Evening star., 1940-07-28
bark|ey Pledges
Prompt Action
On Suffrage
Other Senators Back
Move as Meeting Of
House Group Neors
Amertcdnisatton OF Washington
Part OF Defense Program. Page 3.
By WILL P. KENNEDY.

BY WILL p. KENNEDY.
Prompt Senate consideration of a
resolution providing national rep
resenta ton for the District was as
sured by Ma jority Leader Barkley
on his return to Washington last
night
Senator Barkley said he is favor
ably inclined toward granting Dis
trict residents a right to vote in
national elections and to have their
own Representative in the House"
The House Judiciary Committee
will meet Tuesday to consider a
resolution by Chairman Summers
providing for representation. After
House action, Senator Barkley
promised that the proposal will re-
ceive prompt, earnest. careful and
sympathetic consideration
Saying he had not studied the
Summers resolution, Senator Bark.ey
was unwilling to speculate as TO
Senate action on that measure.
Others Back Proposal.
Senator Balkley's assurances were
given as others Joined in approving
the national representation pror o.
sal. Senator Tydings, Democrat of
Maryland said he has been advis-
ing with his colleagues for prompt
legislative action to support the
suffrage plank adopted by the DEM
ocratic party at the Chicago con-
vention.
Likewise urging speedy legislative
action. Senator Miller, Democrat, of
Arkansas said he certainly would
be in favor of some provision to
give the residents of the National
Capital share in the Federal
Government
Senator Barkley said he does not
view with favor self-governnent for
the Capital. Like Senator l;orris,
ranking minority member Of ,he
Judiciary Committee, he is OF the
opinion that care must be take,. to
safeguard all Federal Interests.
The founding fathers" Senator
Barkley explained, were wise in
providing seat of government free
from log rolling and the pickering
of city politics. I would not assent
to having Congress take its hands
off the District and let the resi-
dents elect their own Mayor and
city officials.
Il believe that the evils growing
out of a purely local self govern
nlent would outweigh any neglect
or deficiency that the city may feel
under the jurisdiction of Congress.
Personally believe Congress does
an excellent Job for the District.
Says City Well Managed.
i have always considered the
city of Washington about as we'll
managed under the present COM
mission form of government as any
large city in the country. Perhaps
way can be found to relieve some
Of the conditions that have been
complained against and to give local
residents more direct share in
the management of their own af-
fairs as city.
But I believe there is good
chance for the people in the Dis
trict to get the right accorded them
OF voting in presidential elections
and to elect their own advocate in
Congress who would probably give
more intimate and concentrated
consideration to their special needs
than the whole body of House and
Senate where the members atten-
ton is divided among the many con-
Germs of their own districts and
States.
1T is along that line of suffrage
grant that 1 am thinking. At best.
1t is a complicated problem since
this Federal city was never intend
ed to develop into a State, must
not be allowed to be a self-interest
city or State but place of COM
mon interest for all the people where
the Government can function and
Congress make laws without any
undue pressure.
The people of the District can
rest assured that their desires for
the right to vote will be carefully
considered in balance. with the par
amount interest of the Federal Gov
ernment carefully safeguarded."
ID. c. Now Too Large.
In urging prompt action, Senator
Tydings said:
I have advocated national repre-
sentation for the District of Colum-
bla for long time. The District
has grown too large and too i'm
portant to rely on a composite
membership rather than specific
representation of its own in the law
making body.
The Districts interests in every
way warrant submitting a constitu-
tional amendment to the States pro-
viding that Congress may delegate
the right Of suffrage to the residents
of the Capital"
Senator Miller said he feels kindly
toward the detectives of District res
idents.
But with regard to the concrete
provisions, he added, Il must pre-
serve all open mind"
- Senator Miller is a member of
the Judiciary Committee and joins
three other members of the commit
tee in his stand. The others are
Senators McCarran of Nevaka. King
of Utah and Hatch of New Mexico,
all of whom we're members Of the
nepoorref;c Dlefforro Cov,, -. {t$ a
which adopted the suffrage plank
at Chicago.