The Washington herald., 1913-12-19
PLEA FOR FAIR PLAY
In CONSIDERATION OF
HALF-AND-HALF BILL

THE Honorable Board of Commis-
sioners OF the District Of Columbia
Gentlemen: At a special meet
ing this afternoon Of the d.
rectors and officers Of the Wash
ington Board of Trade, the
Washington Chamber of Commerce
and the Retail Merchants Associa-
ton, held for the purpose of taking
action against the measure, House
Bill 9l7-'To amend the act OF June
II, 1878, entitled AN act providing a
permanent form Of government for
the District OF Columbia by repeal
ing So much of said act as author
lies one-half the expenses Of the Dis
trict of Columbia to be paid out Of
the Treasury OF the United States
the inclosed resolution was unani-
mously adopted, and it was further
ordered that copy Of the resolution
be sent to your honorable board with
the request that it address a letter
to the honorable, the Speaker Of the
House Of Representatives, requesting,
in behalf of the people of the Dis
trict Of Columbia, that the bill be re-
committed to the Committee on the
District Of Columbia by the House
with instructions to give full
ings on the subject
VERY respectfully,
WILLIAM H. SINGLETON,
Chairman.
&C. ]. GoCKELER, Secretary.
JOHN JOY EDISON.
"CUNO h. RUDOLPH.
THEODORE W. MOVES.
"CHAPIN BROWN.
"ALDIS B. BROWNE.
"CoL GEORGE TRUEsDELL
"R. P. ANDREWS.
IN. D. ROSENBERG.
ID. ]. CALLAHAN"
Resolved, That this joint meeting
of the directors of the Washington
Board of 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 pro-
posed In the House OF Representa-
tives to disturb the 80 per. cent agree
ment Of 1879 to place on record the
following position Of the three bodies
which, whenever the matter has been
before them, has been unanimously
affirmed.
Firr-That there should be no
.hauEe I'm the act of 1875, especially
hat portion relating to the half-an-
laIf principle.
Second-That the District of Co.
umbia, being the Capital OF the United
states, and the Congress its constitu-
ional Legislature, with exclusive con-
rol over the District, the legislators
or the District are elected by the
,eople of the United States to govern
heir Capital.
rhfrd-Thaf the rnaintennure of @h>
District In and should be on = scale
with the dignity and 20
ition of q capital of q great country,
md that this In possible only when
he entire country materially supple
nents that which In contributed by the
itizens of the District.
Fourth-That we believe that the
,eople ~of the United States realize
heir obligations to themselves to as
list In the due maintenance of their
,apitsL
Fifth-That the haIf-and-half prin-
ipIe of contribution, whereby the peo-
lie of the District of Columbia con-
ribute q per capita OF nearly s1s, and
he people of the United States, incIud-
ng the people of the District Of CO.
umbia, a per capita of cents, is
either unfair nor burdensome to the
eopIe of the country.
Sixth-That we deprecate the agita-
lon of any change in the haif-and-half
rinciple of the act of 1878, and hereby
egister our solemn protest against
ny change therein. s.. .-
seventh-That copies hereof be sent
, the President of the United States,
ach Senator and each Representative,
nd the Commissioners Of the District
Z Columbia.
Eighth-That there be requested
earrings at which there may be pre-
.nted reasons why the half-and-haIf
rincipIes of 1878 shouId be retained.
Ninth-That we request that Bill n.
: 9n7 be reconmitted in order that
1ch hearings thereon may be had.