Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-04-24
Political Status of Washingtonians.


poses, as the political status of District
residents, that solely for the purpose
OF representation i'll Congress and the
electoral college and of suing and be-
ing sued in the United States courts
they shall have the status of citizens of
state. The committee urges that this
status and this representation he given
20 them directly in the Constitution by
the passage of the slightly amended
Chamberlain resolution Is j. Res 32),
which has been thoroughly discussed in
The Star. IT, however, Congress will
not at this time favor the direct grant
of national representation to District
residents by the Constitution itself the
committee urges as an alternative the
Immediate passage of n constitutional
amendment which shall give to Congress
the power to admit District residents to
this status and this representation at
that time i'll the future when in the
opinion of Congress conditions in the
District equitablv entitle it to this
grant.
Neither of the suggested alternative
amendments proposes to make of the
District sovereign state; or to disturb
in the slightest exclusive national con-
troll of the capital under the Ten Miles
Square" provision of the Constitution;
or to affect in any way the financial re
lation of nation and capital; or to
change the present form of local gov
eminent
The issues concerning the makeup of
the local electorate, the qualifications
of voters and the form of local govern
ment, over which Washingtonians Quar-
rel, are not considered at all, but are
left where they now are to be decided
in the future by the majority vote of
Congress.
The proposition to amend the Con-
stitution merely to give the power to
Congress to grant national representa-
tion TO the District when in the future
it sees fit to do so seems to ask an alb
N'iutN VI equity anu u dNOiu
every conceivable objection. Even those
who are prejudiced against any cleo
tions whatever in the District ought not
to oppose this amendment. 1t does not
add to the power of Congress to cause
elections to be held in the District
Congress already has that power. That
is. Congress may now provide elections
in the District for territorial delegate
and legislature. for any form of local
government. for a referendum on any
legislative issue, and for recall of any
ment does not require elections in the
District; il merely gives Congress the
power, if there are to be elections, to
authorize the District to vote for some
thing worth while. If this constitu
tional amendment is adopted and Con
gress later in its discretion exercises
the power to enable the District to vote
for a senator or senators, Il representa-
tive or representatives and presidential
electors. the voting privilege in the Dis
trict will he made SO attractive that all
District residents with legal residence
in state will transfer their voting
citizenship to the District, thus broaden
ing and strengthening the local voting
constituency and minimizing or elimi-
mating the grounds upon which local
pre;rdice against any elections whatso-
ever in the District is based.
The proposition To make Americans of
the political aliens of the seat of gov
ernment is so worded in both proposed
amendments as to avoid objection and
disarm criticism. Every strife breeding
issue is put aside or postponed. and at
tention is centered upon single prin-
ciple of undeniable equity.
Washingtonians and national legisla-
tors ought to be able to cooperate
heartily 10 remedy by speedy constitu-
tional amendment an obvious and in
jury working injustice.