Evening star., 1936-03-13
sMutual Understanding"

AS one member of the Washington
community, The Star welcomes such Sug-
gestions. especially from members of
Congress, as the proposal by Repre-
sentative Ramspeck of Georgia for the
negotiation of mutual understanding
agreement" between Congress and the
people of Washington.
Mr.. Ramspeck, as chairman of the
important Civil Service Committee Of
the House, has always been a dependable
champion of the rights of the Govern
ment workers. His efforts in their be-
half have been characterized by fairness
and diligence that have won him their
respect and the respect and confidence
of his colleagues in the House. The Star
suggests that such members as Mr..
Ralnspeck could accomplish great deal
toward bringing about the cordial rela-
tions which everybody desires and which
would be so mutually helpful.
One of the elements of friction be-
tween the local community and Congress
pointed to by Mr.. Ramspeck in his ad-
dress to the City Firefghters' Association
is this fighting by newspapers and citi-
zens' associations" which he seems to
feel is expressed in criticism of Congress
and its members. How could the pro-
posed mutual understanding agree
ment' put an end to that?
In matters relating to local legiSla-
ton The Star will plead not guilty to
q charge of fighting" Congress or its
individual members. The Star respects
the laws of the country and the prestige
of the national legislature, charged with
exclusive legislation over the District OF
Columbia. But The Star does plead
guilty to fighting for the interests OF the
local community and, when the occasion
warrants, of criticizing Congress or those
of its members who, it feels, have un-
fairly acted against the welfare and the
best interests of Washington.
Would as good a fighter for what he
believes to be right as Mr.. RamSpeck
have it otherwise? If members of Con-
gress slur the people of the District, use
statements against them which The
Star knows to be incorrect or misleading,
use their influence in Congress to the
injury of the politically helpless Wash
tngtonian, would Mr.. Ramspeck have
The Star remain silent or neglect its
duty to present the other side OF the
case? The Star does not believe he
would.
The local community's grievance
against Congress is not so much the
yagaries, hurtful or annoying as these
might be, of few individual members.
The chief grievance against Congress is
the lack of understanding or interest In
local matters displayed by able and fair
minded members, friendly enough to the
District but too busy with more impor-
tant matters to go fully into the merits
of locally important issues. That ex-
plains why statements made in debate,
hurtful to the District, often go unchal-
lenged by friends of the District. That
explains why The Star and the citizens
associations must challenge these state
ments and urge the remedying OF what
they believe to be damaging errors Of
commission or omission.
The Star and the local community
have never found any difficulty in work.
ing side by side with Mr.. Ramspeck and
others like him. The successful ap-
proach to mutual understanding
agreement doubtless depends more on
members of Congress than on the news
papers and the citizens associations.
There should be, of course, reciprocity
In this campaign of good will and fair
play, and to its legislators who faithfully
perform their obligation of sympathetic
consideration of the reasonable wishes
and the welfare of their voteless con-
stituents the District should not be
negligent or coldly inadequate in ex-
pressing its grateful appreciation.