Evening star., 1945-02-18

day ON his pending constitutional
amendment to grant residents of
the District representation in Con-
gress and the Electoral College. He
spoke from the point OF DieW of
an experience OF 80 years in Congress
and as a sincere advocate of Dotes for
Washington. His remarks, ,uith in
terpolattonS from the record, are
printed beloW.)
Unfortunately there is a good deal of
confusion in this community and in the
country at large growing out of sugges-
tions which have been made from time
to time with regard to the situation of
these voteless 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 proposed amend
ment, of itself, gives nothing to the Dis
trict, 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 Government. 1t does
not propose any change which would
interfere with its utilization for that
purpose. There would be no ousting of
the general Federal power; there would
be no establishment of local power to
control the activities of this community:
there would be nothing done that would
be irrevocable.
e 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, if adopted would
provide if the Congress in its wisdom
should determine to use it. 1t would be
valuable aid to the Congress in the
discharge of that responsibility. 1t would
make it possible for the Congress in its
Judgment to have the people of the
District send up to the Congress, to
become a part of the Congress, their
selected representatives, to be spokesmen
for the people of this District in the
council that is to determine their gov
ernment.
Where Is the Objection.
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, I cannot see any objection to it
from any standpoint. 1t seems to me
that from every standpoint that ar
rangement would be helpful to the Con-
gress, which has the responsibility OF
governing the District.
The Congress would have the advan-
tage of the information and advice of
the selected representatives of the peo-
pie. qualified by information and respor-
sible to speak for these people in the
only council to which they can look for
government.
II this proposed resolution were adopt
ed and experience should determine in
the judgment of the people of the Nation
and the Congress, as their representa-
eANCc, eitdt tlidl dIikclAcllt WAS uUL u
the best interests of the Federal Gov
ernment, 1t could be amended or aban-
doned entirely. I recognize, and 1 be-
lieve the people Of the District recognize,
that the interest of the Federal Gov
eminent in this particular place, where
the seat of the Federal Government is
established must be regarded as domi-
nant in point of relative Importance.
But this proposed arrangement could
not interfere with the Federal interest
in the slightest degree, because it always
would be subject to the control and
determination of the Congress. 1 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 people of
the District the right to participate in
the selection of the President of the
United States, who is also part of their
local government-defnite part of
their local government. The President
is their Chief Executive. He may make
recommendations to Congress. He has