Evening star., 1947-02-09
Capper 70 Offer
Plea Tomorrow
For D. {. Vote
Senator to Appear
At Closed Session
Of Judiciary Group
By Harold B, Rooers


The Senate Judiciary Committet
will be asked tomorrow by Senator
Capper, Republican, of Kansas, te
approve his resolution on national
representation for the District.
The veteran champion of suffrage
for Washington is prepared to pre-
sent a strong argument asking the
committee to report the measure
favorably to the Senate.
Chairman Wiley of the commit
tee has set down the Capper reso-
luton for full consideration by the
entire committee. In announcing
last week the matter would come up
at this next regular meeting, the
Wisconsin Senator said he hoped
the group could come to some def
mite decision. Earlier he had prom
ised to expedite" the proposal
without extended hearings.
Hearing to Be Closed.
No public hearings have been held
by the committee in the 80th Con-
gress, and it was decided that nc
hearings would be held. Senator
Capper was invited to discuss his
bill. He is expected to be the last
witness on the matter, behind closed
doors.
There was no inkling as to what
disposition the committee may make
OF the Capper resolution. Commit
tee members have discussed the
question in executive sessions. They
have heard experts from the Library
OF Congress. and from the Cham
ber of Commerce of the United
States explain the history of this
city and the long fight of its resi-
dents for national suffrage. Com
mittee members also have been
urged by Chairman Wiley to study
the voluminous records of hearings
which have been held on the general
subject over many years. To hold
further hearings, Senator Wiley has
emphasized, would be a waste of
time, and repetitious.
The Capper resolution calls for an
amendent to the Constitution. The
amendment would empower Con-
gress to grant residents of the capi-
tai a vote for president and vice
president, and members of the
House and Senate.
Two-Thirds Vote Needed.
A two-thirds vote of both the
Senate and House would be neces-
Sary for Congress to send the pro-
posed amendement to the State
Legislatures, and three-fourths of
these legislatures would have to
ratify 1t within seven years.
Many other bills pending before
the House and Senate District Com
mittees are expected to be studied
this week by subcommittee.
Chairman Buck of the Senate
District Committee said he hoped
to participate personally some time
in the week in consideration of
some local legislation in subcom-
mittees of which he is a member.
It is unlikely, he said, that the full
committee will meet on its regular
date Tuesday afternoon unless some
unexpected results should grow out
of subcommittee work. He did not
specify which District bills would
have priority in consideration.
Chairman Dirksen of the House
District Committee said he was
making study of the schedule of
other House committee meeting
dates to fix a time for a regular
meeting of his group so as to con-
f1ict as little as possible with other
units.
The new tax program for the Dis
trict is considered the most impor-
tant in priority, Mr.. Dirksen as
serted. eve will get going on the
tax bill the first shot out of the
box" he declared.
Going to Bates Committee.
This measure, he understands now
is before the Bureau of the Budget,
and probably will reach Capitol Hill
sometime this week. 1t will go
Immediately to the fiscal subcom-
mittee, of which Representative
Bates, Republican, of Massachusetts,,
Is chairman.
Mr.. Bates said he was anxious to
have the tax bill as soon as possible
to get his group down to work. He
wants to consider its place in the
Districts whole financial picture.
Already, he said, his committee has
been making careful study of
District finances, in comparison
with the finances of other cities.
The teacher pay bill, for a $700
annual increase in teacher salaries
over their present base pay, still is
in the drafting stage at the District
Building. A report from the Board
of Education has been sent to both
the House and Senate District Com
mittees.
Mr.. Bates said, however, he would
not take up the teacher report, but
would wait for the formal bin, be-
fore putting it before the subcom-
mittee. The teachers salary proposal
probably will have to wait, he added,
until after the committee has good
look at the new tax bill. 1t is de-
signed to raise about $19,000,000 to
help balance the Districts $95, ,000,-
600 budget for the fiscal year be-
ginning next July l.