Evening star., 1949-07-24
Final Home Rule
Hearing Is SET
For Wednesday
Remoining Witnesses
Permitted to Offer
Views in Writing
BY Don S. Worren

ny IOn ,. VoTIcH
Chairman Harris of the House
District Judiciary Subcommittee
announced last night he was
planning to bring the home rule
hearings to an end this week.
In his first definite pronounce
ment on the ending of the ex-
tended discussions, he said he
would hold two hearings this
week and would then ask that all
remaining witnesses submit their
views in writing.
1t has been announced previ-
ously there would be a hearing
tomorrow. Eight witnesses have
been listed for this session.
Schedules Hearing Wednesday.
Last night, Mr. Harris sched-
uled a second hearing for this
week, to be held Wednesday. At
that time one of the principal
witnesses will be Representative
Deane. Democrat, of North Caro-
lima, suffrage advocate, who was
to be heard last week but had
to leave before another witness
concluded his statement.
Other witnesses on the commit
tees list also will be called
Wednesday but there was some
prospect that not all the remain
ing Is or SO could be given time
Reviewing this whole situation
last night, Mr.. Harris said he
planned to ask an end of the
hearings at the conclusion of the
Wednesday session.
Unless there is some insistent
protest against this, Mr.. Harris
said he then would announce
that any other prospective wit
nesses would be given five days
in which to file their views in
writing.
Harris Explains Plan.
In explaining his plan, Chair
man Harris said:
Il have no desire to cut any,
body off. Any responsible person
has a right to be heard and I.
do not want to be discourteous
to anyone.
But, after the two additional
hearings that now are scheduled,
If the remaining witnesses plan
generally only a restatement of
views their groups have expressed
in earlier hearings, I plan to-
bring the public open hearings to
a close.
Under the plan to permit any
and all to file written statements
for the record their views still !
would be presented to subcom-
mittee."
He said he had planned to take /
such action earlier, but that the
request of additional witnesses
for appearances and the length |
of time taken by some had caused
him to postpone closing of the |
hearing.
Date For Action Uncertain.
There was no announcement,
however, as to how soon the sub
committee might act on the home
rule issues after hearings are con-
cluded.
Advocates of home rule and an
elected form of city government
have been pressing for an early
House District Committee deci-
sion so that the House might act
on the proposal before the end
of this session.
One of the measures being con-
sidered by the House subcommit-
tee is the Kefauver bill passed
May 81 by the Senate.
Some opponents of local suf-
frage have been hoping the whole
issue could be killed, or buried,
in the Harris subcommittee.
Other members believe it would be
better to seek to kill the bill in
the full House District Commit
tee.
Others. including some opposing
the plan, say they believe that
the House. at some appropriate
time, should be given an oppor-
tunity to approve or reject the
plan.
If there is no decisive action
at this session Of Congress, the
pending issues would carry over
into the next session in Janu-
ary,