Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-12

This is the proposed constitutional
amendment for whose adoption the rep
resentative citizens organizations of
Washington are cooperating.
Read it carefully: Study each pro-
vision: :
posed that the Constitution, as amendA
ed, shall give national representation
directly and Immediately to the Dis
trict The amendment merely empow
ers Congress in its discretion to give
us this representation, and provides the
machinery and supplementary powers
which will be necessary when Congress
deSldss whS dc 10 eod Ws modeatiy I ask 80 little.
In Older that we may NOT In the end
secure nothing.
A constitutional amendment has q
long road and q hard road to travel.
II must run the gant1et of two-thirds
of Congress and three-fourths OF the
state legislatures. The burden which
it carries must be reduced 10 mini
mum.
our first proposed constitutional
amendment gave national representa-
tion directly and Immediately to the
District 1t sleeps in the judiciary sub
committee of the Senate District COM
mittee. Some influential senators are
not willing to give today for imme-
diate enjoyment the status of American
citizens for the purpose of national rep
resentation to the residents of the Dis
disadvantage from immediate District
represent alton in delicately balanced
Senate and House. A few doubt
whether the Districts voting constitu-
ency is today entitled to national rep
reseftation. Some who favor votes for
women believe that explicit and unmis-
taxable enfranchisement of women of
the District should be simultaneous
with the actual grant of any form of
national representation to the male
residents OF the capital
From this condition springs our Sec
ond amendment. which is printed at
the head of this column. 1t has all
the merits of the first amendment and
avoids the objections aimed at the lat
ter. II does not grnnt direct and Inn
mediate representation to the District,
but empowers Congress to grant xuch
! representation at it's discretion In the
future. 1T thus disarms the opposition
of today's partisan apprehension, of
yoteS-for- sensitiVeness and OF
doubters of the immediate fitness of
the Districts voting constituency.
Merits of New Amendment.
And yet the second resolution effects
the vital essential Of the ideal consti-
ever should be sought through a two
thirds vote of Congress and a three
fourths vote of the states which can be
secured through a majority vote of
Congress. An absolute minimum of
alteration Of the Constitution. eTectinS
only the vitally necessary change,
should be proposed by amendment
our second proposed amendment does
moi directly and Immediately give
to Washingtonians national representa-
ton, but il takes that vital privilege
from fnaccessIbiiity and places II within
reach. After its adoption only a ma
jority vote of Congress will be re-
qured to do equity in this matter,
whereas now two-thirds vote Of Con-
gress and Il three -fourths vote of the
state legislatures are necessary,
It's sole effect is to remedy an ac-
knowledged evil and to do equity by
empowering Congress do declare the
political and judicial status of the resi-
dents of the seat of government.
All of the controverted issues con-
cerning the makeup of the local cleo
torate. the qualifications of voters and
the form of local government upon
which both Washingtonians and our
national legislators radically dffrer
among themselves are postponed to be
decided by the majority vote of Con-
gress after the great and vital aues-
ton OF the constitutional status of the
Wasbingtonian has been answered
A proposed constitutional anne ndnae Mt
affectinr The District is doomed to de-
feat which proSokes the active o,no
cans: Of progfessiyes. conservatives Or
reactionaries: of prohibitionists or
anti-proh tbIf ionfStS: of those for or
against a liquor referendum or any
other kind of referendum: of those who
either favor or oppose votes for wom-
en-; of those who advocate or oppose
an educational or property quaiifica-
tion for voters; of those who favor or
{ condemn change in the form OF 10.
cal government; of single takers or
anti ti-singie-taxers; of champions or be-
littIers of the haif-and- half law: and
of those who either advocate or aboni-
nate the new nationalizing' of Wash
ington.
in short. any active group of Amer;-
cans. sufficiently strong 10 be able to
influence one-third of either house of
Congress. can defeat this constitutjonai
!. amendment.
our proposition, however. is now So
stripped OF every strife breeding feas
ture and so centered upon a sincia
principle OF nndeniabIe equity. that all
of Wasnlneton cay and should .enthu-
! success. u II SO worded to reduce
tn n minimum opposition to dts imuse-
dtate passage In Congress. Our Iegis-
latOrs may reasonably be expected to
favor this Just enactment.