The sun., 1919-04-08
VOTELESS WASHINGTON.
A Resident Shudders at the Thought
of Going Home to Cast a Ballot.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--Sr: The
1000 people Of the District Of Column
bia, contrary to popular superstition. are
not asking for local self-government.
They are asking for representation in
the national Congress.
The fact that they pay just one-halt
OF the taxes levied against the city and
the Government pays the other half Is
supremely logical. The Federal Govern
ment is by far the largest property
holder IN the District Of Columbia. The
Government enjoys enormous physical
privilege in the District. And what Is
more the Federal Government has abso-
lutte control over the District. Why,
then, should II not pay half OF the taxa
ton? Weak as is this arrangement II
Is the only semblance OF fairness about
tho whole business. This taxation paid
by the Federal Government amounts to
the "enormous' sum of two cents per
capita for the balance OF the United
States So much for the relation Of
taxation and privilege locally.
Regarding the seemingly very clever
but really very stupid suggestion that
the people retain their voting privilege
back In the States. and that around cleo
tion day they pack up their kits and
trot away to the polls In the four cor
ners of the United States, II is evident
that the writer does not even begin to
re alize the size. character and employ
ment OF the people making up this Dis
trict. Nor does this provincial spirit
take into consideration the physical i'm
-
reflection will cqxrince the authors Of
this suggestion that the idea is wild and
extremely childish. Picture commu.
nifty approaching half a million people
composed of merchants. professional
men. industrials 10 the extent OF three
fourths OF its population and of Gov
ernment workers to the extent OF only
one-fourth. Picture all these types
which go to make up an American city
OF this sse, and mentally grasp the
iAterrelation and meshing OF the social
system in a community of this size.
Now try TO imagine all these people
suddenly deserving Government work.
commercial work. school work every
kind OF work, and doing this slmulta-
neously, leaving the capital of the ma
ton deserted while they run home 10
vote for the President in November.
The thing is so decidedly ridiculous that
the very mention Of II brings out in even
holder relief the necessity for looking
this matter squarely in the face and re-
vising the political status of the people
Of the District
Now 1t Is beyond all denying that in
relation IN tho Eadaral the
people OF the District of Columbia meet
every obligation that is imposed upon
the people of any State in the Union.
Did not our boys go TO war on the same
call as the boys in the State OF New
York? Do not all these people pay the
same Federal income tax as the people
of the State OF New York? When
man walks into cigar store and buys
pack Of cigarettes does not he pay
the same tax in the District as In any
State?
All the people do not go out to the
ball park at 4 o'clock In the afternoon
20 zee Walter Johnson pitch. as you
intimate. hut do not those ~ho do go
cut pay the same war tax at the ball
park as at the Polo Grounds? When a
resident of the District OF Columbia
buys a three cent stamp, does not he
pay the same tax as anybody else in
the United States? In short. do not the
pe ople OF the District meet every obliga-
ton OF national citizenship that Is met
by the balance of the hundred million
elsewhere? I'll say they do. And in
asmuch as they do. are not they en-
. In
of Congress to help see and say how
they shall be taxed what laws they shall
obey and how their sons shall be sent
to war? I'll say they, are,
e JOSEPH d. KAUFMAN.
wAsHISoroN. D. c.. April 7.