The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-23
Congress and the District.

Congress is about to adjourn, with a
large number OF meritorious bills relat-
ing to the District of Columbia upon its
calendar. and many OF doubtful merit.
There is not the slightest probability that
these bills will be acted upon during the
present session, and next winter, in the
brief time allotted for legislation. most
of them are likely TO be ignored.
What can the people OF the District of
Columbia do about this serious condi-
tion2 What relief is there from the in
difference and indisposition on the part
OF Congress 10 deal with purely local
affairs?
It is useless to talk about Repre-
sentative in Congress. To secure this
representation it would be necessary to
amend the Constitution OF the United
states-a hopeless task. The people OF
the District might. of course. elect q
Delegate. as was done some years ago
A Delegate without a vote and with only
occasional opportunity to speak would
be Of little assistance; besides which, the
election Of a Delegate would inject ward
politics into our municipal system, and
this would be a large price TO pay FOR
little benefit
There is a simple and easy way &c
remedy the situation. Let Congress dele
gate TO the Commissioners OF the District
of Columbia a little more power to enact
ordinances than they already possess
Congress should reserve to itself the
right 10 legislate upon matters relating
to public property, such as parks and
highways. public utility corporations
and public finances, including license:
and taxations. In the mass OF bill
which now cucumber the docket OF tn,
House are measures which might easily
have been formulated by the District
Commissioners
There is no reason why the Commission
ers should not amend the bird, fish. and
game laws. or provide for the better reg
istration of births. or provide for lightins
vehicles. or provide for the parole Of adul
prisoners. or do a hundred other thing,
which seem now to require the expensive
tedious, and cumbersome system OF en-
actment by both Houses Of Congress and
approval by the President Of the United
States.
In the early days of the commission
system. and in fact In the early days o.
the municipal history of the Nationa
Capital. Congress was literally a loca
legislative body. It dealt with all minoi
details Of city administration. As tim,
progressed and Washington had beeomt
a municipality in the just sense OF TIT
word. Congress delegated its powers II
greater and greater degree to the Com
missioners. The precedent thus estab
lished might easily be carried to its logt
cal conclusion. If this were done. Con
gress. instead of frittering its time ava!
over innumerabIe picayune matters
would have opportunity TO consider i'm
portant questions, such as the paymen
Of the debt OF the District, the provision
Of a fund for permanent improvements
regulating various matters relating Il
public utilities such as the price Of gas
a permanent system Of parks and high
ways. and other matters of equal i'm
portanee.
1t is certain that the present situation
has little to commend it. The suggestion
10 give to the Commissioners large
powers in minor municipal detail. if the.
require it. and allow Congress time an
opportunity TO discuss and enact meas
ures OF real Importance, would be wei
coined both by the citizens OF the Distric
and by members OF Congress.
After all. however. Congress is wise f
not INDUCING in much Of the petty legis
lation that is constantly sought