Evening star., 1914-12-17
Representative Crosser Says
True Value Assessments Are
Also Needed to Cure Ills.
CIVIC CONDITIONS HERE
UNAMERICAN, SAYS WILEY
Natural for Resident to Become Un-
patriotic When Denied Citizen
ship, He Declares.


ish the half-and-half plan and assess
property at its true value. and you
will be able to remove the ills of which
YOU have been complaining to Con-
gress."
This in effect, was the advice TO
Neutrality-suspicious. delivered by Repre-
sentative Robert L. Crosser of Ohio IN
an address last night before the COM
mittee of forty in behalf of popular
government in the District, at a meet
ing in the Public Library.
Following DIR. Harvey w. Wiley. who
characterized local civic conditions as
ultra constitutional and unamerican,
Representative Crosser stated that
what the people of Washington need
to do is to obtain the key to the mu-
nicipal building and select the officials
who are to administer their affairs.
His Votes in Congress.
He said that when he voted during
the last session of Congress against the
johnson amendment, seeking tG abro-
gate the half-and-half act, that II was
not because he believed in this princi-
ple, but was the result of his convlc-
ton that the amendment, if carried
would further tax the industry OF tne
people of the District. This session ne
voted for the Johnson amendment. ne
exclaimed because it did nothing more
than leave as they are things that are
70 be taxed in the future
Denouncing the half-and-haf plan as
a faliacious principle. Mr.. CroSser as
serted that nine-tenths of the people of
the District lose more by it than they
gain. He expressed the belief that a
proper assessment OF land values alone
would more than provide sufficient funds
rir1tr oil rDp nsn
trict government.
Opposes Committees Plan.
The speaker discouraged the commit
tees plans to obtain the appointment of
a congressional commission for the pur-
pose of investigating the question of self
government for the people of Washing
ton. simply ask Congress for the right
to exercise your privileges as American
citizens and then work out your plans
of government for yourselves, he ad-
vised
Congress is not SC much concerned with
the question of v neither it would De right
TO grant self-government in washington
rs whether il WOULD be wise, he stated :;
put the Ohio representative saw no tea
son why there Should be conflict between
local popular government, if eStab-
lished, and Congress.
If local self-government is right in
any other city it is right in Washing
ton.' he contended.
Says Newspapers Are Best.
Representative Crosser ridiculed the
idea of providing the District with dele
gate in Congress Your four Washing
ton newspapers, he said, accomplish more
than any delegate ever could.
In the course of his speech Mr..
Crosser referred indirectly to the plans
for the municipalizinS of Washington's
street railways by stating that If the
people of Washington but knew II the
local street railway companies would
be glad right now to grant universal
transfers if they thought it would re-
suit in stopping agitation for other re-
forms.
He a1~o declared that "for snobbery
and Goldfish ariStocracy' Washington is
the worst city he has ever seen.
Wiley for Self-Government.
DR.. Wiley spoke at length in behalf
of the self-government propaganda.
Discussing separately the fundamental
principles underlying the birth of this
nation. he pointed out that none of
them is represented in the civic life of
The Washingtonian. The fathers, in
framing the Constitution, enumerated
stmong the objects to be attained
.omestic tranquility. promotion of the
General welfare and securing of the
blessings of liberty to themselves and
their children, but these fundamental
lights have been withheld from the
people of the District of Columbia, he
stated.
II logically is to be expected that
WashIngtonians will become the most
sInpatriotic and uncivic people in this
eountry because they are not given the
right 10 exercise the privileges of
A'Herican citizenship. DIR. Wiley con-
ended Congress had dealt literally
9TH other territories in the granting
~ selt-sovernment. and should not sin
lie out the District of Columbia to be
-ept from participation in the full life
rf the nation, urged the speaker.
Discusses Probabl Commission.
DR. ~ ]. Mckelway. head of the child
iabor bureau and chairman of the COM
inittee. presided. In calling the meet
ing to order DR.. McKelway explained
the purposes of the committee and also
discussed the probable personnel of the
commission which the committee hopes
congress will appoint for the purpose