Evening star., 1918-08-27

to the greedy mendicants Of the capi-
tai.
1t makes of the Congressman as To-
cal Legislator = representative under
the Constitution of his capital con-
stituents as distinctly as IL elected
by them and under the same obllgn-
tions, as IL thus elected, to consider
patiently and sympatheticaIIy their
point of view, to crystalline into Leg
fslntion as far as practicable and
reasonable their opinions and wishes
and TO protect faithfully their in
terests and welfare.
As local legislator under the Con-
stitution the congressman represents
not the nation. not the state. not the
congressional district. but the Dis
trict of Columbia and it's 100000
Americans.
Fair, play for the District. which is
the end sought. means not merely
substantial equity in taxation, but
fair play in all its relations. So that
its national-local legislator shall ap-
pear to the capital as a friendly law
giver. wise and just, and not as a
hostile pro-consul contemptuously
and despotically lording it over con-
quered barbarians, or as the "scourge
of God" to punish for it's sins a base
and degenerate community of greedy
beggars, paupers of criminal proc1ivi-
ties and malefactors of great wealth.
Some Congressional Don'ts.
Consider some practical applica-
tions of these congressional "don'ts."
For example, having on the score of
national necessity deprived the capi-
tai of American rights and seized
through absolute control of the tax
ing power the citys purse, is 1t fair
on the part of Congress to threaten
Washingtonians with confiscation and
financial ruin if they ask restora-
tion of these rights and to denounce
them as willing slaves, as base and
greedy Esaus. if they do not make
this demand?
participate in its own affairs only
through the privilege of petition, is
it fair when 1t petitions to refuse TO
hear it, to revile and insult it, to de-
nounce it as mercenary mendicant
and corrupt lobbyist? Since this
amount Of taxes it shall pay. muni-
cipal or national. or as to the forms
of taxation or methods of collection,
or as to the disbursement of the tax
money when collected, is 1t fair to
apply to it any term of reproach in
relation to it as taxpayer, such as
parasite. blood-sucking leech, tax
dodger and beggar?
Since every District law Whatsoever
Is enacted solely by Congress with
out any local participation, should
not Congress. IL it has given the Dis
trict bad government or bad laws in
any particular. correct its mistakes
without throwing responsibility. with
denunciation. upon Washington as
scapegoat?
Great Power Nobly Exercised.
The extensive powers In respect to
the capital conferred upon Congress
involve equally far-feachinG ob1iEa-
tions; and sacrifices In the nations in
terest are required on both sides OF
the partnership. A great power In to
by mo motive or impulse that L. small
or mean or base.
The greatest legislative body In the
world, representing the worlds fore
most nation, fs to build mp, typffyfnE
that nation, the worlds grandest cap
fathers n0bly planned In by us to be
perfected ON lines NO less noble.
The capital which wisdom and patrf-
otism are to make truly great includes
not only the physical city, but the peo-
PIE who live In IT, the men who make
which call for sacrifices Of time and
thought and patient consideration By
the nation through Congress In return.
The obligation In to build not merely
n beautiful city, but n healthful.
wholesome, well governed, contented
and self-respectfng city.
What, then, viii the nation do with
its city to mike 1t more attractive.
more healthful, more creditable In
every wny as the National Capitalf
What will 1t do with the Americans
who constitute the people Of its city
to promote their physical, political,
intellectual and moral weifares