Evening star., 1915-03-29
MAJORITY RULE
IN WASHINGTON
If Nation Becomes Minority
Contributor It Should Sur.
render Control to Local
Majority.
NO REPRESENTATION
WITHOUT TAXATION
Half-and-HaH Law Furnishes Only
Defense Against Just Criticism
Of Local Government.
May I. lMl

The nation should not diminish
its half-contribution to capital up
building; for the logical sequence
OF such action is surrender by the
nation Of control of the capital
municipality to the local majority
stockholders. Power and obliga-
ton are inseparably coupled. and
if the latter is destroyed or dimin-
ished. the former is IN equity de-
stroyed or diminished in proper
ton.
If the nation without repudiat-
ing entirely its capital-mainte-
nance obligation cuts it down from
one-half to one-third or one
quarter, and confines it to a close
calculation Of actual benefits in
protection and development con-
ferred upon the government prop
erty. then the nation should cut
down in proportion the control
which it exercises in taxation and
municipal government of the Dis
trict. Ceasing to be a majority
or one-half stockholder in this
municipal corporation. it should.
in good faith, turn over control of
the fiscal concerns of the corpora
ton to the majority stockholders.
This surrender of power accom-
panying a reputation of obliga-
ton should be genuine and ef-
fective. 1t should transfer to the
majority contributors to the tax
fund absolutely the power to say
how much should be raised in
taxes, IN what form they should be
raised. and by whom and for what
purposes they should be expend-
ed. No power should be reserved
to the nation which is not of the
negative, limited character that is
appropriate for the protection of a
minority interest and representa-
ton.
Power and obligation are in
separably coupled, and the nation
should not bunco the capital by
merely pretending to surrender
power while genuinely repudiat-
ing a material obligation. If the
nation had in fact bought the
Washingtonians' birthright for a
mess OF pottage it would be COM
PEELED in good faith to restore the
birthright if it withheld any of the
stipulated pottage. With all the
power in its own hands it must
not cheat the nations ward Of
both birthright and pottage.
II the United States reduces its partici-
nation in capita maintenance below the
one-half mark 1t must in fairness sur
render it's exclusive control OF the capi-
ta,'s fiscal concerns. 1t is hard enough to
elusive control of a fund by half con-
tributor; it is impossible ITO defend
such exclusive control by quarter
contributor. A one-half taxpayer needs
oayer of the other half to become a
majority and on the principle OF ma
tority rule be entitled to act as II he
we're the whole; but a third or a quar-
ter taxpayer is distinctly and hope
lessly q minority. and if he assumes to
act for the whole 1T is not even ap-
nroximate representative government
Thus if the nation does not withdraw
entirely from participation in capital
making and apital-maintenance and
rep1diates only in part its capital OBJ
rnrresponding part its exclusive taxing
and governing power Is in rsspee. oeco, to the ie
enprnximate conformity with reduc-
tions in obligation and responsibility
When the nation was theoretically
meeting all the expenses of capital
making, an obligation which it as
sumed at the founding of the city. 1t
was theoretically entitled to absolute
control of the capitals fiscal concerns.
Even under the half contribution to-
plausible defence on the American
principle which couples taxation and