Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-06

his ward or election district. He shall
pay taxes on $500 assessed real or per-
sonal property. or shall be able to read
and write the English language. No
person who Is qualified voter in any
Of the states shall be a voter in the
District.
THE political and financial relations
between the United States and the Dis
OF June II, 1873. with the above excep-
tons. and all laws not inconsistent with
this bill, shall remain in full force and
effect"
Wants One Responsible Man.
sponsible man as the governor OF the
District. Then if he does not perform
his duty he will know there is day Of
reckoning coming" He say any attempt
to change the Constitution Of the United
States in this suffrage matter would be
waste of time. He said the irrespon-
sible white and colored voters in the
District in the past and the feather
buster legislature back in the early 7Os
with its members running off with red
hot stoves had acted as a deterrent.
Had 1t not been for these things he
asserted, every man in the District would
be in favor of suffrage. We must con-
troll both the white and colored irrespon-
sibie elements and make government
par excellence here. The proposed educa-
tional and property test win eliminate
many of this class"
Mr.. Lancaster said ii was fatal mis-
take IN placing an army officer as one
of the governors of the District. He
is not fitted by training to govern citi-
Zens.'
Mr.. Oyster reminded those present "that
We cannot have exclusive control Of Dis
trict affairs. as the people of the United
States own one-half of the property here
He gave notice that at the next meeting
of the representatives he will submit In
writing a plan which provides for the
election of a council of five members, with
five others to be appointed by the Presi-
dent OF the United States. the people to
elect a mayor. who will also preside over
the council. The council to perform the
duties now performed by the Commission
ers and be the legislative body for the
District of Columbia in purely local at
fairs.
Mr. Oyster said he does not take any
stock in the cry that Congress VIII not
appropriate money for one-half of the en-
penses Of the District should we have an
American or republican form of govern
ment here.
Chairman Shoemaker said the repre-
sentatives were at the meeting to blaze
the way for suffrage. He expressed graft
fication at the presence in the meeting OF
former Senator Henderson. that grand
old man who has proven himself to be
friend OF the District and the country.
He said Senator Henderson has taken
honor and duty for his guide In his pri-
vate as we'll as his public life. and has
ever lent his assistance in the upbuildlng
and identifying Of Washington.
Favors Two Members.
Senator Henderson spoke in response.
He said there was no way for the District
to get a representative in the United
States Senate. I'VE should have two rep
resentatives in the House." he added i
do not see why we should be deprived OF
representation in Congress"
He favored appointing or electing DIS
trict men to District Offices and to the
judiciary. and said three Commissioners
were not enough to govern the Distrlc..
Senator Henderson predicted that twenty
years hence the District will have pop
ulation of one million souls.
Are We, under these circumstances 10
be restrained to an inefficient form OF gov
eminent? If we are to have appolntees'
then let us have more commissioners
one from every section of the city. !
have seen advocated the proposed taxing
of a great mayor Of some city and making
him a Commissioner of the Dlstrict, III
order that more patronage might be given
to some politician at the expense or tnis
community--a mayor, perhaps, VINO was
never in Washington In his life.
William Mex. Clayton favored com
mission Of from four to seven members.
He said certain sections of the city nave
not been accorded their rights, due to the
fact that the Commissioners are not con-
versant with the conditions In particular
localities. He favored winning to the sup
port Of the suffrage contest Of all the ele-
ments in the District OF Columbia. lie
submitted a preamble to the effect that
the representatives do not indorse or ad-
ta u-id SUFFRAGE Tor
the District Of Columbia. nor a governor
either appOintive or elective: nor COM
mon council or assembly: nor any control
by the voters over the revenues OF the
District. believing that the apport'on-
ment and disbursement OF all taxes col
lected in the District should remain under
the exclusive control Of Congress.
Mr. Clayton then offered plan for quail
fed suffrage and the election of a dele
gate in Congress, and that the board OF
Commissioners should consist of seven
taxpayers and residents OF the District Of
Columbia. to be elected by the qualified
voters. one from each Of the four sec
tions of the city and two from the coun-
ty, and one at large, to be a duly quail
fed civil engineer.
All to Be Put in Writing.
1t was decided that all plans or pro-
posals for a change in the form OF local
government and representation in Con-
gress be put In writing and submitted to
the next meeting, to be held at 80
o'clock next Saturday evening at the
Riggs House Also that by January /. a
general convention be held to finally de-
eide upon the matter
Mr.. Clayton called attention to the fact
that there are but twenty active citizens
associations in the District. and not
twenty-eight as published. and that
twelve OF the twenty we're represented at
the meeting, while others will be repre-
scented at future meetings.
A resolution was adopted cordially in
vitins the cooperation and support of all
authorized bodies in the District lin the
effort to secure some participation of the
citizens in the conduct OF our municipal
government"
Lemuel Fugitt spoke strongly in favor
Of suffrage in the District, that we have
been waiting for thirty years.
"This is an age Of purity-pure food
laws, etc-and I'm in favor of pure
Americanism and suffrage under the Con-
stitution," he said.
A vote of thanks was extended TO Col.
o. G. Staples for the use of the RIGGS
House parlors, and Bristow Adams said
he would bring to the next meeting a
plan of government favored by the Rhode
island Avenue Suburban Citizens Asso-
citation. The meeting was then adjourned.