Evening star., 1924-02-20
DISTRICT SUFFRAGE
SEEN FROM z SIDES
Luce, Arguing Against 1t,
Confronted by Practical
Example.
ANAC0STIA FLATS CITED
Assessment of Damages on Prop
erty Owners Declared "Act
of Despotism."
ANACOSTIA FLATS CITED

District suffrage was discussed from
lar meeting of the Washington
thamber of Commerce in the red
room of the New Willard Hotel. The
discussion was precipitated when
Representative Robert Luce of Massa-
chusetts told the audience whv the
District should not have suffrage
Before he retired from the room,
however, shortly after completing his
address, the other side of the suf-
rage question came un. when George
IL Brown, in presenting d report OF
the Anacostia flats committee, pointed
out that the law providing for the
assessment of damages for the rec
lamation of the Anacostia flats
against contiguous property owners
was q concrete example of why the
District should be represented in
Congress.
Representative Luce expressed the
oelIef that the District would not get
suffrage. He said that the city should
be heard in Congress, through organi.
cations, but that it should not be repre-
Sented. Congress is concerned he said
with the betterment and beauty of the
city.
Objects to Rider.
MT. Brown. in presenting the report
"f the AnacoSta flats committee. said
mat the legislation complained of in
inc resolution which he would present
was passed as a rider to appropria :
ton bill. without giving the people OF
the District an opportunity to be heard,
and that it would not have passed had
the District had representative in
The resolution. which WAS adopted.
charged that the legislation was dis
crlmlnatory unfair and unjust, and
instructed the committee to take steps
before Congress to have the legislation
repealed
Land Belongs to United States.
H II. Classic. in seconding the
resolution, said that every one knew
that this is. one of the cases of
slipping over" OH the people of the
DlSlrIrt most unprecedented case
He pointed out that the land is made,
, out OF the river and that the land
belongs to the United States 1t is
river and harhor Improvement and
IL was never contemplated by Com
grfSs or any official Of this govern
H'ht- ne continued. that it should
De paid for by adjacent property
owners.
No human being. he said. ever
dreamed that that vast national i'm
prOVement should be a Subjec for
adjacent property assessment 1t is
not tor them or their properties 1t
VIII not benefit them as a street or
sewer or water main. 1t is part
OF d comprehensive scheme for the
redemption of a waterway. Ii is due
10 the sitting up Of the river bv
what happens in Mary land. n natural /
phen omenon that is happening on all
lowiand rivers in the east. he went
ON.
This he said. lis a single exam
Pi" az tn" kind of dealing that the
people OF the District may expect
AS long as they do not have political
power No American will sit quiet
whether born in the District of Co
lunbia or Massa achusetts. at any form
OF deSpotism. And things such as
this are going to happen as long as
we do not have SCme one on the
floor of the House"
The cha n1h..r voted unanimously in
favor of holding in the Washington
Auniiotiuln IA september an indus
trial exposition exclusively for man
ulaCturerS of the District of Colum-
bia.
\ handsome stand of colors.
mounted. given to the chamber by
Henry LanSburgh. was presented in
an appropriate address by II. H.
Classic, who was followed by a sa-
lutte To the standard by =. J. Haiti
gan. The d a'-cmJlage then sang "'rh.
Star Spangled Banner" and Amer
lea
isaac Cans, president. presided at
the meeting, following which a sup
per served.