Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-05

SCENTED IN CONGRESS AND IN THE ELECTORAL
coLLEGE-vARIoUs VIEWS ExPREssED.
Taxation without representation" was the
main topic Of the discussion which took place
last evening at the meeting of the Citizens
Committee of One Hundred. The debate was
based upon majority and minority reports on
the bill introduced in the Senate by Mr.. Blair
to give the District representation in Congress
and the electoral college.
DR.. Robert Reyburn presided and Mr. NJ. l.
Weller was selected secretary in place of E. B.
Stocking, who resigned.
THE MAJORITY REPORT
of the committee to which had been referred
the Blair bill was read by Mr.. R. T. Morsell
The report stated that as the District was not a
state in the meaning of that term as used in
the Constitution the District could not be rep
resented in Congress without amending the
Constitution. The proposed amendment to the
Constitution would not effect the question Of
local government nor the powers of Congress
over the District. In the opinion of the COM
mlttee there was no reason why the District
should not be represented in Congress. They
thought that 1t was a question of principle
the right of every community to participate in
the enacting of laws by which they are gov
erned In conclusion the report recommended
the appointment OF special committee to
urge upon Congress the enactment of such u
law.
THE MINORITY REPORT
was presented by Mr.. A. F. Sperry, who said
that this measure would not give local govern
ment, and thought that when a change is made
it ought to be complete. This bill simply pro-
vided for manhood suffrage and it was a seri
Gus question whether in municipal govern
ments suffrage was a good thing. He contended
that the solution of this problem did not in
volve principle as much as it did what would
be considered the best policy for the good OF the
greatest number Of people Granting privi-
lege OF this kind, the report stated. would be
discrimination against the other territories. 1t
was doubted if government employees would be
willing to give up full right of suffrage In the
states for the limited suffrage in the District.
The report favored unlimited suffrage in the
District which would apply to women as well
as men, and opposed any partial measure OF
this character.
THE DISCUSSION.
Gen. Hovey thought that the people of the
District ought to have a voice in the manage
ment of their own affairs. The usual objection
to suffrage was based on the experience during
the board of public works period, but it should
be remembered that the chief governing power
OF the District was appointed by the President
ana not elected by the people.
In the opinion of DR.. Belts the present situa-
tlOn OF lne Dlstrlct was an anomaly winch
could only be changed by restoring the District
back to Maryland
Mr.. NJ. L. Weller said that the only question
to be decided was whether the committee would
indOrse the bill that had been introduced bv
Senator Blair Wise counsel had not been
asked as to the best form of such bill or as to
whether it went far enough. He favored the
bill as amove in the right direction.
DIR. Chas. Allen also spoke in favor of the
bill, and then the majority report was adopted
and the chair was instructed to appoint a COM
mittee of eleven to present this action to Con-
gress.
committee consisting of Messrs. Frizzell,
Curtis, Walker, Weller and Cheseldne was
appointed to urge upon Congress the passage
of the bill appropriating 100000 for the cree
ton of a bridge at the Jennings road over the
Eastern Branch. The committee then ad-
journed