Evening star., 1945-09-24
Our Case for the Vote
Mr.. Summers Own Explanation
of His Amendment

Oh his Amendment
Reprinted bsloto 10 the statement
OF Chairman Hatton ". Summers OF
the House Judiciary Committee at
hearings last February on his pro-
posed amendment to the Constitu-
ton, 0iDtnD Congress the po,Der to
propide for District representation In
the Conaress and IN the electoral
college. Hearings on the same
amendment tDiH be held tomorrow
morning at 10 O'Clock In the Senate
Judiciary Committee room, Capitol
Building.
Mr.. Chairman, I will make q brief
preliminary statement with regard to
the proposed amendment to the Con-
stitution. 1t seems to me that only brief
statements may be made with regard
to this matter If the discussion Ii held
to the resolution and the need for 1t.
Unfortunately, there Is 4 good deal Of
confusion in this community and in the
country at large growing out Of sug-
gestions which have been made from
time to time with regard to these vote
less people in the District.
1t seems to me that the FIRST thing
that ought to be understood by the
people OF this community and by the
country Is that this porposed amend
ment, Of itself, gives nothing to the
District, does not at all change its
organic law, does not disturb the fact
that the District of Columbia Is to be
regarded always as the place where is
located the workshop Of the Govern
ment. 1t does not propose any change
which would interfere with its utiliza-
ton for that purpose. There would be
no ousting Of the general Federal power;
there would be no establishment of q
local power to control the activities Of
this community: there would be nothing
done that would be irrevocable.
This proposed constitutional amend
ment Is an enabling provision. 1t gives
to the Congress. which has the consti-
tutional responsibility for providing the
government for the District. an oppor-
tunity to use the additional facility
which this resolution, II adopted, would
provide II the Congress in its wisdom
should determine to use 1t. It would be
a valuable aid to the Congress in the
discharge Of that responsibility. 1t
would make 1t possible for the Congress
in its Judgment to have the people of
the District send up to the Congress.
to become q part Of the Congress, their
selected representatives, to be spokes-
men for the people of this District in
the council that is to determine their
government.
Specifically, the arrangement would
be that the people Of the District are
to have such representation in Congress,
in the House and in the Senate, in either
or both. as the Congress may determine
Now, considering that arrangement by
itself, cannot see any objection to
it from any standpoint. 1t seems to
me that from every standpoint that
arrangement would be helpful to the
Of governing the District.
An Aid to Congress.
The Congress would have the advan-
tage Of the information and advice Of
the selected representatives of the peo-
pie, qualified by information and re-
cPSlioAblV w DR(AA 4oi tAACoC PCoplC
the only council to which they can look
| for government.
If this proposed resolution were
adopted and experience should deter
mine in the judgment of the people
OF the Nation and the Congress, as
their representatives that that arrange
ment was not to the best interests Of
the Federal Government, it could be
amended or abandoned entirely. I rec
ognize, and believe the people Of the
District recognize. that the interest OF
the Federal Government in this par
ticular place, where the seat Of the
Federal Government Is established,
must be regarded as dominant in point
of relative importance. But this pro-
posed arrangement could not interfere
with the Federal interest in the slightest
degree, because it always would be sub
ject to the control and determination
OF the Congress. want to repeat that
this is nothing more than an enabling
power to the Congress.
So much for that.
This proposed constitutional amend
ment also would give to the Congress
the power, in turn, to give to the peo-
pie of the District the right to partici-
pate In the selection of the President
Of the United States, who is also a part
of their local government-deflnitely a
part Of their local government The
President is their Chief Executive. He
may make recommendations to Con.
gress. He has the veto power with ref
erence to legislation which affects them
The President is definitely an importan,
part of the legislative branch of the
Government, definitely an important
and . Tremendously influential part OF
the legislative branch Of the Govern
ment itself, the Congress. In the event
of veto, he can speak the voice, I be-
lieve 1t is, Of IS Senators and II men,
bers OF the House, assuming the entire
membership is present.
Thus far, have discussed this mat
ter solely from the standpoint of local
government, because the Congress is the
local government That, perhaps, is not
an exact expression, but that conveys
the meaning which have in mind, and
think gives the picture. The Con-
gress and the President are part Of
the local government for the District
Of Columbia. Why these people should
be denied the right thus to participate
in the selection of these agents, II such
participation on their part would moi
conflict with the Federal interest and
1t would not. 1t is very difficult to under.