Evening star., 1939-04-05
D. T.. Government
Seen Unresponsive
Until Vote Granted
Columbia Heights
Citizens Association
Hears Seton Durr

Hears Seton Dorr
Charging local government with
"the greatest of indifference to the
people of the District of Columbia" "
Seton Darr, president of the Dis
trict Bar Association, last night told
members of the Columbia Heights
Citizens Association that only when
public officials are made answerable
to the people for their acts through
local suffrage will District govern
ment concern itself with the wishes
of citizens.
Mr.. Darr addressed the associa-
ton in the absence of Senator
Arthur Capper; his speech on suf-
frage was the principal feature of
a full schedule of association events
which included consideration of four
congressional bills and the re-
nomination of officers.
Two groups of people, the Bar
Association president stated. oppose
local suffrage: Special groups of
privilege" and people who honestly
feel there is no place for suffrage
in the District.
Sees Efficiency Improved.
Mr.. Darr questioned the signif-
icance of statement recently made
by 1t. Col. David McCoach. jr,
Engineer Commissioner, before the
House Subcommittee considering
the Griffenhagen report to the effect
that local government has been
without major scandal in so years
The bar president said Griffenhagen
reports preamble labelled the pres
ent form of government inefficient,
cumbersome and confusing" The
absence of major corruption, Mr..
Darr said, failed to prove the con-
tention of suffrage opponents that
the District has the best municipal
government in the country"
The necessity of a territory where
In Congress exercises supreme con-
troll was condemned by Mr.. Darr
as the result of trouble in Phila-
delphia in the formative days of the
Nation" for which, without reason,
present citizens are doomed to go
Voteless.
Mr.. Darr urged the citizens to
request Congress for a governing
body elected by the people in event
the Griffenhagen report is accepted,
and to take whatever tangible ac-
ton possible to secure the vote. for
the denial of which mo tangible or
substantial reasons have been
offered"
Alexander Cruickshanks asked the
association to consider the need for
a national poll to determine the
Nations attitude to payment by
the Federal Government of half the
funds needed to finance the capital
and its attitude on suffrage for the
District.
Alarmed lest shifts in District
budget arrangements prevent the
erection of new building for
Wilson Teachers College, the Colum-
bia Heights Association. at the in
stance of Mrs. Marie Maddox,
amended a previous resolution to
give DR.. A. V. Smith, chairman of
the Education Committee, authority
to aid the college in any way within
the associations power and to ap-
pear before congressional committees
in behalf of the proposed structure
if it was deemed necessary.
Condemns "Fav0ritism."
Alleged favoritism in United States
Government departments which acts
against graduates of certain local
law schools and in favor Of outside
schools, was condemned by the
association in resolution sponsored
by M. H. Worrell and indorsing
Senator Sheppard's bill to prevent
such discrimination.
Mrs. Worrell voiced opposition to
Representative Larrabee's bill ex-
tending grants in aid of education
to the various States, stating, among
other objections, that it would pave
the way for a totalitarian school
system In the United States and
call for whole new centralized
system of education" Mrs. Wor-
Iell dlSO dIIdChcu SloC1 lIlllloeAO
against nom professional men en-
gagged In the practice of engineer
ing in the District" which, she as
serted, is contained In Senate
bill setting up professional require
ments for engineering licensees and
prohibiting non-licensees from prac-
ticing. Both objectios, in the form
of motions, were referred to COM
mittees for reports at the next asso-
citation meeting.
The associations officers were re-
nominated, with DR.. Smith, nomi-
mated for the vice presidency, now
held by DR.. Glendie B. Young, Of
fering the only contest. Other Of
ficers are: President, L. R. Maddox;
vice presidents, George H. Brown
and DR.. Erwin Steinmen; recording
secretary, Mrs. Maddox; correspond
ing secretary, Walter I. Swanton,
and treasurer, John M. Boteler.
Final balloting will take place in
May.
In too big hurry to play the game