Evening star., 1917-10-29

The recent discussion of votes for
Washington before the Monday Even
ing Club seemed to assume that If
washingtonians voted the nation would
automatically be relieved of all .finan-
cial obligation in relation to the ma
tfons city: that. for example. the half
could not co-exist.
The voting that is vital to the Amerf-
canization of the Washing tUnian Is tor
representation In House. Sen1te and
electoral college. A proposed consti-
tutional amendment empowering Con-
gress to give to residents of the Dis
trict this voting right is now pending.
National representation for the capi-
tai community is not in the slightest
degree inconsistent with control of the
capital by the nation through Congress
or with the nations obligation to sus-
tain and develop under the half-and-
half law or in some other way the ma
tions city.
Two Equities Hand in Hand.
] Instead of being antagonistic the
half-and-hal 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 a square deal for
the capital" Equity for the nations
city involves both financial equity and
political equity. and the two equities go
hand in hand.
| The recent thorough overhauling by
Congress of the relations OF nation and
! capital proved conclusively that under
the half-and-half system the nation was
doing no more than justice required for
the development of the nations city.
and was requiring in taxation from
the capital community every dollar that
could equitably be exacted. 1t followed
that any future substitute for the half
and half plan must in equity be based
upon the fundamental principle of that
plan. and reflect not only the national
spirit of fair play, but. in an increasing
! degree, sympathetic consideration for
| the capital community and national
pride in the nations city.
The broad principles of equity for
the guidance Of the nation in dealing
through Congress with the capital in
clude political equity as well as finan-
| cia1 equity. Congress. representing the
nation. should deal fairly with the cap
| ital community. That community, on
basic American principles. should be
represented in that Congress. These
1 propositions are not antagonistic: they
are based on the same foundation and
| are in principle inseparably interviewer.
| Broadly speaking, Congress does not
deal equitably with the District unless
| it grants to it equitable national repre-
sentation. Financial equity is not a
substitute for political equity. On the
contrary. the existence of one is a con-
elusive argument for the coexistence of
the other. since both spring from the
same conditions and principles.
The WashinEtonian enser to exercise
HIS American right of full Representa-
| tiOn in Congress does not need to de-
| stroy the half-and-half law in order
to get 1t. Az n taxpayer and potential
| soldier of the nation he is entitled to,
| and should enjoy, this representation
whether Congress for the nation re-
! tains or aurrenders control and ex-
elusive power of legislation In respect
| to the capital.
What the Amendment Does Not Do.
| This constitutional amendment does
not propose the admission of the Dis
| ,rict into the Union as q sovereign
/ state: it does not propose the destruc-
/ tion of the ten miles square" provision
| Of the, Constitution; it does not lessen
In the smallest degree the control by
the nation through Congress of what
remains of the ten miles square"
! II does not disturb in any way the
financial relation of nation and capital
II Is not based upon either the aboIi-
| tton or the retention of the half-and-
half law.
It is not antagonistic either to ma.
| t;onal control Of the nations city or fha
Corresponding national obligation OF
adequate financial participation In the
maintenance and upbuilding Of the ma
! tion.s capital.
| the municipal government of the Dis
trict-in respect to which Washinr-
tonians widely and radically diner.