The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-16
I = A
HOPE
SAID To Be
WITH BALL
Chairman, Now Favorable to
Jones Bill, May Be Able to
Influence Vote.


The Senate District Committee
appears TO be hopelessly divided on
the question Of suffrage for Wash
ington.
One ray Of hope for an agreement
remains to the supporters Of local
suffrage, and II is this:
Senator Ball, chairman Of the
COMMITTEES, has shifted his position
from one Of thorough going opposi-
ton TO suffrage to advocacy of it,
and his influence may be powerful
among his colleagues.
Ball for Limited Suffrage.
Senator Ball believes in his plan
of suffrage for the citizens of Wash
ington. His views are:
The Jones Constitutional amend
ment. giving the city the right to
vote at Presidential elections, and
comforting many Of the powers OF
statehood. should be adopted with limi-
tations.
The District should have a full
fledged representative in both the SEN
ate and House. These representatives
should not be chairmen of the respec-
tice District committees of the two
Houses, but should be members Of
them.
There should be no change in the
present commission form Of govern
ments for the District.
yet, my shift of position has dis
appointed q good many members OF
the Senate, where there il strong OPP
position to District suffrage" Senator
Ball said today.
To Advocate Jones Bill.
Nevertheless, have changed IT..
age Of the Jones Constitutional Amend
ment with q few changes"
Senator Ball, In making 1t clear he
10 inclined to favor having delegates
from the District in both houses, does
not believe such delegates should
have the power to override the recon-
mendations or the authority Of the
District Commissioners.
THE delegate in the Senate" said
Senator Ball. would have the power
to block confirmation of the District
Commissioners nominated by the
President, simply by saying that they
were personally Questionable to him.
That 81 q tradition Of the Senate.
Further than that. do not think he
would be able to 60. He certainly
should not be- chairman of tho Dis
trict COMMITTEES, although he should
be o member Of Il. He would have
no sweeping authority with the SEN
ate, regarding District conditions, but
he would be the eity's spokesman
there" tf.
Doubts Ability Of Delegates.
Senator Ball Is frank in saying he
does not believe that elections I'm
Washington would result in placing
the best type Of citizenship here in
Congress, and that the result as q
whole would be a disappointment.
"The best citizens Of Washington
have neither the time, the inclination,
nor the money to go into local poll
tics" he declared. L admit that cleo
pioneering and local politics would
bring o host Of new troubles upon the
city. But probably in time this situa-
ton could be controlled =,
Emphasis was placed by Senator
Ball upon the fact that he believed the
real Jurisdiction over the District
should remain in the President, who
has the power to nominate the Com.
missioners, and in Congress, whose
calfber, he says. 'is far above that Of
any State legislature, and whose work
in handling District affairs should be
reason for pride among the citizens Of
the city"
Poll Of Committee.
A poll Of the Senate District Com.
mittee reveals the following lineup:
Favorins District suffrage-Senators
Ball Of Delaware, Jones Of Washing
ton, Capper Of Kansas, Pomerene Of
Ohio and Sheppard Of Texas.
Probably in favor, but still doubtful
SENATORS Dillingham; Of New Hamp-
shire. Glass Of Virginia and Cameron
of Arizona.
Opposed to NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. King
VI Utah and Gooding of Idaho.
Observation-Disclosures Weller Of
Maryland. Elkins of West Virginia and
Stanley Of Kentucky.
The supporters of District suffrage
are in q majority Of the committee,
but probably will be unable to agree
upon any single form of It to recon-
mend TO the Senate. II is generally
believed prolonged consideration Of the
subject will be favored by the COM
mittee, ending in deadlock.
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