Evening star., 1914-12-09
Chairman schulteis' Statement.


Chairman schulteis' Statement.
| In urging the adoption of the report
| of the committee, Chairman Schulteis
said. in part:
The proposed amendment to the
Constitution would not in any manner
affect the exclusive Jurisdiction Of Con-
gress over the District Of Columbia.
TT would not alter or interfere with
the existing half-and- half flnancia! ar
rangement between the District and the
national government.
ct would not have the effect OF
changing the present form Of govern
ment in the District, but would give
the people of the District a voice in the
national government and raise them TO
the par value of American citizenship
The recommendation Of your COM
mittee is made without a dissenting
voice. 1t brings in a unanimous re-
port in favor of the Gallinger resolu-
ton.
ganic act will ever be violated II we
are properly represented in Congress
by some authorized person to plead our
just cause. to turn on the light, to tell
the truth, the whole truth and noth-
ing but the truth.
Spirit of Fair Play.
The spirit of fair play is ma
tional characteristic, but our cause
must be presented by some one COM
missioned by the votes of our people
duly authorized 20 speak for us. It's
an old saying that what's everybody s
business Is nobodys business. We saw
it illustrated to our sorrow when the
so-called ALLEY bill' was passed in the
House of Representatives with only
thirty-five members. about 8 per cent,
present and no one there to object, nor
to offer an amendment which would
have secured our citizens just compen-
sation for their conf1scated property.
No one there to even raise the point
of no quorum
representation in Congress our citizens
will lose several millions of dollars un-
less this great injustice is corrected
by remedial legislation in the near
future"
OF the arguments presented in favor
of the adoption of the report none at
tracted more attention than those of
former United States Senator Henry
w. Blair of New Hampshire. who ap-
peared before the chamber to urge the
work for suffrage in the District. SEN
ator Blair told of the efforts which
have been made to give to the citi-
zens Of the District the right of sufA
frage enjoyed by the citizens of the
states. Tie tOlQ OI HdNlHS introduced
in the Senate. April 4. 1888, bill to
amend the Constitution SO as to make
the District a state in so far as it
would be represented in the Senate
and House and in the electoral col
lege. This bill was again introduced
by him in the Fifty-first Congress. Mr..
Blair stated that it was at his request
that Senator Gallinger, his successor
in Congress, introduced the bill again.
Mistakes of Forefathers.
IF the people of this generation in
the District of Columbia make the
great principle of the Declaration Of
Independence apply to the District of
Columbia they will become as immortal
as Washington and Jefferson, for they
will patch up the mistakes of their
forefathers," said Senator Blair.
IF Woodward in 1901 saw what
trict of Columbia isn't it about time
We were doing it? I have been work
ing for suffrage in the District of CO.
lumbia for more than forty years. and
before I die 1 want to see it an ac-
complished fact"
representation in Congress would put
an end to any hostility on the part of
the House District committee toward
the National Capital. for "our man GER
tdiHIy WOulQ De chairman Oh tnat COM
mittee." Concerning woman suffrage
he said: 1T does not matter whether
we are in favor of woman suffrage OF
not. for it certainly is coming. and We
might as well get on the wagon"
Others who spoke in favor Of the resolu-
ton embodied in the report were P. T.
Moran, Roy c. Clafiin and P, J. Ryan
Louis Gutenberg opposed its adoption
on the ground that he believed a
change in the form of local govern
ment is what is most desired. John
Dolph said he believed some expires
sion should be obtained from all the
citizens of the District before an effor,
is made to obtain a constitutional
amendment.