Evening star., 1949-02-17
Coudoy Urges Representation in Congress for District
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NOIIuuu/ Wy
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to people in all other places of
the United States.
Mr.. Colladay told the Senate
subcommittee in his testimony
that if home rule plan is to be
enacted. the Board of Trade be-
lieves the draft as it may be
finally enacted by Congress must
be made subject to approval
thereafter in an officially con-
Quoted referendum by Washing
ton residents, before it may be
effective.
This was one of five stipulations,
aside from the declared need for
Congressional representation, out
lined for the trade body by Mr..
Colladay.
Other Points Raised.
His other specific points were:
That reorganization of the Dis
trict government structure should
be taken out of the home rule bill
and left for separate action
That the so-called dual voting
provisions of home rule bills ad-
vanced so far were open to serious
question as to the advisability OF
allowing persons residing here to
vote for local officials while also
maintaining voting rights in their
home States.
That if Congress provides home
rule it might be expected there
will be failure" on the part OF
Congress in the future to make
adequate Federal payments toward
the support of the city govern
ment.
That, to make legislative acts
of the proposed city council solid
ly effective, provision must be
made either for affirmative ap-
proval of them by Congress, or for
formal possible veto action by a
Joint resolution of the House and
Senate within a specified period.
No Decision on Home Rule.
t1I Mr.. Colladay told reporters the
Trade Board and its directors had
not as yet passed on the question
of home rule. He said this is re-
garded as too general a question
to be answered at this time.
He indicated the final answer
might we'll depend on the exact
terms of a home rule bill as finally
enacted by Congress.
This gave special meaning to
the recommendation that the final
congressional act be subject to
approval in an official plebiscite.
The subject of national repre-
sentation for the District is not
within the scope of the District
Committee since proposed amend
ments to the Constitution are
handled by the Judiciary Commit
tees of the. House and Senate.
But Mr.. Colladay raised the point
because of it's relation to the trade
body's views on local suffrage.
I'VE have concluded after a
study of many years." he said,
that local suffrage in the Dis
trict cannot be effective unless
the people of the District also
have full representation in the
Congress.
mo bill to grant local suffrage
will be complete unless it is &C.
compapied by provision to amend
the Constitution in such man
ner to permit local residents to
send representatives to the Con-.
gress and to vote for President
and Vice President"
In stressing the point that there
should be a specific move to make
home rule bill contingent on ap-
proval in plebiscite, Mr.. Colladay
said:
I'VE think the people of Wash
ington should have the opportu-
nifty to reflect on the nature of
changes which Congress is willing
to adopt and to decide whether
they will be of benefit or injury to
this community"
/ Federal Share a Factor.
Mr.. Colladay voiced fears that
adoption of a home rule plan
would mean that Congress would
fail to continue adequate appro-
priations for the Federal share of
costs of the Capital.
ANY home rule bill consequent
ly should contain specific pro-
visions for a continuation of the
Federal payment and preferably
on the basis of an adjustable
formula similar to those proposed
by the late Senator Overton,
Democrat, of Louisiana and by
Senator O'Mahoney, Democrat, of
Wyoming"
Witnesses were questioned at
some length by members OF the