Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-04
Discussion of Resolution.


ally the debate wandered far afeld, touch
ing many subjects. including Endorsement
Of votes for women, bona fideness of resi-
dence of District Commissioners. the pop
ulation of Alaska and the yield of fer
tiiizer in West Virginia. The speakers
sometimes overstepped the twenty-minute
rule, but SO aroused the others present
that applause was generous throughout
the entire meeting.
Eulogies of Senator Gallinger and for
Iner Senator Blackburn Wee frequent.
Messages were delivered from James
Wickersham, delegate from Alaska: for
ner Senator Blair Senator Miles Pom
dexter. Ross P. Andrews, former Com
missioner Henry L. West, DR.. Harvey W.
Wiley and former Senator Blackburn.
Several speakers said they had discussed
the matter with leaders in Congress, and
assured members of the chamber that
Congress would promptly grant the Dis
trtct representation as soon as the Dis
trtct showed 1t really wanted a voice in
Congress
There was considerable discussion as to
whether having vote in Congress would
mean disturbing the form of government
phatic protest against any action that
would endanger the half-and-half system
of finances for the National Capital.
Adjourns Without Vote.
Finally, when the meeting got around
% taking a vote a resolution, made by
Mr.. Harper and accepted by r. C. CIafiin
as an amendment to his previous motion
Il was found that of the seventy out OF
700 members of the chamber who were
present when the meeting opened there
were but forty remaining. The point of
no quorum" was raised and the meeting
adjourned.
The recommendations made by E. c.
Graham and Chaplin Brown of the COM
nittee was:
We recommend that the chamber vote
adversely upon the resolution referred to
your committee; that Is, that it. vote to
the effect that it does not at this time
and under present conditions, favor the
representation of the District in Congress
by delegate; and that it does not rec
ommend the passage of any bill now
pending in Congress providing fer the
submission of this question or any similar
question to vote in the District of Co
Iumbia: but it does favor a vote or votes
for President by the citizens of the Dis
trict of Columbia. to the same extent, in
proportion to its inhabitants. that citizens
of the states are given the right to vote
for President. II the Constitution can be
amended SO as to confer this power.
The following is SUMMARY of the
Harry King:
Local government is the leglti-
mate outcome of the reserve powers of
tHe states ana tne people, 1t Is the
very corner stone of our political struc-
ture, and the best assurance of liberty
regulated by law. II can be maintained
only by strict observance of the linlita-
tons of the federal Constitution. the basic
thought of which is the right OF the ma
1ority TO rule.
This Tavenner bill. II. R S363 aims
only at this basic thought-the right of
the majority TO rule. and provides for the
ascertainment of the will of the people
Of the nations capital by a referendum
vote on the principal questions which
present themselves to us for solution.
The machinery for the ascertainment of
our wishes is simple and inexpensive. In
short. IT IS complete bill which will
once and for all settle these questions by
3ority. Only those who believe in a gov
ernInent without the consent of the gov
erned can be opposed to this proposition
This is the first necessary step for us
TO take. 1t will test in an authoritative
and accurate way whether we want to
continue our present form OF government
or not. whether we want representation
in Congress-.
Protests Against Suffrage.
The opinion of the other member of
The committee as registered IN his letter
Of resignation is:
I would like 10 protest with all my
might against suffrage In the District of
Columbia. for many reasons The main
reason is, that we have today, according
10 statistical facts, the only clean city,
politically and morally. in the United