Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-22
HOLDS D. c. VOTE
ASSET TOCONGRESS
Thomas P. LittIepage De-
CIares Representative Would
| Speak for City'S Needs.

The granting of representation in
CONGRESS to residents of the District will
be q boon to the national law making
body as well as to the more than half
million now disfranchised citizens here,
by providing local spokesman in Con-
EresS who are fully conscious of Wash
Iington's needs and problems, Thomas
P. Littlepage, chairman of the commit
Gee of the Chamber of Commerce on
onAttonal representation, declared in a
fadio talk last night over station WMAL.
While upholding Washington's COM
mission form of government and its OFF,
etals, Mr.. Littlepage pointed out that
the movement for national representa-
ton would not disturb this form OF
government, nor limit the control Con-
grass exercises over the Federal City,
but would provide in both houses OF
Congress representatives from the Dis
trict with resultant positive" benefit to
both Congress and the District.
Favored BY Members.
Many Representatives and Senators
now in Congress are in favor of the pro-
posed amendment to the Federal Con-
Stitution, which would make representa-
ton for Washington possible, the speak
er continued, land many of these men,
he said, realize that it would be not
only an element of fairness, according
TO American principles, to extend this
right to the citizens of the District, but
would be a positive benefit to Congress"
Mr.. Littlepage declared that members
of Congress, concerned with national
problems, already are overworked and
that it is almost impossible for them to
give proper attention to local problems
here without jeopardiZing their health.
In emphasizing the need of District
Spokesmen in Congress, the speaker
pointed to the fact that Washington no
longer is a small country town, but a
city Of nearly 600. 000-greater than that
Of eight or nine States.
Address in Full.
Mr.. Littlepage's speech follows.
ladies and Gentlemen:
am speaking on behalf of the Com
mittee on National Representation of
the Washington Chamber of Commerce.
So many people meet seem to have a
misapprehension as to what this move
ment for national representation for
the District of Columbia is that I
think it prope- to take a few moments
to explain it.
Those who favor national representa-
ton for the District of Columbia are
advocating an amendment to the Con-
stitution giving the citizens of the Dis
trict OF Columbia the right to select
representatives in both branches of
Congress and to select presidential cleo
tors. It has nothing whatsoever to do
with elections for any officials other
than those enumerated. Some people
think that it means the election of all
the officials of the District of Columbia,
including the Commissioners and all
minor officials. It does not. It in no
way interferes with or attempts to take
the control of the Capital of the Nation
away from Congress and the Federal
Government.
Would Give Voice in Laws.
It will leave the District of Columbia,
80 far as the control by Congress and
the Federal Government is concerned,
just as it IS, with the exception that the
District viii have representatives in
Congress who will have voice in max
ing the laws that its citizens have to
obey. We all know that at the present
time the people of the District have
nothing to say about taxes, military
service and the hundreds of other laws
governing the District of Columbia. 1t
seems somewhat absurd that this great
outstanding Republic, whose funda-
mental principle has been government
Of the people, by the people and for the
people" should refuse to let that prin-
ciple obtain in the Capital of the Nation
that stands for those principles. We
advocating make the world safe for
democracy" and yet refuse that same
privilege to the citizens of the Capital
Of the Government that is advocating
that same principle throughout the
world. Is 1t any surprise that the for
eign nations do not regard us quite as
sincere as we should like to have them
regard us?
Washington is marvelously beautiful
city. and is fortunate in having as its
governing Commissioners three men of
high character and ability. Most of the
criticism of the public officials of Wash
1ngton is entirely unfounded, and if
those who indulge in this criticism
would reflect on conditions in their re-
Spective home States they would find
that Washington compares most favor
ably with such conditions. But it is
wrong in principle not to permit the
people here to have something to say
about the enactment of the laws which
they must obey. Congress can tomor-
row, II 1t so desires, pass any law it
pleases providing for military service
Of the citizens of the District of Column
bia, taxing them upon any basis it de-
sires and imposing any other consti-
tutional measure upon them that It