Evening star., 1932-03-13
"AGENT'' INSISTS LINDBERGH BABY IS SAFE
Reciprocity in Fair Play
Our Need Here Is Square Deal for Eyerybody-
for Congress, Our National, State and Municipal
Legislature, and for the People of the Capital.

American in a peculiar sense, the most
cans.
They are now generally recognized
as by far the largest contributors tc
the upbuilding Of the Capital. They
gave of their own property that the
Nation might practically own and ex-
cluSively control a national city. They
donated to the Nation five-sevenths of
the area of Washington. They gave
the land from the proceeds of the
sale of which the original public
buildings were completed. Nearly all the
work of street improvement and
Capital-making which was done for
three-fourths of a century was done
by them. Through disregard by the
Nation of its financial obligations to
the Capital the Washingtonians were
in 1885 forced into bankruptcy in the
public-spirited attempt to bear alone
the Nations burden. In the same spirit
they endured in the seventies the
travail of the birth of the new Wash
ington. They have paid their proper
ton of every national tax, direct and
indirect. They pay as much per capita
in city taxation, the census reports
show, as the average taxpayer in the
American cities approximating Wash
ington in size and conditions of environ
ment. and owing to their peculiar dis
abilities their tax burden is distinctly
hard to bear. They have risked life and
shed their blood in every national war
AS a border community Washington
sent many of her sons to the South in
the civil struggle; while to preserve the
Union the first volunteers came from
the Capital, and Washingtonians sup
piled more troops in excess Of their
quota than any State except one In
the War with Spain they sent to the
front a fine regiment, far exceeding
their quota in numbers. In the World
War they sent more of their sons to
Army. Navy and Marine Corps than
eight of the States, and in ratio of vol
untary enlistments to total number in
Quoted into military service the District
exceeded forty-three States In 1919
the District contributed more In war
taxes than fifteen States, more than
five States combined In every Liberty
loan it far exceeded its quota. The pro-
portion of its population subscribing to
these loans was greater than anywhere
else in the United States, greater than
any State Of the Union. They have thus
placed both sacrifice of treasure and
blood-sacriflce upon the Nations altar.
In modern times of peace the public
spirit Of the Washingtonian is equally
in evidence whenever sacrifices of time
or OF energy or of money in the city's
professional inen--the educational, scien-
tific, literary and artistic elements OF
our population-our workinguen In
public and private employ, our depart
ment clerks and other Government en-
ployes, our winter residents in process
of conversion into Washingtonians, COM
bine to constitute one of the strongest.
most intelligent. most public spirited
and most American communities in the
whole republic
The census of 1880 and other up-to-
date statistics add to the reasons for
appreciative consideration of their Capt.
tai constituency by the city's constitu-
tional legislators. The city's population
exceeds that of eight of the States. It's
population OF voting age lover 21) ex-
ceeds that of ten of the States. 1t paid
more in national taxes in the fiscal year
1881 than each of 81 States and more
than IL States combined.
The Capital Is no longer merely the
camping place of transient Americans,
American community-intelligent. re-
sourceful, popuIous, public spirited, pa
triotic, with a marked civic seIf-con-
seriousness, with a strong community
get-together spirit and with an inspir-
ing community pride.
Our Great Local Legislature.
Applying the doctrine Of an exacting
and far-reaching national responsibility
toward the Capital, what is the obliga-
tion resting upon Congress when it acts
as local legislature?
Clearly it denies the justice when
iegRlating for the District of disregard
Ing entirely the local needs, conditions
ana preJudlceS and using the Capital as
a national experiment station, where
dubious legislative projects may be
CeSCeo as an example or a warning to
tne Nation, with no one injured but the
DlsCrlct 'as apothecary's cat), If the
experiment is unsuccessful.
lhiS basis of legislation once popular
now little used or feared.
IL loroldS such legislation solely or
primarily from the point of view of the
IesisldtorS nome constituency, with the
SoisFessman posing as the grudging
dispenser OF aims alleged to be con-
trlouted by his district or State to the
greedy mendicants of the Capital
1t makes of the CONGRESSMAN as To-
oaI LEGISLATOR representative under the
constitution OF his Capital constituents
as olstinctly as if elected by them: under
Ihe same obligations, as if thus elected.
70 consider patiently and sympathetic
calIy tnelr point Of view, to crystaIlize
lnto legislation as far as practicable
ana reasonable their opinions and
wishes and to protect faithfully their
interest and welfare.
AS local legislator under the Con-
Stitutlon the Congressman represents
not the Nation, not the State, not the
congressional district, but the District
ol Columnla and its 486, ,86e Americans.
Inc extensive powers in respect to
the Capital conferred upon Congress
Involve equally far-reaching response
niiities and obligations. and sacrifices
In the Nations interest are reouired
on Doth sides of the partnership. A
great power is to be greatly, nobIy
controlled by no motive or
impulse that is small or mean or
base.
Inc greatest legislative body in the
worid, representing the worlds fore
most Nation, is to build up, typifying
tnat Natlon, the worlds greatest Cap
ital. The Nations city which the fore
Iatners nobly planned is by us to be
perfected on lines no less noble.
Inc CapitaI which wisdom and patri-
otism are to make truly great includes
not only tne physical city, but the peo-
pie VINO live in it, the men and the
women who make the sacrifices in the
Nauons interest which call for sac
rifices Of time and thought and patient
consideration by the Nation through
congress in return. The Obligation is
TO build not merely a beautiful city,
but a healthful, wholesome, well gov
erned contented and self-respecting
Whztv~wa .u