Evening star., 1952-04-02
Senate Unit Nav
Act Next Week
On Primary Bill
Hope Fading, However.
For Enactment in
Time for Conventions
By Don S. Warren

By Don S. Worren
The Senate District Committee
may be convened next week to act
on the Neely-Duff bill to require
open, regulated primaries here fol
the election Of District delegates
to the national party conventions
But hope was fading that any
such legislation could be enacted
in time to be effective for the
Republican and Democratic con-
ventions to be held in Chicago
next July z and 81.
Unless there is extraordinarily
quick enactment by House and
Senate. selection of the voting
District delegates will be left again
to time-honored party systems
which in 1948 turned out only
tiny fractions of eligible voters
here in the party election systems.
Lag to Be Considered.
However, George L. Hart, jr.,
secretary of the District G. o. P.
Committee, said the Republican
State Committee, at its meeting
next week, will consider a change
in rules to allow a lag of about
three weeks between Republican
registration days and the time OF
the meeting of the first precinct
groups.
Eisenhower hackers said this
would give them more time to
organize before the precinct meet
ings were held.
Senate hearings on the Neely-
Duff were concluded yesterday
after an extended afternoon ses-
sion. Committee staff workers
were directed to perfect the
pending draft or to prepare a new
bill in keeping with ideas de-
veloped at the hearings.
There was speculation that the
Senate Committee would recon-
mend a bill but that it would fail
Of House action. There was
other talk of recognizing that
possibility and pushing now for
bill that would be effective for
the 1856 conventions.
Wide Support for Plain.
In two separate Senate hear
tngS all witnesses, representing q
wide variety of groups, have
spoken out for open, regulated
primaries for both parties
except for two officials of the
Republican State Committee for
the District.
One of these, Joseph c. Nc
Garraghy, chairman Of the local
G. o. P. Committee, who testified
last week. said the Neely-D Duff bill
included many desirable features.
But he said the rules for con-
vention delegates should not be
changed in the course of a pend:
ing contest.
Yesterday, Mr.. Hart discussed
several changes in the bill. He
did not come out for or against
1t, but he did suggest it came UP
late" for use for the impending
convention delegate elections.
Case Cites Short Time.
District Committee Chairman
Nicely said he hopes the bill could
be put in form for favorable &C.
ton by next week. Senator Case
Republican, of South Dakota
ranking minority member, said he
would like to see action, but he
too, cautioned that time is short
A third member. Freshman
Senator Seaton, Republican, OF
Nebraska said he believes solidly
in the principle of the primary
measure.
The Republican State Commit
tee is to meet at 8 pm. next
Wednesday In the Willard Hote.
to adopt rules for the forthcom-
ing party delegate selection. Al
that time, also. it is to order
changes in the boundaries of the
43 precincts it uses as a part o1
its complicated convention sys.
tenn of delegate elections.
Some Amendments Proposed.
Speaking for the Neely- Duff bill
yesterday, some with proposed
amendments, were Maynard d.
Witt of the American Veterans
Committee, Gardner Jackson o1
the Americans for Democratic Ac.
ton, Mrs. Harvey w. Wiley for the
Federation of Citizens Associa.
ton and the Kalorama Citizens
Association, who said she person
ally Is a Taft Republican; for
mer Municipal Court Judge James
A. Cobb, who left the Republican
Old Guard ranks recently to joir
the Eisenhower forces: William A
Roberts, Democrat, former Dis
trict peoples counsel; Mrs. Phillip
Geyelin, Mrs. Jay Carmody, Mrs
Harold M. Marsh and Robert E
Mclaughlin, head Of the District
Eisenhower Club.
Mr.. Roberts. Mr.. Mclaughlin
and others suggested that tht
Senate committee keep a watch
on how the party systems are op'
Grated this year. should the bill
fail of enactment in time for tht
July conventions. They wanted {
record made for later use.
Man Sues in Wife's Death
After Childbirth al Bethesd;
BY the Assoeioted Press