Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-31
Great Principle Violated.

tory that WashinEtonfans shall buy at
least one commodity out OF Washing
ton.
Great Principle Violated.
But more important even than the
monetary loss that Washington would suf-
fer II such q bill becomes law is the
violation Of that great principle Of Ameri-
can government. that the people shall
themselves rule through the ballot or a
referendum. realize full well that this
Is federal reservation. but my sense OF
Amencanism also tells me that before
such sumptuary legislation is enacted the
people Of the District should be permitted
a voice in the determination Of this ques-
ton.
II have every confidence in the integ-
rity and intelligence of the people OF the
District Of Columbia. For years we have
had a school system that is second to
none, and believe that the adult popula-
ton OF this community is in every way
fitted to exercise the franchise. be 1t
through referendum or ballot. and l am
more than convinced that right now, and
the people OF the District Of Columbia
should be permitted to have referen-
dunn on this and other matters before
legislation is enacted. and I earnestly
ually. as it has collectively. put forth
every effort to the end that tho referen-
dunn idea prevails in this instance.
Calls Telephone Plan Utopian.
quite as important for referendum
purposes is the matter of government
ownership Of the telephone system. This
Is but another experiment for Utopian
you with long list of the ills that gov
Certainly referendum or full-fledged
suffrage would bring a new spirit to
the inhabitants Of the District of Co
lumbia. l. and I know every one Of
YOU, would consider it privilege to
cast a ballot for the President of this
great nation, and, likewise. have a
natural American voice in the settle
ment of local questions. In addition
to those that Have enumerated, there
are those great issues involving taxes.
The merchant is the last man to stand
back when It comes to paying. We
must, as citizens of this community.
meet every responsibility. and we are
more than Jealous that this capital
shall be the most beautiful in the world,
but it is unfair and un-Amerfcan to i'm
pose. without hearing. such a tax as
that on intangible securities. which is
affecting every merchant IN the city
Of Washington and will grow monu-
mental as time goes on.
Face Double Tax.
Under the present system Of nom
representation we are on the eve Of
paying double tax on sidewalk vault
spaces. The Senate appropriations
committee was advised by committee
of the Retail Merchants Association
that sidewalk vault taxes were covered
in the assessment of property. and the
Senate committee knocked out the
paragraph relating to sidewalk vaults
in the last appropriation bill Despite
this information, which came to our
secretary from the District assessor, the
conferees put the paragraph back in
the bill, and we are now In the in
equitable position of paying a double
tax in at least this one instance.
ut Is my belief that we should not
pay this extra tax until there is full
adjudication Of the matter before Con-
gress.
'My fellow members, you may be sure
that il we had a good honest American
franchise voice these things would not
be imposed upon u.s."