Evening star., 1926-10-23
No Need to Change the Law.

Opposition cannot fail to be vtgor-
ously interposed by the citizens Of the
District to the suggestion that the law
governing the appointment of District
Commissioners be so changed as to
permit the selection of persons who,
while residing" here, maintain their
voting residences elsewhere. In the
first place, there is no need for such
change. Despite the evident diff
Guilty Of selection when occasion arises
for a new appointment, there Is no
lack OF available and efficient talent"
for the position in the bona f1de resi-
dents Of Washington. Such embar-
easements as the Chief Executive
meets in making choice arises rather
from the abundance of material than
from a deficit.
The primary purpose Of the law Of
three years residence, without claim
of residence elsewhere, was to pre-
vent the appointment as District Com
missioners of persons with no interest
in Washington, political place seekers.
the service during the nearly fifty
years of its continuance of capable
local men, familiar with the local con-
ditions, acquainted with the people,
sympathetic with their needs and am
bilious for their advancement and
their welfare. 1t is perhaps true that
during recent years there have come
to this city for residence numerous
persons from the States who have
established themselves as Washingto-
mans and who have become we'll ac-
quainted with conditions and require
ments and limitations and aspirant
for the progress of the Capital COM
munity, but who have retained their
votes in their States. In respect to
these men and women there Is no
doubt that they would make excellent
Commissioners. But so long as they
preserve their voting qualifications
they are not in truth, they are not in
spirit, citizens of the District.
This suggestion presents in vivid
manner the anomaly and the injustice
of the privation of the District peo-
pie Of the franchise. They are denied
any right of participation in the selec-
ton of their lawmakers and their
Chief Executive. That is why many
newcomers, attracted by the ad-
vantages Of this city as place Of resi-
dence, retain their voting rights in
the States. They plant one foot in
Washington and keep another foot in
the voting precinct of a distant juris-
diction. They are not to be criticized
for this Colossus-like attitude. They
are merely holding on to the basic
right of citizenship which is denied
the Washingtonian.
Grant the right Of national repre-
sentation to the Washingtonian, to
which he is entitled in his character
as citizen Of the Republic, and this
situation will be corrected There will
then be no occasion for the newcomer
to this city. making it his actual home
for the sake of its delightful situation
and its superior advantages, to retain
residence elsewhere for the sake of the
vote, which every American cherishes,
though he may not habitually use it,
Give the Washingtonian a vote for
President and a voting representation
in Congress through popular election,
and the barrier set up now against
the importation of administrative tai
ent will no longer shut out from selec-
ton any truly desirable possible per-
sons. for such will have become in all
respects under the law eligible to ap-
pointment.
Surely there will he no response in
Congress to the suggestion that the
disfranchisement of the WaShingto-
MAN be made even more oppressive
and ineQuitable by the removal of the
sole clause Of the organic act that in
eures local administration, through
executive selection, by actually rep
resentative Washingtoniars.