The Washington herald., 1914-03-11
CHAMBER BACKS
HERALD'S Fight
Commerce Body Joins IN War
on Legislation Harmful
to District.
RESOLUTIONS PASSED
Presented by Former Senator Marion
Butler, They Vigorously Up
hold Organic Act.

Is Washington a country town or is 1t
the capital of the greatest nation on
earth?
Is Washington a commercial and man
ufacturing city or is 1t the most beautiful
city in the United States, owned by the
whole country. and. therefore, by Con-
gress?
of the Washington Chamber of Commerce
at its regular meeting last night and
caused animated discussion.
The fight of The Washington Herald
against Legislation peRding in Congress
that is perilous to the Nations Capital
was taken up by more than 100 represent
ative business and professional men OF
Washington. who. by adopting resolutions
introduced by former Senator Marion
Butler, enlightening the minds Of the
national lawmakers as to the real value
and Importance of Washington to them
and to the whole country, went on record
as true champions of the battle fought
for months past by The Herald. The
resolutions read as follows:
Resolutions Are Vigorous.
Resolved. first. That Washington
City is the Capital of the government
Capital commensurate with the
size, wealth and dignity Of the great
est of nations;
Resolved. second, That the few resi-
dents of the District Of Columbia
holding a minority of values as COM
pared to the greater holdings Of the
government are not able alone to
contribute sufficient taxes to accom-
plish this purpose, and that it Is un-
just to force them . bear such
burden;
Resolved, third. That Congress, on
behalf of all of the people Of the
United States, should congratulate
the taxpayers of this small District
upon their willingness and ability to
contribute half of the taxes for the
support of the Nations Capital
Former Senator Buffers resolutions in
their original form stated that Washing
ton City is not a commercial or manu-
featuring city.Y Objection was raised to
this by one of the members of the cham
Der, who claimed that it was. Then Mr..
Butler created a storm of laughter by
amending his resolutions so as to make
them read:
Washington is not commercial or a
manufacturing city only" But the ''only'
had no effect on the protesting member
and the former Senator from North
Carolina agreed to drop the whole SEN
tence.
viii BE Sent to ConRressmen.
The resolutions are a direct. clear con-
else protest against any attempts to
crush the organic act as proposed by leg
islation introduced in the House by the
Johnson-Prouty combination. They were
adopted amid applause, and there was not
one dissenting vote. Copies will be for
warded to every member of Congress.
Aside from the resolutions. the chief
subject of discussion was the proposed
location of the Washington Asylum and
Inebriate Hospital at Fourteenth and
I-pshur streets. A letter from Charles
=. McCurdy, president of the Piney
Branch Citizens Association, started the
ball rolling. The discussion of this lasted
nearly an hour and finally resulted In
the appointment of a committee to appear
before the Senate District Committee and
ask for hearings on the matter. The
committee is vested with power to make
recommendations for other sites for the
institution.
Attempts were made by some members
to have this committee ask Congress to
strike OF the item for the institution
from the District appropriation bill, but,
due chiefly to speech of warning by
Isaac Cans. who said such action would
impress the lawmakers with the idea that
the institution was not really so badly
mittee consists of Marion Butler, chair
man: John OolLh. Albert Schulteis, H.
H. Classic. and w. n. Cromwell. 1t will
meet this morning.
Want Torpedoes Made Here.
Another important matter that came
up for discussion was a request from a
committee of navy yard machinists, who
point to the danger of a lay-on of 1J0
men. There is an appropriation and or
der for 100 torpedoes for the United States
navy, and the construction of these tor
pedoes, If undertaken by the government
at the local yards. instead of by private
enterprises elsewhere. would prevent the
threatened lay-off, It was stated. The
Chamber of Commerce resolved to urge
that the torpedoes be constructed here.
A letter from $. A. Thompson. secretary
of the National Rivers and Harbors Con-
gress. urges the chamber to help try to
prevent the proposed repeal of the
Panama Canal provision exempting
United States coastw;se vessels from pay
ing tolls The matter was referred to |
the committee on laws and legislation.
1t was announced that the committee
in charge of the movement for a District |
delegate will meet probably Monday to |
outline plans. |
The Mid-City Citizens Association, in |
n letter thanked the chamber for its |