Evening star., 1923-02-17

wants md be conformabIe with their
deliberate opinions of their own i'm
terests."
Put Yourself in His Place.
Johnson, in veto message us6D,
elaborated the same thought. saving:
"1n all matters then affecting their
domestic AFFAIRS the spirit of our DEM
0crufc form of government denim nd n
that their wishes should he consulted
and respected. and they be taught to
reel that although not permitted prac-
Iicaily 10 participate in national con-
Germs they are nevertheless under a
paternal government. regardful of
their rights, mindful of their wants
and solicitous for their prosperity.
IL was evidently contemplated that
all local questions would be left to
their decision, at least to can extent
mat would not be incompatible with
the object for which Congress was
granted exclusive legisla tion over the
seat Of government"
TAFT in substance indorsed the same
doctrine in his message of 1910. in
Which ne holds that the fact that
Washington is governed by Congress-
and that the citizens have no direct
control through popular election fr.
District matters properly subjects the
government to inquiry and criticism
by the citizens and that such criti-
=
tention OF Congress-"
This obligation upon the nation af-
fecting legislation concerning the Dis
trict applies to tax-legislation as dis
tinctlS as to any other. 1t suggests
for example, that Congress, having
ascertained how much money should
be raised by local taxation for capital
maintenance, should permit the tax
payers representing the local COM
munity to raise the money in the way
which they find most desirable and
least burdensome.
Congress ms Local Legislature.
Applying the doctrine of an exact
ing and far-reaching national respon-
sibility toward the capital, what is
the obligation resting upon Congress
when 1t acts as local Legislature"
Clearly IT denies the justice when
legislating for the District of disre-
garding entirely local needs, condi-
tions and prejudices and using the
capital as a national experiment sta
tion. where dubious legislative pref
ects may be tested as an example or
a warning to the nation.
1t makes of the congressman as 10
cal legislator a representative under
the Constitution of his capital con-
stttuents as directly as If elected by
them and under the same obligations,
as II thus elected, to consider pa
tiently and sympathetically their point
Of view, to crystalline into legisIa-
ton. as far as practicable and rea-
sonable, their opinions and wishes.
and to protect faithfully their inter-
ests and welfare.
As local legislator under the Con-
stttutiOn, the congressman represents
not the nation. not the state. not the
congressional distrfct, hut the District
of Columbia and IT'S $4,000 Ameri-
cans.
The extensive powers in respect to
the capital conferred upon Congress
involve equally far-reachinE respOn-
sibilities and obligations, and sacri-
hces In the nations interest are re-
quired ON both sides of the partner
ahfp.. A great power IL to be greatly,
Aobly exercised, controlled by no mo-
tive or impulse that Is small or mean
or base.
The greatest Legislative body in the
world. representing the worlds fore
most nation, Il to build up, typifyinx
that nation, the worlds grandest
capital. The nations city which the
fOrefathers nObly planned Is by us to
be perfected ON lines NO less noble.