Evening star., 1948-04-18
CiyicLeadersApprove
home Rule Revisiions;
Provisions Explained

I1VViStVsIS AtJlumVu
Approval Of the revised Auchin-
Gloss home rule plan was voiced
yesterday by eight civic leaders in a
statement issued by the Washing
ton Home Rule Committee.
At the same time the Auchincloss
subcommittee of the House, which
last week reported the measure by
to vote, released 62-page
report explaining and recommend
ing its provisions.
More than so changes were made
in the charter bill before the sub
committee acted. Most Of these
were outlined in a press release last
Sunday.
One OF the business leaders, VIII
liam J. Flather, jr., said the provi-
sion in the redrafted measure for
an official referendum on the bill
as it may be passed by Congress
should remove every objection to
It's enactment"
Should Have Opportunities.
He added: "1f a majority of Dis
trict residents vote in favor Of home
rule, they should be given the op-
portunity to prove that self-govern-
3 ment can be successful here. If
Congress denies this opportunity,
nothing will have been proved.
Other comments on the revised
bill:
: Frank r. Jellef, department
Store owner:
: "It is earnestly to be hoped that
the revised Auchincloss Bill will
pass. No doubt the referendum
will show that Washingtonians
welcome home rule, with hopes
1ater for national suffrage. 1t has
41ot been pleasant for residents of
the city to be forced to say in an
-swering people from elsewhere: I
rannot vote, I have never voted for
anybody in an election at any time,
and as far as voting is concerned,
! am in the same class as criminals
and the insane This situation will
at least be on its way to correction
II the bill is passed. l am for it,"
Bill Held Strengthened.
L. Corrin Strong, business execu-
tive and vice president Of Emerg-
ency Hospital:
I'm my opinion the committees
changes have materially strength
ened the original bill. While l
believe that the referendum proviso
Ia unnecessary, it will answer the
objection of those opponents of the
original bill who argued that the
people of the District should be
allowed to decide for themselves
whether they want local self-gov-
ernment."
Harry N. Stull, past president of
the Federation of Citizens Associa-
ton and member OF the Board OF
Trades committee on local govern
naent:
Il was in favor of the bill as
originally written. However, the
revised bill shows definite trend
toward a concurrence by the COM
mittee In a number Of amendments
suggested by witnesses at the hear
ings. It is now pretty well settled
that If the people of the District
have further objections to this bill,
they will have to admit they would
oppose any home rule bin no matter
what it contained. I sincerely hope
the bill will pass"
Would Be Alert to Problems.
j. Bernard Wyckoff, former presl-
dent of the Washington Housing
Association: The revised home rule
bill has my full support. A repre-
sentative city governments elected BY
the people Of Washington would be
alert to the pressing needs and
problems of this community. Such
a government will take the necessary
measures or fail of reelection.
Kenneth P. Armstrong, chairman
of the Central Suffrage Conference:
From the news accounts, 1t seems
to me that all the legitimate objec-
tions to the bill have been taken
care of, and that the bill Is still
good one"
Endorsement of the amended meas
ure came also from Mrs. Harvey
Wiley, chairman Of the legislative
committee of the Federation OF
Women's Clubs, and from Mrs. c. D.
Lowe, civic leader, president OF the
Washington tuberculosis Associa-
ton and member of the Committee
of 100 on the Federal City.
U. S. Payment to Be Reviewed.
The new report Of the Auchincloss
Subcommittee stresses that the pro-
posed formula for regulating the
size of the Federal payment, with a
sl5,O0000O maximum, was designed
only to meet present conditions. 1t
recommends a periodic review as
conditions change.
The formula calls for a payment
equal to IA per cent Of the total OF
all non-Federal District revenues
OF the preceding year, up to the
S15,00O.0O0 ceiling. Certain costs
would be added or subtracted.
The subcommittee said the for
mula lis believed to be fair and
EQUITABLE on the basis Of existing
conditions, such as the present pro-
portion of federally owned real prop
erty in the District, the size of the
Federal establishment in Washing
ton. the amount of current and po-
tential District revenues, the popu-
lation of the District and other rele-
want factors.
Since this formula is based on