Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-19
LAY BATTLEPLANS
TO SHIELD DISTRICT
Commercial, Financial and
Professional Men Attack
Crisp Measure.
ASK RECOMMITMENT
OF OBJECTIONABLE BILL
Directors of Commercial Organiza-
tions Also Request Aid of
Commissioners

Realizing that the situation in Congress
with regard TO the affairs of the District
of Columbia has become critical, COM
merciaI. financial and professional Wash
ington, represented by the directors OIL
the Board of Trade, Chamber of Com
merce and Retail Merchants Associa-
ton. at a joint meeting yesterday after
noon in the rooms of the Board OF Trade
united in a solemn but vigorous protest
against any attempt to disturb the half
and-half plan Of appropriation for the
District
By unanimous vote they adopted a
resolution setting forth the views OF the
three organizations with regard to the
half-and-half agreement OF 1878 ana re-
ouesting the recommitment to the House
District committee OF the Crisp measure,
which seeks TO deprive the District OF
Columbia OF one-half of its riShtful rev.
enue.
Appeal to City Heads.
To the board of District Commission
ers. through an executive committee COM
posed of eleven members representing the
three Organizations, the directors ad-
dressed a letter urging that body to send
TO the Speaker of the House request
in behalf of the people of the District,
that the Crisp bin be recommltted 10 the
House District committee with 1nstruc-
lions to give full and free opportunitS
for public hearings on the SUBJECT
The executive committee was enlpow-
cred to carry out the provisions OF the
resolution adopted by the Joint commit
tee of directors and TO call such meet
ings as ii deems necessary. AS soon aS
the resolution is prepared in printed form
the executive committee will see that
copies reach every member OF the SENATE
and of the House and also the PRESIDENT
of the United States. The committee
NAV call upon the President in person
and request his assistance and influence
in behalf of the retention or the mar
and-half plan. \ copy of the resolution
in typewriter form was sent 10 the us
trict commissioners last night along with
the letter urging them TO REQUEST the re-
commitment Of the Crisp BILL
Text of Resolution.
The text of the resolution follows:
Resolved, That this joint meeting of
the directors of the Washington Board or
Trade, the Chamber of Commerce, and
the Retail Merchants Association desires
at this critical juncture in the affairs OF
the District of Columbia, when 1t Is
formally proposed in the House OF Rep
resentatives to disturb the 90 per cent
agreement of 1879 to place on record the
following position of the three bodies,
which. whenever the matter has been De
fore them, has been unanimously al
firmed.
.First-That there should be no change
in the act of 1878. especially that portion
relating to the half-and-half principle.
-Second-That the District of Columbia
being the capital Of the United States
and the Congress its constitutional legis-
lature with exclusive control over the
District the legislators for the District
are elected by the people OF the United
States to govern their capital.
.sThird-That the maintenance of the
District rs and should be on a scale COM
mensurate with the dignity and position
OF a capital of a great country, and that
this is possible only when the entire
country materially supplements that
which is contributed by the citizens OF
tine District.
"Fourth--That We believe that the PEG
pie of the United States realize their oo
legations TO themselves TO assist in the du'
maintenance of their capital.
"Fifth-That the half-and-Half principle
Of contribution. whereby tie people of th'
District of Columbia contribute pc
capita of nearly SO and the people o
the United States, including the people o
the District OF Columbia, a FER capita o
cents, Is neither unfair nor burdensom
10 the people of the country.
'SiXth-That We deprecate the agitation
OF any change in the half-and-@ aIf prln
ciple Of the act OF 1878, aud hereby reg
lister our solemn protest against an
change therein.
.-Seventh-That copies hereof be sent I
the President Of the United States, cac
senator and each representative and tn
Commissioners OF the District OF Colur
bia.
"Eighth-That there b. requested hear
ings at which there may be presente
reasons why the half and-half principl
of 1878 should be retained.
Ninth-That we request that bill II.
a4i7 be recommitted. in order that sue
hearings thereon may be had
Request of Commissioners.
To the board OF Commissioners of tn
Trutrjct the exectttiyc committee ad