Evening star., 1951-02-23
Board Of Trade
10 Present
Hon1eRu|eviews
Leading Opponent Of
Bill Gets Surprise
Bid to Hearing
By HoroId B. Rogers


today began preparing to present
its opposition to the Senate bill
for Washington home rule.
One of the leading opponents Of
the measure, which has been
pending in various forms before
three different Congresses, the
trade body was uncertain whether
it would send a representative to
appear at public hearings of the
Senate District Committee, or file
a written statement.
Opportunity to testify was Of
fered yesterday, when Chairman
Nicely OF the Senate District Com
mlttee, in a surprise more, an
nounced further hearings will be
held. He had intended to close
the open sessions yesterday, at
the close of three days of testi-
mony from both proponents and
opponents.
Provides City Manager.
Pending is the Kefauver-Taft
bill, sponsored by several senators,
It is similar to a Senate-passed
bill, which was buried by the
House District Committee in the
8lst Congress. 1t provides for an
elected city council, elected school
board, a city manager, and stream.
lining Of the present city govern.
ment.
The Board of Trade took an
active role in helping to block
the bill in the 81st Congress.
Yesterdays hearing was marked
by strong support for home rule
from spokesmen for organized
citizens. women's clubs and others.
Strongest opposition came from
Jerome B. Mckee of the Fedora
ton Of Businessmen's Association.
Mr.. Mckee insisted Washington
should have national representa-
ton in the Senate and House.
This position is similar to that
expected to be taken by the Board
of Trade.
Mr.. Mckee reported his feder-
alton, Wednesday night, strongly
advocated national representation
and opposed the home rule bill.
he charged that the Kefauver-
Taft measure would not bring
true home rule and probably would
require a constitutional amend
ment.
Senator Nicely repeatedly argued
his own case for the measure and
charged ':The District has been
starving to death politically for
10 years"
Leeman Speaks for Bill.
Proponents of the home rule
bill led of with Herbert Leeman,
president Of the Federation Of
Citizens Associations, who said
his group includes more than 70
local groups. with an estimated
total membership of 10000
throughout the city.
Questioned by Senator Nicely at
this point as to membership in
the Board of Trade, Mr.. Leeman
said he understood it to be about
5000.
The federation, it's president re.
called. had indorsed the Kefuaver
bill in the 81st Congress ''in prin-
ciple." But two weeks ago, he
emphasized. the federation specif-
ically backed the pending meas
ure, and urged its passage.
Paul Matthews, past president
of the Junior Chamber of Com
reiterated the position
taken last year by his group in a
poll of its members. It voted in
favor of the principle of home
rule, only if it is tied in with
national representation, he said.
Primarily for Representation.
The junior chamber he declared
primarily and overwhelmingly
desires national representation"
Senator Nicely commented:
You can't get both now; why
decline either?"
Testifying for the Home Rule
for Washington Chapter of the
Veterans Committee,
Miss Edith B. Back came out
strongly for the bill.
Our creed" she said" is
citizens first, veterans second
We put self-government abova
the high cost of living and other
major issues of the day"
Elmer Henderson, director Of
the American Council on Human
Rights fully supported" the
Mrs. Ernest w. Howard said the
Federation of Women's Clubs takes
the position that 1--WE have a right
to vote and give the citizen a
dignifled feeling of taking part
in government" She empha sized
that residents of Washington have
sent larger quota of men into
the armed forces and pay more
taxes than many States.
Mrs. Frank Rich, chairman Of
legislation for the Washington
Section, National Council of Jew-
ish Women, called not only for
passage of home rule legislation,
but also reorganization of the
District government.
Those who fear increased taxes
because of the vote" she as
serted, may take comfort from
the thought that a voice in say
ing how our tax money is to be
spent. may go far toward reducing
the cost of our present govern
nent."
Opposition to the home rule
bills provision to transfer func-
lions of the District Public Library
Board and the Office of public
librarian to the proposed director
Of the Department of Libraries
was expressed by Mrs. Margie
Malmberg of the American Library
Association. She quoted from sew
eral sources to show the prevail.
ence of library boards over other
forms of control.
Capt. H. Walter Mcdonald, for