Evening star., 1947-11-02

EleCJlOllS 10 iIlctllUCl Slilp oli VAbC Las
trict Council should hot take place
at the same time as for membership
on the Board of Public Education.
For elective Offices which are va
cant and which cannot be filled by
the method outlined above in this
recommendation within six months,
or in the event of urgent necessity
to have the office filled, appointment
to the Office should be made by the
chairman of the Joint Standing
Committee on the District of Colum-
bia, with the approval OF the joint
standing committee. such appolntee
toaserve until an elected candidate
takes office.
ndation.-That voting be
IN such manner. eithers by ballot OF
by machine, as to preserve It's Sc
crecy. Absentee ballots should not
be permitted. Every candidate tol
elective Office should be entitled to
have a designated watcher at every
polling place who can be present
when the votes are counted. For
sufficient cause, watchers should be
able to challenge voters, who would
be barred from voting or permitted
to vote by the official in charge OF
the voting place, in his discretion
after considering the evidence as
to qualifications submitted by both
parties to the dispute. If the can
didate is aggrieved, he could appeal
to the Board of Elections. If the
voter is aggrieved, he could appeal
to the courts as hereinbefore recon-
mended.
NOnpartisan Elections.
| Recommendation.-That all can
didates for elective Office runas in-
dividuals and not as candidates OF
any political party.
| Students of local government be-
lieve that it's essential problem is
sound, efficient management ano
that partisan politics do not assist
in the solution Of this problem. Since
voters in the District do not vote
as such in State or National elec-
tions, identification with either Ol
the two major political parties woulC
have little meaning. This does moi
mean that candidates could not be
indorsed or opposed by civic. In
dustrial, labor, church or other
groups as persons. All candidates
should run as individuals, indiviu.
ually nominated, rather than a
party candidates.
Recommendation. - That any
proposition of application solely tc
the District which has been ap-
proved by 10000 qualified voters OF
the District as certified by the
Board of Elections be placed on the
ballot by the Board of Elections at
the next general or special election
If approved by a majority of the
voters of the District, 1t would be
referred to Congress and dealt with
by Congress in the same manner
as legislation proposed by the Dis
trict Council.
Referendum.
Recommendations all SUBJ
jects of broad general policy, after
approval by three-fourths of the
members of the District Council
be submitted to referendum re-
quiring for their approval a favor
able majority Of the voters of the
District before being submitted to
Congress as proposed legislation
Such subjects would include all bor-
rowing for capital-improvement
purposes, all amendments to the
charter of the District, and such
other subjects as the District Coun-
Gil may determine. The Board of
Elections should include such a
proposition on the ballot OF the
next general or special election
after receipt from the District
Council of certification of favorable
action on the proposition.
mendations.-That q petit
ton signed by 10000 qualified voters
of the District Of Columbia, as cer-
tilted by the Board5of Elections, for
the recall of any elected officer OF
the District be authority for the
Board of Elections to place the
proposition on the ballot in the next
general or special election.
= The general administrative
responsibilities of the District should
be under the complete control of a
District Manager appointed by and
serving at the pleasure Of the Dis
trict Council. The District Council
could elect one of its members as
mayor to serve at titular head OF the
District on all public occasions.
District Council.
Recommendation.-That the Dis
trict Council consist of 10 MEM
bers. Four of the members would