Evening star., 1952-01-22
By Don S. Worren

| " UVu y. V0ItSn
Voting on the Washington home
rule bill began in the Senate to-
day shortly after noon with
unanimous approval Of an amend
ment striking from the measure
a false hope" pledge that Con-
gress would raise the Federal pay
ment to 20 per cent of city tax
revenues.
The move was sparked by Re-
publican Senator Saltonstall Of
Massachusetts and brought quick
support from both sides of the
aisle.
This pledge Of a 20 per cent
fixed ratio Federal payment had
been used by some advocates o.
the plan for an elected city gov
ernment as one Of its selling
points.
Senator Saltonstall, explaining
he was sympathetic to the home
rule bill, pointed out that the
formulae would more than double
the Federal payments made by
Congress in the past budgets. He
added that since Congress in the
1851 and the 1852 supply bills re-
fused to grant even the full $12
million payment now authorized
by basic law, the proposed home
rule provision would put Congress
in "a very hypocritical position"
Others Support View.
Senator Hill, Democrat, of Ala
bama. head Of the Senate SUBJ
committee in charge of District
budgets. agreed and declared the
House refusal to grant a full $12
million, showed that the home rule
formulae would create q false
hope"
Senator Ferguson. Republican,
Of Michigan, also supported this
view. and Senator Case, Republi-
lean. Of South Dakota, a leading
home rule sponsor, accepted the
amendment. Senator Johnston.
democrat. Of South Carolina, q
Ihonne rule foe, made no objection
Ito striking the formula, and told
his colleagues other provisions Of
the suffrage measure authorized
bond issues which he said would
encourage city spending.
Also, without a contest, the SEN
ate approved an amendment by
Senator Case striking out all Of
section 1103, about which he said
questions had been raised. He
said he did not regard this section
as important.
This section would have declared
it to be the policy of Congress that
the City Council should be given
functions that ordinarily are ad-
ministered in other Jurisdictions
by State, territorial or local agen-
cies. In addition, it called on the
council to recommend to Congress
the transfer to the city council Of
certain of such functions now per.
formed by Federal agencies.
Backers Optimistic,
Proponents of the home rule
plan were predicting Senate ap-
Iproval later today.
Opponents. showing some In.
creased strength lately, predicted
nothing, but indicated a fight to
the final vote. One of their lead
ers. Senator Johnston said he
hadn't tried to count noses"
II the Senate passes the bill,
tha fight will be carried to the
House. where two similar bills
have been buried in the last four
years.
MonrOney Makes Appeal.
Senator Monroney, Democrat, Of
Oklahoma yesterday recalled that
the congressional joint COMMITTEES
which brought about a reorganiza-
ton Of Congress six years ago had
suggested home rule for the Dis
trict as means of relieving Con-
gress Of its City Council chores.
'In these Inflated days." Sena-
tor Monroney told the Senate,
Congress cannot afford to take
time from national and world is
sues to consider city problems such
las are settled in towns all over the
country by their own councils.
"The time has come" he said,
"for us to prove that democracy
will work, even in the National