Evening star., 1949-03-06
Civic Problems, Civic Bodies
Various D. c.. Reorganization Proposals;
A Non.Sovereign State of Columbia
By Jesse c. Suter

A Non.SOVerelgn State OF Columbia
By Jesse c. suter
Other Plans to Reorsanize District Government
An file Of G ed D @ o @
bills joint resolutions providing for various types OF
way representation local self
and providing for voteless delegates to 10 M
citizens of State These will be reviewed briefly in chronological
Dyer Advisory Referendum.
Dyer of Missouri July H. 1917 introduced in the
the people Columbia questions relating to
municipal I'M d b
recommend that Congress grant to the District OF
government all election of commissioners
ss nd be- @ 90
&C., Do favor Government ownership of telephone Som
of the manufacture and sale of beer wine for private
in the Of m e. DO Do Uo avo h
initiative referendum? (g Do favor the recall h do se9
public ownership of the street railways in the
Utilities in the District Columbia favor taxation on all
improvements in the District OF Columbia? - ~ 49, w without
regard to actual residents of the District OF
vote were to be qualified to vote in
he m rom a0 yog aG m the
voted in OF the States the union or oS
The bill Committee the District OF
Columbia ordered printed. but never acted upon .
Capper Elective Government Bill.
Senator capper December 1928 in the e8h
bill a. for election OF DELEGATES to the
District Public Utilities Commission Education
The bill elect two IN hdd the hovse ov e ar sn
of the United States and qualified voters OF the District M
Corps would constitute the Board OF Com
OF m 1t an goad s of Education
nine members The bill further provided that the various
appointed predecessors in Office The two deeges to
m % e the same rate Of as the
from the Territories OF the
0'''eN O'" Mcleod voteless Delegate Bill
of Michigan January a. 1885 introduced
delegate the District of Columbia The delegate was
Columbia The delegate would possess
the Of the said m naqiGn o M
continuously previous to his election 1t was further
for election as delegate four
after the termination Of his service as Commissioner
The Clark Territorial Resolution
Senator Bennett Champ Missouri judge of the
United District of Columbia
81 Res 49, reintroduced the same Joint
resolution 81 Res 1t provided for the @
declared to be the policy Of the CONGRESS to saosn
% that a % a a be- Known m as the Territory of Columbia
Section of e ont Established
Columbia Commission and to be composed
members Of the House Of by the
Of the and five oS who w were resident OF Of the the
Judiciary District of Columbia to be appointed by the PreS
The members commission to without compensa-
tion and select one Of Their as Act pon # for
territorial form of civil government for the District ana TO som mn
expiration OF year after e
The commission
recommendations respect TO
the United States
of the District OF Columbia
Of the joint resolution dealt with the
investgatlon
advisable for carrying out its purpose
Committee Ierrltorles
later discharged from
referred the Committee the Dct OF
Columbia No action was ever taken
Celler Self fGovernment of 1889.
In the 10th Congress- 1889 Representative Celer
of New York being bill entitled "A bill to
for the District OF Columbia
abolished executive
vested
elected for salary of the was to
$4,000
Ali municipal legislative the District including all the
functions and pertaining be vested city
of two each The mayor
council required to be qualified voters IN
the District.
must be citizen OF the united
older resident OF the District OF
the date OF election Being
the United States would not dqualy
a a voter in the District
of the bill provided for the necessary election
machinery penalties The bill went to the House
District Committee and no action was taken
PROPOSAL to Create Non-Soveregn State of Columbia
proposed amendment to the Constitution was
introduced the first session OF e
18th Congress- January Representative sovch
to