Evening star., 1935-01-07
The Capper Resolution.

BY his introduction today of a joint
resolution proposing an amendment
to the Constitution empowering Con-
gress to enfranchise the citizens Of
the District, giving them the right
Of representation in Congress and &C
cess to the Federal courts, Senator
Capper renews an effort that has con-
tinued for many years and will con-
tinue until this act of justice to the
disfranchised Americans who consti-
tute the Capital community is con-
summated. The amendment which is
proposed in this resolution does not in
itself achieve this end. 1t must be
ratified by three-fourths Of the States
before it is effective. That such rati-
fication will be given if and when the
amendment is adopted by a two
thirds vote of both houses of Con-
gress is not to be doubted.
The amendment in itself merely
authorizes Congress to enact legisla-
ton to the end that the District shall
be given the right of representation
in the Congress which under the Con-
stitution exercises exclusive legislation
over the area set apart as the seat
Of Government. 1t grants to the now
disfranchised half million the funda-
mental American right of participa-
ton in the making of the laws affect
ing them and admits them to the
polls in the selection of the President
and Vice President.
In the course of the long struggle
to obtain this emancipation the peo-
pie of the District have repeatedly
demonstrated the injustice Of the dis
elimination which sets them apart
from their fellow Americans, putting
them in the category of the criminals,
the insane and certain other groups
of the disfranchised. Their case is
susceptible Of no logical denial. The
fact that the Congress, to representa-
tion in which they seek admittance,
is their sole legislature, making all
the laws which affect them in their
daily lives, prescribing the rates of
taxation and the size and character
of the appropriation of their tax con-
tributions toward the maintenance Of
their municipal organization, granting
or Withholding the Federal contribu-
tions to the cost Of municipal gov
ernment, as well as the taxes which
they pay as citizens Of the Nation,
gives this plea for national representa-
ton a force Of reason and justice
which cannot logically be denied.
Adoption Of the proposed amend
ment. with ratification and subse-
quent legislation to carry it into ef-
feet, will not in the least change the
relations between Congress and the
District. The present form and meth
Cd of local government and admins
tration will remain unless and until
it may be changed by act Of Con-
gress, in the doing of which the Dis
trict will have q voice through its
proportionate representation in that
body. If the powers of the Commis-
sioners are enlarged, as proposed, the
people of the District will, under the
proposed constitutional amendment,
have q chance Of participation in that
development. Thus the adoption of
the amendment proposed by Senator
Capper's resolution, with legislation
ensuing to give it effect, would not
lessen the power Of Congress to amend
the system under which the District
Is conducted as an American COM
munity, specifically -empted by the
Constitution On the seat of Govern
ment of the United States.
This resolution is an expression Of
an urgent plea by the disfranchised
District that 1t be made fully Ameri-
can so far at least as voting repre-
sentation in its national Government,
legislative and executive, is concerned.
To gain this voting representation will
give the District a distinct and obvious
power in place Of present impotency.