Evening star., 1937-07-10
TALKS
F.. 0ND|STR|C7 PLANS
Advocates Home Rule and
Congressional Represen-
tation for Capital.

Chairman Palmisano of the House
District Committee advocated home
rule and congressional representation
for the District yesterday as he out
lined the course he plans to follow
in recommending legislation for the
District.
Recent successor of Representative
Mary T. Norton as District Commit
tee head, Palmisano, in an effort to
refute what he termed IAN unwar-
ranted attack" by local newspaper
on his position toward the people
of the District" emphatically stated:
The record will disclose I have
always taken the position that the
people of the District were entitled
to legislation which they consider
beneficial to them. I have repeatedly
made such statements on the floor
of the House.
Cites One Limitation.
However, there is one limitation
to this general statement" he con-
tinued, land that is do not feel that
the District should ask for legislation
which would be detrimental to the
bordering States, Maryland and Vir-
ginia. On the other hand, I take the
position that Congress should not
pass any laws that would give Mary
land and Virginia an advantage over
the District"
Speaking at luncheon meeting of
the Advisory Board of the American
Automobile Association, District Mo-
tor Club, attended by several men,
bers of the House District Committee
and ranking officials of the District
government, Palmisano declared
there are some people in the Dis
trict who are inclined to think that
the members Of Congress as a body
are hostile toward them"
| He denied this, stating: The ma
| jority of the members of both Houses
of Congress are endeavoring to make
this city the most beautiful in the
United States, and at the same time
they want to give the people of the
District what the people desire"
| Favors District Home Rule,
The speaker said he favored home
rule for the District, but contended "a
lot Of study" would be necessary be-
fore local governmental change should
be adopted
What I say about your local af-
| foirc tho Soppo or,I;oe -
having representatives in both
branches of Congress-" he concluded.
This provision, of course, would have
to be by constitutional amendment,
and it would be necessary to have
three-fourths Of the States ratify the
amendment
A. A. A. Manager Speaks.
Russell E Singer. general manager
of the A. A. A., followed Chairman
Palmisano with an appeal to Con-
gress and the press Of Washington to
support remedies advanced to relieve
the citys 'perplexing" traffic prob
lens.
He stated the blame cannot be
placed on the District officials, as
they do not have adequate authority
nor funds to cope with the problems
Both Chairman Palmisano's and
Singers addresses were broadcast.
Guests at the luncheon included
Representatives Jennings Randolph
of West Virginia, Laurence F. Arnold
of Illinois, Dewey Short of Missouri
and William F. Allen of Delaware, al
members of the House District Com.
mittee; Commissioners Hazen anc
Sultan, Corporation Counsel Elwooc
Seal. Capt. H. c. Whitehurst, directo,
OF highways for the District; William
A. Van Duzer, director of vehicles
and traffic; Maj Ernest w. Brown
superintendent of police, and Inspec.
tor w. E. Holmes, in charge of traffic
Washington I. Cleveland, manager
of the District Motor Club, outlined
the clubs activities at the outset o1
the session. John L. Vanderbilt
vice chairman Of the Advisory Board
presided.