Evening star., 1936-05-29
STAR, WASHINGTON c. FRIDAY

Federal internal revenue taxes an
amount greater than that paid by each
Of % States and more than the COM
bined payment Of nine States. In such
Federal taxes the per capita payments
Of the District exceeded that Of 80
States.
Meet Citizens Obligations.
Here at the very heart of the Nation
are half-a-million as good Americans
as to be found any place under the
Stars and Stripes. They are intelligent,
public spirited, loyal and patriotic and
are always to be found meeting all Of
the obligations of American citizen
ship both in war and in peace. In
measuring up to these obligations OF
citizenship they arc excelled by no
other American citizens, but when 1t
comes to their possession and enjoy
ment of vital and fundamental rights
they are rated in the same class as the
criminal, the idiot and the lunatic.
These people being subject to all
laws enacted by Congress are as vitality
affected by and interested in all ma
tional legislation as are the citizens of
the States, yet they are deprived OF
the right to participate In their enact
ment.
"Mr. President, the plight Of these
fellow Americans Of the Capital COM
munity is indeed sad one which is
clearly violative Of the principles ex-
pounded in the Declaration of Inde-
pendence. Were these people salts
fed to rest content in this depriva-
ton of their natural born rights they
would be unworthy of the name
American. They realize fully that
they suffer a grave injustice through
the inaction of their fellow Ameri-
cans in the States. They know that
in fact and in truth they are really
the subjects rather than the recog-
nized equals Of the other citizens OF
their country. They know full well
that their only possible relief from
their anomalous situation is to be
found through the constitutional
amendment proposed in 8. ]. r. IL.
Petition Presented.
II have the honor to present to
the Senate. with a request that it be
printed in the Congressional Record
this petition Of the citizen organiza-
tions Of the District of Columbia for
the passage Of this Senate joint reso-
luton II.
This proposal in no way lessons
the power of exclusive legislation ex-
ercised by Congress over the seat OF
the Federal Government. 1t does
not. in the last particular. change the
present form of the government OF
the District. 1t does, however, pro-
pose to give to the legal residents OF
the District of Columbia the right to
participate. through their duly elected
representatives, in the councils OF
their National Government. This is
a just measure deserving favorable
action by Congress and ratification
by the States.
| This petition is truly representa-
tive OF the people of the District
| lHlOuSA UlCH pIulCIpdl OlBdlllZcO
bodies. They thus speak to the Con-
gress through their chief officers with
the official authority of the organiza-
tions in question. No matter of legis-
lation affecting the District has ever
been presented to Congress with a
more united front. These organiza
tions represent the plain citizen, the
business man. working people, the
veterans, the women, trade, labor
and welfare and other groups. These
| local bodies have the support of a
growing number of influential ma
tional, regional and State organiza-
tions.
II appeal to my colleagues to give
this question their attention and
study with a view to granting thi,
boon. to our fellow but voteless anC
unrepresented Americans Of the Dis.
trict Of Columbia, in the Seventy fifth
Congress"
The petition contains the sigma.