Evening star., 1947-01-07
Copper
Continued From First Page

political unit which, in keeping with
It's special purpose, is not and should
not become State or part Of a
State"
It's intended purpose, according to
the preamble, is to insure that the
effective rights of citizens resident
in the District, including their par
ticipation in the Government Of the
United States, shall be as nearly
similar to those of citizens resident
in the several States as may be
without impairing the supreme au-
thority of the said Government
over its Capital"
This proposal is an enabling pro-
vision to be added to the Constitu-
ton which will permit the applica-
tion, in the case of the people of
the District of Columbia, of the
fundamental principles of Our form
of Government" the veteran legis-
lator asserted.
All Entitled to Veice.
'I hold that all Americans, where
ever they reside in our country,
should possess the right and privi-
lege of participating in the legisla-
ton of the Nation through legisla-
tors of their own choosing. I also
hold that all such Americans are
Justly entitled to participate through
their duly chosen electors in the
election of the President and Vice
President of the United States.
Reiterating his declaration of a
year ago when he introduced the
Summers -Capper measure, Senator
Capper stated that with the single
exception of those Americans per-
manently residing in the District OF
Columbia, the way is open for all
to participate" in Government.
However, he added, "the pecu-
Mar situation as regards the voteless
and unrepresented people Of the
District of Columbia is that the
Congress, which under the Consti-
tuition has. the broad power to exer-
else exclusive legislation in all cases
whatsoever over the seat of the Gov
ernment, lacks the power to correct
this fundamental defect. The peo-
pie Of the District of Columbia labor
under serious handicaps and humil-
iation through being denied the ex-
ercise of these fundamental Amert-
can rights"
The Summers Capper Resolution
failed to reach the floor of either
the House or Senate for vote in
the last Congress. The Senate Judi
ciary Committee on February Is re-
committed the measure to sub
committee which had reported it
favorably, with an amendment con-
fining District representation to the
House. Though the subcommittee
again gave it favorable report with
the same amendment on May g.,
nothing further was done.
The House Judiciary Committee
voted May II against sending the
measure to the floor, although q sub
committee previously had recon-
mended a favorable report.
Senator Capper described as frank
injustice" the fact that District resi-
dents are denied voice in Govern
ment. I'm the last presidential elec-
ton they continued voteless while
their comrades in arms from the
States were permitted to vote by alb
sentee ballot" he said.
Quoted Star Statement.
He reminded the Senate that he
had called to its attention while the
soldier vote bill was under consid-
Grafton that "side by side with the
men from your State and mine are
fighting men from the yoteless and
unrepresented District OF Columbis
'"' They are shedding their blood
and giving their all for their coun-
try and its democratic institutions
In which they do not fully share ;
Quoting from an election day
statement in The Star, Senator
Capper called attention to the high
mortality rate suffered by District
2 servicemen during the war, and the
fact that the Capital contributed
more men than IA States to the
armed services.
He declared enactment of the reso-
luton would not in the slightest
detract from the power Of Congress
over the Federal District. It would
however, so broaden the power oi
Congress as to enable it to correct
this grievous wrong for which the
District citizens have for half Gen.
tury petitioned the Congress"
First introduced i'm 1883.
The first effort toward national