Evening star., 1948-05-21

Next Monday
.0n Home Rule
Committee Grants
Special Order After
Careful Study
By Don S. Worren

By Don S. Worren
The cause of limited self-gov-
ernment for the District will be
fought out on the House floor
early next week, probably Mon-
day, under present plans of the
House leadership.
The Auchincloss bill proposing an
elected and re-organized city gov.
ernment, was cleared for House ac-
tion late yesterday, wnen the House
Rules Committee gave it rule.
After careful study at two hear
ings and three executive sessions,
the powerful Rules Committee
granted a special order for the bill.
which prevents technical points Of
order being made against 1t but
leaving the measure open to
amendment.
Hot Fight Expected.
A hot fight is expected on the
floor, but sponsors of the home rule
plan-which would leave final au-
thority over all District legislation
with Congress-confidently predict
House passage. if the House Is given
a real chance to vote on the issues.
One spokesman for the opposition
in the House indicated that much
OF the fight would center around
the dual voting" provisions and
the necessary changes in the House
rules to carry out the purposes Of
the measure.
Under the dual voting plan, per-
sons who have lived in the District
for a year, and are otherwise quail
fled would be allowed to vote for
members of the city council and the
school board, even though they
voting rights in their homo
States. They would not be allowed
to vote for the District delegate in
the House.
Delaying Tactics Doubted.
Those opponents who are on the
District Committee, said they do not
contemplate the use of delaying
tactics, in an effort to kill the bill.
They indicated they will meet the
issues directly and let the House de-
eide.
Whether other opponents will use
all available parliamentary means Of
delaying final House vote, however.
remained to be seen.
Even under the rule that has been
granted, limiting general debate to
two hours, to be equally divided be-
tween proponents and opponents,
many time-consuming moves could
be made, old hands explained.
Representative Mcmillan, Demo-
crat, of South Carolina, former
chairman of the District Committee
and leader of the opposition, dis.
claimed any plan to use such tactics.
Il would not be for that" he told
"Since the Rules Commit
tee has sent the measure to the
House for action, I'd be for letting
the House act on it and settle it.
Wants House to Vote.
IF the members Of the House
want this bill, then they can vote
for it,"
Representative Brown, Republic
can, of Ohio, member OF the
Rules Committee, said he favored
the rule bringing the Auchincloss
bill to the floor but added there
are a lot of things that have got to
come out of the measure" He
named particularly dual voting and
those provisions that would change
many rules of the House"
Sponsors of the bill were pleased
with the Rules Committee action,
and with the plan for the House
to take up the bill early next week.
Chairman Dirksen Of the District
Committee paid tribute to Repre-
Auchincloss, Republican.
of New Jersey, and other members
of the Home Rule Subcommittee.
who drafted the bill. after spending
more than year on its study.
Mr.. Auchincloss SAID he was de
lighted that finally the Rules Com
mittee has reached favorable de.
cision to bring this important sub
ject to the House floor for action"
Representative Abernethy, Demo-
crat. of Mississippi, member OF the
District Committee, said he would
oppose the measure on the floor.
Under the Constitution, there is
no such thing as home rule in the
District of Columbia he declared.
In my opinion the bill is just
piece of shadow-boxing. The bill,
as supported by my committee re-
minds me of a skeleton bedecked
in silk and jewelry. After you once
undress it, you have nothing left
but a bunch of barren, rafting
bones.
Should this meausre become law
the people of the District soon
would find they are voting for moth
ing but bunch of straw men, who
could neither act or legislate with
out returning to Congress for au-
thority, which. the law requires the
city Commissioners now to do.
IF the members of the House
study the 1870 pages Of the bill, I
don't think it will pass. although.
1 admit it is rather difficult to de-
feat any bill after 1t reaches the
floor of the House.
Wants People to Rule.
THE majority of the people OF
the District, in my opinion, oppose
this bill. Now is the time to hear
from them
Representative Harris, Democrat,
of Arkansas, member of the Dis
trict Committee, said he would OPP
pose the bill on the floor 1T is not
he declared, ito have dual
political government in the District.
That's what the dual voting sys-
tenn would be-"
Instead of the voteless delegate in
the House provided in the Auchin-
Gloss bill, Mr.. Harris said he favors
instead vote in national elec-
tions for President, Vice President,
and a delegate. or a real voting
of Congress. even If a Con-
stitutional amendment becomes
necessary.
Macedonia Church Loys