Evening star., 1911-06-08
Washington's Official Advocates.

Washington's Official Advocates.
The Commissioners have exercised an
undisputed right in declining to accede TO
the spec hc requests of the Citizens Fed
Grafton for the publication OF locals bills
and for the adoption of specified methods
Of ascertaining local sentiment concerning
proposed legislation affecting the District.
They have suggested plausible reasons
to justify this refusal 1t is regrettable,
however. that in the incidental statement
OF their view of their abstract duty in
their relation to the people of Washing
ton they should under any construction
of their words place themselves or permit
themselves unintentionally to be placed
in the attitude of minimizing their re-
sponsibiity in conscience and equity to
local public opinion. and their obligation
to ascertain this opinion, to heed 1t and
to give il expression.
Of course, there is no legal RESPONSE
biiity upon them in this connection, and
no enforcibie obligation of any kind. But
they are the only officials dealing with
District affairs who under the law must
tas 10 two-thirds of their membership be
bona-tide loca, residents, and all the
surrounding conditions combine with this
requirement to place upon them the
equitable obligation to represent and to
defend against all the world, IL necessary.
the interests of the local community. the
District residents and taxpayers.
II they do not represent peculiarly and
distinctly the local taxpayers. the latter
have no representative. Uncle Sam. the
nation, as a District taxpayer. has no
oad of rIojr Congress. the DIS
trict's exclusive legislature, is the nation.
and the District has no representation in
IL The President, representing the ma
ton, has absolute executive control Of the
District, and the local community has no
voice whatsoever in his election. Every
consideration of fairness demands that the
Commissioners appointed from the local
community shall Loyalty represent it.
Except as to the limited power delegated
to them to enact certain municipal regu-
lations, concerning subjects Of primary
concern to the local community. the Com
missioners nave no powers in themselves
They are to carry out what they are told
to do by the nation. through Congress
They are to advise Congress, representing
the nation, what should be enacted con-
corning the community. whose interests
anu WISHES luCy 0iC SoPPOSOo ~ ASR@~
sent They are not judges between the
capital and the nation, but advocates OF
the capital with the nation. as represented
by Congress.
Ii they are not such advocates. repre-
scnting primarily the local community.
then Washington Is deprived of the last
shred of representation. even indirect and
advisory. in its concerns; and the Impulse
osition of relief from humiliation and in
jury, even il it takes the shape Of a
voteless disappointing.y ineffective ter
ritorial delegate in one house Of Con-
gress. is perfectly natural.
The Commissioners now frame, explain
and defend before the appropriations
committees OF Congress the appropria-
items estimates, the most important legis-
iative propositions that affect the Dis
trict. and they are the only official
mcuthpteces of the people OF Washing
ton in their general relations with Con-
gress. They are thus in effect today the
territorial delegates of the District in
Congress: and II they should while act
ing in that capacity repudiate their pri-
mary obligation to their local constit-
uency or profess divided allegiance.
Washington would be stirred with
sense OF injury. and of betrayal.
Ii is on the theory that the Commits
soners Loyalty represent In quasi-legis-
lative character the local community that
public approval Is given to the PROPOSE
ton that the power Of q public utilities
commission be conferred upon them, and
that control Of all branches Of municipal
activity. including the schools, be concen-
trated in them. Congress treats them as
local representatives. voicfng distinctly
local wishes and interests. Whatever they
say In surrender Of any local contention
ID treated In Congress as an admission or
confession binding the District to Its in
jury. Note. for example, Chairman
Johnsons quotation OF Commissioner
Judson concerning an alleged overpay-
ment by the United States under the
terms Of the organic act.
Unless the community can absolutely
rely upon the Commissioners to represent
primarily It's interests and wishes, it
will suffer vital injury at a time when
IL needs all its strength in -self-defense.
Congress. representing the nation, is,
through the House District committee,
apparently about to re-examine the finan-
cial relations Of nation and capital The
SoiuHiisSioHcTS Will Do tTedteO IN tnIS IN
vestigation as the distinct representatives
of the capital. II. instead Of acting as
the special advocates of the community
in this crisis. the Commissioners look
upon themselves as impartial and disin-
terested judges. or witnesses, the capital
will be robbed of all loyal and exclusive
championship. and the results will be
grossly unfair and ster-threatening.
The three Commissioners. with no real
power in themselves to act, but only to
recommend, to urge. to petition. to ad-
wise and to carry out the orders of Con-
gress, should represent solely or primarily
the otherwise unrepresented local COM
munity. The nation. which holds through
Congress and the President the exclusive
power of control. clearly does not need
to divide with the local community the
privilege of petition.
II he9ina tn IOok as IN Sfr Thovnas a In.