Evening star., 1940-04-14
Election Bill
Hearings 10 Be
Continued
Several Testify in
Support Of Measure
Before Senate Group

OSJOIS SSHOtS SIOup
Senate hearings on the Capper
bill, to set up voting machinery for
the election of District delegates to
the national political conventions,
will be continued at 10 am. Wednes-
day, Subcommittee Chairman Aus
tin announced yesterday, after q
dozen spokesmen for local civic
groups and several individuals had
Endorsed the bill before a subcom-
mittee.
Senator Austin said if there are
opponents of the measure they
would be heard at that time, along
with any others who favor the pro-
posal.
Among those who testified in sup
port of the bill yesterday were:
Harry S. Wender, vice president
of the Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations, speaking also for the
Southwest Association; Seton Darr
of the District of Columbia Suffrage
Association. who Endorsed the bill
in principle: William j. Bartle,
Stanton Park Citizens; Culver B.
Chamberlain, Cathedral Heights;
Miss Eta Taggart for the WASH
ingtonians; Mrs Mary Wright john
son, a former Democratic national
committeewoman; A. j. Driscoll,
Mid-City Citizens; Mrs. Leslie B.
Wright, Forest Hill Citizens, and
Frank Fabrizio, for Loggia Roma
No. 167, National Order of Sons Of
italy.
Urge Bills Passage.
Among those who urged passage
Of the bill as individuals were: John
P. Mullen. attorney. one OF the orig
inal advocates of the bill; John H.
Connaughton. attorney, and Frank
lin G. Sartwell.
Several witnesses criticized the
present method Of leaving the pro-
cedure for choosing of delegates to
the local committees of the two
major parties.
The bill would call for the holding
of primary on the first Monday in
May, under the supervision of a
board of elections, that would lay
out precincts and provide all of the
necessary machinery for conducting
an election.
Candidates for delegate. national
committeeman or national commit
teewoman would have to file a GER
tif1cate signed by 100 voters of the
same political party in order to get
on the ballot. A poll tax of 81
would be levied to cover the cost of
holding the primaries.
Seen Serving Good Purpose
Mr.. Darr said the holding of such
primaries would serve a useful pur-
pose by setting up in the District
for the first time in more than IS
years election machinery that would
enable voteless residents Of Wash
ington to become accustomed to the
holding of elections and to demon
strate they are qualified for suffrage.
He said he is a Democrat, but, being
a native of Washington, he never
has cast a vote.
Mr.. Wender said the federation
also favors local suffrage and ma
tional representation and suggested
the pending primary bill should not
be confused with those issues. He
said he did not know of any opposi-
ton to the proposed primary law,
but suggested a poll tax of less than
81 could be fixed and still cover the
expenses of the election.
Mr.. Mullen contended the exist
ing procedure results in sending
'hand-picked" delegates to the con-
Ventions and predicted a primary
law might prove stepping stone to
suffrage in its entirety. Mr.. Con-
naughton also opposed the present
procedure, arguing it has resulted in
sending contesting delegations to the
conventions in the past.
Expenses are Cited.
Mr.. Bartle read from summary
Of State primary laws, prepared
under the direction of the secretary
of the Senate, a statement that, In
selecting Democratic delegates from
the District, nominees are required
to accompany their application with
5000 fee to cover the expenses OF
the election.
senator AUSTIN suggested That
"you cannot conduct any kind of
q primary without meeting the ex-
penses."
Mrs. johnson, who said she had
long been active in Democratic
affairs, spoke in favor of the bill,
but also defended past procedure.
She said she could not speak with
regard to 1896, but that SO far as
she knew the primaries were con-
Quoted properly and fairly. Answer
ing the reference to contested dele
cations. she said that is not unusual,
but occurs also in the States.
She suggested one amendment to
the section dealing with the resi-
dence qualification of voters.
Senators Capper, Republican OF
Kansas, and Clark, Democrat of
Idaho, Joined Senator Austin in
conducting the hearing. Corpora
tion Counsel Seal attended the hear
ing. but did not testify. He said
later the Commissioners have not
get passed on the bill.