Evening star., 1961-04-03
VOTE

OF growing older was gaining
mature Judgment, Mr.. Shipley
said. He pointed out that
Americans under 81 could not
serve on juries, nor make bind
ing contracts under law, nor
convey property.
Rauh Urges Points
"I agree with Mr.. Shipley
He pledged Republicans to
support any bill the Commis-
sioners drafted, but submitted
these suggestions, as an indi-
vidual:
The ballot should be barred
to parties advocating overthrow
of the Government by force
and violence and to groups
which make race q Qualifica-
tion for membership.
The residence requirement
should be two years. This will
not mean that citizens will fail
to vote, he claimed, but rather
that persons in the city's fluid
population who can vote in
their home States will do so.
Registration should be taken
every four years lest one-time
voters who have moved be
voted fraudulently in large
blocks.
that the Commissioners bill is
q satisfactory compromise Of
our divergent views" said Mr..
Rauh, speaking for District
Democrats. "Once I say that,
], cannot agree with anything
else he said"
"Mr. Shipley is the first man
I-have ever heard alibi an elec-
ton three and a half years
before it's held" Mr.. Rauh
added.
His own individual proposals
were:
That the voting age could be
lowered to 18, noting that 18-
year-olds go to war.
That the residence require
ment could be six months;
lengthy requirements In Presi-
Dental elections. unlike State
and local elections" make no
sense"
That registrations could be
permanent, as well as discre-
tionary with the Board of Elec-
tions, as provided in the Com
missionerS' version.
That no need exists to fur
ther define parties which may
nominate candidates. Demo-
Gratis and Republicans may
nominate. under the Commits
sioners' bill, as may groups for
whom 500 District residents Pc
tition. Mr.. Rauh said that en-
tries should be guaranteed to
groups with $50 petitioners.
Fund Issue Raised
Commissioner Mclaughlin
commented that in the past the
District has not been able to
get sufficient funds from Con-
sress to do q thorough job Of
purging the registration lists
for the primary elections.
He asked Mr.. Rauh whether
he thought the District would
be any more successful In the
future in getting money to keep
the registration rolls up to date
now that Washington residents
can vote for President.
Mr.. Rauh replied that he has
been told that requiring re-
registration every four years
might be more expensive than
using permanent registration.
Mr.. Rauh emphasized, how
ever, that he believes a new
registration should be held
when the new election law goes
into effect. ~.
IT think we should start
over" Mr.. Rauh said, because
the present registration lists
have gone too long without
adequate purging."
The comparative harmony of
party testimony appeared to
bolster chances for prompt
congressional action. Mr..
Shipley is obligated to work for
strict ele ction guarantees
against fraud by his pledges to
Republican legislators who sup
ported amendment ratification
on that basis.
District Democrats plan to
meet this afternoon to settle a
firm position. Mr.. Rauh OBJ
tanned permission from Com
missioners to furnish a written
statement Of the party's de-
cisions before next Thursday,
when the hearing record is to
be closed.
At the ouset of the hearing,
Walter N. Tobriner, president of
the Board of Commissioners,
apologized for the limited time
given District residents to study
the proposed bill.
Nevertheless, it was felt de-
sirable to proceed in this man
ner so that the Commissioners
might have the views of the
newly enfranchised people be-
fore submitting the bill to Con-
gress, he said.
Views of Others
These were highlights of
other testimony at the hearing:
Sturgis Warner - Congress
should proclaim the number Of
electors. In the 1864 vote, reg
istration should close As days
before the election and. in sub
sequent elections, 80 days.
Amendments should relate only
to presidential elections and
not to the current primary law.
The presidential election
should be open" - that is,
voters may register and ballot
without giving party affilia-
tions. The Board of Elections,
rather than Congress, should
prescrihe the form of hallnts