Evening star., 1928-02-16
Washington Chamber of Commerce Asks
Americanizing Amendment for the
District of Columbia.


of the United States in the name of
Justice to an American community
whose rights for too long have been
| ignored.
DISTRICT CITIZENS ARE
ENTITLED TO REPRESENTATION.
ny DORSEY ". HYDE. JR..
Secretary Washington Chamber Of Commerce
When the trainers of the Constitu-
| ton wrote into its fabric that Congress
should WELD exclusive legislative powers
within the ten miles square Of Federal
| territory they did so to insure the abSO-
| lutte extinction of jurisdiction by the
| State or States which donated such ter
ritory for Federal use.
| That Congress did not intend to eX-
| tinguish the political entity of the Dis
| trict as community is sufficiently
proved by the fact that the city CT
| Washington was incorporated In 1902
| and accorded a system of local self
government similar to Alexandria and
Georgetown. which were also self
governing This was In line with
Mr.. Madison's article written for
| the Federalist. which in referring 10
! District residents said The inhab-
itants will have sufficient inducements
csssion: as they will have their voice
in the election of the government which
is to exercise authority over them; as n
municipal legislature for local purposes
derived from their own suffrage Will, OF
course be allowed them
After some 70 years of local Self-gor-
ernment of increasing scope the var'-
Gus political units were conSOlidatca
under a District-wide territorial form OF
government similar TO that in force IN
the Territories OF the United States.
When this form of government proved
unsatisfactory principally because Boss
Shepherd used the new government 10
secure Federal funds. long overdue. Tor
needed public improvements). Congress
ended all political rights Of the people
of the District.
It is evident from this brief sketcl:
that Congress during the first 20 years
of its local residence had no idea that
residents Of the District should be de-
prived of their constitutional right to
exercise the franchise. 1t is equally
evident, however. that Congress. since
1871. has objected to any system OF
local self government while that body
contributes be it ever so small pre-
portion of the cost Of maintaining the
various activities OF such local munich
pal government
In view of this situation the pro
posal to secure national representation
appears to be the one logical way in
which the political integrity OF DIS
trict citizenry may be maintained. That
this step Is entirely legal has been SUI
flcientlv demonstrated by Senator Jones.
who has stated: The new constitu-
tionai power for Congress which is
sought tbv the joint resolution for ma
tional representation is the power tc
grant national voting representation to
residents of the District in House. SEN
ate and the electoral college. with ac-
cess to the Federal courts. without de.
p-iving Congress of the power OF en-
elusive legislation over the seat OF Gc:.
eminent without making =
State of the District; and without
| granting TO residents OF the District
anv other privileges. powers and az
| tributes OF citizens of State than
| those specifically enumerated"
Present conditions are intolerab.o
and un-American. After wears Of study
and legal scrutiny plan has bee,
| evolved which meets al. tests. arc
which has won the united support q:
| the citizens of the District OF Colum-
bia and Of many thousands OF Amer
| leans in other States We submit that
| this plan has earned the right to b.
seriously considered by the Serntic:5
Congress of the United States and w.
earnestly hope that as the result ot
such consideration the amendment will
be enacted and transmitted to tn"
States for their final ratification.
DISTRICT REPRESENTATION IN