Evening star., 1933-12-02

various proposals to change the form
Of the Districts government. The
most frequent criticism of the Districts
government, he said, is that 1T does
not reflect the desires of the people OF
the community" Many proposals for
improvement have. been made over
period Of many years Mr.. Suter said.
These included the plans OF the Com
mittee of One Hundred in 1888; the
plan of the Citizens Associations Con-
erniTh administration rns 'r in iseseos; Reynolds
plan, The plan submitted by the late
Mrs. John B. Henderson. and the
Schmeckebier plan in the report of the
Brookings Institutes survey
No Remedy Is Offered.
ideas of merit are to be found in
most of these plans and doubtless many
worthwhile suggestions will result from
the studies now in progress" Mr..
Suter said But a striking character
istic Of all Of these plans is that they
fail to recognize and offer a remedy
for the fundamental defect in our
present District government, which
would, therefore, continue under pro-
posed new government.
This fundamental weakness and de-
feet is that the real potent power OF
government is exercised by Congress
in which the citizens of the District are
not represented"
Some of the plans, Mr.. Suter con-
tinued, would permit a broad partlcl-
patton by the community in its al
fairs, while others would completely
ignore the local community except as
prospective taxpayers and bearers OF
other civic burdens.
ANY mere reorganization Of our Dis
trict government or the substitution OF
another form for the present. ne con-
tended, will not cure our dlmculty.
Election of local officers and boards Will
not suffice if we are to remain without
representation in the bodies which pos
sess the real power. What good would
Il do to have the right to select any OF
these officers if the real power to decloe
every essential question is held and ex-
ercised by a legislature no member OF
which is in any way ansWerable TO thcse
who pay the bills and have the most
vital interests at stake?
Cites "Idear' Government.
The most ideal local government"
the civic leader argued, would always
be subject Ito every Whlm ana caprice
Of the members Of the all-powerful eX-
elusive legislating bodies, none OF whom
were of our own choosing and conse-
uuently in no way accountable to the
National Capital community"
Recognition Of the American funda-
mental principles, Mr.. Suter said. offers
the only hope for a new deal for
Washingtonians.
IF we would improve our lot" he
contended under any form OF local
government, which the Congress may
give US, we must first gain the right OF
voting representation in the Senate ano
House of Representatives and the right
to vote for President. When we possess
such rights we will have the same frac-
t,onal part in governing the Nation, in
GLIDING the National Capital, as pos
sessed by citizens of the several States.
Then there will be chance, at least, of
having some OF our local desires trans
lated into law-both national and
local"
Local Legislation Is First.
Some legislators, Mr. Suter reviewed,
insist that as governments are organ
lied from the bottom up" the National
Capital should first seek local govern
ment, then a state government and
finally, representation in the National
Government. That philosophy OF gov
ernment, the Society Of Natives presl-
cent admitted, is applicable for a new
community. but is a philosophy which
does not apply "to an established COM
munity which was originally organized
from the bottom but has since had the
bottom removed and Is now exclusively
controlled by an all-powerful legislatlng
government at the top" A striking
popularity Of such statesmen, Mr.. Suter
observed, is that they never have been
known to make any more effort for the
method they suggest than that which
they reject"
The cure for this anomalous Situa-
ton, this national hypocrisy" Mr.. Suter
asserted, lis to be found in the enact
ment and ratification OF the proposed
amendment to the Constitution OF the
United States as provided IN the Cap
per-Norton joint resolution IS. j. Res.
9 and H. r. Res. 16s) of the Seventy
third Congress.
Voting Privilege Declared.
This amendment will give Congress
power, now lacking, to grant to the resi-
dents Of the District OF Columbia voting
representation in Senate, House and
electoral college and the same rights
in the United States courts as possessed
by the citizens of state.
This amendment does not propose
the creation of a sovereign State out
these Americans of the Capital COM
munity as citizens of the Nation and
entitled to participation in its affairs.
Such amendment would not In any
way change the local Government or
lessen or restrict Congress in the
slightest degree, in the exercise OF its
constitutional power of exclusive legis-
laticn over the seat of the Federal
Government. 1t would, however, make
the Districts elected representatives
in the two houses part of the Con-
greSs and in this way recognize the
Capital community as really part OF
the Nation"
Showing the relation which Washing
tonians bears to the National Govern
ment in comparison with the relation
of State citizens to the Federal Gov
ernment, Mr.. Suter pointed out that
the District outranks each of eight
States in population ana showed that
together those States have Is Senators
and IL Representatives in Congress in
addition to 2e votes for President.
The Districts population Of voting age
exceeds the population of the voting
age Of 10 of the States. Replying to
those who contend that most Of the
District residents hold voting privileges
in the States, Mr.. Suter cited 1880
census figures to show that only 15,1o5
persons claiming voting residence else
where had recently exercized that
privilege.
Saying that scme political leaders
challenge the census figures as too
small, Mr. Suter declared that if there
be deducted from the Districts voting
age population all the unnaturalized
foreigners, and the highest nonresident
voting figures advanced by the chal-
lengers. the number Of potential vot-