Evening star., 1943-06-13
House Plans Hearinq!
On Measure 10 Give
D. {. Representation
Proposed Amendment
To Be Considered by
Subcommittee of Seven
BY WILL P. KENNEDY.

by WILL r. hENNEDY.
Hearings are scheduled to start
Wednesday morning on the so-called
District delegate bill in the House
Judiciary Committee room before a
subcommittee headed by Represen-
tative Celler, Democrat, of New
York. The proposed legislation is
sponsored by Representative Walter
Democrat, of Pennsylvania.
Other members of the subcommit-
tee are Representative Tolan of
California, Russell of Texas and
Gorski of Illinois, Democrats; Mich
ener of Michigan, Robsion of Ken
lucky and Graham of Pennsylvania
Republicans.
Similar legislation has been pro-
posed regularly in Congress for many
years, but has not received as much
favorable consideration as has been
given the Summers-C Capper reso-
luton, which proposes a constitu-
tlonal amendment empowering Con-
gress to grant national representa-
tion for the District of Columbia.
At the present time Chairman Sum-
ners of the Judiciary Committee in
tends to hold hearings on the reso-
luton.
Representation Provided.
The delegate bill, which was in
troduced May 3. provides:
That the people of the District
OF Columbia shall be represented
by a delegate in the House, the
same as territories. 1t requires
that at the time of election he shall
nave been citizen of the United
States for seven years, and an actual
resident of the District for five
years Immediately preceding his
election, and shall, during that pc
rlod, have claimed residence no
where else. He must be not less
than 25 years of age.
The Tuesday after the first Mon
day in November of every even
numbered year is designated as
election day in the District. The
delegate elected at that time is to
hold office for the same term 1.-TWO
years. as house members chosen
at the general election held the
same year. All laws that apply to
delegates from territories except
mileage, would be made applicable
to the District delegate, such as
rights, privileges, compensation and
allowances and employees.
$500 Fee Required.
Within four months after ap-
proval of the proposed law, the
District Commissioners would be di-
rected to call a special election for
delegate to serve during the unex-
pired term. or until the November
election, 1914
Candidates for delegate would be
nominated by petitions signed by
at least 1000 qualified voters. filed
with the Commissioners at least
30 days prior to the election date.
A filing fee of 5000 is required. The
Commissioners would supervise
preparation of the official ballot,
providing for appropriate rotation
Of the names of the candidates
nominated by petition.
The specified qualifications of
voters are: All citizens of the United
States, above the age 81, actual
residents of the District for one
year Immediately preceding, and
who have been actual residents con-
tinuously for 80 days preceding in
the precinct in which they vote
They must be able to read and
write the English language. Per-
sons who are non compos mentis.
or have been convicted of infamous
crimes are prescribed from voting
Corrupt Practice Act Applies.
The District Commissioners would
be directed to prescribe regulations
AS to the times, places and manner
of holding elections, including ap-
propriate provisions requiring regis
tratlon of voters
The Commissioner would also is
sue the certificate of election-unless
no candidate receives a majority of
the votes, in which event a new
run off election would be arranged
within 80 days between the two can
didates who had received the largest
number of votes
In the event of a vacancy in the
Office of delegate, the Commissioners
would arrange special election to
fill the vacancy, except that va
cancy shall not be filled which
occurs within five months of the
end of the term.
The Federal Corrupt Practices Act
and all provisions of Federal law
prohibiting intimidation or coercion
of voters covering congressional
elections are made applicable to the
delegate election in the District.
The DILL authorizes appropriation
of sufficient funds from District
revenues to pay proper costs of hold
ing the election. The Commission
ers would be required to include
estimates in the regular budget