Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-03-01

courtS) and no Other powers ana
attributes of statehood than those
ton of the problem harnoniZes two
great American principles: First. that
in our representative republic. sub
Ject to limitations and conditions
uniformly applied. all national Ameri-
cans ought to have the opportunity
to participate in their National Gov
eminent. and second, the principle
laid down by the forefathers as
national necessity, that the nation
through Congress should have eX-
elusive control Of the Nations Capital.
No reason appears why Congress
should not approve the proposition to
grant itself this new. wholesome
power. logically and equitably round
ing out the existing corresponding
constitutional power, which it now
possesses in respect to every foot of
! territory belonging to the United
States except the District constituting
the seat of government of the United
States. the District of Columbia.
Congress Is Empowered, Not Directed.
Adoption of the constitutional
amendment while it arms Congress
with a new power does not commit
Congress as to when it shall exer-
else this power. and the amendment
may thus be favored both by those
who urge immediate exercise Of the
power as soon as the constitutional
amendment is ratified and also by
those who wish to relieve Congress
from the shame of, this peculiar inn
potency but desire to postpone eN-
ercise of the power until the District
is better fitted. in their opinion. to
enjoy national representation.
nf nd,
urged "a from the viewpoint on
justice to the people of the District
on the ground that they are now
fitted to enjoy and to meet the re-
sponsibilities of this right and power.
and (2) solely from the national
potency irrespective Of the time when
for the Districts benefit the new
constitutional power shall be exer-
cised.
The advocates of S. ]. Res. 1873 Wig
orously contend that the residents Of
the District are now entitled in popu-
lation. in resources, in literacy, in
public spirit and in loyal American
ism to receive this right and power.
and since they cannot enjoy it except
as the result OF constitutional amend
ment making the exclusive legislation
clause of the Constitution consistent
with the enjoyment of this right and
power, the Constitution should be at
once amended as proposed in the
joint resolution. in order that prompt
justice may be done to the Americans
of the District The Constitution
should be quickly amended as pro-
posed. and the power granted to Con-
gress should. they urge. be exercised
at once.
Relieve the Shame of National linz
potency.
Your committee are convinced that,
irrespective of the present fitness or
unfitness of District residents to en-
joy the American right to be granted
by Congress when it exercises it's new
constitutional power, this joint reso-
luton should be promptly passed by
two-thirds of Congress and the pro-
fled by three-fourtns of the states, in
order to relieve the nation of the
shame of impotency to cure. when it
pleases, the evil of un-American, totally
nonrepresentative government, at the
very heart of the nation, the seat of
the national government. Conviction
of present lack of fitness of District
residents for national representation.
or despair of such fitness in the near
future. logically affects only the flu
ture date to be fixed. when Congress
shall wisely and justly exercise this
power. 1t has no logical tendency to
delay the ratification of the amend
ment itself. Congress should not
lack the power to Americanize the
District. no matter how long it's judg-
ment may inpel it to delay the actual
exercise of this power when secured.
National honor is touched by impo-
tency of the national government to
grant national representation to any
well-populated. Intelligent, resource
full. American community. Congress
should by constitutional amendment
have this power. for reasons affecting
solely The national prestige and ir-
respective of any immediate obliga-
ton to the people of the District
While proof of present fitness OF the
District in population and resources
for national representation is, it thus
appears. not an indispensable prereq-
usite of adoption and ratification
onstration of that fitness naturally
invigorates and strengthens amend
ment advocacy.
District Now Fitted for National Rep.
Fesentati0n.
At the hearing in support of the
amendment great wealth Of facts
and figures was presented on the point
of the Districts present fitness which
impressed yourScomrst:tcA and which
in substance We submit for your con-
sideration.
That the District of Columbia is en-
titled at the present time to partici-
pate in the councils of the nation
through it's chosen representatives is
suggested by the following facts:
Population.
The census for the year 1910 gives
the populat ton Of the District of CO.
Nmbia as 33l .06s, which exceeded that
of six states, namely:
Nevada ...... 9l.315 Arizona ...... a04. 354
T Dslsna4s N sS.s0 MEXICO
The same census showed the popu-
lation rapidly approaching three other
states. namely, Vermont with 1886.
Montana 376,053 and New Hampshire
43O.572.
The census for the year 1920 shows
a healthy growth in population for
the District. and at that time it had
reached 4s7.571. This population was
greater than that of any one of seven
states, namely:
wyoming 49,. 1s4.+os New Mexico. :. ss0,247
R Rriaona ''.: sss sss Idaho ' 1885
of the Union had but a slightly larger
population. namely: New HAMPSHIRE.
443.083. and Utah. 449.446.
A comparison. therefore. Of the CEN
sus Of 1910 and 1920 shows that the
ratio Of increase Of population has
that the District has advanced ahead
Of Vermont. and is rapidly approach
ing the population OF Utah and New
Hampshire.