The Washington herald., 1914-03-12
Fight PLANNED
FOR ORGANIC ACT
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

American Civic Association. Secretar,
Watrous has signified his anxiety tc
see that each member of the organiza.
tions receives a copy to help the cause
along. Mr.. Macfarland's complete report
follows:
This is the National Capital As SEN
ator Southland said in his report from
the District committe to the Senate in
1855. it is the child of the Union" and
"a creation of the Union for its own pur-
poses" Personally remembering the
founding of the city and familiar with
all the official records he further said
THE design of the Constitution and its
founders was to create a residence for
the government where they should have
absolute and unlimited control, which
should he regulated and governed by
them. without the interference of par
tial interests of the States, which should
he built up and sustained by their ef-
fcrt and resources, not dependent upon
the will or resources of any State or
local interest"
This fact is also expressed in all the
reports of all the~ Congressional Commit
tees, including two joint select CON-
mittees which studied the question be-
tween 1874 and 1873 For example. the
great men who passed what the United
States Supreme Court mas called the or
fHnic act of 1S7S-Thurman. Bayard, Al
iison. Morrell, Abram $. Hewett, Hoar,
and men like them, who have gone, not
to speaking of the living, all take this
view. As the joint select committee re-
porting in December, 1874, said, the
Htreets, avenues, squares. and general
!Iian Of the Capital City bear the i'm
press Of paramount and exclusive nation-
llity; spacious and grand in design, dedi-
.ated to the sacred uses of a capital.
,nernUs and intolerGble as a charge upon
Pr1vate property, the provision Of super
Tision of all suitable Improvements and
decorations obviously. properly, and i'm
,eratively devolVes upon Congress; and II
viii. as 1t respects the character of its
Jurisdiction and the dignity Of its trust.
exercise a Jealous care over it.
Absolute sovereignty, exclusive con-
trnl implied. they held, entire response
iIity.
Lesisin tion to BE National.
Moreover. they emphasize the fact
stated in the report just quoted that all
legislation for the District must be held
o be national in its character, and pri-
narily in the interests OF the American.
executive. legislative and judicial depart
nents of Ie government. serene in its
s'uiatiCn- alike from the conflict of fac
inus and the necessities Of commerce
Vas to sInybOlizc of the national unity of
,he people . = Congress, by the terms
Dr the Constitution. becomes the trustee
OF the nation. administers its trust in its
interest. and may not share its trustee
ship with another to the prejudice OF the
cestui que trust-the body of the Amer
lean people.
1t is unique among American cities
and unique among national capitals, for
il is the only purely national and gov
city in the world.
The officers and judges are appointed
by the national government, and the
courts are Federal The civil and GRIM
ftaal process runs in the name of the
President of the United States.
congress cannot delegate its con-
stitutIOnAl duty 10 exercise exclusive
legislation in all cases Whatsoever.
ovcr the Federal district.
-'AI patriotic Americans everywhere
regard this Capital as the symbol of the
republic and want it to be as nearly
perfect as possible in all respects. They
are proud of the progress it has made
under the organic act as the Supreme
I'ourt has termed it 135 /. s. 2i0), they
30 not begrudGe the insignificant per
.aI,ita amount they pay for its develop
l,ent and maintenance and they want
more rather than less spent upon it by
he nation. Every important physical or
moral improvement made here is ap-
proved by them. They would oppose any |
measure that would halt the progress of
hc Capital They would equally op-
bose anN injustice to the people who live
mere. |
''Rccausc We are part of the American
Tcople and share the feelings Cf our fell |
low countrymen with respect to the Ma
tiOnal Capital We have exercised our
right of peaceful assembly |
for free discussion.
Reasons for Action. |
The necessity for our action was found |
in the fact that four measures had been |
sent by the House to the Senate which |
would practically destroy the essential
of the 'half-and-half arrange
ncnt of the organic act and that other !
were pending in the House |
which threaten similar danger. They |
were plainly intended to put the whole |
burden of the development and main |
Lenance of the National Capital upon the !
345. 900 people living here and to relieve |
the rest Of the 95.O00.Oo0 of Americans |
from the contribution they have been |
making. This would mean doubling tax |
alton here and cutting progress in half. |
The first would be confiscation. The |
second would, therefore, be inevitable in |
any event. This would be a national |
ra!amity. 1t would involve national in
Justice TO the politically helpless District