Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-18
No Lopsided Amendment of the
Organic Act.

contributions toward capital up
building through local taxation and
congressional appropriations and as
70 division OF the powers OF govern
ment in the District between the ma
ton and the local community. These
two functions OF the organic act are
balanced. intertwined and inseparablc.
From 1900. for about three-quarterS
OF century. the local community en-
joyed the privilege OF municipal SELF
government and self-taxation In the
exercise OF this privilege. and in the
effort to bear alone the whole burden
OF capital maintenance. 1t twice taxed
itself into bankruptcy. The nation
had also during this period the same
privilege OF taxing itself what it
pleased for capital upbuilding. 1t tax
ed itself for this purpose very little,
far too little.
BY the organic act the nation
(D promised to pay definitely and
regularly toward capital develop
mcnt under system which guaran-
teed the unrepresented District
against excessive taxation, and (e)
the nation took to itself from the
local community all power OF self
taxation and municipal self-govern-
ment.
Ii now the equities are to be re-
adjusted in respect to the financial
provisions OF the act OF 1873 there
should be a similar and simultaneous
readjustment OF the political pro-
visions. A new law which repeats the
hali-and-half section OF the organic
act should in fairness restore the
the local community. OF which the
legislation OF 1873 deprived it; or
should by constitutional amendment
give to Washingtonians the status
OF citizens OF state for the purpose
OF representation in Congress and the
electoral college. Ii the new law
merely repeats the half-and-half pro-
vision. the amendment OF the organic
act will be lopsided and inequitable.
The joint committee finds that con-
ditions have so changed since 1873 as
to render the half-and-half law I'M
necessary. The same doubling OF
population and increase of taxable re-
sources which are mentioned among
the changed conditions affecting the
nations seli-imposed obligation to
contribute definitely toward capital
upbuilding also entitle the local COM
munity to new deal i'll national rep
resentation. or in self-taxation and
local self government.
In 1873 the District had not the
population which each member OF the
House represented in the census APP
portionment, and its people were not
entitled to petition for constitu-
tional grant to them OF the status OF
citizens OF a state Tor the purpose OF
representation in Congress. The ter
riIorial government to which the Dis
trict's population in 1873 entitled it
was destroyed by the organic act. To-
day the District exceeds a number of
the states in population and in con-
tributions to national taxes in time
OF peace and of soldiers above its
quota in time OF war.
No capital in any other nation OF
the world, where any form OF repre-
sentative government prevails, lacks
national representation. 1t is enjoyed
in kingdoms. empires and republics in
the other Americas, in Europe, Asia,
Africa and Australasia. What popu-
lation must Washington attain before
IL loses this discreditable distinction?
Hall million: A million? Two mil
ions
Under the terms OF the law creating
it the joint committee could de-
termine only the equities affecting
the financial provision OF the organic
act. But Congress in framing d sub
;jtutc ior the act OF 1873 has the
power and the obligation to deal with
that law in its entirety and in alter
!uk - tClHls u plt>tiNC IiC DdldiCc
Of offsetting equities. The financial
aud political provisions, coupled to-
gether, constitute the organic act; if
one Is disturbed readlustment OF
both Is in equity inevitable.
II follows that any law which re-
peals the hali-and- half provision
should as an integral and essential
feature OF the legislation restore SELF
taxation and local self-govcrnment TO
the District or, in recognition of the
changed conditions since 1873, should
give to Westinghouse. by constitu-
tional amendment, the status OF citi-
zens OF state for the purpose OF
representation in the national govern
ment.
And one change should not be made
or proposed without the other.