Evening star., 1948-01-16
Truman S Boost
For Home Rule
Praised on Hill
Bockers Of Plan
In Congress Glod He
Confirmed Support

Confirmed Support
President Truman's declaration
that he still fayors home rule for
the District was welcomed today on
Capitol Hill by legislators behind
the Auchincloss- Ball bills for a new
system Of limited self-government
for the Nations Capital.
Representative Auchincloss, Re.
publican, Of New Jersey, who recent.
ly called at the White House to
explain the proposed Legislation to
the President, commented: That's
flne. I'm glad he safa It," Mr..
Auchincloss is chairman of the
House District Home Rule Subcom-
mittee, which has developed the
pending bill after long hearings and
recent conferences with a companion
subcommittee Of the Senate.
The Presidents declaration, made
at a White House news conferences
yesterday afternoon, pleased Chair
man Buck Of the Senate District
Committee. He also Is member Of
the Homerule Subcommittee.
7 am glad to hear the President
Is for it-even If a little late
declared Senator Buck.
Absent From Message.
Mr.. Truman's reiteration OF n
previous statement approving home
rule for this city, came when he was
told there had been some disappoint.
ment that his approval had not been
included In his state Of the Union
message to Congress last Monday.
In that message the President had
recommended statehood for both
Alaska and Hawaii. But he had not
mentioned the move now under way
Tor a new homerule plan to re.
organize the city government.
The President commented yester.
day that the question of home rule
Tor Washington did not belong in
his State of the Union message.
He said he had taken a favorable
position on the subject several times
before, and added he still was in
favor OF home rule for the National
Capital.
Representative Deane, Democrat.
OF North Carolina, who had ar.
ranged the appointment for the
Home Rule Subcommittee members
with the President at the Whits
House, was much gratifled with Mr..
Truman's statement.
Citizen Support Urged.
"The fact that the President has
reiterated his continued interest in
self-government for Washington.
asserted Mr.. Deane, Should en-
courage our committee to follow
through as diligently as possible, 10
get congressional approval for; q
piece Of comprehensive legislation
to meet with his approval" Z
Mr. Deane urged the citizens Of
washington to register strong sup
port for the franchise" as the SUBJ
committee approaches Its public
hearings on pending bills, scheduled
to open February 2. The hearings
will be held jointly by both House
and Senate District subcommittee
on Home Rule, Of which Mr.. Auchin-
Gloss, and Senator Ball, Republican,
OF Minnesota, are chairmen.
Representative Deane reiterated
his recent statement that, so far as
public support Of the franchise here
Is concerned, there has been q
vacuum"
TITS improving, but still there Is
room for improvement" he added.
THE committees official record
should show a strong demand for
self-government," Mr.. Deane said.
The pending legislation, introduced
by Mr.. Auchincloss and Senator
Ball, was the subject Of informal dis
cussion last night at a dinner given
by Washington Board of Trade on
cials for Mr.. Auchincloss and his
committee staff in the Mayflower
Hotel.
Brownlow Indorses Plan.
! Meantime the Auchincloss plan
was generally commended yesterday
by Louis Brownlow, former District
Commissioner, in an address to the
Twentieth Century Club at the
YWCA.
Characterizing the proposal as "at
least an intelligent approach to the
District problem" he said Washing
tonians should rejoice" over the
prospects Of local suffrage here.
MIR. Brownlow, who also had
served as city manager of Knoxville,
Tenn, and Petersburg, Va, said he
would rather see the school board
appointed here, as 1t is now, than
elected by popular vote as provided
under the proposed new charter.
But he voiced the opinion that the
plan is "the best possible scheme
now known to us, a popularity elect
ed council working through a man.
ager." ,~..-
Principal purpose of the home
rule plan, he said, Is "to get the
District Of Columbia of the backs