Evening star., 1922-01-12
SEATS IN CONGRESS
URGElBY CITIZENS
At SENATE HEARING.
Jones Bill Giving Representa-
ton and Vote for Electors
Is Supported.
MORE COMMISSIONERS
AND MAYOR SUGGESTED
Theodore w. Moves, Paul E. Lesh,
E. w. Oyster and Prof. Kelly
Miller Appear.

Hearings en- the Jones resolution
providing a cons .itutional amendment
to empower Congress to give the
citizens of Washington the right to
vote for presidential electors and
representatives in Congress. and the
Poindexter and Capper bills. provid-
ing for suffrage here, were resumed
today before the Senase District COM
mittee.
The Jones resolution was advocated
by Theodore w. Noyes. chairman of
the Joint citizens committee for ma
tlonal representation for the District
of Columbia: Paul E. Lesh. who told
the committee that nothing less than
the Jones resolution would put the
District in its rigntfui status. and
Prof. Kelly Miller OF Howard Cni-
yersity. who spoke in favor OF suf-
frage, dealing particularly with the
colored vote. E.'W. Oyster supported
the Jones resolution and also advo-
Gated larger board of Commission
ers. three of whom would be elected
by the people from among the citi-
Zens. together with mayor and three
ether Commissioners appointed by the
President from outside districts.
Senator Ball announced at the con-
cluSion of today'S session that the
hearings would be continued tomor-
row afternoon at 2:30 o'clock 1t
was planned TO conclude the hearings
this afternoon. but numerous calls
Tor senator's to be on the floor in con :
nectlon with the roll calls in the
Newberry case changed plans at the
last minute.
None Appears In Opposition.
No one appeart to oppose suffrage
when Senator Ball asked them 10
make themselves known.
r W oyster opened the arguments
OF those In favor of suffrage. MIR.
oyster told the committee that he had
years.
Favoring the Jones constitutional
amendment resolution for national
representation first. Mr. Oyster said
that he also favored the PoindexleI
bill and the Capper bill il the lat
ter were amended SO as to give the
people representation in the local
government. He said he favored
change in the local government, If
the President we're permitted to ap-
point as many commissioners AS tie
pc ople elect. Opposition to election
of the school board and a public utili-
ties commission was expressed by MIR.
Oyster.
Would Have Equal Representation.
Answering a question by Senator
Ball. Mr.. Oyster said the people of
the United states should be repre-
ers appointed by the President, equal
to the number TO be elected by the
people of the District, should 1t be de-
cided to change the form of govern
ment here.
The three commissioners to be ap-
pointed by the President, in addition
to the three elected. under his plan,
Mr.. Oyster said. would have to be
residents of the District. In addition
10 these six commissioners. he pro-
posed that mayor should be elected.
At some length Mr.. Oyster revised
the history. of the District govern
ment. leading up to the change to the
present commission form. pointing
the people of the District of Columbia
should not have voice in their gov
crnment.
Called nm Aut0eracy.
He quoted the late Commissioner Mac
farland as saying that the government
Of the District of Columbia was an au-
tocracy, in which the people have no
voice.
do you think it is autocratico ?"
asked Senator Ball.
Il do" the witness replied.
The whole principle on which this
government is founded is that it is
republican form of government and not
IL democratic form of government" Sem
ator Ball said. "A republican form of
government is representative govern
ment- A democratic form is a govern
ment by the masses. Such a form as
the latter is impossible in a large city
Washington has a republican form of
the government
Commissioners Are Representatives.
Il think this should go in the rec
ord as coming from the chairman"
said Senator Ball. when YOU con-
slider this question Of taxation with
out representation, you must realize
that you. have representation to a
certain extent, through the appoint
ment of your commissioners from
among your citizens. In a measure
that is representation. more so, per-
haps than in other cities where the
Sommiss1ners Gen, is ion ;sd do have to be resi-
Il agree" Senator Ball continued,
that II you were permitted to vote
for President you would have Just
as much representation as any other
city. l can see no reason why, and,
with no detriment to your present
form of government. we should not
give you this, and also representation
in Congress"
Mr.. Oyster. continuing. reviewed the
proceedings in Congress and in con-
greSSional committees during the time
the form of government here was un-
dergoing a change in 1874. He in.
serted in the record. without reading,
extracts from addresses made at that
liiuc, anu diSo cAtTdCtS lTOHl commit
tee reports.
He charged that for forty years un-
der the present form of government
property here was underaSsessed and
the District lost much money in taxes,
but added. however. that these condi-
tions now had been corrected
Senator Ball said the question Of
taxation here had become a serious
one to the people of the District. be-
cause of the form in which the Jones
fiscal relation hill nassau "a 70
Congress. he said. has unlimited
power to tax the people of the Dis
trict. and there Is no provision in
the Senate bill that fixes a ratio for
joint payment Of the expenses by
the District and federal governments.
Lesh Appears Again.
Paul E. Lesh. an attorney, and
chairman Of the suffrage group of the
City Club, followed Mr. Oyster. Mr..
Lesh appeared to complete an argu-
ment which he was unable to finish at
one of the earlier hearings.
He ventured the suggestion that
what the District people get as q re-
suit of the present campaign would
be the only change within the next
forty years. He secuted the idea that
representation would be the opening
wedge for attainment of other de-
mands, pointing out that the states
would not continuously approve con-
stitutional amendments affecting the
District
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