Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-02
z|H[MAN EXPLAINS
D. c. SUFFRAGE BILL
Sentiment in Congress Not in
Favor of Two Members
for Each House, He Says.

Representative Frederick n. Zihl
man of Maryland. who introduced
the bill providing local self-govern-
meut for the District of Columbia.
issued the following statement last
! night:
There is nothing conflicting in
| the provisions of the bill introduced
! by me and the constitutional amend
, nent which has for many years been
advocated by the residents of the
/ District. and there is no substantial
reason why the advocates of the lat
| ter cannot consistently support this
measure and at the same time keep
| up the agitation for the constitu-
! tiohai amendment.
1T must be recognized that the
| sentiment in Congress is not in ia
vor. at this time. of giving the Dis,
| trict two members of the United
States Senate and two members of
the House of Representatives and
! those advocating this method of rep
! rosentation have been unable to get
! favorable action and with con-
| tinuance of the existing fiscal rela-
lions between the federal govern
ment and the District of Columbia. it
| IS doubtful if they can secure favor
able action in the near future.
should Have Voice.
However people of the District are
being called upon to bear an increa sed
snare OF the cost of District govern
ment. their percentage this year being
| W per cent. and there is no reason
why the residents of the District
should not have a voice in their local
government and representation in
congress. as is now accorded the ter
ritories.
| THE bill drafted by the national
press committee for District suffrage
ana introduced by me sets up the ma
chinery for registration Of all resi-
dents OF the District and provides for
which two delegates in the House of
representative would be chosen, four
commissioners. who, with an officer
OF the United States Army, would con-
Ssltute the board of Commissioners; a
! Public Utilities Commission of five
| persons and board of education COM
posed of nfne members.
! This would give the District rep.
resentation before the committees of
Congress who now handle appropria-
tions and pass upon legislation dealing
with District government and laws.
ana would give them direct control
over their local affairs.
Regarding Criticisms.
! There has been some criticism of
| that section of the bill providing for
Ias election Of the members of the
! Fupiic Utilities Commission, but.
1 10 ACdAE4u lndC seventeen
states of the Union now elect the
members of their public utilities
boards. this cannot be said to be rad
! zeal departure from the tendency of
the times and not to be in accord with
| the sentiment of a great part of the
| country in dealing with the regula-
ton Of public utilities.
1t is hoped that after the first of
| the year an opportunity will be given
the dInerent organizations and indi-
VlduaIs who are interested in the pas
sage OF this legislation to appear be-
| lore the District committee and pre-
sent their arguments for the enfran-
chlsement of the citizens of the Ma
tional Capital. which now has a larger
political entity than seven of the
states OF the Union. and which has at
present a larger population than that
possessed by every other state in the
Union at the time of it's admission,
| with the exception of Oklahoma"