The Washington times., 1910-06-25
DESIRE FOR CHANGE
IN CITY RULE GROWS
With Adjournment at Hand
District Citizens Deplore
Situation.

That the protests of Washington BUSH
ness men against the inattention OF Con-
gress to District matters are justified
viii be strikingly shown today when the
gavel falls for the last time this session
in the House and Senate. and the Dis
trict calendar Is safely slowed away IN
til December next.
On this calendar are thirty-three rner-
itorious measures. Some Of them may
pass next year. but it is going 10 be a
short session and March next probably
will find. according to those versed in
legislative matters. an equally unfortun-
ton
Confronted with such a condition ami
such probability, the ranks Of thos
VINO believe there should be change u
the system were augmented today and
representative business men came for
ward with suggestions TO remedy a sit
uation recently discussed in The Times
editorial
Committee to Meet.
A Leftwich Sinclair special counsel
for the District and CT airman OF the law
and legislation committee Of the Cham
Der Of Commerce, who has announced
that he Will cal a meeting Of that COM
mittee to consider the unsatisfactory
legislative state Of affairs as the District
bills at the Cap tol, said today:
Personally, l would favor the Dis
trict being represented by a delegate in
Congress" ! would not be in favor.
however Of returning 10 the old city
council plan 1t is a big subject and
one that will require much thought
do not know Of better equipped commit
tee Tor looking into this than the law
ana legislation committee OF the Cham
Der OF Commerce Several members
have suggested that the situation
and hope 10 have report ready for
submission TO the chamber before the
next session Of Congress.
Chaplin Brown. attorney. and a mem
Der Of the Chamber takes 10 the sug-
gestion that the District needs a local
legislature. whose membership shall be
small. working irrespectively Of the
Commissioners.
I have not studied the District leg
islation situation sufficiently 70 discuss
II fully" said Mr. Brown, but I believe
that we might get more legislation II we
had a small legislature. appointed by the
President, with authority TO dispose Of
minor civic matters Such a body could
be created without disturbing the pres
ent Board OF Commissioners. I am
afraid that delegate in Congress would
not be able 10 obtain much more legisla-
ton than we are now getting. The local
legislature seems 10 be way out"
Moses Favors Delegate.
Arthur c. Moses. 4 member II the
trade bodies and vice president OF tae
Fairgrounds Association, saia:
1T IS a mOoted question. That some
thing should be done is evident. Per
sonally, I have been rather inclined 10
having delegate upon the floor OF the
House, man thoroughly familiar,
through contact. with conditions in
Washington and the needs OF its people
The right kind Of man In this position
would be Of material assistance 1 10
not think there is any dispute Of the
fact that Congress has again failed 10
pass much legislation that was needed
by the District"
Robert y. Harper. president Of the
District National Bank, saidt
Il stand where / have previously
stOOd-for a delegate in Congress to
recommend what the District needs
There is TO member OF Congress 20
care for our interests. If one inter
csts himself IN a District citizen 81.
Eis needs II Is by courtesy. for he has
a constituency OF his own that must
be first choice We ought TO have
a fighter. and we would get more leg
al the end of this session Is not a
fattering one"
Local Council Advocated.
IItSEILdLANt ~ lALAhLl CuLLEL VI
New York, leading candidate for the
Democratic nomination for governor,
who is a champion OF the District,
though not a member OF the District
Committee. declared:
"As pointed out by The Times. there
are more than score Of District bills
upon the calendar which viii not be
reached this session The bills are
Hsrr tn he hi
situation has arisen in past years, as
l remember
''The District should have represen-
tatiOn in Congress, or a city council.
authorized 20 pass certain classes OF
legislation not dealing directly with
GpprOprl2ung money from the Fed
eral Treasury. / think the better plan
would be TO give the District a local
Legislature, 20 attend 10 many purely
local matters. am believer in
home rule and local If-government
The House has dispensed with two
District days There seems 70 be
tendency 70 let the District wait
y local Legislature would at least,
remedy the situation SO far as il con-
Germs much OF this needed legisla-
zion"
Constitutional Limitations.
Former Commissioner H b. +. Mae
farland, who has threshed out every
D44c-'I VI 4JioAA ~ AtslotelLAt| ANAA-AAN-
ments during his long experience as
Commissioner, said:
The Constitution of the United states
in a unique phrase usually misquoted.
says that Congress shah exercise ex-
elusive legislation over the Federal
district Nothing is said about the
President OF the United States or any
one else exercising any kind OF author
ity over the District Of Columbia.
Obviously Congress must always be
the legislature Of the District Of Co
lumbia and its supreme authority.
Nothing but an amendment Of the Con-
StitutiOn would change that. No such
amendment viii be made even If any
other practicable method could be sug-
gested.
Congress has given the Commission
ers power TO make ordinances, called
regulations such as are commonly made
by councils elsewhere. But all general
legislation must be enacted by Con-
gress Therefore. the only way to set
more legislation is 10 ask Congress TO
give II 10 US.
We might suggest that al Iegislaticl
for the District. including apprOpTia-
tions, lie placed in charge Of the Com
nittec on the District of Columbia in
both houses of Congress: that this COM
mittee bc asked to report bills as speed
ily as possible: that the two houses give
ADEQUATE time at definite periods for the
consid Grafton Of District legislation. and
that in the House IL day sessions as
signed 10 the District have 10 be taken
for other DllrT oses. night sessions shall
BE- substituted: that the citizens anil
their organs. the newspapers. give beI-