Evening star., 1921-05-01

ARI =.
public spirited attempt to bear alone
the nations burden. In the same
spirit they endured in the seventies
the travail of the birth Of the new
Washington. They have paid their
proportion of every national tax. di-
rect and indirect. They pay as much
per capita in city taxation, the CEN
taxpayer in the American cities APP
proximating Washington in size. They
have risked life and shed their blood
in every national war AS a border
community Washington sent many of
her sons to the south in the civil
struggle: while to preserve the Union
the first volunteers came from the
capital and Washingtonians supplied
more troops in excess of their quota
than any state except one. In the war
with Spain they sent to the front a
fine regiment. far exceeding their
quota in numbers. In the world war
they sent more of their sons in volun-
tary enlistmcntt to Army. Navy and
Marine Corps than eight of the states.
and in ratio of voluntary enliStments
to total number inducted into military
service the District exceeded forty
tributed more in war taxes than fif-
teen states. more than five states
combined. In every liberty loan it far
exceeded its quota. The proportion of
its population subscribing to these
loans WAS greater than anywhere else
in the United States. greater than
any state of the Union They have
thus placed both sacrifice of treasure
and blood sacrifice upon the nations
altar. In modern times of peace the
public spirit of the Washingtonian is
equally in evidence whenever sacri-
n nf n
in the city's interest are required. Our
business and professional men-the
educational scientific. literary and ar
tistic elements of our population
our workingmen in public and pri-
vate employ. our department clerks
and other government employees. our
winter residents in process of con-
version into Washingtonians. COM
bine to constitute one of the strong
est. most Intelligent. most public
spirited and most American communi-
ties in the whole republic.
Our Great Local Legislature.
Applying the doctrine of an exact
ing and far-reaching national re-
sporSibility toward The capital. what
is the obligation resting upon Con-
greSS when it acts as local legisla- =
turer
Clearly it denies the justice when
Iegislating for the District of disre-
garding entirely local needs. condi-
tions and prejudices and using the
capital as "A national experiment sta
ton. where dubious Legislative prof.
ects may be tested as an example or
n warning to the nation, with no one
injured but the District tas apothe-
cary's caD. if the experiment is un-
successful.
1t forbids such legislation solely or
primarily from the point of view Of
/
with the congressman posing as the
dispenser of aims alleged
to be contributed by his district or
state to the greedy mendicants of the
capital.
1t makes of the congressman as
local legislator representative un-
der the Constitution of his capital
constituents as distinctly as if elect
ed by them and under the same obliga-
tions. as if thus elected. to consider
patiently and sympathetically their
point OF view. to crystalline into
legislation as far as practicable and
reasonable their opinions and wishes
and to protect faithfully their inter-
ests and welfare.
As local legislator under the Con-
stitution the congressman represents
not the nation. not the state, not the
district, but the District
of Columbia and its $4,000 Ameri-
cans.
The extensive powers in respect to
the capital conferred upon Congress
Involve equally far-reaching respOnsi-
bilftfes md obligations; nnd sacrifices
in the nations interest are required
on both sides OF the partnership
Erent power Is to be greatly. nObly
exercised, controlled by no motive or
impulse that is small or mean or
base.
The grentest Legislative body in the
world, representing the worlds fore
most nation, is to build up, typifyinR
that nation. the worlds grandest cnp-
Ita1. The nations city which the fore.
fathers nObly planned is by US to be
on lines no less noble.
The capital which wisdom and Datri-
Dtism are to make truly great includes
lot only the physical city. but the peo-
pie who live In 1t. the men who make
the sacrifices in the nation. interest
which call for xacrifceS Of time and
hOught and patient consid Grafton by
he nation through CONGRESS- In return,
The obligation IL to build not merely
a beautiful city, but n henIthful,
well governed, cOntentcd
and se1f-respectfng city.
What, then. will the nation do with
its city to make II more attractive.
more healthful. more credftabIe In
every way nv the National Capital:
What will II do with the Americana
who constitute the people Of its city to
promote their physical, political, in
tellectual and moral welfare:
The greatest of our public men have
been the strongest champions of the
capital. George Washington created
it and gave it his name. Thomas Jef-
ferson. with and following Washing
ton was planner, founder and up
builder OF the city. Andrew jackson
threw himself with enthusiasm into
me work of adequately bridging the
Potomac; urged the allowance Of
delegate in Congress to the District,
and in his administration with his CO.
operation and sympathy the nation
came to the financial relief of the COM
nunity bankrupted in performing the
1ation task. Discrimination between
ne later Presidents, from Lincoln to
llson, all OF whom have been friends
ot the District. would be invidious.
irant. the man of deeds. not words,
had the opportunity which he ef-
,ectively utilized to lay broad and
1eep the foundations of Washington
as truly the nations city.
Great men from all sections. in Con-
sress as well as the White House
laVe delighted to labor to make the
'apital worthy of the republic. Clear
y there is 10 nobler work for any
statesman than to identify himself
with the upbuilding of
he nations capital.
In these days of easy divorce trifiine
,auses of dispute often disrupt the
amlly partnership; but in the capi-
al-making partnership between Con-
sress representing the nation and the
people of Washington divorce. though
'ometlmes suggested. now on one side
md now on the other in a spasm of
ilscontent. is neither feasible nor de-
;irab Bile. What the Constitution of the
United States has thus joined to-
sether 1t seems impossible for any