Evening star., 1926-12-14
SUFFR AGE FOR WASHINGTON
PEOPLE URGED AT HEARINGS
Capital Leaders Attend
Meeting of Gibson Sub
committee of House.
Rathbone Makes Plea for
Citizens at Hearing Before
Subcommittee.

The demand, as their right. I'm be-
half Of more than half million resi-
dents Of the National Capital that
they be granted voting representation
in national affairs, through. an
amendment to the Constitution, was
voiced before the Gibson subcommit-
tee Of the House District committee
last night, opening hearings on all
phases of the suffrage question, in
cluding proposed changes in the form
Of the local government.
Proponents Of national representa-
ton were given right of way last
night, and the speakers were: Repre-
sentative Henry r. Rathbone. Repub-
lican, of Illinois, a member of the
House District committee, who Is a
native Washingtonian; Edwin G.
Brandenburg, in behalf of the joint
citizens committee on national rep
resentation; Frederic William Vile,
representing the print and publicity
committee of the citizens organiZa-
ton, and Jesse G. Suter, also II men
ber of the citizens committee and
until recently chairman of the Citi-
zens' Advisory Council.
HeckIing Is Suppressed.
The members of the subcommitte
showed sympathetic attitude and
expressed themselves as eager to be
helpful in bringing about any change
that is beneficial to the people here
control by Congress Of the Federal
City. They suppressed several
sporadic attempts at heckling the
Mr. Rathbone expressed q longtime
and deep interest in the question and
said he Is convinced representation
for the people of the District should
be adopted. The history of the
United States" he said, ''is a steady
march in the direction of universal
suffrage. Why should more than a
half million people in the District of
Columbia be denied the right accorded
all others and which the people of the
country treasure as their choicest
possession"
He said that the burden of proof is
on those who would deny this right.
The men who drew up the Constitu-
ton, he pointed out. could not have
been expected to foresee how great
the District of Columbia was destined
to become" They realized, he argued,
finality" and showed their intention
that it should be changed by providing
for changes in Article V, and 19
amendments have followed.
Believes Nation Is Interested.
II am convinced that the people
all over the country are interested in
the question of eHfranchisfng the
voteless residents of Washington" he
continued, land are favorable to this
proposal for constitutional amend
ment." In confirmation of this, he
cited widespread approval of his
Fourth Of July address here in which
he called attention to the anomalous
condition Of the residents of the
Capital.
The District committees in Congress,
Mr.. Rathbone said, would be greatly
helped in framing legislation for the
District by having the constant coun-
sci of an official, elected, representa-
tive of the people In Congress. There
will continue to be an increasingly
strong effort on the part of the people
here, and elsewhere" he continued,
biased on sentiment and reason, un-
til national representation is granted.
We ought to do our full duty toward
the people here, and ] am satisfied
our duty is to propose national repre-
sentation." He quoted Madison in
the Federalist as looking toward such
action. There never was any inten-
ton, he insisted, on the part of the
founding fathers to deny any Ameri
can the right of suffrage.
Representative Rathbone was espe
cially effective in replying to objec.
tions which members of the commit
tee pointed out might be raised
When Mr.. Gibson pointed out that the
Constitution gave Congress absolute
legislative jurisdiction over the Dis
trict. Mr.. Rathbone replied that the
primary reason for this was to recon
cile the rivalry and jealousies OF the
States. so that no State could claim
the Capital, and he called attention
to a similar situation in Australia,
where Canberra has been established
as the capital city.