Evening star., 1962-04-09
Home Rule Study
Backed by Prouty
Senate Receives
OKonski Plan
For Joint Unit
By GRACE BASSETT
Star staff Writer

Star staff Writer
Republican Senator Prouty
Of Vermont today introduced a
Dill to set up a Joint Select
Congressional Committee TO
propose a permanent form Of
nome rule for the District.
His measure is identical to
one introduced last week by
Representative OKonski. Re
publican of Wisconsin.
1t asks that the House
Speaker name three Repre-
and the Vice Presi-
dent three Senators to the
These members
would review home rule history
and recruit ideas throughout
the country for governing the
Nations Capital.
The Prouty O'KOnski bill
would authorize s50,000 for
preparation of the report TO
Congress by January, 1868.
Meanwhile, another Repub-
lican home rule move was
revealed by Representative
Schwengel of Iowa. He said
he will introduce legislation
this week at variance with a
compromise drafted on behalf
of a group of 20 bipartisan
home rule supporters, of which
he is one.
34-Member Assembly
Mr.. Schwengel will propose
an elected 34-member assembly
and an appointed Governor
with salaries in the neighbor-
hood of $4,000 annually. The
bipartisan steering" group de-
cided on an elected nine
member council. with members
paid $4,000 and the Governor
$4,000 annually.
The Schwengel version would
require that aSSemblymen b.
elected by wards rather than
at large, a proposition also
indorsed last week by Demo-
cratic Senator Morse Of Ore
gon. Senator Morse has put
up a home rule bill against
President Kennedy's measure,
which calls for at-large cleo
| ton Of seven councilmen and
a mayor.
/ Unlike the bill offered by his
House colleagues. the Schwen-
gel bill includes the Kennedy
formula for a Federal payment
to the city under a local gov
ernment. The formula would
yield some SAG million. equal
to taxes lost because of Fed
eral property ownership and
employment and congression-
ally exempted properties.
The Iowa Republican differs
from the President. however, in
retaining Hatch Act restrictions
on Federal workers. The Presi-
dent wants Federal employees to
participate in local politics un-
restricted by Hatch Act re-
uuirements eliminating politics
from working lives of Federal
employees. But Mr.. Schwengel
takes the view that the Hatch
Act protects Federal workers
from political dictation bv thri;
superiors in the Government.
Shipley FavOrs Study
Carl Shipley, jr.. chairman
of the District Republican
State Committee. asked for
comment today, said if he had
to choose between the Prouty-
O'Konski study and a try for
agreement on the numerous
proposals in Congress that he
would prefer the Joint Select
Committee approach.
Every conceivable idea for
home rule seems to have been
proposed since about l888,' Mr..
Shipley said. He saw virtue i'll
reaSsessing the best Of the
ideas in the light of current
demands for local control OF
the Capital City.
The Senate District Commit
tee. of which Senator Prouty
is a member, is expected to
move fast to report President
Kennedy'S home rule bill. The
measure may be discussed at a
full committee meeting tomor-
, row But hearing records have
been kept open until Friday
: by Senate District Committee
Chairman Bible, Democrat of
Nevada. This will push any
possible report into next week.
In the House, a bill with BIZ
partisan backing is being cir
culated to all members this
week. Next Monday has been
set for discussion of the issue
on the House floor. Sponsors
expect to circulate a discharge
petition within weeks if the
House District Committee does
not act on a bill promptly after
the expected Senate action.
Home rule bills have been
passed by the Senate five times
in the last decade. All have
died in the House District Com
mittee.