Evening star., 1936-04-19
NATION INFORMED
OF D. c. PROBLEMS
League of Women Voters
Sends News Letter on
District Budget.

difficulties over the District budget
Is given in the League News Letter OF
the National League Of Women Vot-
ers and sent to the membership
throughout the Nation.
Mrs. Walter S. Greenough, chair
man National Department of Gov
ernment and Its Operation, recently
wrote to the department chairmen
over the country calling particular at
tention to this feature which, she
stated, pointed forcibly to the plight
OF American citizens who have no
voice in their government.
Injustice Is Cited.
Said Mrs. Greenough: 1T is hard
for those of us who do not live in
Washington to realize the feeling OF
Illustration and injustice which per-
meates the membership of the Vote
less League of the District of Co.
lumbia." Continuing, she refers to
many questions which arise in con-
sidering this problem, which is called
by the league Federal Suffrage in
the District of Columbia" She adds
that Mrs. Hedley v. Cooke, chairman
of the District League department,
has the answers to all of these ques-
tions.
The case for Federal suffrage in the
District, as summarized by Mrs.
Cooke, follows:
when voters from the States
come to Washington they view with
thrill of pride the Capitals broad,
tree-shaded avenues. its magnificent
cleaning white marble public build
ings, its beautiful parks and monu-
mentS, its cherry trees bordering the
Potomac, so lovely in their blossom
season that thousands come miles and
miles to see them, and these citizens
say to themselves, This is our city,
built with our money, supported by
our taxes-the symbol of our democ-
racy.' But is it?
Vote Only in States.
Washington is a city of half a
million people. but not one of them
has a vote unless he retains a voting
residence in State. and that doesn't
help him in respect of local affairs
In his resident city. Those who have
no other home than Washington are
completely disfranchised.
who pays for the cost of running
the Capital? Is it the Federal Gov
ernment? 1t is not. 1t is the dis
franchised citizens of the District of
Columbia who pay approximately IS
per cent of that cost and yet they
have no representation in Congress,
they cannot vote for any Federal or
municipal official; they have abso-
lutely no voice in their local or the
general government. They can do
nothing but pay and pay and pay.
There was a time when the Federal
Government shared the cost with the
District on a $3.50 basis. but every
year the percentage allotted to the
District grows larger and the citizens
can do nothing but protest. They do.
loudly, through their citizens organ
iZationS, but it is but a voice crying
In the wilderness for any effect it
has.
The Matter of Buildings.
There is further consideration.
In the ordinary city when a private
individual builds fine building it is
an advantage to the community, for
It increases the city revenues through
taxation When the Federal Govern
ment buys land in Washington and
builds a public building it takes tax
able property from the District and
renders it exempt from taxation, thus
reducing the sources of revenue.
do you know how the District of
Columbia is governed? A century and
a half ago the Constitution provided
that Congress should have power to
exercise exclusive legislation over such
district mot exceeding 10 miles square)
as may by cession of particular States
become the seat Of the Government
The present site of Washington was
then wilderness. The founding
fathers, wise as they were, could not
have foreseen the city as it is today
could not have intended that half a
million American citizens should suf-
fer from taxation without representa-
tion-the very principle over which
they had so courageously fought a long
war with the mother country such a
short time before the Constitution was
written.
Government Explained
Because of that clause in the Con-
etitution, the District of Columbia is
governed by committees of Congress
a Senate committee headed by Senator
King of Utah and House committee
CNnUrnc nf
Jersey. Three Commissioners ap-
pointed by the President conduct the
municipal affairs of the District and
are accountable to these committees.
Few of the city officials are bona ade
residents of Washington. Every little
municipal ordinance which the ordi-
nary city council could pass, and often
should pass quickly to meet an emer-
gency, must be introduced as a bill
and be passed by Congress.
Last year there was a request from
the president of the National League
OF Women Voters to the State league
presidents asking them to urge their
State Legislatures to memorialize Con-
gress on the subject-asking for
constitutional amendment giving citi-
Eens of the District of Columbia rep
resentation in the Congress and,
through representation in the cleo
toral college. the right to vote for
President and Vice President, and per-
mitting them also to sue and be sued
In the Federal courts, which right is
now denied them. The California
league was successful in securing the
passage Of such a memorial and the
New Jersey league this year is urging
the Legislature to pass a similar one.
There is joint resolution now in the
Congress, introduced by Senator Cap
per of Kansas in the Senate and by
Mrs. Norton of New Jersey inA the
House, to accomplish these objectives."
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