Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-07-26
Truman 5 Plea
For Home Rule
Cheers Backers
Hearings Due to Close
Tomorrow; indication
Of Outcome Lacking
lTert of Truman Letter, Page A-4.J
By Don 5. Warren

appeal to House leaders for action
now on the Washington home-rule
plan today inspired broadened in
terest in local suffrage Issues.
Whether it would bring the
matter closer to action. however
remained uncertain. Two officials
Of the House District Committee
noted the Presidents plea with
out any prediction or promise OF
what action may be taken and
Speaker Rayburn said he didn t
know much about the bill" But,
he added, he had forwarded the
Presidents letter to the District
Committee.
Notice of the House was drawn
officially to the Presidents appeal
for prompt action when Repre-
sentative Auchincloss. Republican,
of New Jersey spoke on the House
floor on the subject. He is the
author of one of the bills calling
for an elected city council and an
elected board of education and
limited home rule.
Puts Statement in Record.
Mr.. Auchincloss told the House
Il hope that the majority leader
ship will take the Presidents re-
quest seriously and implement 1t
to the fullest degree"
AS a. long time advocate of
home rule for residents of the
District, he said, X am very
pleased to learn of the letter the
President has written to the
Speaker urging that the House
take prompt action on the legis-
lation pertaining to this subject,
now being considered by the Dis
trict Committee.
He asked and obtained House
consent to insert in the Congress
sional Record the statement made
by the Washington Home Rule
Committee at the House hearings.
He did this partly. he indicated,
because Chairman Mcmillan of
the District Committee recently
had placed in the record the testi-
mony of the Washington Board of
Trade.
The Board of Trade. Mr.. Auch-
incloss added, has consistently
opposed allowing residents Of the
District to vote for a local council
to manage their affairs. Their at
titude is difficult to understand.
he said.
Basic Right Of Democracy.
ANY people in this great free
country who are taxed for the
expenses Of their Government
should have the fundamental
right of electing their own gov
eminent. This is the basic right
of American democracy"
He told the House the Wash
ington Home Rule Committee
consisted of a group Of residents
who are business and professional
men, Federal employees and house.
wives. many of whom own their
own homes and some of whom
were born in the District.
Home-rule sponsors, both in and
out of Congress, were cheered by
the Presidents call for action on
the suffrage question before the
end of this session.
There was no immediate indica-
ton. however, that the views Of
any member of the Judiciary Sub
committee of the House District
Committee had been changed by
the Presidents statement.
More Hearings Tomorrow.
Hearings are to be resumed to-
morrow morning when Represent
alive Deane, Democrat. of North
Carolina is to make plea for ap-
prevail of plans for an elected city
government. He was one of the
authors of the Auchincloss bill
favorably reported a year ago by
the District Committee. which died
for lack of final House action al
the end of the 80th Congress.
If plans of Chairman Harris OF
the Judiciary subcommittee work
INenA;s,xod o,a pana Al Col 1 \