Evening star., 1947-11-18
.CI0 Leaders in District
Praise Home Rule
Plan in Principle

Leaders of the Washington Indus
trial Union Council (CIO) last night
praised in principle the Auchincloss
plan for home rule but raised fears
it might continue segregation of
races here and might not "guaran-
tee real representative government
for the District.
Henry Beitscher. council president,
called on union delegates, meeting
at 7l8 Fifth street NV, to take back
to their respective locals several
issues for further discussion and
report back to the council.
Specific policy will be laid down
later by the council itself, he an
nounced and will be laid formally
before the House District Subcom-
mittee on Home Rule and Reorgan-
ization,
Clarence M Pierce. assistant staff
director of the subcommittee, out
lined the hishliehts of the Auehin-
Gloss report and replied to a num-
Der of questions from the floor dur
ing a lengthy discussion.
/ He emphasized that he was not
a protagonist for any specific rec
ommendation. The preliminary re-
port was made public by the sub
committee, he explained, to provoke
discussion and get public reaction.
Election Procedure Criticized.
! Questions from the floor were di-
rected chiefly to the operation of
the election procedure, which was
generally criticized by the delegates.
/ Mr. Beitscher characterized the pro-
cedure as real weakness" and
questioned whether it would guar
antee representation.
/ The Auchincloss plan would pro-
vide for election of a city council
of u. Four would run as candi-
dates-at- large and two from each
of the four geographic areas of the
city, Voters throughout the city
would vote for all II posts
! Mr.. Beitscher asked the delegates
to take back to their locals two al
tentative means of electing council
men: First, through proportional
representation. and second, by dis
trietS.
Although he criticize specific de-
tails of the home-rule report, Mr.
Beitscher said the subcommittee
headed by Representative Auchin-
Gloss, Republican, of New Jersey.
generally had made a major con-
trihution to the needs of the COM
munitv to restore home rule and the
right to elect our own representa-
tives."
Forecasts Opposition.
The committees excellent report
is going TO meet a considerable
amount of opposition" he warned,
but the big Job is to see that it
is enacted into legislation"
/ When Fred Sillers of Local 3
asked a question about a District
Fair Employment Practice Act, de-
claring there is crying need for
it here" Mr.. Beitscher declared:
This proposal of the Auchincloss
! subcommittee" is to reorganize the
the District government, not to
( create new parts. We will have
plenty of difficulty with the FEPC
and the civil right recommended by
the Truman Committee. But we
should not raise these in connection
with the Auchincloss report"
Miss Gertrude Evans. executive
secretary of the council. declared
the coHneil was opposed to the Fed
eral once of National Capital Parks
releasing control of its policy in
recreation areas, il such areas were
transferred as proposed to the Rec
reation Board
Setup Explained.
Mr.. Pierce explained director of
recreation would be set up under
the proposed city manager, but with
recreation board in an advisory
capacity only. The policy of the
present autonomous Recreation