Evening star., 1947-02-03
Representation
Continued From First Page

ings should be held on the Capper
amendment.
Through such exploratory discus
sion it was felt that economy in
conserving the committees time and
adequacy in handling this problem
might be achieved"
The speakers, Chairman Wiley ex-
planned, made no recommendations
to the committee on questions of
policy but confined their discussion
purely to an objective statement
of the subject.
The Senator said the two authori-
ties spoke purely in individual ca
pacities rather than for their re-
spective organizations"
DIR. Schmeckebier's statement
sketched the historical development
of the government of the District of
Columbia Senator Wiley said. Or.
Jacobstein then presented a. digest
of legislative activity within recent
years bearing on bills providing for
a Constitutional amendment as well
as home rule.
"The testimony was presented in
executive session merely in order
that the committee members might
be better familiarized with the issues
involved and might, in turn, more
freely submit questions to the au-
thorities.
There was no intent on the part
of the committee to substitute the
testimony of these two authorities
for the testimony of all of the in
terested groups which might want
to be heard in this matter in open
hearings"
Senator Wiley added in his formal
statement that the committee "ex-
presses its appreciation to all of the
members of the civic groups and,
in particular, to the local newspa-
pers for the many communications
and representatives which they have
sent, expressing their keen interest
in this matter.
The committee" he stressed, 'iS
deeply mindful of its responsibility
to the people of the District and of
the United States to give this SUBJ
ject careful consideration"
The Capper joint resolution on
national representation for the Dis
trict was introduced by Senator
Capper, Republican, of Kansas,
longtime champion of national rep
resentation. 1t was referred to the
Judiciary Committee, since it pro-
vides for a Constitutional amend
ment to empower Congress to give
District residents vote for Presi-
dent and Vice President of the
United States and for their own
representatives in the Congress.
Local Bill Before d. C. Unit.
The proceedings carried out Sem
ator Wiiey's previous announcement
that the Judiciary Committee in
tended to look into the question of
home rule or local government for
the District of Columbia despite the
fact that no bill for such home rule
Is pending before his unit.
The subject of local government
for the District which in past Con-
crosses has been referred to the Ju-
dietary Committee now is under con-
sideration by the Senate District
Committee instead.
The District Committee has pend
ing before it bill by Senator Nc
Carran, Democrat, of Nevada, for
mer chairman of the District Com
mittee, for form of local self
government.
The McCarran bill would set up a
charter commission of Washington
residents to draft a proposed city
council--city manager form of local
government. This recommendation,
however, would have to be sent back
to Congress and if approved would
be referred to the residents of the
District for an official referendum
Subcommittee Appointed.
Chairman Dirksen of the House
District Committee has already ap-