Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-29
NEED OF DELEGATE
FOR D. c. IS URGED
Witnesses Contend Residents
Entitled to Some Tangible
Part in Own Government.
SENATOR POINDEXTER
is FIRST TO BE HEARD
Tells Senate Judiciary Subcommit-
tee Plan Does Not Conflict With
Constitutional Amendment Idea.

The need of granting to the
people OF the District some tangi-
bic part in their own government
was voiced strongly today by wit
nesses appearing before the sub
committee on Judiciary OF the
Senate District committee Ill sup
port OF the Chamberlain constr
tutional amendment. providing for
the election of senators, represen-
tatives and members OF the cleo
toral college, and the Poindexter
nill. which would give the District
delegate in the House.
Senator Poindexter of Washington.
author of the delegate bill; former
Senator Blair of New Hampshire and
Roy c. Claf1in, chairman of the Dis
trict Delegate Association. were heard.
Senator Poindexter and the repre-
sentatives of the District Delegate AS
sociation declared themselves in favor
of the Chamberlain constitutional
amendment as well as of the delegate
bill. They urged. however, the need
of enacting the delegate bill into law,
since this could be done by Congress
without reference to the country for
ratification and would give to the peo-
al an early date
Delegate Could Give Aid.
1t was asserted also by the advocates
of the delegate bill that the very fact
that the District had a delegate in the
House. empowered to speak in its in
terests, would aid greatly in the final
adoption of the constitutional amend
ment proposed to give the District the
right to take part in national elections
and legislation.
Mr.. Claflin said in this connection:
had a delegate in the House now, he
could put into the record matter at
tacking the Borland provision adding
an hour to the workday of govern
ment employees in Washington. At pres
ent we must rely upon some member of
the House from outside the District to
attack the Bor1and plan"
The first witness today was Senator
Pcindexter, who explained the pro-
visions of the delegate bill. He said
the need for a delegate in Congress and
for the franchise for residents of the
District was SO obvious that there was
little cause for argument along that
line. He said he had listened to the
argument of Theodore w. Noyes, in
support of the Chamberlain constitu-
uonal amendment, with great interest
at the last meeting of the committee.
Disclaims Any Conflict.
Il wish to disclaim any conflict be-
tween this delegate bill and the con-
stitutional amendment which Mr.. Noyes
advocated" said Senator Poindexter.
Il am not opposing that resolution"
He called attention to the fact that
such a resolution proposing an amend
nent to the Constitution must he
adopted by two-thirds vote in both
the Senate and the House, and then
must be ratified by three-fourths or
the states before it can become efrec-
tive
He suggested that it might tai.
many years. a generation, to pe, such
an amendment to the Constitution and
said that for that reason he believed ~
was particularly necessary to enact the
suIc. deIegate Dill into law now He
pointed out that il mad taken nanv
years TO put through the constituf;on.I
amendment providing Tor the poouIsr
election of senators. although the
states were vitality Interested in that
matter, and said tina, 1t might he ~
pected TO taken even Longer IN NJ,
through constitutional anendme,t ~.
which the people of the Districf wara
fitally interested. but In which the mo-
fereeteG toseis in-
He said his bill also voui6 e.,.h,;sh
10 me District an electoral system
through which the delegates to st;onl
81 conventions would be elected Ard
terest to the residents of the Dis,-ic,
could be submitted for a referendum
Could Be Effective Immediately
This legislation can be made ensc-
tie Immediately IL Congress desi-es -
lie said
Senator Pomerene OF Ohio. ckat-n.r
OF the committee, asked il il wouId
NOT De possible for Congress to pro.
vide for a District delegate In the se,
al. as well as in the House. out sena.
to- Poindexter replied that he believed
the provisions o: the Constitution re-
iat.ns TO the membership Of the Senat.
would not permit of such action.
Senator PoindeXter contended thar u
continuance of the present poiitica
sfat3s of the residents Of tb.. Distr;.,
would be an 'insidious influence upon
f!c political morals of the countrv :,
srce Tor part Of the people OF the
80 o..ntry TO De governed without tbei-
living any voice in the matter wa.
entirely opposed TO the republican form
~ government.
Hopes for EARLY Senate Action.
The people in the District have RI.
faGe history behind them and are n,
the same blood the people OF In.
rest Of the country" said Senate,
Ioin3exter. Yet We are goyerniup
them here without giving them an,
opportunity 10 participate directly q,
indirectly III their own government
Senator PbindeNter suggested fbat
tie provision for District deIegat.
would have great Practical advantage,
In the transaction os the business ot
congress so far as il related 20 leeis
i9tion for the District. Il deIeaat,
elected By the people Of the District
+ he said. could give the other member,
( cf Congress information about tn,
reeds o. the District which they them.
selves could net obtain without grea,
labor.
fie said that in his opinion. white the
District delegate would be wfthot:; a
vote in the House. yet the fact that ne
bad voice ir the deliberations Of ,be
2ouse. Woald be Of far Invre conse-
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