Evening star., 1946-05-13

the complicated problems of modern
government. The plan was de-
veloped from a year of intensive
study and hearings. There will be
a considerable drive for enactment
OF many of its features. These in
clude:
A drastic reduction in the number
OF congressional committees, in a
move to simply the congressional
machinery to eliminate duplication,
conflicts and delays in legislative
work;
Increases in the stating of Senate
committees and in the Offices of in
dividual Senators;
An increase in the pay of men,
bers of Congress from $4,000 to
$4,000 year, increasing the pay
OF the Speaker and the Vice Presi-
dent from $4,000 to $4,000 a year;
Making members of Congress ELI
gible for the Federal retirement
system when they meet age, service
and contribution requirements;
A move to eliminate patronage
from the appointment of expert and
clerical help in the legislative
branch;
Better control over appropriations
and stricter control over lobbyists.
Referendum Election Provided.
To be eligible for 1.-The proposed
District charter commission, a per-
son would have to be a resident of
the District for at least five years
preceding appointment. Members
would be paid $25 day for each day
on commission business.
To cover the work of the commits
sion, the measure proposes an ap-
of up to $4,000.
The commission would be directed
to receive and consider suggestions
as to the substance and form of the
proposed charter as submitted by
any resident or group of residents.
1t would have to propose a charter
within six months after enactment
OF the bill and would submit the
charter at popular referendum
which the commission would ar
range to be held between 9 and IL
months after the measure became
law.
To be eligible to vote in the ref
erendum a person would have to be
a citizen of the United States, 81
years of age or over and one who
claimed no place of legal residence
Tor voting purposes outside the Dis
trict. To be voter also a person
would have to pay income or per-
sonal property taxes in the District
or to have lived here for five years
or more preceding the date of regis
tration.
Election Provisions Set.
No person would be eligible to
vote whose name was not on the
official register; who had been con-
victed of an electoral crime or
felony, unless pardoned; who was
living on public charity or was an
inmate of a public charitable insti-
tuition, or who was an inmate of a
public or private institution for the
insane or who had been judicially
declared insane.
Within eight months after enact
ment, the commission would provide
for an official register, by designa-
tion of not less than IL conveniently
located places, which would be
closed 80 days before the referen-
dunn.
Any one found guilty of violating
provisions of the election law and
regulation would be subject to a
maximum fine of $500, imprison-
ment for up to one year, or both.
To Save Time of Congress.
The McCarran charter commits
sion bill states that all of the usual
powers, functions and duties" shall
be vested in the proposed city coun-
Gil, including those to levy taxes and
authorize expenditure of city funds.
However, sponsors of this bill have
explained it was intended the powers
of the council would be subject to
the provision in the Constitution
which gives Congress exclusive
legislation control over the District.
The La Toilette proposal for self