Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-16
G|VESPLAN FOR D. c,
VOICE IN CONGRESS
Attorney Davis Would Have
Commissioners Take Part
in Debates.

form of government for the residents
of the District of Columbia was one
OF the most perplexing problems con-
fronting the country today, Henry E.
Davis. former United States attorney
for the District. addressed the Society
of Natives of the District at the Will
son Normal School last night.
AS suggestion he proposed that
the three Commissioners have voice
on the floors of both houses of Con-
gress. and said that. in way, with
the proper appointments by the Pres
having an ideal government than any
he could think Of after giving the
subject close study for more than
thirty-five years.
In history of the different forms
OF government that prevailed in the
District since 1901. when Congress
took over the jurisdiction of the ten
| mile square. Mr.. Davis said that the
situation always had been a puzzle to
| the lawmakers of the country.
Territories Put Under One Head.
He detailed the various bodies that
had ruled the District fxom 1902. when
the city of Washington was incor-
porated. until 1861, when the hand of
! government for all municipal pur-
poses for the first time, attributing
the beginning "of all our troubles"
to the formation of the metropolitan
police, which supplanted the old form
of three sets of conStables fdD George
town. the county and Washington, and
brought the territory under one head.
He described the territorial form
of government. which superseded the
existing system, and said that with
out casting reflection, it was mainly
due to slipshod work of the old board
of public works. which plunged the
citizens of the District deep in debt.
that Congress finally took matters in
its own hands and substituted the
present method of municipal govern
ment.
Mr.. Davis acknowledged that he
was at 4 osS as to the solution of
the District government problem, but
asked all to seriously consider the re-
suits before demanding too loudly the
right of government
He outlined the pitfalls. which he
said were bound to follow the right of
suffrage for the citizens of the Dis
trlct, saying that it would undoubt-
edly double the population by bring
ing in set of professional politicians,
and in the end leave matters in a
worse condition than they are at pres
ent.
He complimented the work being
done by the Federation 81 Citizens
Associations, and said that it was the
nearest attempt to concentrated ac-
ton yet devised.
Organization Song Adopted.
Jesse l.. Suter presided. and an
nounced that a song, Washington"
by William T. Person had been
dor tod to-, t,N-
the society.
On tmotion of Capt. George w.
Evans a resolution petitioning Con-
greSs to purchase Mount Vernon for
the use of the public was adopted.
1t also was voted to urge Congress
to make available the s4.309.000 sur
plus now in the Treasury for the cree
ton of additional schools in the Dis
trict
1t also was proposed that Congress
appropriate like amount in addi-
ton, but after, considerable discus
sion. the society voted that the sur
plus be made available exclusive, of
any appropriation that Congress
might pass.
On the motion of Washington Top
hahn, the society voted to affiliate
with the Federation of Citizens AS
sociations. and to send two delegates
| to all sessions of that body. The
appointment of delegates was de-
ferred until the next meeting of the
association.
! Entertainment Program.
| The entertainment program of the
evening was under the direction of
Mrs William Wolff Smith and includ-
ed monologue and songs by Miss
Esther Cloyd, accompanied by Miss
! Jean Nanderslice, and well acted
| Sketch by two of the Washington
/ players. Miss Clara Blake and little
Miss Agnes Walter, the latter, as
the waitress, displaying remarkable
histrionic ability.
] New members elected to the society
last night included Miss Anna NJ
Becker. Earl Goodwin. William j
Frizzell, Percy B. Israel. Albert
Harper. Mrs. T. c. Dulin. Charles w
Ray, Mrs. Ella Becker. Mrs. Dewey
Dr. S. S. Adams, John McLane. Bertha
! w. Crane Henry A. Beck, Susan S
Trayler, Joseph w. Hendley of Cleve-
land, Ohio; Henry L. Bryan. r. c.
Dove. b. c. Lucas. jr.; Allan f.
], Walker Miss Bessie NJ. Israel J.
Maury Dove, j. Maury Dove, jr.; Miss
Ella Whilldin. Union Hills, N. j.; M. A.
tCoughlin, Andrew McGarraghy, J. c.
iMcGarraghy and l.. F. Randolph.