Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-04-13
Citizens Group
Endorses Move
For DC. Vote
Associations Urged
To Press for
Adoption

IlC lCSOluUlOIl Wv
for national representation for the
disfranchised residents of WASH :,
ington today had received the
wholehearted Endorsement of the
Citizens Joint Committee on Ma
tional Representation for the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Acting at a special meeting held
yesterday afternoon in the Board
of Trade offices, the committee
unanimously approved the measure
and directed its officers and sub
committees to advocate its adoption
by Congress. The committee also
authorized its chairman to write to
Chairman Summers of the House
judiciary Committee, sponsor of the
resolution, informing him of its
action and expressing its gratitude
for his activity in behalf of national
representation.
Members of the committee were
enthusiastic in their Endorsement
OF the resolution and called on cit
liens associations of the District
to throw their support BEND the
measure. The motion adopted by
the committee was contained in a
report submitted by Paul E. Lesh,
chairman of the Committee on
Hearings of the Joint Committee.
The report was approved on mo-
ton of Evan H. Tucker, president
Of the Northeast Citizens Assocla-
ton.
Called Self Evident Truths.
Mr. Lesh said that while his COM
mittee was not authorized to speak
for Representative Summers, I'VE
believe that the reasons which led
him to the position he has taken
are substantially as follows:
The fundamental principle upon
which the government in our Ma
ton is based is consent of the gov
erned. This principle has been de-
| clared in forms accepted as self
evident truths. such as that gov
ernments derive their just powers
from the consent of the governed
and taxation without representation
| is tyranny Self-government is ac-
| compllshed by the election by the
| people of those who make and ad-
minister the laws. The exception is
made with respect to the people at
/ the seat of its government, to the
/ exclusion of any state or local SOW
ereignty. Inasmuch as this national
! interest is the sole reason for ex-
| cepting the District of Columbia
from the otherwise universal rule
of self-government, it follows that
the people of the District should
have such participation in their
government as does not conflict with
the national interest.
/ mo impairment of national inter-
est would result from participation
by the people of the District in the
National Government. None would
result from local self-government il
the National Congress retains the
power to revoke such control as may
be delegated TO local government.
States Approval Not Necessary.
| Mr.. Lesh explained that forms of
amendment to the Constitution here
tofore proposed have explained our
aims more fully and in detail" but
have included specific provisions
which can as we'll be included in the
subsequent legislation as in the con-
stitutional amendment. He also ex-
planned that two other resolutions
also before the Judiciary Committee
would require ratification by three
fourths of the States of any legisla-
ton to repeal or amend a national
representation plan. Mr.. Summers
resolution, however, would enable
Congress to repeal or change the
plan without approval Of three
| fourths of the States
Theodore w. Moves, chairman of
the Joint Committee, who presided
at the meeting. said the committee
welcomes with grateful enthusiasm
Mr.. Summers leadership in behalf of
national representation for the
District"
The committee adopted resolu-
ton expressing deep regret at the
death of Senator James Hamilton
Lewis. Mr.. Noyes, recalling that he
first knew Mr.. Lewis as a Repre-
sentative from the State of WASH
ington, said the Senator had deep
interest in District affairs through
out his career in Congress.