Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-18
District Group
To Map Course
On Home Rule
Lineup Of Committee
Not as Antogonistic as
Had Been Expected
By Don S. Warren

The course OF action to be fol-
lowed by the House District Com
mittee in handling the WASH
ington home rule issue may be
charted next week.
Representative Mcmillan, Demo-
crat, of South Carolina, named
chairman of the group yesterday by
the House Democratic caucus, an
plans to take up the ques-
ton at an organization meeting
next Monday.
At that time, he said he will ask
the District unit whether it wishes
to create standing committee on
home rule-as was done last year
or whether to leave this issue to
the Judiciary Subcommittee. This
subcommittee probably will be
headed by one of the carry-over
Democrats strongly opposed to any
form of home rule here.
The new lineup Of the District
Committee, however, does not ap-
pear to be as antagonistic to local
suffrage as had been expected. Sew
eral of the newly appointed Demo-
cratic members fatty declared their
approval of the principle Of home
rule. Two reserved judgment.
Republicans Divided.
Four Of the hold-over Democrats
on the unit are expected to support
Chairman McMillan's recorded op-
position to District suffrage.
The Republican side OF the COM
mittee list includs both strong sup
porters and opponents and some
in the doubtful class.
A somewhat similar situation Is
indicated on sales tax, but there
is general approval for granting to
District employees the pay raise
already, accorded Federal Govern
ment workers.
The action of the House Demo-
Gratis late yesterday returns to the
District Committee the following
nine who served in the 80th Con-
gress: Chairman Mcmillan and
Representatives Harris Of Arkansas,
Abernethy of Mississippi, Smith Of
Virginia, Klein of New York, league
of Texas, Kennedy of Massachusetts,,
Jones of Alabama and Davis Of
Georgia.
The 15-to-10 Democratic majority
was filled out by adding to the ma
jority list Representatives Walter
K. Granger of Utah, James H. Nor
rison of Louisiana, George P. Miller
of California, Frank Buchanan of
Pennsylvania, Monroe M. Redden
of North Carolina and Paul C. Jones
of Missouri. Mr.. Jones is the only
freshman member of Congress in
the group.
One Republican Unnamed.
Republican members of the Dis
trict Committee, previously an
nounced, are: Representatives Bates
of Massachusetts,, Simpson of I'LL
nois, Beall Of Maryland, O'Hara OF
Minnesota, Tale of Iowa, Miller of
Nebraska, Auchincloss of New Jer-
sey, Allen of California and James
of Pennsylvania. One more Re-
publican remains to be named.
Representative Deane, Democrat,
of North Carolina, supporter of
Washington home rule, was not re-
appointed to the District Commit
tee. He was given places on the
Banking and Currency Committee
and the Administration Committee.
Mr.. Granger, now beginning his
fifth term in the House, said fatty
Washington should be granted home
rule. He brought this up in connec-
ton with his comment that he
didn't know anybody who had asked
to be made member of the District
Committee.
Mr.. Granger served as Mayor of
Cedar City, Utah, for six years In
the early 1930s and also served in
the Utah Legislature. He is an
overseas veteran Of World War I.
Mr.. Granger said he is generally
opposed to sales taxes for cities but
that if it is found to be the last
resort" to balance the city's budget,
he will be willing to give it good
look"
Mr.. Redden, beginning his second
term in Congress, said he is very
definitely" of the opinion the Dis
trict should be granted the degree
of home rule possible under the
constitutional provision that leaves
final Jurisdiction to Congress. He
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