Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-10
SOME OF WASHING rows S;RIEv.
ANCES.
No Votes, Yes No Grievance,

No Votes, Net No Grievance,
WASHINGTON NEEDS NO ELECTIVE FRANCHISE IN
MUNICIPAL AFFAIKs-So REPEAL or EXCLUSIVE
LEGISLATION cLArsE-sUr RIGHT TO VOTE FOB
REPRESENTATIVE, SENATOR, AND PRESIDENT.
NO. ~.
Inc idea or Withdrawing from state power and
the control OF its residents portion OF territory
serve as the seat OF Government under the exclu-
1ve jurisdiction OF the people OF the whole Union,
as represented by Congress, seems to have OBJ
tained strong hold upon the minds OF the found
ers OF the Republic. Many desired to strengthen
the notion Of Union By giving the General Gov
eminent An exclusive territory, center OF federal
action, controlled by it alone. state jealousies
mad some influence In the matter. The turfsdic-
uon OF any one state over the seat OF Government
would, IL was thought, give that state, to some
extent, control over the General Government
Itself. Exclusive jurisdiction and the power to
call out thu militia would also, IL was
considered, enable Congress to protect itself
In case OF riot or other disturbance. The
fact, now worn threadbare by constant
allusion, was remembered, that Congress-. while
meeting at Philadelphia, october 81, 1873, had
been insulted and forced 10 adjourn to Princeton.
The opposition TO the plan OF giving Congress ex-
elusive jurisdiction over the seat OF Government
seems to have been feeble. No debate upon the
clause Is reported to have taken place In the Con-
stitutional convention. Objection was made in
the Virginia ratifying convention that the Dis
trict might become an asylum for political crini-
mails or vioators OF states rights. But the clause
was adopted without much opposition. By its
terms Congress was given the power Of exclusive
legislation In all cases whatsoever over this ma
tiontl territory. The legislature OF the Union
p pS with the exercise Usea n Of the fun eIec
tive franchise By It's citizens. Without an
amendment TO the Constitution Washington can
never vote for President or senator or Representa-
tive. II there is political grievance the COnsti-
tuition 1s responsible. The cily's complaint
against Congress Is not That Il has deprived resi-
take this disability sufficiently into consideration
in It's treatment Of the city. II the United States
the capital, ami the seat Of Government as city
OF MARYLAND had legislated for itself, and had i'm
proved and developed itself only in proportion TO
Congress and the frantic efforts OF legislators to
avoid a few hours consideration or its affairs
might have some ground OF Justification. But
washington protests against the application Of a
theory and practice which, in combination, have
denied 1t the privileges while Durdening It largely
with the responsibilities Of Independence.
In the performance OF its duties as guardian OF
the captars welfare four courses are open 10 Con-
gress. First, IT may leave the relations between
changed, but give more time and consideration TO
the capital and its affairs remodeling It's laws In
with the wishes Of ITS citizens and pro-
ance, for its general development ana for its relief
from the heavy debt tnrQuItably imposed upon 1t.
representatives or national district as wal as OF
their own local districts. 1t should be remembered
that the congressional appropriations for
gars' aims, but merely q disbursement OF the Dis
trict revenues coming from individual tax
paying citizens, the remainder from United States
a. the untaXed holder OF 0ne-half OF all Washing
ton property. and much should be done by the
Government beyond the contribution OF this quota.
the capital is to be deprived Of privileges which
would belong to 1t as the city OF its citizens ft
should be made worthy OF admiration az the city
OF the United States representing In miniature its
growth In population, wealth, and power.
UNLIMITED xLkcrIvE FRANCHISE In MUNICIPAL CON-
GERMS.
secondly, Congress may give TO the District
local sovereignty and the elective franchise to the
limited extent which the Constitution will permit.
1t has been urged by many that Congress has the
ability TO delegate its power or general legisla-
ton that the exercise Of exclusive authority does
not FORBID choice Of agencies; that the govern
ment provided for the District should be assim-
Hated 10 the theory Of republican institutions;
and that the natural right Of men to govern them
selves should be recognized as far as that is
possible. And to show that IL was never in
tended by the trainers Of the Constitution to
deprive any portion Of the people Of the United
states OF local representative government, the
words Of Madison in the 43d number OF the FEEDER
dlist are quoted The other side OF the question
has been argued with equal ability, and the Su-
preme court OF the District OF Columbia have
adopted it. In Roach ct al, VS. Van Riswick
washington LoW Reporter. November 10, 1879,
1t was decided that Congress has no capacity un-
der the Constitution to delegate its delegated
powers by bestowing general legislative authority
upon the local Government OF the District, ana an
act OF the so-called legislative assembly of the
District, upon which the suit was brought, was
declared imperative and void. For the present,
then. in the absence Of an overriding de-
cision by the Supreme Court OF the United states,
such delegation Of power is unconstitutional,
cipai corporation can be conferred. But expert
ence has taught that II the decision in Roach
against Van Riswick were reversed, and II the
most extensive powers OF voting were bestowed
which any reasonable construction OF the COnst.
tuition can grant, the gift would be not merely
m naiqsess put the judiciary com
made June I, 1874, stated the following truths:
In strict legal sense there can be said 70 be no
OF Columbia. for there can be no
government within the District Independent OF
that OF the Federal Government, and whatever
which may hereafter be set up within the District
u can only be regarded legally as an agency OF the
Federal Government, and whatever authority this
local government may exercise, IL must be re.
garded as the act OF the United States through
their delegated representative The District
fcEl5latufe Woulu IN any event act under the re-
strictions suggested by these words Its general
laws would be mere petitions, void without the
assent, express or Implied, OF Congress. A dele
gate without q vote has little weight in a sslop-
rolling body like the House OF Representatives
The other officers would be petty town officials
AID voice would still be denied the city In the
choice OF the executive and legislative officers OF
the nation. In short the exercise OF suffrage taus
limited would be an expensive farce. Without
representation suffrage Is or no value: and shut
out from the bodies which make its laws and i'm.
poses taxes upon IL, representation tue District
under the Constitution In Its present shape can be
only sham
1t Is extremely doubtful whether popular sut-
with purely municipal functions. even
In cities whert It's adoption Is not opposed b the
peculiar objections which confront it In It's appIt-
cation 10 the affairs OF Washington. Experience
and observation do not teach that a municipality
which Is reasonably wellgoverned VIII display
wisdom by demanding change OF system In order
10 asslnilate Itself TO ordinary American cities
The latter are VIGOROUSLY mlSgoverned. IncoIn-
chosen In partisan contests, immense municipal
debts have been contracted, and excessive ia a.
ton has been imposed. Statistics show thar
while state Indebtedness has decreased between
vastly Increased, far more rapidly than popula-
ton and valuation, and It's amount in Ataerlcan
Is now estimated at q bill ion dol
lars The deplorable nnanc al condition OF 40
unlimited popular suffrage. which mas given to
irresponsible voters
THE PoWIK TO kxP4ND, ExTRAvAGANTIY AND cop-
KUPrLY,
the money supplied by Taxpayers IL has placed
the contributors and non-contrbutors to a FUND
upon an equal footing in the matter Of deciding
how and by whom the fund shall be disbursed IL
has enabled the latter under the guise of taxatton
70 make division OF the contributions OF the