Evening star., 1943-12-09

trict would be mo adequate substi-
tute" for local suffrage. Insisting
that suffrage advocates have no fear
that people in the District would fail
to vote because they wished to re-
tain their votes in their home States
the witness said such an argument
would be applied to all the States.
AS to national representation, he
offered the argument that the Dis
trict representatives would be
greatly outnumbered" by those
from the States and that there was
no assurance the District representa-
tives would be placed on congress
sional committees.
Wants Self lf-GOvernment.
Mr.. Armstrong declared he was in
favor of District participation in the
National Legislature. but that such
participation would not answer the
need for local self government.
Mr. Armstrong agreed there was
need for broadening the powers of
the Commissioners, but declared
local government would not be in
accord with the spirit of democracy
If such municipal powers rested
with appointed officials.
Bringing up the question of the
Federal payment toward expenses
of the National Capital, which he
said now amounts to about 10 per
cent Of the District budget, Mr.
Armstrong said:
Il would gladly exchange that 10
per cent for the right of the ordi-
nary free born American citizen to
participate in his Government"
He added, however, he thought
the United States should make an
adequate payment toward National
Capital expenses.
Gets Water Free.
He stressed that the United States
doesn't pay a cent for the District
water it uses
While the United States. as a SOW
ereign, cannot be taxed, he added
the Federal payment really amounts
to payment in lieu of taxes.
When he voiced opposition to any
proposal for statehood, as such, for
the District, Senator McCarran re-
marked.
If statehood ever were granted
or anything approaching statehood,
that contribution would have to pass
out of the picture. Otherwise, every
State in the Union would be making
the same claims for Federal pay
ments TO State expenses"
supporters Of the national repre-
sentation proposal have made clear
they are not seeking statehood for
the District while seeking an amend
ment to the Constitution giving Con-
gress the power to provide for Dis
trict representation in Congress and
among the presidential electors in
such numbers and with such powers
as Congress shall determine.
Would Contravent Constitution.
Mr.. Armstrong said a grant OF
statehood would be in direct con-
travension of the Constitution.
Discussion of the fiscal relations
subject brought from Chairman Nc
Carran the declaration the Federal
payment would be a proper bur
den" of the United States in main
tanning District government III it
were in the proper proportions.
He added 1T Is not so now
Backs McCarran Bill
Mrs M. X. Manookian, explaining
she had a boy in the military service,
urged the committee to find a way
10 give the District the franchise, so
that when District boys come home
from this war they may enjoy the
they have been fighting
for"
Spared A. Wood, former president
of the Citizens Forum OF Columbia
Heights, put that organization on
record for the McCarran bill with
several amendments.
I'VE feel your bill is not perfect,
Senator McCarran, and that you do
not regard it as perfect" said Mr.
Wood, but we recommend its early
passage because it Is a step in the
right direction"
Among the changes Mr.. Wood sug-
gested were that the elected officials
be called councilmen instead of
commissioners to get away from the
form of government;
that the members be paid less than
So 600 a wear, preferably 80 900 on
the theory the council would not
occupy all their time; that the city