Evening star., 1927-02-02
Virtual Assurance Given of
Move to That End in Forth
coming Congress.
DYER RESOLUTION FOUND
OBJECTIONABLE BY SOME
Question Raised as to Whether It
Would Not Create State Of
Capital Area.

After two hours serious discussion
of the Dyer resolution proposing q
constitutional amendment granting
national representation to the people
of the District of Columbia, the judi.
ciary committee adjourned today
with virtual assurance that definite
action would be taken in the next
Congress on some adaptation Of this
legislation.
Chairman Graham said, following
the executive session, that this prac-
tically closes the committees consid-
Grafton of the national representation
resolution for this session, but that
he believes a way will be found to
give residents of the National Capital
a part in national affairs so that they
may feel they have a share in the
Government.
Mr.. Graham said Mr.. Dyer had
recognized the feeling in the COM
mittee that on such a serious matter
the utmost care must be taken and
that as 1t was pretty well agreed
in the committee that the Dyer reso-
luton could not be passed at the
present session of Congress. Mr..
Dyer has withdrawn 1t from present
NOAASAAOAeNNNCAA W bAO
Would Preserve Jurisdiction.
The principal argument during the
executive session concerned the con-
tention that granting national repre-
sentation would lead to the establish.
ment of territory here which, like
wise, would become a State. and the
situation would result in having the
Capital City within State, with con-
fiicting authority. It was the unani-
nous opinion in the committee that
the exclusive Jurisdiction both legisla.
lively and otherwise over the Ma
tional Capital vested in Congress by
the Constitution should not be dis
turbed
Representative Dyer made a very
careful and forceful speech in behalf
of his resolution.
Representatives Montague, Demo-
crat, Of Virginia, Hersey, Republican.
OF Maine. and SsfpnRers, Democrat, of
Texas. discussed IN detail the creation
OF the District and the purposes of
the founding fathers in putting com
plete and exclusive authority over
the District in the Congress.
Question OF Control.
While not outspokenly opposed to
the resolution, these members voiced
what might be called the opposition,
based on a belief that granting the
District full suffrage in national
affairs, with a vote and voice in both
branches OF Congress on the same
basis as States, eventually would lead
to undermining exclusive control by
Congress.
Representative Hersey made the
longest speech in counseling extreme
care before taking action.
The suggestion was made that the
committee might find some way to
give the residents of the District
representation in Congress and in the
electoral college, but not as citizens
Of State.
Toward the close of the meeting
Chairman Graham suggested that Mr..
Dyer might introduce the resolution
again, and that in the next Congress
some modification might be approved
granting the people of Washington
delegate in the House and Senate and
some voice in the selection of mem
bershtp in the electoral college.
Serious Study of Proposal.
After the meeting Mr.. Dyer said that
the committee had given the question
of national representation the first
really serious consideration during the
10 years IQdI ne mas Deen actively IN
terested in the subject. He pointed
out that the hearings before the COM
mittee were ably presented arguments
in behalf of national representation
and gave the committee much infor-
nation of value. He said that the
committee is really trying to reach a
conclusion which it can sponsor and
carry through into substantive legis-
lation.
Mr.. Dyer emphasized that during
the discussion today members of the
committee expressed the conviction
that no action would be taken at this
Congress, and that, accordingly, the
judiciary committee is not hurried
in giving the subject the closest pos
sible study before reporting the
measure.
Chairman Graham again expressed
his feeling for the men and women In
the District, some of whom are here
perhaps not by choice, and said that
he felt they are entitled to some con-
sideration to make them feel they
are citizens of the country and TAX
ing a part in the management OF
public affairs. He said. however, that
he would guard most carefully ex-
elusive control by Congress OF the
District and will scrutinize ell legfs-
lation to see that such control is not
diminished.