Evening star., 1947-11-02

Gil for the District of Columbia
and recommend thereon to Con-
gress.
~ Review all bills pertaining
to the District of Columbia which
are introduced by members of
Congress and report thereon to
Congress.
(3p Serve as a liaison between
the Congress and the District of
Columbia on all matters of con-
Germ to Congress collectively or
individually.
a. Serve as the agent of Con-
greSS to assure proper govern
ment for the District of Colum-
bia, =
Legislative Veto.
Recommendation adoption
Of q concurrent resolution by both
Houses 0 Congress within 90 con-
secutive days OF session expressing
disapproval of any ordinance passed
by or legislat ton proposed by the
Council OF the District of Columnia
constitutes legislative veto of the
legislation, making 1t of no force
or effect.
Upon approval by the District
Council of an ordinance or proposed
legislation, the matter should be
referred to the Joint Standing Com
mittee on the District of Columbia.
The 60day period should begin to
run from receipt by the Joint Stand
ing Committee. Within 30 days of
its receipt, the Joint Standing Com
mittee should report on the matter
to Congress with its recommended
tions.
AS is recommended earlier in this
report, all local ordinances passed
by the District Council would be-
come effective Immediately, subject
to subsequent legislative veto by
Congress. These would comprise
for the most part, zoning, health,
police and traffic regulations, license
regulations for businesses, etc.
Substantive law, such as is en-
acted by State legislatures, would
lie before Congress with report
from the Joint Committee on the
District of Columbia for at least 80
continuous days while In session
before becoming effective. Such
legislation would include tax bills,
annual appropriations, determine :
tion OF crimes, changes in organic
laws for the District, etc. = -
Custer of Officials.
recommendation the Joint
Standing Committee should have
the power to conduct inquiries into
any phase of tine government of the
District of Columbia, including the
conduct and competence of its off,
GERS.
Recommendation - That upon
certification by the President pro
tempore Of the Senate and Speaker
of the House that an emergency ex-
lists IN the government of the Dis
trict of Columbia, proposed legis-
lation, including appropriations
passed by the District Council and
approved by the joint standing COM
mittee, could become law immedi-
ately, subject to confirmation in
the next session of Congress. For
such purpose the District should be
able to incur debt until the close
of the following fiscal year. *'s
Local Suffrage.
The one indispensable element of
responsible local government for
the District of Columbia is that
1T be under the control and direc-
tion OF persons elected by the quail
fled electors of the District. :.
1t is clear from available records
of the Constitutional Convention
OF 1889 that it was never the intent
of the trainers of the Constitution
that residents of the District would
be deprived of a local legislative
body chosen by the residents. As
James Madison wrote in the Fed
eralist: 80 municipal legis-
lature for local purposes, derived
from their own suffrages, will, of
course be allowed them"
For the first IA years Of its ex-
istence, from 1900 to 1874, the Dis
trict had such local legislative bod
les chosen by its residents. Its
absence during the last 70 years
has denied District residents the
means of deciding local matters
for themselves. g.
Tests For Electors.
recommendation the quail
ified electors of the District of Co
lumbia consist of all persons who
have resided in the District for one
year prior to the date of an elec-
ton, who have not been convicted
of a felony, who are not under or
der of q court OF competent juris-