Evening star., 1948-04-21
Home Rule Plan
Is Taken Up by
House Group
q of Is Members
Present; Session May
Lost Until Late in Day
By Don S. Warren

The Washington limited home
rule plan met its first major
test today at a special session OF the
full House District Committee.
Consideration of the measure for
an elected city government was be-
gun at 1880 am. after the group
had disposed of other business. The
committee has House permission to
sit during the afternoon and the
session is expected to run until late
in the day.
Unusual interest was displayed In
the measure, with all but two OF
the 25 committeeman present. Sit
ting with the committee for the
first time was Representative Price,
Democrat, of Florida, recently ap-
pointed to fill vacancy.
Attorney Demands Hearing.
Mr.. Price came from a reelection
campaign in Florida to attend the
session. Members opposed to the
home rule bill are counting on his
support.
A furry Of excitement was caused
a moment after Chairman Dirksen
had announced the group would go
into executive session to consider the
home rule bill John M. HolzWorth,
an attorney, leaped to his feet to
shout a demand the committee hear
him to prevent execution Of Chi
nese convicted of murder. He re-
ferred to the case of Lee FOok, 81,
convicted of the killing of Harry
Lee, aonther Chinese, during fight.
Chairman Dirksen told the at
torney the committee was not
court of law, that he personally
would listen to the attorneys argu-
ments later, but that it could not
be done at the committee session.
Room Ordered Cleared.
AS Mr.. HoltzWorth continued a
violent argument, Chairman Dirk
sen ordered the room cleared OF
spectators and. as Mr.. Holtzworth
fingered, committee aides called for
Capitol police and three officers
promptly arrived on the scene.
Quiet was restored within min
utes. as the attorney voluntarily left
the room. The committee returned
to business.
In the brief time before noon
recess, the committee was given "a
general picture of. the reorga1nzed
AID elected city government pro-
posed by the bill. The outline was
given bv DR.. George B. Galloway,
staff consultant, and his assistant,
Clarence M. Pierce.
Chairman Dirksen made the ses-
sion a closed-door affair to permit
the widest latitude in debate. A
second day will be devoted to the
matter if necessary.
Favorable Report Expected.
Sponsors Of the bill are confident
1t will be reported favorably by a
comfortable majority of the men,
bers of the District Committee.
A poll made late last week by The
Star indicated the authors have
more than the necessary number OF
committee votes for a favorable re-
port, if all those committed to the
plan and those approving it in
principle" actually attend the ses-
sion and vote yes"
Once the bill is out of the District
Committee, Chairman DirkSen plans
to 90 before the House Rules Com
mittee for resolution calling for
House action under a special rule,
granting probably two hours of gen.
eral debate.
If this should be blocked for any
reason, the measure still could be
called up for action in the House on
District Day, next Monday.
Indorsed by Martin.
Speaker Martin has given his per-
sonal Endorsement to the plan and
has promised a real chance for
House action.
The AuchincloSs bill, perfected
after year of study and lengthy
hearings, would provide for an elect
ed city council, which would turn all
administrative functions over to
city manager and for an elected
Board of Education The council
would have the power to issue rou-
tine ordinances and could propose
major city legislation to become eff
fective only If approved by joint
resolution passed by the House and
Senate and approved by the Presi-
dent