Evening star., 1915-03-29

population and growth of the several
states are considered. The District. by
the showing of the census of 1850. al
ready SURPASSED III point of numb"ra Ne
vada t6e.2s0. Delaware u4665h. and
Oregon u74. .761): and the advantage over
Delaware and Nevada is likely to be re-
tanned. In addition to these three states.
Colorado d3t.64aN. Florida ,261.Ss
Rhode Island toI6.s5n. Vermont ''ssc. Ss6,
and New Hampshire cas- had less
than double the Districts population.
making the assignment of one senator
to the latter equitable.
In view of the comparative rate OF
increase and other considerations. the
District is likely to he found in the future
ahead Of New Hampshire. Rhode Island.
Delaware. and. perhaps. Connecticut, OF
the original states. and Vermont ana
Nevada of the new states.
The adoption of the fourth plan by Con-
gress would be a compromise between
granting only local. qualified suffrage.
which is highly Objectionable to the Dis
trict. and consenting to absolute self
government which involves a surrender
of national control over the Capital and
to which the United States. as the owner
of one-half the city. and the virtual payer
of one-half its taxes. would never con-
sent. The wisdom of this course is sus-
tanned by all the arguments which go TO
show that the constitutional power OF
exclusive legislation by Congress should
not be hastily yielded. and also by those
who maintain that taxation without repre-
sentation and inequality of citizens be-
fore the law should not he allowed to eN-
list. The District would be placed in GER
tain respects on level with the states.
Taxed like them. 1t would have, like them.
voice in the disposition of the general
taxes. 1t would not however. stand
upon precisely the same footing with
them, for the states are subordinated I"
the general government only in certain
defined particulars, whereas the District
would be subordinate in ali respects. This
inferiority would be indicated. il has been
suggested. by giving the District one in
stead Of two senator's, and by corre-
spending reduction i'll its electoral vote
Enjoying representation in Congress and
participation in the choice of the Presi-
dent who appoints local officers. Wash
ington would resemble in its municipal
government a city which, after voting
for the governor and legislature OF a
state, is managed by a commission ap-
pointed by the former and approved by
the latter. Under this fourth plan the
suggestions made in respect to the duty
of members Of Congress as the exclusive
legislators for the Capital would still be
applicable: the present financial arrange
ments between the District and the gem
era1 government would be maintained ;
the expensive transportation Of oftice-
holding voters to the states from Maine.
IA
would. after the abolition Of the office
apportionment system. be avoided: the
rights of residents Of the District. as
American citizens, would be recognized
in a manner which would inhict the
smallest possible injury upon the inter
ests OF the city as capital of the United
States. and this body OF national terri
tory with all its patriotic associations
would be preserved to the Union.
Changes in Municipal Government.
II at the time of giving the District
the substantial representation suggested
1t should also be decided that Congress
can manage the minor concerns Of the
District more satisfactorily by modifying
n details the present form Of municipal
government. such changes may then be
conveniently made. But every alteration
should be based upon q full recognition,
first Of the absolute necessity OF a re-
tention by the general government OF
such representation in and control of
the management Of city affairs as will en-
able It to protect its vast interests here:
second. of the frightful warning from the
experience Of other large cities AGAINST
recourse to unlimited popular suffrage
as a factor in the decision Of purely mu-
nicipal and financial matters; and, third.
Of the. vital importance to the District
that It's local government shall be non
partisan.
It ID conceded that tho best method by
which Congress can regulate the capi-
tai as a city may vary somewhat in de-
tails. with altering circumstances, but
there is no urgent present necessity for
a change in this respect. The more Inn
portant question is. Shall not the people
Of the District, who now largely exceed
the number of persons represented by
each member Of the House, be admitted
to the Union as citizens Of ouas: state,
- ~ tAI tot ffnr1 In Hhn no.
tional legislature and the privilege OF
voting for President? Without disputing
for the present the proposition, proved
absurd by experience, that they do not
representation in Congress as a local
legislature because they are represented
in that capacity by all senators and rep
resentatives, do they not. as citizens of
the United States, assembled in sufhctent
numbers in a limited space and paying
national taxes. require representation In
the body which imposes and disburses
these taxes?
The people Of Washington do not wish
an unlimited elective franchise In mu-
elusive legislation" clause. with change
Of the financial relations between the city
and the United States. and many Of them,
in view Of the dangers to be faced In the
any description in the present govern
ment, will continue to favor the first or
do-nothing policy on the part of Con-
gress. which was unquestionably wisest
as long as the fixed population OF the
Ddstr ct. not in government employ, was
insufficient to entitle 1t to a representa-
tive In Congress, and which is still wisest
so far as the municipal government Is
concerned. These citizens will doubtless
for the reason suggested hesitate to ask
the addit onal rights to be secured by
this constitutional amendment. But while
the asking and granting Of these rights
may be in various ways reasonably de-
layed. they can not be indefinitely post
poned. Though representation In their
national and local legislature, which alone
makes laws for them and taxes them.
and may send every man Of them to war
to be wounded or killed, be denied to the
225, 600 District residents of the present.
will the same denial be given to the half
million OF the near future, or to the pros
pective million toward which figure as a
goal the Districts population is pressing?
THE GOOD TINE COMING.
When Grievances Shall Vanish.
and Washington Shall Be Exalt-
ed-No Longer Neglected. Starved