Evening star., 1927-11-22
STATE LEGISLATORS
STUDY D. c. VOTE
National Council Committee
Plans Conference Here on
District Franchise.

Impressed with the plight of vote.
less Washington, the executive com
mittec Of the National Council of
State Legislatures has created a spe-
cial committee to confer at an early
date with the Joint Citizens Commit
tee for National Representation for
the District of Columbia.
Tentative suggestions were made to-
day to the chairman and secretary OF
the citizens committee that the confer
ence be held next Tuesday afternoon.
when there is 10 be a meeting of the
executive committee of the National
Representation Committee in the office
Of the Board of Trade in The Star
Building.
It j., understood that sentiment is
strong among members of the spec1ai
committee in favor OF recommending
that the Council of Legislatures go on
record as advocating representation
for the District in Congress and IN the
electoral college.
Horsey Favors Plan.
J. Ronald Horsey of Baltimore,
member of the Legislature OF Mary
land, is a member of the special com.
mittee. and is expected to be named
as it's chairman.
"I feel strongly on the subject OF
national representation for the DIS
trict of Columbia" said Mr.. Horsey
over the long-distance telephone today.
"The National Capital by all means
should have representation in Con-
eress and a voice in the electoral col
lege. There can be no valid excuse, in
my opinion. for longer depriving
nearly 500,0 900 people in Washington
of the right to vote for President or
the United States and a voice in the
body which fixes their taxes and ap-
propriates money for their needs"
John Fl. Kirby of Houston, Tex,
member of the Texas Legislature and
president of the National Council of
State Legislatures. appointed the spe-
cial committee on District of Columbia
government, as it is called, few days
ago in accordance with instructions
from the executive committee OF the
organization. The members of the spe-
cial committee. besides Mr.. Horsey,
are:
William Winthrop of Wilmington,
speaker in the Delaware Legislature;
Thomas Bluett of Philadelphia, speak
er in the Pennsylvania Legislature:
Arthur A. Sherman of Portsmouth.
r. l., speaker in the Rhode Island
Legislature, and j. Warren Topping
of Cape Charles, Va, member of the
Virginia Legislature.
Most Approve Representation.
All, or a majority of these members
are in favor of national representa-
ton for the District, according to in
formation received today from repre-
sentatives of the Council of Legisla-
lures in this city.
d. E. Casey, assistant secretary of
the organization, who is in charge
of it's headquarters here. is writing
today to all members of the special
committee suggesting that they come
to Washington next Tuesday, or
whenever the conference with the
citizens committee is definitely ar
ranged.
The National Council of State Leg
islatures was organized at meetings
held in Washington this Fall. While
its first move was to ask Congress
for repeal of the Federal estate tax. it
is planning to take a stand on all
matters of joint interest to the Fed
eral and State governments. Forty
States were represented at its meet
ing a few weeks ago in the Raleigh
Hotel.
1t was at that meeting that the sub
]ect of national representation for
the District was first brought before
the organization. Frederic William
Vile. on behalf of the citizens COM
mtree, made a brief talk before the
council. telling of the efforts of the
people of the National Capital to OBJ
tain representation in the National
Government. President Kirby suggest
ed that Mr.. Vile draft resolution for
consideration by the council This was
done, and the proposal was laid before
the executive committee of the organi-
cation the next day.
So important did the members of
the councils executive committee re-
gard the subject that President Kirby
was authorized to appoint a special
committee without delay. AS soon as
the committee was named steps were
taken to arrange for conference with
the local citizens committee.
The members of the executive com.
mittee of the Council of Legislatures
are John Fl. Kirby. chairman; Phil A.
Bennett of Springfield. Mo-. vice chair
man; Thomas A. Hill of Pine Bluff.
Ark. secretary.treasurer: William III.
Blodgett of Hartford. Conn.,, tax COM
missioner of his State, and Gilbert
Morgan Of Cleveland, Ohio.