Evening star., 1954-05-23
Case Opposes
Home Rule Tie.
With Suffrage
BoIks at Lcnger's
Plan to Link Two
Issues in Senate
A-16 THE SUNDAY STAR
eat. washington, D. @.
-gUNDAE, MAI IS, 1854
By Hector McLeon

By Hector McLeon
Chairman Case Of the Senate
District Committee viii oppose
any effort to link home rule
with his proposed Constitutional
amendment granting Washing
tonians the right Of national
suffrage.
The South Dakota Republican
made the statement in comment
ing on q plan by Senator Lam
ger, Republican, Of North Da-
kota, chairman Of the Senate
Judiciary Committee. to tie the
two issues together.
Senator Cases resolution -
subject to approval by two
thirds of each house Of Con-
gress and SO State legislatures
would let Congress give the Dis
trict representatives in the Elec-
toral College (votes for Presi-
dent and Vice President) and in
the House Of Representatives,
but not in the Senate.
FUN Committee to Act.
At the end Of q one man
hearing Thursday, Senator Lam
ger said he would submit it to
the full Judiciary Committee to-
morrow and ask its approval
with two changes.
One would grant representa-
ton for the District in the Sen
ate as well as In the House.
The other would grant home
rule-an elected municipal gov
ernment-or at least specify
Congress right to do so.
Then, Senator LANCER said, he
would let committee members do
what they pleased with the pro-
posals.
Commenting on the plan. SEN
ator Case declared: II think con-
stitutional amendments should
be as concise as possible and /
don't feel that the home rule
amendment to the resolution is
necessary in view of the Su-
preme Courts decision in the
Thompson restaurant case"
The decision was regarded in
many quarters . as upholding
home rule which the District
once had.
also" said Senator LANCER.
''the changes would introduce
another issue which might not
help the resolutions passage in
the Senate, in the House or in
the State Legislatures. ! would
resist it on that ground.
Home Rule Bill Awaits Action.
Senator Case also is the spon-
eor, with 81 other Senators. OF
o home rule bill now awaiting
floor action in the Senate. $. It
would establish, if enacted by
Congress, an elected mayor, city
council and school board.
The measure was approved by
Senator Cases District Com
mittee only after he was salts
fed that its constitutionality
had been clearly established in
the Thompson case decision.
In that decision, the court
upheld an 80-year-old ban
against racial segregation in
D. c. restaurants which had
been enacted by the Districts
last home rule government.
The court rejected arguments
that the ban was invalid because
1t was passed by home rule
government which Congress had
no constitutional power to set
up in the first place.
Senator Case also pointed out
that the Judiciary Committee
may not accept the changes rec
commended by Senator LANCER.
If it does, however, they will go
to the Senate floor as commit
tee amendments" to Senator
Cases resolution and it will take
q positive vote by the full SEN
ate to make them a part Of the
measure.
OF the LANCER plan to allow
Senate representation for the
District, Senator Case declared.
''It is not inconsistent with the
scope of the resolution. On the
other hand, I did not feel it
would help passage of the meas
ure or would have included it,"
He indicated. though. that If
the Senate seems willing to ac-
cent a change he would not op-
pose 1t.
Seek Non-VOting Delegate.
J Meanwhile, Senator Case is
understood to be attempting to
line up support in the House Dis
trict Committee for an earlier bill
Of his to give the District nom
voting delegate in the House.
The measure, passed by the
Senate. was pigeon-holed last
July % by the House committee,
IS to 8.
Chairmen Simpson Of the
House committee and Senator
Case asked him recently about
giving the District something" at
this session of Congress. -
Also, Mr.. Simpson said. Repre-
sentative Auchincloss, Republic
can, of New Jersey has asked if
the delegate bill could not be
reconsidered. Mr.. Simpson prom
ised to discuss it with Repre-
sentative O'IIara. Republican. Of
Minnesota, chairman Of the Ju-
dietary S u b c ON mittee which
handles such bills.
Small Star Wont Ad