Evening star., 1922-02-21
MEASURES GIVING
DISTRICT VOICE IN
CONGRESSFAVORED
Both Jones Resolution and
Poindexter Bill Reported
to Senate.
FIRST GRANTS SEATS
IN BOTH HOUSES
Constitutional Amendment Requir-
ed-0ther Gives Delegate to
House-Text of Reports.

Favorable reports on the Jones
Joint resolution. looking to national
representation for the people of the
District, and on the Poindexter bill,
for the election of local District
delegate to the House, were submit
ted to the Senate today.
The report on the Jones resolution,
which would provide for an amend
ment of the Constitution SO that the
people of the District could vote for
senators and representatives and for
President and Vice President. was
made by Senator Jones of Washing
ton. Senator Ball, chairman of the
District committee, reported the
PoindeXter bill.
Jones Resolution Purposes.
The report on the Jones, resolution.
which is made after full hearings.
sets forth, in part:
This resolution proposes: (D A
new constitutional power for Con-
gress; (2) a new right and power for
residents of the District to be en-
joyed when Congress. in its discre-
tion, shall exercise its new consti-
tutional power.
THE new constitutional power for
Congress, which is sought. is the
power to grant national voting rep
resentation to residents of the Dis
trict in House, Senate and electoral
college, with access to the federal
courts, without depriving Congress of
the power of exclusive legislation
over the seat of government given
by section s, article l, of the Con-
stitution; without making state OF
the District, and without granting
to che residents of the District any
other privileges, powers and attrl-
butes of citizens of state than those
specifically enumerated.
Gives Right to Vote.
THE privilege, right and power to
be enjoyed by residentssof the Dis
frict, when the amendment shall have
been ratified and when the new pow
er of Congress shall have been exer-
cised, is voting participation by the
District residents on American prin-
ciples in the national government,
which taxes them, makes all laws for
them, and sends them and their sons
to war. and access like that of 'citi-
zens of a state to the federal courts,
their relation to which, is now, the
United States Supreme Court has said.
on lower plane than that of aliens.
Ratification of the proposed consti-
tutional amendment will thus cure
the impotency of Congress to grant
national representation to any part
of the territory belonging to the Unit
ed States by extending this power to
the District, constituting the seat of
of the United States, and
will tend to cure the impotency OF
the District to participate on Ameri-
can principles in the national govern
ment.
Adoption Is Urged.
Your committee are convinced
that both impotencies should be
of Congress at once and
that of the District at the fitting
time in the future in the judgment
of Congress. We agree that Congress
should not be impotent to grant ma
tional representation to any group
of Americans qualified under the
usual tests for such representation.
And we agree that the District
should not be impotent to partici-
pate like other Americans in the
national councils after demonstra-
tion of fitness in population, re-
sources and other American at
tributes, provided such representa-
lion can be secured without delay or
impairing the power of exclusive
leGislation in the District now pos
sessed by Congress.
I'VE are convinced that adoption or
1his resolution and ratification OF the
constitutional amendment proposed
nv il will result in curing both i'm
notencies, without disturbing In the
least the exclusive legislative power
of Congress in the District.
I'VE see no reason whatever why
Congress should not approve this
grant to itself of new constitutional
nower. extending it's existing powers
On logical and equitable lines. with
out committing Congress as to when
or how it shall exercise this power.
Congress Has Power to Act.
"Under the power to admit new
states and to regulate territory be-
longing to TIE United States Con-
press now has the power to admit to
in Congress and, the
college the people of all the
territory belonging to the Onlteo
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