Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-12

their doors to
pave and light the streets; to give
health, fire and police protection; and
to maintain all other activities; but
they have no voice in determining
these matters. Their only participa-
ton in local affairs is to pay their
taxes, and the tax rate, even, Is fixed
for them by men and women repre-
senting every other part of our beloved
country.
Strange as it may seem this is
precisely the anomalous condition
which prevails in our National Capi-
tai which has been referred to as the
symbol of America. In many ways
it is truly a symbol but it is an inn
perfect one until those inestimable
rights proclaimed in the Declaration
of Independence are enjoyed here at
the very heart of our great Republic.
Population Exceeds 8 States.
There are some other things about
the District of Columbia not generally
known throughout the country. The
population according TO the last
United States census was 486.869, ex-
ceeding that of eight States Of the
Union New Hampshire, Idaho.
Arizona, New Mexico, Vermont, Della
ware, Wyoming and Nevada. The
Districts population exceeds that of
Delaware and Nevada combined;
Delaware and Wyoming combined
Wyoming and Nevada combined, and
Vermont and Nevada combined. The
population of voting age. according
to the 1880 census, 34l ,465, exceeds
the population of voting age in 10 Of
the States.
The idea prevails that most of the
people in the District are voters in the
States and either vote by mail or 60
home to vote. This Is by no means the
case for the same census reported only
15,105 who claimed to possess the
voting privilege in their home State,
Local political leaders claim larger
number of voters and these claims,
some of them unreasonable, run as
high as 10000. Giving these claimants
the benefit of the doubt and deducting
that number, and also deducting all
unnaturalized foreigners, there re-
mains Isl, 439, a potential voting
strength greater than that Of 10
States.
Another wrong impression regarding
the Capital community is that 1t is
a tax-free paradise. Nothing could be
farther from the truth, for in the
payment of national internal revenue
taxes the District last year paid an
amount greater than any one Of half
of the States and more than was paid
by nine States combined. OF course.
| these citizens also pay local taxes,
| just as the citizens of any munich
pality, but their tax money all goes
| into the United States Treasury and
can only be expended through appro-
priation by Congress. These local
taxes last year amounted to more
than $27 800, 900.
Amendment Is Sought.
These are facts which our fellow
countrymen should know and eSpe-
cially our fellow Mobiles. And it
should also be known that these long
suffering fellow Americans are far
from satisfied with their voteless and
unrepresented lot. A well-organized
movement supported by the civic,
business and labor forces is under way
to obtain these American rights
/ through a constitutional amendment
introduced by my friend and fellow
| Noble, Senator Arthur Capper OF
Kansas. This amendment will give
Congress the power to give District
residents the right to elect one or
two Senators, Representatives in. the
House according to the population
and vote for the President and Vice
President. The amendment also will
permit these citizens to sue and be
sued in the Federal courts.
Senator Capper has referred to
these residents of Washington as 'po-
litical crippleS" and in this way has
sought to arouse the interest of the
Shriners. I join in this appeal for
these crippleS. As physician have
carefully diagnosed the case and am
satisfied that it is durable and that
the effective remedy is the Capper
amendment. Fellow Nobless plead
with you on behalf Of these political
cripples to study their case and when
you go home tell the folks about 1t
and give this worthy American cause
| your support.