Evening star., 1922-12-15

In considering the course Of this
legislation. however, 1t Is important
to remember that when the Consti-
tuition was drafted it was by no
means certain that any state would
be found willing to make the needed
cession of territory for the seat of
government. While in no event could
the federal district be larger than ten
miles square. no one could foretell
how restricted the area might actu-
ally be. When the present location was
finally decided upon the population Of
the entire area. including the exist
ing towns of Alexandria and George
town, was widely scattered and
scanty. And when a municipal gov
cS'ment for the city Of Washington,
with suffrage for all white male in
habitants. was set up by the act OF
May 3. 1902 cd Stat. 1859, the pop
ulation CT the infant city. as shown
by the census of 1900. was but 1903
1t is not strange. under these cir
cumstances. that no provision was
made either by the trainers of the
Constitution or by the legislators OF
those early days for the place in our
governmental system which should be
held by the inhabitants OF the federal
district when their population, wealth
and other circumstances should have
raised them to the dignity of a sep
arate political community.
In the ordnance Of 1887 for the
government Of the Northwest Terri
tory Congress had provided for the
erection Of new states when the pop
ulation Of a defined area should have
reached $4,000. This provision. al
though it antedates the Constitution
may give US some clue as to the ideas
of the time. 1t serves at least to ex-
plain the failure to provide for the
ultimate constitutional status of the
population OF the federal district a,
time when the very existence OF
such a district was still contectural
But 1t is worthy Of note that Madi-
son. in discussing the provision for
legislative power over such a district
had taken 1t for granted that "a mu-
nicipal legislature for local purposes
derived from their own suffrage
would, Of course. be allowed" (Fed-
eralist, 52). And in 1913 Presiden,
Monroe. in a message to Congress
drawing attention to the fact that
while Congress legislated directly or
local concerns of the District. the peo-
pie had no participation in the exer-
else of that power proceeded to add
"As this Is a departure for a spe-
cial purpose from the general princi-
pies Of our system. 1t may merit con-
sideration whether an arrangement,
better adapted to the principles of ouI
government and to the particular in.
terests Of the people may not be de-
vised which will neither infringe the
Constitution nor affect the objec,
intended to secure"
National Representation and the
Presidents.
AS the District continued to grow
OIncT TEc6lOSulSs AoioDlS JdShooia
Harrison and Johnson. drew atten.
ton to the disadvantages unde,
which the pepole Of the District suf.
fered by reason Of their inabilit,
through political action to make
known their peculiar wants and te
secure legislation adapted to them
None of these Presidents. however
regarded the exercise of politica
rights by the people of the District as IL
any wise incompatible with the grant t.
Congress of exclusive Jurisdiction in th'
District Of Columbia. In his message
to Congress in 1881. President Jackson
put the matter in these terse words:
'It was doubtless wise in the frameri
Of our Constitution to place the people
of this District under the jurisdiction O.
the general government. But to ac
complish the object they had in view Il
Is not necessary that this people shoult
be deprived of all the privileges Of self
government"
And he put to Congress this signih
cant question:
SIS 1t not Just to allow them at leas
a delegate to Congress. il not a loca
legislature to make laws for the Dis
trict subject to the approval or rejec
ton Of Congress?"
No DOUBT 1t was this view of the mat
ter which led at length to the establish
ment OF a territorial form Of govern
ment with a house Of delegates chosel
by universal manhood suffrage and rep
resented, as in the case Of other terrific
ries. by a delegate in the House Of Rep
resentatives.
There are, however, manifest difiicul