Evening star., 1916-08-17
|, on a scale worthy of

and upbuilding on a scale worthy of
the nations city.
The assumption and exercise of alb
solute and exclusive legislative power
were coupled with recognition of a
pre-existing and continuing financial
obligation. The nation cannot equitably
repudiate wholly or in part its financial
obligation and retain or exercise its
deSpotic and exclusive power to tax
and to govern.
The nation should not repudiate it's
half obligation in respect to capital
maintenance, for the logical sequence
of such action is surrender of all power
and exclusive jurisdiction in respect
! destruction Of the nation controlled
capital conceived and created by the
forefathers. --s-.-.s-
The nation should not diminish it's
half contribution to capital upbuild-
ing; 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 obligation are inseparably coupled,
and II the latter is destroyed or dimin-
lshed the former is in equity de-
stroyed or diminished in proportion.
1t has. I think, been established by
the hearing before the joint commit
tee that the nations obligation both
to govern and to sustain and develop
the National Capital is primary, domi-
II
sponsibiIity for the uphuilding. ms well
as the governing, of the capital IL upon
the nation. and not. as Representative
johnson believes. upon the people of
Washington.
Another Vital National Obligation.
In the exercise of this power to gov
ern and to tax and in meeting this Pc
culiar and heavy responsibility another
obligation arises which requires the
ma ation through Congress to so tax the
unrepresented capital community as to
reduce to a minimum the violation of
the American principle of self-taxation
through representatives, and to so leg
islate in government of the capital
community as to give expression, when
ever possible. to the reasonable wishes
of the people in respect to their local
affairs, and to reduce to minimum
violation of the American principle of
self-government through representa-
tives and the American doctrine of the
necessity that government shall have
tho consent of the governed
The capital obligation resting upon
the people of Washington adds to the
full obligation of American citizenship,
which Washingtonians gladly meet in
common with all other Americans, the
special obligation to obey the laws
made for them and to pay the taxes
imposed upon them by a legislative
body in which they are not represented.
To reduce to minimum the un-
Americanism of this special obligation,
it is recognized as an abstract PROPOSE
tion that the Washingtonian is entitled
to enjoy every American right and
privilege which is not inconsistent
with supreme control of its capital by
the nation through Congress. Since
local taxation is without representa-
ton this principle requires the taxing
body to recognize the right of the local
community to be heard and needed in
respect to the collection and disburse
ments of the local taxes, and puts upon
it the obligation to impose upon itself
every safeguarding device against eX-
cessive or unjust taxation of the un-
represented.
Through the organic act the nation
proclaimed it's intent to exercise this
supreme control of it's capital and
recognized it's corresponding supreme
obligation
That it might exercise this supreme
control it took from the local commu-
nifty the privilege of self-taxation
That it's own taxation of the District
might not be unjust or excessive, but, as
far as practicable, approximating self
taxation, the nation imposed upon it
self, as represented by Congress. the
half-and- half safeguard of the organic
civilian Commissioners should be iden-
titled with the local community.
A self-Imposed Guaranty Against
Excessive Taxation.
The half-and-half provision was thus
80. a,Ix, tho defDite exnressiop of ,f