Evening star., 1960-04-07
SUFFRAGE
Districts Status
Labeled irony

dS q SuUSlllQJS lOI
the mayor-council bill in the
Senate. He also co-sponsored a
resolution this year to the Suf-
frage amendment now pending
before the House subcommit-
tee.
1T is the ultimate irony
that the people who reside at
the seat of the Government
that breaches to the whole
world the virtues of self gov
ernment are denied any voice
whatsoever in their own gov
ernment," Senator Case said.
He warned that the prac-
ticalitieS of congressional pas
sage required dismissal of such
ideas as adding District Sena-
tors to the resolution.
Cites Precedent
You're absolutely right"
Chairman Celler said. In the
old days. we had as many as
Is delegates in the House from
our territories in the West. We
never had delegates to the
Senate. l see no reason why
we should start now
Senator Randolph said Dis
trict citizens have less of a
voice in Government than do
the people of Russia.
In the Soviet Union" he
said, even its electorate can
at least vote for one party. But
in the District there is not
even that opportunity"
He was asked by Representa-
tive Meader whether there was
any legislative avenue to suf-
frage short of amending the
Constitution.
Senator Randolph answered
he felt there was not and said
he could not advocate either
turning the District into a
State or of ceding a portion of
the city back to the State Of
Maryland. In the past, the two
proposals have been suggested
instead of amending the Con-
stitutlon.
Effects Questioned
Senator Randolph was asked
If he felt District representa-
ton, in the House might result
in a state losing a portion Of
its representation in the same
body. Mr.. Randolph agreed
this was a possibility.
Btt; Mr.. SCeller broke in to
say thai The resolution does
not provide for a voting rep
resentative, only a delegate"
This question, he said. "is
not pertinent TO- the inquiry"
oesnmenting on ttts posi-
Ebility of q voting District dele
gate Yin the House, Mr.. Celler
said well cross that bridge
when we come to it.gG
Throughout the hearings.
Mr., Celler has warned suffrage
supporters to concentrate on
the pending resolution and
abandon attempts to expand
it now.
Hechler Urges Vote
Representative Hechier also
supported the Z principle of
granting voting rights to all
citizens who reside In u. S. pos
sessions or territories. But he
felt the time was not appro-
pirate to enlarge the provisions
Of the resolution under con-
Isideratiori. s5f.
HTI1fs is an opportunity you
have now. Seize It." Chairman
celler advised witnesses yester-
daN II can say to you that If
yon don't get action now, you
wen t ever get it. 1t will be
very long time before this COM
mittee will consider District
suffrage again"
He urged the citizenry to con-
centrate on the resolution be-
fore the subcommittee after he
heard testimony for:
Home rule legislation, stalled
in the House District Commit
tee, and not before Judiciary
committeeman at all. Mr.. Celler
supports home rule as a sep
arate issue.
Expansion of the resolution
to include District Senators and
to promise voting privileges for
District Representatives in
Congress. The Celler bill would
let Congress fix voting powers.
Addition of voting guarantees
for Americans who live in Puer-
to Rico, Guam, Wake and the
Virgin Islands, as we'll as for
disenfranchised District resi-
dents.