Evening journal., 1917-12-03
WOULD Give VOTE TO
WASHINGTON FOLKS
Congressman Polk FavorS
Suffrage for District
of Columbia
ARE TAXED SAME
AS IN OTHER CITIES
Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.

Special 70 THE EVENING JOURNAL.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 3.--Em-
phatlc assertion that suffrage be ex-
tended 10 residents Of the District OF
Columbia, was made by Congressman
Albert F. Polk. Of Delaware. today.
Representative Polk is a member OF
the House committee on legislation for
the District Of Columbia. and Senator
salisbury, Of Delaware. is a member Of
the Senate District OF Columbia COM
mittee. These two committees will be
called upon to report on a bill granting
che citizens OF the District Of Colum-
bia the right TO vote, which is attract
ing nationwide attention, and for
which the residents Of Washington are
planning an extensive campaign during
the session Of Congress, which opens
today. There Is to be a monster parade
in which IL Is estimated 10000 resi-
dents will march. terminating at the
Capitol by the presentation OF a petit
tlon signed by 100000 people. asking for
representation in Congress.
Congress Polk agreed that natioSl
representation should be granted 10 ti7
people Of the District, just the same as
10 the people in any other state. with
two senator's and a representative IN
Congress. He favors leaving the Dis
trlct government as IL is. with con-
tinuation OF the half-and-half princi-
ple for financing the National Capital.
Il have always been in favor Of locd
self-government,n said Mr.. Polk, "anC
F,nf arrarf~ff.r 1nwfotr- fhuf fhr UDnnIf
OF the National Capitol should hav0 al
the rights that are due them. ! woulC
not want TO see any suffrage legisla
ton which would interfere with tho
rights Of the government in the District
Il believe an important provision o.
a bill for suffrage in the Distric
should be that all government employee
who come here TO work, should be al
lowed to retain the right to vote il
the congressional districts from whicl
they were appointed.
Before ! came 90 Congress ! had
mistaken notion that the government
bore practically all the expenses Of tn
National Capital. Many other peopl
seem TO have the same notion. ] hav
found that the people here are taXe'
as I'm other places Of the country
They ought TO have some privileges
some share in the government in re
turn for the money they pay IN taxes
Il have talked this matter over wit
many prominent people in Washington
and I find very good arguments i
favor Of granting suffrage here. I'm
very strong sentiment among IN
citizens, and this government Of equs
rights for all should recognize the voic
Of the people and sive them what the
demand. Through the recent hig In
crease in population Of the District eel
tain conditions which have heretofoT
been advanced as arguments In oppos
ton to granting suffrage here arc fac
ing away"
That pprOpriations made for the DE-
frict OF Columbia should be generousl
gauged is the opinion Of Represents
tive Polk. lie says he has always ie
that the city Of Washington should B
made the most beautiful city in th
world. and that no expense should /
spared in the making.
That during the impending session
Congress everything else will have
be subservient 10 war measures,
saws, goes without dispute, but IN mai
ing necessary appropriations the Coz
gress should not be actuated by an
penny wise pound foolish" policies.