Evening star., 1921-12-29
BALL FAVORS DISTRICT VOTE
FOR PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS
Senator Believes Washingtonians Should
Be Represented in Each House-Against
Chance in Present Form of Government.

Senator Ball of Delaware, chairman
of the Senate District committee, yes
terday told the Federation of Wom-
ems Clubs that he would vote for
any proposition which would give
the residents of the District of CO.
lumbia the right to vote for the
President. who appoints the Commits
sioners. and man each in the House
and Senate to participate in the max
ing of the laws. but which would not
in any way change the present form
Of government here.
He told his audience that Wash
ington had the very best form of
government in the world today. and
he was not in favor of changing it.
but he believed it would not be af-
fected in any way by giving the citi-
zens the right to vote for President
and representative in the House
and Senate. 1t is the only capital city
in any republic which does not give
it's citizens the privilege of voting, he
said.
Good Government Important.
"To the people of the District of CO.
lumbia the matter of suffrage seems to
be of very great Importance" said
Senator Ball. Il don't suppose there
is more important question before
the world today than that of good
government.
''This is the greatest republican
country and the greatest nation in
the world. and vet Washington, the
capital city of the nation, is allowed
no say in the government of the city
You have no vote for the man who
appoints your Commissioners, no vote
for the Congress that makes your
a lot
So it is not strange that you are
deeply interested in this subpect
we all want good government" he
continued. Il am sure that every
member of the House and Senate is
, anxious to give you the very best
government there is There have been
a number of trials of local self gov
,ernment here. but they have been fail
ures in the past ! believe that your
present form Of government is the
very best that Washington ever had
OF this there is no question.
Government Help Necessary.
But why that government cannot
be just as good by permitting you to
vote for President and a representa-
tive each in the House and Senate is
question. in my mind. that should
be settled. ! am opposed to any
legislation which would lead up to
government here. If you had a strict
ly local government here, in order to
raise money with which to run it
, the taxes would have to be so high
as to practically confiscate the prop
erty. You must have help from Con-
GTess and the national government.
This city. you must remember. is a
national city. 1t is not a city wholly
for Washingtonians. But it is a city
| to which every person in every town
city and state in the country looks
| upon as his city They want this to
be just as beautiful a city and the
government to be just as good as you
| do. But you cannot have that if you
have local self-government. So we
will exclude any changes in your
| form of government. But when you
come to the amendment providing
/ for the right to vote for the man VINO
appoints your executive officers and
| vote for a representative each in
the House and Senate Won do not
change your form of government. By
| it you would send representatives to
| participate with others who make
your laws and Appropriate your money
and vote for the man who appoints
your officers. That proposition is the
one, and only one, to be considered
l think.
1--WE are told almost daily that the