Evening star., 1947-11-02

! ernment will know the extent OF Its
financial obligation to the District
and the District will be able to plan
it's expenditures in accordance with
practicable revenues. No other grant
for the general support of the Dis
| trict should be made exclusive of
grants-in-aid for specific programs,
comparable to those made to
| State).
The District should stand on its
own feet financially and meet the
obligations which face other large
cities, including payment for all
services received from the Federal
| Government. To be able to do this,
| however, the Federal Government
must pay its fair share of the legiti-
mate expenses based upon some ac-
cepted formula. This it has not been
doing
Testimony before this subcommit
tee revealed that confusion exists as
| to the purpose and results of the
present Federal grant for general
support of the District government
Representatives of Federal agencies,
whose activities in the District are
supported wholly by District funds,
defended direct Federal oversight
on the ground that the Federal
Government participates In the sup
port of those activities in the pro-
portion which the general Federal
/ contribution bears to the total Dis
/ trict budget. From 1879 to 1921,
when the Federal Government con-
tributed so per cent toward the
expenses of the District, such an
argument would have validity. But
at time when the Federal Govern
ment contributes only 12.5 per cent
it has little force.
A clear acceptance that the grant
of the Federal Government for gen.
eral support of. the District is pay
ment in lieu of taxes on federally
owned land would greatly clarity the
fiscal relationship OF the Federal
and District Governments.
Recommendations
Recommendation. the local
government for the District of Co.
lumbia be constituted as a corpora
ton for local government purposes.
/ Witnesses who recommended a
local government for the District
agreed that it should have all the
( powers cuStomarily exercised by mu
nicipal and county governments.
Many also, recommended that 1t
have State powers inasmuch as some
services provided i'll the District are
like those which elsewhere are pro-
vided by State governments. There
| is, however, serious constitutional
question as to whether Congress can
delegate to government of the Dis
trict general legislative powers such
as those normally exercised by a
State Legislature There is no seri-
Gus question, however, that Congress
can act through its designated
agent, retaining plenary powers
with the right of review and
veto
If that local government is chosen
through local suffrage, and is the
only government competent to ex-
press the collective will of the local
residents, then it follows that that
government should have the author
ity at least to propose the general
legislation necessary for the health.
welfare and safety of the local
residents
Legislative Powers.
recommendation the COR
poration of the District of Columbia
be empowered to enact ordinances
on local subjects such as are passed
by municipal councils elsewhere in
the United States and which become
law when passed; and that legisla-
ton of q general character such as
that normally passed by State Legis-
latures shall be proposed by the cor
poration and referred to Congress
for action. If such legislation is not
disapproved by concurrent resolution
of both houses after being in COM
mittee and before Congress for go
consecutive days in session. it shall
have the force and effect of laws of
the United States as applied to the
District of Columbia only.
This device retains essential con-
troll of Congress over legisla ton for
the District of Columbia AS it may
for the Territories of the United
States, Congress could at any time
void any legislation of the District,
including ordinances which, under
this proposal, are not subject to
routine review prior to becoming ef-
fective. Congress could, as at pres
ent. initiate any legislation of any
character for the District because,
under the Constitution, it is the
supreme legislative authority. !"
Legislative Restrictions.
Recommendation That the
grant of authority to the District
to legislate or to propose legislation
specifically exclude certain subjects
or classes Of legislation, such as
authority to tax United States prop
erty: right to grant an exclusive
privilege, immunity Or franchise
without affirmative approval OF
Congress: authorization of lotter-
les and gambling: using public
money in support of any sectarian,
denominations. Or private schools;
lending the public credit for sup
port Of any private undertaking,
etc.
Congressional Supervision.
! All witnesses agreed that the
United States, as represented In
its Congress, has a vital stake in
Washington as the Nations Capital.
The rights and privileges of the
Federal Government in the District
OF Columbia should not, in fact
could not, be waived Thoughtful
informed witnesses, including men,
bers OF Congress, decried the waste
full methods now employed to exer-
else supervision over District affairs
i-wasteful of the time and effort
of national representatives. who are
beset and harassed by the most
complicated and perplexing nation
al and international problems the
; world has ever known.
4 X
; Joint Standing Committee.
/ Recommendations the rules
of the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives be revised to- provide for
a Joint Standing Committee on the