Evening star., 1937-03-04
V0TELESS WOMEN
SAT|R|zE REPORT
Mrs. Roosevelt and Other
Prominent Guests See D. c.
Appeal Acted.

Satirical criticism of the Jacobs ifs
cal relations report now before Con-
gress and a plea for national repre-
sentation were laid before Mrs. Frank
lin D. Roosevelt and distinguished
guests yesterday by the Voteless Dis
trict of Columbia League of Women
Voters at the Mayflower Hotel.
Mrs Roosevelt, as guest speaker.
made no specific reference to merits
of the criticism, in form of a dra-
matte skit, but challenged the voteless
women to 60 forward to gather more
facts" and arouse the public to ne
cessity of doing things that need to
be DONE"
She avoided discussion of the Ja-
cobs report, except to praise the dra-
matte form of presentation Of sub
tect. Mrs. Roosevelt did not follow
directly after the satirical skit on the
program. Just before she addressed
the gathering, a monologist, Mrs. Da-
vid H. Kushner, had presented vivid
story of the plight of a factory worker
under the modern social order, with
praise for the N. r. A. and hope for
relief under new legislation sponsored
by the Roosevelt administration. Two
pieces of pending legislation favored
by the league of women had been
mentioned as pending-the 40-hour-
week bill and minimum wage bill.
So Mrs Roosevelt, it appeared, was
directing her remarks more toward the
subject matter of social reform for
women workers, represented by the
underprivileged woman problem, than
she was toward the Jacobs report prob
lem.
Two Weapons Available.
Modern women, Mrs. Roosevelt en-
phasized, had two principal ways in
which to make their influence felt
first. to learn what the facts are, and
secondly, to arouse public opinion
emotionally."
She deplored the fact that some
women seemed content to let social
conditions rest, without their atten-
ton, simply because the women them
selves were in comfortable" positions
in life.
The importance of first learning
"facts" was stressed by Mrs. Roose-
welt. She said 80 many people are
trying to arouse public opinion in
ways that are not valuable" She
predicted that the League of Women
Voters would grow, and urged them
to bring in as many new members as
possible to arouse" the public, SO
that IAN informed public can't be
stopped from doing the things we
feel need to be done"
Presentation of the skit was pre-
ceded by an explanation by Mrs.
William Kittle, president Of the Vote
less D. c. League, who presided. She
found four points to praise in the
Jacobs report. but much to criticize
generally. Division of expenses fol-
this city, she said, had varied over
the years, from so per cent payment
by the Federal Government, and Sc
per cent by the District, down to last
year when the Federal payment was
only 13 per cent.
Sees Decline TO NOtnlng.
ut is fading out of sight" she de-
clared. IF we wait few more years
We'll have nothing"
The four points she found to COM
mend we're: The manifest attempt
to be fair on the part of the investi-
gators; the discussion of renewed
study for improvement and simplicity
its sympathetic discussion of the need
for representative government by
residents of this city and its complete
published analysis of District of Co.
1umbia financial operations.
The dramatic sketch proved highly
entertaining to the large audience OF
women.
Three principal characters in the
skit, Uncle Sam, District Of Columbia
and "Mr. Jacobs Report" were inter-
preted by authors of the satire: Mrs.
Charles Weston, chairman of the de
partment of government and its opera
ton" of the District of Columbia
League, was alternately petulant, dis
couraged and indignant as the pictur-
esque District of Columbia dressed
in the traditional Colonial costume Of
the cartoon character. Mrs. M. o.
Lorenz. as a statuesque, lordly and
overbearing Uncle Sam, patronized
and all but browbeat the District OF
Columbia, while Mrs. Ernest Parkin-
son. as an impressive and dramatic
Mr. Jacobs Report" insisted imperi-
ously on standing on the report.
A strong plea for national repre-
sentation for the District of Columbia
was presented by Mrs. Ellwood Street
in the character of National Repre-
sentation."
The skit opened with a discussion of
taxes.
The District of Columbia declared
he was mot grouching about paying
taxes" but contended: 81 would like
some say as to what the money is used
for. Take schools. for instance, and
hospitals I might want to improve
my schools and hospitals instead of
putting up fancy front for the Wis
itors to the National Capital"
TC1Cll lllS W lllC COSI VI ultci SON.
ernmental contractual services, Uncle
Sam called on the District for pay for
the District Code, for testing street
materials, and the District replied that
this latter job was taken away and
put in the Bureau of Standards, which
is free to all State governments ano
all Federal agencies.
Nov what are we?" asked the Dis.
trict of Columbia. Not State, moi
q Federal agency. If we were eithe,
of these you wouldn't ask us to pay
because that wouldn't be according te
law. But never did understand what
we are"
Uncle Sam referred to museums fur
nished to the District Of Columbla
without charge, at the present time
The District appreciated the mag.
nificent Smithsonian Institution" bu
added: If you count up the times
60, you might give me this break
You know I have so many cousins ou
In Idaho and California and up ir
Vermont and in Kansas. They're al
wayS visiting me because j live II