The Washington times., 1938-05-19
Continued from Page II

pie opportunity to present his
case tomorrow.
Because Of the disappointingly
small crowd of spectators who
turned out for today's session,
Chairman Summers transferred
the hearings from the large caucus
room to the smaller Judiciary
Committee room.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Announcing that he represents
approximately $4,000 Washing
ton residents, Wilbur S. Finch,
chairman of the Citizens Confer
ence on District Suffrage, ad-
dressed the committee on the ques-
ton of local self-government, after
explaining that the national suf-
frage issue had already been dealt
with exhaustively by witnesses
yesterday.
He pointed out that one Of the
principal activities of the citizens
conference was the unofficial ref.
erendum on April 80, in which al
most 100000 went to the polls and
expressed themselves on the Ques-
ton Of District suffrage.
LITTLE OLD-FASHIONED"
He prefaced his remarks to the
committee with the statement:
IF I appear to be a little old
fashioned, it is because of my
fundamental belief in the prin-
ciples of American democracy"
Mr.. Finch referred to several
decisions Of the Supreme Court
on the self-government issue, and
declared:
II think it is safe to conceive
that if the Constitution remains
unchanged in this respect, some
future Congress might lawfully
place us under a dictatorial
form of government, but one
which must, by constitutional
mandate, remain benevolent"
MINIATURE STATE
He pointed to a Supreme Court
decision, which, he said, gave the
District "Some measure of con-
Sideration," in which the court ex,
planned that Congress may give
it (the municipality all the
powers such a being is capable
Of receiving, making it a NINA.
ture State within it's locality"
ELECTIVE GOVERNMENT
ITO sum UP this point" Mr..
Finch said, "I believe that Con-
greSS can, under the Supreme
Courts Interpretation of its
power of the District, create
here a form of elective mu-
nicipal government comparable
to any Of those now existing in
most Of the other municipalities
in the United States.
IF there is any dispute on
this point, it is not whether
Congress can or cannot create
here an elective, municipal gov
eminent, but rather that the
powers which the Supreme Court
has said that Congress may dele
gate to such a government would
be insufficient to satisfy some
Of our citizens who wish more
effective voting privileges, and
some members Of Congress who,
burdened with the duty Of han
ding our local affairs, wish to
transfer practically all RESPONSE
bility to the people here where
they believe it properly belongs"
ANSWERS OBJECTION
Answering an objection raised
yesterday by Representative Hat
ton w. Summers Cd, Texas, com
mittee chairman, concerning the
"permanency'' of suffrage legisla
ton, Mr.. Finch pointed out to the
committee that the granting Of
home rule would not. repeal con
greSSional power to exercise ex
elusive legislation over the District
Of Columbia.
However, he stated that the po
litical privilege which Congress
could grant to the District. "woulc
be somewhat enshrouded in. the
sanctity Of a constitutional grant
and future Congresses would per
hapS be reluctant to interfere with
them unless an emergency shoulc
thereafter arrive of such a seriou!
nature as to affect the necessar!
independence Of the Federal Gov
eminent"