Evening star., 1932-12-08
VOTE FOR CAPITAL
I IS BANQUET TOPIC
Oldest inhabitants Hear
| President L-ittIepage of
c. of c. and Others.

vigorous arguments in favor of ma
tional representation for the District OF
Columbia, and qualification over the
manner in which the hunger marchers
were handled during the last few days
marked the sixty-seventh annual BAN
quet of the Association Of Oldest In
habitants of the District of Columbia
last night at the Raleigh Hotel.
The suggestion was put forward in
the presence of presidents Of leading
civic and trade bodies that there
should be a combined organization or
club here at which the presidents Of
leading organizations could meet to
formulate united front" on major
questions of policy for the District of
Columbia.
National representation was the prin-
cipal theme Of the address of the eve
ming delivered by Thomas P. Littlepage,
president of the Washington Chamber
of Commerce. It was approved by va
rious other speakers, who touched
briefly but with conviction on the sub
ject.
District authorities were praised by
Fred A. Emery, toastmaster, for the
manner in which the hunger marchers
had been handled. Responding, DR..
Luther H. Reichelderfer, president of
the Board of District Commissioners,
related the part played by the Com
missioners, and praised the police de-
partment and its chief.
Misunderstood Subject.
In presenting the matter of national
representation, Mr.. Littlepage declared
1t was much misunderstood subject"
Briefly, he explained that national rep
resentation would give this city repre-
sentation In both the Senate and
/, House; presidential electors in the vote
for President, and the right to sue and
be sued in the courts. But 1t would not
I mean taking control Of the District
away from Congress, he explained, nor
would 1t mean the election of District
Commissioners, city auditor, or city
School Board.
This city ought to be under Federal
control" said the speaker, "but 1t was
never the intention to disfranchise the
people of the National Capital" Tell
ing of riots In the German capital,
Berlin, which Is under a city govern
ment but not national government,
Mr. Littlepage pointed to this bad ex-
ample to show why it was desirable to
have the national government in con-
troll of the seat of the government.
National representation, he explained,
would not take away control of this
city by Congress.
Declaring that washingtonians should
have the right to sue and be sued in
the Federal courts, Mr.. Littlepage ex-
planned, for instance, that If man In
Maryland wanted to sue man in AIi-
zona, he could go into Federal court in
the State Of Maryland and force the
friol n tho fharo E1rt ~
dent of the National Capital wished to
sue man in Arizona, he would have to
take the case to the State Of Arizona
for trial.
Serving on the District Committees of
both Senate and House, the speaker said
was an unpopular job," from which
many resigned. No member Of Con-
gress can give his whole time to looking
after District of Columbia affairs, he
said. Senator Capper, chairman of the
Senate District Committee, was charac-
terized as very able, distinguished
man." but the speaker explained "he
has much to do for Kansas" Members
of Congress ask intelligent questions
about the District of Columbia, but
there Is no member Of Congress who
has the time, he explained, to become
fully informed sufficiently to answer
these questions directly, or from the
floor of either house.
City Constantly Growing.
Here in washington we are fortu-
nate" said Mr.. Littlepage. I'VE have
good government on the whole. We
have good Commissioners. But this city
is growing constantly; some day it will
be a city of 100000 population. Yet
not a single person here can vote as to
- - H. So %r~r !
National Capital Is to be spent. The
National Capital has more population
than any one of eight States. 1t paid
more in national taxes in 1930-31 than
any one Of 27 States and more than IL
States combined, and sent more SOL
diers, sailors and marines into service in
the Great War than any one of States.