Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-07-27
City Heads Back
Home Rule With
Qualifications
Hearings Completed;
Deune Halls Plan
As More Efficient
by Don s. Worren

fore the House District Judiciary
Subcommittee today heard
Southern liberal member of the
House urge suffrage for the Dis
trict and an Endorsement of home
rule on a conditional basis only
from the District Commissioners.
Representative Deane, Demo-
crat, OF North Carolina. who aided
in drafting last years Auchincloss
home rule bill. told the subcom-
mittee that an elected and re-
organized city government here
would produce a more efficient
and more economical city admin
istration.
The refusal of Congress to
grant suffrage to the District, he
contended, serves as an aid to
Communist propaganda. He also
accused home-rule opponents of
insincerity and shadow boxing"
when they argue that the suffrage
plan would be only a half loaf"
Commissioners Back Principle.
Mr.. Dean commended the Dis
trict never would be given rep
reSentation In Congress, unless it
first won local self-government
to the extent that is possible
under the Constitution.
He was followed by spokesman
for various Washington groups
who all urged that a home-rule
bill be adopted. The hearing
ended after the spokesman had
made short presentations.
However, it was announced that
any statements submitted to the
subcommittee up until midnight
next Tuesday will be added to the
record.
Representative Harris, Demo-
crat, of Arkansas, subcommittee
chairman, put into the hearing
record and made public the re-
port from the Commissioners in
which they approved the principle
of self-government. but Endorsed
home rule only on a conditional
basis.
The stand Of the Commission
ers. as submitted by John Russell
Young. board president. exam
ined many sections of the Ke-
fauver bill. passed May 81 by the
Senate. and found fault with
numerous provisions.
TRADITIONAL ileritsse."
The Commissioners declared:
1--WE do not believe that home
rule would add anything to the
cleanliness, honesty and freedom
from graft and corruption Of our
city government. The example of
other American cities certainly
justifies this belief.
Nevertheless. local self-govern-
ment is the traditional heritage of
every American. For this reason,
as matter of principle. we feel
that our citizens should be given
home rule. provided a responsible
majority of them want it, and
provided there are adequate safe
guards which will conserve the
benefits bestowed on the city by
its present form of government
apd grant to the citizens the right
to govern their local affairs with
out administrative interference
from Federal agencies and yet will
protect the paramount rights of
the Federal Government in its
own Capital with respect to Fed :
eral matters"
Quotes House Leaders.
Mr.. Deane when questioned by
subcommittee members after he
had concluded his prepared state
ment, voiced his belief that home
rule would meet with "overwhelm-
ing support" on the House floor.
He noted that both major polit-
ical parties last year wrote suf-
frage planks into their platform
pledges. Mr.. Harris asked him If
he was appearing as a "spokes-
man" for leaders of the House.
He said he was not but read from
last years home-rule hearings to
show that House Minority Leader
Martin, then speaker. Speaker
Rayburn, then minority leader,
and a half-dozen other members
of the House had sent the District
Committee statements favoring
home rule of some type.
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