HOME RULE LEGISLATION HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA NINETY-SECOND CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON S. 1603 and S. 1626 TO PROVIDE AN ELECTED MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FOR THE APRIL 28, 1971 Printed for the use of the Committee on the District of Columbia UA GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE Daugherty, Phillip J., Greater Washington Central Labor Council, AFL- 262 Fauntroy, Walter E., Delegate to the United States House of Repre- sentatives from Washington, D.C.. Gipson, Rev. Joseph, chairman, District Home Rule Committee.. Hahn, Gilbert, Jr., chairman, District of Columbia City Council_ Hannum, Mrs. Cynthia, chairman, Legislative Action Committee, and national Board member, National League of Women Voters.. Heller, James H., chairman, American Čivil Liberties Union of the Na- Martin, Miss Wilma, president, D.C. League of Women Voters.. Phillips, Channing E., District Democratic National Committeeman Rauh, Joseph L., Jr., Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, and Americans Terris, Bruce J., chairman, District Democratic Central Committee_. Washington, Walter E., mayor-commissioner, District of Columbia.... Watt, Graham, deputy mayor-commissioner, District of Columbia_ Hahn, Gilbert, Jr., chairman, District of Columbia City Council Heller, James H., chairman, American Civil Liberties Union of the Na- Lucy, William, executive assistant to the president, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO.. Phillips, Channing E., District Democratic National Committeeman Shipley, Carl L., Republican National Committeeman for the District of Terris, Bruce J., chairman, District Democratic Central Committee_ Section-by-section analysis of S. 1603 by the government of the District of Terris, Bruce J., chairman, District Democratic Central Committee: Letter to the chairman, May 4, 1971, submitting a memorandum with respect to partisan elections for mayor and council. Letter to the chairman, May 6, 1971. Letter to Senator Mathias, April 27, 1971.. Page 193 219 218 232 HOME RULE LEGISLATION MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1971 U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Washington, D.C. The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10 a.m., in room 6226, New Senate Office Building, Senator Thomas F. Eagleton, chairman of the committee, presiding. Present: Senators Eagleton, Inouye, Mathias, and Stevenson. Also present: Robert Harris, staff director; Gene E. Godley, general counsel; James S. Medill, minority counsel; and Judy Ward, clerical assistant. The CHAIRMAN. This morning we are again beginning hearings on home rule legislation for the District of Columbia. Some people have asked why the District should have home rule. Many have forgotten that the District had home rule when originally created. James Madison, who had a large role in the creation of the Constitution, clearly indicated the intent of its writers when he stated in Federalist Paper No. 43 that the inhabitants of the proposed District "will have had their voice in the election of the Government, which is to exercise authority over them" and that "a municipal legislature for local purposes derived from their own suffrages will, of course, be allowed them." It is my hope that these words will soon become a reality. We have before us two bills, one which I introduced, the other by my very distinguished colleague from Maryland. If I may say so, the bills are quite similar in scope and intent. They each provide for an elected mayor and city council. My bill provides for a 4-year term for mayor and 2 years for the members of the council; Senator Mathias' bill would provide for staggered 4-year terms for council members. My bill provides for a Federal payment based upon the taxes the local government would receive from the Federal Government were it able to levy a real estate tax on the property used by the Federal Government. Mr. Mathias' bill would have a percentage payment such as is presently used, set at 30 percent when the bill becomes law and rising. to 35 percent in 6 years. Each of the bills would allow the District government to issue bonds for capital improvements and in effect to function as other cities do. At this time I will place in the record copies of S. 1603 and S. 1626, the two bills to which I have been referring, and a section-by-section analysis of S. 1603. (The material referred to follows:) |