Evening star., 1936-01-12
How Jackson Helped DC.
First President to Urge Specifically Repre-
sentation in Congress Sought Greater
Consideration for Capital Needs.

there Is none more important than
that which cultivates q proper rela-
ton between the government and the
governed. Imperfect as this must be
in this case, yet it Is believed that
it would be greatly improved by rep
resentation In Congress with the same
privileges that are allowed to the other
Territories Of the United . States.
1871 deem it my duty again to
call your attention to the condition
of the District Of Columbia. 1t was
doubtless wise in the trainers Of our
Constitution to place the people OF
this District under the Jurisdiction OF
the general government, but to ac-
complish the objects they had in
view it is not necessary that this
people should be deprived of all the
privileges of self-government. fnde-
pendently Of the difficulty of induc-
ing the Representatives of distant
States to turn their attention to prof.
ects of laws which are not of the
highest interest to their constituents,
they are not individually, nor in Con-
gress collectively. well qualified to leg
islate over the local concerns of this
District. Consequently its interests
are much neglected and the people
are almost afraid to present their
grievances. lest a body in which they
are not represented and which feels
little sympathy in their local relations
re 10 Lo La
for them do more harm than good.
Governed by the laws of the States
whence they we're severed, the two
shores of the Potomac within the 10
miles square have different penal
codes-not the present codes of Vir-
ginia and Maryland, but such as
existed in those States at the time
OF the cession to the United States.
AS Congress will not form a new code,
and as the people of the District can
not make one for themselves, they
are virtually under two governments.
Is it not just to allow them at least
a delegate to Congress, If not local
legislature, to make laws for the Dis
trict, subject to the approval or re-
lection of Congress? I earnestly rec
ommend the extension to them of
every political right which their inter-
eSts require and which may be COM
patible with the Constitution" 1885
Il earnestly recommend the extension
of every political right to the citizens
of this District which their true inter-
ests require, and which does not con-
f1ict with the provisions of the Con-
stitution. 1t is believed that the laws
for the government of the District
require reviSal and amendment, and
that much good may be done by modi-
flying the penal code so as to give
uniformity to its provisions"
Backed New Bridge.
In his messages of 1882, 1884 and
1886 Jackson showed his deep person.
al interest in the subject of a bridge
across the Potomac River at Wash
ington, which was built during his ad-
ministration.
During Jackson's administration the
District went into bankruptcy finan-
cially and Congress came to its relief
on the basis of Senator Southard's
report and on the recommendation
Of President Jackson, who in his sew
enth annual message, December T.,
1885, said: 1T is my duty to call
the particular attention OF Congress
to the present condition of the District
of Columbia. From whatever cause
the great depression has arisen which
now exists In the pecuniary concerns
of this District. it is proper that its
situation should be fully understood
and such relief or remedies provided
as are consistent with the powers of
Congress"