Evening star., 1938-04-27

soever precisely like the existing
States. The only limitation Is that
in thus amending the Constitution no
State should be deprived of its equal
suffrage in the Senate, and, as we
have already shown, the equality of
the States in the Senate will not be
in any wise affected by the proposed
amendment.
Summarizing, we find and report:
The proposed constitutional amend
ment does not reduce the power Of
Congress in respect to the capital, but
adds q new power; 1t does not propose
the admission of the District. into
the Union as q sovereign state; it
does not propose the destruction of
the "10 miles square" provision of the
Constitution; it does not lessen in the
smallest degree the control. by the
Nation through Congress of what re-
mains Of the 40 miles square,; it
does not disturb in any way the
financial relation of Nation and cap
ital; it is not based upon either the
abolition or retention of the half and
half law; 1t does not propose Or in
vOlve changes in the municipal gov
ernment Of the District.
1t plans to bestow upon the $4,000
(now 600,000) Americans of the Dis
trict a distinctive, basic right of the
American citizen-in a government of
the people by the people for the people
i'm a government which roots its
justice in consent Of the governed
in a representative government which
inseparably couples taxation and arms
bearing as soldier with representa-
ti0n.
This distinctive American privilege
decorates the American with a badge
of honor and arms him with power.
Its lack slurs the Washingtonian as
unfit and defective and sIurs the Ma
tion as in this respect un-American
and impotent.
What the mendment proposes is
equitable in itself and compulsory in
accordance with American principles
and traditions.
1t gives to residents of the District
rights and privileges which, under our
scheme of government, belong to all
who pay national taxes and fight as
national soldiers.
1t gives to residents of the District
a self protecting power in the national
councils which Is denied to the resident
of no other community in all Of the
mainland and contiguous United States
from Maine to Texas and from New
York to California
In the matter of access to the Fed
eral courts it raises District residents
from a lower plane than that of aliens
to the status of citizens of a State.
National representation of the Dis
trict will remove from the Nation
the shame of impOtency.
1t will proclaim to the world that
the great republic is as devoted TO
the principles of representative gov
ernment and as capable of inforcing
them as other republics with capitals
in nation controlled districts, like
Mexico. Brazil and Argentina. These
nations have not found themselves
impotent to give full national repre-
sentation TO the people of their cap
itals.
1t will proclaim to the world that
the people of Washington are as fit
to participate in national representa-
tive government as the people of Rio
de Janeiro, BuenOs Aires and Mexico
City. Washington will cease to be
the only capital in all the world whose
people. slurred as tainted or defective,
are unworthy to enjoy the same ma
tional representation as that enjoyed
by all other cities of the Nation.
Washington will cease to be the
only American community-numerou
intelligent, prosperous, public spirited
and patriotic-in all the expanse of
continental and contiguous United
States whose fitness to exercise ma
tional privileges as we'll as to bear
national burdens is denied.
National representation will clothe
the Washingtonian with a vital Amer
lean privilege to which he is undeni-
ably in equity entitled; will cleanse
him of the stigma and stain of un-
Americanism. and curing his political
impOtency, will arm him with a certain
power.
1t will relieve the Nation Of the
shame of the un- America aniSm at its
heart and Of impotency to cure this
evil.
1t will inflict no injury or hardship
upon either Nation or capital to
counteract these benefits.