Evening star., 1900-05-02
BY DECISIVE MAJORITY
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION
AGAINST DISTRICT SUFFRAGE.
The Vote Was SO to LOId Omcers,
With One Exception,
REFLECTED.

For the past several weeks the question
of suffrage has been before the Columbia
Heights Citizens Association, being more
or less discussed at each meeting. At the
April meeting of the organization it was
decided to make the question special
order for the May meeting, to be then
finally disposed of, Therefore, at the regu-
lar meeting of the association at the Strat-
ford Hotel last evening, immediately after
the annual election of officers had been con-
Guided, the suffrage question came up for
final consideration An unusually large
number of members was present, and after
full discussion in five-mnute speeches,
the association decided, by a vote of 36 to
4, that suffrage is not desirable here.
The annual election of officers resulted in
the unanimous reelection Of Mr.. Leo Sim
mons as president. Mr. w. b. Todd as sec
retary and Mr.. c. S. Bundy as treasurer.
Inc association desired to re-elect Mr.. NJ.
=. Dohoshue as vice president, but he
decilned the compliment, and DR.. B. F.
Glbbs was chosen instead.
Debate of Suffrage Question.
After it had been decided to restrict each
speaker on the suffrage question to five
minutes the discussion proceeded. The ques-
ton was originally brought before the
sociatfon by Mr.. NJ. F. O'Donoghue, who in
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of the immense and gradually increasing
responsibilities devolving on Congress and
the constant additions to the legislative
needs of the District of Columbia the as
sociation views with favor the bill intro
duced In the House of Representatives re-
storing self-government to the District.
Mf. august peterson, representing those
opposed TO the restora ton of suffrage here,
moved as substitute for Mr.. O'Donoghues
reso ut1on one declaring that under the pc
cuiar conditions existing in the District of
Columbia such suffrage is deemed highly
undesirable to the best interests of the
city, and directing the executive committee
or the association to express to the men,
bers of the District committee in each
branch of Congress the associations disap-
proVal OF said bill. and to take such other
steps as may be deemed necessary to pre-
vent 1t from becoming law.
The discussion last evening was opened
by Mr. b. P. Davis, who spoke in support
Bundy followed Mr.. Davis, speaking in
favor of the substitute resolution. Messrs.
{. r. Cobb, S. G. Rogers, B. F. Brockett
and others spoke in support of the substi
tute motion. while Mr.. O'Donoghue closed
the debate in strong plea for qualified
suffrage here. On a rising vote Mr.. Peter
sons substitute resolution, declaring suf-
frage here to be undesirable, was adopted,
as stated, by vote of 36 to f.
Overhead Wires.
After Messrs. j. G. Fisher. w. w. Brown
and Sol. Lansburgh had been elected to
membership the association adopted a res
olution offered by Mr.. Peterson, recon-
mending that in future legislation by Con-
gress on the subject of overhead wires
a provision be inserted prohibiting the is
suance of permits for the erection of over
head wires over private property in the alb
sence of written permission from the own
ers of said property.
Upon the motion of Mr. C. NJ. Campbell
the association viii, request the Commits
SlonerS to urge upon Congress the early
enactment of such remedial legislation in
the matter of street extension laws as will
conform to the decision last week of the
Court of AnnealS