Evening star., 1944-01-04

measures, held up in sharp relief
the fact that while the men from
all the States serving on the battle
fronts may be permitted to vote
next November, the servicemen and
women from the District still would
be left voteless.
Findings Awaited.
Senator Capper, who is co-authol
OF the Capper-Sumners resolution
for constitutional amendment per-
mitting Congress to extend national
representation to District residents
made clear he is not opposing any
measure relieving the District of its
disfranchisement. AS to the Nc
Carran bill, he said he was awaiting
the subcommittee findings and rec
concentrations.
Chairman McCarran is devotine
time during the congressional vaca-
ton to study of the lengthy transcript
of the home rule hearings and prep
aration of a revised measure. A re-
vamped draft of the bill is expected
to be. ready for subcommittee con-
sideration next week, as the basis
for early action.
While Senator McCarran did not
announce what revisions he plans tc
suggest, there was belief at the Cap
itol one proposal likely will be for
enlargement of the seven-man
council to include two members tc
be appointed by the President. This
would be to preserve the interests
of the Federal Government and
Government workers who NAV not
be permitted to vote in the District
because they claim voting residence
in their home States.
Salary Changes Expected.
Also. the revised bill may retair
the provision that to be eligible te
vote for councilman a person must
have been bona fide resident" ot
the District for at least one year.
Capitol Hill observers also guessed
that the subcommittee would favor
reduction to more modest figures
the suggested salaries, now listed a,
$4,000 for the city manager anc
$1,000 for councilmen.
Among other questions expected
to be debated by the subcommittee
is whether to keep, simplify Of
eliminate the latter sections of thu
bill setting up machinery for con.
gresSional checks or veto of acts O.
the city council. Some of tht
strongest advocates of the McCarrar
bill have declared these provision.
cumbersome and unnecessary, es.
pecially since Congress would re.
tain its legislative control over tn,
District.
Harry S. Wender, president of ths
Federation of Citizens Associations
said he could see some disadvantage.
and no need for having any of the
councilmen appointed instead o.
elected, but he added that if this i.
the way Congress would grant al
elected government, he would still
favor the bill He said the same
purpose of giving the Federal in.
terests consideration in the council
could be served by having spokes.
man for the Park and Planning
Commission or the Office of the
Army Engineers made a nonvotine
ex-off1cio member of the council.
Some Gain Seen.
Even with some appointed mem.
bers, however" he said. I'VE woulc
have gained, in that voting machin.
cry would be set up and council.
men elected"
Meanwhile, the Senate Distric,
Committee received a proposal from
Thomas M. wilkins, Washington
lawyer, for retrocession to MARYLAND
OF a good part of the present ter.
ritory of the Capital. This plan
he said, would leave the actual seat
of government within the District
and give enfranchisement to pos.
-sibly a half million of District resi-
dents.
He said such plan has the ad.
vantage of making the District en-.
compass no more area than suffi.
cient, plus reasonable cushion
of space outside Government Office
buildings. His plan would give bach
to Maryland all areas lying outside
a boundary running along Thirty.
sixth street NV, Wisconsin avenue
Calvert street, Naval Observatory
Massachusetts, avenue, Calvert
street, Rock Greek, Klingle road
Park road, New Hampshire avenue
Church street, Soldiers Home
grounds, Michigan avenue and Mon.
roe street NE. to the District line