Evening star., 1949-07-22
Home Rule
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saying Mr.. Batzel1 was not au-
thorized as the association s
spokesman by any of the present
officers.
Among the score of witnesses
remaining to be heard was Rep
resentative Deane, Democrat, OF
North Carolina. who last year
served on the House District Home
Rule Subcommittee that drafted
the Auchincloss bill.
Says Only 2 Have Studied Issue.
Only two members Of the sub
committee were present when the
hearing started. Representative
Hobbs, first witness, said the
session was something like a
prayer meeting-those who need
prayer the least are the ones who
attend"
II hate to bore you with things
you already understand" he said.
The Alabaman told the SUBJ
committee there were only two au-
thorities who had "delved deeply"
into the constitutional questions
involved in home rule. He listed
them as former Representative
Sumner. Democrat, of Texas, and
Edward F. Colladay. a spokesman
for the Washington Board of
Trade. He said they had reached
the absolutely unanswerable"
conclusion that there must be a
constitutional amendment before
real home rule" can be granted
to the District.
Mr.. Hobbs, who called the Con-
stitution the mud sill" on which
the home rule question rested, re-
ferred to the constitutional pro-
vision that Congress shall have
exclusive legislation in all cases
whatsoever" over the District.
Cant Escape Responsibility"
"We can't escape this RESPONSE
bility which is ours. if we wanted
to, and we can't delegate a duty
placed on us by the Constitution"
he declared specifically.
Mr.. Hobbs recalled that Con-
gress, while meeting in Philadel-
phia early in the country's his
tory, "skeedaddled rather than be
killed" when threatened by
"mutineers."
What would we do If the gar
rison at Fort Myer were to come
over here?" he asked.
He quickly agreed this sugges-
ton was absurd" but pointed
out that he was stressing that
there was a real reason" for
provision of the Constitution CIV
ing Congress exclusive control"
over the District. Under this,
he said. the National Capital mas
the protection of every constitu-
tional authority, including the
Army and Navy.
Says Congress "SwOre Off,"
In answer to a proponent argu-
ment that the disfranchisement of
District residents was taxation
without representation, Mr.. Hobbs
said this is not sound" He said
there was no provision of the Con-
stitution that says that taxes can
be imposed only on those who
have political representation
Mr.. Hobbs also recalled that in
the days when the District had a
partly elected form of govern
ment, the District went bankrupt
although it had been solvent and
we'll endowed" when local affairs
were turned over to the city ad-
ministration. Thereafter, he said
that Congress, like the drurfks
on Saturday night. swore off and
said "Never again."
He quoted one former Senator
OF CQe RECONSTRUCTION perlOQ atCer
the War between the States as
having said Congress took local
suffrage away from the District
because the voting right had been
extended to Negroes.
He added, however, that he was
not one to advocate any racial
issue.
Il am Jackie Robinson type"
he said. Il deplore that the racial
issue has raised its ugly head"
He said Washington now mad
good government in a sense" and
added it was "as good as the aver
age and perhaps better than
most"