Evening star., 1939-02-07
Preventing q Mockery

gain effective participation in ma
tional and local governments-in
Congress, which is our real national,
State and municipal legislature, and
in the subordinated agencies Of
strictly municipal government which
Congress may create and to which it
delegates such powers as the Eek
elusive legislation" provision of the
Constitution permits. The nominal
participation in local government
which the District now enjoys is rep
resented by the statute which re-
quires the civilian Commissioners to
be bona fide citizens of the District
of Columbia for three years prior to
appointment, claiming residence no
where else, and by creation by law of
few semi-independent boards, like
the Board Of Education, Board Of
Public Welfare, the Board of Trustees
of the Public Library, etc.
The Commissioners are locally the
executive agents of Congress-the
Districts legislature and two
thirds of the Commissioners must be
bona fide residents of the District for
three years preceding appointment.
The District thus has indirectly and
nominally two-thirds representation
on the Board of Commissioners and
| two-thirds participation in the ex-
ecutive, legislative and judicial
powers of the Commissioners. The
Board Of Education divides school
authority and power with the Com
missioners and is appointed by
judges Of the District Court. The
Library Trustees are appointed by
the Commissioners and have power
to appoint the librarian and to su-
pervise library activities, reporting to
the Commissioners. The movement
for establishment of the Public Ii
brary came from District citizens,
the successful elimination of the
movement was led by District citizens
day is due largely to the efforts of
District citizens.
On its face, the reorganization
plan of Mr.. Griffenhagen and asso-
ciates eliminates the fragments OF
local participation in their local gov.
ernment now possessed by residents
- I1 c%x nv %os
emily may be appointed to all of the
key positions In the municipal gov
ernment for no residence qualifica-
ton seems to be mentioned) and the
citizens boards are deprived of all
administrative power, reduced to ad-
visory powers only, or are eliminated.
Greater powers of local participa-
ton are suggested in the recon-
mendations OF the committee to be
granted in a new Organic Act con-
corning the District. Thus it be-
comes of fundamental Importance
to the people Of the District that the
new Organic Act should be framed
before any move is made to effect
the reorganization of municipal
functions proposed, and, naturally,
careful consideration must be given
to the preparation Of this Organic
Act.
Unless the additional powers are
granted through the Organic Act, the
reorganization, with its scientifically
considered machinery, will consti-
tute a perfected bureau Of the Ma
tional Government, with even the
present fragments Of participation by
Washington citizens eliminated.
District Of Columbia residents are
national taxpayers, paying $27,660,-
524 in national taxes (not including
social security taxes in the fiscal
year 1898, which is more than any
one of twenty-four States and more
than nine States combined. In the
World War the District sent more
sailors, soldiers and marines to the
colors Q7,945) than any one of seven
Of the States, and on every occa-
sion residents of the District have
demonstrated their loyalty and pa
triotism. On American principles
they are entitled to voting repre-
sentation in the National Govern
ment which taxes them and sends
them to war, and by Constitutional
amendment they are seeking this
representation.
They contribute largely to taxation
for the maintenance and upbuilding
Of the Capital locally, contributing
about eighty eight per cent of gen.
eral fund revenues, plus gasoline and
water taxes. To the extent of that
contribution they are entitled to effec-
tive participation in the Government
which collects and spends these mu-
nicipal taxes.
Any improvement in the machinery
of effective municipal administra-
tion which fails to carry with 1t this
effective participation in the Dis
trict's government, national and To-
cal, will be mockery so far as salts
| faction of the Districts plea for par