Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-03
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in the record at the end of these re-
marks.
The Federation OF CitiZ2rs' Associa-
| lions has repeatedly and oVeruha Ginning
! ~ gone on record in favor OF tbs
identical resolution. It has created q
/ standing committee on national repre-
sentatlon with instructions TO. on be-
| hall Of the federation. cooperate TO the
fullest possible extent with all other
organizations. and especially with the
citizens Joint committee, in furthering
e,erv legitimate way the PASSAGE by
Congress and ratification by the States
of thl proposed amendment now unde:
consideration. we are and have been
from its earliest days en- actNe
component part OF the ci.-Ze!.s 1c! IL
committee. -
we concur heartily in the very able
ARGUMENTS presented by the eminent
local gentlemen who have spoken Tor
the Joint committee. We. however.
mus, qualify this concurrence so lar
Mr. Brandenburg's laudation OF the eN-
istins system Of local government OF
the District Of Columbia as ideal. tne
committee will please remember tnat
these Mandatory remarks OF my gooo
friend Mr.. Brandenburg were Simply
his own opinion and not OF the JON,
committee as explained by our esteemed
chairman and leader. Mr.. Theodore "
Moves. Many OF my constituents noid
with mr. that no form OF government
in this country can be regarded az
ideal which lacks every essential Tea
ture of the fundamental American prln-
ciples of government
Many OF US after close study have
long ago reached the conclusion tha'
our local municipal government can OF
improved in many ways ana sun DE-
far from being ideal. There Is. now
ever. the greatest divergence OF opin-
ion regarding the Ultimate character
OF the municipal government OF the
| District of Columbia, while on the otne!
| hand there is the greatest unanimry OF
opinion regarding our participation In
the National Government.
THE question Of the local govern
/ meut is hardly, as we understand 1t, al
all eermane TO the pending question
which is solely one Of our parucipa-
ton in the councils OF the Nation a.
national Americans. Many OF us ~na
have been active in the civic aif3lFs
are firmly of the belief that there
never will be any real improvement: III
or local governmental system or any
satisfactory adjustment OF the iscaI
relations between the Federal and Dis-
trict Governments until such time rs
the people OF the District OF Columbia
shall have voting representation IN Doth
Houses of Congress and possess fhose
other rights which our proposed amend
ment provides.
SAYS Time Is Ripe.
The Congress and 1t alone has thu
power TO modify our municipal govern
ment and to determine what shall b.
the fiscal relations In the settlement
o! such questions our people can be
only assured of square deal through
possession of that safeguard which Is
given 10 those who enjoy the benefits
Of representative government. In such
transaction TIE people OF your States
have their rights protected by their
duly chosen representatives In the Con-
gress but We residents Of this District
have no such protection.
We believe the time Is right. right
now. for favorable action by your hon
orable committee II Is proposed II
this resolution TO ciothe Congress witt
a new power which IL should have pos.
seSsed long ago. 10 round out lis ability
TO extend the full rights and privilege
Of American citizenship to every
worthy citizen living under the Star;
and Stripes. Surely aside from purely
local considerations. our more thar
half q million people are clearly. by al
rules Of right and reason, entitled Il
participate in the National Government
or an equal footing with the citizens o
fhe We earnestly
thai you. our fellow Americans-if ;
subject people may be pardoned foI
such boldness In addressing your hon
orable committee you viii EN-
! brace this opportunity 10 prove YOU
pellet I'm those prin cipies for which ou
Government was founded b. speedin:
our cause on It's way Your petitioner
earnestly believe that what we ask Il
simply The recognition OF those natura
rights 10 which by every possible con
s'oeratIOn we are justly entitled as /:
auR other American citizen.
TO us there appears 10 be no NOR.
reason for the withholding or dfnla
Of Our rights 10 voting representation
. in the National Government thar
there would b. ~ deny tina, same righ
" YOUR own constituents.
II has been suggested by menbe
va tt'tE iHfIs0tBL ftIfHE4AL''- wat wv
/ people Gf the District ~ CoIumb.;
! already psJssess numerous representa-
/ ton ID Congress through The friendI'
! and kindly interest Of many In bot
Houses xi4o are always ready 10 speaI
| and act IN our behalf This In true
certain 0rPreT but q very poor sub
t'ltite tor the real thing In ali fair
! nFss On you think that tie constituent
! VI any DemDfr III this COMMITTEE
would ~ satisfied Ia having " Deepen,
/ iDgn ~ uncertain and lFreaporsibe
method of representation We M
confineDt that The people nt you
States would insist as We 90 here
| upon The right 10 be- represented IN til
! councils III the Nation by representa-
| tiYes Of our own choosing As n matte
u fart Is any sueh representation
really satisfactory unless the represen
tstiyes are chosen by the ballots of thos
| whom they are ~ represent. with IN
privilege In the next succeeding electiti
! ~ retiring those who have failed 1
reflect in their legislative acts the de
sires 0f their constituents
Do Not knew Status,
Another member of tie Gpmmitte
| remarked al the previous SESSION III IN!
hearing la effect. that our people cam
here win fHli knowledge of fkiEt!u
conditions and should therefore res
content with this lack ~ psrticjps IO
IN the Government With sIl due def