Evening star., 1914-11-10

Board of Trade has manifested itself
during the year now closing. I say this
advisedly. for have had the pleasure OF
reading the annual reports of the varl-
Gus committees of our Organization
reports which, because of their COM
pleteness and the care with which they
have been prepared, constitute year
book for Washington and the District
of Columbia compiled from the most
authentic information obtainable.
ing the last twelve months have con-
stituted the most crucial year in the
affairs of the District Of Columbia
since 1874. Agitation over existing
legislation eliminated in the introduc-
tion in Congress of number of meas
urea which, if enacted into law. would
have fundamentally altered, not only
the relations of the federal government
to the District of Columbia, but the
internal affairs of the District itself
But for the continued efforts of mem
bers of the Board of Trade and other
citizens and friends of the District. in
calling to the attention Of members
of Congress the injustice of the pro
visions of these measures. they might
have been enacted into law.
Apparent Indifference Of Congress.
"At times it appears as though Con-
gress is Indifferent to the needs of the
tion is largely due, I believe, to the
fact that it's members are so engrossed
with the affairs of their states and dis
tricts and to matters of national i'm
port that they forget the District is
dependent upon them for it's care
firmly believe that Congress means to
do right by the District-that there is
not single senator or representative
who would be so unpatriotic as to
vi f11vE n he N-at
But the trouble is that these legisIa-
tors from the various states of the
Union often are greatly misinformed
concerning the District and uncon-
sciously become a party to acts which
are unfriendly to a marked degree.
ITO see that into the hands Of these
Legislators is placed reliable informa-
ton concerning the National Capital
and its needs is one of the chief func-
tions of the Washington Board of
Trade. Even if our activities end there
We have done good work. Our or
ganization has an unblemished history.
dating back almost a quarter of CEN
tury. 1t has always been the purpose
of this body to work for the advance
ment of the National Capital. Thus we
are justified in urging upon Congress
the need of passing legislation that will
be beneficial to the National Capital
and opposing the enactment of meas
ures that will be harmful. for We have
shown that we have been guided by a
broad-minded policy actuated by q pa
triotic impulse and not by selfish de-
sireS. .
with so many matters Of national
and international importance on the
calendar of Congress which will claim
final adjournment March 3 next, we
may safely feel that very little, if any
legislation affecting us locally will be
considered. Nevertheless. 1t is well to
he on the alert and not relax our ef-
forts to oppose the consideration OF
tional Capital. $50,
Looking to the Future. -
1--WE must also look forward to the
coming of the Sixty-fourth Congress
The general elections of last week have
brought about many changes in the
membership. especially OF the House OF
Representatives. To Washington will
come Legislators to replace those who
! have been retired. Among the latter
we will regret the loss OF some yer!
good friends of the District. Coco
| friends of the District will also bt
| among those who will come to NIL the
places thus vacated. Several of the
newly elected members Of Congress
have served before in the body tina
constitutes the board of aldermen .o
| the I1SITlCt Ol dIA hHSh' Sat>
| needs of the District and are willing tt
! do their part in building up Nationa
| Capital. worthy of the great natlon
| and they represent
| I'VE should anticipate the coming O.
| the legislators who have never, been II
| Congress before and lay plans to enlis
| them in the foremost ranks OF TN
| friends of the District. This we can dt
| by informing them on the anaiTs o
the National Capital and its needs. :.
am sure that when they realize ou
campaign of education is for the pur
pose of assisting them to act wiser!
| and justly with regard to the DisIric
of Columbia and not to influence then
to promote measures based on selnsi
desires. they will not only not resen
our advances. but appreciate our ef
| forts. p.
/ Helpful Publications.
| "Of material assistance in our cam
paign of education have been the vari'
GUS reports and publications issued by
the board. Notable among these is a