Evening star., 1921-11-15
DISTRICT SUFFRAGE ARGUED
s. BEFORE SENATE COMMITTEE
Ex-Representative Lloyd Pleads for Jones
BILE. C. Brandenberg Also Urges
] Voice In Government.

'.0f the fact that they are not repre-
scented in that government and have
mo voice in its councils. former Rep-
Preventative James T. Lloyd OF Mis-
,,souri told the Senate District commit
tee yesterday afternoon. he repre-
Fsented the joint citizens commi.lee oi'
.tnational representation and the Chalh-
Der of Commerce.
The committee gave two hours yes
terday in hearing statements Oh oo'n
sides on the matter OF suffrage al"
representation of the District IN Ion
sress. Senator Ball announced that
six hours would be given to each stue;
but said that neither sue cou'o SN
its time to the other; n,a,rsd on
Edwin c. Brandenburg appeaieu u''
behalf of the joint citizens na eoiat" ~
fee and the Washington boara o.
Trade while G. w. Ayers. represent
ing several hundred citizens; ne for
anpeared in opposition to sun
the District. letter ,rUf s,'ffrare. also
Has laid before the committee
Senator Ban. who announceu
same time that he had a nuinpe. NJ vi
other communications;p po'n aui5 Law
aSnns The Committee at the proper
time.
United for Jones Measure.
"Recause of the fact that certain OF
the representatives in the 1oine ~
liens committee favor the uete eli
as a stepping stone to securinS ,u.s nf
franchise, while the large ma3or!.s ~
1he membership feels otherwise. MT
Rrandenbere said, 1.-The joint citizens
COMMITTEES in all fairness feels Una.
it cannot take a positive stano as
against the delegate. rms OF nnn-
= united IN It's sup
tiport of the Jones measure, tnousn
i;divided on the Poindexter and Capper
isbills. ,,t+es
ittoday as representative OF the
isWashington Board of Trade. This or,
ieanization has time and again plaSeo
itself upon record as insistlns INA fMa'
1.-THE status of the citizens OF tne D p
.trict of Columbia with reference TO
their participation in affairs OF tne
government be changed from that oi
.iihe condition of aliens. mental lncom
t,petents and criminals in the seVeral
Estates of the Union. Under exlstins
ticonditions so far as participation IN
National affairs is concerned. our cit
'jizens are ir no better plight tnah
ithese unfortunates. We are aoso-
.itutely opposed to the idea OF the eiec-
sssion of a voteless delegate IN tne
isIIouse, or for that matter. IN ootn
houses of Congress. The bills now
under consideration by this commit
nee do not and cannot give us the
Fights of a territory. for TERRITORY
-!may ultimately become entl.ieu ~, ~
full representation in Congress when
Fits population and other conditions
s;warrant it's admission as state OF
tthe Union.
+: Scores Delegate Plan.
i; 1.-The present bills contemplate no
siether or further relief for the Dis
| ttrict than representation by q vote
Hess delegate: The power IS simply TO
sispeak upon the floor. without the
is about as harmless and ineffective
!sas the firing of one of our great guns
with a blank cartridge.
+. '1f a voteless delegate is good for
the District Of Columbia, then 1t IS
good for every state of the Union.
tsif the purpose is to create an ideal
,:community without the right to vote
i;br to participate in the councils of
the nation. then the same condltlon
1 lis good for each of the states. No one
for moment can seriously eonteha
ithat such a condition is good for the
Estates and if not good for the states.
! .sia' i5 not good for the District OF e''om-
/ i; 1--WE strongly feel that the enact
| :hlent OF the present bills for a vote
less delegate would entirely defeat
.the objects sought in our conStitu-
!1ional amendment. and even II 1T
would not defeat its purpose would,
in our opinion be used as an excuse
for postponement of its consideration
perhaps for another generation, and
for these reasons we protest against
the enactment of the present bills.
Oppose Change In Government.
"The great majority of the member
,ship of the Washington Board OF
fTrade, as well as many of the other
Civic organizations. and they consti-
flute the sinew and bone of the Dis
trict of Columbia. are opposed to any
. jchange in the form of the city gov
:ernment. They feel and l feel that
+, 1.-THE exclusive control over the Dis
trict of Columbia should remain with
! the federal government through the
=! appointment of the board of Com
! 1nissioners by the President OF the
! limited States. and in that manner the
) federal government will always hold
"a tight rein over District affairs in
accordance with the provisions of the
iConstitution. We do not think that
Congress will ever stand for a local
;self-government that is anything
more than a mere form. The election
of the city officials and common coun-
scil would accomplish no good. Even
If local Self-government IS granted.
I'VE secure nothing.
y Local self-government. as under
stood, means not only the election of
b governing body. but, above all, the
mower to levy taxes and to say how
those taxes shall be disbursed. The
inere power of selection of Commits
&ioners through an election instead of
appointment by the President would
he an idle ceremony. for their powers
are circumscribed by laws made by a
rongress in which the District citi-
Hens have no part or say either in
the selection of it's members or par
ticipation in their councils. So long
rs the people are prevented from
participating in the making OF the
Jaws for their government or In the
levying of taxes and providing for
the manner in which they shall be
expended, there is not and cannot be
local self f-government. So long as the
scitizens have no right to levy taxes,
,tust SO long will the cry of taxation
without representation be hurled at
the doors of Congress.
I; Would Vote for President.
"The real fact underlying the pres
ANT demand on the part OF some for
Il change in the local form OF govern
rnent is due almost entirely to the
fame dissatisfaction on the question
Of taxation that existed in the minds
and hearts of the colonists that was
Tespopsible for the revolutionary war.
This issue is always present-while
AT times it may not be apparent upon
Ehe surface-it is constantly smolder-
ing. We of the District. in respect to
the question of taxation. are no diff
member upon this committee and
.every law-abiding citizen of this
,country. We rebel at the idea Of
Itaxation without representation.
il: what is more, the commission
form of government Is daily being
anany of our cities are now appointing
Etocai managers, The election of the