Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-21
Nations Urban Life
Stressed by Senator
Clark Declares
Congress Logs
On Metro Task
ny JOHN STEPP
star stan Writer

by JOhN oIErf
star stan Writer
Congress has yet 10 realize
that America has become an
urban civilization. one Of its
members asserted yesterday.
"The thought that ours is no
longer the rural civilization Of
Jefferson's time simply has
not permeated," Senator Clark.
Democrat Of Pennsylvania, told
q conference on Metropolitan
Area problems. The session.
sponsored by American univer-
sity and the Union for the
Democratic Action Educational
Fund. closes today at the uni
versity.
Senator Clark. who as a for
mer Mayor Of Philadelphia. led
efforts which have rehabilitated
part Of that city. said he had
hoped Federal legislation to es-
tablish q Department Of Urban
Affairs would be passed this
session.
Cabinet Status
The department would have
full cabinet status. a counter
part Of the Department Of Agri-
culture. It would recognize. he
said, the urbanized nature Of
the Nation, so per cent Of whose
population is now centered on
ITS standard metropolitan
areas"
The Pennsylvania said he
feels pessimistic about the
prospects for a generally more
enlightened approach to the
critical and immediate prob
lens Of metro. However. he
expressed some confidence that
an urban affairs department
bill will be adopted next ses-
sion.
His deepest misgivings, Sena-
tor Clark said. concern the
question Of leadership in an all
out attack on metro problems.
I'VE lack a starting point in
that respect" he said. Local
leadership is too divided among
towns and counties. State
leadership is too rural in its
outlook. Federal leadership is
too disinterested."
Points to Defects
He enumerated a "built-in
defect" in that 40 Senator's
represent 20 States whose total
population is less than that of
today's metropolitan areas
whose core" cities have popu-
lations of at least $4,000.
Another practicing politician
sounded a pessimistic note.
Charles P. Taft, councilman
and former Mayor Of Cincin-
natl. said he has little regard
for metro uniflcation proposals
that involve annexation or
other "amalgamation" of the
big city and its surrounding
communities.
Although this approach APP
pears to be succeeding in
Toronto, Canada, Mr.. Taft said,
"the most successful operation
is in contract relations between
subdivisions, especially when
the county has been given many
municipal powers and is one Of
the sources of service"
A distant refutation Of this
claim came from one Of the
leaders Of the Toronto metro.
In a. paper prepared for the
conference, Frederick q. Gar
diner, chairman Of Metropoli-
tan Toronto, reported "our new
system Of government is a re-
alistic and practical answer to
the problems which confront
metropolitan areas where local
autonomy is jealousy guarded
and local opinion is opposed to
annexation and amalgama-
ton"
Mr.. Gardiner explained that
the Ontario legislative act of
1858 created a metropolitan
government with equal repre-
sentation from the main city
and its IL suburbs. The unifl-
cation Of municipal services, ne
stated, represents VERY signifl-
cant progress which would
have been completely impossible
under the old system"
In a panel discussion. calls
were made for education pro-
grams to awaken public and
Government awareness to the
need for remedial action.
Two Votes Suggested
Prof. Edward @. Janosik of
the political science depart
ment, University Of Pennsyl-
vania. said such efforts should
be concentrated on the leaders
Of business. civic. women's and
service organizations. A good
point to emphasize. he said, is
that businesses. such as the
telephone companies. have
been operating for years on a
closely integrated regional
basis in metropolitan areas.
A novel suggestion for po-
litically tying the suburbs more
closely to the central city came
from Martin Meyerson. vice
president Of ACTION. Mr..
Meyerson said two votes should
be given each resident OF
metropolitan areas-one on the
basis of residence and ma ~,