Evening star., 1947-01-22
|Dirksen 10 Push
For Home Rule
Action This Year
AuchincIoss Heads
Subcommittee to
Work Out Plan
By Don S. Worren


home rule to Washington resi-
dents was urged today by Chair
man Dirksen of the House Dis
trict Committee as he charted,
at the organization meeting Of
this group, an ambitious pro-
gram for early attention.
Voicing hope that some construc-
tive plan for local suffrage might
go to Congress before the end of this
year-"or sooner'-Chairman Dirk
sen announced the appointment Of
a new subcommittee on this sub
ject
Heading the home rule unit, which
also will deal with related questions
or reorganization of the municipal
administration, will be Representa-
tive Auchincloss, Republican, of New
Jersey, who served on the District
Committee several years ago.
Other Members Named.
Other members of the home rule
group are Representatives McGarvey
of Pennsylvania, Youngblood Of
Michigan, Republicans, and McMil-
Ian of South Carolina, former Dis
trict Committee chairman and deane
of North Carolina Democrats.
Mr.. Auchincloss announced the
Home Rule Subcommittee promptly
would begin study of the Districts
government organization. He said
the group first would review all
previous reports on municipal re-
organization and later would sched-
ule public hearings on home rule
proposals, along with reorganization
questions.
Announcing the appointment of
five other standing committees, Mr..
Dirksen called for immediate and
thorough analysis of other major
problems" facing the District. He
put in the mo. u spot the worri-
some question of raising additional
revenues to meet the Districts
record breaking budget.
Joint Meetings Urged.
He asked early adoption by all
six of the standing subcommittee
of a plan for having joint meetings
or joint hearings with similar sub
committees of the Senate District
Committee as means of time
saving and most thorough study Of
the issues.
| He and Chairman Buck of the
Senate District Committee already
have reached All agreement that
joint hearings should be held on the
SIG, ,000,0 900 District tax bill soon to be
submitted to Congress by the Com
missioners. Representative Bates,
Republican, of Massachusetts, was
placed in charge of this and other
fiscal questions.
The program charted by Chairman
Dirksen also called for an early and
complete survey of the school sys-
tenn, with special attention to teach
ers' salaries. Other major items for
which he asked immediate attention
were the great and growing prob
lem of parking and improvement OF
health and hospital facilities.
Representatives Chosen.
Named to serve with Mr.. Bates on
the fiscal subcommittee were Repre-
sentatives O'Hara of Minnesota,
Talle of Iowa, Republicans, and
Smith of Virginia and Klein of New
York, Democrats.
Mr.. O'Hara was named chairman
of a judiciary subcommittee and
serving with him will be Representa-
tives Mcmahon of New York, Allen
of California, Republicans, and Har-
ris of Arkansas and Abernathy Of
Mississippi, Democrats.
A subcommittee on health, educa-
ton and recreation was set up with
Representative Miller, Republican,
of Nebraska, physician with ex-
perience in public health work, as
chairman. Other members are Rep
resentatives Auchincloss and Young
blood on the Republican side and
Deane and Hebert of Louisiana on
the minority side.
Representative Simpson Repubi-
can, of Illinois, a veteran on the
committee, was named chairman OF
the subcommittee on public utili-
ties Other Republican members are
Mr.. Bates and Representative Nc
Dowell of Pennsylvania. On the
Democratic side are Representatives
Kennedy of Massachusetts, and
league of Texas.
Beall Heads Group.
The sixth standing subcommittee
will deal with public service, streets,
traffic, police and fire departments.
1t will be headed by Representative
Beal, Republican, of Maryland.
Serving with him will be Represen-
tatives Simpson, Allen, Mcmillan
and Hebert.
Attending the session were Dis
trict Commissioners John Russell
Young and Guy Mason and Engi-
neer Commissioner Gordon Young,
as well as their departmental chiefs.
The whole group was presented to
the revamped committee.
| Chairman Dirksen announced the
appointment of Miss Mabel Haller,
formerly clerk to the committee, as
his executive secretary. She will be
assisted by Miss Ruth Pingley. Will
liam N. Mcleod was Samed minority
clerk.
AS the plan now shapes up the
Joint hearings between the House
and Senate committees on Dis
trict affairs would be held by
1 T1kxNg gr<H