Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-05-18

lection of facts and figures deS1g
pleas.
yond the expectation Of the enthusiasm
now demonstrated, which we appre-
ciate.
I'VE are getting today such contri-
buttons as Congress is willing to give
u.s." Mr.. Lesh replied. land afterward
we would get what We could persuade
Congress to give to U.S."
The problems of support to the Dis
trict. he charged. was entirely different
from those of other cities of the coun-
try where the cost of government and
necessary taxes to meet it are based
on the operation OF economic law.
New Wealth Mentioned.
In connection with the discussion Of
internal revenue receipts for the Dis
trict. Mr. Lesh was asked whether he
had taken into consideration the new
wealth" contributed to the Nation by
the District in comparison with such
States as Nevada and Arizona which
have large natural resources.
Mr.. Lesh said he had not taken
natural resources into consideration
but said that, in his opinion, the Gen.
tributions made by educational and
scientific institutions in the District
were just as valuable to the Nation as
new wealth of silver and gold from the
mining States
Mr. Lesh explained to the committee
the provision of the Capper-Norton
joint resolution which would give Dis
trict residents access to United States
courts. He said that if he were in
an automobile collision in Virginia,
for instance, he could not carry his
case to a United States court.
We are not a State under the
diverse citizenship clause" of the Con-
stitution. he explained on this point
saying that this diverse citizenship
clause has been held by the Supreme
Court to refer only to citizens Of SOW
ereign States He emphasized the
need of this right for District resi-
dents.
Striking back at what he charac-
terized as that old bogey-the people
elsewhere" Mr.. Lesh quoted Census
Bureau statistics to indicate that in
| 1886 there were 319, l29 District resi-
dents of voting age who did not have
voting residence elsewhere. He made
allowances. he explained. for claims
by both Democrats and Republicans
| for the absent voters ballots sent out
Of town and those who went home to
vote.
Illiteracy Rate Low.
"One of the shames of America
protested Mr. Lesh. lis that those who
can vote don't and those of us who
want to, can't"
He pointed to the low illiteracy OF
this city to show its high intelligence
and ability to vote The District il
literacy in the 1880 census, he reported
was l.6, as compared with the average
percentage of illiteracy all over the
United States of 40. This places the
District in position of having less
illiteracy than 81 of the States
This good showing on literacy ex-
tends to both the white and colored
populations. he explained. The ma
tive white illiteracy figure. he told the
committee, in 1880 was 2. as compared
with the average throughout the
United States of Is
Illiteracy among the colored popu.
lation of the District, he said, was
only Al, or only about one-fourth OF
the corresponding figure for the United
States as whole. The colored IL
literacy here. Mr.. Lesh said, was below
that of So States.
Mr.. Lesh pointed to these figures
as an answer to ANY one who fears
domination of one race over another,
when he outnumebrs it to l."
| If national representation is granted
he explained. this city would be di.
vided into two congressional districts
Mr.. Lesh resorted to few colorfu
phrases, but at one point, with feel
ing, he called upon the committee to
break our ShackleS."
When asked at one point by Chair
man Summers about the question OF
irrevocability, Mr.. Lesh declared: Il
could not devise a plan for national
representation, I assure you, that
would be irrevocable.
If it's wise today, the statement
of today ought to do it for us!"
Included in the Ammunition" Of
the vote-seeking campaigners were the
returns in the recent city-wide plebis'
cite on District suffrage. These records
showed an overwhelming desire BY
Washingtonians for voice in theil
Government-national and local.
A number of women turned out fol
the hearing. Many women's organi.
cations affiliated with the Citizens
Joint Committee sent representative!
to aid in the battle. Among thest
groups were Voteless District of Co.
lumbia League Of Women Voters ant
the District Federation Of Women''
Clubs.
Among other organizations desig.
mating representatives to participate
in the hearings are the Washington
Board Of Trade, the Federation o.
Citizens Associations, the Central La
Dor Union and the Federation o.
Business Mems Associations.
Many Of the citys outstanding citi'
zens were on the list Of civic, business
labor and other group representatives
who took seats in the committee room
Omcers of the hearings subcommit'
tee of the Citizens Joint Committee, II
addition to Commissioner Allen ant
Chairman (ex-ofacio) Noyes, ar
Malcolm S. McConihe and Edward F
Colladay, vice chairmen, and Mr.. Su
ter, secretary. i.
| The brief prepared for the Hous'
| committees perusal today Is in add