Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-04

pay taxes just as do the people of other
cities. Here Is as positive an example
of taxation without representation as
can be found in any civilized land.
"It is true that many of the people
of the District retain q voting residence
in one of the States of the Union. But
not all Of these have q voice in the
selection of representatives since not
all States grant privileges to electors
in the way of absent voters ballots.
That is neither here nor there, how
ever, since there are many others, per-
haps the majority, who have no voting
right anywhere, yet they pay taxes to a
federal government and to local gov
eminent in the selection or providing of
which they have no voice, just as they
have no voice in the spending of the
money they pay in the form Of taxes"
This has not always been so, Sena-
tor Nye said in recounting the history
of the local form of government, under
which there once was a city council
and mayor, later governor and still
later there was adopted the present
commission form of government.
During the campaign for the adoption
Of the Federal Constitution, he recalled,
James Madison, member of the Con-
stitutional Convention, said of the peo-
pie of the then proposed District OF
Columbia, "a municipal legislature for
local purpose derived from their own
suffrage will, of course, be allowed
them
Referring to the establishment of the
present Board of Commissioners ap-
pointed by the President, Senator Nye
asked, WAS 1t thought that the Con-
greSs and the President would be most
benevolent to those people who were
residents OF the Nations Capital City?
America Created for Liberty.
1.-THE spirit Of America is repugnant
to the idea Of a benevolent govern
ment. The great war President, Mr..
benevolent the master is going to be,
will not live under a master. That is
not what America was created for.
America was created in order that every
man should have the same chance as
every other man to exercise mastery
over his own fortune
mo one questions but that the citi-
ZenS of Washington measure up to all
the qualifications for citizenship in the
matter of intelligence, responsibility and
possession of property. All the obliga-
tionS of citizenship as to military service,
payment Of taxes, local and national,
are forced on them. But the right of
franchise and redress in the Federal
without voice in the selection of those
who govern the District or In the levy
ing or spending of taxes which they
must pay.
This has been true during the past
so years. How much longer may that
situation continue? An intelligent and
aroused people surely would not be long
in winning from Congress that to which
q people so clearly are entitled-namely,
q voice in that government which rules
1t and determines its fortunes and mis-
fortunes.
What the citizens of Washington are
seeking is not a control over the affairs
of the District which might prove dis
turbing to national plans for a great
national city. Their plan and grant,
ing OF their request would In no wise
disturb the present control over the
city.
AN these people ask, all that they
expect, is what seems to me to be a
most reasonable thing, namely, such
status of citizenship as will give them
representation in the electoral college,
which names who shall be the President
OF the United States (Which President
names the Commissioners who have
supervision over the affairs of the city,,
and, no matter how limited it may be
by comparison with that enjoyed by
the States of the Union, representation
in the Congress which has quite direct
authority in the destiny of this city of
more than a half million people"
In closing, Senator Nye paid a tribute
to Theodore w. Noyes, who, as chair
man of the citizens Joint committee.
has led the movement for representa-
ton.
Under the leadership Of such con-
scientious men as Mr.. Theodore w.