Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-01

of the local taxpaying community the
taxing and appropriattng legislation 1of
the District will thus come closer 70
representing the will Of the taxpayers
than that in any other great American
city.
II the nation contributes less than half
toward capital-upbuilding it loses the
right on equitable American principles to
control the finances of the municipality
But it is doubtful whether under the
Constitution, in its present shape, 1t can
make genuine bona-fide transfer of this
full power to the local majority (see
Roach ct al. VS.. Van Riswick, Wash
ington Law Reporter. November TO- 1879,
and 1t may be found that nothing less
than the absolute divorce of nation and
pital. which would follow total repndi-
alton Of the apital-maintenance obliga-
ton, will accomplish fully this equitable
transfer. If this turns out to be the case
all the protests against total replidla-
ton of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES obligations,
which logically means the destruction OF
the nationally-controlled capital of the
forefathers. will apply with equal force
to the mere diminution of that nationai
contribution, since such dininution
threatens the same destructive result.
Not Genuine Self-Government.
In 1888 in a Star article pointed out
the limitations upon the power Of Con-
gress under the present Constitution to
to the District even If it wished. Much
Of what was then said is applicable to-
day.
The judiciary committee Of the House
OF Representatives, in a report made
June l, 1874. stated the following truths:
In a strict legal sense there can be said
to be no such thing as a local govern
ment Of the District of Columbia. for
hn fI,a
District independent of that of the fed
eral government, and whatever local au-
thority there may be now existing or
which may hereafter be set up within
the District 1t can only be regarded
legally as an agency of the federal gov
eminent; and whatever authority this
local government may exercise. 1t must
be regarded as the act of the United
States through their delegated represent
alive The District legislature would
in any event act under the restrictions
suggested by these words. Its general
laws would be mere petitions, void with
out the assent, express or implied, of
Congress. A delegate without vote
has little weight in a 'log-rollinS body
like the House of Representatives. The
other officers would be petty town Off
Gals. and a voice would still be denied
the city in the choice of the executive
and legislative officers of the nation. In
short, the exercise of suffrage thus limit
ed would be an expensive farce. Without
representation suffrage is of no value,
and shut out from the bodies which
make its laws and impose taxes upon it,
representation of the District under the
Constitution in its present shape can be
only a sham.
1T is extremely doubtful whether popu-
lar suffrage is desirable in the choice of
those who are intrusted with purely mu-
nicipal functions. even in cities where
its adoption is not opposed by the pc
culiar objections which confront it in its
a q of Mos irt yfay1
Experience and observation do not teach
that municipality which is reasonably
well governed will display wisdom by
demanding a change of system In order
to assimilate itself to ordinary Ameri-
can cities.
"The latter are VIGOROUSLY miSgoverned
Incompetent and dishonest officials have
been too often chosen in partisan con-
tests. immense municipal debts have been
contracted and excessive taxation has
been imposed. Statistics show that while
state Indebtedness has decreased between
the last two censuses. municipal indebt-
edness has vastly increased. far more
rapidly than population and valuation,
a; its amount in American municipali-
ties is now QSSS) estimated at billion
dollars. (The total Indebtedness Of Amer
lean municipalities in 1872, according to
the census figures. was 81, PIG. 7S9)
The deplorable financial condition of so
many of our large cities is due, in the
main, to unlimited popular suffrage
winch has given to non-taxpaying, ire
sponsible voters the power to expend,
extravagantly and corruptly, the money
supplied by taxpayers. 1t has placed the
contributors and non-contributors to
fund upon an equal footing in the matter
of deciding how and by whom the fund
shall be disbursed. It has enabled the
latter under the guise of taxation, to
make a division of the contributions of
the former. 1t has fegalfzed the virtual
confiscation of accumulated wealth by
aggregated paupers. Under its work
ings robbers at the head of organized
bands Of destitute and desperate follow