Evening star., 1943-06-16
Randolph Backs
Bill toGive DC.
House Delegate
Judiciary Group
Told Change Is
Highly Desirable

Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee today indorsed
the Walter bill to give District resi-
dents delegate in the House at a
hearing before House Judiciary
Subcommittee
Mr.. Randolph recalled that he
had supported the principle of a
bill in the 18th Congress to give
Statehood to the District.
He declared full voting repre-
sentation here is highly desirable" )"
but added:
That goal is perhaps, far dis
tant."
Representative Summers, Demo-
crat. of Texas, chairman of the
Judiciary Committee and CO.
author OF the Summers -Capper
joint resolution on national repre-
sentation for the District, asked
Mr.. Randolph if the Walter bill
would not make more effective the
constitutional right of petition.
Yes, it would replied Mr.. RAN
dolph.
Conflict Held Possible.
When Representative Graham. Re-
publican. OF Pennsylvania asked Mr..
Randolph If he anticipated con-
f1ict between the Commissioners and
the proposed delegate, Mr.. Summers
commented:
He might have to straighten
them out once in a while"
Mr.. Randolph conceded the pos
sibility of conflict between a dele
gate and the Commissioners. He
said, however, that while he did not
wish TO reflect on the Commission
ers he felt that many Improvements
have sprung directly from Capitol
Hill.
Mr.. Randolph said he felt a dele
gate would be of assistance to the
District Committee, arguing that he
would be a spokesman. who really
represented" the people.
At the outset of the hearing the
author of the measure, Representa-
tive Walter, Democrat, of Pennsyl-
vania contended that the delegate
could present to the House in a
proper manner all of the claims of
the people of the District. Mr. WAL
ter told the hearing that the Ma
ton was confronted with an anom-
alous situation of fighting for de-
mocracy while in its Capital there
are people without voice in its al
fairs.
$4,000 Might Vote.
Asked how many persons would be
eligible to vote for District dele
gate, Mr.. Walter said he had been
informed that the figure was ap-
proximately $4,000.
Il feel very confident said Mr.
Walter, that If this bill is enacted
the people of the District will DEM
onstrate their ability to rule them
selves. This is a case of creeping
before walking"
Senator Burton, Republican. OF
Ohio. in indorsing the Walter bill.
said that Congress was too large to
perform adequately the duties OF
city council Senator Burton, who
served for five years as Mayor OF
Cleveland, said he believed this bill
is the first step toward local partlcl-
patton in the District government.
1T does not convert it (the Dis
trictD into a State he said. Il do
not believe 1t should
Pressed by the subcommittee to
give his views on local Self-govern-
ment. Senator Burton pictured
CITY manager and a council with
perhaps seven to nine members with
the President appointing the ma
iority of the council and the resi-
dents electing the balance or minor
itv. He argued that this would re-
tain the Fundamental purpose of the
District to serve the Federal Gov
ernment. He expressed his opposi-
ton to a vote for President and Vice
President by the people of the Dis
trict
Representative Lesinski, Democrat,
of Michigan spoke briefly on his bill,
which would make the delegate
chairman of a Board of Commits
sioners and lower the voting age to
l8. He said the measure was sup
ported by the American Federation
of Labor.
Backers Are Listed.
Representative Walter said his
measure had the backing of the
Federation of Citizens and Civic
Associations, the Central Labor
Union, the District Bar Associa-
ton, the local chapter of the law
yers' guild, which also favors GER
tain features of the LeSinSki bill;
the District Suffrage Association,
the League of Women Voters,
League of Women Shoppers. the
American Legion, Washington Hous-
ing Association, Congress of Par
ents and Teachers, the local chapter
of the American Association of En-
gineers, the Federation of Churches,
National Women's Trade Union
League, District Voters League,
Housekeepers' Alliance, Women's
City Club, Society Of Natives, Mon
day Evening Club, Twentieth Gen.
tury Club, Council of Jewish Women
and the Federation of Business
mems Associations.
Merlo Pussey, vice chairman of
the District Delegate Committee and
an editorial writer of the Washing
ton Post told the committee that
criticism of the regime of Gov.
Shepherd should not reflect on the
delegate proposal. He pointed out
that the Governor was presiden-
tial appointee and that the dele
gate at that time was not involved
in the "discreditting" acts.
Wender Supports Proposal.
Harry S. Wender, president of the
Federation of Citizens Association,
said he felt a delegate would be
helpful to members of Congress. He
argued that some members have
been censured by their constituents
for spending too much time on Dis
trict affairs and not enough on home
district matters.
Mr.. Wender said that under no
circumstances, as the bill is written,
could minority send a delegate to
the House. He said that it was
significant that no opposition has