ballots, 2,356, and there were 2,295 answers; 61 did not answer this question. Answering that they believed this provided real home rule were 6 percent; answering "no," 94 percent. Question No. 7 was: "Do you live in the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia?" District of Columbia, 65.9 percent; Maryland, 23.8 percent; Virginia, 10.3 percent. That makes up the 2,356 ballots. Question No. 8: "If you live in the District, how long have you lived here?" Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Colladay, did you ask those living in the States of Maryland and Virginia if they voted in those States? Mr. COLLADAY. I don't think so. Mr. HARRIS. You did not ask that question? Mr. COLLADAY. I don't think so. This question, No. 8, was: "If you live in the District, how long have you lived here?" The total ballots were 1,552, and the number answering was 1,526. Those not answering totaled 26. Those living in the District less than 5 years were 87; 5 to 10 years, 137; 11 to 15 years, 116; 16 to 25 years, 251; from 26 to 50 years, 662; and over 50 years, 202. Those born here, no years given, total 71. On a percentage basis it shows those having lived here less than 5 years total 5.7 percent; from 5 to 10 years, 9 percent; 11 to 15 years, 7.6 percent; 16 to 25 years, 16.4 percent; 26 to 50 years, 43.4 percent; and over 50, 13.2 percent. So those who have been living here 5 years or more total 94.3 percent, as I look at it. Now as I have said, we are filing a copy of that and there is a comparative statement here. The committee may know that there was a similar polling of the board of trade in 1948. Mr. HARRIS. Yes; it may be filed for the record. It will be of interest to the members of the committee. I notice there is a great deal of difference in the percentages of the present poll compared to the poll of a year ago. Mr. COLLADAY. Now that is all the formal statement that I have prepared. Mr. HARRIS. Without objection the report of the referendum of the board of trade and the rest of the information will be filed for the record, and be inserted at this point. *(The data referred to are as follows:) REPORT OF THE REFERENDUM OF THE BOARD OF TRADE MEMBERSHIP ON HOME RULE AT HEARINGS ON S. 1527, BEFORE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, JULY 14, 1949 Presented by Mr. E. F. Colladay, general counsel, Washington Board of Trade On July 5, 1949, questionnaires (copy attached) were mailed to all members of the Washington Board of Trade; 7,867 questionnaires were mailed, one to each member, and 2,357 had been returned to the board of trade office at the close of business on Wednesday, July 13, 1949. The percentage return was 29.96 percent. In February 1948 a similar questionnaire or poll of the board of trade membership was taken, of which 30.1 percent were filled in and returned to the board of trade office. The percentage returns of the poll just completed and the one conducted in February 1948 are, therefore, almost identical. It is approximately the percentage returns customarily received when board of trade members have been polled on important issues in past years. Experience has shown that it is amply large to correctly reflect membership views. I submit herewith a tabulation of the results of this poll as of the close of business last night, July 13, 1949. I wish to particularly invite the committee's attention to these results in comparison with similar questions in the February 1948 poll. NOTE. It is interesting that this year, as compared with last year, a substantially higher percentage of our members oppose home rule without national representation and oppose election of the Board of Educa tion. To the Members of the Washington Board of Trade: Here is a brief explanation of the Kefauver home rule bill and a questionnaire soliciting your views on several key points involved in the proposed legislation. Please fill in the questionnaire and return it to us immediately in the enclosed postage free envelope. On July 12, these questionnaires will be tabulated. Be sure yours has been returned by that date. Read this carefully before filling in your questionnaire MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE KEFAUVER HOME RULE BILL, S. 1527 All citizens, 21 years of age and over, who have lived in the District of Columbia for 1 year are eligible voters even though they claim domicile and vote in another State or Territory. Bonded indebtedness may be incurred to finance capital improvements up to 5 percent of the assessed value of taxable real property in the District by a majority approval of the eligible voters. Based on the assessed value of real property for the fiscal year 1949, a bond issue of about $80,000,000 could be voted. A District Council of 11 members, 9 to be elected and 2 to be appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate will replace the present Board of Commissioners. House and Senate committees for the District of Columbia will continue to function in the same manner as heretofore. The District Council would possess the powers of the present Board of Commissioners but all general legislation of the council must be submitted to Congress for approval. If not disapproved by either House of Congress within 45 days or vetoed by the President within 10 days, legislative proposals made by the Council would become law. Congress may at any time exercise its constitutional authority to enact any legislation on any subject for the District whether within or without the scope of powers granted the District Council. Congress also reserves the right to repeal any District law or municipal ordinance as it sees fit at any time. District of Columbia government to be reorganized into 12 major departments. The independent status of the Redevelopment Land Agency, Zoning Adjustment Board, Public Utilities Commission, and the Board of Tax Appeals is maintained and the members thereof shall be appointed by the chairman of the District Council with the consent of the Council. The Board of Education shall be elected rather than appointed as under the present system. Federal contribution to District of Columbia expenses. This bill authorizes annual appropriations by Congress of a sum equal to one-fifth of the total District. revenues from all sources other than the United States: This amount is subject to increase or decrease by each succeeding Congress. The District Council will; 1. Elect one of its members as chairman to act as the official spokesman for the District. 2. Appoint the District Manager. 3. Pass legislative proposals subject to veto by Congress or the President. 4. Exercise present powers of the Board of Commissioners to pass ordinances. 5. Perform functions of the Zoning Commission. 6. Prepare and adopt the fiscal budget. 7. In anticipation of revenue collections for the budget year, authorize the borrowing of money not to exceed 25 percent of the total anticipated revenue. The District Manager is made chief executive officer of the District. He will appoint and may remove, all the Directors of Executive Departments and many other officials without confirmation by the District Council. IMPORTANT ITEMS OMITTED FROM THIS BILL 1. This bill omits any representation in Congress for the District of Columbia. 2. It does not give the District of Columbia any representation in the Electoral College, voting for the President and Vice President of the United States. 3. It does not require selection of the District Manager, Directors of Departments, other officers or employees of the District of Columbia to be made from among the qualified residents of the District. HOME RULE SURVEY, WASHINGTON BOARD OF TRADE, JULY 1949 1. You have just read the major provisions of the Kefauver bill, S. 1527. Do you favor its adoption? Yes_ No... 2. If you answered yes in question No. 1, would you oppose this bill if it meant a lower Federal payment? Or would you favor this bill regardless of the effect upon the Federal payment?" Yes... No. 3. Do you think persons now voting in other States and Territories should be allowed to vote in the District of Columbia for 4. Under the present system, the Board of Education is appointed. The Kefauver bill proposes it be elected. Do you favor election of the Board of 5. Do you think "local suffrage" without representation in Congress is desirable? Yes... 6. Do you believe this bill provides real "home rule" for the District of Columbia? Yes. No.. 7. Do you live in the District of Columbia? Virginia? ---- 8. If you live in the District, how long have you lived here? Maryland? 9. If you live in Maryland or Virginia, is your business located in the District? Please state type of business or profession (lawyer, real estate, construction, government, etc.) YOUR ANSWERS ARE IMPORTANT Please fill in and return immediately in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. WASHINGTON BOARD OF TRADE, HOME RULE SURVEY, JULY 1949 Number of ballots mailed. 95148-49- -16 7,867 2,357 29.96% Question No. 1: You have just read the major provisions of the Kefauver bill, S. 1527. Do you favor its adoption? Question No. 2: If you answered "yes" in question No. 1 would you oppose this bill if it meant a lower Federal payment? Or, would you favor this bill regardless of the effect upon the Federal payment? Question No. 3: Do you think persons now voting in other States and Territories should be allowed to vote in the District of Columbia for: (a) District Council members? (b) The District to incur debt? Question No. 5: Do you think "local suffrage" without representation in Congress is desirable? Question No. 6: Do you believe this bill provides "real home rule" for the District of Question No. 7: Do you live in the District of Columbia? Maryland? Total.. Virginia? 2, 356 District of Columbia. Maryland. Virginia... 1,552 561 243 Question No. 8: If you live in the District, how long have you lived here? Question No. 9: If you live in Maryland or Virginia, is your business located in the District? Do you own property in the District? WASHINGTON Board of TradE, HOME RULE SURVEY, JULY 1949-PERCENTAGE BREAK-DOWN Question No. 1: You have just read the major provisions of the Kefauver bill S. 1527. Do you favor its adoption? |