Evening star., 1939-07-16
he 7 kilograms
Reply to The Star

observations are best summarized
by using the key numbers of para
graphs in our original comment
these numbers having also been
used by The Star in its retorts:
% The Star is entitled to it's own
view as to the intent of the authors
of the Constitution. Ours is taken
from what seem to us, in the abb
sence of refuting evidence, conyinc-
ing references and statements by
dependable authorities The follow
ing statement from the National
Encyclopedia, recently edited pub
lication, is in the nature of terSe
summary of other and more EXTEND
ed references on the subject: Since
the purpose of the independent
status of the District is that those
connected with workings of the
Government should be free from
politics. the citizens do not have
the right to vote in municipal or
Federal matters"
90 In our original comment we
said Mr.. Lawrence's plan would
practically make the District a
Territory. If that is too strong a
characterization, or if it is in any
way misleading, The Star has not
made the case very clear or force
full to us. The Star says the plan
would not make the District a Ter
ritory or a State. Then it says it
would give the District some of the
voting representation" that is de-
MED a Territory. The words de-
scribing the Territorial government
of 1874 were not ours. They we're
quoted verbatim from the American
Encyclopedia. Hence The Stars
quarrel on this point should be with
the editors of Americana and of
other research works and histories
which refer to that chapter in the
history of Washington government
in unfavorable terms.
90 The Telegram said that Mr.
Lawrences complaint of taxation
without representation" should have
less weight in Washington than in
any other spot in the Nation. The
Star says it should, if anything,
have more weight there than in re-
gard to any other spot in the Ma
ton. This point, like the others
above, involves definite difference
of view and opinion, not matters for
correction. We have no reason to
doubt that the donors of land for
the first Government buildings in
Washington were patriotic and pub
lie spirited as well as shrewd. They
were frank, too. The deeds set up
as a consideration the benefits they
expected to receive in return for
the donation. 1t is recorded that
both they and the Government
shared handsomely in the ensuing
sale of building lots. All praise to
residents of Washington for their
enterprise in this and other mat
ters, for their efforts to improve
and beautify the city during periods
when Government expenditures
Jagged, for paying taxes today on
their incomes. To say that the mod
ern Washington is unique in char.
acter," that "it does not really be-
long to its inhabitants, that "they
did not found it or plan It," anc
that they did not build it up with
their labor, money or thought" is ne
disparagement of the spirit and en-.
terprise of Washington residents o1
the present or past. Our quoted
statements do, however, have
definite bearing on the issue as pre-
sented by MIR. Lawrence. They
should stand for analysis on theil
merit as applied to that issue.
% We never thought of Wash.
ington, and we doubt whether Others
have, as the camping place o1
transient Americans" That quo
tation is from The Stars editoria
text, not ours. On the contrary, We
have always thought of Washington
as the permanent home residence
of many of the Nations finest citi.
zens, as a social and cultural center
of which the Nation may be justly
proud. In this aspect Washington
is, in fact, the dream of the found.
ers of the Federal City attaining
happy fulfillment with each pass.
ing decade. Here again the sensi'
tiveness with which our comment l!
treated by The Star makes discus.
sion awkward. We referred, factu'
ally, to the economic foundation!
of the city. A quotation from thu
1899 issue of a business directory
of long standing sets up our cas'
better than we did. It's summary O
facts is for business consumption
purely. 1t says of Washington ant
the District of Columbia: 1T is tn
seat of the Federal Government ant
most of its activities center arouns
the departments of government. -
Most of its industry Is Government
manufacture or manufacture TO