Evening star., 1938-05-02
.D|STR|CT'SRUSH
TOPOLLSB00STS
| SUFFRAGE EONH|LL
Leaders Pledge Early and
Earnest Consideration
of Local Ballot.
RESULTS OF PLEBISCITE
SCANNED BY CONGRESS
Capper Sounds Keynote of Those
Favorable, Saying There Is
No Doubt of Sentiment.

Congress today scanned results of
Washington's plebiscite, and leading
members Of both Houses, impressed
by the overwhelming majorities cast
in favor of national representation
and local suffrage, promised early and
earnest consideration of proposals to
give the people of the District the
rights of other American citizens.
If this is a democracy" declared
Senator Capper, Republican, of
Kansas, ranking minority member Of
the Senate District Committee, "and
the people rule, the residents CT the
District are entitled to consideration
of their expressed wish"
Voicing a keynote for Senators
and Representatives in favor of grant,
ing the unmistakably expressed wish
of the plebiscite, the veteran Kansan
added that "it was wonderful show
ing. There can be no question about
the sentiment of the community"
Senators and Representatives in key
positions promised to support pend
ing proposal to give the District rep
resentation in Congress and to en-
franchise its people.
Few Are Nom Commital.
Other members, while not COM
mitting themselves to this extent,
agreed to give these measures even
more careful consideration in view
of the overwhelming expression Of
the citizens at the polls. A few
asked for comment were non-com-
initial or unfavorable. But nearly
every member of Congress was i'm
pressed by the size of the vote cast
and its unnlistakable trend.
Senator McNary of Oregon, Republic
can floor leader, said: Il have always
been for the widest form of suffrage
for the District
Chairman King of the Senate Dis
trict Committee said he would be
willing to allow the District to send
a delegate to the House on the same
basis that territories are represented
in that body Territorial delegates
have the privilege of the floor. but
no vote.
Asked what his position would be
on the two proposed constitutional
amendments to grant the District ma
tional representation on basis with
the States and to give citizens of
Washington self-government, the Utah
Senator said:
Il have always taken a great in
terest in the District and have con-
suited its people on their schools and
other municipal problems. OF course,
I will give consideration to the views
expressed Saturday, reserving always
the right of my own judgment"
Eighteen of the 25 members Of the
House Judiciary Committee. which is
to conduct hearings May Is and 10
on national representation for the
District. commented today on the
plebiscite, and all were impressed by
the vote. Some were frankly favor
able to carrying out the wishes of the
people. Others felt they should with
hold judgment until the hearings are
| concluded.
oSiiatO1 1Al1IS I'D ClldA Qldll VI llI6
special subcommittee to which was
referred two proposed constitutional
amendments giving the District ma
tional representation.
Chairman Hatton w. Summers. while
preserving a strict judicial attitude
until his committee has had the case
for the people presented to them, has
for years felt that something should
be done about this important ques-
ton"
He said today in reply to a ques-
| ton: Don't you consider the vote Sat-
urday conclusive?": "Of course, it is
not conclusive, but I do consider it
persuasive.
He also admitted: "There doesn't
seem to be any doubt about what the
people wish. The balloting seems a
very clear expression of the views of
the residents. and the majority vote
on both questions of national repre-
sentation and local self-government
appears to be positive"
Other Judiciary Committee men,
bers commented as follows:
Representative Robert L. Ramsay,
Democrat, of West Virginia: Il am
(see VOTE, Page A-4.)