Evening star., 1952-01-23
Home Rule
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PeA9ksSA AAA4 WAA 4AOU NC 6AtEA n11y
preferential treatment" He said
lit will be given consideration along
with other matters awaiting action.
Representative Harris, Demo-
crat, Of Arkansas, chairman of the
House District Judiciary Subcom-
|mittee, said 1t has been the policy
|of his group to pass final judg-
|ment ON any and all bills to the
fun District Committee instead
|of trying to bottle up any legisla-
|tion in the subcommittee.
Tabled Measure Died.
This recalled that, in the sum-
|mer Of 1850, his subcommittee
sent to the full committee the
then pending Senate-passed
|Kefauver-Taft home rule bill. The
full committee tabled that meas
lure and it died with the 81st
Congress, although suffrage pro-
|ponents made . drive to force the
measure to a House vote.
Mr.. Harris said his subcommit-
tee no doubt viii require some
time" to give proper consideration
Ito the new Senate-passed bill.
Representative Abernethy, Dem
Iocrat, Of Mississippi. . Dis
ltrict suffrage foe, said his position
| is the same as it always has been.
Mr.. Abernethy, reviewing the
I4l-to-35 vote on the Senate re-
Icommittal motion, said this is a
clear indication that there now is
better understanding" in the
Senate Of the objections made to
| the bill.
| The compromise bill was backed
lby Q bipartisan group Of ~ Sena-
Itors-12 Democrats and 10 Re-
Ipublicans.
Smith Promotes Bill.
The big test came on the roll
cali vote on the recommittal mo-
ltion made by Senator Smith, DEM
ocrat. Of North Carolina. He
wanted the Senate District Com
Imittee to consider his bill to cede
Ithe District back to Maryland. BY
THAT means. he said, District resi-
dents could be given the right to
vote.
Senator Johnston, Democrat, Of
South Carolina, who led the fight
Iagainst the home rule bill, made
Ia half hour speech against the
Ibill.
Appeals for passage Of the home
rule bill were voiced by Demo-
lcratic Senators Neely Of West Vir-
Iginia, Kefauver of Tennessee,
IGonroney Of Oklahoma. Holland
lof Florida and Republican Senator
ICase of South Dakota.
One major change was made in
| the bill before the Senate passed
ut. This came on a motion by Sen
lator Saltonstall, Republican. Of
Massachusetts to strike from the
measure a pledge that Congress
would base the annual Federal
payment to the National Capital
lon a fixed formula Of 20 per cent
LOT the District previous years tax
collections.
He told the Senate this provi-
sion would place the Senate In a
lavery hypocritical position" since
congress, in acting on the 1851
land 1852 fiscal year city budgets.
lhad appropriated less than the $12
million Federal payment now au-
lthorized In basic legislation.
His views were supported by
Democratic Senator Hill Of Ala
lbama, head Of the Senate Appro-
Ipriations subcommittee on District
Budgets, and Republican Senator
Ferguson of Michigan, q member
Iof the same group. They agreed
| that the 20 per cent formula would
represent only false hopes" for
Federal payments Of more than
double what Congress has granted
lin the past two supply bills.
The Senate also adopted two
lother amendments, both offered by
Senator Case. One would post
lpone for six months the effective
Idate for q District vote. once the
home rule bill was enacted. The
purpose is to set the District elec-
itions in off-years from the bien-
1ial national elections. Under his
amendment this would be done If
1.-The pending bill was not enacted
10y April.
The other Case amendment Ras
Ito strike from the bilf d section
THAT declared II the policy sOf Con-
Igress that the proposed city coun-
lcil Be given legislative functions
Ordinarily handled elsewhere by
lState. territorial or other local
lagencies. This stricken provision
laIso had proposed that the District
council recommend TO Congress
what Federal functions should be
transferred to the city council.
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