Evening star., 1922-01-31
WHAT WAS THE INTENT "
OF THE FOREFATHERS?
District Political Impotency Not an
Incurable Condition.

when the District was almost unin-
habited, could SO assent to Qon-rep-
resentation for themselves as to bind
all future Washingtonians. though
they might grow to million In num-
bers and might surpass dozen Of the
states in all characteristic elements
of the American commonwealth.
+ 4 X x
What intent was indicated by the
orefathers--national legislators and
othere--as TO the future Washingto-
mans. when in 1900 the District was
occupied by the nation as the seat OF
government?
See speech Of Representative Dennis
In 1900: "If 1t should be necessary the
Constitution might be so altered as
to give them a delegate to the gem
eral legislature when their numbers
should become sufficient"
In 1901 A. b. Woodward In pamphlet
publication proposed a constitutional
amendment for this purpose.
In 1903 It was proposed. to retro. iSs
portions Of the District which they
had ceded. Among the reasons as
signed for voting down the pioposi,
tfon (66 to 26) was this: The evil
may be remedied by giving them q
representative In Congress- .Nmeia,tIx Wsen titv
populous and In the meantime 10
cal legislature" Tindall in Origin
and Government of District OF Column
bia." pages II and 70.
X Il \ X
Perhaps the forefathers and capital
founders may appropriately be typi-
fed for the purpose Of this discussion
by George Washington: What ola the
father of his country and the fatner
also OF the nations city have In mind
in respect to the National Capital ana
the people who should live in 1t?
Was the nations city to be limiteo
in area to the ground absolutely neces-
sary for the public buildings and the
governmental activities? No. AS tne
federal District was created OF tne
largest area that the Constitution per-
nit.ed, SO in respect to the area OF
the nations city George Washington
i! suggested In one Of his letters that inc
cani.al Of the United States should oe
as much larger than Philadelphia as
the United States was larger than eehn-
The area covered by philadelphia. he
inquired sugsestively of the Commits
sioners Of Washington: III the me-
tropolis Of one state occupied 10 mucn
ground, what ought that OF the Uniteo
States to occupy?)
solely to governmental activities? NO.
WashinKton was located on its Potomac
site and canal connecting the Potomac
with tributaries Of the Ohio was project
ed and built in the expectation that tne
new city would become tne IN .a,sre grea.es. ;:
Was This extensive capital area to
be un.nhabited except by temporary
government employees, by those catering
to their needs. and by other transients!
No. In 1896 washington SAID pro-
ital that a century hence, II the country
kept, united. the capital would De.
"though not as large as London, YET
of a magnitude inferior to few others
| (cities) in Europe"
i X 4 4
Was this great population peopiing
an extensive and magnifcently planned
city, with its broad streets and avenues,
its parks and its numerous and impos-
ing public buildings. to be un-Amertcan
in status and politically alien? Who
believes it? Who by any stretch Of the
Imagination can conceive it, -.
Washington's idea was that tho CAP
ital should be federal city. developed
by the nation and subject to its con-
troll but it was not his idea that 1t
should be without people. or that its
people should be politically detective
and delinquent Americans. It's grand
framework indicates the expectation Of
q large population. Washington's imag-
ination covered the fair fields AND wood
ed hills Of his namesake city with the
homes Of numerous, busy and happy
people. q people not aliens politically
and less than aliens Judtctallys but
clothed with all American rights not abb
solutely inconsistent with the fostering
control by the nation Of the nations
capital.
George washington's magnificent ma
terial city, with its parks, avenues,
buildings and monuments. 10 developing
before our eyes. But the nation has
not corrcspondingly developed on Amer
ican and equitable lines the political
and judicial status OF the people who
live in the material city. Our consti-
tutional amendment corrects this oynis-
sion and remedies this neglect.