Evening star., 1939-01-03

As the old year fades into history
and a new year Is ushered in, the
Association of Oldest Inhabitants, in
the spirit of organized citizenship OF
Washington, presents its sincerest
fluctuations to the new Congress. It
Is a need of tribute that We pay as
a symbol of respect that the people
of Washington have for orderly gov
ernment. 1t also is the occasion
for city of 627 900 people to re-
mind Congress that 1t is within
the power and the duty of Congress
to adopt a constitutional amend
ment to provide national repre-
sentation in both houses of Congress
and in the Electoral College for the
American taxpayers of the greatest
municipality on earth.
The taxpayers of Washington
have the same sublime faith in gov
ernment, the same pure patriotism,
the same home loving spirit that
Americans everywhere else have.
And they, in the only national capi-
tai in the world whose people are
denied the elective franchise, are OF
the same type Of Americanism as
the people back In the States. Wash
ingtonians pay not only their way,
but they do more than their part IN
the upkeep of the Federal Govern
ment. They pay in taxes more than
each of "a States and more than 3
of the States combined.
The responsible taxpayers OF
Washington trace their citizenship
back through the provincial and
Colonial days, and they have the
pride of a people whose civic activl-
ties bark back in history for l38
years through which the City OF
Washington, the District of Colum-
bia, has been in process of develop
ment. We have surpassed the record
of many States in patriotic response
to every great emergency of the Ma
ton And today we are sublimely
proud of the genius of our own peo-
pie through whose activities there
has been built up the great City of
Washington, whose wondrous dig
nifty and graceful lines are today the
Joy of the world.
Symbol of America.
Today, Washington, save for the
disfranchisement of its taxpayers, is
the symbol of America. And let no
one gain the impression that WASH
ingtonians live by the grace or in
dulgence of a paternalistic Federal
Government. Washingtonians are
self-sustaining. They pay for what
they get as time marches on. They
are bona f1de Americans in all but
the vote, which a tardy Congress
still withholdS. The taxpayers of
Washington built up and made and
maintain the City of Washington.
save for those Federal areas whose
every encroachment means less Dis
trict revenue and more District tax
alton for the responsible taxpayers
of Washington.
Washington citizens maintain
their metropolis on magnificent
scale in keeping with the dignity
and prestige of world capital.
They pay their own taxes and the
taxes for the maintenance Of the
Government in every State in the
Union. They pay their part toward
She upkeep of the Federal Govern
ment for the benefit of the constitu-
ents of Congress in every community
where flies the American Flag. They
pay not only their own taxes, but the
same Federal taxes that Americans
everywhere else pay. They carry on
with both local and Federal obliga-
tions in the fiscal burdens of a
great national Government and the
fiscal burdens of a great community
which is their home and their pride
Washington is not merely Fed
eral capital. 1t is local munich
pality. metropolis of Americans
like Americans everywhere In the
States. To every Federal pay roll,
Washingtonians pay their share of