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(202) 382-21l6 FOR IBIZASE
Add. Mspapers
onday, Kay 6, 1968
ADVISORY 00941551014 OR IWWWL neutrons
Washington. D. C. 20575
NUS EASE
TIMI. MISSION 21mins STAT! WWIBIUTY FOR lama; m
P8081135
A warning that the rioting and general breakdown of law and
order in many of the Nation's cities highlights the desperate need
for all three levels of government to aeunt aore affective and
innovative responses to urban needs was contained in a report issued
today by the Advisory Omission on Intergovernmental Relations.
The Coission's information Report. State Legislative and Constitu-
tional Action m Urban Probleg in 1967. declared that, "the urban
challenge in [967 basically reflected the need for a federal system
vhich is 'creetive' as well as 'cooperative. In the aftermath of
the recent racial unrest and civil disorder most observers have focused
on the need for greater Federal action. The Mission singled out
State constitutions and statutes as additional Ilajor sources of and
solutions to the urban crisis.
(more)
(at! to Editors: Copies of the Report are available fro. the Advisory
Comieaion on Intergovernmental Relations, 'Jashingtnn, D. C. 20575.)
According to former Florida Governor Farris Bryant, Chairman
of the Commission: "The future viability of the American federal system
will depend largely an how the States discharge their responsibility to
provide strong local governments. This Report, uhile not containing
any new policy recommendations of the Consission, provides current
background material on the vitally important dynamics of State-local
relations."
The 26-nenber Ckuusission is an independent, permanent, bipartisan
body established in 1959 by Federal law to study and recommend improve-
ments in the relationships between the Federal, State, and local govern-
ments. Its members are governors, mayors, county officials, State
legislators and representatives of Congress, the Federal Executive
Branch, and the general public. (A Commission roster is attached.)
State lggislative Action: The Road to "Revitalization"
The Report classifies State actions taken last year to meet urban
problems into four broad categories: (i) "unshsckling" local government:
(2) developing closer working relationships between the States and their
local governments: (3) solving metropolitan and regional problems; and
(6) providing direct and substantial State financial assistance to lo-
calities. The Report sis-marina major State efforts in these fields and
assesses their significance in terns of certain evolving trends in State-
local relations:
(were)
"-- Some States are making notable efforts toward 'unshackling
local governments and providing means for dealing with area-
uide problems.
-- Sons States are establishing agencies for local affairs. a
few of which having substantial financial, program, and
coordination responsibilities, as well as technical assis-
tance. advisory, and research functions.
-- Sane States are beginning to appropriate siaeahle amounts
of funds to assist local governments and are continuing to
'buy into Federal-local grant-in-aid programs, with much
of this activity being a response to Yederal incentives."
State Constitutional Activitx: Obstacles in the Road to Hodernizatign
According to the Commission's analysis, "Some States are becoming
increasingly concerned uith the replacement of antiquated constitutional
articles by provisions equipping then with the necessary tools to meet
twentieth century needs."
The AClR's review of constitutional activity revealed that twenty-
tuo States undertook partial or complete constitutional revision in 1967--
but with mixed results. For example, a major effort at rewriting the
entire New York constitution net decisive oefeat at the polls. In
contrast, Pennsylvania's voters approved eight separate constitutional
amendnents dealing with important substantive reforms and approved the
(more)
- 3 -
calling of a limited constitutional convention to deal with other
key matters.
The report observed: "the debate over the merits and draw-
backs of the piecemeal as against the wholesale revision approaches
is still far from settled."
The Road Thus Par--The Direction of uture Action
lhe Oomis en's Report concludes that ertain 1967 State
legislation, constitutional revision, and refs ndum proposals high-
light an emerging trend toward a revitalized role for State government
in the American federal system. But it underscores the {act that in
some States these trends are hardly discernible and in others are not
yet visible.
In view of the potentially explosive situation in many of the
Nation's central cities, the Report asserts that new approaches to the
problems of urban areas are of crucial importance. While Federal,
local, and private coOperation is essential, it is vital that States
exert initiative and leadership and display positive concern for urban
areas. "Uhile many of the steps taken by State governments in 1967
with respect to urban probleus were important, much remains to be
accomplished if the States are to serve as active and innovative
members of the intergovernmental partnership.
Sugggrt for New Maryland Constitution
Strong personal support for the proposed new Maryland constitution
has been expressed by present and former members of the Advisory Commis-
sion. hile noting that the national advisory body has not taken an
ofiicial position on any of the individual State efforts, Prince George's
County Commission Chairman Gladys Noon Spellman, one of three county
representatives presently on the Advisory Commission declared: 'The new
Maryland Constitution if adopted will give the free State the best and
most modern constitution in the nation and will be a model, both sub.
stantively and inspirationally for the other 49 States."
Theodore R. McKoldin, ex-Baltinore Mayor and Maryland Governors
and a former Advisory Commission members stated: "On May lo, Haryland
voters hav a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to equip our State and our
local governments with the tools they need to meet the urgent challenges
facing us. The nev constitution incorporates into one document the best
features of all State constitutions."
ACIR Executive Director, William G. Colman, in an earlier response
to an inquiry from Haryland Congressman Hervey G. Hachen pointed out that
the Commission has expressed general support for progressive approaches
to State Constitutional modernization. He noted: "The new Maryland draft
constitutiOn incorporates a number of siwnificant innovations and elimi-
nsrns considerable archaic, repetitiOus, and outmoded provisions thereby
producing a truly modern draft State constitution reflecting acme of the
Heat current thinking.
(end)
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