Evening star., 1939-06-26

city Is unique and does belong to the
Nation, including that portion of the
Nation which the local inhabitants
constitute.
The District people are now gen.
orally recognized as by far the larg-
est contributors to the upbuilding
of the Capital. They gave of their
own property that the Nation might
practically own and exclusively con-
troll a National City. They donated
to the Nation five-sevenths of the
area of the Federal City as origi-
nally planned. They gave the land
from the proceeds of the sale of
which the original public buildings
were completed. Nearly all the
work of street improvement and
Capital-making which was done for
three-fOurths Of century was done
by them. Through disregard by the
Nation of its financial obligations
to the Capital the Washingtonian
were in 1885 forced into bankruptcy
IN the public spirited attempt to
bear alone the Nations burden. In
the same spirit they endured in the
seventies the travail Of the birth of
the new Washington. When the
Federal Government finally came to
the <relief of the people who had
heen attempting task far beyond
their abilities, the Capital began to
to be transformed from a National
shame into the object of a inst
National pride.
lhe large sums of money which
annually flow into the District from
the Government pay rolls, it is true,
are paid as whole by the Nation.
toward these national moneys
there is collected from District tax
payers greater amount than the
collections from any one of one half
OF the States and more than the
combined collections from nine
States.
Strength of Capital Community,
"a The Capital is no longer merely
the camping place of transient
Americans, but has developed into
a homogeneous American commu-
nity-intelligent. resourceful, popu-
ious, public-spirited, patriotic, with
a marked civic self consciousness.
with strong community get
together spirit and with an inspiring
community pride.
1he Census Bureau estimates the
population of the District of Colum
bia, as of July l, 1887, at 1000.
This figure, of course, includes Fed
eral officials and employees, but they
constitute only a minor, though i'm.
portant and highly valued, factor of
the local population. When their
number is deducted from the total
there remains a population far ex-
ceedlng that of several of the States
NO person would have to refuse a
Government job in Washington he.
cause he would be unable to vote
or because he would have no voice
In taxation for the simple reason
that Government employees can re-
tam their voting privilege in the
Saates, while residing in Washington.
through the exercise of this priv
liege they continue, by their elected
representatives, to have a voice in
taxation.
NO Bi-Partizan Government.
t5) The two civilian Commission
ers appointed by the President and
confirmed by the Senate are not
CHOSEN from each major party. A
bipartisan Commission has existed
at times, but for many years both
appolntees have been from the partv
in power.
No National Half Payment.
90 Congress does not furnish one.
half Of the Districts expenses. The
equal division of expenses between
the Federal Treasury and local tar.
alton was foilowed from 1878 until
1922. Then the ratio was changed
to a payment of 40 per cent by the
Government and so per cent raised
locally. Since 1925 the Federal
payment has been by means of a
lump sum Which has undergone a
gradual REDUCTION until the SIS, ,OOO,-
00o payment during the 1889 fiscal
year represented about from 10
per cent to IL per cent of the local
budget. Thus, it is seen that the
District is a heavy contributor on
both sides toward the District
budget. 1t noW pays from So Der
cent to 80 per cent from it's local
taxes and as a payer of national
taxes it contributes toward the
Federot 10 per cent to IL per cent
payment, an amount more than any
one of half the States and consid-
ercbty more than the combined
Payn'en. of nine States.
The editorial says that half
contribution by the Nation toward
Capital upbuiiding seems fair. 1t
foHoWs that an actual payment of
only 10 or IL per cent would
clearly be unfair.
Participation in Politics.
G) 1t is true that granting to the
National Capital community Ma
tional representation would permit
participation in politics. 1t is
through such political action by the
people that our Government is
operated. In the case of the WASH
ingtonian participation in politics
means escape from the class of de-
fective and delinquent Am<rica ms
in company with the convict and the
lunatic and entrance into the proud
Order of American Sovereigns in
company with all other Americans
of continental contiguous America.