Evening star., 1947-11-23
Home Rule
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would be transferred to the mayor,
a council member, with his selec-
tions subject to approval by the
council.
3. Free mere ordinances adopted
by the council. as distinguished from
general legislation, from routine re-
view by Congress as first proposed
4. Reduce from 60 to 80 days the
time during which Congress might
veto a legisla tive act by the coun-
Gil, but preserve the right of any
individual member of Congress to
initiate any bill to motivate or veto
any District legislation.
5. Provide that adoption of SIM
pie resolution by either the House
or Senate would constitute a veto OF
a legislative act of the council. In
it's first plan, the veto would have
required adoption Of a concurrent
resolution by both houses.
The subcommittee announced 1t
was recommending no fundament-
al change" in the structure or juris-
diction of the prosecution or judi
icial systems of the District. Some
minor changes might be suggested
later.
Other Changes To Be Studied.
Changes in the plan were mapped
at meeting Friday night of four
of the seven subcommittee men,
bers. In addition to Mr.. Auchin-
Gloss, New Jersey Republican, those
participating were Representatives
Allen of California, and McGar-
vey of Pennsylvania, Republicans;
and Jones, Democrat, of Alabama.
Advising the group were DR.. George
B. Galloway, and Clarence M.
Pierce, of the Library of Congress
Reference Service. assigned to the
District committee staff.
The subcommittee is scheduled to
meet again Tuesday afternoon when
still further changes in the original
home rule plan will be considered.
One of the questions to be con-
sidered then, it was said, will be the
methods for selection of members
of the council to represent various
geographical areas of the District.
Under the original plan, eight OF
the II councilmen were to represent
the northwest, southwest, north
east and southeast sections of the
District. Candidates would have to
be residents of the sections they
would represent, but would be Sc
lected on the basis of city-wide
vote.
Compromises Are Expected.
This has brought protests from
some students of the plan, who asked
whether it would protect the rights
of minority and special groups. The
subcommittee had drafted this ar
rangement as a means of avoiding
the evils of the ward system Some
compromises are expected to be
studied at the next session.
On the question of its proposal to
confer broad powers of local legis-
lation on the suggested city coun'
Gil, the subcommittee said it hao
consulted number of highly placed
advisers and constitutional lawyers
It listed John w, Davis. Edward S
Corwin, Arthur T. Vanderbilt and
Charles A. Beard.
On their advice. the practice OF
State legislatures in enabling mu-
nicipal councils to legislate on mat
ters of local concern and long con-
gressional practice in conferrine
sub-legislation powers on the ex-
ecutive,' the subcommittee said, ii
felt it was on sound ground"
Ordinance Plan Offered.
In fact. it added, ordinance max
ing powers long have been vested
in the present board of commits
sioners.
AS one means of solving the twi-
light zone between what is an Or
dinance and what is legislation, the
subcommittee is suggesting that al
the present making powers o1
the boafd of commissioners be trans
ferred to the proposed council.
Under the new plan, mere ordl-
nance adopted by the council Woulo
become effective at once but Woulc
not be subject to review by Congress
as originally suggested. unless some
question arose as to whether it wa
legislation
Also under the new plan, legis'
lation initiated by the council woule
become effective after 40 instead o
so days. First, it would be subjec
to review and possible veto by Con
greSs, operating first through it
Joint District Committee, under {
3O-day waiting period. If neithe,
House nor Senate adopted vett
it then would go to the White Hous'
where 10 days would be allowed TO
the President to veto, if he saw fit
II either House vetoed the plan i
would die, and would not have to g
to the White House.
On the District budget procedure
the subcommittee now proposes t
modify its original plan to exemp
from congressional alteration ex
penditures proposed by the cit
manager and approved by the cit
council. Instead, the Joint Distric
Committee of Congress would re
view the budget and could send it
comments to the council. Congress
sional views, however, on the purel
local expenditures, would have n
legal effect unless some Senator o
Representative offered bill t
change appropriations.
Support for Plan Reported.
The original plan, proposed tina
the councils budget go direct t.