Evening star., 1939-01-03

the expense; to every branch of the
Federal Government, they help pay
the costs; they pay part and parcel
Of the costs wherever the American
Flag flies.
All Others Have Vote,
Congress makes the laws of the
District of Columbia and properly
so under the greatest national con-
stitution in all history. The Treas
ury collects from the Washington
taxpayers for every State and village
in the United States: the Washing
tonians pay their share of upkeep
Of every Federal department and
agency on the same basis of lew
as applies to everybody else in this
broad land. But every other tax
payer has q vote and voice in the
halls OF Congress. Washington tax
payers, doing more than their part
In the upkeep OF the Government.
have no representation in the Fed
eral Government. A constitutional
amendment, which Congress could
pass at this session II it would ADOPT
the observation-disclosures of our fore
fathers, would correct this Un-
American disability. 1t is the old
story of taxation without repre-
sentation which was denounced by
the elder statesmen Of the greatest
republic on earth. The unfran-
chised taxpayers OF Washington
carry on, bearing the fiscal burdens
Of every Federal ONCE in every
State and their own community's.
too.
Washington is not merely a Fed
eral capital. 1t is local munich
pality where vast areas are occupied
by Federal buildings that are ex-
empt from the taxable resources of
the local government. Hundreds of
thousands of people from every
State and from every land come to
Washington annually. They 70
through the magnificent buildings
which a Federal Government gem
erous to other people than Washing
tonians has built here. I would re-
mind these vast armies of visitors
and Congress that we, too. here in
Washington. the voteless taxpayers
Of the District of Columbia, help
pay for these buildings and their
upkeep and their personnel just As
other taxpayers do.
Duty to Take Action.
We are glad this is the Nations
Capital. 1t enhances our pride but
, not our taxable resources. We are
glad the forefathers provided that
Congress meet here. We are proud
Of Congress and present our felicita
tions to its members in both
branches. But We would like to re-
mind Congress that Washington is
city hewn by the taxpayers OF
Washington, who are denied vote
which the constituents of Congress
have and that everybody in the land
has. to the injustice of our own peo-
pie here.
Washington taxpayers play their
part and pay their part. They pay
their way and more, Federally as
we'll As locally. 1t is the duty. and
ought to be the patriotic privilege of
every member OF both houses OF
Congress, to take substantive action
to provide a constitutional amend
ment for representation of the Dis
trict in both houses of Congress.
We are proud of the acclaim of
Washington as the greatest of all
world capitals. We are proud OF
our metropolis as a dream city un-
paralleled anywhere. We are proud
OF being in a great city largely pro-
duced by the brain. the Drawn. the
patriotism, the genius and the skill
and the broad vision of our own peo-
pie. We share some of this credit
with the Congresses that have been
with us ever since 1900. But, remem-
Der this, Washington is city built
up and maintained by WASHINGTON
taxpayers. 1t is of and by the citi-
zenS of Washington.