Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-06-02
Home Rule Bill
HearingsCaIIed,
Prospects Dark
Committee Members
Doubt House Action
At This Session

o. pea S N'sren
Members cs the AcEsse Distract
Indicated t<Naay there
sas essly a s!Gal chance Ira, TIE
Washington lsosns Yt2ls a4I could
hs seEs "a The Ee,4~ .cE sstSssa
az It's @ss4Sssl
HEARINGS or tas senass rs Asr<4
bill toy at elected ard EroswattHe9
city government herr ard cn
snllaF balls have a~vn ordered ny
Distract Chairman Mcmillan naa
II appeared this wAs IN ne ~sse
= guarantee that HOUSE Astsaa
could Be taken ee!oEv the con-
gTeSSionAl recess
Advocates sald TREY v'cs4la make
every erFeyt &c ges q Anal answer
this session. ess scarr ccssasrsied
II Vas more likely that the decl-
sacn would sc pushed oSvs until
next years session of TIE slsi
CongrrSs
Alternatives Weighed
Proponents we're faced with
this prospect
II too many advocates testify
at tho promised hearings CT talk
too long. II would delay action.
but II few OF none testify this
might be taken 10 mean tie city
suffrage oill had no real support,
Anyway. there wIll he some
delay Before hearings arc started
by the Judiciary Subcommittee 81
the District group Chairman Ne
MILAN said the subcommittee ~ I'll
not start until after II tad sad
hearings first on bills fer Addi-
,ional District Judges and In
cfesSes in their pay.
Mr., Mcmillan. Democrat az
South Carolina, however. has no,
ruled out" action al this session.
He told reporters It might be pos
Sihle under some circumstance
for the city suffrage bill 10 DO
sent sahah 10 ilr HuNse
Backed In Principle.
Informal checks al House Com
mittee member sentiment tndicat-
ed that a little over half Of the
rs memberS favored the 'RsncTal
idea" Of Washington home rule,
Some Of those expressing sympathy
to the idea specified they were no,
committed 10 any plan A iew Of
these. in fact. have voted against
city suffrage in the past when par
ticuiar issues came 10 decision.
That House Committee approval
would be- an uphill battle also xAs
indicated from a study Of the
Judiciary Subcommittee men,
bership. Three of the seven mem
bers are definitely opposed 10 any
bill such as passed by the Senate.
Willing for House Test,
One Of the brighter spots In tho
picture was that some District
committeeman who had doubts
about home rule OF even sers In
clined 10 oppose /. said they Srfs
willing 10 send the bill 10 the
House 10 let II decide the issue
Chairman Harris ot the Judiciary
subcommittee Il don't know how
Congress can delegate any Of to
exclusive legislative powers over
the District. as provided In the
Constitution. 10 any other agency
Representative Bates. Rspub-
liean Of Massachusetts II would
be pretty difficult 10 say 20 any
man that he ought not 10 have tas
right 10 vote on schools. police.
Are. health and welfare services
that so deeply affect him and ha
family He added that final
determination OF District finances
should be kept In Congress.
Representative Buchanan. DEM
oerat. OF Pennsylvania I'm for
home rule and viii Join In any
move 10 get action by the fun
committee
Abernethy Against Bsli
Representative Abernrthy. DEM
ocrat. Of Mississippi I'm aRainss
the bill. frs, and al the way
through
Representative wadxwoFth. Re
publican. 81 New York 4 am glad
10 sce home rule on ia way, I
supported II last year ! think 10
will be reported by tbs Hosiss
Committee ! think HOUSE action
could be taken as this session "
Representatives league. Democrat.
OF Texas This Ia the capital ~
The whole county, wnnt 70
make darn sure II siAys tast gay
/ Representative Alien. RspsJb-
l!can. Of California I'm rather
optimistic ] think House action
/ possible tflia year- The District
government ought 70 have . ssr4ae
of rexpons.Sllit to is own people.
! think thai viii make for better
government. even with tas local
politics that would develop
1 Faverx Hsase Deelsisa.
/ Representative jonea. Demo
eTat. OF Alabama katd he wanted
10 study the Senate debates. 10 "
TO need for extensive Hpsts~ hear
iiasK aga!n this yeAF and tlpoukfst
The pending plan. or . similar
one. should be voted ap OF down
He added i do not belseTe lie
bib should be buried In the hka@orn
Of the committee
/ Representative Beau. EspSss-
lean. % Maryland. q supporter q
home ruiz. kMi6 re could ere title
chance for House action before
next pear.
Representative Davis. DsIocTst.
Of GeosgGa xaa positively against
home rule
! Representative Miller. H<gasb-
| lean. Of lskfaaka Masd be was
for the principles Of the senate
kall. ca1lsns IL 3 ssAFt Ia tsss ftxi1t
direction and better than Escsf-
ws n4sysSs8sn4Ss "a fSes~x era Assea sSs