The Washington times., 1936-12-04
Washington's Right to
Vote
(Rock Island Argus, Rock Island,
Ill.,, NoU. II, 1856

(Rock Island Argus, Rock Island,
Ill.,, NoO. II, 1856
Although the chief industry Of
washington Is Government and
it's principal product is politics,
it is the only city in the United
States which has no local politi-
cal parties and no elections, for
the right to vote is denied resi-
dents Of the District of Columbia.
It is an anomalous situation when
the people Of a capital city Of a
great democracy are forbidden a
voice in their own government.
When Congress convenes in
January, q resolution offered at
the last session will be reintro-
duced proposing a constitutional
amendment granting the District
of Columbia representation in
Congress and in the electoral col
lege. The proposed amendment
undoubtedly will be submitted to
the States for ratification, for a
concerted effort will be made by
it's friends to obtain the two
thirds vote necessary for congress
sional passage, and no valid
reason can be advanced against
it.
A reading Of the debates of the
constitutional Congress indicates
that there was no intent by the
trainers Of our Government to
deny application Of the Demo
cratic principle to those who
chanced to live in the national
Capital. The conStitution-makers,
however, unintentionally failed to
give Congress the power to pro
vide for representation.
The theory behind the present
system is that, since washington
is largely a city of Federal job
holders, its vote would favor and
tend to perpetuate the party in
power. But we believe the era
of close elections is past and that
as the tide runs in one State
except for the South-it will run
in almost all other States. Three
or four electoral votes from the
District Of Columbia will not be
decisive, even though it were prob
able that those votes invariably
would go to the party in Office.
The present rule disfranchises
not the officeholder. but the
storekeeper, the teacher, the
street car conductor and others
who make the Capital their per
manent place of residence. Off
cials and their appointees gener-
ally maintain legal residence in
their home communities and re-
turn there to vote. Special trains
were provided by the Democratic
National Committee before the
last election to carry Federal Joo:
holders to every corner OF tne
nation in time to cast ballots.
The District Of Columbia is q
part of no State. Originally II
consisted of 10 square miles cedeo
by Maryland and 80 square miles
contributed by Virginia, but II
l846 Virginia received back It's
portion and the District now lies
entirely on the Maryland side Of
the Potomac River. The Presl
dent names it's executive and judi
cial officers-three commissioner
are appointed for terms OF three
years and are confirmed by th'
Senate-and Congress makes al
laws, levies all taxes and decree'
how the funds shall be spent.
Each house of Congress has 8
committee on the affairs OF tn
District of Columbia, so that &
Senator and Representative
from the farthest corners OF the
United States who happen to ot
chairmen of the committees have
more to say about this one great
city than do all its $4,000 resi-
dents.
The three commissioners eXer
else the executive function in the
District of Columbia; they pre-
pare its budget and transmit :
to the secretary of the President
who forwards it to Congress. Il
the citizens want new school. g
street paved, or any other i'm
provement, they do not tell then
aldermen, but they petition Con
greSS.
The population exceeds that o.
eight States; the number OF estl
mated voters, 433, 900. exceeds the
voting-age population Of 10 States
Like the man without a coun
try, Washington's permanent cltl
zens prize that which has beer
denied them. There is Satlstac
ton in registering ones protest
or endorsement of candidates anc
principles at the polls even though
| it is seemingly only one ins1gnl
ficant vote among millions.