Evening star., 1915-03-29

has not only caused the suggestion OF
such schemes of reform as the limitation
of suffrage to taxpayers. and minority
representation, but 1t has led even to the
bold proposition that all power Of self
government be Withdrawn from these mu-
nicipal ties, and that the management of
their affairs be intrusted to thsrstate leg
islature--a plan which, if adopted, would
place them in respect to their internal
administration in a condition similar to
that of Wash,ngton In theory the pow
by delegation from the people of the
whole state in whom the ultimate SOW
ereignty. as modified by the Constitution
of the United States. resides. DIN New
municipal corporations were appointed by
the governor and four senators chosen
every year by four subdivisions OF the as
sembly. Instances Of the intervention OF
cities, amounting in some cases to indi-
rect disfranchisement, have not been
lacking in later years.
Merits of Commission Government.
There are serious objections, however.
to the plan of granting exclusive control
over cities to the state government, and
it Is not likely that the proposition can
muster many advocates But the mere
fact that the suggestion has been made
indicates that the evils which our NUM-
cipalities endure are so great tnat the
condition of Washington Is viewed by
some as preferable The capital may well
hesitate before it demands privilege
which its possessors are eager 70 resign,
before it seeks to bind upon its own
shoulders the burden Of which otner cues
themselves, before it asks. as boon. the
main source of municipal woes. II the
doctrine were generally accepted enat UNI
versal suffrage is demanded by republican
4 ~y-l- kho
officers who exercise purely governmental
functions, and not in the selection OF
agents by municipal corporations to per
form duties affecting private property
interests. and II Congress might be de-
pended upon to grant to the taxpayers
of the District the financial admtnistra-
ton of the capital. some of the objections
against an elective system would be re-
moved. But there is no probability OF
such action by Congress. The same spirit
which would force republican forms Of
government to be observed in the Dis
trict. though republican rights are not
granted Herewith, would deny property
qualification for voters. The municipal
affairs of the city are now managed by
commission appointed by the President.
and compared with the manner and cost
Of the performance Of similar duties IN
other cities the work Is well and cheaply
done. If this method Of government
should be abandoned. and the universal
suffrage system adopted. there is no rea-
son to believe that washington would
escape the maladministration which pre-
which cause popular suffrage to be bane-
full in the latter exist to a considerable
degree at the capital, and in one or two
respects Washington has additional dis
advantages with which to contend. The
character Of the voting population Of the
city. though 1t would not be a proper
ground of objection II 1t were proposed
to invest the residents. OF the District
with the full rights Of American cst'zen-
ship. may be noted when the evils of
suffrage are offered without its snbstan-
tial benefits. About one-third Of the in
habitants of Washington are colored. and
this number includes thousands Of the
worst as well as the best specimens OF
colored element an army OF recruits
would be attracted by elections to the
city from the farms Of Maryland and
Virginia. to be used as voting material
as loafers, partly by the wages Of politics,
partly by charity and partly by jail nour-
ishment. The floating population Of non
taxpayers will always be large at the
gregate. but with the accessions that elec-
tons bring the sold citizens would almost
certainly be overwhelmed.
The commission government, which q
sham representative system would dis
place. has the advantage Of bringing the
United States and the National Capital
into those close relations which were an
ticipated IN the plans Of our forefathers.
The members Of the commission are ap-
pointed by the President, to whom they
report, and the nominations Of two of
them are approved by the 8enate- The
treasurer Of the United States Is treasurer
Of the District. Congress alone Is respon-
| sible for all general legislation. The
eral government are thus suggested at
every turn. If the city were permitted to
elect local officers and PASS local laws 1t
would remove Itself to that extent from
national consideration, members OF Con-
gress would be permitted fewer oppor-
tunities of learning their full respon-
sibilities in respect to the nations ward,
while the privilege gained would have no
compensating advantage.
1t is true that commission governments
are not unobjectionable. but it is believed
that the most serious OF their evils may
be avoided more readily than those Of the
alternative system. Among the possible
dangers of such government for Wash
ington are two that are prominent: FIRST
that the executive may appoint as COM
missioners not bona fde citizens Of the
District, interested in its welfare alone,
but his own favorites. on the score of
personal friendship OF as reward for
political services. Secondly. that such
Commissioners. when appointed. will use
the minor positions under their control
as similar political rewards to aid the
party or the political boss" in whose in
terests they have been given office. If
the citys government Is ever debased into
a mere political machine, death blow
will be given to the interests Of the Dis
trict The capital is the ward. not Of a
party. but of a nation; it requires the
friendly legislation of both parties; and
to obtain such legislation its government
must be non-partisan. The affairs of
Washington are in certain respects con-
fided to the President and Commissioners
appointed by him as trustees. If PreSl-
dent or Commissioner takes advantage
of this position to benefit himself. OF a.
clique. or political party, and is not in
duenced solely by consideration OF the
interests coniidel to his protection,
sacred trust Is betrayed.
Surrender Exclusive Power.
Thirdly, Congress may propose an
gushing its own power of exclusive lesis-
,ation and placing the residents of the
District upon the same footing in regard
to all elections as the Citizens of the sew
eral states Tile prosperity Of Washing
ton as the National Capital would be en-
dangered by the grant of local soNer-
eighty to its citizens. Even If the nation
might be induced to surrender the con-
troll of it's property interests in the DIS
trict entirely to the residents, which is
hardly conceivable. it would not be Will
ing to pay one-haIf of the expenses OF the
capital with no power OF management III
respect TO its affairs, and with not even
voice in ITS government. But it Is apso-
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