Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-15
AMER|CAN|ZE
WASH|NGTON|ANS
At Least Give Congress Power
to Americanize Them by Full
Representation in Congress.
IN EQUITY DO IT AT ONCE
Theodore w. Noyes, Editor Star.

Theodore w. Noyes, Editor Star.
Prejudice against Washington's plea
for national representation Is created
and fostered by the erroneous fdea tnat
the community seeks to Wrest from
Congress, representing the nation, con-
troll of the National Capital; or. II not
so bumptious as to make this attempt
that at least the community hgnts 10
cut down for it's own benefit this power
of Congress Our campaign for ii. J.
Res. .73 and S. J. Res. "a is pictured as
destructive, radical, almost revolution
AIRY.
Approximations Of danger and OF evil
both to nation and capital spring TO
life in the imasinations of the unthfnk-
ing as n result of the exploiting Of this
bugaboo.
Our proposed constitutional amend
ment, giving Congress power to grant
national representation ito the resi-
dents of the seat of government Tin re-
spect to whom it already has the power
to exercise exclusive legislation), does
not lessen but increases the power OF
Congress. 1t extends ON natural. losf-
cal and equitable lines an existing
power of Congress.
This provision is appropriately In
serted at the end of section 3, article
" of the Constitution, which gives to
Congress power to admit new states
and to make all needful regulations
respecting the territory belonging to
the United States, from which these
new states are carved. 1t is under this
section that new senators. representa-
tives and territorial delegates come to
the Capitol. The three political subdi-
visions of the United States under the
Constitution are states, territory lin
cipient states) and the District con-
stituting the seat of government OF
the United States. When our proposed
amendment II adopted this section viii
be rounded out and perfected nnd the
power Of Congress in respect to ma
tf0naI Representation will be equitabiy
extended to all three Of the parts late
which the United states was thus I'm
the beginnfng In effect divided.
The Constitution does not define the
political status of the future population
Of such District (not exceeding ten
miles square) as may by cession OF par
ticuIar states and the acceptance OF
-
ernment of the United States" Nor
does it explicitly and Nndeniably give
x1ie 60I6x ID af50nGTpS6 Ito Nedu1sfef
change this status m fhnt II shall Np-
proximate gradually the status Of the
scttixens Of q etetee a
IN Status Less Than Aliens.
1t has reauIted from this uni.tentson-
III omission or oyersight that the rest
dents OF 1such District have \ stand-
ing as suitors I'm the courts Of the
United States whieh the Supreme Court
has said In less than that Of affenss and
n relation to parficipation I'm national
Legislation and presidential elections
which IL the same N that Of aliens.
It was not intended that ssuch Dis
trict' should remain uninhabited. The
United States advertised its Washing
ton lots for sale not only in the repub-
lie, but in Europe. and attracted set
tiers and let purchasers here by glow
ing assurances. George Washington
predicted that the capitals population
would in century be certainly ex-
ceeded only by that OF London IT was
not intended that these Inhabitants
should be from any point of view per-
manently aliens.
1T was not intended that the people
of the capital should forever remain
politically outside of the United States.
ter of the population. Sympathetic
commiseratioH of the Districts lack OF
national representation has been ex-
pressed in Congress and the White
House at intervals from 1900 down to
the present day.
When it had only the population and
resources which entitled its people to
the nominal representation OF terri
torial delegate, voteless Legislative
agent in the House luot contemplated
49, nkA
ton was vigorously urged by President
Jackson, was heartily seconded by
President Johnson and was given under
President Grant
District National Representation.
The words Of these Presidents and of
a long series of national legislators and
other statesmen. who argued forcibly
and convincihgly for territorial repre-
sentation for the few residents of the
District in their time. are today equally
sound and convincing arguments for
full national representation for the
present District. In 1917 genuine and
equitable Americah representation for
the residents Of the scar of government
approxfmates their status to that OF
cftfxens of n stnte and not of terri
tory. A voteless. almost negligible.
territorial delegate Is obviously made
Quate.
The seat of government of the United
States now has an intelligent. Ameri-
can, public spirited population. exceed
ing those in 1910 (the latest national
census) of six of the states--Nevada,
Wyoming, Delaware, Arizona. Idaho
and New Mexico Its population then
was 331,069. 1t In shown today by the
police census to approximate 100000.
The population represented under the
latest apportionment by each repre-
sentative in the House Is 2l2.407
The time has How come ehe fia-
tion should by constitutional amend
ment either give direct to the resi-
dents of the seat of government the
status of citizens of a state for til" nur-
pose of national representation only: or
should at least, .ls PROPOSED oA.
pending constitutional amendment. give
to Congress the power to declare. In Its
discretion. when they shall have this
status to the extent OF enjoying this
national representation.