Evening star., 1933-04-02

SONlu LldNe Ue6Il ODIdlIleQ no way
other than by questioning witnessc7
The committee must be satisfied with
the merits of the bill before it reports
the measure back to the Senate or
House. Sometimes, despite the care
that is taken in committee to insure
against error. defects are discovered by
other legislators when the bill is called
up for consideration in the houses Of
Congress.
The result of this procedure is to make
every District bill stand on its own
merits, regardless of its origin. If the
bill is sponsored by interests outside the
District, even though they maintain an
active and vociferous lobby, their object
is defeated if the bill is shown not to
be in the public interest. Good legisla-
tion for the District needs no lobby. It
must possess. however, these essentials:
l. 1t must meet a need not provided
by existing law.
2. 1t must be fair to the public in all
its terms and conditions.
3. 1t must be free from ambiguity,
stating its object frankly.
The District of Columbia has been the
legitimate concern of Congress since the
infancy of the Republic. In the first
session Of Congress hello in this city, the
question of governing the 10 miles
square OF Federal territory was laid
squarely before the NatHaial Legislature
by President John AdssrS, on Novem-
Der %, 1900.
Government -Se.>up.
In the succeeding fi.e years, Congress
had provided for the old city of Wash
ington municipal government through
a mayor and council, and had altered
the government of Georgetown, incor-
porated since 1789, so as to include a
board of aldermen and board of COM
mon councilmen. Attention was given
also to that portion of the District ceded
by Maryland lying outside the boun-
oarleS OF Washington and Georgetown.
This part of the Federal TERRITORY.
known as Washington County. was gov
erned by levy court, which continued
In power by Congress.
Atnough 1t may be assumed that, by
setting up Self-contained governments
for Washington and Georgetown, with
councils holding ordinary municipal
powers, Congress relieved itself of con-
siderable responsibility for local legis-
lation; it did not entirely delegate its
legislative control over the District to
the city governments and the levy
court. There was sufficient interest In
District affairs in Consress to warrant
Vic ~ CatAOAl VI OlStIlCI
Dy the House of REPRESENTATIVES in
1908, and similar committee by the
Senate in 1915.
In 1874, following thS colorful reign
of Alexander Robey Shepherd, Con-
greSs took complete legislative charge
Of the District, setting up commits
sion form of government, which was
made permanent by the act of June IL,
1878.
Granted More Authority.
From that time until the recent past.
Congress has jealousy guarded its right
to exclusive legislation over the Ma
tional Capital. Lately, due to the g-eat
number of District bills authorizing
minor acts of the Commissioners, Con-
gresS has been inclined to give the
heads Of the local government more
adequate authority over matters which
of the United States within the Dis
trict.
Through the creation Of such useful
bodies as the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, the Public Uttli-
ties Commission, and the Board OF
Public Welfare, to name few. Con-
gress has lightened its burden of regu-
lating affairs in the District. Neverthe-
less, the District Committees of Con-
gress are occupied constantly with leg
islation referred to their attention. The
expanding requirements of the Capital,
the revision Of laws to keep pace with
the times, and the development of i'm
provements in government, combine to
keep these committees hard at work.
1t Is almost impossible for the mod
ern Washingtonian to visualize his city
as it appeared to Albert Gallatin when,
in 1201 he wrote Tn his wife.
Around the Capitol are seven or
eight boarding houses, one tailor, one
shoemaker, a washing woman, a gro
cery shop, pamphlets and stationery
shop, a small dry goods shop and an
oyster house. This makes the whole
of the Federal City as connected with
the Capitol"
City Has Grown Great.
The city has indepI grown great
since the days when 1t evoked corr,
tempt and ridicule from its own resi-
dents. Each step forward has meant
the giving of additional service by the
city to the people The progress of
the National Capital IND the RESPONSE
bility Of Congress to this Capital de-
mand that the local government main
tain its usefulness by the enactment
Of good laws.
Under present prdctlceS In Congress
the promoters of unwanted legislation
are amply restrained from achieving
their purposes through the joint ef-
forts of Congress and the people of
the District, but this task calls for
unending vigilance.
To guard against a relaxation of this
vigilance and to advance the orderly
processes of government in the Cap
ital, the District of Columbia should
have representation by its own citizens
in both houses of Congress and the
right Of all other American citizens to
participate in the national elections.