Evening star., 1928-03-21
HOUSE OK. SSEEN
FOR DISTRICT VOICE
Mcleod. Indorsing Move,
Holds Measure Will Be
Passed by Colleagues.

Approval of the joint resolution pend
ing in Congress which would provide
for national representation for the Dis
trict of Columbia will be voted by a
majority of members of the House when
they have the opportunity to act on the
proposal. Representative Mcleod, Re-
publican. OF Michigan, chairman of the
judiciary subcommittee of the House
District committee, declared last night
in addressing the Washington Cham
Der of Commerce. at the Willard Hotel
Mr.. Mcleod, making his first public
announcement of his convictions on the
matter. declared himself absolutely TO
be in favor OF the movement to give
representation in the houses of Con-
gress for the half million District resi-
dents, and pledged his full support in
obtaining approval of the proposal
Il have never made a public state
ment heretofore concerning nationai
representation Tor Washington" he
SAID, but want TO state now that the
sooner washington can have repre-
SentafiVeS in the House and Senate :he
DeIseF Oh the country at large viii be.
Congress Recognizes Need.
Congress Is realizing that this city
Is entitled to suffrage, that the placing
IN Congress of representatives of th.
people Of the District would lessen the
burdens on the District to q great de-
gree. that 1t would eliminate A a great
measure questions which arise as TO the
nuoget OF the District and the question
as TO what should be the proper divi-
SION OF the costs between the local tax
payers ana the country as whole. II
would tend TO solve these matters for
the elected representatives of the Ms.
trict would know the views of the Dis.
trlct people and would be their gpokex-
men,
II and when the opportunity is 10
De presented TO the House TO vote on
the proposition ] believe the maiorit,
OF the members OF the House will au
prove the joint resolution"
Mr. Mcleod traced briefly some of
the qualifications Of the District for the
Irancnlse. pointing TO nearly 600 600
present population, the rapid and bean
tiiul developments that are being mad.
IN the National Capital and lauding tif
ACTIVITIES OF the trade organizations oi
the city. II Is tragic, he said, that Con-
gress could not witness the Chamber OF
commerce In action II would be q
great incentive to Congress to gran,
representation TO the District If its
members could see the commerce asso-
cation at its meetings.
Tells Of Great Highway.
Mr.. Mcleod in his rather brief ad-
ureSs described the purposes OF the bin
which he has introduced In the House
providing for the promotion of a f-eat
ZOo-ioot highway stretching from the
center OF the United States through
Mexico and Central America and TO the
very tip OF South America at Cane
morn. The bin proposes the appropria-
tlon oi $500 900 for commission 10
cooperate with officials Of Central and
ooutn American countries In planning
/ and financing the proposed interua-
| tlohal highway, Besides opening Jp the
unrevealed natural splendor OF the
| Western Hemisphere he said, such
| ROAD building program would create
! great ana new markets In Central and
5onth America for exports from the
| united States. Also, he said the roads
! would DC built so as 10 be available for
emergency landing places for airplaneg
! surveys made by engineers Of the
/ Ouggenheim Found ton 80 years ago
ne said, showed that the road project
| was possible. He asked the chamber
70 study the measure and committee
"as named 10 make report on the bill
Mr.. McLcof's declaration for national
/ representation for the District followed
| upon report on the subject by Thomas
=. Littlepage for the committee on
| representation for Washington In which
| he traced progress made recently In the
movement for citizenship rights for
| residents Of the Capital
plans for concerted drive t0 ad~
vance the cause 0f national represen-
tati0n In the 6eyentieth session Of Con-
| gress " he said. were perfected early
this year by members of the citizens
! Continued on Page 4. Column 80