Evening star., 1945-02-14
D. {. Vote Plan
Approval Ends
House Hearing
Choirmon CeIIer Seeks
Speedy Action on
Joint Resolution

Announcement by Chairman
Celler that his House judiciary
Subcommittee would report ia
vorably the Summers Capper
plan for a constitutional amend
ment to permit Congress to grant
District residents national repre-
sentation brought hearings on
the proposal to an end at 11:45
am. today.
Representative CeIler, Democrat
of New York made the announce
ment as spokesman for citizens
groups awaited their turns to testify
for the proposal
Mr.. Celler stressed the need for
speed If the constitutional amend
ment is to be submitted to the
States for ratification at the forth
coming sessions of State Legislatures.
Witnesses Can File Statements.
THE majority of this subcom-
mittee are in favor of this resolu-
tion,'' Mr.. Celler declared, land we
will so report to the full House
Judiciary Committee. I see no real
advantage in having a long list of
witnesses come before us to restate
approval of the measure" He added
that witnesses could submit state
ments in writing for purposes Of
the record.
Mr. Celler stressed that A State
Legislatures are to meet this year
and that unless Congress acts
promptly to submit the constitu-
tional amendments to them in time
for consideration at these meetings,
the question would have to await
other meetings two years hence.
AS an act of fairness, Chairman
Celler then called out to the near
200 people in the hearing room to
ask If there was any one present
who opposed the joint resolution.
A dead silence followed his call.
Let me repeat that said Mr..
Celler, in louder voice. rs there
any one here who is opposed to this
resolution, or who wants to be
heard in opposition?"
Audience Applauds.
Again there was no response and
applause spread around the audi
epce.
| About this time Miss Eta Tag
! gart, representing the Society of
Natives and the Washingtonians,
walked toward the committee table
with document in her hand.
Are you opposed to this resolu-
tion?" asked Mr.. Celler.
"Oh, no." said Miss Taggart. "We
are for it,
Then never mind" said Mr.. Gel
Ter. we will receive your state
ment and any others for ecord
later The record will be held open
for this purpose"
A little later. however, B. M. Sci
bold, 1910 Biltmore street NV,
who said he appeared as an indi-
vidual, rose in opposition to the
/ resolution, but he said he favored
the principle of representation for
District citizens.
Plan Strongly 1ndorSe.
Earlier in the hearing strong in
dorsements of the representation
proposal were voiced by Chairman
Summers of the House Judiciary
Committee, who is co-author of the
resolution with Senator Capper,
Republican, of Kansas; Chairman
Randolph of the House District
Committee, longtime advocate of
the plan, and Jesse c. Suter, vice
chairman of the Citizens Joint
Committee on National Representa-
ton. who represented it's veteran
chairman, Theodore w. Noyes.
! A high light of the early part Of
the session was the testimony of a
native-born Washington boy, Tech.
Sergt. Jeremiah A. OIeary, jr, a
marine combat correspondent, who
returned recently from campaigns
against the Japs
| He told the committee there was
"a bit of a sting of resentment" in
the heart when at nine different Pa
ciflc islands last year he saw abb
sentee ballots, or voting instructions,
given to the boys from the States
with none for him or the other boys
from the disfranchised District.
Noyes Statement Cited.
Mr.. Suter, while placing a lengthy
brief into the record supporting the
representation plan, quoted from
statements made by Mr.. Noyes in
1916, which he said still applied to
the issue.
This constitutional amendment
which we favor" the statement of
Mr.. Noyes declared, docs not pro-
pose the admission of the District
of Columbia as a sovereign State;
it does not propose the destruction
OF the 10 miles square provision of
the Constitution; it does not lessen
in the smallest degree the control
by the Nation through Congress Of
what remains of the 10 miles
square
/ TT does not disturb in any way
the financial relations of Nation
and Capital. 1t is not complicated
with changes in the municipal gov
ernment of the District. On the
/ question of speedy enactment Of
| (see SUFFRAGE, Page A-6.)
4 ..