Evening star., 1947-11-02

represent the DlStrlct as a WnOle
and candidates for vacancies who
receive the largest number OF votes
in the whole District in an election
would be declared elected. OF the
remaining eight members, two each
would represent the Northwest,
Northeast, Southwest and Southeast
areas of the city, respectively. Such
candidates must have been resi-
dents of the area they wish to
represent for one year prior to elec-
ton, and petitions for their nomi-
nation must contain the signatures
OF at least $50 qualified voters reg
iStered in that aera. The candidates
from each specified area are elected
who receive the largest number OF
votes from voters of the entire Dis
tricts IN an election. ~
Most witnesses agreed that all
candidates for elective ot1lce should
be elected by the entire District.
but there was some sentiment for
section representation, The above
recommendation provides for such
SETON representation. but make 1t
necessary for candidates to appeal
to the District as whole to be
elected. This recommendation also
eliminates the necessity of dividing
the District into wards which often
are the curse of local government.
1t also eliminates the necessity of
insuring that the political subdi-
visions constitute an equitable dis
tribution of population, since all cam
dldates would be elected at large.
Term of Office.
Recommendatio members
of the District Council serve for four
year terms, with the terms Of two
of the general representatives and
four of the area representatives ex-
piring on December 81 of the odd
numbered years.
This recommendation provides
that SO per cent OF the membership
of the District Council must be elect
ed every years.
Recommendation.-That on Janu-
airy Of each even-numbered year.
or as soon thereafter as possible,
the secretary OF the District Council
call meeting of all members OF
the council and preside thereat until
presiding officer Is elected from
among the members. The presiding
officer SO elected should serve i'll
that capacity until December 81 OF
odd-numbered years.
During his term of Office as pre-
siding officer his title would be
Mayor Of the City of Washington
and he would be the official spokes-
man for the District.
Meetings of Council.
Recommendation the Dis
trict Council meet regularly once
each week on Tuesday evening, ex-
cept during the months of July and
August, in a place large enough to
accommodate members of the public
and press who wish to attend.
Special meetings might be called
frequently at the discretion of the
Mayor. All meetings of the council
and its committees should be open
to the press and the public, unless
the matter under discussion is con-
idential, when, at the discretion Of
the council or the Mayor, an execu-
tive session might be called.
recommendation members
of the District Council be paid an
Ihonorar;um of 2,400 pen annum in
II monthly payments, except that
the member elected as Mayor re-
ceive, in addition, all expenses Incl
dent to that Office in an amount not
to exceed S., 900 per annum.
Board of Public Education.
Originally, autonomous boards of
education were established in local
communities to take the public
education of children out of the
realm of partisan politics. Whether or
not the methods utilized achieved the
desired objective is debatable.
In recommending an elected
Board of Public Education, the sub
committee Is not SO much impressed
by the arguments for nonpartisan
administration of public education
as it is by the universally of elec-
tive boards of education in the
United States. This device is en-
ployed so extensively that the sub
committee believes there would be
some loss of confidence in any form
of government proposed for the Dis
trict which did not include an elect
ed Board of Public Education. y
Recommendation-That the pres
ent Board Of Education and the
present Board Of Library Trustees
be abolished and both agencies be
placed under the jurisdiction Of a.
Rnard At Public Education con.