Evening star., 1949-02-11
Drive Advanced
For Home Rule
In Many Ways
District Democratic
Committee to Study
Draft of Bill Today

The drive for Washington home
rule was moving forward today in
several quarters.
Final draft of new local suf-
frage bill was to be considered,
this afternoon by the Democratic
Central Committee of the Dis
trict, for submission to Congress.
Al L. Wheeler, chairman of this
Democratic group, who has been
appointed new clerk of the Senate
District Committee, announced
plans to push the home-rule issue
as the No. l objective of organized
local Democrats.
Hearings Open Thursday.
Public hearings on programs
for home rule here will be opened
at $50 am. Thursday by the
Kefauver subcommittee of the
Senate District Committee. Mr..
Wheeler is also counsel to the
Kefauver group.
Members of the House District
Committee, especially its Judiciary
Subcommittee considering home
rule legislation, have been invited
to participate with the Senate
subcommittee in joint hearings.
Organizations having "defini-'
tive" programs for home rule are
being invited to testify before the
Senate unit, headed by Senator
Kefauver, Democrat, of Tennessee.
They are expected to make plans
in advance by calling the Senate
District Committee and preparing
written statements.
To Submit Proposed Bill.
Mr.. Wheeler announced that:
the proposed bill to give the Dis
trict local suffrage was to be sub
mitted to the Democratic Central
Committee by its suffrage SUBJ:
committee, of which he is chair
man. The meeting was to be
at 2:30 pm. in headquarters Of
the Democratic National Commit
tee in the Ring Building. Eight
eenth and M streets NV.
High lights of the bill, he ex-
planned. will be:
A city council of II elected by
the people. 1t would select a
chairman from it's own member
ship. who would be the mayor"
of Washington, and it would:
choose city manager. The
council could enact legislation.
but Congress would retain the
right to repeal such laws by new
legislation signed by the President.
An elected Board of Education.
Re. organization of the District
Government along general lines
similar to those in the Auchin-
Gloss bill, now pending in the
House District Committee.
Voters would be Citizens of the
United States. 81 years of age.
who have resided here one year.
Submission of the home rule
act after passed by Congress to
a referendum of the voters.
Wheeler Now Chief Clerk.
Mr.. Wheeler was appointed late
yesterday as chief clerk of the
Senate District Committee. Sue
ceeding J. George Stewart, who
becomes professional staff assist
ant to the committee.
Mr.. Wheeler. native of At
lanta. Ga, is a graduate of tha
University of Georgia and of Har-
ward Law School. He is vice chair
man of the Truman Barkley Club
and a member of the Executive
Committee planning the Jeffer-
son-Jackson Day dinner here on
February "a.
The home rule drive was given
impetus on the Senate floor yes
terday by Senator Holland, Demo-
crat, of Florida. He said he hopes
the citizens of the District may
have the privilege, which they ex-
ercised for many years constitu-
tionally, of selecting their own
governing body by their own vote
and of selecting the members of
their own school board in the
same way"
Congress has taken up it's time
with minor details of city govern
ment here which should be ham
died by local self-government.
Senator Holland said. He cited
such measures as those to au-
thorize killing of starlings. set
ting hours of barber shops and
authorizing a railroad spur track
up an alley.