Evening star., 1944-01-15

Congress is drafting wartime voting
legislation.
Representative Summers laid stress
on the fact that the presently-pro-
posed national representation con-
stitutional amendment would not
be mandatory, but rather is only
an enabling act which would en-
power Congress, in its judgment, to
grant District representation in
Congress and in the electoral COL
lege Is such measure as to what
extent Congress deems desirable.
Il always have been and am now
in favor of national representation, !"
Mr.. Summers said. Under the for
mer representation plan, which said
that Congress shall do thus and so,
there was the bugaboo that Con-
gress might turn loose something
it couldn't get back should it find
things weren't going well.
That is why emphasis should be
laid on the fact the pending Sum-
newspaper joint resolution merely
would give Congress authority
which 1t long ago should have had
When the seat of the Federal Gov
ernment was carved out of Mary
land and Virginia, it created q
workshop for the Federal Govern.
ment. The Constitution, in giving
to Congress exclusive legislative
powers over the District, placed or
Congress responsibilities for the
government of the District without
giving 1t powers it ought to have
I mean by that authority to per.
NIT the people Of the District tt
send to Congress representatives
of their own choosing-who ought
to be familiar with the problems
of the District-to aid the Congress
in the discharge of its responsible
ties.
Congress ought to have had this
power long ago. Under the pend
ing resolution, should the plan not
work successfully, or should it serve
to clutter up the works-and don't
think 1t would-then Congress could
modify or repeal the grant Of rep
resentation."
Recognizes Opinions.
The Texan said he recognized
there was difference of opinion
among District residents as to the
answer to the long-standing dis
franchisement.
up to the last time I made a
personal check, there was nothing
to indicate there was a unity OF
attitude or unity of effort In re-
gard to the matter, such as one
might expect" he said. Refrainine
from advising the people of the
District on this subject, he took the
position this was a question for the
disfranchised District residents t<
decide among themselves.
Representative Summers said since
this was the National Capital, tn,
Federal Government int crest,
necessarily must be dominant, bu
that he could see no conflict be.
tween this and the question of en-.
abling Congress to grant Distric
residents voice In their governinI
body.
Senator Capper protested tina
while Congress may provide fo
votes next November for men in tn,
fighting services, present plan
could not encompass those from tn,
District, although they are as mucl
entitled to vote as their comrade.
from the StateS.''
T The Kansan revealed that he hat
been studying this phase Of tn,
problem, and consulting with othel
Senators, but thus far he has mo-
been able to devise a way of in.
cluding Washingtonians IN the sol.
dier-vote bill.
Senator Capper said he wouls
protest against their exclusion wher
the issue again comes before tn,
Senate for final action.
Senator Lucas, Democrat of iii
nois, co-author Of the propoted Fed
eral ballot for servicemen, said re
Gently that he regretted that h,
could see no way Of including Dis
trict members of the armed forces
but announced that he would sup
port Q constitutional amepdmen
to extend suffrage to District resi-
dAn$s D.