Evening star., 1940-08-14
Action Delayed
On Rule toSpeed
Representation
House Committee
Members Desire
Further Study
fSee Representation Statement,
Page A-3J


The powerful House Rules Com
mittee today Unexpectedly deferred
action on a request for a special
rule that would expedite House
consideration of the Summers reso-
luton providing a constitutional
amendment empowering Congress to
grant national representation to the
voteless residents of the District.
For nearly go minutes the COM
mittee listened to pleas for the rule
b. Chairman Summers of the Judi
ciary Committee, author of the
resolution: Chairman Randolph OF
the District Committee and Repre-
sentative Guyer of Kansas, rank
ing minority member of the Judi
ciary Committee.
After hearing the arguments Of
these leaders in the move for a
franchise for the District, the COM
mittee held a brief executive seS-
sion, but failed to reach vote.
Further Study Desired.
Chairman SABBATH of the Rules
Committee told reporters after the
executive meeting a delay in action
was decided on because some Of the
members wanted to consider further
Mr.. Summers request for rule.
He also pointed out there ap-
peared to be a conflict in views
among certain members and that
four of the IA members were absent.
Some of the members think the
resolution is not broad enough
said Chairman SABBATH. Others
thing it is too broad and should be
amended And there are one or
two who seem to be opposed TO it
altogether"
Representative Summers, who took
the lead in urging approval of his
application for a special rule, dis
closed during his argument he in
tended to offer an amendment to
the resolution on the House floor to
restore provision removed by the
Judiciary Committee which would
give the District representation in
the Senate as we'll as the house.
At the outset Mr. Summers said
there appeared TO be some confusion
over the purpose of his resolution
because of a national representation
resolution introduced January 3,
1899. by Representative Randolph.
He pointed out the Randolph res
olution proposes an amendment to
the Constitution to provide for a
republican form of government and
representation in the Congress for
the District of Columbia"
My resolution carries no such
provision as that" he declared. 1T
is merely an enabling act. All this
resolution proposes is an enabling
constitutional amendment granting
more complete power to the Con-
gress to provide for the District OF
Columbia, and modify from time to
time as it sees fit such government
which in the light of its judgment
and experience would be the most
suitable and yet not interfere with
the Federal interest" t,"
Federal Responsibility.
Representative ouIlllltIS pOlu UIlc
committee that while the work
shop" of the Federal Government
is located here and that many resi-
dents came here with the UNDER
standing of the limitation that ex-
lists on citizenship. Congress has
the governmental authority for the
people of the District and "it would
not be unreasonable for Congress
to give to these people ordinary
American privileges
At that point Representative Cox,
Democrat, of Georgia interrupted:
Has not Congress heretofore set
up a municipal government that cost
the people a lot of money and it
had to be abolished?" he asked.
Yes, like some of the Federal
legislation that had to be abolished"
replied Mr.. Summers.
Announcing his intention of offer
ing an amendment to restore his
resolution to its original form so
the District would have representa-
ton in the Senate as well as the
(See SUFFRAGE, Page A-4Q