Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-24
BUSINESS MEN ASK
VOTE FOR DISTRICT
Continued from First Pase-9'

said Mr.. Noyes. II renewed che sugT
gestion in 1888 in The Star. In the
same year Senator Blair proposed a
constitutional amendment in Congress
Senator Gallinger of New Hampshire
renewed the effort to have it adopted;
Now 1t is being pushed by a specsai
committee of the Chamber OF Com
merce and by other organizations
Population Warrants Representation
Mr.. Noyes said that since 1890 the
District has had a population in size
and character which should warrant
it having representation in Congress.
He said that the pending resolution, as
a matter Of fact, disturbs nothing and
repeats nothing in the relations be-
tween the District and the federal gov
eminent, but that it was Thoroughly
constructive:
Representation in Congress is not
Capital city by Congress" said Mr.
Noyes.
Senator Hollis OF New Hampshire in
terrupted Mr.. Noyes to ask how many
states at present have s,n less s,I popuas'on
six" replied Mr.. Noyes.
Mr.. Noyes pointed out in 1910 with a
population Of over $4,000 the District
Of Columbia exceeded in number OF in
habitants the states of Nevada, Wyom-
ing. Delaware, Arizona. Idaho and New
Mexico.
Mr.. Noyes read from The Star Of
1888 an article in which he advocated
the adoption Of constitutional
amendment such as that now proposed.
Time to Seek Recognition.
This is the psychological moment to
push for the proper recognition Of the
rights Of the citizens of the District"
said Mr.. Noyes. He pointed out that a
joint select committee Of Congress has
recently reported concerning change
in the existing financial relations be-
tween the District. and the federal
government, and he said that along
with the readjustment of the financial
relations should come read3ustment
Of the political relations Of the citizens
of the District to the federal govern
ment.
He said that the territorial govern
ment such as had existed in the Dis
trict had been destroyed by the act OF
1873. In the readjustment of that Or
ganic act he said the citizens should be
given full representation in Congress.
He pointed that this did not mean any
change in the control of the District by
Congress.
ne NATION HluSL COHIl VI AtS SdPAeo',
said Mr.. Noyes, but it must safeguard
the rights Of the $4,000 Americans liy-
ing in the capital"
Mr. Sinclair submitted to the commit
tee a statement, which he asked 10
have go into the record.
The statement said, in part:
The proposed amendment to the Con.
stitution would give to the people OF
the District of Columbia right. TO
which. 1 submit, we. as American citi-
zens, are clearly entitled, and OF which
we have too long been deprived.
The founders Of this government, OF
the people, by the people. for the peo-
ple," did not intend that the residents
Of the District should be forever ex-
Guided from the rights and privileges
Of American citizenship.
It was the expectation Of the mem
bers of Congress in the early days OF
the government that the people OF the
District Of Columbia would be given
representation in the national govern
ment.
The statement cites Instances where
members Of Congress urged the vote IN
the District of Columbia and continues
IF the people of the District Of Column
bia were not taxed and in all other re-
spects subjected to the same burdens as
other citizens of the nation there might
be some reason why they should be de-
MED a voice in the government; but such
IL not the case They bear the same bur
Gems Of the states. Should they not,
therefore, be placed upon the same foot
mig politically as the citizens of the sew
xrfo