Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-14

COIlSJltutIOIldI dtIlCIIuIHCtIt VdSHAi6
tonians urged mandatory amend
ment which should by its terms give
them directly and Immediately the
status of citizens of a State for the
purpose only Of representation III
Congress and the electoral college.
This amendment was rejected be-
cause 1t was mandatory. In 1917 py
the second Chamberlain amendment
Washingtonian urged only an
amendment which. as an 1rreduclple
minimum of justice, should empower
Congress in its discretion TO give
them this national representation.
The latter form Of amendment Is
that which is now pending. spon-
sored by Senator Jones in the Sen
ate and Representative Dyer IN the
House. Rejected in 1916 because II
was mandatory, our amendment Is
now sometimes aSsailed because IT
is not mandatory. An article ct
1917, reprinted below, explains ana
justifies the change:
A constitutional amendment has
a long road and hard ROAD TO
travel. It must run the gauntlet OF
two-thirds of Congress and three
fourths of the state Legislatures. 1t
must be stripped for the race. 1t
must carry not an ounce OF super
fluous weight either externally on its
body or in fat upon its bones.
Washington thought that the first
Chamberlain amendments. j. r.,
32-was trained for the purpose OF
running its course to the highest
r,ssible point of racing efficiency:
that it was absolutely rid of all inn
peding non-essentials: that it was
handicapped by a minimum OF clogs
and hazards.
But experience has shown Wash
ingtons mistake. The first Cham
berlain amendment Is halted in the
Judiciary subcommittee Of the Sem
ate District committee. Some in
fluential Senators are not willing to
give today for immediate enjoyment
the status of American citizens for
the purpose OF national representa-
ton to the residents of the District
of Columbia. A few fear partisan
disadvantage from immediate Dis
trict representation in a delicately
balanced Senate and House. A few
doubt whether the Districts voting
constituency is today entitled to ma
tional representation. Some who
favor votes for women believe that
explicit and unmistakable enfran-
chisement Of women Of the District
should be simultaneous with the &C
tual grant of any form Of national
representation to the male residents
Of the Capital.
Frorn this condition springs the
second Chamberlain amendments.
j. r., lo6-which Is printed at the
head Of this article. It has all the
merits of the first amendment and
avoids the objections aimed at the
latter. II does not grant direct and
immediate representation to the Dis
trict. but empowers Congress to
grant such representation ut Its dis
cretion in the future. It thus dis
arms the opposition Of today's parti-
san apprehension. Of votes-for-wom-
en- sensitiveness, and OF doubters OF
the immediate fitness OF the Dis
trict's voting constituency.
Merits Of Present Amendment.
And vet the second Chamberlain
resolution effects the vital essential
of the ideal constitutional amend
ment. Nothing whatever should be
sought through q two-thirds vote Of
Congress and q three-fourths vote
Of the States which can be secured
through q majority vote Of Congress.
An absolute minimum Of alteration
OF the Constitution, affecting or1lv
the vitality necessary change. should
be proposed by amendment.
The second Chamberlain amend
ment does not directly and imme-
diately give to Neutrality-suspicious. ma
tional representation. but II taktA
that vital privilege from inaecessi-
bility and places II within reach.
After its adoption only q majority
vote OF Congress will be required TO
do equity in this matter. whereas
now o two-thirds vote OF Congress
and q three-fourths vote Of the
State Legislatures are necessary.
It's sole effect Is to remedy an &C
knowledged evil and to do equity BY
empowering Congress 10 declare the
political ana judicial status Of the
residents Of the seat Of Government.
All OF the controverted issues con-
corning the makeup ot the. local
electorate. the qualifications OF vot-
ers and the form Of local govern
ment upon which both Washingto-
mans and our national legislators
redically differ among themselves
are postponed to be decided by the
majority vote OF Congress after the
great and vital question OF the con-
stitutimal status Of the Washing
tonian has been answered.
A proposed constitutional amend
ment affecting the District Is DOOM
ed to defeat which provokes the
active opposition Of either Demo-
Gratis or Republicans: OF progressives.
conservatives or reactionaries: Of