Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-06
BECK WAGES FIGHT
|. FOR SEAT IN HOUSE
Declares Charge Against Him
Would DisquaIify Many
Others Now Enrolled.

by tHe AefbFlatfu iTetb-
James M. Beck charged today that
to deny him his scat In the House as
Republican Representative from Penn
sylvania because he had q home in
Washington would disqualify nearly half
Of the Senate and considerable num-
Der In the House.
Defending himself from Democratic
charges that he was not an inllabitant
Of Pennsylvania in the constitutional
sense when he was elected. Beck de-
clared before q House elections COM
mittee that an increasing number OF
Senators had acquired homes In Wash
ington and lived here the greater part
of the year. being only occasionally In
the States they represent.
Cites Others as Example.
"If the doctrine Of predominant ply
steal presence Is TO prevail" Beck de-
ciared. then several Western Senators
could not hold their seats. Senator
Lodge lived nine months Of the
year In Washington and. when not In
Europe. q few months In his Summer
home In Massachusetts. Senator Knox
lived the greater part of the year In
Washington and. while he had q coun-
try residence In Pennsylvania. he voted
from room In n hotel In Pittsburgh,
Therefore my residence III Washing
ton can be eliminated unless this conn
mittee Is prepared TO suggest whole
sale slaughter OF our most prominent
men In public lie In the matter OF their
eligibility"
Was Born In Philadelphia.
Beck said he was born III Philadel-
n
city. but admitted that for II years he
had been u resident OF New York ana
New Jersey. voting for several years III
New Jersey. In 1924. he said. lac de-
termined TO resume his residence III MS
native city. lie admitted that he has
residence IN Washington. which he
purchased before he became Solicitor
General of the United States.
lie contended that he vas an in
habitant" OF Pennsylvania In the mean
ing the trainers Of the Constitution had
given To the word. bastng his contention
upon his establishment of legal eot-
Ing residence year and half ago IN
Philadelphia. preceded by the public
announcement of his intention to re-
sumo his Philadelphia citizenship,
Representative Kents Charges,
Representative Kent. Democrat, Penn
sylyania. charged that Heck was being
groomed In 1926 as Il successor OF Ware,
In his testimony upon cross eNami-
nation. Kent said Beck made the adj
mission that with u real eatate agent,
known and proved In the Senate hear
ings to he one Of tho leading contfihu-
tors to the Ware campaign, he went into
tho flrst congressional district and look
ed at three apartments.
He went into no other district"
Kent continued. 'lie went there be-
fore the Spring primaries Of lpad, In
the same breath MIR. BECK testified that
his reason for combining himself In his
apartment hunting To the first congress
sional district was because he desired to
run for Congress Ia that diatrlct."
Made Home IN Washington. lie Says.
II was further charged that Heck
made his home In Washington and
maintained a Summer residence ut sea
bright. N, j., Using his Philadelphia
apartment only ~ u place from which
10 vote,
"iie campaiened very little and was
glad Ia get back 10 Washington" Kent
said adding that It was evident that
Heek's ''anle intent and inclination was
tn Establish u voting residence To comply
with the legal qualifications necessary
Tor voting. and he never Intended 10
become All inhahitant Ut rennsylvaniA,"