Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-11-22


The privilege of voting. while not
. right as to the human being, Is a
right as to q community, Senator
Ball, chairman Of the Senate District
committee, declared during the course
Of the public hearing yesterday aft
ernoon on the measures providing for
suffrage and representation in Con-
gress for the District.
Senator Bali has frequently inter-
tected At the hearings that the privi-
1ege Of, voting was not right, but
yesterday Henry H. Classic expressed
1t as hts opinion that 1t was right
as to q community, when Senator Ball
stated:
Il think you are right as to that"
A halt in the argument of G. w.
Ayers, representing the unorganized
opposition to any form of suffrage
or representation for the District,
was called by Senator Ball. who
arguing against all forms of popular
government. He said the matter was
not pertinent to the inquiry, as popu-
lar government was not on trial.
Classic Favers Jones Resolution.
Henry H. Classic, member OF the
Joint citizens COMMITTEES, delivered
a lengthy argument in favor OF the
Jones resolution, which proyldes tor
4 constitutional amendme1 to be
submitted to tho states, which, If ap-
proved. would empower Congress to give
tho District representation IN b0th
houses Of Congress and the right to vote
for presidential electors.
]. Milton Waldron, colored pastor OF
the Shiloh Baptist Church and repre-
ssnting the Alley improvement Asso-
citation, the committee Of seven and
the National Race Congress. spoke In
favor of the Jones' resolution and
the. Capper bill.
of those for whom he spoke to impair,
alter or diminish the sovereign power
Of Congress over the District, Mr..
Classic pointed out that in NO other
part of the United States does Con-
gress lesislate for the internal affairs
In The District of Columbia, he said.
there is no relation of life so small
to which Congress powers do not ex-
tend. Congress- he continued. is called
upon to determine everything for
every one in the District. while it has
no such relation to the states.
Shows object Of Resofation.
II want to show the object of this
Jones resolution. In your legislative
capacity. in no other part OF the
United States do you exefcise that
function, not even in the territories.
What am endeavoring to drive home.
il 1 can, is that when you legislate
for the District of Columbia you leg
islate for human beings bound in a
certain bond.
Take the organization and admin
fstration of government itself. You
are called upon to determine all the
detailed life of a municipality. You
are called upon to devise new
methods. take property. provide for
81 rSRx
public utilities-all the details of a
modern municipality. In performing
that function you do what you are
not called upon to perform for any
territory. You are board of direc-
tors for this municipal corporation.
In this matter your legislative pow
er differs from any. other legislative
I'VE ask that in performing that
function you do it with the aid Of
the constituted representatives OF the
people affected. SO Tar as the or,
government is concerned, we want no
Mi. Classic said that he believed
Congress could perform its duty bet
ter IL 1T had the voice of local repre-
sentatives to aid it,
Quizzed BY Senator Bali.
Prefacing his remarks with the
statement that his mind was open on
the subject. Senator Ball sought to
have the speaker enlighten him on
the objects for which the District
was laid off.
There was one controlling reason,
said Mr.. Classic. that was to have in
the District of Columbia power vest
ed in one sovereign and not divided
1--WE thoroughly agree. as to that'
Senator Ball said.
'That it was the purpose of the
founders to deny the citizens the
privilege Of c xctins n is mere de-
''wnen this District was laid Of,
was 1t intended that 1t should be the
home of the government, those who
participated in it and those neces-
sary to maintain them?" Senator Ball
asked.
piled, ito make it the seat 81 gov
eminent. 1t was the inteItion of
washington and the commissioners
who laid out the city. to. Nake city
here which would riyA in wealth.
population and cc--nefce the city of
London itself. 1t needs only an en-
animation of the maps to show this.
They said that at that time this was
the best harbor on the Atlantic coast,
the natural exchange point between
deep-sea commerce and commerce
over the mountains. 1t was not to
haroor clerks. II was advertised
abroad. 1t was the intention to in
vito people here to make it a great
commercial emporium. Washington
used those words himself
did those reasons finally decide
upon the location of the seat of gov
eminent here?" queried Senator Ball.
"Not Intended as Reservation
ut was the controlling reason"
answered M Classic. For ten years
there was asVbbby against its location
here, and there was great haste to