The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-21

manently. and a large negro population
easily recruited from the surrounding
country. as was proved to its cost during
tho reign Of the board Of public works.
should be voted for By the taxpayers
only.
II should have a council. part at least OF
which should be named by the President,
and II should have single executive.
chosen from among the residents Cby
provision OF law by the President The
power Of local taxation. subject 20 re-
vision by Congress. should be vested in
the local legislature. and the power OF
expenditure. subject 20 auditing By the
Secretary Of the Treasury. but not 10 con-
troll by any one. should be vested in such
officers as Congress may designate.
The present situation is anomalous and
monstous. Our government was founded
upon the protest against taxation without
representation; at the very center Of its
existence it should not hold rule over
10000 Of us own citizens without right
on their part to be heard. 1t was never
intended by the Constitution that this
should be the case. Madison in the Fed
eralist before the adoption Of the Consti-
tuition. says
Municipal legislature. for local pur-
poses. derived from their own suffrages.
will of course be allowed the District
In the acts of cession Of Maryland and
Virginia II was expressly stipulated that
the rights Of the inhabitants Of the Dis
trict under the laws of those States
should be preserved until Congress found.
Cd a permanent government, and the
Congress adopted the laws Of those
States, and for many years provided FOR
local government. never as fully as ap-
propriate. but to some extent; and the
reason why a well-considered and per
manent form Of local government was
not then adopted was the same as for the
institution Of territorial governments in
unsettled localities, because Of the small
number residing there. That reason nc
longer exists.
Population Bigger than States.
The District has a population larger
than eight Of the States John Randolph
said that it was a dangerous experiment,
as indeed it has proved to be. to deprive
any part Of our country Of local self
government, defining political slavery as
that state in which any community is
Invested of the rover Of government
and regulated by law TO which its as
sent Is not required and may not be
given. This species Of government IS an
experiment how far freemen can be rec
onciled to live without rights; an expert
ment dangerous to the liberties Of these
States"
Is It not about time that the District
had fair play. Its people have done
their share in everything that was 10 be
done: and it seems that the acerbities
Of a great metropolitan daily might be
diverted from their local affairs when
there is SO much at its own door requir-
ing correction.
Recently the play OF the Suns notable
wit was directed in a valuable editorial
against the proposal to pay officers to
keep order on the Fairgrounds Of the
District Prior 10 that, when It was pro-
posed to institute the Fairgrounds. the
misleading statement was made that
within a block or two Of every house was
a public park. in which playing was
freely permitted. whereas all OF the pub
lie parks are carefully protected from
being used by the plebelan populace Of
the District, as the Suns correspondent
certainly should know. and there are
practically no Fairgrounds. Both Of these
propositions were agitated in New York
City and adopted without adverse COM
ment from the Sun. Even when the OBJ
viously sensible proposition to change
the inauguration date from the hitter and
Indictment season at the first Of March
70 date 8 month later was made. the
Sun seemed 10 be so afraid that some
one in the District OF Columbia would
make something out Of it that all the
walls OF its wrath were turned upon
those who advocated It. Do you think
it is quite fair?
Every fact set out above is supported
by public document except as other
wise stated tt 1oHNsroN
Washington, D. C., AUG. L