Evening star., 1946-02-17
SenateDeIay
To Put Suffrage
Drive in House
Beottie Sees Chance
Of Favorable Report
If Fight Is Shifted

Failure of the Senate judiciary
Committee to act on the Summers
Capper resolution a week from to-
morrow will result in a concerted
effort on the part of the Central
Suffrage Conference to obtain
House action on the question of
national representation for the
District.
James S. Beattie, chairman OF
the conferences National Repre-
sentation Committee, said yester-
day his organization was prepared
to seek House Judiciary Commit
tee action on the Summers -Capper
measure "in the event of further
Senate delay"
Last week the Senate committee
postponed consideration of the
measure-already twice delayed
until tomorrow, but action at that
time was precluded by Chairman
McCarran's announcement that
there would be no committee ses-
sion because of the probable ab-
sence OF a large number of MEM
bers.
House Support Seen.
Mr.. Beattie said conversations
with House Judiciary Committee
members last week had led him to
believe they would look favorablv
at this time on the measure. which
provides for constitutional
amendment to empower Congress
to grant the District representa-
tion in the House, Senate and cleo
toral college.
A joint resolution, the Summers
Capper measure. was introduced in
both Senate and House. The reso-
luton was favorably reported to the
House Judiciary Committee last
winter, but on May II the full
committee voted not to bring I'm
the measure by the narrow mar
gin of 8 to 7. The decision was un-
derstood to have been influenced by
a Senate Judiciary Committee pol
icy OF considering no legislation
involving a constitutional amend
ment during the war.
Other House Judiciary Committee
members who have promised Chair
man Summers support include Rep
resentative Celler, Democrat of New
York, who was chairman of the
subcommittee which reported fa-
vorably on the resolution, and Rep
resentative Kefauver. Democrat of
Tennessee, Mr.. Beattie said.
+ Slow Going in Senate.
The resolution has experienced
slow going on the Senate side. 1t
was favorably reported to the Judi
ciary Committee last October 8 by
a subcommittee headed by Senator
Hatch, Democrat of New Mexico.
Originally scheduled for full COM
mittee actiorr on January %, it was
first put off until February 4, and
then until February II.
During the February session,
consideration was given to two pro-
posed amendments, both designed
to limit District congressional rep
Iresentation to the House, while
granting voice among the electors
of President and Vice President. No
action was taken, however, and last
Monday. by vote of S to 3, the COM
mittee again put off action.
Chairman McCarran, an advocate
of home rule" for the District, but
an opponent of national representa-
ton, said the move was taken be-
cause insufficient members of the
17-man committee were present to
give the Sumners-Capper measure
proper consideration.
100 Would Join Group.
Meanwhile, suffrage advocates
have gone ahead with their cam
paign to secure action on the reso-
luton. Wilbur S. Finch, temporary
chairman, said yesterday he had re-
ceived upward of 100 communica-
tions from local organizations, ex-
pressing desire to join the Central
Suffrage Conference.
| This would bring to nearly 200
the number of organizations willing
| to fight for District enfranchise-
ment under leadership of the con-
ference, Mr.. Finch asserted He
said meeting will be held early in
March. at which the conference will
complete its formal organization,
elect officers and adopt bylaws.
| Activities sponsored by the suf-
frage conference during the coming
week will include a talk Wednesday
at 7:30 pm. by Mr.. Beattie before
the Columbia Heights Citizens AS
sociation forum at Paul Junior High
School. Thursday morning, a dele
CATION from the Women's Auxiliary
of the United Federal Workers Of
America will visit Senate Judiciary
Committee members to urge passage
of the Sumners-Capper resolution.
Mr.. Beattie's committee is near
ing completion of plans for a
Declaration of Independence for
Washington" meeting to be held on
Washington's Birthday, February
%. High light of the affair, he said,
will be the signing of a proposed
Constitutional amendment ito in
clude Washington with respect to
the right to vote"
Speakers will include Senator
Capper and Representative Sum-
ners.