Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-28
DC. Delegate
Bill May Go 10
Senate Soon
Subcommittee Holds
Hearing on Most
Limited Suffrage Plan
By Don S, Warren

The most limited of the Wash
ington suffrage bills pending on
Capitol Hill-the one for the
election of a non-voting District
delegate in the HouSe-probably
will be reported to the Senate
soon for action.
Favorable action was indicated
last night by the three members
of the Judiciary Subcommittee of
the Senate District Committee,
after a public hearing lasting
nearly three hours.
Subcommittee action was de-
layed until Monday to consider a
number of amendments raised at
the hearing. But Senator 9ar-
rett. Republican, of Wyoming,
chairman. said he will vote for
a delegate bill.
His two associates on the sub
committee are co-Sponsoring the
measure: District Committee
Chairman Case, Republican, of
South Dakota, and former chair
man Nicely. Democrat, of West
Virginia.
An amended bill. probably re-
quiring three or five years of
District domicile for delegate
candidates and other changes,
will come up for full District
Committee action Tuesday at
II am.
Few Show Enthusiasm.
Most of the 81 witnesses who
took the stand at last nights
hearing supported the Case
Nicely delegate bill. but few Of
them with any enthusiasm. Most
of them were advocates of an
elected city government and Dis
trict representation in Congress.
These witnesses stressed that
it was to be understood the dele
gate bill was not "home rule" or
any substitute.
Even one of the co-sponsors
of the bill. Senator Nicely,
termed it mo more than a
crumb" Of suffrage, but he said
he is for it because "even a
crumb is better than nothing"
Senator Case assured the audi
ence of about IS that neither he
nor Senator Nicely would let &C
ton on this bill slow up their
drive for passage of the home
rule bill.
Senator Nicely. however. voiced
fears that even the delegate bill
might not reach the House floor
for action.
Three Delegates Urged.
This comment came while
Culver B. Chamberlain, veteran
suffrage advocate, speaking as
chairman of the Suffrage Com
mittee of the Democratic Central
Committee, was urging a change
in the bill to provide for three
instead of only one delegate.
Don't make it too hard to get
this bill through" Senator Nicely
counseled him. I'VE are going
to have difficulties with this bill
for just one. I fear it won't get
to the House floor"
Mr.. Chamberlain asked him If
he might not be giving away
trade secrets. but Senator Nicely
said he did not think so. He
had ruled his comment off the
official record.
One of the highlights of the
hearing was the testimony of
Rufus S. LuSk of the Washing
ton Taxpayers Association. long
a vocal foe of District home rule.
He said he was supporting the
delegate bill.
Sees Blow to Home Rule.
As members of the Subcom-
mittee and audience raised eye
proWs. Mr. Lusk went on: And
Ill tell you why: A delegate with
a stentorial voice could do some
thing for us all. but the principal
reason why I am for this bill is
this:
If you get this bill enacted,
you won't get home rule, which
is the last thing that ] want"
Senator Nicely thought that
over and later recalled Mr.. Lusk
to the stand to ask HIM how a
man whose family had been Dis
trict residents since 1873 (Mr.
(See DELEGATE, Page A-2.)