Evening star., 1947-07-23

Stty fuaIlSSST, lie G6SLlllSO.
The council should have the tar
power and entire charge Of the
fiscal affairs OF the Capital with the
Federal Government contributing to
the city's housekeeping expenses, he
added. ... -
Mr.. Roberts said he favored the
manager council idea, but said the
council should be appointed initially
by the President with the confirma-
ton of the Senate and then gradu-
ally be replaced in groups of three
by elected members from nine wards
within the District. Members should
serve for three years. he said.
Governor Proposed.
In addition. e said. there should
be a governor elected at large who
would serve as president of the
council.
At the end of the first three-year
election period, he said. one dele
gate to the Senate and two dele
gates to the House should be elected
at large.
| All independent boards and the
District functions Of Federal agen-
cies should be absorbed into de-
partments under the city manager,
he urged. ~.
He agreed with Mr.. Brownlow
that the city should manage its
own finances.
He said emphasis in the past on
national representation for the Cap
ital merely had resulted in defer
ring routine governmental improve
ments. He added that he did not
favor putting the home rule charter
drafted by Congress up to a CITY,
wide referendum.
Mr.. Beitscher told the subcommit-
tee his group wants a referendum
on the charter.
Would Lower Voting Age.
He said they favored lowering
the voting age to '18 and giving the
District power to float its own bond
issues.
He said all functions of govern
ment which are purely District or
for which the District pays the
larger part should be placed under
a city manager responsible to an
elected council.
He said his group favors COM
bination of ward and general elec-
tions for the council.
Turning to the courts, he said a
change should be made in the juris-
diction of the District Court and
the Municipal Court so that the
District Court would handle offenses
against District law.
Mrs. Dunn favored the manager
council form but said the charter
setting it up should place limita-
tions on the borrowing power Of
the city. She added that city judges
under the charter should be ap-
pointed and not elected.
Those agencies serving the District
primarily as the Nations Capital
she said. should remain Federal, but
agencies like the Board of Public
Welfare, the Public Library Board
and the Recreation Board should be
assimilated by departments under
the city manager. She made an ex-
ception, however, Of the Board OF
Education.
Mr.. Sigal said his group favored a
manager council government, but
there should be special advisory
committee composed Of the chairmen
OF the Senate and House District
Committees and representa- tive OF
the President to advise an elected
nine-man city council.
Charter Referendum, Opposed.
He favored 81 as the voting age
rather than 18, and was against
holding a referendum on the charter
Congress would work out to place
home rule in effect. ~.
I Turning to Federal agencies with
District functions, he said the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission, National geological
Park and Fine Arts Commission
should be left as they are, but that
the National Park Service should be
Invested of control over purely
neighborhood parks and recreation
areas and the District functions of
the Army Corps Of Engineers, the
National Capital Housing Authority.
the District Employment Service
and the District Vocational Reha-
bilitation Service should be grouped
under the city manager.
All independent District boards,
including the Board of Education,
should be placed In District depart
ments too, he said