Evening star., 1933-08-30

studies Board Of Trade Petition on
Local Government. 81
BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG.
HYDE PARK, N. Y, August 30
President Roosevelt has received the
communication from the Washington
Board of Trade regarding the proposed
one-man rule for the government Of the
District Of Columbia, but he had no
comment to make today for publica-
ton.
Sitting in the library Of his mothers
home here, while an artist was paint
ing his portrait, the President told
| this correspondent he had not yet
studied the message from Washington,
but he hoped to do so soon He said
he would withhold any comment upon
the subject at least until he had
answered the communication.
| The President made it obvious that
he presumed it was we'll knoyn that
proposals for a change in the District
government had been made to him and
that he had been studying them.
l.. No Action on Commissioners.
The President said again today that
he did not discuss the appointment Of
District Commissioners during the visit
here Monday Of Postmaster General
Farley With broad smile the President
frankly admitted this may have been
due to the fact that Mr. Farley failed to
bring with him the papers regarding the
more seriously considered candidates for
these appointments He added that
u ha oct lNanl
he will confer again with Mr. Farley,
on which occasion the papers in Ques-
ton Will be handy. He said that in the
meantime some further study of one
or two OF these aspirants may be made.
During this discussion today of the
Commissionerships the President did
rot attempt to say when he thought he
would be able to dispose of this matter
! The Oil portrait for which Mr.. RooSe-
welt Is posing and which was begun
more than week ago, is we'll advanced
and already presents splendid likeness
| OF the President. However more sitting
| viii be needed back in Washington be-
/ fore the picture Is completed This
| portrait Is being executed with the view
! TO having 1t hung in the White House
as the official portrait OF the President.
Will Attend Fair.
The President with Mrs Roosevelt
and his mother. Mrs James Roosevelt.
Will journey to Rhinebeck. about ~
miles from here to attend the Duchess
County Fair. Their interest will be
ceItered principally in the riding events
in which will perform Mrs. Anna Curtis
Dali daughter Of the President; John.
the youngest OF the Roosevelt boys, and
little 'SiStie," the daughter of Mrs. Dali.
This wiR be "Sistie's" first public
appearance in the show ring She will
! ride III one OF the pony classes and drive
In another. Mrs. Dali will ride New
Deal, the handsome bay gelding pre-
sented to the President some weeks ago
by some of his Missouri admirers. in
which State this fine looking saddle
horse was born and reared
The Roosevelt families for many years
always have figured prominently in the
DutcheSs County Fair The Presidents
father and grandfather were prominent
exhibitors. The fair opened yesterday
and the Presidents mother won "a first
prizes in the vegetable exhibits.
Ready to Return.
| Mr.. Roosevelt was especially happy
today over the cordial reception ac
corded him on his inspection trip yes
terday to Albany and Troy. This was
the first time since he has become Presi
dent that he has visited the capital of
! the Empire State and where he lived
during his term as Governor
Everything is in readiness for the
Presidents departure from here tomor-
row afternoon. He expects to go aboard
the yacht of Vincent AStor. on which
he will make his journey back to Wash
ington about noon tomorrow. This
early start will make 1t possible for the
long cruise down the Hudson and
through New York Harbor and out to
sea before dark. The U. S. s. destroyer,
Manley, which is to be one OF the con-
voys on this voyage. arrived in these
waters yesterday. The destroyer Twig
arrives in New York Harbor tomorrow
afternoon. The President today said
he hopes to be back in Washington
September 4.
The text of the message sent to the
President yesterday by the Washington
Board of Trade follows:
The Washington Board Of Trade
has read with interest the recurring
newspaper accounts stating that you
are considering changing the form Of
government for the District of Collm-
bia 10 a one-man governorship or SINH
lar set-up. The people Of the District
They pay between 81 to- 36 million
dollars a year in distinctly municipal
taxes and Federal taxes In an amount
larger than ii of the States combined.
They have absolutely no right OF sui
frase nor any voice whatsoever IN the
disposition of the tax money SO raised
from them. Under the organic law
of 1878, setting up the present COM
mission form Of government. 1t has
been possible from time TO time for
the District to have one or two mem
bers of the Commission and it is our
sincere hope that in setting up any
new form of government what little
local representation we have IN our
own municipal affairs will not be fur
ther diminished.
No Opposition to Policy.
1--WE desire to assure. you, Mr.. Presi-
dent, that we do not desire this tele-
gram to be in any way construed in
opposition to any change If such change
is necessary. The Board Of Trade rep
resenting $500 business. professional
and civic leaders Of the community
will stand committed to any needed
change for the betterment of the COM
munity We express the hope however.
that you may see fit to inform us OF
any plans you may IlnalIy Qecloe uPon
so that not only the Board of Trade.
but others may have the opportunity
of expressing their views.
We wish to express to you our
heartiest admiration and support and
to assure you that we desire to do
everything we can to be helpful In the
spirit of progress and efficiency. We
are hopeful, however, that we may
look to you to protect even the most
negligible voice we have in the affairs
of our community. affecting as 1t does
a half million American citizens who
are called upon to do their duty as
such in every respect and who are.
however. ontradistinguished from other
Americans by their complete political
impotence"