I think that a change of setup here is a great mistake. That is all I have to say.

The law and Constitution says that this committee-you set up the District Commissioners to run the District. That to me, is good, because if you gentlemen do your job, as I think you do, and honestly, they get paid whatever is necessary to run the District.

That is all. Thank you.

Mr. WHITENER. Any questions, gentlemen?

Mr. WILLIAMS. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Sharp. I feel as you do about this, of course, but if the people of the District of Columbia are insistent about having the right to local self-determination, and to run their own affairs, notwithstanding the constitutional stipulation, would you agree with me that the only way that we could do this within the framework of the Constitution, would be through retrocession of that portion of the District back to the State of Maryland? In the full local self-determination.

Mr. SHARP. No, sir. I don't think it ought to be given back to Maryland, and I think that the people here are doing all right, whether they say so or not.

Mr. WILLIAMS. You misunderstood my question, I think.

Mr. SHARP. I beg your pardon.

Mr. WILLIAMS. I say, isn't that the only way that it can be done within the framework of the Constitution, if they must have it? Mr. SHARP. I am not qualified to say, sir.

Mr. WILLIAMS. All right, sir.

Mr. WHITENER. Any further questions?

If not, at this point, Madam Reporter, I will place in the record a communication signed by approximately 400 residents in the northwest area of the city of Washington, opposing home rule.

(The communication above described is as follows:)

PETITION OPPOSING HOME RULE FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Hon. JOHN L. MCMILLAN,

Chairman, District of Columbia Committee,
House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON, D. C., August 17, 1965.

MY DEAR CONGRESSMAN MCMILLAN: Accompanying this letter are eight copies of a petition opposing home rule for the District of Columbia, which has been circulated by the writer and several other housewives, mostly among our friends and neighbors. These signatures, together with some which have been sent already to your committee, represent approximately 400 bona fide residents of the District of Columbia who are stanchly opposed to home rule. Many more names could have been obtained if time permitted and if this were not the vacation season.

Organized groups unfortunately have made home rule for the District a civil rights issue. We are a small, unorganized, but very concerned group who feel there are many compelling reasons for rejecting home rule which have nothing to do with civil rights.

The argument is often used that the voting privilege is a basic democratic right and should apply to the District of Columbia as well as the rest of the country. With this I can agree insofar as national elections are concerned, and feel strongly, therefore, that it would be much more satisfying and to the point to give residents of the District the privilege of voting for a Representative in Congress with full voting rights. After all Congress makes the laws by which we are governed. We have a voice already in purely local affairs by means of petition, testimony at hearings, and action through citizen's associa

tions. To insist on the right to elect a topheavy superstructure of officials who would be play acting at home rule seems somewhat irresponsible and childish. Furthermore, the present form of government for the District of Columbia could be greatly strengthened and more efficient, and Congress could be relieved of much of the time-consuming detail and burden of running the city of Washington if it would delegate more authority to the Commissioners and other appointed officials. As far as I know, this suggestion has never been made or considered. We who signed the petition strongly urge that this be tried before any form of home rule legislation is enacted.

I respectfully request that this letter and the attached petition and signatures be given full consideration by the committee and made a part of the record of the hearings on home rule before the House District Committee beginning August 18, 1965.

Respectfully yours,

DOROTHY A. CURRAN
Mrs. H. W. Curran

A PETITION OPPOSING HOME RULE FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA We, the undersigned, wish to record our opposition to home rule for the District of Columbia for the following reasons:

1. The unique character of the District of Columbia as the Nation's Capital City, supported in part by Federal funds, requires and must continue to require congressional direction and supervision in major areas of its governmental administration. Proposed legislation, S. 1118, provides for a costly superstructure of mayor and 19 council members, whose official acts could be repealed, modified, or vetoed by either the Congress or the President (title III, sec. 324 (a-2) and (f)), thus making the term "home rule" a misnomer and mere pretense.

2. The present form of government could be a great deal more efficient and Congress could be relieved of much of the time-consuming detail and burden of running the city of Washington if it would delegate more authority to the Commissioners and other appointed officials. This should be tried before any home rule legislation is enacted.

3. Washington has been spared the corrupt political machines which have marred and plagued other large American cities. It is difficult to see what advantages so-called home rule would bring to the taxpaying public that would outweigh the dangers involved, particularly in view of the unique circumstances currently existing in the District of Columbia.

Dorothy A. Curran, 2817 McKinley Place NW.

Harold W. Curran (native Washingtonian), 2817 McKinley Place NW. Elizabeth K. Stanf, 6912 Greenvale Street NW.

Ernestine R. Walker, 3850 Tunlaw Road NW.

Lucia W. White, 4731 Ellicott Street NW.

James A. White, 4731 Ellicott Street NW.

Roberta H. Lentz, 4636 Brandywine Street NW.

Geraldine A. Willicutt, 6934 33d Street NW.

Henriette M. Alexander, 3233 Stephenson Place NW.

A. W. Alexander, 3233 Stephenson Place NW.

Louis F. Zaruba, 2820 McKinley Place NW.

Ann F. Zaruba, 2820 McKinley Place NW.
Waven B. Francis, 2808 McKinley Place NW.
Lavinia K. Francis, 2808 McKinley Place NW.
Edward N. Bodholdt, 5460 31st Street NW.
Jean A. Bodholdt, 5460 31st Street NW.

D. Franklin Hody, 4000 15th NW.

Ase W. Myers, 2851 Arizona Terrace NW.

Margaret D. Locke, 3901 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Julia M. Walter, 2500 Q Street NW.

Lillian B. Jones, 4801 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Kenena H. Klosson, 5425 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Phoebe L. Helt, 5200 North Capitol Street NW.
Mary Kathryne Amblee, 3225 Aberfoyle Place NW.
Jean Roy Austraw, 3125 Birch Street NW.
James L. Austraw, 3125 Birch Street NW.
W. Wallace Evans, 3126 Birch Street NW.
Mary Alice Evans, 3126 Birch Street NW.
Charles M. Davis, Jr., 3121 Birch Street NW.
Lenora M. Davis, 3121 Birch Street NW.

Eleen L. Nelson, 3139 Birch Street NW.
Mary Jane Payne, 6405 31st Place NW.
Jewell R. Hawver, 6417 31st Place NW.

Jane Coyle, 5631 Utah Avenue NW.
Helen Coyle, 5631 Utah Avenue NW.
Mildred H. Bauer, 2959 McKinley Street NW.
Edith Hockensmith, 2832 McKinley Place NW.
Roy D. Hockensmith, 2832 McKinley Place NW.
Merrits L. Smith, 2948 Northampton Street NW.
Helen D. Smith, 2948 Northampton Street NW.
Mrs. E. Holmead, 4801 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Paul L. Weer, 1905 Kalarama Road NW.
Florence A. Dieterich, 4801 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Bruce F. Johnston, 4801 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Frances B. Donald, 4801 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Elizabeth Morrison, 4801 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Mary L. Lewis, 4801 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Alicea B. Scherr, 2022 Columbia Road NW.
Nyna L. Forman, 2205 California Street NW.
Helen Peaslee, 4801 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Wm. E. Peaslee, 4801 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Wm. M. Sweet, 4720 Ellicott Street NW.
Edwin H. Teague, 4801 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Flossie Teague, 4801 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Frank Huseman, 4801 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Minnie E. Huseman, 4801 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Elizabeth H. Rochester, 4801 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Harry A. Rochester, 4801 Connecticut Avenue NW.

Mrs. Berry Barnes, 2101 16th Street NW.

Mrs. Ruth S. McKeeheer, 2101 16th Street NW.

Mary B. Curran (native Washingtonian), 1601 Argonne Place NW. Roland R. Harrington, 2824 McKinley Place NW.

Ella S. Harrington, 2824 McKinley Place NW.

George Gardner, 5621 Utah Avenue NW.

Mary Gardner, 5621 Utah Avenue NW.

William M. Loman, 2813 McKinley Place NW.
Theodore L. Benz, 2804 McKinley Place NW.
Wynona C. Benz, 2804 McKinley Place NW.
Mary H. Hyde, 2709 McKinley Street NW.
Robert L. Kiser, Jr., 5708 Oregon Avenue NW.
Bertha J. Kiser, 5708 Oregon Avenue NW.
Walter L. Ball, 5704 Oregon Avenue NW.
Gerald F. Sarin, 5704 Oregon Avenue NW.
Mildred S. Ball, 5704 Oregon Avenue NW.
Bernie S. Burchell, 4635 Butterworth Place NW.
Lloyd F. Burchell, 4635 Butterworth Place NW.

Mr. and Mrs. Jess S. Hupman, 5130 Connecticut Avenue NW.
Mrs. Janet Byrne, 2636 Moreland Place NW.

Mrs. Janet W. Torbert, 2636 Moreland Place NW.

Mrs. Helna R. Scoredas, 6804 32d Street NW.

Joseph E. Bordourlin, D.D.S., 6444 31st Street NW.

(Mrs.) Josephine Z. Bordourlin, 6444 31st Street NW.

Anna A. Reeside, 6437 31st Street NW.

Eugene A. Reeside, 6437 31st Street NW.
William J. Weber, Jr., 6443 31st Street NW.
(Mrs.) Ruth D. Weber, 6443 31st Street NW.
Mrs. Harriett R. Dutton, 6443 31st Street NW.
Esther B. Castell, 2605 Northampton Street NW.
Juanita E. Hollingworth, 1825 Shepherd Street NW.
Arthur T. Davenport, 3394 Stuyvesant Place NW.
Lola M. Davenport, 3394 Stuyvesant Place NW.
Grace L. Reamey, 6215 Western Avenue NW.

Mary Holland, 6215 Western Avenue NW.
Elizabeth Whitaker, 3379 Stuyvesant Place NW.
J. Whitaker, 3379 Stuyvesant Place NW.

F. F. Espenshied, 3373 Stuyvesant Place NW.
Gus A. Ladas, 3392 Stuyvesant Place NW.
Margarita M. Ladas, 3392 Stuyvesant Place NW.

Mrs. Mary K. Hand, 3020 Porter Street NW.
Mrs. Agnes S. Pillote, 3716 Military Road NW.
Angelo A. Pillote, 3716 Military Road NW.
Mrs. Lillian E. Kimbel, 5371 Nevada Avenue NW.
A. L. Ebersole, 1228 I Street NW.

Mrs. A. L. Ebersole, 1228 I Street NW.
Mrs. E. F. Michael, 1507 17th Street SE.
Mrs. A. B. Miller, 1445 Ogden Street NW.
Mrs. Jeraldine Pogue, 3707 Woodley Road NW.
Miss Jeanette Hodge, 5615 First Street NW.
Mrs. Ethel Mees, 5442 Broad Branch Road NW.
Mrs. Jean C. Byers.

Mrs. Viola Engelbrecht, 3348 Military Road NW.
Charles E. Engelbrecht, 3348 Military Road NW.
Mrs. Frank C. Updike, 3620 Kanawha Street NW.
Mrs. Blanche Whitney, 3338 Military Road NW.
District of Columbia property owners:

Selma Anderson, 2801 Adams Mill Road NW., Washington, D.C.
Willard D. Worcester, 2801 Adams Mill Road, Washington, D.C.
Mrs. Ella Worcester, 2801 Adams Mill Road NW., Washington, D.C.
Lillie M. Johnson, 2801 Adams Mill Road NW., Washington, D.C.
Florence M. McLonth, 2801 Adams Mill Road NW., Washington, D.C.
Blanche Heacock, 2801 Adams Mill Road NW., Washington, D.C.
C. A. Castle, 2801 Adams Mill Road NW., Washington, D.C.
Juliette Castle, 2801 Adams Mills Road, Washington, D.C.
Floretta Vogel, 2801 Adams Mill Road NW., Washington, D.C.
John R. Blake, 1732 Taylor Street NW., Washington, D.C.
Martha S. Blake, 1732 Taylor Street NW., Washington, D.C.
Warren A. Peterman, 6164 31st NW., Washington, D.C.
Ruth H. Peterman. 6164 31st NW., Washington, D.C.

Leo L. Miller, 2845 Northampton Street NW.
Mildred L. Miller, 2845 Northampton Street NW.
Virginia R. D. Duncan, 2837 Northampton Street NW.
Wallace T. Duncan, 2837 Northampton Street NW.
Mary C. Williams, 2844 Northampton Street NW.
Jewell S. Meuth, 2828 Northampton Street NW.
Iva M. Menefee, 2844 Northampton Street NW.
Lois K. McClurd, 2849 Northampton Street NW.
A. L. Gardner, 5410 30th Street NW.

K. D. Gardner, 5410 30th Street NW.

Kenneth O. Boyer, 3610 38th Street NW.

Anna L. Boyer, 3610 38th Street NW.

Esther L. McGuire, 4201 Massachusett Avenue NW.
M. Melville Milby, 2841 Northampton Street NW.
Marion K. Milby, 2841 Northampton Street NW.
Mrs. Frances Dawren, 4401 Wislom Place NW.
Mrs. Sarah E. Sherrer, 4401 Windom Place NW.
Anna Doty, 4347 Warren Street NW.

Gladys Doty, 4347 Warren Street NW.

Capt. and Mrs. C. L. Knight, 4413 Warren Street NW.
Robert A. Barton, 4429 Warren Street NW.
Mrs. George Daidy, 4445 Warren Street NW.
Herbert Pittle, 4449 Warren Street NW.
Herbert Mohler, 4224 Van Ness Street NW.
Anne H. Mohler, 4224 Van Ness Street NW.

Mrs. Betty Schleter, 4633 Davenport Street NW.
G. C. Schleter 4633 Davenport Street NW.
Sterling R. Newell, 4610 Chesapeake Street NW.
Esther W. Newell, 4610 Chesapeake Street NW.
Daniel B. Lloyd, 4630 Chesapeake Street NW.
Mazie C. Lloyd, 4630 Chesapeake Street NW.
Myrtle B. Tate, 4124 Edmunds Street NW.
Marie Mason, 4827 Davenport Street NW.
Mrs. Alice M. Horgan, 4827 Davenport Street NW.
Mrs. Leland Bussey, 4827 Davenport Street NW.
Maxwell M. Knechtel, 4329 Van Ness Street NW.
Alice C. Knechtel, 4329 Van Ness Street NW.
Martha J. Peter, 4317 Warren Street NW.
Albert A. Peter, 4317 Warren Street NW.
Raymond McElligott, 4337 Verplanck Place NW.
Jane McElligott, 4337 Verplanck Place NW.

Helen K. Huber, 2801 Adams Mill Road NW., Washington, D.C.
Mary Kinney, 2801 Adams Mill Road NW., Washington, D.C.
Helene Arnecke, 2801 Adams Mill Road NW., Washington, D.C.
Carrie W. Cassidy, 2801 Adams Mill Road NW., Washington, D.C.
Rose Anderson, 2801 Adams Mill Road N.W., Washington, D.C.
John F. Bauman, 2801 Adams Mill Road NW., Washington, D.C.
Edith Sherborne, 2801 Adams Mill Road NW., Washington, D.C.
Royal T. Harris, Sr., 2801 Adams Mill Road NW., Washington, D.C.
Alberta G. Harris, 2801 Adams Mill Road NW., Washington, D.C.
Ethel D. Odell,1 2801 Adams Mill Road NW., Washington, D.C.
James K. Scarborough, 2801 Adams Mill Road NW., Washington, D.C.
Thomas E. Snyder, 2801 Adams Mill Road NW., Washington, D.C.
Marjorie B. Snyder (Mr. T. E.), 2801 Adams Mill Road NW., Washington,
D.C.

Else E. Arnecke, 2801 Adams Mill Road NW., Washington, D.C.
Fred O. Calandra, 5375 Nevada Avenue NW., Washington, D.C.
Rose M. Calandra, 5375 Nevada Avenue NW., Washington, D.C.
James P. Dowrick, 1325 Geranium Street NW., Washington, D.C.

Mrs. Gertrude Murphy, 4919 Albermarle Street.
Paul S. Murphy, 4919 Albermarle Street NW.
Vernon L. Ferguson, 4804 47th Street NW.

B. W. Lieb, 4630 Ellicott Street NW.

Mrs. Edith A. Lieb, 4630 Ellicott Street NW.

Warren Shoemaker, 4626 Ellicott Street N.W.

Madeline K. Shoemaker, 4626 Ellicott Street NW.

J. Harold Byers, 4627 Verplanck Place NW., Washington, D.C.
Clarence W. Hertz, 4636 Brandywine Street NW.

Maurine L. Garwood, 2829 Northampton Street NW.

Ruth J. Frank, 6143 31st Street NW.

August D. Frank, 6143 31st Street NW.

Katherine S. Evans, 6416 31st Place NW.

Mrs. Tillie Limon, 6420 31st Place NW.

Mrs. Adrienne Doyle Smith, 6355 31st Street NW.
John E. Smith, 6355 31st Street NW.

Carl F. Hawver, 6417 31st Place NW.

Norman A. Stant, 6912 Greenvale Street NW.
Frederick W. Willcutt, 6934 33d Street NW.
A. B. Quibley, Jr., 3225 Aberfoyle Place, NW.
Chester Bletch, 6812 32d Street NW.
John W. Fritz, Jr., 5405 30th Place NW.
Myrtle L. Walker, 4133 Jenifer Street NW.

Elaine E. Walker, 4133 Jenifer Street NW.
Geo. L. Port, 2821 McKinley Place NW.

1 Not property owner.