Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-23
For Congress and Our Faith
full Legislators and for
the Capital.
RECIPROCITY IN FAIR PLAY
AND CONSIDERATION
The Greatest Legislature in the
World to Build the Worlds
Grandest Capital.
BY THEODORE w. MOVES.

BY THEODORE w. MOVES
In this Christmas season OF
peace on earth and good will to-
ward men let reciprocal revilingS
cease between indignant Wash
ingtonians and their constitutional
legislators OF the House District
committee. TO whose tender mer-
cies the protection of their wei
fare IS peculiarly intrusted The
Washingtonian, powerless to par
ticipate in the slightest degree in
his own taxation and government,
and impotent to punish those who
abuse, to his vital injury, their
power to tax and govern him,
must refrain from exercising the
privilege of the hopelessly defeat
ed litigant of "cussing the court. .
With nothing LETT to him but the
verbal sputterings of the ag-
grieved and helpless, he must, at
this Christmas time, no longer
even sputter.
The Districts legislator, with
all power iii his hands to punish,
to wound and even to destroy,
must also in the spirit of the sea-
son cease to revile.
Let us have reciprocity in
courteous consideration.
The House committee on rules will. of
course discover no plot by Washington
ians to defeat for reelection any of their
constitutional legislators, since there is
such plot: not because there is any
impropriety in the Washingtonian show
ing strong concern in the election of just
and fair men as his exclusive state and
municipal Legislators, but because of the
futility and folly of the procedure, OF
which every Thoughtful Washingtonian is
keenly conscious The voting constftu-
encies of congressman are sensitive to the
last degree to ...e intermeddling of out
siders. and though the election is of his
aldermen and town councils the Wash
ingtouian is not viewed by the voters in
the congressional elections as a diff
ferent basis from other outsiders.
Mr.. Crisp proclaims that he has carried
his election on the strength of the
ital which he has instiled in the minds
of uniformed constituents To meet
this assault upon them the Washington
ians ought to be able to get the truth be-
fore Mr.. Crisp's constituents, but they
recognize that they cannot even do that.
They know that under the crippling con-
ditions that hamper them any resentment
at congressional injury or abuse, whether
expressed in words or acts only makes
bad matter worse. bringing upon them
new injuries and additional verbal abuse,
against which they are help ess.
OF course. no Washingtonian. whether
man or woman, should speak disrespect-
fully Of any of the legislators whom
Providence and the Constitution have i'm
posed upon him. On the other hand no
legislator, whatever the verbal provoca-
ton from individual Washingtonians,
should punish vilify the whole COM
munity for the offense of a few indi-
yiduals.
Washingtonians must not generalize
and condemn and abuse all Congress, in
Guiding conscientious and faithful legiS-
lators, because a few congressman are
Indignantly hostile and abusive. Con-
Sress must not generalize and condemn
all Washington because a few Washing
ronians are at times unjustly censorious
or even ungratefully slanderous.
Reciprocity in Fair Play
Fair play for the District means not
merely substantial! equity in taxation
which on the whole it is now receiving
and will doubtless, after a period OF
harassing anxiety, continue to receiver.
out fair play in all its relations. so that
It's nat.onal-local legislator shall appear
to the capital friendly law-giver
wise and just, and not as a hostile PRO-
consul contemptuously and despotically
lordng II over the barbarians or as the
scourge OF God to punish for its sins
a base and degenerate community of
greedy Deggars- paupers of criminal pro-
civities and malefactors of great wealth
For example, having on the score of ma
uonal necessity deprived the capital of
american rights and seized through abso-
lutte control of the taxing power the city $
purse. is il fair the part of Congress
10 threaten Washingtonians with confisca
ton and financial ruin if they ask res
toration OF these rights and to denounce
them as willing slaves. as base and
greedy Esaus, II they do not make this
demand?
Having compelled the community ia
participate in its own affairs ONLY
through the privilege of petition. is il
iair when II petitions to denounce IL as
mercenary mendicant and corrup-
lobbyist? Since this community has no
voice as 10 the amount of taxes il shall
pay, municipal or national or as to the
forms of taxation methods of colIec.
tons, or as TO the disbursement of tn.
TAX money when collected. is il fair II
iaton TO II as taxpayer. such as parasite
blood-sucking leech. tax-dodger and beg
gar?
since every District law whatsoever Il
enacted solely by Congress without an,
local participation, should not Congress
n " has given the District bad govern
ment OF bad laws in any particular cor
rect its mistakes without throwing re
sponsibity. with denunciation upo,
Washington as scapegoat?
since the nation compels the communit
10 come as petitioners to Congress 70
everything affecting its affairs. should no
Congress be forbearing and considerat
and forgiying to the last degree If som
OF these American petitioners playing a.
un-American role. are overzealous tact
less and even offensive In the exercise O
the right to which they are confined
Since the obligation of the eongressma
is TO legislate fairly and syInpatheticaII
for the community whole. Is no
violation of that obligation far NOR
serious matter than error of jlds,
ptent or lack of tact or even unreason
able consciousness on the part of indi
Viduais i'm n community which can onI
talk. suggest and criticise and can Il
nothing?
Ii representative slaughters the Ma
(Coptinued on Eighth Pagel