Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-02-17
17House Members Aid Bill
ToCreate DC. Territory
Pickets March
To Urge Action
On Home Rule
BY GRACE BASSETT
star stan Writer

star otAn Wrlter
Seventeen members Of Con-
greSs today we're prepared to
press the House TO make the
District a territory.
Republicans and Democrats
united behind a bill calling on
the President to appoint Gov
ernor and the people to elect
a l5-member legislative assem-
bly, and a non-voting delegate
to the House.
They were led by Represent
atives Multer. Democrat of New
York, and Springer. Republican
of Illinois, who inserted remarks
in the Congressional Record and
asked permission for others to
do the same.
In prepared statements, each
promised to sponsor the terri
torial bill and to rouse support
in the House. which four times
in the last decade has refused
to act on Senate-passed self
government measures.
Outside the Capitol earlier
in the morning, two women
CARRIED in prison toys, drag
ging balls and chains, picketed
a corner across from the Old
House Office Building. They
were Joined by Mr.. Multer and
Mr.. Springer.
Vote Bar Stressed
The women's signs read,
Congressman! Only You Can
Give Us The Vote" and only
Convicts, LunaticS and
Washingtonians Cannot Vote"
A cluster of other Repre-
embellishments Foley Of
Maryland, Rivers of Alaska.
McGovern of South Dakota,
and Republicans Bass of New
Hampshire, and Frelinghuysen
of New Jersey-joined Mr..
Multer and Mr.. Springer on
the sidewalk.
Despite drizzling rain, they
posed with the picketS, Miss
Chloeann Beck, %, and Miss
Carol Sharpe, 10, for half an
hour. The sign-carrierS were
professional models hired by
the District Home Rule Com
mittee.
The committee has been hard
at work for weeks to help pre-
pare for today's show Of
strength.
Behind Bill Last Year
The congressional band Of
home rule supporters was be-
hind the same bill that passed
the Senate by vote of 81 to
% last year. President EiSen-
hover Endorsed the measure.
Further delay in passage would
be "unconscienable." the Pres
ident declared in his budget
Congressman put the issue Of
passage squarely before the
House. The Senate time and
again has overwhelmingly voted
home rule bills, they noted.
Stressed in prepared remarks
was the historical fact that
Washingtonians' voting rights
had been stripped from them
IS years ago. Passage will re-
turn suffrage, not grant it for
the first time, members of Con-
gresS pointed out.
In 1902, Congress granted
the city its first charter and
set up an elected city council.
A mayor, first appointed by
President and later elected by
the council, continued to run
the city until 1874.
Situation Emphasized
Mr.. Multer reminded House
members they knew by expert
ence the number of strictly
municipal matters that re-
quired attention Of elected
representatives of the people
of the United States.
Last July, President Eisen-
hover sent Marines into
Lebanon" he said. Britain
was preparing to send troops
into Jordan, and the United
Nations Security Council began
an important debate on the
Middle East.
But on that same day
intertwined with such vital
issues before Congress were
proposals on overhead wiring
in District buildings, the power
of District court clerks to adj
minister oaths, and expansion
of the charter of a local
literary society,"" he said.
The New Yorker said no
member of Congress should be
spending time on such local
matters.
Il believe that my constitu-
ents agree with local residents
of the District that non-resi-
dent, non-taxpayers should not
run the local Government" he
added.
Sees Step Forward
He said he was not afraid
TO let Americans govern them
selves and would favor person.
ally a bill to hand Washingto-
mans even more local control
than was promised by the ter
ritorial bill. But the pending
measure is a long step forward
in the right direction" he said.
Also expected to insert their
remarks in the days proceed
ings were Republicans O'Konski
of Wisconsin, who last week
introduced the territorial bill.