts, y
he said. "The founding fathers
never intended that Congress and
the Executive should live as suspi-
cious rivals in separate worlds
He proposed that half of the ques-
ton period be used by executive Off
GERS to answer written questions sub
mitted in advance and that the re-
mainder of the time be devoted to
answering oral questions from the
floor
Mr.. Kefauver also suggested re-
form in the method OF selecting
committee chairmen by providing
that two-thirds of the majority
members on any committee would be
empowered to reject the ranking
majority member in favor of some
one else elected by secret ballot.
Warned by Downey.
Mr.. Kefauver said at least three
quarters of the senior members of
the majority party would probably
be selected anyway, but that his
proposal would provide an escape
from chairmen who are incom-
petent, in poor health or unsympa-
thetic with the general policy of the
majority of the committee. He said
that chairmen now can impede or
sabotage" workings of committees
by refusing to call meetings or by
delay through "dilatory tactics"
Senator Downey, Democrat, of
California warned the joint COM
mittee that unless Congress is
streamlined, democratic govern
merit is going to break down"
The Senator recommended put
ting the Senate on the radio over
Nationwide hookups daily between
10 am. and noon to permit members
to express themselves lin unequiv-
ocal terms" He complained that
virtually every piece of major legis-
lation which comes before Congress
is frequently put aside while men,
bers take the floor to discuss ''eX-
traneous matters" AS a result, he
said, other Senators walk out of the
chamber and much time is lost in
going through roll call before the
legislation under consideration can
be taken up again.
State Duties "Intolerable,"
He also proposed that each Sena-
tor be provided with at least one
qualified executive assistant with a
salary of at least $500 a year to
assist him in understanding legis-
lation, and that another assistant
be provided to handle State duties
and constituent problems. The lat
ter Senator Downey said, were food
ing the Offices of members of Con-
gress to a point where he had little
time left for more important func-
tions.
ITO me, these State duties are in
tolerable," he said.
AS an alternative, he suggested
that Senators might be relieved en-
tirely of minor constituents prob
lens, and that these duties could be
turned over entirely to members o1
the House.
The joint committee, headed by
Senator La Toilette, Progressive, OF
Wisconsin, is composed of six mem.
bers each of the House and Senate
Although witnesses are discussing
reforms in their broadest aspects
the committee, in making recon-
mendations, will be limited to sug-
gested improvements effecting only
the c0ynnittoe suSfeyn