Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-19

SO far as local suffrage agitation is di-
n cited toward the attainment of a constitu-
t.onal amendment which shall give to resi-
dents OF the District suitable represents ton
as American citizens in the House. in the
Senate and in the electoral college, the
Ovement Is Ineligible and natural But
SO far as the agitation Is based upon blind
discomfort with the existing municipal gov
eminent. and yelrning to Gust Uncle Sam
from control in the municipal affairs of the
rational capital. and TO substitute for him
rrigntns political boss with his standing
army Of strikers the movement is unac-
Countable and indefensible.
The Judiciary committee of the House of
Representatives in report made June L.
1874. stated the following truths: in a
strict legal sense there can be said to be no
si.ch thing as locII government of the
District of Columbia. for there can be no
government within the District INDEPENDENT
OF that OF the federal government and
whatever local authority there may be now
existing, OF which may hereafter be set up
within the District 10 can only be regarded
legally as an agency Of the federal govern
ment. AMI whatever authority this local
government may exercise II must be re-
sarded as the act of the United States
through their delegated representative :"
II Congress should tomorrow grant us the
right to vote for legislature or other
municipal legislative body the general laws
Pa sed By IL would be mere petitions void
without the assent express or implied of
Congress. II We We're empowered to choose
territorial delegate, such an officer with
out vote would have little weight I'm a
'lOs-rniling body like the House Of Repre-
sent.tiy The other officers which we
DigSt select would be petty town officials
"Hd 4 voice would stili b. denied the city
IN the choice of the executive and IeSisIa-
I've officers If the nation.
The exercise Of suffrage thus T,uit.1
wouIi be expensive farce. Washing ,on. )
past experience with Murder Bay political
fctatiDn. with a colonization system OF bur
chased voters from Mary land and virginia
and with the notorious '.frather-Iy,far.'
legislature suggests that the farce may be-
dIsgraceful well as costly Without fuIi
representation suffrage Is OF no value and
shut out from the bodies Viii h must make
It's laws and impose taxes upon il rsprrsen-
tation of the District under the Constitution
IN It's present shape can be only a sham
''''S'eSS W"nd never consent to anything
moro substantial than a mock transfer of
control To the people of the District E,van
II The naIiOn might be induced 10 s1trron5sr
'h- management OF its property int arasrS
in the District entirely to the Residents
which is hardly Conceivable II would NOT
~ willing 20 pay cne-half of TN. exp.nsas
OF In" capitol, with 10 power of cnuiro, i,
respect Q" is.' affairs an with moi eyer, u
soc" III IT. government. u is not racossar,.
u ar- 10 With WLshingtorifnn that IL is
absolutely "S-"nti,i to the Welfare of tho
chy ;han III present financial r-I,tinrs In
The United States shall be preserved ,rhs
manner Of Washington's deyeioprnant ron
dcrs 1t utterly unable to rnee1. u,assi,.s1
the expense ~ sustaining itself as a mag
nihceat national capital.
Hut. say some of the suffrage ziyOratcs
We are rOHtsn ling for rights ~ A:u~ri-
can frA"ni"a. ana we insist upon ;hcfrl. no
matter what II" financial consequences may
he,' Niue-teHths: Of tue suffrage atvo-ates
I'm the past have clamored merely for the
privilege Of voting for the municipal gov
ernment. and hav- not even sought the ruI!
rights Of rrpTcs-H ton - American cItI-
gers. The great rights guaranteed % th-
citizen 10y the Constitution are hardly at
ell involved In the r'atrer Of city govern
Bient \ municipal corporation is bust
ness Concern. whose function II Is t. dis