Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-05-28
Home Rule
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Home Rule
Continued From First Page.
chart q course of city admin
istration.
The bill would abolish the ap-
pointed Board Of Commissioners
and Board Of Education and pro-
vide for a council of IL members.
nine to be elected at large. with
two others to be appointed by the
President and confirmed by the
Senate as representative OF the
Federal interests. There would
be a Board of Education Of seven
elected at large.
Would Streamline Department.
The city manager. named by the
Council, would take charge Of all
administrative functions OF Dis
trict agencies other than schools
and certain independent or semi
Federal agencies. The city Or
ganization would be streamlined
into IL main departments.
Senator Taft called the present
system of congressional legisla-
ton for the District completely
unsatisfactory"
Washington, he said. is a city
Of 900, 900 people which has all
the same qualifications for local
home rule as any other city In
the United States. = -
Local self-government Is far
more important to liberty almost
than q national government"
Senator Taft said. II do not be-
lieye we can have real freedom
In this country unless We do have
local self-goyernment. and the
freedom of people to determine
the matters which come so close
to them In their daily lives : : -"
Senator Taft told the Senate
he did not know why District
residents were left without ma
tional suffrage under the con-
stitution.
Little Time for Attention.
"Certaily the situation by which
they not only are not governing
themselves" he continued. but
are governed by a body which has
no interest in their welfare, or
at least has no time to take an
interest in their welfare. is another
reason why the present system is
completely unsatisfactory.
Congress Is simply unable TO
give It's attention to the most
vital concerns Of the District .
It is very seldom that any District
bill about which there is the
slightest controversy can secure
attention on the floor Of the
Senate"
Senator Holland said he had
been surprised and somewhat
shocked to find that excellent
citizens" of the District apparently
had no concern about their dis
situation or any real
interest in major city problems.
He blamed this entirely on the
fact that Washington residents.
unlike citizens of any other Ameri-
can community. had been so long
deprived Of any voice In their
ou-v, gnyoprpoopf
Cites Time Consuming Details.
He said this was bad democracy
and bad government" and pro-
tested that the lack Of interest of
the disfranchised residents here
was drifting from bad to worse. -
Senator Holland. emphasizing
that one of the purposes of the
nome rule plan would be to relieve
Congress of some of its duties of
being the Districts city council.
drew a list of some Of the minor
city details that occupied precious
time" of Congress.
Within the last two years, he
noted. Congress and its committees
have had to make studies Of such
city issues as to whether mixed
boxing bouts should be permitted,
the removal of stone posts at West
avenue near the White
House and what kind Of treatment
should be given Washington's
starlings.
Also. whether wrappers should
be required for straws sold for soft
drinks, what day OF should be
provided for BARRIERS. naming city
streets and how the District should
dispose of stray dogs taken to the
pound.
Senator o'Mahoney. who has
played vital roles In District Gov
eminent affairs as a member OF
the Senate Appropriations Com
mittee. noted that under the home |
rule bill Congress retained its final
legislative authority and that all
proposals Of the council
would have to be deposited with
Congress and subjected 70 review
md possible veto there.
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