"FOR REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS"

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOR DISTRICT PROPOSED BY REP. DYER OF MISSOURI

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On March 22, 1926, The Evening Star reports "a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States providing for national representation for the people of the District of Columbia was introduced today by Rep. (Leonidas C.) Dyer*."

The proposal, introduced by the Republican congressman from Missouri, states that...

 "The Congress shall have the power to admit to the status of citizens of a State the residents of the District constituting the seat of government of the United States...for the purpose of representation in Congress and among the electors of President and Vice-President."

JFK+50 NOTE

Citizens residing in the District of Columbia were granted the right to vote in presidential elections by the 23rd amendment to the U.S. Constitution ratified in 1961.  The District, however, does not have representation in Congress.  A reminder of that fact is evidenced on residents license plates.

*Leonidas C. Dyer (1871-1957) was born in Warrenton, Missouri and attended Central Wesleyan College & Washington University (St. Louis).  LCD served in the US Army during the Spanish-American War & represented Missouri in the US House of Representatives 1911-1933.  He championed civil rights & sponsored an anti-lynching bill in 1926.

SOURCES

"23rd Amendment Ratified (1961): Washington, D.C. Residents Voting Rights," League of Women Voters of Texas, www.lwvtx.clubexpress.com/

"Vote For District Proposed In House," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., March 22, 1926, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Rep. Leonidas C. Dyer

R-Missouri

U.S. Congress

WE THREW OVERBOARD EVERY TEA CHEST TO BE FOUND

244TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BOSTON TEA PARTY

Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) The Sons of Liberty threw a "Tea Party" here in Boston 244 years ago, December 16, 1773.

342 chests of tea from three ships of the British East India Company docked in Boston Harbor were destroyed.  The action was carried out in protest of the Tea Act of 1773 which gave a monopoly on the sale of tea imported to the American colonies to the British East India Company.

While the tea act effectively lowered the price of tea, it maintained the tax and forced the colonists, in buying the tea and paying the tax, to accept the principle of taxation by Parliament.  Because the colonists had no elected delegates to represent them in London, they argued that this was "taxation without representation."

Approximately 200 men were involved in the tea party,  many of them dressed as Indians.  One of the men, identified as George Hewes, said:

"In about 3 hours from the time we went on board, we...had...thrown overboard every tea chest to be found."

The Boston Tea Party led to the passage of the Coercive Acts, known in the Colonies as the Intolerable Acts, which punished the city of Boston and the colony of Massachusetts for the deed.


Both the Tea Party and Coercive Acts were important causes leading to the outbreak of the American Revolution.

John White Recreates the

Boston Tea Party

Boston Tea Party Museum

Boston, Massachusetts

October 1987

JFK'S LOVE OF LIBERTY

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 1799

JFK'S LOVE OF LIBERTY CAME NATURALLY

Boston, Massachusetts (JFK+50) As President of the United States during the Cold War, John F. Kennedy often spoke about the importance of liberty both in the nation and around the world.  JFK's love of liberty came naturally.  He was born in a city where the seeds of American liberty were sewn, Boston, Massachusetts.

Two hundred forty-two years ago this evening, December 16, 1773, the Sons of Liberty* boarded three British East India Company ships (Beaver, Dartmouth, & Eleanor) docked at Griffin's Wharf and destroyed 342 chests of tea in protest of the British Tea Act of 1773 which gave a monopoly on the sale of imported tea to the American colonies to the British company.

While the tea act effectively lowered the price of tea, it maintained the tax and forced the colonists, in buying the tea and paying the tax, to accept the principle of taxation by the British Parliament.  Since the colonists had no representatives in that body, they argued that this was "taxation without representation."

Approximately 200 men were involved in the tea party, many dressed as Mohawk Indians and carrying a variety of axes.  The purpose of the disguise was to protect the individual identities of the participants.

 One of the men, identified as George Hewes, said...

"In about 3 hours from the time we went on board, we...had...thrown overboard every tea chest to be found."

The Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum says that 92,000 pounds of tea were destroyed which would have a value today of $1,700,000.  Other than the tea itself and a broken padlock, no damage was done to the ships or their crews.  In fact, the "indians" were very careful to sweep the decks clean and put everything back in place after the "party."

Today, on the 242nd anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, free admission will be offered to visitors to the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum and there will also be a parade.

The Boston Tea Party led to the passage of the Coercive Acts, known as the Intolerable Acts in America, which punished the city of Boston and the colony of Massachusetts for the deed.Both the Tea Party and Coercive Acts were important causes leading to the outbreak of the American Revolution.

*Sons of Liberty was a secret colonial society founded by Samuel Adams to protect the rights of Americans and to fight against British taxation laws.  The group included John Hancock, Patrick Henry, Paul Revere and Joseph Warren.

SOURCE

"Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum," www.bostonteapartyship.com

Boston Tea Party 

Ships & Museum

35mm Slide

Photo by John White (1987)

John White 

Boston Tea Party

Ships & Museum 

October 1987

Boston Tea Party

Ships & Museum

Photo by John White

October 1987