Evening star., 1935-12-04
ALLEN TOPROPOSE
ADVISORY VOTING
/. BY D. c. RESIDENTS
Measure to Be Offered to
Congress Early in Next
Session.
APPOINTMENT OF BOARD
OF THREE is SUGGESTED
Standards of Eligibility for Vot-
ers Are Offered in Draft of Bill
Already Prepared.

District residents would be given
the right to vote" on important pend-
ing District problems in advisory ref
erenda held by the Commissioners, un-
der the terms of bill to be offered
to Congress early next session by Com
missioner George E. Allen.
The elections would be only advisory
and in no way binding on the Com
miSSioners, it was made clear in the
proposed measure drafted By the cor
poration coupsels Office for Allen.
Release Of the draft is part Of
Aliens campaign to give residents Of
the National Capital stronger voice
in their government, pending congress
sional grant to the District of full
representation in Congress. H
Referendum Attempt Recalled.
The announcement recalls plans of
the Commissioners for a referendum
in Takoma more than a year ago
on whether liquor licenses should be
granted stores in that section. Ma
chinery had been established for that
vote" when proponents of the licenses
obtained temporary injunction at
District Supreme Court against the
advisory vote. The District failed to
appeal that decision, which was based,
in part. on the contention the Conn
missicners had no power to delegate
| their authority.
At that time Allen declared he would
ask Congress to legalize advisory ref
erenda. so the Commissioners would
have the benefit of public sentiment on
major public matters.
The enacting clause of the proposed
measure provides that the Commits
! sionerS are authorized and empowered.
whenever they desire to ascertain the
wishes or sentiment Of the residents Of
the District of Columbia or any part
| thereof upon any matter or question
Of interest to the persons residing in
1 the District of Columbia, or any part
thereof, to refer such matter or ques-
ton to vote of the residents of the
/ District of Columbia or to a vote Of
the residents of any such portion OF
the District of Columbia as the COM
missioners, in their discretion may de-
termine. The results of any such refer.
endum shall be advisory only, and shall
not be binding upon the Commissioners
or compel them to do any act or re-
frain from doing any act. Not more
than two referenda shall be held IN
any fiscal year, but any number of
matters or questions may be submitted
at any referendum"
Board Would Be Appointed.
The proposed bill provides for ap-
pointment by the Commissioners of o
Board of Elections of three members,
each for a term of four years. Each
would have to be citizen of the United
States and a resident of the District
! for not less than five years preceding
appointment.
To be eligible to vote a resident would
have to be a citizen of the United
States, 2I or more years old, and to
have been domiciled within the District
for at least one year prior to the elec-
ton. He would not be eligible if he held
voting privilege in any other jurisdic-
ton.
The Board of Elections would have
| the duties of defining and establish
ing election precincts. each one not TO
embrace more than 800 voters; provide
places for registration and voting; pro-
vide for maintenance of booths ballots,
boxes, books, maps, cards of instruc-
ton and other necessary parapherna-
liza: appoint registrars, judges, clerks
and other voting officers; inquire into
any challenges of voters or alleged ir-
regularities, and TO receive and count
the returns.
There would be no pay for the
members of the Board of Elections,
but each registrar, judge, clerk or
other election officer would be paid
$40 for each day devoted to his duties.
Fines Would Be Provided.
Registration of voters for any refer
enda would have to be completed at
least 80 days prior to the vote. At
lease 20 days before any election the
Board of Elections would have the
duty of posting in precinct polling
places the names Of the registered
voters.
Fines up to $500 or imprisonment
up to 80 days in jail, or both, could
be imposed on any one making false
representation as to his voting priv
ilege, or who was found guilty Of
bribery or intimidation of any voter,
or who was found guilty of voting or
attempting to vote more than once in
any election, or who secretes any OF
the votes cast in elections or know
ingly makes false report Of the votes
counted. These things would be re-
garded as offenses against the United
States.
To pay the cost of the proposed ad-
visory referenda votes the Commis-
sioners would be empowered to ap-
propriate District revenues. A limit
not yet stated, would be fixed for the
maximum cost Of the elections.