Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-13
WANT BOARD OF SEVEN
Local Citizens Suggest More
Commissioners.
ELECTION BY THE PEOPLE
REPRESENTATIVES of Fourteen Asso-
Citations Meet.
DELEGATE IN CONGRESS, TOO
Committee Members, After Long
Session and Spicy Debate,
Reach Conclusions.

I'VE favor the election by the people OF
the District of Columbia of a delegate
to represent them in Congress.
I'VE favor the election by the people OF
the District of Columbia of a board OF
seven commissioners to govern the Dis
trict.
THE voting qualification shall be educa-
tional alone-the voter shall be able to
read and write the English language.
NO one shall be permitted to vote who
cannot qualify as a juror"
| After a long session and much spicy de-
bate the foregoing propositions were
adopted last night by a committee COM
posed of presidents and representatives
of fourteen of the twenty citizens asso-
Citations in the District. The session was
held in the parlors of the Riggs House,
and Louis P. Shoemaker. president Of the
Brightwood Citizens Association, pre-
sided.
Preliminary Proceedings.
| After the meeting had been called to
order credentials of Daniel Murray of the
Civic League Citizens Association a
member of the committee were read, and
Mr. Murray was seated.
| A communication was read from Edgar
D. Thompson, president of the North
| Capitol and lexington Association, stat
| ing that the organization was opposed to
any radical change in the present form
of government in the District. MIR
| Thompson therefore resigned from the
| The roll call showed the following pres
ent: Louis P. Shoemaker. president
Brightwood Association; Lemuel Fugitt,
| representative Southeast Washington As
ISOLATION; w. D. Nixon. president Fair
mont Heights Association: Edwin A.
| Ness, president North Washington Asso-
citation; Daniel Murray, representative
| Civic League Citizens Association; E. w.
Oyster. representa- Petworth Associa-
| ton; Dr.. Charles NJ. Emmons. repre-
sentative Congress Heights Association
S. McComas Hawkins. representative
Northwest Suburban Association: William
| Mex. Clayton, representative Brightwood
Association; William N. Cromwell. presi-
| dent Petworth Association; DR.. William
K Scott, president Hillsdale Association
| J. Walter Mitchell. president Randle
Highlands and Twining City Association
| Bristow Adams. representative Rhode
Island Avenue Association. Capt. w. NJ.
Potter of the East Washington Associa-
| ton. was present as visitor. as was
Sam De Nedrey, secretary of the Central
Labor Union.
Opposed to a Change.
Mr.. Neiss said the North Washington
Citizens Association had placed itself on
record as commencing the District Com
missioners for making needed improve
| ments in that section of the city. and the
association was opposed to any change in
| the present form of government here.
Attention was called by J. Walter
| Mitchell to the proposition Of the House
committee to submit to a primary cleo
! ton the matter of whether prohibition
shall prevail in the District. He sug-
| popular government or the retention Of
the present form OF government here
| might be submitted to the same test and
| said he believed a vast majority OF the
people would vote for suffrage.
Mr.. Oyster submitted a plan for popu-
lar government in the District which he
said he believed would be generally ia
vored. 1t provided that in place Of the
Commissioners there should be a mayor
or governor. five commissioners to be
elected by the people and five to be ap-
pointed by the President Of the United
States. The term of Office to be three
years. The salary Of the governor to be
not more than $1,000 annually nor less
than 5000. and the salaries of the COM
missioners 20 be not more than 1000
| each The voting qualifications to be
that the voter shall be able to read and
write the English language or shall have
/
real or personal property not less than
thirty days prior to election day.
Expect Full Suffrage Later.
Mr.. Clayton and Chairman Shoemaker
favored only asking Congress at this time
for a bill granting the District a dele
gate in the House of Representatives.
They believed full suffrage would come
later with popular form of District gov
eminent.
Mr.. Oyster spoke strongly in favor of
his plan. 1t was never contemplated by
the trainers of the Declaration of INDIE
pendence. he said, that Congress should
be the common council for the District of
Columbia, and that the people here should
be deprived of their rights as American
citizens. Mr.. Shoemaker said it would be
a mistake to ask for more than a dele
gate at this time.
The action favorins an election of
delegate was then unanimously adopted.
The vote on the proposition favoring the
election of a board of seven commits
sioners was Z ayes and nays.
A vote of thanks was rendered 0. G..
Staples for the use of the hotel parlors,
and the meeting adjourned to report its
conclusions on call of Chairman Shoe
maker to the convention to be composed
of delegates from the local citizens as
| socjatiOnS