Evening star., 1943-02-21
Civic Problems, ,CivicBodies
New Constitutional Amendment
Considered Timely War Measure
BY JESSE c. SUTER.


District of Columbia problem has been put up to
the sevenyeighh Congress through proposal entirely
new form On Thursday February a joint resolution was
introduced IN the House of Representatives by Chairman Haon W.
Summers Of the Judiciary Committee
resolution introduced the Senate Capper
OF kansas In presenting the resolution Senator Capper made
appealing statement covering the conditions which the
nendes to cure and made an earnest plea for Congress
early and favorable consideration measure.
The Joint resolution is as follows:
JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing amendment to Constitution Inied
states empowering Congress
ano among the electors of President to the
people of the District Columbia
Resolved by the Senate Representatives of the
United States OF America in Congress assembled
'"e ohcurrihg heren That the following
Constitution of the United proposed ratification by the
Legislatures of the several States by the
IaeS ol teeourts OF the States within the
OF It's passage shall be valid Constitution
THE Congress shall have provide shall be in
e ana among the electors Of President and Vice President
members elected by the people the
of the Government of the United
uc powers as the Congress shall determine All legislation here
under shall be subject to amendment repeal"
This entirely amendment to the Constu-
o o any winch have been offered through the long intervening
period since 1889 All of these proposals
detail of legislative character of
representation Some carried provision the
sued in the courts of the United recently
taken of by independent legislation
Upon most of these details there considerable diversity
opinion members the Senate
well to proposal as
oered by Judge Summers and Senator Capper simple enabling
provision to be inserted in the Constitution
be exercised which
it may determine
given form careful study re-
gard meeting the situation completely They
discover in it anything of simply
of additional
ner which Congress determine Any legislation which Con-
shall enact the authority this
its being incorporated into the Constitution
and repealed and form of legislation substituted which
improve the situation.
The said editorialy Monday grant
to Congress will enable its discretion time
method of action District limited
tonal representation by the vote by which it gives full
ern statehood to the territory 1t will the people the
District the list ncuabl defective Americans like the
the extent of participation in the national councils will make such
participation reasonably accessible
proposals lesser parcipaton in
government by the people of the District Columbia
national representation only truly meets the
need The District of Columbia by Constitution
is under the exclusive legislative CONTROL whatsoever
people represented Its
administrative and judicial appointed President
in whose election District people denied participation
features be considered the local side the question:
national side is of far greater Importance.
AS citizens of the Nation the people of
lumba required citizenship
pay taxes obey laws war
and make the saccewhout the privilege
participation councils
important questions
of the local of the District of Columbia the
Congress which people represented
continue exercise overriding real which
local government action must yield
foregoing arguments presented Congress
public by through years represent
condition and theory.
Among groups, there
opinion activity regarding lesser participation Dis
people Government activities But there
people Columbia justly
recognized citizens granted voting
the Congress and the electors of President
This ultimate of all. 1t
regarded only satisfying
OF the problem
present great believed leaders,
special incentive organize vigorous campaign for the Of
joint resolution Now while large numbers of voteless c
throughout the
world the deprivation of fundamental American rights epha
appear unfair and unwise The time
ripe appeal
O righting of this
making pathetic pleas
provide that all of those
logical conclusion these legislators should
support consistently the pending the
people of the District.