Evening star., 1940-07-29
Summers Plans
Closed Session
On DC. Vote
Public Demonstration
Unnecessary, House
Groups Head Says
BY JAMES E. CHINN,
Star Stafi Correspondent.


NEW YORK, July 29.-Chairman
Summers today announced that the
House Judiciary Committee meeting
at 10:30 am. tomorrow to consider
his joint resolution providing for a
constitutional amendment empow-
ering Congress to grant national
representation to the voteless resi-
dents of the District would be held
behind closed doors.
Representative Summers, disen-
barking from a cruise on the luxury
liner S. S. America with a number
OF other members of Congress, dis
closed for the first time his plans
to hold the meeting in executive
session. This apparently will pre-
clude any demonstration before the
committee by Washington's business
and civic leaders, as suggested last
week by Senator Capper. Repub-
lican. of Kansas, veteran champion
in the Senate for enfranchising the
people of the District
At the same time 10 other mem
bers of Congress on the cruise who
had not heretofore expressed theiI
opinions on the Summers resolu-
ton said they would support the
plan. Two of these are Senators
and the others influential members
of the House.
Favorable Report Forecast.
Mr.. Summers predicted the COM
mittee would favorably report his
resolution to the House, but said he
believed one major change might
be made. In his opinion the alter
alton may eliminate a section of
the resolution empowering Congress
to delegate any or all of its power
to local government. This would
prevent any potential complications
arising from two widely separate
subjects - national representation
and local suffrage-it was said.
In announcing his plans for an
executive meeting Mr.. Summers
emphasized that while it is his in
tention to consider only his resolu-
ton instead of several others pend.
ing before the Judiciary Committee
to provide national representation
for District residents, it is up to the
committee to decide which, if any,
will be taken up.
Il am only chairman of the COM
mittee," he declared. Il don't
know what it will do
Even though bill is pending be-
fore the House District Committee
to provide only local suffrage for
the District--a privilege Mr.. Sum-
ners comedies can be provided with
out, an amendment to the Consti-
tion - the Judiciary COMMITTEES
chairman thinks the measure prop
eEy belongs before his committee.
Mr.. Summers has always argued
that local suffrage can be granted
without constitutional amend
ment. He feels, however, that since
the question involves a change in
the selection of the judiciary of the
District, as well as executive Of
flcials, it would only be fitting that
the matter come before the Judi
ciary Committee.
Pepper, Hatch Back Move.
AAlC lWo VIII
support to the movement for ma
tlonal representation we're Senators
Pepper of Florida and Hatch of
New Mexico, both Democrats, who
said they intended to vote to carry
out the District suffrage plank in
the Democratic platform.
Said Senator Pepper: "A great
presidential election is now ap-
proaching-the most crucial in the
history of America. 1t is unthink-
able that We should not in some
extraordinary way if necessary make
it possible for the patriotic residents
of the District of Columbia to have
their honorable part in this great
cause"
Senator Hatch: II have always
felt, along with the founders of
our country, that taxation without
representation is tyranny, therefore
feel that any legislation to give
justice to the appeal of the people
of the District for the franchise
is highly desirable"
The eight members of the HOUSE
who promised to join the many other
Representatives in voting for the
Summers resolution, If it is reported
out of the Judiciary Committee,
were:
Democrats-Sutphin of New Jer-
sey, McGranery of Pennsylvania,
Bloom of New York, Parsons of Illi-
nois, Sasscer of Maryland and
Bohene of Indiana: Republicans
Cole of New York and Vorys of