Evening star., 1939-04-20
'A|esandro Given
Eligibility Rating
For D. T.. Committee
Filling Of 5 Vacancies
Expected Soon to
Assure Party Control
Star Staff Photo.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

Representative Thomas D'Ales-
andre, jr., Of Baltimore, who has
sought an assignment on the House
District Committee ever since his
election to Congress, may achieve
his goal when the five Democratic
vacancies are filled, it was learned
today from an authoritative source.
He and Representative Lansdale
G. Sasscer, Maryland's S newest House
member, are among q Democrats
found to be eligible for the assign
ment because they are not now
serving on so-called select COM
mittees. Mr.. Sasscer, however, is
known to be seeking an appointment
on the Naval Affairs Committee,
one Of the select committees.
Representative D,Alesandro took
the seat in the House of former
Representative Vincent L. Palmisano
who, at the time of his defeat, was
chairman of the District Committee
Representative Sasscer was elected
several months ago to fill a vacancy
created by the death of Representa-
tive Stephen w. GAmbrill.
Appointments Forecast Soon.
The five vacancies are expected to
be filled before the end of the week
Appointment of either Mr.. DAles-
andre or Mr.. Sasscer would serve to
contradict published reports that
only members opposed to District
suffrage would be selected. Both of
them favor franchisement of the
voteless Washingtonian.
In fact, Chairman Randolph of the
District Committee, who will des-
ignate his choice of the eligible
members, said the suffrage question
would not have any bearing on the
appointments. If it did, Mr.. RAN
dolph probably would choose exclu-
sively the suffrage supporters among
the 27 eligibles.
He Is an ardent advocate of both
local suffrage and national repre-
sentation, and has a bill pending
in the Judiciary Committee to give
the disfranchised residents of the
District the privilege of voting for
both local officials as well as Presi-
dent and Vice President, and elect
ing their own representatives in
Congress.
Party Majority Slim.
Steps to have the five vacancies
filled without further delay were
taken by Mr.. Randolph, primarily
as result of the near Republican
control of the committee. There
are now nine Democrats and seven
Republicans on the committee. The
Democrats are entitled to IA mem
bers. The Republicans have their
full complement.
Under the present set-up, Mr..
Randolph discovered when the tax
bill was before the committee the
other day. the Republicans, with the
aid OF three Democratic members,
were prepared to kill provision
calling tor q / per cent sales tax
and substitute q graduated income
tax that would tap the salaries Of
those In the low brackets. Such q
move would have constituted q vic
tory for the Republicans, who, for
political reasons, have vigorously
fought for an income tax. To pre-
clude such q situation, the tax bill
was recommitted to the Fiscal AZ
fairs Subcommittee for further con-
sideration. The fate Of the sales tax
is still a matter for conjecture.
From a political standpoint, Mr..
Randolph would have five more
votes to count on II the tax bill
should be returned to the full COM
mittee with the sales tax provision
intact II existing vacancies are
filled. And also, he would have
more strength in the future, II an
other effort should be made to drag
local legislation into partisan pol
itics.