The Washington times., 1911-06-05
THE VOICE OF THE DISTRICT
IN CONGRESS.

Once more Jne question OF DlSJrlcC
representation in Congress has become
an issue, and once more public men and
Washington citizens are expressing
their views as to what should be done
about it. The revived acuteness is the
result of the action of the Commits
sioners in refusing to recommend to
Congress the request of the Federation
of Citizens Associations for publication
of District bills in the newspapers, and
the action of the Park View Citizens
Association in advocating a District
delegate in the House.
1t cannot fail to impress any student
of American politics and economics
that the time is ripe for the establish
ment of some system by which the
people of the District of Columbia
shall enjoy the right to a voice in the
administration of their own affairs.
Democracy of the small I'd" variety is
arriving in the United States by huge
strides. Municipalities are democratic
ing themselves at rapid and effective
rate, Counties are becoming demo-
cratic, and States are racing with each
other to create facilities by which the
people shall be given more direct con-
troll of government. This sentiment
found vigorous expression at the polls
last November, when one party was
thrown unceremoniously from its posi-
ton of control in the National House
of Representatives because it had not
responded to the peoples will, and an
other was put in control because the
people believed it would respond. The
extent of the sentiment was further
demonstrated by the radical change in
the personnel of the United States
Senate, where men who had attempted
to thwart the popular will were forced
out and men in whom more confidence
was placed were put in.
The District of Columbia has not
escaped this democratic wave. Its
people are exactly like the people of
New Hampshire, of Iowa, of California.
They have the same hopes, the same
ambitions. They are Americans, too,
and they are filled with the same de-
sire for emancipation, for the estab-
ishment of democratic government in
which they shall be the ruling forces.
With a supposedly progressive-a
emocratic-Congress endowed with au
thority to give the people of the Dis
trict voice in the administration of
their own affairs and with the I'M
American system of government in
operation in Washington, it does not
seem that great deal of effort should
be necessary to bring about the much
desired change.
The Washington Times would like to
make a suggestion for consideration at
this time. 1t is this: Let there be
created an informal, unofficial commit
tee, composed of a subcommittee of the
District Committees of Congress, a sub
committee of the Federation of Citizens
Associations, and the District Commits
sioners. Let this committee consider
all the various plans of District repre-
sentation that have been suggested,
adopt that which seems most practic-
able, and induce Congress to submit it
II
ton or rejection. This would make
possible thorough consideration of the
different proposals concerning the form
of District government, would bring to
a head the agitation for a change, and
should result in the establishment of a
scheme of administration that would
remedy the defects in the existing
system.