Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-11


practically every civic organiza
lore the House Judiciary COM
House joint resolution proposil
under which the District would
the electoral college and the rig
eral courts.
That the petition presented
at the Capitol was evidenced by
members and numerous inquire:
able operation of the legislation
Burroughs Takes Floor.
The discussion early developed
there was some doubt in the commit
tee as to how far the suffrage advo-
Gates would go in extending political
autonomy TO the District sf Colum :
bia. Questions were repeatedly asked
as to whether Washinstonians want
local self-government anc what
means they would propose for choos-
ing their legislative representatives..
Representative Sherman f.. Bur-
rouShs. author of the resolution TO
grant national representation 10 the
District, made the opening ADDRESS
in general way the desire of Wash :
ingtonians to be relieved from their
yoke of un-AmericaniSm. He was
early target for the judiciary com
mittee members as to how extensively
the rights of local self-government
were desired in the District. but
maintained that this was an issue
which did not concern the joint COM
mittee, whose only desire was to OBJ
tain for Washingtonians the rights
OF national Americans.
Ask Only for Rights.
Mr. Burroughs vas followed by
Henry t. +. Macfarland. who spoke
for nearly an hour. terminating his
remarks shoetly after 3asSot o'clock. at
which time Theodore ,Nayes- CHAIR
man of the joint committee, took up
the argument. He summed up the
statements made by previous speakers
in answer to the inquiries as 10 the
desires for local self-government. He
said:
'.Au we ask from you today is mere
:. ly that you make it possible for the
District of Columbia to secure the full
representative rights. that are pos
sessed by other national Americans.
Our appeal is to get as national
Americans the same voice in the ma
tional councils on all national issues
as you yourselves possess That Is
our ultimate aim.
All United in Demand.
Explaining the position of the COM
, mittee in declaring only for the prin-
ciple of national representation with.
out touching upon the issue OF local
self-government at this time, Mr..
Noyes stated the general principle ad-
vocated represented the united sup
port of men and women in the District
who differed diametrically on every
tox-Yr
The men and women back OF this
amendment he stated. include those
who wish to preserve the local gov
ernment as it is and those who would
substitute for it, complete local self
government.
said Mr.. Noyes, that has behind. it
for its purposes only all the conflict
ing lines of opinion regarding other
poli tical issues. 1t would be improper
for us to weaken our combined press
ure with respect to a matter that is
vital to us and upon which we are all
agreed.
I'VE want a maximum of repre-
sentative right of national Americans.
but only ask for a minimum Of leg
islative action"
1t was found impossible to continue
the hearings this afternoon and ad-
journment was taken at 1880 O'Clock
until 1880 tomorrow morning. when
representatives of the other organi-
zations present will be heard.
Explains ID. C. Situation.
The first hour of the hearing today
was consumed by Representative Bur-
ioughs in explaining the situation in
the District to the members of the
committee, clearing away many mis-
,ions in which the members OF the
committee stated various opinions in
regard to what the people of the Dis
trict should want.
In opening the hearing. Mr.. Bur
roughs asked that if any opposition to
rents should have an opportunity to
reply. During the first hour there de-
veloped considerable argument by sew
eral members of the committee, notably
Representatives Gard of Ohio and Igoe
of Missouri democratic members, that
the District should have government
of it's local affairs before 1t should be
given national representation. Repre-
sentative Igoe said he was in favor of
giving local government now.
Representative Summers of Texas
after a categorical argument with
Representative Burroughs. left the
committee, saying that he was in
favor of the Burroughs resolution.
Representative Dyer of Missouri
argued with Mr.. Burroughs that a
referendum ought TO De taken IN order
that Congress might know just what
the people of the District wanted in
the way of suffrage.
Asks Equal Rights.
Representative Burroughs told the
committee that the population of the
District is 437.571, Of which 326.S54
ar. white 109.s67 colored and $50 OF
all races. Mr.. Burroughs argued
that the $4,000 should have equal
tights and privileges that are en-
joyed by an equal number of people
of similar intelligence in any other
mart of the country. Representative
card raised the question of how the
right of suffrage might change the
civil service status of government
employees in the National Capital.
replying to the inquiries of Rep
-Tentatives Summers. Gard and Igof
in regard to the people Of the Dis.
trict desiring to run their own loca.
affairs, Mr.. Burroughs said his resolu.
lion would not in any way change
The exclusive right of legislation thai
congress has over the eoDistrict under
sre Constitution.
lie said thai what he people oj