Evening star., 1940-01-15

Merits Compared With Value
Of LoeoI Suffrage
Authorization
To the Editor of The Star:
The position taken in The Sunday Star
by your columnist, Jesse G. Suter, that
national representation is essential before
1t will be possible to set up local elec-
tive government which would be really
worth while" is not in accord with the
facts.
Mr.. Suter admits that "for 70 years
the several portions Of the District were
permitted to elect local officials" but
maintains that these governments were
ineffective because "the real power al
ways remained with the great Congress
in which the District was not repre-
sented"
Every city in this Nation is subject
to superior control by the State in
which 1t is located. Except for limita-
tions imposed by State constitutions
there is nothing to prevent any State
from taking away the right of its cities
to exercise local self-government. There
is nothing to prevent State Legisla-
ture from acting as city council for
any city within its borders. That the
States do not violate basic American
principles in this respect is not solely
due to the fact that the cities have rep
resentation in the State Legislatures.
The rrOvietor ~ tho rndoroI
ton which vests in the Congress of the
United States exclusive legislative ju-
risdiction" over the area set aside for
the seat of the Federal Government
means neither more nor less than that
the Congress occupies the same position
with respect to the city of Washington
(or any other city within the confines
OF the District Of Columbia) that
State occupies with respect to the cities
within Its borders. That is the obvious
reason why the Congress could not dele
gate to the territorial government once
established here the legislative powers
that are usually held by the States, but
there was and is no limitation on its
power to delegate to Washington mu-
nicipal government all the powers that
are customarily delegated by the States
to their cities, while retaining the same
control over such municipal govern
ment as the States retain over their
municipalities
or course, we ought to have national
representation. not only because It
should be the right Of every American
citizen, but particularly because the
Congress of the United States is our
State Legislature. The advocates of ma
tional representation, however, have
been striving for quarter of a century
to obtain this right, without success.
The desirability of national representa-
ton should not be set up as a bar to our
securing at this time the fundamental
American right of local self-govern-
ment, in connection with any plan for
reorganization Of the District govern.
ment.
The absurdity OF the great Congress"
acting as city council for Washington
is apparent. Municipal powers should
fbe delegated to real city government
here. To delegate such powers to ap-
pointed oficials, however, would be
dangerous departure from our Ameri-
can system of government. Hence the
1nescapable conclusion that some form
OF q city council, elected by and from
the people of Washington must be es-
tablished. And now is the time to estab-
lish 1t, while the matter of reorganiza-
ton Is being considered.
KENNETH P. ARMSTRONG.
January 8.
Editors Note-In order to present both
sides of this question The Star requested
Mr.. Lesh to prepare the reply to Mr..
Armstrong; letter which is printed
below)
To the Editor OF The Star:
Your correspondent, Mr.. Kenneth P.
Armstrong. asserts that Congress can set
up here a local elective government
(which would be really worth while"
without an enabling constitutional
amendment and controverts your COL
umnist, Jesse c. suter, who recently
wrote in effect that the District could
be best served by enactment of the
Summers amendment to the Constitution.
Permit me to say word in support Of
Mr.. Suffers position.
When the District next regains local
self government, it will be the third
time, and want it to be for keeps.
The Summers amendment Cd permits
District residents representation in the
Senate and House and vote for Presi-
dent, (2) permits Congress to set up a
local elective government with powers
like State and city governments, and
90 grants the same access to the Fed
eral courts to residents Of the District
rs to residents Of States.
Mr.. Armstrong expresses impatience
with the view that representation in
Congress is essential to back up locally
elected municipal government. In sup
port OF his position he points out that
municipal governments elsewhere are