Evening star., 1937-05-30
National Representation Hearing
Planned for Early Next Session.

Planned for Early Next Session.
COMMISSIONER GEORGE E.
ALLEN, chairman of the Sub
committe on Congressional Hear
ings of the Citizens Joint Com
mittee on National representation,
has made a survey of the legisla-
tive situation and recommended
that preparation be made for a
hearing early in the next session
Of Congress. In his report, adopt
ed by the joint committee a week
ago, he gave as reasons for not
pressing for hearing in the pres
ent session the unprecedented leg
islative situation and the Districts
fiscal tangle, which is drawing
largely upon the time and thought
of the very people who would be
required to bear a large part Of
the burden in connection with a
hearing.
Conference with friends of the
movement in both branches of
Congress develops the opinion that
even in event Of a hearing this
session there would be no possibil-
ity of action and the effect of the
hearing would, in large measure,
be lost before the next session of
Congress
The Committee on Congress
sional Hearings is a very repre-
sentative body, numbering among
its members leaders of the prin-
cipal CARNATIONS Of the District.
This committee proposes to make
careful preparation for the hear
ing by assembling all pertinent,
recent facts and figures and mar
shall force Of spokesmen who
will handle exhaustively every
phase Of the subject and repre-
sent practically all Of the civic,
trade and labor bodies and organ
izations Of other types. Both local.
State and national organizations
will send duly accredited repre-
sentatives to the hearing.
There has been some confusion
in the minds of some of our citi-
zens recently as to what Is meant
by national representation for the
District and what is provided by
the identical congressional joint
resolutions introduced In the re-
spective houses by Senator Arthur
Capper. Republican. of Kansas
Is. j. Res. l3) and Representative
Mary T. Norton. Democrat, Of New
Jersey (H. r. j. Res. 2320. This
proposed legislation has even been
referred to as bill to grant self
government to the District of Co.
lumbia.
National representation for the
District is obtainable through the
adoption of an amendment to the
Constitution OF the United States
as provided by the joint resolution
mentioned. This resolution, when
passed by both Senate and House
of Representatives by two-thirds
vote and ratification by the Legis-
latures of three -fourths of the
States, will empower Congress to
grant unto the residents of the Dis
trict of Columbia voting representa-
ton in the Senate, House Of Rep
resentatives and the electoral coll
lege for President and Vice Presi-
dent and the same rights, as citi-
zens, before the Federal courts as
possessed by the citizens Of State.
This proposal will admit the Dis
trict to the councils OF the Nation
and will give it fractional par
ticipation in the exercise Of lex
elusive legislation, in all cases
whatsoever" over the seat Of the
government Of the United States.
The proposal in no way changes
the form of the local government or
lessons the power of Congress over
the National Capital. The Citizens
Joint Committee confines its advo-
cacy Of suffrage to this one form Of
suffrage for the reason that 1t was
formed for that purpose solely.
RApreaentAd In tina toint COMMITTEES