may repeal or amend at any time, and any municipal government set up under the McCarran bill, or any other congressional act, would be uncertain as to its existence. If on the other hand a constitutional amendment were proposed and ratified that would give to the District of Columbia a municipal government such as you contemplate, then you would have a stable gov ernment. Now, which would you prefer as between the two? Mr. LEVINE. We are definitely of the opinion it is not necessary to have a constitutional amendment in order to give the people the right of self-government. Senator OVERTON. That is not the question. Do you agree with me that the Congress could repeal the McCarran Act, if it were adopted? Mr. LEVINE. That is right, and we think if Congress repealed it then the people would repeal Congress. Senator OVERTON. Well, if that is your view Mr. LEVINE. I think I ought to make it clear, we think the people would definitely resent the act of Congress in voting suffrage out, and I say the people then are apt to vote against those Congressmen or Senators to vote to repeal any suffrage that is given. Senator OVERTON. I doubt seriously that the people would attach so much importance to the issue. Suppose the people did not, and they would have the same Senators and Congressmen, or others who entertain the same view that there should be no local government in the District of Columbia, I will still get back to the question whether you prefer one method that provides a stable government or a statutory enactment that provides an unsafe government. Mr. LEVINE. I believe time is of the essence and a constitutional amendment would take a great deal of time, and inasmuch as it is now legally proper for local self-government to be obtained through a bill of the type of the McCarran bill, not requiring an amendment, I therefore favor accepting that type of bill. The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much. Is Mrs. Marvel Ball here? (No response.) The CHAIRMAN. The following statements and communications will be inserted in the record: LETTER FROM NORTHEAST WASHINGTON CITIZENS' ASSOCIATION AND REPLY THERETO WASHINGTON, D. C., October 28, 1943. SENATE COMMITTEE ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. GENTLEMEN: I transmit herewith resolution adopted by our association: "Resolved by the Northeast Washington Citizens' Association in special meeting assembled this 20th day of October, 1943, That we go on record as opposing the McCarran bill, known as Senate 1420, a bill providing for the reorganization of the government of the District of Columbia and for other purposes, since the said bill fails to include as constitutents thereof, means for granting to the residents of the District of Columbia proper representation in the Senate and the House of Representatives and the right to vote for the President of the United States." Very truly yours, (Signed) JOSEPH NOTES, Secretary, Northeast Washington Citizens' Association. UNITED STATES SENATE, Mr. JOSEPH NOTES, COMMITTEE ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Secretary, Northeast Washington Citizens' Association, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. NOTES: This will acknowledge receipt of your letter of October 28, advising of the resolution adopted by the Northeast Washington Citizens' Association on October 22, opposing enactment of Senate bill 1420. Your letter will be laid before the committee when hearings on S. 1420 begin, on November 30. For your information, may I point out that means for granting representation in Congress, and the right to vote for the President of the United States, to residents of the District of Columbia, áre not proper subject matter for a bill to be considered by this committee. Senator Capper's resolution proposing a constiutional amendment to give Congress the right to grant such representation, now is pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which does have jurisdiction of this subject matter. Sincerely, J. G. SOURWINE, Counsel. RESOLUTION OF PETWORTH CITIZENS' ASSOCIATION Whereas the citizens of the District of Columbia are without representation of any kind in the Congress of the United States; are under the same obligations to the Nation with reference to taxation and military service as are the citizens of the States and Territories; and feel strongly that they are justly entitled to the full franchise of American citizens; and Whereas the Petworth Citizens' Association and the citizens of the District are in favor of a constitutional amendment granting national representation to the residents of this District and favor congressional action authorizing election of a nonvoting delegate to the Congress pending full suffrage, and Whereas the enactment of a law providing local self-government would be a step toward the accomplishment of these aims, and Senate bill 1420 provides for such self-government: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, by the Petworth Citizens Association, in regular meeting assembled, this 19th day of October 1943, That the said Senate bill 1420 is approved in principle with amendments providing for a substantially larger number of Commissioners on a part-time basis with a correspondingly larger number of wards composed of contiguous territory of as nearly equal population as possible and with the elimination from said bill of any requirement for congressional approval before the acts of the Commissioners shall become effective, reserving to the Congress the ultimate right and power of veto by affirmative action at any time; and be it further Resolved, That all interested groups and organizations be urged to unite behind the said proposal with the suggested amendments, and that copies of this resolution be sent to the Senate and House Judiciary and District Committees and to the Federation of Citizens' Associations. Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR MR. MCCARRAN: This association, in its last meeting, unanimously voted to support your proposed legislation which would give the people of the District of Columbia a voice in the officials who would be responsible for the operation of local government. This association is heartily in accord with your proposal and you can rely upon us to support you 100 percent as we believe that this is a step in the right direction for the citizens of the District to have control, in some respect, over those officials who spend the money of the citizenry and who have not, for a number of years, been in any way responsible or accountable to the local taxpayers. Very truly yours, LOUIS F. FRICK, Secretary. LETTER FROM KINGMAN PARK CIVIC ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON 2, D. C., November 9, 1943. Senator PATRICK MCCARRAN, United States Senate. DEAR SIR: The Kingman Park Civil Association wants you to know that it endorses any legislation which gives the people of Washington, D. C., the right of any other American citizen and taxpayer, that is, to vote. The people of Washington are anxious for the right to decide some things for themselves. We have as much right to govern ourselves in the District of Columbia as the people in any of the several States. Sincerely yours, CHARLES J. QUANDER, LETTER FROM NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN Senator PAT MCCARRAN, NEW YORK 23, December 3, 1943. Chairman, District of Columbia Committee. United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: At its seventeenth triennial convention held in Chicago November 7-11, 1943, the National Council of Jewish Women reaffirmed its action originally taken 13 years ago in behalf of representation for the District of Columbia in suffrage for its citizens. The National Council of Jewish Women, having a membership of 65,000 in 215 communities throughout the country, adopted the following resolution: "Whereas the District of Columbia constitutes the only community in the United States which is denied representation in the national Government; Therefore be it "Resolved by the National Council of Jewish Women in triennial convention assembled, That we favor granting representation in Congress and suffrage to the citizens of the United States residing in the District of Columbia." We wish to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to the committee now holding hearings on a bill to give home rule to the Capital of our Nation. We urge the committee to exert every effort to grant suffrage to the voteless residents of the District of Columbia. Sincerely yours, MILDRED G. WELT, LETTER FROM WASHINGTON SECTION, COUNCIL OF JEWSIH WOMEN Senator PAT MCCARRAN, WASHINGTON, D. C., December 6, 1943. Senate District Committee, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR MCCARRAN: The Washington section of the Council of Jewish Women wishes to commend you for your excellent work in drawing up S. 1420. We feel that the council-manager form of government is efficient and should prove feasible for the District of Columbia. We wish, however, to suggest that some more democratic means be found by which the councilmen may be elected. The council is also interested in the possibility of allowing the District reasonable control of funds collected in the District, and for working out a more equitable formula for determining the amount of Federal contribution to the District budget. Very truly yours, LIBBYE B. DUNN, Chairman, Legislation. The CHAIRMAN. I wish to say it is now about a quarter after 12. We will be unable to hold a meeting this afternoon, and tomorrow I have called a meeting of the District Committee to discuss bills generally on the calendar here that should be considered, so I see nothing to do now except to go over until Tuesday. We have the Judiciary Committee Monday morning, and Tuesday morning is the earliest we can get at it. We will reconvene here on Tuesday morning at 10:30 o'clock. Thank you very much for your attention. (Whereupon, at 2:15 p. m., the hearing adjourned until 10:30 a. m. Tuesday, December 14, 1943. |