Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-30

in what goes on in the nations capital
and how 1t is governed. You cannot
get away from the fact that this Is the
nations capital and you cannot COM
pare, it with other cities in many re-
spects."
lean people to say that they are inter-
ested in this. their capital?' asked Rep
resentative Gard.
YES" replied Mr.. McKelway. II think
it is right that the people of the nation
should be interested. but / think the
people of the District should be heard
Senator Works said that it might be
that some day there would be District
representation on the floors of Con-
gress.
changed" said Mr.. McKeIway.
IT was speaking of the principle,
rather than the law Senator Works
said.
Subsidy in Place of Suffrage.
Mr.. McKeIway continued: cit is be-
cause Congress pays SO much of our
taxes here that so many of our people
do not want change of government.
They have accepted this subsidy in lieu
Of suffrage. There is less public spirit
here than in any city of the United
States"
i am surprised, senator
Works, "at the statement that has been
made here several times that the people
of the District of Columbia are lacking
in civic pride. I have a different view
entirely
ut is q very disagreeable thing to
say" Mr.. Mckelway said.
"A very disagreeabie thing" Senator
Works continued, land it should not be
said unless it is true. And if it Is true
that the people of Washington have no
pfy y,rid O. iS
against granting them suffrage
II am of the opinion that it is the
lack of self-government that has taken
away the civic pride here replied Mr..
NICK elway.
THE people of Washington" Senator
Works said, ARE about as active in
their efforts to secure betterments NOR
ally, socially, municipality as those of
any community / know. I have never
seen any lack of patriotism; 1 have
never seen any lack of pride, not only
regarding Washington, but regarding
the nation"
There is a public spirited element
here, admit" Mr.. McKelway said. but
the mass of people are not interested"
II doubt that" Senator Works re-
marked. 81 do not think the efforts
for betterment are confined to any
class of people here"
Nor l, either. but 1 do think the
element of public spirit is small. 1t
District committees if all the people
of the District of Columbia were to be-
come interested in civic matters"
Cites Activity of Civic Bodies.
Senator Works cited the citizens as
sociations. and said that communica-
tions were being received from Or
ganizations and citizens individually
all during the congressional session,
and that members Of the District COM
mittees spend hours of their time in
dividually.
Representative Gard asked whether or
not the Commissioners are not ready to
hear citizens of Washington.
Yes, and there is an excellent COM
mission here" said Mr.. McKelway. II
object only that had no voice in naming
the members"
Asked by Representative Gard to out
ent situation. Mr.. McKelway said the
United States property here might be
considered as a business and taxed as
such: that comm ssion partly elective
and partly appointive might be inaugu-
rated, or that territorial form of gov
eminent established.
He believed that there might be a
separation of the municipal functions
so that the United States pays entire
cost Of streets, lights and protection of
stance, he said should be under mu-
nicipal control exclusively and officials
of the system should be elected by the
people. Senator Salisbury asked him
what amount of money the government
should contribute. He replied that three
or four million would be enough.
He was followed by A. b. Johnson
giving his address as Washington and
his avocation as lecturer and tax ex-
pert. Mr.. johnson said in advance he
opposed the half-and-half plan. He
said that the government clerks here
have no wish for a vote. because they
find they can live and earn a good liv-
ing without bothering about suffrage
that they are better paid than the aver
age of wage-earners throughout the
country. He had not fairly launched
into his argument when recess was
taken and he will continue this after
noon.