Evening star., 1947-11-02
Joint Congress Group
Would Have Right
Of Veto Under Plan
By Don S. Warren

w SOU - V0ttSU
An elected District govern
ment with powers to tax, spend
borrow and enact general city
legisla tion-all subject to con-
gressional veto-was proposed
yesterday by a House subcom-
mittee.
Novel in many respects, the plan
was outlined in a 10000 pre-
liminary report by the Home Rule
Subcommittee>of the House DISTRICT
Committee. It's chairman. Repre-
sentative Auchincloss, Republican,
of New Jersey will seek action early
in the next regular session.
The new suffrage plan-not touch
ing the issue of District representa-
tion in Congress-calls for a coun-
cil-manager system, with a mayor,
chosen by and from the council
membership. A council of II, elected
in a city-wide vote, would replace
the appointed commissioners. In
addition, an elected Board of Public
Education. of eight members, would
supplant the citizens school and IL
brary boards.
Voting would be open to all 21
years old and living here for year.
Would Permit Dual Voting.
This would permit dual voting
rights to thousands of persons liv-
ing here but claiming legal or voting
domicile in their home States. Vot-
ing back home" would be no bar
to the District polls. Also, there
would be no District domicile OBJ
stacle to them for elective or ap-
pointive District jobs.
A Joint Committee of Congress
would supervise all District affairs
In relation to Congress. While there
would be a broad grant of powers to
the city council. Congress would re-
tain all it's present District legisla-
tive powers. 1t could veto District
acts or initiate its own. The Joint
Committee would have an adequate
staff to correlate the functions OF
the municipality and those of Con-
gress.
Power of investigating and oust-
ing incompetent District officials
would be vested in the Joint Com
M ttee. which would succeed all
present District congressional units
Wholesale reshuffling of many
District and some Federal services
was proposed by the Auchincloss
Subcommittee. But such reorganiza-
tion-placing SO Government units
in II streamlined departments
would be contingent on congressional
appraisal of home rule.
Constitutional Questions Raised.
The plan, Chairman Auchincless
said, raises number of constitu-
tional questions. He said his SUBJ
committee was well aware of this
and was giving them intensive at
tention." He promised to announce
decisions as soon as the legal answers
are found.
Ardent advocate of home rule fol
the District, MI. Auchincloss sale
suffrage was so vital that the Dis
trict should have government
whether it wants it or not The
outlined plan, he explained was ten
tative and subject to change. Il
voting were not granted, he stressed
the plan would have to be changed
In important respects.
Only one member of his subcom-
mittee, Representative Mcmillan
Democrat, of South Carolina, with
held even general approval Of The
suffrage plan. Mr.. Mcmillan was
said to fear the plan would put the
National Capital under the contro
of District voters. Supporters OF
the plan said this would not be the
case
Subject to changes in detail:
members willing to let the plan be
released for public reaction. in ad'
dition to Chairman Auchincloss, art
Representa- tives McGarvey of Penn
svlvania, Allen of California anc
Homer r. Jones of Washington
Republicans, and Representative:
Deane OF North Carolina and Rober
E. Jones, jr., of Alabama, Democrats
High Lights of Plan.
Some of the many high light!
of the plan as evolved with the aic
of DR.. George B. Galloway ane
Clarence M. Pierce of the Legislative
Reference Service of the Librar!
of Congress, are.
l. Adoption of a fixed formula
for measuring the size of the Fed
eral payment toward National Cap
ital costs. This would be a new
style plan based on the assessed
value of Federal holdings here, ex
cluding streets and other natura
rights of way, and calculated or
a tax rate Is cents below the pre-
vailing So per 500 of value paie
by private property owners-to b'
paid by the United States in liel
of taxes. Credits and deductions
would be made for contracted Fed
eral services to the District ant
the District services to the United
States.
Advisers of the Auchincloss sub
committee estimated that if all th'
"a recommendations were adopted
49, r;.&~;o+ vrN,,1I cor,