The Washington herald., 1921-07-13
Needed-A Liaison.

fTHE letter from DIR. Bowerman, librarian of
the Public Library, in The Herald of yester-
day, opens whole field of inquiry and sug-
geston the mutual relations of this District
and Congress 1t is the experience of The Herald
that Congress is far from unsympathetc toward
this District and far from niggardly. Congress is,
in fact fully as generous most city authorities
TO their cities Congress has very great and sim
cere interest in this city. Lack of interest is not
the-trouble.
But there is a unique situation here and one that
leads to mutual misunderstanding. There is no
adequate liaison between the governing body and
the people. They are detached from each other,
with no avenue of ntercommuncation which is
at all satisfactory The people, feeling the detach-
ment drop into rather lethargic state, take what
they get, and grumble. They and Congress fail
to understand each other. The people often
blame Congress for what is their own fault, yet
they have not the of remedy.
W Occasionally members of Congress are enter
tanned by, or appear before certain civic bodies
OF business to express their one-sded view,
to offer a bit of advice. Occasionally repre-
sentatives Of this. that the other organization
appear before the District. Committee, but the
committee realizes but imperfectly what they repre-
sent, and has perhaps had opposite view pre-
sented by representatives OF other organizations.
Even the District Commissioners not repre-
fnents only to their personal prominence and
10 the support OF their personal friends. The people
OF the District have part whatever in their
choice They have known policy and repre-
sent no c;c issues This ful6llS the ideal of some
to what should be, but it has in it element
whatever of democracy. 1t is the guiding of
people away from their errors by superior intel
lgence 1t is rather paternaistic system.
= Again, it is but chance if on the District COM
pittees OF House and Senate there any
bers who have made study OF municipal affairs
and city government, OF city problems and devel
opment. Most of them. know of these
subjects than do the average citizens Of the average
American cities, and city development in this con-
try is marked but by the absence OF scientific
guidance. These committees, also, do not
iointy, but separately They frequently act upon
the same subjects distinct bodies without any
really co-ordinated system for their consideration.
Any matters concerning the District can originate
in either body. and both may investigate the same
matters at the time without mutual agreement.
- But in the background OF this picture there is a
force moving steadily to the front. Through it is
developing a civic consciousness and a spirit of
vic-responsibility. In it American democracy is
making itself felt. This force is the citizens asso-
cations. The Herald has great faith in their future
and we believe. that through them the District may
attain all that is denied through lack OF the vote
The vote in itself is but opportunity to express
the average of civic responsibility 1t has value
of itself. The voter gives it all its value and
that-xaue must be in the voter
The citizens associations offer a way for this
expression by the people OF this District, if they
will4take it. The District has the commission form
ofsgoyernment. Under that form OF rule all any
city does is to elect its own commissioners This
District do this if it will, as The Herald has
shown, by referendum vote on candidates to
besuggested to the President for appointment Once
this system is established, these citizens assoca-
tons would also become the iaison with the Con-
gressiona District committees, which are no more
nor-iess than the District council legislative body
These committees would then appreciate that in
theLepresentatves OF these associations they were
deaiing directly with the people. They would
realize that here public opinion, and the Dis
trict Commissioners would also respond to this
same opinion to which, and not to personal friends
they would their positions.