Evening star., 1940-12-08
and bearing as a soldier with
representation.

"OIdI quail TIlOlO.
and arms bearing as a soldier with
representation.
Since the 663, ,153 Americans of
the District pay national taxes. obey
national laws and go TO war in the
Nations defense, they are entitled,
on American principles, to be rep
resented in the National Govern
ment which taxes them, which
makes all laws for them and which
sends them to war
Encouraging progress has re-
Gently been made in the campaign
to correct this unjust and injurious
discrimination against District resi-
dents. The Democratic presidential
nominating convention of 1910 in
serted as one plank in its plat
form: I'VE also favor the extension
of the right of suffrage to the peo-
pie of the District of Columbia"
Many leaders OF both parties in
both houses of Congress have very
recently verbally declared in favor
of empowering Congress to grant
national representation to the peo-
pie Of the District.
Progress in Fiscal Equity.
Progress has also been made in
attainment of fiscal equity. The
District in its campaign for fiscal
equity will approach the January
session of Congress encouraged by
the step in that direction taken by
| this Congress in its first session.
when Senator Overton introduced
his bill to restore in principle the
definite, proportionate contribution
plan of national payment toward the
expenses of the District government
Senator Overton proposed that the
Nation (Which includes the Dis
trict) should pay toward the ex-
penses Of the Capital City that per-
centage of the total appropriation
which the land owned by the Ma
ton bears to the total area of the
District. The Overton proposal thus
restored the principle of the definite
payment plan in substitution for
the inequitable lump-sum payment
plan in form which would substan-
TALLY increase the Nations annual
payment.
The House failed to assent to
the Overton plan, but did agree as
result of the controversy to an
increase of $1,000.000 in the lump
sum payment. Washington forces
will now cooperate to renew the
struggle over the main issue in
January. The Overton plan is mod
crate in its claim in dollars upon
national taxes, to which the Dis
trict contributes more than ore
half of the States 1t is based, how
ever, upon only one of the seven
fiscal obligations of the Nation
toward the Capital to which I
have referred. 1t is sound in prin-
ciple and should prevail.
ITO take the first step toward
Americanizing the people of the
Capital is now peculiarly opportune.
The dominating thought tonight
concerns vitalized Americanism;
patriotic self-sacrifice in prepared
ness to prevent war or, If it must
come, for war itself; quickening
and intensifying everywhere of the
fine, strong spirit of American ma
tionallity. In these days of exalted
AmericaniSm, WaShingtonianS are
in the front rank of devoted Amer
leans. They have ever been FORE
most when Americanism meant loss
instead of benefit, when to be Amer
leans meant to place both sacrifice
of treasure and blood sacrifice upon
the Nations altar.
Names of Deceased Read.
AS is customary at the Oldest In
habitants' banquetS, Corresponding
Secretary John B. Dickman read the
names of members who died over the
span of a year, and as each name
was called a white carnation was
plucked from full bowl on the
speakers table and laid aside.
At the head table were District
Commissioner j. Russell Young,
James E. Colliflower, president of
CiiC oOol u VI IdOc, cNdAl n. uCk-
er, president of the Northeast
Citizens Association; Fred A. Emery,
vice president of the Columbia His
torical Society; John Locher, pres
ident of the District Central Labor
Union; Lemuel A. Carruthers, past
president of the Federation of Civic
Associations; Arthur J. Sundlun,
president of the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association, and
Mrs. Gladys B. Middlemiss, presi-
dent of the Women's City Club.
Others at Head Table.
Also at the head table were John
M. Howard, president of the Society
of Natives of the District of Colum-
bia; Mrs. Max o. Lorenz, president
of the Voteless D. c. League of
Women Voters; Louis L. Bowdler,
president of the D. C.. Federation
of Businessmen Associations; Cliff
ford K. Bergman, Col. j. Harrison
Brand, executive secretary, Board
of Trade; Mrs. William Kittle,
chairman District Minimum Wage
Board; Paul E. Lesh. vice chairman,
Citizens Joint Committee On Ma.