Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-17
CommitteeAsks
Territorial Plan;
Morse Dissents
by GRACE BAsSETT
star star Writer

tCG AECOAiAAAACAAdCu tCAtlbOl mi
government, in hopes 1t would
satisfy the House. which has
failed TO act on Senate-passed
elected-mayor systems three
times since 1949.
Majority sponsors were re-
buked by Senator Morse. DEM
ocrat Of Oregon, for reporting
half a loaf" self-government.
He filed a sharply worded mi-
nority report, charging the ma
jority with abandoning a pure
ly elective form Of government
they liked better than their
own territorial recommends
ton.
Senator Morse urged the Sem
ate to substitute the elected
mayor and city council bill he
sponsored with the late Senator
Nicely. Democrat Of West Vir-
ginia.
MajOrity's View
Senator Clark. Democrat OF
Pennsylvania, who headed the
subcommittee handling home
rule, made it clear the majority
felt compelled by past House re-
jections to urge establishment
of a Capital territory.
1--WE are under no illusion
that this provides a perfect. or
indeed even the most desirable.
form OF local self-government,"
the majority report said. It
added that lin a better world"
the Nicely Morse bill might well
be preferable legislation.
But the history of home rule
legislation makes it clear that
the other body does not share
the Senate's enthusiasm for
home rule legislation of that
nature. 1t seems to the major
ity unrealistic to recommend
for passage by the Senate for
the fourth time a bill which
has so little likelihood of final
enactment"
Senator Clark stressed that
the territorial bill has the bless
ing of the administration. It
makes measurable strides" to-
ward three detectives Of home
rule legislation, he said:
/. To relieve Congress Of the
obligation Of acting as a city
council.
2. To provide at least partial
self-government while protect
ing the Federal interests.
3. To set up a framework Of
government that can serve
Washingtonians with economy.
Morse Blasts Bill
The bill in its entirety was
blasted as a territorial flc-
ton" by Senator Morse. He
said it furthered the dangerous
trend in America toward vest
ing too much power in tho
executive.
The acknowledgements
governor acould veto acts Of
the elected assembly. he noted.
Then, If the assembly over
rides the governors veto, the
President could uphold the
governor and thwart the will
of the assembly. according to
Senator Morse.
This double-veto power
would bolster the authority of
the governor. who could rule
by fiat, in Senator Morse's view.
Major provisions OF the bill
include:
| OrganizatiOn-The President
would appoint a governor and
a governors secretary, subject
to the consent Of the Senate.
WashingtonianS would elect q
l5-member legislative assembly
and a nonvoting delegate TO
the House. The assembly would
decide how to administer the
school system.
Veto powers - An act of the
assembly would become law
upon the governors signature.
II he disapproved, he would re-
turn the act to the assembly
within 10 days. stating his OBJ
jections. Without such objec-
tons or his signature, the act
would become law. A two-thirds
vote Of the assembly could
overrule the governor, unless he
finds the matter in the Fed
leral interest" Then, the Presi-
dent could either sign the Fed
eral interest" act into law or
veto it within 10 days.
ElectiOns-Voting would be
organized and regulated by a
board Of elections, appointed by
the governor. Present menu
beers Of the board would serve
term now current. Their APP
pointed successors would be
NAMED without regard for
their political Affiliations"
Financing The assembly
would draw up budgets. SPEND
ing would be financed by taxes,
by bonds not to exceed IL per
cent Of average assessed prop
erty values and by other notes
not TO exceed per cent OF
total appropriations. The
amount Of Federal payment
to the city would be agreed
upon by the governor and the
director Of the Federal Bureau
Of the Budget. Then the request
presumably would be taken 70
Congress or allotted from Fed
eral income taxes paid by Dis
trict residents, although the
bill is silent on this point.
SaIaries-The governor would
be paid $4,000 annually; tbs
secretary. $l7.500; members oil
J the assembly. $4,000 each. and