Evening star., 1961-05-16

Of expeditions action on a non
controversial bill to create pres
idential election machinery, au-
thorized by the 23rd amend
ment to the Constitution.
Slate voting for party dele
gates to presidential conven-
tions. as urged yesterday by
Democratic Central Committee
spokesman Joseph Rauh, Is
such a controversial feature
that it could be a buzz saw"
for the whole bill, Mr.. Shipley
testified.
He warned that detailed alb
sentee voting guarantees and
authority to weaken strong
candidates by voting for one
single candidate similarly would
invite delay.
AS for the Harsha bill, Mr..
Shipley said it was modelled
after Ohio law which grew out
Of Ohio experiences. The Dis
trict should be allowed to meet
election problems with its own
competent board Of elections,
Mr.. Shipley insisted, and II
those problems demand statu-
tory solution. come back to
Congress for a reformed bill.
Whitener Comments
ANY election down my way
becomes complicated matter"
cautioned Representative
Whitener. Democrat Of North
Carolina. Il don't know If you
can simplify an election law.
1t seems to me you'd like to
have these things nailed down.
Representative Dowdy, Dem.
ocrat Of Texas. presiding for
Chairman Davis, said all States
with lax laws had found it
necessary in time to put rules
down in the law. He asked II
Washington voters wanted to
wait until they had fraud be-
fore they have a reasonably
good law.
Seconding this sentiment,
Representative Harsha said he
was very sensitive to the show
case aspect of Washington,
D. c. 1t would be highly in
furious throughout the rest Of
the world to be careless about
the possibilities Of fraud in
national elections here, he in
sisted.
Mr.. Ship1ey said If fraud
projections by law were the
only factor to consider in gain
ing a vote bill, he would agree.
II am hopeful there will be
no fraud" Mr.. Shipley said.
"At the same time, I am ter
ribly fearful that a complicated
bill aimed at controlling fraud
will delay action"
why should we leave this
open to the realm Of possibil-
Iity?" Mr.. Harsha asked.
Mr.. Schein's answer was that
honestly could not be legis-
lated. Integrity is born in the
hearts Of men. he said, and we
must find those guarantees for
our elections in the hearts and
minds of public officials.
21-Year-OId Vote Backed
Republicans Broyhill and
Harsha, who already called for
21-year-old voting in their
bills, today were supported
by Democratic Representatives
Loser of Tennessee, Huddels-
ton Of Alabama and Whitener
and DoWdy.
Still not on the record on
the issue are five subcommit-
tee members, Democrats Davis,
Williams of Mississippi and
Morrison of Louisiana and Re-
publicans Kearns of Pennsyl-
vania and Auchincloss of New
Jersey.
Sources close to the commit
tee gave 18-year-old voting
privilege no chance in sub
committee but were uncertain
of it's fate in the full District
Committee. On the other hand,
Chairman Davis comes from
Georgia where 18-year-old lot-
ing is permitted.
! Other witnesses and their
major arguments were:
Sturgis Warner, attorney
Presidential election proposals
should be amendments to the
present primary law, guaran-
teeing one set Of election laws
, Permanent registration must
be changed to re-registration
every four years.