Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-08-03
ID. {. Home Rule Bills
Attacked by CoIladaY
On 7 Main Counts

adequate Federal contribution TO
operate the city, nor will it have
real representation under home
rule bills now pending in Congress,
in the opinion OF Edward F. Cola
day, general counsel OF the Board
of Trade.
Mr.. Colladay. principal speaker
at the Cosmopolitan Club lunch
con in the Carlton Hotel yesterday.
commended that both the Kefauver
bill and the so-called compromise
bill are still pending and that both
could be taken upsand passed. He
cast doubt that the Federal Gov
eminent would pay 20 per cent
contribution under the proposed
legislation, when Congress fights
over giving the District $12 mil
lion now.
The attorney pointed out that
the Federal contribution, which
has been $12 million, has, in time,
been pared as low as $4.5 or SIS
million. The District appropria-
ton bill now provides for a con-
tribution of little less than $12
million. Mr.. Colladay said. The
current District budget is $138
million.
The Senate District Committee
"Wednesday voted to approve the
home-rule compromise bill.
Taft Backs Compromise.
! Meanwhile, Senator Taft, Re-
publican, of Ohio, yesterday added
his Endorsement to the compro-
mise plan for an elected home
rule government for the District.
! Mr.. Taft, who is chairman Of
the Senate Republican Policy
Committee. sent word to the Dis
trict Committee that he wanted
to be listed as a co-sponsor of the
new bill, although he had reser-
vations about some of it's provi-
SionS.
! Senator Taft was the 10th mem
Der Of the Senate to co-sponsor
the bill. Two other new in
dorsers yesterday were Democratic
Senator Kilgore of West Virginia
and Republican Senator Ives of
New York.
| Mr.. Colladay attacked the pro-
visions Of the legislation as not
Iaffording real suffrage. He said
"the experts who have been writ
ing these bills" are confronted
with the provision in the Federal
Constitution which reserves to
Congress exclusive legislative pow
er in all matters affecting the
District.
THAT. I believe, will never be
altered" observed Mr.. Colladay.
Cites Presidents Power.
He also invited attention to the
point that exclusive executive
power is lodged in the President
of the United States. He said
these are simple. basic facts con-
fronting us ALL"
The speaker asserted that the
1948 Republican platform advo-
Gated self-government for the peo-
pie of the District. He added the
Democratic platform for the same
year urged the right of suffrage. :"
"We are all for what these two
political platforms are for" he
said.
Mr.. Colladay said he wants the
same representation as he had
when he came to the District from
Kansas, where he voted a COM
plete ballot for all offices. But,
he said, under the home-rule leg
iSlatlon, dual voting is not elm
mated because it would be possible
to cast a ballot here for the city
council and also to vote back
home for other offices.
at els quite likely that in ap-
pointing mayor here, the Presi-
dent might not select a person
having only local interests at
heart, but might appoint some
one here having only three years
residence, but whose interests are
not local." Mr.. Colladav declared.
The recent policy statement of
the Board of Trade, in which it
criticised the latest legislative pro-
posal as adversely affecting Con-
gress and the people of Washing
ton, was read to the audience by
Mr.. Colladay. -
He said three Of the four Wash
ington newspapers suggested that
hearings should be held on the
legislation to improve the bill.
P. Y. K. Howat presided at the
meeting.