Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-02
FOR REPRESENTATION
Senator Gallinger Provides
for the District.
AMENDS CONSTITUTION
SENATORS AND ELECTORS BY
VOTE OF THE PEOPLE.
Matter to Be Discussed in Senate at
the Present Session Of
Congress. .
AMENDS CONSTITUTION

Senator Gallinger, acting chairman Of the
Senate committee on the District OF Colum-
bia, today took the Initial step toward Sc
curing in a practical form representation
for the District Of Columbia in the Senate
and House of Representatives and the right
to vote for electors for President and Vice
President His plan for giving the fran
chise to the people Of the District is believed
by many who have seen it to be one that
will meet the approval Of every one at
feoted by It, az well as by both houses Of
Congress senator Gallinger personally ap-
proves the measure introduced by him to-
day. and will take means for advancing 1t
an rapidly as possible. The joint resolution
introduced by him today recites in its pre-
amble that 1t is a proposition to amend the
Constitution Of the United States, and that
it is to 20 into effect after receiving vote
of two-thirds In both the Senate and House,
and then by being ratified by the legisla-
lures OF three -fourths Of the states. The
Joint resolution follows:
'~The District of Columbia shall be con-
sidered a state, in so far as shall entitle
1t to representation in the Congress OF the
United States and IN the electoral college.
and In said District of Columbia senators
and electors shall be chosen by direct vote
Of the people"
70 Be Discussed.
The Joint resolution will go to the COM
mlttee ON the District of Columbia for con-
stieration and report. Senator Gallinger
viii probably send 1t at once to the Com
missioners for their report on its practl-
cability and desirability from the standpoint
of local interests. AS soon as it Is returned
to the committee 1t is probable hearings
vial be held on 1t SO that the several local
organizations Of citizens and individuals
may have an opportunity to express their
views concerning It,
New Proposition. '.E
Mr.. Gailnger's proposition Is entirely
new In the form in which 1t is presented.
Whenever the franchise has been discussed
as right Of the people of the District It
has carried with It the idea that all the
local machinery Of the government here
should be placed in the hands OF a council
or legislature elected by the people and
make Congress helpless to exercise juris-
diction. This proposition has always been
eooily received both by the people OF the
District who recall the difficulties that ex!
listed when the District was SO ruled and
by Congress In its disinclination to give
over to body 1t could not control
power to manage matters IN which the
government IL 50 deeply interested. Mr..
Ganingers proposition overcomes all these
objections and merely allows the people
ofthe District senators and representatives
IN Congress with all the powers Of other
senators and representatives to speak for
the District and to work for its interests.
Direct Vote.
An objection to the measure which it is
thought may be made by some senators is
the fact that Il provides for voting for SEN
ators by a direct vote of the people. This
may be urged. It Is said. as an entering
wedge for a similar method of voting for
senators in the states. The fact that In
mi
elected in the District by any other method
will be urged as a reason why such an OBJ
lection should not be allowed weight in the
consideration Of this proposition.
AS rule, all such measures that in
troduced by Mr.. -Gallinger today ordinarily
go to the committee on the judiciary, OF
which Senator Hoar is chairman. Whether
or not this joint resolution will be eventual
ly sent to that committee is yet to be seen.
The statehood bills are all before the COM
mittee on territories, of which Mr. Bever-
idge Is chairman, and 1t is question
whether that committee may want to nave
the proposition brought before 1t