Evening star., 1941-04-13
Hearing TO Open
Wednesday on
D. {. Suffrage
Senator McC6rrun
To Begin With
Background
BY J. A. OLEARY.

Plans for a comprehensive study
of District suffrage were announced
last night by Senator McCarran,
Democrat, of Nevada, who fixed 10
am. Wednesday for the opening of
public hearings on the subject.
The Nevadan is chairman of a
subcommittee of the Senate Judici-
ary Committee appointed to handle
the Capper-Sumners resolution for
a constitutional amendment that
would empower Congress to grant
the District representation in Con-
gress, the right to vote in presi-
Dental elections and such changes
in the powers of the local govern
ment as it may see fit to make.
Senator McCarran said the ten
tative program is to begin by de-
veloping the history and back
ground of the law and conditions
that have prevailed in the District
from its inception to the present
with regard to the form Of govern
ment and suffrage"
The proceedings, he said, must
of necessity be interrupted as the
other business of the Senate re-
quirs, but I hope to proceed as
rapidly and orderly as possible
Capper to Be Heard.
After the historical background
has been developed, the subcommit-
tee will hear Senator Capper OF
Kansas, a veteran member of the
District Committe and co-author of
the pending suffrage resolution.
Witnesses who wish to present
legal phases of the subject will be
heard next, followed by former Dis
trict Commissioners and the present
Commissioners.
Following that testimony" Sem
ator McCarran continued, the sub
committee will invite statements
from members of Congress interested
in District affairs, particularly
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee and others who
desire to be heard
Senator McCarran also made
known he would ask the newspapers
of the city to send representatives
to express the views of their papers.
The subcommittee che said, then
will hear civic organizations and
individuals not connected with any
Of the foregoing groups
Urged to Name Spokesman.
In extending the invitation to civic
organizations Senator McCarran
said 1T must be readily apparent
that it would be impossible to hear
every one who might care to ex-
press himself. Therefore, the sub
committee urgently requests each
civic organization to select one or
two spokesmen to present the views
of the group. One may speak for
the majority and one for any mi
nority."
Recalling that he has asked for
the assistance of the Brookings In
stitution, Senator McCarran said he
has had the cordial cooperation
and advice" of L. F. Schmeckebier
and Meyer Jacobstein OF the staff
of that institution.
Other members of the subcom-
mittee who will join with Senator
McCarren in conducting the hear
1ngs are Senators Hatch, Democrat,
of New Mexico; Connally. Demo-
crat, of Texas; Norris, Independ-
ent, of Nebraska, and Austin, Re-
publican, of Vermont.
ID. c. Plea Gains Ground.
The Districts plea for a voice in
the lawmaking body that governs
it in both national and local affairs
made decided progress on Capitol
Hill last year after the Democratic
National Convention included
plank on the subject in its 1910
party platform.
Prominent members of both ma
1or parties in the House and SEN
ate indicated a willingness to give
consideration to the question, and
the House Judiciary Committee re-
ported out in modified form the
resolution sponsored by Represent
sttve Summers, Democrat, of Texas,
chairman of that committee. The
modification made at that time was
to confine congressional representa-
ton to the House, but with author
ity to give the District its propor-
(See SUFFRAGE, Page B-2)