Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-08
Excerpts From Report by Civil Rights Commission
BY the Associated Press

ociated Press
he report OF the United States
ton process so jealousy guarded
and carefully reserved to the
States by the founding fathers,
Proposal for a constitu-
tiondt amendment to estab-
lish universal suffrage BY
Chairman Hannah and Com
misSioners HeSburOh and
johnson.
The commissions recommen-
dation for temporary Federal
registration should. II enacted
by Congress, secure the right to
vote In the forthcoming ma
tional elections for many quail
fled citizens who would other
wise. because of their race or
color, be denied this most fun
damental Of American civil
rights. But the proposed meas
ure is clearly a stopgap. :.
Therefore, as the best ulti-
mate solution Of the problem Of
securing and protecting the
right to vote. we propose a con-
lstitutional amendment to estab-
fish a free and universal fran
chise throughout the United
States. =.
We believe that the time has
come for the United States to
take the last of its many steps
toward free and universal suf-
frage. The ratification of this
amendment would be a reaffir-
nation Of our faith in the prin-
ciples upon which this Nation
was founded. 1t would reassure
lovers of freedom throughout
the world in which hundreds Of
millions of people. Most of
them colored, are becoming free
and are hesitating between
alternative paths Of national
development.
For all these reasons we pro-
pose the following Twenty-third
Amendment to the Constitution
Of the United States.
Article XIII
Section. l
The right of citizens Of the
United States to vote shall not
be denied or abridged by the
United States or by any State
or by any person for any cause
except inability to meet State
age or length-of residence re-
quirements uniformly applied
to all persons within the State.
or legal confinement at the
time Of registration or election.
This right to vote shall include
the right to register or other
wise qualify to vote, and to
have ones vote counted.
Section 2
The Congress shall have
power to enforce this article by
appropriate legislation.
Separate statement regard
ing proposed XIII Amend
ment BY Vice Chairman
Storey and Commissioner
Carlton.
We strongly believe in the
right Of every qualified citizen
of the United States, irrespec-
tive Of his color, race, religion.
or national origin, to register,
vote and have his vote counted.
We regard full protection of
these rights Of suffrage by both
State and Federal governments
necessary and proper. There
fore, we have supported and
voted for all recommendations
of the commission Except the
proposed XIII Amendment)
to strengthen the laws and i'm
prove the administration of
registration and voting pro-
cedures. However. we cannot
join our distinguished coll
leagues in the recommendation
Of the proposed constitutional
amendment. These are our
several reasons:
/. We believe that our conf
mission recommendations. if
enacted into law and properly
enforced, will eliminate most |
II not all of the restrictions |
on registration and voting by
reason Of race, color. religion,
or national origin.
A recommendation proposing |
a constitutional amendment |
granting additional power to
the Federal Government would
be in order only if we mad |
found a lack of power under
existing constitutional provi-
sions. Such is not the case.
2. On principle. proposals
for constitutional amendments
which would alter long-stand-
ing Federal-State relationships,
such as the constitutional pro-
vision that matters pertaining
to the qualifications of electors
shall be left to the several |
States, should not be proposed
in the absence Of clear proof
that no other action will cor
rect an existing evil. No such
proof is apparent.
3. The Constitution Of the
United States of America pres
emily includes sufficient au-
thority to the Federal Gov
eminent to enable it effectively
to deal with denials of the
right to vote by reason of race.
color, religion and national
origin.
4. The information and
findings cited in support of the
proposed Twenty-third Amend
ment disclose that some illit-
eracy still exists, that the au-
thoritative State statistics and
studies are wholly lacking to
support an important proposal.
and our staff has not had the