The Washington times., 1917-02-13
Referendums Allowed.


On several occasions, he said. Con-
Eress had permitted Teferendums on
matters of more or less Importance.
He cited the following instances:
a referendum on the bond issue
under a territorial form of govern
ment, which bonds were authorized
and funded INFO the existing 3.65
bonds which the District of Columbia
is paying today. Chairman johnson
brought out the fact that these bonds
had been voted, and Mr.. Davis, who
had overlooked this particular vote.
recalled il.
. In 1857, said Mr. Davis. the people
of the District of Columbia voted on
code of laws for this community.
This code was prepared by two per-
sons named by the President and Con-
I gress specifically delegated to the
people here approval or rejection of
the code. The code was rejected and
was, therefore, never made law in
consequence.
Used for RetrOcesSiOR.
Another referendum cited by Mr.
Davis was ON the retrocession act of
1886, when the people residing in that
part of the District which had been
ceded by Virginia voted to go back to
Virginia and get from under the Federal
Jurisdiction
In this case" said Mr.. Davis. Con
EresS actually gave to the people right
to make a law. It left solely to the
voters the question of whether they
would return to the Jurisdiction OF Vir-
ginia and they did"
Chairman johnson asked il former
President Taft and Hannis Taylor had
not questioned the constitutionality of
the act of retrocession. Mr.. Davis said
he did not believe Mr.. Taylor so held.
but thatwith all due Difference to these
former officials and lawyers he believed
the act of retrocession to be entirely
constitutional
Mr.. Davis Qaoted President Monroe's
statement that the inhabitants of the
District Of Columbia occupied an ''ano-
malous position by reason Of the fact
that they were deprived of vote and
subject to law in which they had no
voice.
Discusses ID. c. History.
president Monroe's observations
on this point" said Mr.. Davis. "are
threaded with the history Of the Dis
trict of Columbia. They finally grew
into a sentiment that brought about
a territorial form OF government here
in 1871. 1t is not the fault of the
people of this community that this
government was so administered that
II was lost 1t is not necessary that
/ should discuss here the admins
tration OF that territorial form of gov
ernment. That it was lost was due
10 those who administered it; not the
people.
by the same token that Congress
gave the District a territorial form
of government then il may order a
referendum on any question now. The
power of Congress is absolute One
Q need Ieau ohiy 'he CoiisS o! u'Ioh. anu ~
,'lhfni' ~ So or Nior,.Iand ,,trred
over certain territory to the Federal
Government. Congress has exclusive
IegisIative Jurisdiction and can with
eyerv propriety provide for a referen-
dunn
"ouio AHo" rui'
Mr.. Davis was asked VINO Woulo
vote?"
speaking for myself" he said. 81
would not make any discrimination
in the community / would permit
every inhabitant, male and female,
over the age of twenty-one years. to
vote. l would require one years resi-
dence. l would include Government
tO;.,,;., 80 t'' ,rLo-a is ~ s,,cb thine-
citizen Of the District. | would
frame the legislation so that an in
habitant voting here would not De
disqualined In the state from "hlch
he comes.
Prohlpitlon leg win d az Leie 'sl
emo ouhl, MI DaNIs
SUIT IN Forcing ltslsia'lon upon ,n
1Vo'VVO pei sOLis s.. " " G,I,I sSaati,,r,
say now H-ta a HIat issn lhan re S.cide6
theF 'i'iS iie
Would Leave Form 10 Congress.
William +. GUIDE. president of the
Dtstrict NJ Columbia Referendum As
-. - ,,i.s,,, :, ,a,.or 81
I oCIation, -. said he Ala
le e"uu'Ii' Is, - go,
not appeai @ .1ero,SS,,,,, ~, -
par ' Iol ~ u -t,,,Id -, -,
If,sIs teu -IlE. - aSi5o,,,. ,s WI
pIah 10 peIIliIt tI tIe ,teSI.ei,,os
lhetoh 10 sH T. ,-.,,
~ 80 .. ~ 20 ,-Sg.ra,iti,,,,, a,,,o,,d
as lle ~, LnuSi 49,, ss..,s 81 ,t.a c.,
-