Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-11


these three states, Colorado 94.649). Flor
ida 61,35D. Rhode Island (276,35D, YER
mont 2,2S6) and New Hampshire t346.-
$50, had less than double the District 8
population, making the assignment OF
one Senator to the latter equitable.
In view of the comparative rate of in
crease and other considera tons. the Dis
trict Is likely to be found in the future
ahead of New Hampshire. Rhode Island.
Delaware and perhaps, Connecticut, OF
the original states. and Vermont and Ne
vada of the new states.
The adoption Of the fourth plan by Con-
gress would be compromise between
granting only local. qualified suffrage.
which is highly Objectionable to the Dis
trict. and consenting to absolute self-gov
eminent. which involves surrender of
national control over the capital, and TO
which the United States, as the owner OF
one-haf the city. and the virtual payer
of one-half its taxes, would never con-
sent. The wisdom OF this course is sus-
tanned by all the arguments which go
to show that the constitutional power OF
Exclusive legislation" by Congress should
not be hastily yielded, and also by those
which maintain that taxation without rep
resentation and inequality of citizens be-
fore the law should not be allowed TO eN-
ist. The District would be placed in Ger
tain respects on a level with the states
Taxed like them. it would have like them
a voice in the disposition of the general
taxes. 1t would not however, stand upon
precisely the same footing with them. for
the states are subordinated to the general
government only in certain defined partlc-
ulars. whereas the District would De
subordinate in all respects.
One Senator Instead of Two.
This inferiority would be indicated. it
has been suggested. by giving the Dis
trict one instead of two senators and
by corresponding reduction in Its cleo
toral vote. Enjoying representation in
Congress and participation in the choice
of the President. who appoints It's local
officers, Washington would resemble in its
municipal government a city, which. after
voting for the governor and legislature of
state is managed by commission ap-
pointed by the former and approved by
the latter. Under this fourth plan the
suggestions made in respect to the duty
Of members of Congress as the exclusive
legislators for the capital would still be
applicable; the present financial arrange
ments between the District and the gen
eral government would be maintained: the
expensive transportat of office-holding
voters to the states from Maine to Flori-
da and from New York to California
would. after the abolition of the office
apportionment system, be avoided: the
rights of residents Of the District as Ameri-
can citizens would be recognized in a
manner which would inflict the smallest
city as capital Of the United States. and
this spot of national territory with all its
patriotic associations would be preserved
to the Union.
If at the time Of giving the District the
substantial representation suggested 1t
should also be decided that Congress can
manage the minor concerns OF the Dis
trict more satisfactorily by modifying In
details the present form Of municipal gov
eminent. such changes may then be con-
Dat oIf
should be based upon full recognition.
first of the absolute necessity of reten-
ton by the general government of sucn
representation in and control of the man
agement of city affairs as will enable 1t
to protect its vast interests here; second
of the frightful warning from the expert
ence Of other large cities against recourse
to unlimited popular suffrage as factor
in the decision of purely municipal ana
financial matters: and. third, of the vital
Importance to the District that Its local
government shall be non-partisan
Admission as a Quasi-State.
It is conceded that the best method by
which Congress can regulate the capital
as a city may vary somewhat in details
with altering circumstances. but there Is
no urgent present necessity for change
in this respect. The more important ques-
ton is. Shall not the people of the Dis
trict, who now largely exceed the num-
Der of persons represented by each mem
Der of the House, be admitted to the Union
as citizens of a quasi-state, and be grant
ed representation in the national leg1sla-
ture, and the privilege OF voting for Pres
idenI? without disputing for the present
the proposition, proved absurd by expert
ence, that they do not need, as citizens OF
the District, distinct representation IN
Congress as a local legislature because
they are represented in that capacity by
"a iyync thew
not, as citizens Of the United States. as
sembIed in sufficient numbers in limit
ed space and paying national taxes. re-
uuire representation in the body which I'M
poses and disburses these taxes!
The people of Washington do not wish
an unlimited elective franchise IN NUM-
cipal concerns or repeal or the exclu-
sive-legislation" clause, with a cnange OF
the financial relations between the city
and the United States, and many of them
in view of the dangers to be faced IN the
discussion by Congress of changes or any
description in the present government
will continue to favor the first or 40
nothing policy on the part or congress,
which was unquestionably Wisest as long
as the fixed population of the Dlstrlct
not in government employ, was lnsunl-
cient to entitle 1t TO representative III
Congress- and which Is still Wlsest so lar
as the municipal government IS conce ~
ed. These citizens will doubtless for the
reason suggested hesitate to ask the al
ditional rights to be secured by this con
stitutional amendment. But While the
asking and granting Of these rights MAY
he in various ways reasonably delayed
thew cannot be Indefinitely postponed
Though representation in their national
and local legislature, which alone makes
laws for them and taxes them, and may
send every man of them 10 war , 10 n pe
wounded or killed. be denied to the 225,0oU
District residents of the present. will the
same denial be given to the half million
of the near future. or to the prospective
million toward which figure as goal the
is prpSSing?