Evening star., 1917-12-10
Both Political and Financial Equity.

How can Congress defend a threat to
withhold or violate financial equity II
for political equity? The recent fiscal
investigation convinced Congress and
the nation that the local community
was contributing not too little. put
more than it's share to the maintenance
and development of the capital; that
the nation itself was contributing not
too much, but too little for the same
purpose.
II we now proposed to destroy ma
tional control of the capital through
Congress and to transfer that control
to new sovereign state Of Colum bta,
there might be force to the suggestion
that as obligation goes with power, the
national obligation would cease. IL the
national power over the capital ceased.
But District national representation
by constitutional amendment does not
in the slightest lessen national power
and control in the District. and conse-
auently does not reduce in the slight
est the national obligation.
When the District secures voting
representation in Congress 1t will SIM
ply become a small fractional part po-
liticallv of the nation which that Con-
gress represents, and its half million
people will be placed on equal terms in
national representation at least with
any other half million Of Americans
continental and contiguous United
States e
We shall become thrcugh.our repre-
sentatives a part of Congress. but we
shall take no power from that Con-
gress. Since national power and con-
troll in respect to the capital are unim-
paired. the national obligation to par
rticipate in maintenance and develop
ment of the National Capital is unim-
paired also.
National representation for the District
will furnish, therefore. no excuse for Con-
sress to become a shirker and Stacker in
respect to capital legislation and appro-
priation. Congress will control the cap
ital as before. and will be solely RESPONSE
BILE for District legislation, whether or not
the District Is represented in it.
Representation in Congress will never
be granted the District unless it is demon
strated to be an American vital privilege
which. under all the conditions, equity
demands II its equity is thus demon
to Congress the uncomfortable meanness
Of refusing financial equity if political
equity is successfully sought?
Two Equities Hand in Hand.
Instead of being antagonistic the
half-and-half plan and national repre-
sentation for the District are sympa-
thetic and supplemental. Both are
manifestations of the spirit of fair
play for Washington" Both are rooted
in the principle of square deal for
city involves both financial equity and
political equity. and the two equities
go hand in hand.
Whatever one hns in mind ms bene-
fetal to Washington, IL it is to be se-
cured from Congress-, is brought nearer
to realization by adoption Of this
amendment. For 1t prepares the way
for us to get voting power In n bod y
In which we are now impOtent; and 0ur
ability and our likelihood to secure any
of this desired legislatiOn will be in
fnIteIy enlarged.
1t has been said that the political
equity of national representation can
not be enjoyed by the District without
sacrifice OF financial equity in its re-
lation to the nation. On the contrary,
this political equity of national repre-
sentation is the strongest and perhaps
the only reliable guarantee of stability
of the nation in financial equity toward
the people Of the capital. The half
and-haIf law is not disturbed in the
slightest by national representation.
Its continued existence is, on the other
hand. guaranteed as long as it remains
I equitable; and when the time comes to
/ frame substitute for this law ma
| tional representation will arm the Dis
trict with power to cause the succeed
/ ing financial system to be based upon
the principles of Justice and wisdom,
/ in which the half-and-half law is
rooted.
of destroying the half-nnd-haIf law or
which II is founded. will strengthen and
conRrr, that principle. SO vital to the
capitals welfare.