Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-12
VOTE FOR DISTRICT
IS URGED ON HOUSE
BY COMMISSIONERS
IndorSe Resolution to Give
City Representation in
Congress.
UNANIMOUS APPROVAL
VOICED BY D. C. HEADS
See Beneficial Results From Pro-
posal to Give Capital Legis-
lative Voice.

The District Commissioners today re-
ported favorably to the House judiciary
on the joint resolution pro-
viding national representation for the
District of Columbia. The Commits
sioners say that it is their carefully
considered opinion" that the proposal
applies fundamental American pr1H1-
ciple to the residents of the District Of
Columbia and is In strict conformity
with the constitutional provision re.
garding the seat of the Government"
The joint resolution proposes an
amendment to the Constitution giving
Congress the power to admit District
citizens to the status OF State citizens
to elect Senators, Representatives and
electors and of suing and being sued in
Federal courts.
Letter Of Commissioners.
The full text of the letter, which was
addressed to Representative George 8.
Graham Of Pennsylvania, chairman of
the House judiciary committee i Is
follows:
Sir:
'In response 10 your letter Of the
fifth instant the Commissioners Of the
District of Columbia, have the honor
to report on House Joint Resolution, %,
Seventy-flrSt Congress, flrst session, that
they have given the proposed bill care
full consideration and unanimously ap.
prove the proposed legislation.
This joint resolution proposes an
amendment to the Constitution giving
Congress the power to admit to the
status of citizens Of State the resi-.
dents Of the. District Of Columbia for
the sole purpose Of representation In
Congress by one or two Senators and
by Representatives In the House Of Rep
resentatives as determined by the extent
OF population and presidential electors
equal in number to their aggregate rep
resentation in the House and Senate
and being sued in the courts of the
United States.
Would Aid District.
'cIt is the carefully considered opinion
OF the Commission that there Is every
reason for granting the Congress this
additional power in respect to the resi-
dents of the District of Columbia to he
exercised in its own time and Ia ae-
cordance with such subsequent legisla.
tive action that 1t may desire. In our
Judgment there exists no sound reason
for withholding such increase Of power,
and the effect on the District Of Co.
lumbia it appears to US would be bene.
fetal.
"a careful study Of the proposition
indicates the following conclusions:
81. That the passage Of this joint
resolution and any subsequent legiSla-
ton hereunder makes no change IN the
local government.
-. This is In no sense o partisan
political issue aS Is evidenced by the
fact that local leaders of both major
parties are outSpoken in its advocacy.
80. The proposal applies q funda-
mental American principle to the resi-
dents Of the District of Columbia and
Is in strict conformity with the coE1Sti-
tutional provision regarding the seat Of
the Government. The proposed amend
ment carries out the principle that In
a republic all parts should be repre-.
sented through their own elected rep
resentatives and Is entirely consistent
with the exercise by the Congress Of
exclusive legislative control of the Dis-
trtct Of Columbia. The adoption Of
degree the exclusive legislative power of
Congress, but on the other hand It
gives to the residents Of the District
voting representation In the Congress
which Is to exercise that exclusive legis-
lative control.
Both Would Gain.
a. It is believed that both Congress
and the District Of Columbia win gain
much through the better facilities for
authoritatively making known the needs
Of the residents on both local and ma
Ctonal matters as there Is now no actual
official channel available for such pur-
pose, and it is our belief that it is only
through the elected representatives Of Q
people that their views and desires may
be directly reflected.
"In conclusion, reference is made to
the very comprehensive report Of the
Senate committee on the District OF
Columbia upon this identical resolution
(Senate report No. 507, Sixty-Seventh
Congress, second session.. This COM
mittee, after hearing and close study,
registered its approval and recon-
mended that the proposed constitution
al amendment be passed and submitted
to the Legislatures Of the several States
for ratification. The Commissioners
heartily concur in the findings and
Of the said Senate
committee on the District of Columbia,
B copy of which report Is transmitted
herewith.
Yours very truly,
(Signed),
PROCTOR L. DoUGHERrY,
President, Board Of Commissioners Of
the District Of Columbia"