Evening star., 1921-01-06
Americanize the Washingtonian.

Americanize the Washingtonian.
1t is suggested that Congress at this
time wishes to approximate the DIS
trict to the political status OF a terri
tory and not to that of state; ana
that, therefore, it is disposed to re-
ject the pending constitutional amend
ment and as a substitute to give the
District two voteless delegates in the
House and the privilege of voting for
Commissioners.
If Congress wishes to approximate
the District political status to that OF
a territory it will approve the con-
stitutional amendment, which merely
accomplishes this approximation. The
privilege of voting for Commissioners
and voteless delegates falls far short
of approximating the American rights
and powers of a territory.
Q). The territory has an elected
legislature of it's own which makes its
local laws. (2). The territory may at
any moment by a majority vote OF
Congress be admitted to statehood and
to privileges which include the repre-
sentation in Congress and the electoral
college which the District seeks. These
are the distinctive and precious rights
and powers of the American territory.
The sole effect of the pending con-
stitutional amendment is to put the
District upon the political plane of a
territory under the second of the two
specified heads. but with radical reser-
vations and limitations. The amend
ment makes it possible for the District
to secure at some future time repre-
sentation in Congress and the electoral
college by empowering Congress in its
discretion as to time to grant this rep
resentation. retaining, however, ma
tional control of the capital and with
out admitting the District to sovereign
statehood.
Our constitutional amendment mere
ly takes District representation from
inaccessibility and impOssibility and
makes it possible.
gested wish of Congress to place the
District approximately Cbut with radi-
cal restrictions) upon the territorial
plane.
The bill enabling the District to vote
for Commissioners and two voteless
delegates does not put the District
upon the territorial plane at all. 1t
does not give the District the terri
torial power of enacting local laws or
the promise and possibility of future
power to participate on American
principles in making national laws.
If we accept it as giving us genuine
territorial status and the constitu-
tional amendment is on that account
rejected we shall delay indefinitely
the securing by the District of the real
rights and powers of the American
territory and later the national rep
resentation of a quasi-state.
1t is hard to understand why either
any Washingtonian or any congress
man who has read the constitutional
amendment should oppose it. since it
creates no new state, increases the
powers of Congress in respect to the
capital and does not diminish in the
slightest the nations power through
Congress to control the National Can
ital and the nations corresponding
obligation to do financial equity in the
upbuilding Of the nations city.
"ec In
Congress to empower Congress, when.
ever Congress pleases, to give national
representation to District residents:
and to give first to the seat of gov
ernment the same possibility of ma.
tional representation that Hawaii and
Alaska now possess.
What Washingtonian can be i'm.
agined as opposing this amendment
which dignifies and exalts his Ameri-
can status and arms him with q Ger.
tain power which belongs to him as
an American, and neither in1icts nor
threatens any injury to anybody?
Why should any senator or repre-.
sentative oppose an amendment which
merely extends an existing power of
Congress on logical and equitable lines
and which simply empowers Congress
to correct political inequity whenever
1t sees fit to do so?
Surely Congress will not hesitate or
delay in cooperating to give to itself
by constitutional amendment the DOW
er at the right time to cure the evil
and shame Of completely non-repre-
sentative government Of the seat of
government Of the great American
republic.