The Washington times., 1911-02-21
DISTRICT FAILING
TO GET JUST DUES
Senator Chamberlain Urges
Change in Address to Mon
day Evening Club.

THE government of the District of
Columbia by the United States Congress
long ago was worn out, and the system
should be changed. By the very nature
of things Representatives and Senators
who are supposed to take care of their
home constituents cannot do justice to
the Nations Capital as it legislators
This, in substance, is the opinion held
by United States Senator George Earle
Chamberlain of Oregon, of the manner
in which Washington is governed. That
the citizens of Washington do not show
more cooperation in demanding some
semblance of voice or representation in
the making of the laws under which
they are governed was deplored by
Senator Chamberlain in a speech made
before the Monday Evening Club at
Rauscher's last night.
THE Nation and the Nations City
was the topic of the speech delivered by
the Oregon Senator. He had prepared
no paper in advance, saying that the
topic was one he had often considered
and to which he had given much
thought.
Congress Power.
Mr.. Chamberlain recited the history of
the seat of Government, and explained
the reasons for first giving Congress
supreme power in governing the place
in which it met.
AT the close Of the Revolution" said
Senator Chamberlain, the Continental
Congress was in a quandary. While in
meeting at Philadelphia, its members
were threatened by the army. Neither
the city Of Philadelphia nor the State
of Pennsylvania could afford them prop
er prote CtioE while they framed the
great paper on which the nation is
founded. At that time the Continental
Congress had not even the power to pro-
tect itself. To eliminate for all time any
future similar prediCament the COnstitU-
tion gave Congress supreme power over
the place of its meeting. This power is
unnecessary today"
A change in the Constitution that will
give Washington at least a vote that
will express the views of the people on
public questions that are being con-
sidered by the District committees OF
the House and Senate was the remedy
suggested by Senator Chamberlain. Un-
der present conditions, said the speaker,
the District does not get its dues, be-
cause work as they will, the trace
bodies and citizens associations can
accomplish but little by merely passing
What they must do" said Mr. Cham
berlain, lis to act by marching on Con-
grCsS as did COXeyS S army.
Way to Get Change.
This change, according to Senator
Chamberlain, should be secured by a
demand of the people for the initiative
and referendum. Only when they get
this, he continued will they be able to
get the very best legislation on local
matters.
1t stands to reason" concluded the
Oregonian, that Senators and Repre-
sentatives are asked too much when
they have to legiSlate for their home
districts and sections and for a city be-
sides that is the most important city in
the United States because il is the Capt.
tai Again let me emphasize that the
District does not get its just dues, 1
do not say this as a criticism Of the |
members OF the District Committees. 1
say II rather in defense of them. Wash !
ington should have more voice in the |
management of its affairs. To achieve
this, new and revolutionary measures
will have to be adopted
Cooperation was again urged by Ma
jor Judson, Engineer Commissioner,
who followed Senator Chamberlain
The work that has been done by the
trade bodies was the theme of d. J. !
Callahan's address, and the socializa-
ton of the public school was the topic
on which DIR. w. P. Thirkteld spoke.
Charles w. Skinner presided and
William Knowles Cooper was toast
master.