Evening star., 1939-07-14

which has care David Lawrence.
fully exempted members of Congress
or their henchmen among Govern
ment employees who maintain vot-
ing residences" outside the city
while living here and earning their
j. salaries here virtually all the year
round.
There would not be the slightest
objection to the income tax if it
were fairly applied and if the people
here could vote and thus have a
voice in the Government which rules
them.
But the combination of no voting
power and yet an unlimited and
arbitrary exercise of power by mem
bers Of the House of Representa-
lives. who feel no sense of respon-
sibility for the community of more
than 100000 persons resident here,
presents a spectacle in the govern
ing process in which fair play ap-
pears to have been eliminated.
Sum Dwindles to $4,000
For many years, in fact from 1878
TO 1922, the Congress fixed a ratio
In which the Federal Government
and the taxpayers shared on $3.50
basis the cost of government in
the District of Columbia. Then, in
1922, the ratio was fixed whereby
the Federal Government paid 40
per cent and the taxpayers 60 per
cent of the city's costs. Then Con-
gress abolished the ratio idea en-
'tirely and started the lump-sum
method of contribution of about
SlOOOO.OOO and finally cutting it
down to $5,OOO,000. After a scien-
tific analysis the Senate this year
decided that $8,0O0,0O0 would be
about right, but the House insisted
on s5O0O,OO0. The Senate then
! compromised with a figure of So
100000. but the House has refused
to accept it.
One wonders why a simple differ
ence of $1,5OO000 appeals so strong
ly to the House membership when
the total Federal Government ap-
preparation is running beyond So
600, 100000 and the deficit is around
63,50O,000,OO0. Just why the House
members will vote billions of public
funds for their constituents and re-
fuse to agree to a sum fixed by the
Senate involving a slight increase
over their own figure is inexplicable
on any basis of economy. 1t seems
more of a spite vote and this Is
something which is to be deplored
In legislative bodies.
High officials are disturbed by the
House action, believing it represents
the sum total Of "peevishness"
against the District for a variety of
things, over which the citizens as
whole have no control Whatever
the reason for the House vote, it is
clear that the membership possesses
the power to do as it pleases with
District affairs and the people here
have no redress. When such I'M
Limited power is vested in any in
stitution, there is every reason for
restraint.
Failure of the House to agree to
the Senate proposal has tied up the
entire District appropriation ever
since June 30 Money for Police
and Fire Departments and other
necessities of the District govern
ment has been withheld by Congress
owing to the deadlock. 1t is not a
situation that encourages hope in
the capacity of representatives to
look effectively at current problems
No Redress at Polls.
The anti-District sentiment has
been built up over period of years
by demagogic appeals and misrep-
resentation. The people here have
no means Of addressing their fellow
citizens in the communities which
Aelect members of the House of Rep
resentatives. There is no way to
register protest at the polls in
the 435 districts of the country if
the people in Washington feel they
have been mistreated.
Knowing this disadvantage to
exist, the situation implies a COM
parison between boys of superior
physical strength in their treatment
OF other boys OF much less strength.
Restrain upon the strong is usually
self-imposed. When the House of
Representatives legislates against
voteless Washington, taxing 1t with
out giving any representation, there
is presented test of the sincerities
; OF democracy In the very Capital of
the Nation. The difference of
$1,500,0O0 between House and Senate
conferees is important to the tax
payers Of the District, but it is of
far greater Importance as a matter
of principle, especially when the
members of the House have EXEMPT
ed themselves and their political
friends In jobs here from the tax