Evening star., 1947-02-05
Ball Sees Need
OF Some Degree
OF Home Rule
Minnesoton Heuds
Senute Unit Named to
HundIe D. c. Issue

Belief that some degree of home
rule should be granted to residents
Of the National Capital was voiced
today by Senator Ball, Republican,
Of Minnesota, a key member Of the
Senate District Committee.
Named late yesterday to head .
Home Rule and Reorganization
Subcommittee of the District group,
Senator Ball said, "I have always
felt there should be some measure
Of home rule for the people q
Washington"
I'm any plan, however," he added.
"there should be q specific recog-
milton of the Federal interests here
in the National Capital, but I am
firmly convinced Of the need Of
some degree of home rule. I think
this is necessary to give the Dis
trict better government and, also, to
relieve Congress of some of its city
council responsibilities"
Subcommittee Named.
His appointment as chairman Of
a committee of four on the subject
was announced by Chairman Buck
following an afternoon executive
session Of the District Committee.
: Chairman Buck announced the
division of his group into six sub
committees (of which the Ball unit
is one) to parallel the standing sub
committee lineup Of the House Dis
trict Committee, recently announced
by Chairman Dirksen. The purpose,
Senator Buck said, Is to facilitate
the planned joint House-Senats
hearings on important legislation.
For a time, the leadership of the
home rule group may fall on Sen
ator Buck, since Senator Ball prob
ably will be deep In national labor
issues. With this in mind, Chairman
Buck named himself to the sub
committee. He has said he is In
favor of the principle of both local
and national suffrage for District
people.
2 Democrats on Unit.
The other two members Of the
Home Rule and Reorganization Sub
committee are Senators Holland, Of
Florida and Johnston of South Car
olina, Democrats. Senator Johnston
| is an outspoken opponent of any
form Of District suffrage.
One Of the subcommittee named
lby Chairman Buck Is headed by o
Democrat, Senator McGrath Of
Rhode Island. This is the Subccm-
mittee on Public Service, which In
Icludes streets, traffic, police, fire and
school matters.
Other members Of the McGrath
unit are Senators Capper of Kansas
and KEN Of Missouri, Republicans,
and Sparkman, Democrat, of Ala
bama.
Other subcorYmittees announced
by Chairman Buck were:
Public Health, Welfare and Rec
reation-Senator Cooper, Republi-
can, Of Kentucky, chairman, and
Senators Ball and Johnston. -
Public Utilities (including insur-
ance and banking: Senator Buck,
chairman, and Senators Cain, Re-
publican of Washington, and Spark
man and Umstead Of North Caro-
lima, Democrats.
The two other Senate subcommit-
tees, previously announced, are fis-
cal affairs, with Senator Cain as
chairman, aided by Senators Flan-
ders, Republican of Vermont and
McGrath, and judiciary, headed by
Senator KEN, and including Sena-
tors Cooper and Holland.
Units Get Is Bills.
Chairman Buck referred IS bills
to the various subcommittee for
study. Proposals by Senator Nc
Carran and the Commissioners for
re-organizing the Water Depart
ment were referred to the Fiscal
Committee.
The McGrath Bill for summer
daylight saving time in Washington
was sent to the Home Rule Subcom-
mittee, which also has the McCarran
charter commission bill and the
Capper bill for election of dele
gates to national political conven-
tions.
The o,Mahoney Overton fiscal
payment formula bill already had
been referred to the Fiscal Sub
committee, and the McCarran and
Johnston bills for three extra mu-
nicipal court judges previously had
been referred to the Judiciary Sub
committee.
The District Committee yester-
day considered but did not act on
an urgent request from Senator
Johnston, senior minority member
of the group, for appointment a
minority staff expert to the COM
mfttee