Evening star., 1940-08-04
Civic Problems, Civic Bodies
Summers Plan Action Brings
Both Joy and Disappointment
BY JESSE C. SUTER.

BY JESSE c. sUTER.
The of the District Columbia
ton the action Thursday the House Representatives
ttee the Judiciary favorable
Constitution empowering Congress
Amercanze them There is tnge of disappointment because
the illogical muation original joint resolution by
limiting the representation in Congress Representa-
tives.
There special encouragement there was
strong sentiment in the committee opposed change and
may be possible to restore the original language the
House This opportunity work by people
who have direct indirect influence with
Within short time after the action of the Committee
Senator William King introduced joint res
ouion in original form Senator King heads the
the Senate Judiciary Committee to which
The Summers Proposal Explained
The Summers amendment in its original
aog provision to increase the Congress
init it discharge efficiently its responsibility governing
OF Government Under it Congress would have power:
l. To provide for the people of the District
the President
no greater than that OF the people of the States.
q To delegate to such
in the District all or of its
citizens on an equal footing with citizens finally
makes all legislation enacted the subject
TO or repeal except that such amendment shall
not affect the office of Senator Representative during the time
for which he selected.
That is all there original proposal no
legislative detail not statute being Intentionally
possible There mention of the kind suffrage
might be granted the extent representation
electoral college 1t makes provision particular
local government but does give Congress the relieve
ITSELF 1t so DESIRES of of its legislative
OF power to whatever local government
The Summers proposal a fundamental
constitutional provision which will
have to be worked out by Congress subsequent legislation
Representation in the Senate
The committee amendment striking Congress and insert
ing House OF representatives would deprive the
to the District representation Senate and would
automatically reduce the District among the p-
oena electors There sound
the committee.
The denial of representation in the long
exploded theory States
This idea the discard eIec
Legislatures The Senators represent the neon m uh o e tine
stead of district
especially illogical for the District people to be deprived of
representation in the Senate the
the exclusive legislation
branch of the Federal
Representatives Senate.
question which has been from time to time raised
by members repre-
entaon question
avoraby reported by Senate District Committee in
1922 provided Senator The
action of 1922.
The pending CapperNoon Joint resolution was framed bv the
late Wesley Washington provides
two Senators determined by the other
sentation in the Senate as Congress may provide"
Senate District Committee Report of 1922
favorable report Committee on the District
of Columbia repre-
sentaon thoroughly logically that
subject part report stronger or more
illuminating than the dealing representa-
ton in the Senate Space will permit quoting extensively from
this report.
On this subject the report
principle of Constitution much less specific
articles Senate
represent integral part
the District requiring
that shall precisely like existing
is that amending the Constitution
prived of its equal suffrage the the equality the
will any by pro-
posed amendment"
Woodward Pertinent Discussion of 1901
question representation Territory
the discussed convincingy
series pamphlets published Washington Alexandria
a
laying of the city When later he Federal
Commissioner of the then recently Territory
which the Northwest Territory logical
Territory
Columbia" timely If written today.
population time souls
this about them Il consider
able sustain buhen equal of in
other part of the United States"
his Paper published in Washington said
part Government Territory
considered under relations
and second, regards its local
with Its connection with Federal Government
inquiries themselves whether it ought be
the Legislature United whether
house only, both; whether 1t
have in the election the President Vice President of
the United States.
I'm determination of these questions it will
with precision ought be
State respects differs State.
1t be considered somewhat analogous State in being
civil purposes peculiar and
gllar authority.
Territory, however differs this particular,
Federal entitled the Consu
the particularly
certain subjects leaves the State undmin
position Others the Territory
the Constitution the absolute
the United States itself
of the attributes of State sovereignty.
this situation the of the Territory of Columbia do