Evening star., 1943-02-15
The New Constitutional
Amendment

WaShingtonianS will be glad that
Representative Summers has sub
mitted to the House a new form of
constitutional amendment, the sole
effect Of which is to empower Con-
gresS to provide membership in Con-
gress and among the electors of
President and Vice President for the
population of the national seat of
Government, in numbers and with
powers at the discretion of Congress.
1t differs in form from recently pre-
ceding propositions of constitutional
amendment with the same objective
in that it omits all StipulationS con-
corning the future action Of Con-
greSS in putting into effect this pow
er, like the provisions Of the conSti-
tutional amendment which the Sem
ate Judiciary Committee recently
considered and rejected as proposing
practical statehood for the District.
The new amendment grants a power
to Congress which shall not be ex-
hauSted by its first use, but shall be
continuous to protect both the ma
tional and the District interests, en-
abling Congress to amend from time
to time the legislation defining Dis
trict representation and even to re-
peal such legislation If considered
necessary or desirable. The contro-
versial points developed in the effort
RI dpfr1n ipao 5vro 1rv1oa =
ton shall be granted the people Of
the District are thus eliminated.
Experience has taught US that in
time of war no controversy provoking
constitutional amendment can even
be considered. But should this grant |
of power to Congress, without re-
quiring time consuming action upon
1t to give it effect, be viewed as
controversy provoking and be barred
from consideration? Strong public
opinion has favored special con-
sideration as voting American cit
izens Of the men who as soldiers,
sailors or marines are shedding their
blood and risking their lives in bat
ting in their country'S defense; for
example, propositions to lower the age
Of eligibility to voting citizenship for
their benefit and to exempt them in
absentee voting from the poll taxes
imposed in a number of the States.
Yet there are thousands of District
men in the military services, more
than came from many of the States,
who are not only not preferred as
national voters, but are barred from
enjoyment Of the voting power which
attaches in our Republic to arms
bearing in our country's defense
The grant Of this power to Con-
greSs will enable it in its discretion
AS to time and method of action to
give to the District limited and
revocable national representation by
the same vote by which it gives full
sovereign Statehood to the territory.
1t will remove the people of the Dis
trict from the list of incurably de-
fectiye Americans like the convict
and the lunatic, and in the discre-
ton Of Congress as to the extent Of
participation in the national coun-
ellis will make such participation rea-
sonably accessible.
The new constitutional amend
ment will serve as a rallying point
for the multitude Of local and ma
tional petitioners for District national
representation who will view it as
non-controyerSial step in approach
TO partial political equity for the
Washingtonian which may be given
rapid consideration even in wartime
or, in view Of inspiring public senti-
ment, especially in wartime.