Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-26

STANDARDS OF QeVOClO0. 1LS annual Con-
tribution to the public revenues ex-
States lit has paid the taxes which
were levied upon it by others, albeit
the unheeded protest against taxation
without representation underlaid and
justified the revolt which eliminated In
the political independence of the
American colonies. This wrong they
have endured for more than CEN
fury. They justly protest against its
endurance any longer and rightly af-
firm that it is contrary to the principles
of Disagreement, to the policy of
universal suffrage which rightly or
wrongly has long been the accepted
basis of representative government, and
to the genius of American institutions.
Who challenges the justice of their de-
mand?
The political status of the District
is unique 1t has no prototype either
at home or abroad It is the perfect
antithesis of lf-government. Her
people are of full political stature, but
are only citizens in embryo. They are
without the franchise. they can neither
sue nor be sued in the courts Of the
United States outside of the District,
and they are ineligible to any elective
position. The Congress, composed OF
an upper and Lower House, consists of
units selected from every nook and
Granny of mountaineering repub-
lie, exclusive of the District itself, Is
ipso facto the common council Of the
city. It possesses exclusive dominion
over all corporate and municipal af-
fairs down to their lowest detail. The
President, chosen by the electorate, ex-
elusive of the District is ipso facto the
mayor of Washington. All of them are
non-residents to the last man. They
cannot be otherwise; for residence
which in all other political communities
is the prime essential to official status
is here an incurable disqualification
Ninety per cent of this council know
little about and care less for the needs:
the requirements or the inhabitants OF
the community they dominate. More
over, they are not Immediately con-
cerned about the city's future. morally.
economically or otherwise. They select
District committees from their own
members to look after those matters
with due regard to their wider Ma
tional responsibilities, and let it go at
that This type of government may be
better than that enjoyed by other mu-
inequalities, but it is exceptional, I'M
American and indefensible. 1t is i'm
posed upon the community without
their consent and by forces wholly eX-
ternal The people, chatting under these
conditions. naturally and justly protest
against their continuance.
Distinctions Artificial.
This amendment, if approved and
ratified, confers upon the people OF the
District authority to vote for the Presi-
dent, who is their mayor ex-ofdcio. and
to choose one or two Senators and one
or more Representatives to the Congress,
who become units in their council ex
oficio Twelve States, each with a
smaller population than Washington,
possess this privilege and each has also
its own General Assembly for its home
affairs The distinction between them
and the District is artificial. 1t IS I'M
natural 1t is politically defensible. but
it is none the less an intolerable injustice
ana a reflection upon the common sense
of the American electorate.
It may be objected that the represen-
tation asked for is national as well as
local and that Senators and Represent
atives from the District would possess
equal authority with those from the
States Why not? The National Con-
stitution and Code of Laws are binding
alike upon the States and the District.
It is as much their Constitution and
Code as it is ours. They are an integral
part of the country and as such are en-
titled to participate in making the laws
under which they are required to live.
The amendment, if adopted, makes no
change whatever in the legislative Sys-
tenn of the Nation. 1t functions precisely
as it did before. The amendment mere
ly increases the units composing the
two houses 1t is in effect a reappor-
tionment or, if you please, an increase
of membership like that which ensues
with the admission of a new State.
There may and probably will be some
Salutary changes in legislation for the
District since its representatives, equip.
ped by residence and identity of inter-
est, with knowledge of its require
mentS and directly concerned in its well
fare, will devote themselves to the inter.
ests of their constituency with the same
zeal displayed by other members for
their own.
Support Is Assured.
Doubtless the city will by this means
escape the burden of some of the spe-
cial reform legislation with which the
zeal of superficial advocates of the gen.
eral welfare" sometimes fnfiict the Dis
trict. This feature of congressional &C
ton should invoke both the sympathy
and support of the Public Domain States,
one of which has been my home for
more than half century. We also are
the testing ground for many theories
and fadS finding expression in congress
Sional statutes. When they fail to
function, as they generally do, the en-
piricism which sponsored them, attrib-
uting the result either to local antago-
nisms or hostile construction, burden
us if they can with other and worse
enactmentS to the same end, while
others materialiZe and join the earlier
brood in the grand crusade of uplift.
Since "a touch of nature makes the
whole world kim We sympathize because
of our common experience with our fell
low martyrs of the National Capital.
Hence, I may in a measure give this
community some assurance of the cor
dial support of the Rocky Mountain
commemorative once they grasp its
plan for limited enfranchisement.
And local affairs will receive the at
tention which self-interest seldom fails
to arouse. These need not be specified.
1t sufficient to say that men always give
their own concerns more consideration
than do those who are alien or indiffer-
ent to them This is the underlying
fact of local self-government. If it Is
ignored or disregarded the citizen has
only himself TO reproach for the conse-
quences. 1t may be that the work Of
Representatives from Maine. Georgia.
and California for the District
Of Columbia has been above criticism.
Even so. it is not the labor of the COM
nunity for itself. 1t will not be if the
amendment passes. but it
Identifies that community with the
agency to whose jurisdiction its politi-
cal destiny is committed. That is Amer
lean and that is what the District
Graves and should have.
This political anachronism should
have been adjusted long ago. 1t Is
worse than an anachronism; it is
which baf1es accurate
1t Is a clumsy control