Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-04
Limited Statehood for the District.


Senator GalIinger's proposition, introduced
n the Senate yesterday, providing limited
statehood for the District Of Columbia is
n line with the basic principle of the
american nation, and in some form will
doubtless sooner or later be adopted. II
provides. BY means of a constitutional
amendment, that the District shall be con-
,idered state so far. and Only so far, as
shall give it representation as such in the
Senate. the House and the electoral college
Il therefore leaves untouched the present
methods of municipal government here and
simply provides representation for the DIS
rict in the body which taxes it and legis-
ates for it. and in the college which chooses
he President of the country. The. popular
feeling in the Districc is opposed to self
government in itG municipal phase. The
people here are satisfied with the present
municipal form of government. They are
,ontented so long the national govern
;nent bears it's just proportion of the eX-
penses Of the capital of the Union. that
Congress shall legislate for the District ana
The President shall act as its governor.
On the other hand the contention IS made
that there are certain inalienable rights be-
longing to the American citizen that are
being denied to the people here without rea-
son. There are in the District nearly 100000
people, making a population greater than IN
many of the states. There will. in the course
II not so many years, be one million people
here, and yet this population, comparing
certainly favorabiy in intelligence and pub
tic spirit with the population OF any OF the
states, and located at the very fountain
mead of the republic, is being taxed With
out a vestige of representation, principle
n opposition to which this country fought
md along which issue it won its independ-
nee. On this basic principle the people OF
the District have, it lis commended. right
10 demand, not as a gift but as something
that belongs to them, representation in the
body that taxes them. The demand is for
actual and not for shadowy representa- tom
Congress il is urged, should legislate for
the District, but the District should be rep
resented in that Congress, and represented
according to it's numbers, as the rest of the
country The President should act as gov
rrnor of the District. but the District
should have a voice in the selections of the
President.
Representation in the House, Senate and
electoral college Is the maximum Of the Dis
trTcts rights. and should be the minimum
# it's acceptance The Constitution gives
10 Congress the sole right TO exercise ex-
elusive legislation In all cases whatsoever
over the District. This is a proper provi-
sion; 1t projects the national government
from an Independent and perhaps hostile
state or city government, and should never
De tempered with. The Constitution says:
The House of Representatives shall be
composed of members chosen every second
year by the people of the several states,
and Representatives and direct taxes shall
ue apportioned among the several states
which may be included within this Union,
etc" And again 1.-The Senate of the United
States shall be composed of two senators
from each state chosen by the legislature
thereof. etc" And each state shall APP
point. in such manner as the Legislature
thereof shall direct. number of electors
equal In number to the whole number of
senator's and representatives to which the
state may be entitled in the Congress. etc
Congress. then, under the Constitution has
power to leSislate over the District, and
that power the District desires to remain in
he hands of Congress.
Congress cannot admit the District of Co
umbia to the Union as a state, because to
10 so would violate the supreme control
vested liz it by the Constitution. Congress
SfduL representation 10 lilt blSiIlcl
If Columbia in Congress. because represen-
,atives are apportioned to states; senators
are elected by legislatures OF states, and
electors are based on the number of repre-
sentatives and senators. and chosen as the
legislatures of the states may direct. Con-
sress, then, under the Constitution can go
no further than to admit delegates from The
District, which is not what is desired at
all. An amendment TO the Constitution,
therefore, is necessary to obtain for the
District what it ought TO have. unaccom-
panied by things extremely undesirable.
Senator Gallinger's proposition would
seem to meet the District requirements,
and II Congress can be induced TO adopt it
without further tinkering with the suffrage
question here; and if 1t will still maintain
he half-and-half principle Of taxation and
r the states will ratify the measure by
Hdopting an amendment 10 the Constitu-
ion, then the people of the District will
rave gained something TO the purpose in the
way of national representation.
But there are good many ifs to be
iealt with before the project materializes
md 1t is not likely that this generation will
see II accomplished. In the meantime the
people OF the District are getting along very
comfortably under the best form of munic-
pal government in the country although
hey have to stand taxation without repre-