Evening star., 1943-06-11
House Gets D. T.. Plea
For Representation
And Presidential Vote
Petition by Nearly 40
Groups Is Presented by
Representative Summers

NSP PtSSSitONiVS SuuIuCIS
Washingtons plea for a voice in
presidential elections and such rep
resentation in Congress as Congress
may see fit to grant was laid before
the House late yesterday by Repre-
sentative Summers, Democrat. of
Texas in a petition from the Citi-
zens' Joint Committee on District
of Columbia National Representa-
ton.
Mr.. Summers, chairman of the
House Judiciary Committee, is CO.
author with Senator Capper, Re
publican. of Kansas of the new
form of proposed constitutional
amendment introduced early this
year.
This new resolution merely con-
fers on Congress the power to pro-
vide that there shall be in Con-
gress and in the electoral college
members elected by the people of
the District, without attempting to
define the detailed degree of rep
resentation. The proposed amend
ment also reserves to Congress the
right to amend or repeal all !egiS-
lation enacted under the amend
ment.
Cites Contributions to Government.
In Offering the petition, and OBJ
tanning unanimous consent for its
printing in the Congressional Rec
ord. Mr.. Summers said:
Il have received petition from
various organizations of the City
of Washington interested in pro-
posed constitutional amendment
giving to the citizens of the City of
Washington the right to participate
in the election of electors, and to
have such representatives in the
two houses of Congress as the Con-
gress may agree to-. This petition is
made by many organizations in
Washington, headed by the Citizens
Joint Committee on National Rep
resentation for the District of Co.
lumbia, of which the grand old man
of Washington and America, Theo-
dore w. Noyes, is chairman.
Il can see no good objection to this
proposed constitutional amendment
from any angle. To the people who
feel that the Federal Government
should never surrender the power to
govern the District of Columbia this
proposed amendment should not be
Objectionable because there is no
surrender of that power proposed.
If the amendment should be
adopted and Congress should act un-
der the grant of power conferred,
Congress would retain the power to
modify or even repeal the whole
thing if the governmental arrange
ment inaugurated should not work.
This proposed amendment will be
merely an enabling provision grant,
ing power to the Congress to give to
the American citizens living in the
District of Columbia such rights to
participate in the National Govern
ment as in the judgment of the
Congress would not interfere with
the Federal interest,"
The petition called attention to
the fact that thousands of voteless
Washingtonians are fighting today
to preserve the principles of democ-
racy, although they have no voice in
their National Government.
1t pointed out that disfranchised
District residents obey national
laws, outnumber the residents OF
each of II States. and pay more
national taxes than each of %
States.
Represent 100000 Citizens.
The petition is signed by the
heads of nearly tWoscore of Or
carnations from virtually every
walk of life that cooperate with
the Citizens Joint Committee on
District of Columbia Representa-
ton. It was estimated today that
these groups represent an aggregate
membership of 100000
The petition emphasizes that this
proposed congressional amendment
fully protects the national interest
in governing the seat of Govern
ment, coupled with a recognition of
the rights and interest of the local
residents