Evening star., 1947-10-01

named Assistant Secretary of
Labor yesterday. A resident
of Nanticoke, Pa, he succeeds
Philip Hannah. -AP Photo.
out the world, it is we'll to remem-
ber that it has not been completely
achieved at home, particularly IN
the Nations Capital"
An elaborate report containing
specific recommendations on home
rule and reorganization OF the
city's government has been sent
by Mr.. Auchincloss and his COM
mittee staff to all members of the
subcommittee who now are working
on a report to be presented to the
full House District Committee. De-
tails of the recommendations are
being kept confidential until pre-
sented to the District Committee.
A bill is to be drafted, embodying
proposals, which will be introduced
in the House at the regular session
of Congress and referred back to the
subcommittee for public hearings,
early next year.
To Assemble Subcommittee.
Mr.. Auchincloss expects to return
to Washington about the middle of
this month and get his subcom-
mittee together as soon as possible
to consider the preliminary report.
Director Webb Of the Budget Bu-
reau submitted lengthy statement
to the subcommittee outlining the
present relations between the Bu-
reau and the District Government.
He made what he called a "prelim-
mary analysis" Of some possibilities
under proposed self elf-government ana
reorganization.
'If the Congress is to continue to
enact the appropriations and the
local legislation for the District" he
said, 'it would seem that the role of
the Bureau of the Budget concerning
District affairs should not be ma
terialy altered. On the other hand,
if a substantial degree Of self-gov-
ernment is established for the Dis
trict, the role of the bureau would
undoubtedly need to be modified sig
nif1cantly."
Mr.. Webb stressed the Importance
of safeguarding the national inter-
ests, not only in Washington, but In
the contiguous Capital area into
which the Federal government has
expanded. He proposed that, If the
Federal relations with this whole
metropolitan area could be reconsid-
cred ii way to meet more ade-
quately" Federal needs, it might be
found that some substantial mea-
sure of local self f-government for
the District is consistent with the
protection of national interests"
Three Methods Set Forth.
| !, Three possible methods of safe
guarding the Federal interests in
the Capital were set forth by Mr.,
Webb:
81. Congress, in comforting home
rule powers, could retain exclusive
authority over designated subjects
Of special national concern.
"2. Congress could provide that
all ordinances Of the District coun-
Gil relating to designated subjects
Of national concetn must lie before
Congress for go to 80 days before
going into effect and might be dis
allowed by concurrent resolution
adopted within that period.
'3. Congress could exercise its
overriding legislative authority by
setting aside individual. ordinances
and enacting substitute measures u
Should real self-government" be
granted, MIR. Webb said, appropria-
ton of District funds must be vested
in the District governing body or
council.
Would Fix Responsibility.
IF this is done," he suggested,
"the Budget and Accounting Act
should be amended to eliminate
provision for the review and revision
Of District estimates by the Bureau
of the Budget and the preparation
and submission Of the District
budget should be assigned to the
chief executive officer Of the Dis
trict government. This, would fix
responsibility for District finances
in the appropriate District agen-
cies."
Safeguards should be thrown
around such system. he warned,
however. Authority to incur indebt-
edness should be carefully defined,
and the purposes, methods, maxi
mum duration and maximum
amount Of borrowing should be pre-
scribed and fundamental features
Of the budget system laid down.
Provisions also should be made,
he recommended, for an indepen-
dent post-audit Of financial trans
actions, which could be made by
the General Accounting Once or
by a private firm Of accountants
Mr.. Bailey, who long has dealt
with District affairs at the Budget
Bureau, was asked by the Home
Rule subcommittee: Should the
District be empowered to submit
proposed legislation directly to Con-
gress without prior clearance with
the Bureau of the Budget?"
Analyizing the present procedure,
he came to this conclusion:
: ''It is my opinion that the present
Budget Bureau procedure with re-
spect to the clearance Of District
legislation both fiscal and non fiscal,
should be continued" The volume
of legislation, requiring 4earance
by the bureau, however, he added
would be very materially reduced
If the Congress granted the District
a substantial measure Of self-gov-
ernment including local legislative
authority"