The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-03-27

The Business Mems Association, at a
meeting held last night in Guides Hall,
1914 f street northwest, went on record
by an almost unanimous vote as favor
ing some form of suffrage and repre-
sentation for the people of the District.
The cry of NO taxation without
representation" was raised, and the fol-
lowing resolution was adopted;
Resolved. That it is the sense Of the
Business Mems Association that the Dis
trict of Columbia should be given repre-
sentation in the Congress Of the United
States by three Delegates, TO be elected
by the citizens Of the District Of Co
lUmbia."
The meeting had been called TO con-
slider the report OF the committee On
law and legislation on the draft Of a
bill providing for a Delegate or Dele
gates from the District in Congress I'm
mediately after the meeting had been
called to order by President James F.
Oyster. Charles Iinkins. chairman of
the committee, was given the floor for
his report Mr.. Linzius said that the
committee had considered carefully the
problem of drafting a bill for District
representation, but had come 10 the con-
clusion that there were so many Ques-
tons in connection with framing a
proper measure. that IL had decided TO
submit a list OF them 10 the members In
open meeting. to get a knowledge of
The associations position On aU of them
He, therefore, desired TO be instructed
on the following points, and asked for
further time in which TO draft the bill:
Points IN Doubt.
/. Whether the District shall be repre-
sented by one. two. or three Delegates.
computed by the number Of inhabitants
2. Qualifications Of Delegates as TO
lergth Of residence in the city.
3. Shall there be a representation in
the Senate?
f. If so. how shall they be chosen2
8 Length OF service for representa-
tives in House and Senate.
6. Shall the vote Of representatives in
Congress be limited purely to District
matters2
Z Reggistration-shaH it be annual OF
biennial2
s. Qualifications of v0ters-univers2I
manhood rage-exclusiOn of citizens
convicted of onenses involving mofal
Iurpitude - educational qualification u
property qualification.
9. Shall employees of the Government
with accredited citizenship in the States,
soldiers. seamen. and marines be allow
ed the right of suffrage
10. Shall poll tax be levied as a pre-
lminary Of suffrage?
Discuss Resolution.
A. E. I. Leckie then offered a, resoIu-
ton 10 the effect of declaration on
the part Of the Business Mems Associa-
ton as favoring the proposition of suf-
frage in the District. He said in ex-
PLANTATION that some such resolution
should be adopted before drafting the
measure suggested.
This resolution precipitated the dis
cussion that lasted through the entire
session, which resulted in the adoption
Of the resolution. This LEFT the COM
mittee's report Unconsidered. At the
next meeting the report can be taken
UP.
In opening the discussion Conrad Syme
said that While he was strongly in favor
OF suffrage. he thought that the reso-
luton should bear specifically on the
measure providing for Delegates. and
should not be too general in its nature.
Mr.. LecNie agreed to such a rnodi6ca-
ton of his resolution. and then made a
strong appeal for American citizenship
for the people Of the District He said
that the wishes of the people were NOT
even considered in the appointment of
the Commissioners of the District. The
political situation in Washington was
diametrically opposed to the spirit of a
free people, no other community was
so arbitrarily ruled, and there was no
reason why the people of the District
should not nave a voice in their gov
eminent and every reason in the world
why they should.
NJ. l. Weller. Robert n Harper DIR
Robert Reyburn Conrad Syme, ChaDir
Brown, Oliver MetZerOtt Josiah Mfllard
Charles Linl1ins, and Percival NJ Brown
spoke in favor of representation their
views differing only in the scope of the.
proposed suffrage and representation
Numerous objections We're taken m
such as the effect of the cOlOFed vote
and the disposition of Congress 10 with
draw their share of the burden of ex-
penses, but an agreed upon no taxation
without representation.
The standpat element. which was
small. was represented by John Flem-
ing and G, W Ciaggett. who thought
the present form OF government a good