The Washington times., 1906-06-02
CONGRESS NOT WISE
TO DISTRICT NEEDS
Few Members Know Real
Wants, Says Mr..Simms.
CAN'T BE ExPECTED'T0 KNOW
Frank Statements by Tennessee Rep
resentative at Citizens Asso-
citation Meeting.

Congress knows too little Of the real
needs OF the District declared Repre-
sentative Simms. OF Tennessee. in the
course of an address at a meeting Of
the Northwest Suburban Citizens Asso-
citation last night, the theme of which
was the recently revived question of
suffrage. After being introduced by
President Charles c. Lancaster, Mr..
Simms, who Is a member of the House
District Committee, said that few mem
bers of Congress ever understood the
municipal needs of this city and often
members Of the District committees
were lacking in information.
New Members Uninformed.
The average Congressman, he said.
comes to Washington with the deep
seated conviction that the city is too
beautiful and the people too cOntented
to need anything, and hold this belief
until their residence here has been long
established The knowledge Of street
extensions and improvements, he de-
clared. was too often gathered by the
members of the District committees
through studying maps instead of per-
sonal observation.
''The streets are made without regard
to Typographical conditions" he declar-
ed. "and legislation passed without re-
gard to the lay OF the land.
IF the members of Congress really
understood the conditions prevailing.
street extension bill, that bin would be
repealed.
Receives Scant Attention.
''On District day in the House there
is seldom any attention, other than su-
periciaI, paid TO the legislation. and
what is passed goes through without
any consideration Of the purpose for
which the legislation is intended
You can't expect a Congressman" ."
admitted the speaker, who is elected by
the people OF his home district 10 look
after the District OF Columbia. We owe
all we have To the people back home,
and the only way any influence can be
brought 70 bear on member is through
this constituency
In discussing the question Of suffrage
Mr. Simms said that the people OF the
District were entitled TO limited suffrage
The trio Of Commissioners. in whom the
executive power was vested. he said.
people, but they should be allowed 70
choose them
Suggests a District Franchise.
If it comes TO test" ne continued.
y believe the people would elect the
KIM o. = 1NtfnLnelL lltE now nave. II.
however. they are dissatisfied. let them
frame franchise to suit universal needs
and then refer 1t TO Congress for con
firmatiOu."
The present officers Of the association
were reelected for the ensuing year:
Charles c. Lancaster, president: James
L TAFT, first vice president; Albert l..
Shoemaker. second vice president. DIT.
j. W ChspPeil. third vice president: Dr.
\. NJ. Ray, fourth vice president; Galen
l. Tait. secretary: :. N. Hawkcn. treas
urer. and Andrew Burga, sergeant-at-
arms This is Mr.. LanCastcr's eighth
term as president
Resolutions commencing the District
Commissioners for their successful ef-
forts in getting Congress to grant GER
tain important appropriations for the
fiscal year 1901, and also thanking Sena-
tors Allison and Gallinger for their deeD
interest in District affairs, were unan-
imOusly adopted.
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