Evening star., 1952-03-24
|houseUniiHear.
Several Pleas
For Home Rule
Five Witnesses
Present Views
To Subcommittee
BY Don S. Worren

mittee to approve the Senate
passed Washington Home Rule
Bill, but ran into the now routine
storm Of cross-examination from
committee members.
Most of the subcommittee again
indicated they are either antag-
tonistic to the plan for an elected
form Of city government. with
powers to tax and spend, or had
doubts about various provisions
The suggested substitute of re-
Iceding to Maryland all or most
Iof the District was raised again
lby committee members, and one
Opponent today brought up the
confusion" caused by District
daylight saving time.
Considerable attention was also
given today to the gambling and
dope peddling scandals being de-
Iyeloped by the crime subcommit-
tee Of the Senate District COM
mittee.
Five Testify Today.
Today's witnesses were Glenn
e. Watts. president Of the District
Council Of the CIO; Mrs. Louis
Gutenberg. speaking for the Ma
ltional Council Of Jewish Women
and Culver B, Chamberlain Of the
Unitarian Laymen's League. Also
Mrs. Jack Gottsegen Of the Jewish
group. an advocate Of home rule
land Mrs. B. q. McIlwee, who cp-
lposed the plan.
Mrs. Gutenberg cited those who
refer to the model city govern
Iment Of the District. She said
she would like to refer them tx
reports in the daily papers con.
lcerning scandals brought to Nghi
by the Senate Crime subcommit-
tee. She also noted records oi
the many years Of neglect of the
child welfare institutions Of the
city government.
Representative Abernethy, Dem
ocrat. Of Mississippi. asked If the
witness thought the election Of 9
l"proxy council" his description
LOT the proposed city council
l"would be able to solve all Of
these instances Of crime, gambling
land dope peddling." He added
that "every large city" has such
ievils.
Sees End TO APATHY"
Mrs. Gutenberg replied that she
thought the election Of responsible.
District officials would serve Il
lend the APATHY" prevailing
among District residents.
Crime came up again during the
Testimony Of Mr.. Chamberlain
who stoutly defended the Senat.
bin. although he agreed it wa.
not a perfect bill. nor one thai
would satisfy all Of the suffrage
Inspirations Of District residents.
Representative .O'Hara, Repub.
lican, Of Minnesota, wanted ts
know If the witness thought the
District NOW had a good or baG
lefty government.
Mr.. Chamberlain retorted: ''l
lam no longer interested in being
sold on q bill Of goods that the
District government Is pure an6
undefiled because we do not have
Ian elected city government"
Mr.. O,Hara said that he thought
THAT Congress over the years had
maintained q 'very deep interest
in the welfare" of the District and
on the question Of crime he said:
As Clean 40 Others.
II think the District Is governed
as well and cleanly as any city ir
the United States that I know"
Mr.. O'Hara, q consistent and
vocal foe Of daylight saving time
Icited 1t as q cause Of confusion
land as q source Of Continuing
conflict. between Washington a
% municipality and as q seat od
1.-THE Federal Government.
Mr.. Watts. supporting the Sen.
late bill, declared. "It seems te
Jus who make our homes In the
District that continued failure tt
'llet us run our own local govern
,|ment Just doesn't make good COM
|mon sense. It particularly lacks
rhyme and reason. when as q
Nation we are preaching democ.
Tracy to the rest Of the world"
i He argued that while the biz
Ibid not give the District complet,
autonomy, 1t would give the Dis
ltrict ~many things we now lack ;
The hearings win be resumed
lat 10 am. tomorrow.