Evening star., 1948-05-26

Vote Is Doubtful
Before Adjournment;
Dirksen Fights On
(RoH Call Vote on Home-Rule
Bill on Page A-6.J
The Washington home rule
bill, caught in a legislative log
jam, today was facing death by
delay, unless given one more
break by House leaders.
1t weathered major tests during
six hours of continuous debate yes
terday, only to encounter delaying
tactics engineered by opponents to
forestall final vote. The imme-
diate result was to displace the
measure to make way for national
bills.
The District charter bill, which
proposes an elected and reorganized
city government, remains an unfln-
ished piece of business. But under
schedules made by House leaders, 1t
will have no chance of getting fur
ther attention before next week.
Chairman Dirksen of the House
District Committee agreed it would
row be IAN uphill battle" in view
of the drive for passage of nationally
important bills before adjournment
Of Congress.
Still Hopeful.
II am still hopeful, and / am still
fighting" he SAID, however.
He refused fatty to concede that
the issue is lost and even talked
hopefully of favorable Senate action
n the event time is found soon in
the House to complete action on
the bill.
Owing to time-consuming maneu-
vers demanded by foes of the bill,
the House was able to finish a read
ing for amendments of only SO Of
the 180 pages of the charter meas
ure. This made it necessary to leave
the bill as unfinished business
Chairman Dirksen and other
sponsors still believe the measure
will pass, if they can ever get 1t to
a vote.
Foes Insist on Reading.
Opponents of the bill yesterday
insisted on a reading of section after
section. word by word. AS they
watched the clock. House leaders be-
came more and more concerned.
Finally at pm, Majority Leader
Halleck conferred with sponsors OF
the bill. Fifteen minutes later
Chairman Dirksen dropped the right
to permint time for Republican
conference on national matters.
Mr.. Halleck told reporters he
could not see any time in the i'm
mediate future" when the bill might
be taken up again.
Opponents considered they had
won a final victory. Representative
Harris, Democrat. of Arkansas, who
played a major role in putting the
home rule bill on the shelf, said
he has no official indication as to
the future program of the House.
But 1t seems to me almost pre-
posterous," he declared, ito think
OF taking up the time Of the House
when we have so many things that
must be enacted, and We know this
is not going to become law"
Declaring the long study and
debate over home rule should do
a lot of good, and prove OF in
valuable assistance in the future
consideration of the suffrage prob
lem" Mr.. Harris said he Is strongly
opposed to dual suffrage" here. But
he said he favors giving the people
of this city vote for President and
a Representative in the House. He
would support Constitutional
amendment for this purpose, he
added.
The Senate Home-Rule Subcom-
mittee, headed by Senator Ball. Re-
publican. of Minnesota. has taken
no active part in consideration Of
the BILL since 1t was redrafted by
the Auchincloss subcommittee of the
House in keeping with issues raised
at the February hearing. Members
Of the Senate group determined to
let the House go ahead first, under
its own steam" In view of the
legislative situation, 1t was indicated
two weeks ago, 1t would take "a
miracle" to gain Senate approval
at this session, even If the House
passed the bill.
Survives "Kill" Test.
The bill weathered every test yes
terday in the House, before it was
shelved for lack of time.
The major test was a determined
and organized effort by foes of the
limited home rule plan to kill the
bill quickly and to bury it under
a move to strike it's enacting clause.
This move was rejected by a stand
ing vote of So to Al, later adopted
by a teller vote of 80 to 10, and
finally defeated by a roll call vote
of 1872 to 1853.
Another test came later, when
Representative Abernethy, Demo-
crat, Of Mississippi, moved to strike
all OF title III, which would abolish
the House and Senate District Com
mittees and the House and Senate
Appropriations Subcommittee on
the District, and would set up in
their stead a single Congressional
Joint Committee to handle all Dis
trict matters. Mr.. Abernethy's mo-
tion was rejected by a voice vote.
The race issue, which had been
injected into debate from time to
time. was made the subject of a
direct vote in a motion by Repre-
sentative Powell, Democrat, of New
York. to outlaw any form of race
segregation in the District. His
move was supported by Representa-
tive Marcantonio. American Labor,
tie, of New York, but the amend
ment was ruled not germane to the
Dill on point of order raised by
Chairman Dirksen.
D. E., Maryland AFL 10 Act
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