Evening star., 1928-03-04
nv rtrrN SPENCER MuSsEy.

Chairman ef wprlsns Committee on Ma
i,ensi Representation for the District,
WHY the United States, the greatest
country in The world, should diSen-
franchise the citizens O! Its National
Capital has never been satisfactorily cx-
r,ained. That taxation without repre-
sentation is tyranny is basic pflnclplo
of our Government. The citizens OF ,hs
district Of Columbia have responded
Fnrlv To all calls for civic and military
outies. and bear their full share Of taxa
lion for the support OF the Govern
ment.
The election to the houses OF Con-
r-ess Of representatives chosen by the
citizens cf the District would be oi
Great benefit to the community. inSur-
inc the presence in these bodies of per-
sons familiar with the conditions ana
needs @! the District and directly re-
saansihle 70 the electors. This fact was
brought home To me very forclb!y some
years aeo bv the late Champ Clark, then
Sneaker Of the House Of Representa-
tives. In the legislative jam OF the last
hours OF a ConsreSS measure OF great
civic importance TO the District seemed
likely 70 b. lost As member OF a
committee Of interested citizens. ask
ed the aid nt the Speaker. for knew
that he believed in the measure and
realized lis importance TO the COM
r,j!rli:v. He looked AT me stcrnly and
said. How many times have l told you
that YOU can do nothing without sui
frage in the DiStrict?" However. III"
spp1ai was so strong that this particu-
Lar measure passed.
The point Of view of members O!
Congress, particularly those from dis
s,. ~
affairs gradually changes. In this con-
ncction have in mind the effort to
establish and acquire Fairgrounds for
the public schools. During the time
was a member Of the Board of Educa-
tior there WIS great opposition to ex-
penditures for this purpose from Unfit
entail members Of the House. I very
we'll remember on one occasion that
q Representative from Northern city
said: why should We have play
grounds? The streets are wide. MY
kids play in the streets and they have
never eNn hurt" In the course of
time TIE viewpoint Of that man
Changed. but he was called to other
fields Of labor.
While chairman of the legislative
committee Of the District Federation OF
Women's Clubs II became my duty to
aid in procuring the first appropria-
ton for kindergartens as part of the
rubiic school System. The only kin
oergartens in the city at that time were
maintained through the generosity of
the late Mrs. Phoebe Hearst. Year
after year the item :or kindergartens
IN the public schools was stricken out
Of the District bill Eventually, CO.
operating with the superintendent Of
the public schools. procured from the
Chairman of the Senate appropriations
committee an opportunity to appear
bofore the District subcommittee. Sem
etor Allison of Iowa, who was then
chairman Of the committee. had been
resident OF the District for many years
and knew conditions here. AS a result
OF our hearing the item for kinder
eartens was put back in the bill. The
conferee from the House on this bill
vas an elderly bachelor who objected
strongly TO using public moneys for
kindergartens, "Kindergartens." said
he, ARE charities. and next YOU will
be asking for larger appropriation"
] told him that the value of kinder
garten training to the children would
establish a record on which we prob
ably would ask for larger appropria-
tions. We would never have elected
from the District Of Columbia TO rep
resent LIS in Congress men who knew
20 little OF the requirements Of our
institutions,