Evening star., 1948-01-06
Martin BACKING
Spurs Hopefor
Home Ru|eP|an
Speaker Promises
Full Support of
AuchincIoss Bill
By Don S. Worren

By Don S. Worren
A general Endorsement by Speaker
Martin today gave new hope for
House action on the Auchincloss
plan to set up limited home rule
system in the National Capital.
He told reporters late yesterday
ne would lend his support to the
plan for an elected city govern
ment here If, as expected, it is ia
vorably reported by the District
Committee. He predicted the pro-
posal would be given real chance
for action In the House.
He went on to say that Congress
should relieve itself Of its present
task of trying to act as a city
council for the national Capital.
ut isn't right for us fellows to be
legislating the way we Go for the
District" he said. why should we
be legislating whether there should
be sewer on Sixteenth street or
whether the District should have
daylight saving time? These mat
ters should be settled by the CITY,"
Dirksen Plans Action.
About the same time, Chairman
Dirksen of the House District Com
mittee was planning an early at
tack on District legislative prob
lens with action on the home rule
issue first in mind.
Mr.. Dirksen said he would sched-
ule q meeting of the full Dis
trict Committee within q week to
review its program and planned a
conference with his subcommittee
chairmen also at an early date to
map action on pending bills.
The home rule subcommittee OF
the District group, headed by Rep
resentative Auchincloss. Repub-
lican, of New Jersey, Is scheduled
to meet in executive session to-
morrow afternoon to consider last
minute changes in the plan for an
elected council and an appointed
city manager.
Joint Meeting Thursday.
Thursday morning the Auchin-
Gloss subcommittee Is to hold a
joint meeting with members of the
home rule subcommittee Of the SEN
ate District Committee to review
the city suffrage plan and to sched-
ule joint hearings on the legisla-
ton. %.-.r
Speaker Martin suggested that
nictrict S,,ffro oa Lao dar- ,,,;nhS .>~.
promise on some provisions of the
home rule plan if they could not
win approval of the whole scheme
at the first try.
I'VE may not get everything at
one swallow" he commented. II
would be willing to take what I
could get and come back for more
the next year."
In this regard he noted that the
Auchincloss plan, while giving ord
nance making powers and legisla-
tive proposal authority to the pro-
posed city council, would" reserve
ultimate control to Congress.
Day to Settle Issue.
From procedural point OF view,
he said it would not be necessary
for District Committee spokesmen
to rely upon the CUSTOMARY uneni-
nous consent request, to get action
on the home rule bill. On an ap-
pointed District Day. he said, they
could ask for vote to take up the
bill. His only restriction was that
the House consideration should not
require more than one day. He said
he felt sure the issue could be
fought out within that time.
Mr. Dirksen anticipated his group
would be faced early in the session
with number Of other important
municipal issues, including a review
OF the revenue program, a survey
of the school facilities and perhaps
school health conditions.
He said he believes the committee
will have to take another look at
the tax question, including proposals
for sales tax"
He said he Is about convinced the
District is behind the times in recog-
nizing the size of problems result
ing from the great growth in the
Capitals population.
Recalls Horan's Fight.
1t may be, he continued, that
Chairman Horan Of the District
subcommittee of the House Appro-
priations Committee was right when
he argued last year there must be
further increase in revenues to
provide funds for increased school
construction. Mr.. Horan waged a
determined but unsuccessful fight
last year for general sales tax to
supply the extra funds.
Mr.. Dirksen also suggested posi-
bilities Of new move for a further
increase in teacher pay.
IF living costs continue to 60 up,
1t may be necessary to look again
into the teacher salary question"
he said. He added that, when
teachers get "one-fourth the money
for putting a foundation under
youth that bricklayers get for plac-
ing foundation under a house,
something is wrong and something
ought to be done about it."
Appointment Of an investigator
for the House District Committee
to survey the whole school prob
lem here is expected to be an
nounced soon by Mr.. Dirksen. He
has several names under consid-
Grafton. The survey expert prob
ably will go into school space prob
lens as we'll as other points at
issue, he indicated.
Mr.. Dirksen listed pupil health
as another possible field of study.