Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-02
.2SuffrageB Bills
Will Be Offered
For DC. Soon
AuchincIoss Proposal
SimpIified; McCorron
To Renew Proposal
By Don S. Worren

A double-barreled move to do
something about the lack of SUI
frage in the national capital will
be launched in the House and
Senate this week after the 8lst
Congress organizes.
A simplified and shortened Dis
trict home rule bill is scheduled to
be dropped into the House hopper
tomorrow by Representative Auch-
incloss, Republican, of New Jersey.
80th Congress chairman of the
Home Rule Committee.
On the Senate side, Senator Nc
Carran. Democrat, of Nevada, for
mer chairman of the Senate Dis
trict Committee and still interested
in its work though no longer MEM
Der, will renew his proposal to create
a Federal City Charter Commission,
to start from scratch on the home
rule issue.
Both proposals face dubious fu-
lures, in view of opposition by
Southern Democrats and doubtful
Republicans.
Hope Rests With McGrath.
Principal hope appeared to rest
with the possible selection of Sena-
tor McGrath, Democrat. of Rhode
Island, chairman of the Democratic
National Committee, as the new
head of the Senate District Com
mittee. He is an outspoken propo-
nent of Washington home rule.
Any positive move for granting
the District even a partial control
over its own affairs seems to rest
with the Senate in the new Con-
gress. Last year, it was otherwise.
| The Auchincloss plan for home rule
weathered tests in the House Dis
trict Committee and in the House
Rules Committee only to fail of
final action on the House floor due
to opposition by conservative South
erners.
The same "stone WALL opposition
is present this year in the House
District Committee - except that
such members now are members of
the majority party instead of the
minority. They are headed by Rep
resentative Mcmillan, Democrat, of
South Carolina, who will be the new
chairman of the House District
Committee and Representative
Harris of Arkansas, Abernethy of
Mississippi, and Smith of Virginia,
all Democrats.
These members will find some
support, at least, from Republican
Representatives O'Hara of Mime
sofa, Bates of Massachusetts, and
Miller of Nebraska.
Senate Committee Changes.
The Senate District Committee is
to be substantially rebuilt as re-
suit of the elections, retirements and
ether choices.
Senator Holland. Democrat, of
Florida, is in line to be Chairman
of the Senate District Committee
but does not want it. In the past
he has taken broad liberal posi-
ton that the District should have
more say about its own affairs. He
is under pressure from the more
conservative Southerners to MAIN
tain the status quo.
Senator McGrath, coming from
northern and solidly Democratic
State, could and would go the
whole mile as to the granting of
democracy for this area, his
/ friends say.
This is a situation that portends
a real fight over local suffrage in the
| Senate District Committee in the
new Congress regardless of who is
made chairman, since Senator Nc
Grath has indicated he is quite will
ing to continue as a member of that
body regardless of whether he is
made its leader
McCarran to Offer Bill.
Senator McCarran said he would
reintroduce his Charter Commission
bill at the first opportunity.
His bill will call for the creation
of citizens committee of II men,
bers to draft the terms of a pro-
posed new city charter. Named as
prospective members of the McCar-
ran Charter commission are the
same civic leaders listed in his bill
of several years standing:
John J. Blank, Lewis T. Breun-
niger, Renah F. Camalier, Wilbur F.
Finch, Woolsey w. Hall, Jesse B.
Manbeck, Joseph C. McGarraghy,
Mrs. Louis Gutenberg, Mrs. Ger
trude Parks, Mrs, Charles H. Wes-
ton, and Joseph J. Malloy.
Auchincloss Provisions.
Should the AuchincloSs plan, or
any reasonable facsimile thereof, be
approved by the new Congress, the
first positive indications of suffrage
here would be demonstrated next
summer. Under the revised plan,
registration of eligible voters would