Evening star., 1921-11-09

Limited enfranchisement of the resi-
dents of the District of Columbia was
urged upon the Senate District COM
mittee at the opening of the hearings
on District suffrage measures now
pending before that committee. The
hearings are to be continued Monday,
at 3 pm.
The committee determined to hold
hearings on the resolution introduced
by Senator Jones of washington,
looking to a constitutional amend
ment giving the citizens of the Dis
trict national representation, as well
as on the Poindexter District delegate
bill and the Capper bill providing for
the election of District Commission
ers, public utilities commission,
the board of education, etc.
Senator Jones, a member of the Dis
trict committee, found that his resc-
luton had been referred to the Senate
judiciary committee. He went to the
Senate floor while the hearing was
under way in the District com mnittee
room and had his resolution referred
to the District committee.
Allows Each Side Six Hours.
Chairman Ball of the District COM
mittee ruled that six hours would be
allowed the proponents of District
suffrage to present their arguments
and a similar length of time would
be allowed the opponents of such
Col. Winfield Jones of the National
Press Club committee for District
suffrage presented the witnesses in
support of the Poindexter and Capper
bills.
E. c. Brandenburg. representing the
joint committee supporting the plan
for national representation of the
District through constitutions
amendment, called attention to the
ure had been held before the House
judiciary committee, and that an
other hearing was promised for the
next session of Congress on the same
measure (the Burroughs resolution).
For that reason. he, said. the pro
ment had not expected to be heard
at this time. Senator Ball ruled, how
ever, that the entire subject would
be considered by the committee. and
that supporters OF the constltutlonai
amendment would be given an oppor-
tunity to be heard if they desired
See. Wide Suffrage Demand
Avery C. Marks. president of the
National Press Club, was the hrSt
speaker called before the commi ttee
by Col. Jones yesterday. He told the
committee he was convinced 80 per
cent of the people of washington
want some. form OF suffrage. ne
in letters written by citizens to
local AFTERNOON newspaper OF which
he is anaEing editor. Pressed by
Senator Ball as to the particular
form of suffrage the people want, Mr.
Marks replied that. generally, they
desire representation in Congress and
a voice in their local government
commensurate with the financial bur
dens they bear in maintaining that
government.
NAVY veterans put in a plea for
suffrage on behalf of ex-service men
without indorsing particularly either OF
the bills before the committee.
I'VE fought for the principles or
,;herty" he said. I'VE should have
the right here to a government that
is controlled by the voice CT the
majority. That is the principle OF
Americanism.'
Reviews Efforts for Ballot.
Following Mr. Hickey. Roy C. Claf1in..
president Of the District Delegates
Association,4 recounted to the COM
nittee the efforts of that organiza-
tion to obtain the ballot for District
citizens. The association. he salo'
came into existence in 1919 and soon
worked up to a member@ip OF 1S,Vo9
citizens of the District. 1t SUCCEEDED
in bringing about the Introduction OF
the Poindexter bill. which was the
smhieot of a hearing before the SEN
ate District committee in 1916. ine
committee reported favorably on tne
hill. he said, and it went upon the
Senate calendar, being the only meas
ure of its kind to ever get that lar