Evening star., 1918-01-05
THE WASH|NGTON|AN
AMER|CAN|zAT|0N
CATECH|SM.
BY THEODORE w. MOVES.

why do YOU propose in view OF
the collapse and failure of municipal
government by unlimited suffrage in
America to destroy the present COM
missionership form of government, un-
der which the capital has prospered, and
substitute for it the municipal govern
ment of other American cities now so
thoroughly discredited by experience ?"
We do not propose by our amend
ment to destroy Wnshington's present
form of municipal government. We do
not propose to establish here local self
government In municipal affairs. We do
not propose any diminutfon or any In
crease of the existing power of Con-
Eress. by majority vote. to set up here
any municipal government 1t pIeases.
We seek representation fer the Dis
trlct in Congress. We do not know
whether the representatives of the Dis
trlct elected in accordance with the
proposed constitutional amendment
would be for or. against the present
form of municipal government.
The issue would not in any event be
one for these representatives to decide.
One or two District senators out of
ninety-seven or ninety-eight, and one
District representative out of 436, could
not control or even strongly influence
the decision of Congress concerning
matter in respect to which it is sensi-
lively Jealous, as it is in relation to any
issue affecting its own control of the
National Capital
While We do not propose by our con-
stitutional amendment to injure in any
way the present form of municipal gov
ernment, neither do we propose by
that amendment to protect or to per-
petuate it.
The issue of national representation
must be kept entirely distinct from that
Of the form of local government. or
success for the proposed constitutional
amendment will be hopeless. Either
those who favor local self-government
proposition which requires for adoption
q two-thirds vote of each house of
Congress.
The proposed amendment without af-
fecting In the slightest the form of
local government or the existing power
OF Congress to declare what shape that
municipal government shall take, pre-
pares the way f0r the District to secure
by majority vote of Congress voting
representation in Congress and the cleo
toral college. 1t gives new power to
Congress and raises the possibility of
a new power of value to be enjoyed
by the District.
National representation stands for
a distinctive American privilege, honor
and power to which the Washingtonfan
In entitled. and which he can enjoy
without injury either to himself or to
the nation.
Every Washfn1tonfan. whether he
fayors or opposes the present form of
municipal government. whether he ia
yoTs or opposes local seh-goyernment,
SHOULD labor enerEetfcnIly and enfhu-
si1sticslly for the adoption of this wise,
wheIesome snd equitable amendment.
When the amendment is adopted and
tife va1uAbie bensfits which It ptomfssS
TO MI neutrality-suspicious. have been se-;
cured then. the oId-tfn1e be1Ifeefenf6s
IN their battle over local government
can cease harmonious cooperation and
spring sgain at each others throats.
But II before the common object Of
the campaign for national representa-
tion fs, attained these now cooperating
allies fail mutfnously out Of ranks and
begin serAppinE over local government,
the hnsui1iating fmpofency of revolu-
ti0naYy Russia Will he duplicated In
miniature In TIE national representation
campaign Of the District OF Columbfa.
reading of the words Of the pro-
posed amendment furnishes conclusive
answer to the only objections strongly
urged against it,
'SThe Congress shall have power to
admit to the status of citizens OF n
state the residents Of the District COM
stitutInR the seat of the government Of
the United States, created by article I,
section 3. for the pprpose Of reprexen-
tatlou In the Congress and among the
dent and for the purpose of suing and
being sued in the courts of the United
States under the provisions OF article
III, section 2.
1When the Congress shall exercise
this power the residenfs OF such Dis
trfct shall he entitled to elect one or
two senator's. NJ determined by the
Congreas, representatives. In the House
according to their numbers as deter
mined by the decennfal enumeration
aud presidential electors equal In num-
Der to their aEErexate representation
In the House and senate.
"The Congress shnll provide by law
the qualifications Of voters and the
time and manner Of choosing the sem
at0r or senators, the representative or
representatives and the electors herein
authorized.
.eThe Congress shall have power to
mnke all lnvs which shall he neces-
aary and proper for carrying into exc.
ssrfion the FOREGOING pONfer.n