Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-05
Chamber of Commerce to Be
asked to Indorse Appeal
for Suffrage Here.
STATUS OF STATEHOOD
IN CONGRESS SOUGHT
5, eoial Committee to Make Report at
December Meeting. Urging Con-
stitutional Amendment.

tn" chamber of Commerce at its De
"c'uher meeting will be asked to in
d"rso Il recommendation that the Con-
>tftution Of the United States be amend
I'd so that the District of Columbia
shall be considered q state in so far as
TO eutitle il to representation in both
houses of Congress and in the electoral
college This decision was reached at
meeting yesterday afternoon by
special committee of the Chamber of
commerce, appointed on the authorize
fion of that body several weeks ago.
- ascertain the best means of obtain
ing suffrage for the District of Co
Iumhta- In addition to intior: - that
recommendation. the comm will
ask the chamber to authoriz, he APP
pointment of Il special committee which
shall draft suita bic petition to be
presented 10 Congress.
The committee was unanimous in the
belief that the best way to obtain suf-
fragc III the District is by a constitu-
tloual amendment. This decision was
re'iCil' a after il had listened to the
reading of Individual statements pre-
pared by eight of its members setting
forth their views on the suffrage ques-
ton aud to verbal opinions expressed
Icy the remaining two members The
.
OF Albert SChulteis, chairman: r P
andrews George G.. Seibold, Chapin
i:r""n. y I.eftwich Sinclair, f. c. Ora
ham. Theodore W. Noyes, James F..
oyster. Joseph j. Weller and Robert n
Harper All We're present at the meet
ing except Mr.. oyster and Mr.. Weller
Would Include Woman Suffrage.
although there We're some slight diff
FENCES OF opinion as to the best
Leans of obtaining suffrage for the
District. all of the members of the
committee We're firmly of the belief
ihJt ia cudeavorinG to obtain suffrage
''"thius should he done that might
tend t" alter in any way the financial
relations of the District with the fed
er.tl government and the clause of the
constitution giving Congress the right
Of exclusive legislation over the Dis
trict. Several of the members express
81 the belief that in working for suf-
frage III the District the chamber
should include in its petition a request
that the right to vote be granted to
both men and women alike. Others
bought this was detail which should
receive consideration later when Con-
gresS should enact appropriate legisla-
ton TO put into effect a constitutional
amendment. and should not be includ-
ed IN any petition formulated at this
time asking solely for such constitu-
tiopal amendment. Only one member
OF the committee spoke in opposition
10 woman suffrage.
Whether the District should have a
representation in Congress equal to that
enjoyed 10y the various states also was
question which received considerable at
tention. The suggestion WAS made that
the District should have but one repre-
sentative in the Senate in order TO diff
1erentiate the National Capital from a
sovereign state There were members of
Tie comm ttee who were of the belief that
The District Should assert a claim for
= proportionateiy greater representation
IN Congress than any state on the ground
lIlst Congress iegiSlates exclusively for
liz. District but not for any state. After
The matter had been discussed at consid-
cable length the committee agreed it
would he better TO petition for representa-
tiou such as that enjoyed by the states.
District Citizens as Commissioners.
discussion of the manner of choosing
tho District Commissioners brought out
The fact that the entire committee was of
The belief it should he done in such a way
a to insure the selection of citizens of
tl-.. District for the places and not of
outsiders. and that in some way these Of
., iaS Snu3jld be responsible to the COM
UttE which they represent we'll as
ls tu. President Those of the commit
'.- who were not in favor OF the cleo
t.'u of rhe Commissioners Were of the
l ief That the citizens of tile District
-i.uld ta~ for example by means of the
iu-rer ui recall be given the power to
veto appoint pents made by the President
i""visi!ns they did not meet with ap-
prrVat
After every member of the committee
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