Evening star., 1928-03-17
ELECTION Of BECK
IS HELD LEGAL BY
! HOUSE COMMITTEE
Recommendation Is Made
That Member Be Allowed
to Take Seat.
CITIZENSHIP AFFIRMED
IN REPORT OF PR0BERS
Evidence Declared Sufficient to
Show He Is Legally
Pennsylvania.
CITIZENSHIP AFFIRMED
iat 0rnnnr nr 0DnpcDc

Ev the Associated Press.
Holding that men who have beer
chosen as Representatives i'll Congress!
should not be excluded unless then
cases present a clear violation Of tht
Constitution. House elections commit
tee today recommended that James NJ
Seek be permitted to retain his seal
as q Republican Representative from
PENNSYLVANIA.
Mr.. Beck was elected to succeed WI.
liam S. Ware. whose right to sit in the
Senate has been bitterly contested or
the ground that his campaign eXpendi-
tures were excessive.
Gist Of Reports.
The report, signed by six Republicans
ano one Democratic member OF the
committee. was accompanied by a
minority report which presented The
contentious of two Democratic COM
mitteemen that Beck was not an in
habitant OF Pennsylvania in the con-
ktitutional sense at the time OF his
election.
The, majority report declared that
I'VE must rely upon the integrity. the
patriotism and the good sense Of the
electors In the various districts with
respect TO the choice Of ut member.
ship in the House of Representatives.
This Is q part Of the very genius oi
representative government, II contin-
ued. And we do not think that IL Is
proper TO seek for strained and captious
interpretations Of this paragraph OF the
Constitution to find reasons for rejec-
ting men who have been chosen through
the deliberate viii of their constituent:
as indicated at the polls"
Garrett Challenges Election.
The right of MFR. Beck to take his
seat In the House was challenged BY
Representative Garrett, Democratic
House leader, at the opening of the
session. The House permitted him tc
take the oath and referred the case tc
an elections committee.
The committee decided that Mr. Beck
IS a citizen" of Pennsylvania.
I'VE do not think this can be dis
puted." II added. Born In that State,
after having left II he has returned and
maintained legal residence more than
sufficiently long 70 satisfy the consti-
tuttonsl provision Of that State as to
citizenship therein.
bfr. Beck Is q legal eiector In the
state Of Pennsylvania. We do not
think this can be disputed Having
maintained legal residence In that
State more than sufficiently long 10
qualify him for the electoral privileges
he attended TO the formalitjes thereof
paid the poll tax required, offered him.
self 70 the registration board for regis
irstion. vas registered as a voter WITH
cut challenge and thereafter ana be-
fore his election performed the privilege
OF voting In an election without chai-
lenge.
Minority Report.
The minority report, signed by Rep.
TcsentatiyeS Browning Of Tennessee and
Wilson Of Mississippi. Democrats, de-
ciared that while any constituency
should have the right TO choose it's Rep.
TesertatiyeS in Congress, that choice
must BE- within constitutional bounds .
Our charter of liberties, the Consti-
tuition" IL asserted. should stand above
the aspirations OF an individual who
would sunyeTt IL or the action Of con-
st!Iuencies who ignore IL. II Mr. Beck
IL 70 retain his seat we view the prece-
nsnt. not as a part Of the general
erosion Of the Constitution, but as q
frontal attack on IL. blasting process
WHICH is TO weaken the foundation os
tGe great American dream Of repre-.
sentative government.
In q day when political machine
esa select any individual II chooses u
put into al1e House. there are multiplied
dangers 70 those the fathers knew when
they made this inhibition" the Demo.
egsts declared,