Evening star., 1950-01-22
Home Rule Vote
In House Sought
BY Federation
Congress Members
To Be Urged to Sign
Discharge Petition

Each member of Congress will
be urged by the Federation of
Citizens. Associations to sign the
discharge petition to get the
Kefauver home rule bill on the
floor of the House for vote,
Although the federation has
gone on record in support of the
bill, there was considerable dis
cussion at its meeting in the Dis
trict Building last night after
Alexander B. HaWes, moved to:
Send letter to each member
OF Congress urging them to sign
a discharge petition which would
get the Kefauver bill out of the
House Rules Committee and per-
NIT it to come to a vote"
Mr.. HaWes. of the Progressive
Citizens Association of George
town, stated: The Board of Trade
has created the impression that
only Congress is in favor of the
Kefauver bill. We should correct
this impression"
CndlT is sustained,
1--WE can't bring up new business
unless there is a three -fourths
vote" John H. Connaughton, for
mer federation president, said.
I move we adjoin," Ernest r.
Henry, Petworth, interjected.
After the president, Herbert P.
Leeman, declared it was not new
business, Mr.. Connaughton ap-
pealed the chairs decision,
A standing vote was taken and
the chair sustained.
Speaking in favor of the letter,
4. P. Armstrong. Association of
Engineers, referred to recent
trip to Hawaii, stating:
AS long as we have no self
government, we'll get no national
representation
Only Practical Means.
Ralph w. Donnelly, second vice
president, called the motion the
only practical means of reaching
the members of the House.
In another action, the fedora
ton voted to intervene in the
coming hearings before the Pub
lie Utilities Commission on the
fare increase requested by the
Capital Transit Co. The fedora
tion will not oppose a fare in
crease, necessarily. but will use
its best efforts to keep any fare
increase that may be allowed to
the minimum amount"
The group also voted opposition
to a bill pending in the Senate
which would set up a commission
on human rights in the District
because the bill is too ambiguous
and indefinite in it's wording" and
probably would increase racial
tension,
In it action concerning the tram
SIT fare increase, the fedora ton
authorized its Public Utilities
Committee to intervene in behalf
of the federation.
The resolution directed the
committee to use its best efforts
to keep any fare increase that
may be allowed to the minimum
amount that is necessary to per-
NIT the company to earn a fair
return upon its property used and
useful in the public service and
to assure the performance Of
adequate transportation service to
the public"
No Action on Weekly Passes.
The committee also was di-
rected to urge the PUG to separate
the operating revenues, expenses
and investment of the transit
company in respect to its opera
ton in the District and Maryland.
Any fare increase for the District
should be based solely on the
revenues, expenses and investment
properly allocable thereto" the
federation stated.
The delegates took no stand ON
the transit company's proposal to
abolish the sale of weekly passes.
It decided to delay action on this
matter until member associations
had chance to voice their views.
In discussion of articles about
Washington in two national mag
azines. Mrs. Ernest w. Howard.
Columbia Heights. protested an
article in Woman's Home Com
panion.
- What have heard about 1t,
think must be a prostitution of
facts" Mrs. Howard said. al
though it is not a Utopia here,
think it shame the facts are
distorted. The writer's never al
lude to citizens who are inter-
ested in the District. I think we
should have some space in the
magazines as well as persons who
know nothing about it."
The federation voted to pay its
secretary, David Babp, $50 each
month as part payment for the
use of his office in the Bond
Building.
Robert M. Averill, executive as
sistant to the president of Capital
Air Lines, spoke in behalf of the
March of Dimes campaign. His
three children and wife were
stricken with polio three years
ago and his wife still is hos
pitalized.
1Gni Who Drank