Evening star., 1920-01-14
ROBERT n. HARPER
|SAGA|N PLACEDAT
HEAD OF c. Of c.
Annual Report Read at
Rauscher's Deals With
Problems of District.


District National Bank. was eiecleo
for a second consecutive term as pres.
ident of the Washington Chamber OF
Commerce at its annual meeting and
election of officers at RauSchers ias'
night. This was the fourth time MT
Harper was chosen to head the cham
Der. as he served as president In
1907 and 1908.
Albert Schulteis was reelected first
vice president and Isaac Cans second
vice president, each already having
served five terms in these ofhces
There was no contest for any OF these
offices.
Ten New Directors Named.
Ten new members of the board OF
directors also were elected at last
nights meeting, there having been
nineteen nominees. The new directors
chosen. with the vote for each. are:
Charles T. Clagett of the Chesa-
peake and Potomac Telephone Com
pany, 1871; NJ. A. Leese, optician
165 y: Merritt o. Chance, postmaster
of Washington. 1863 Y; George S
DeNeale, S. Kann Sons Co, 155 n
Charles w. Darr, attorney. IA; Hor-
DR.. Lewis j. Battle, physician. 126;
Rudolph Jose, Cook & Stoddard Co,
115h: Frank S. Hight, manager Will
lard Hotel. rs, and Benjamin r.
Stickney, bureau of engraving and
printing, 30.
Reports Read; Entertainment.
Reports of the president, secretary
and treasurer were read. the reports
detailing the accomplishments of the
chamber during 1919 and outlining
plans for the coming year. pro-
gram of entertainment followed the
balloting, and the usual buffet sup
per was served. Chorus singing was
led by Ralph Winchester Hills OF the
community service. -irs. kincheloe,
wife of Representative klncheloe OF
Kentucky. gave several vocal and
whistiing numbers and in real south
ern style told a negro dialect story,
and ]. T NJ. Bowie gave several tenor
solos, all of the numbers being re-
peatedly encored.
Mr.. Harper was placed in nominal
ton by James T. Lloyd. who charac-
terized him as a careful, conscien-
tious, cautious and industrious work
er for the best interests of Washing
ton and the Chamber Of Commerce"
The nomination was seconded by u.
J. Callahan and on motion OF harry
King the secretary was instructed TO
cast the chambers ballot for MI
Harper.
A. Leftwich Sinclair placed Mr..
Schulteis in nomination. the second
being by C. w. Davis. Mr.. Cans
was nominated by Chaplin Brown,
jackson H. Ralston seconding the
nomination.
William F. GUIDE, who was secretary
of the chamber during Mr.. Harpers
first term as president in 1907, occu-
pied the chair during the election.
The judges of election were Chapln
Brown, H. B. Davis and d. j. Cal
lahan.
ID. C, Representati0n Urged.
Representation for the District OF
Columbia in the electral college and
in both houses of Congress was
strongly urged in the annual report
of President R. N. Harper. Mr.. Harper
said that national representation for
the District was a constitutional right,
and the time had now come for the
people to rise up and defend their
rightss
shall we humbly accept for our
selves such an un-American condi-
tion and thereby deny to posterity, by
our inaction. that American privilege:
which we have never enjoyed? asked
Mr.. Harper. "Or should we arise and
in a united might demand our con-
stitutional right? Surely there can
be but one answer.
"Since our 100000 or more Ameri-
cans residing in the District of Co
lumbia pay national taxes, obey ma
tional laws. uphold the Constitution.
and when necessary offer their lives
on the field of battle in defense Of the
country's honor. but are deprived of
the right of citizenship, has not the
time come for us to act?'
Mr. Harper said that the Chamber
of Commerce had been on record for
many years as favoring and demanding
II Il &h.k
the people Of the District did not ask
for any change in the present federal
control in any other particular. but
that determined action on this point
should be pushed with increased activi-
ty until the cloak Of constitutional
privileges and responsibilities should be
placed on the shoulders Of the people
of Washington.
Activities Of Year Reported.
Under general and civic work. Mr.
Harper submitted list of activities of
the chamber during the past year. 1t
included the entertainment of the
Chinese conventional delegates to this
country luncheon and trip to Mount
Vernon, in honor Of the visiting Secre-
taries of the states of the Union at
the time of their annual convention in
this city; luncheon and entertainment
for Commander Read of the NC-4; ar
ranging details for President Wilson of
the review of the Chechoslovak SOL
diers on their way home from Ger
many, and financial contributions to
various charitable activities
In commenting on the law and legis-
lation committee President Harper
said that it had advocated valuable
legislation for Washington during the
past year. notably the approval by the
chamber of the daylight saving law
and the bill enlarging the jurisdiction
of the municipal court.
Mr. Harper urged that the matter OF
high water pressure for the protec-
ton of the entire business portion of
the city be given persistent attention
during the coming year.
Thanks for Advocating Armory.
Representative John W. langley
chairman of the House committee on
public buildings and grounds, was
thanked by Mr.. Harper for his as
sistance in advocating the erection OF
a s1,000,00o armory in this city.
1T is believed" said Mr.. Harper
that the next public buildings Bill
will contain the necessary appropri-
alton for such a building"
Advocating the state building propo.
sition, in which every state in the
ington a permanent building Of its
own. Mr.. Harper said that If the
plan was adopted the buildings
should not be scattered. but placed
| in a central palce. He suggested thai
these buildings be located in the sec.
ton of the city south of Pennsyl.
yania avenue and extending south te
the Agricultural buildings and the
| Smithsonian grounds.
! Would Harness Great Falls.
| That the harnessing of Great Falls
on the Potomac. would provide suf
fcient electricity for Washington
would serve as a permanent mean,
of employment for thousands of tn,
young men and women of the city