Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-09-18
VISITORS BEHOLD
VOTELESS CITIZENS
Washington, With Population
Greater Than Seven States,
Has No Voice in Affairs.

When you leave Washington,
strangers, to return to your native
State you can tell the folks back
home that You spent a week in a city
where government is unique among
those of America, the city without
a ballot box.
For the past few days you have
been rubbing elbows with 100000
regular, redblooded American men
and women, who have no vote either
bers of Congress.
Washington helps celebrate Inde-
pendence day on July and it joined
the rest of the United States in OBJ
serving Defense day, but when cleo
ton day rolls around in November
the Washingtonian will stand by, a
mere spectator, while the rest of the
country picks a Chief Executive and
a National Legislature.
Washington's Town Council.
1t may not have occurred to you
before, but when YOU elect your
Senator and Representative you are at
the same time electing the members
of the town council of Washington.
For the Congress of the United States
is Washingtons board of aldermen.
The making of laws for the entire
country is a big job and one that
usually keeps Congress busy, but al
regular intervals the legislators must
lay aside national problems to decide
which streets in the District of Co.
lumbia should be paved, where new
sewer should be laid or when few
additional policemen are needed.
The municipal government of the
District is administered by board OF
three Commissioners selected by the
President of the United States and
confirmed by the Senate. Certain
other positions in the District are
filled by the President.
Subject to Congress.
The city Commissioners thus Sc
1ected have power to make ordinary
police regulations for the protectloh
of life and property and they carry
out the local laws passed by Con-
gress, but almost every act requir-
ing the expenditure of money must
be authorized by vote or the Cnleea
States Senate and the mouse VI
Representatives
once each wear the Commissioners
nrenare q budget of what they be-
lieye the city will need in the sue
ceeding Il months. After the Fed
eral Budget Bureau has approved
all the items they go to Capltoi 1iiil'
where they again are scrutln1zeo py
committees of the Senate ana HOUSE
Whenever any new legislation is
needed for the National Capitai.
aside from police regulations, the
Senate and House must enact IL.
DESPITE the fact that Washington
has no ballot boxes civic spirit Is
kent alive through the medium OF
neighborhood citizens associations In
which the disfranchised residents ex-
ercise the right of petition to let
Congress and the Commissioners
know their wants.
Seeking Franchise.
For a number of years Washington
has been seeking the passage OF
Joint resolution providing for an
amendment to the Federal Constltu-
ton that would empower Congress
to grant the residents of the Dis
trict representation in the Senate, the
House and in the electoral college.
This step would not deprive the FED
eral Government of the exclusive
control it now exercises over the
Capital city. 1t would merely give
observation-disclosures a vote for PRESIDENT
and spokesman in the National Leg
islature, where its laws are made.
When you return to your naive
city you will be inspired to tell OF
the stately Washington Monument,
the great white dome of the Capitol|
bathed in searchlights and the count
less other physical attractions you
saw in the National Capital
But there are few Americans who
have not seen or read of these ma
terlal beauties that adorn the Fed
eral city. To many OF your fellow
townsmen, however, the story of
Washington. the ballotless city, will
be a new one z