Evening star., 1915-03-29

populate the city which will take the
place OF the former capital, II will re-
suit in q shabby and disorsditable ON
vironment OF the seat Of government
humiliatirsg to national self-respect.
t2) It with be dishonorabls. destroying
equities and vested rights whieh spring
from tho century-old pledge based on
q valuable consideration to preserve
and develop Washington as the perma-
nent n National Capital; The nasien; as
lots. made this pledge to each pur-
chaser of a lot from II ~ distinctly
as II the pledge had been written in
the deed. (3) 1t will offend the '.fne.
strong spirit of American nationality
IT.. The tsn, National Capital ,a, is not only y
itself a patriotic, unifying influence.
The nation should not. and will not. de-
stroy this material embodiment Of the
Union Of the states. this bond and
token Of the spirit Of American ma
t>onality
Need Of National Representation.
II on the other hand the nation rec
ogniaes the vital fact OF the Districts
inability to sustain alone tho burden
of National Capital upbuilding and re-
affirms its National Capital financial
obligation: and II the national govern
ment in self-protection, and AZ tho
price Of its absolutely necessary par
ticipation in the cost Of National Capt.
tai maintenance and development, with
holds full statehood from the District
and retains in Congress the constitu-
tional exclusive power OF legislation.
then the Districts status should be ap-
proximated as closely as possible to
that Of q state. and all tho American
rights and privileges should be secured
to the people Of tho District which are
with exclusive Legislative
control Of the District by Congress. As
taxpayers and potential soldiers OF the
nation the Washingtonians are entitled
to and should enjoy these rights wheth-
er Congress for the nation retains or
surrenders control and power OF ex-
elusive legislation in respect to the
capital. Retailing the half-and-half
relation and national control In munic-
ipal affairs the nation ought to insist
upon AmericanixinE Warrington by
placing its people upon the same ma
sAVAAAA AOUtAnB - OlhGE A"CEACuhbs 81Vs
ing them representation in the House.
Senate and electoral college and the
status of citizens of . state in relation
to the courts OF the United States. This
action will correct Inconsistencies and
which exist I'm defining
the status of the Washingtonian. For
example. the District has been pro-
nounced a state (by the courtsD under
q treaty with France, q constructi0n
privileges ON aliens, but not
a state under the Constitution whose
people can sue in the federal courts.
The District is . state Tin the COnstitu-
tiOn) when direct taxes are to be col-
lected, but not . state Gin the Constitu-
tion) when representatives are appor-
toned. though the Constitution couples
the two things. The Washingtonian
needs access ON equal terms with other
Americans to the federal courts, the
same right to sue in the federal courts
as that enjoyed by the citizen of .
state. The District needs to be q state
when representatives are apportioned ~
well as when direct taxes are levied.
tonian to be the citizen of q state not
merely when burdens are Imposed. hut
sometimes when privileges are con-
ferred.
IT 10 NO longer a hopeless task to at
tempt amendment of the Constitution
except as the aftermath OF civil war. 1t
has recently been twice amended In
quick succession.
This constitutional amendment which
I urge was first sugEeated by A. n.
Woodward i'm 1901, wns advocated by
me in The Star In 1893, was proposed
formally in Congress by Senator Blair
In 1883 and In 1859 and subsequeutly
was ably championed by him. 1t was
renewed with verbal notifications
by Senator Gallinxer in later years, and
Is now in substance pushed by the spe-
ctal suffrage committee Of the Chamber
of Commerce and by other orxanixa-
hOns of WaShingtonians.
Local Government Suggestions.
The wisest and most effective plan
of campaign would doubtless be to
attention for the present
upon this proposed constitutional
amendment. and. waving Individual
views concerning the Washingtonians'
other political rights than that of gen.
uine national representation, to unite
heartily with all other Neutrality-suspicious.
in pushing to enactment this amend
ment. But il the effort to segregate
this amendment and to campaign solely
for it's enactment until victory has been
won should not succeed, the question
will arise: what privileges in respect
to its municipal government may equi-
la bly, and safely be asked for and be-
slowed upon the District in accordance
with the two fundamental requirements
already noted?
Preserving its status Of a majority
Or at the very least OF half stock
holder in the municipal corporation IN
order to justify its full and exclusive
control of the corporations financial
ts full taxing and legislative powers as
% represent faithfully the other and
half of the municipal
If one-half is to act for
he whole it must learn the views and
wishes of the other half and give them
is own. BY the referendum it can
LScertain the Legislative wishes of this
half: and by the recall
I can give the now impotent half at
east Il negative voice in the selection
If municipal officials.
ng its veto and the final word. Con-