Evening star., 1940-07-29
What 1t Does

y
Committee for tomorrow, at which
time favorable report is anticipated
on the Summers resolution proposing
an amendment to the Constitution
conferring upon Congress the power
to provide for the people of the Dis
trlct voting representation in Con-
gresS and the Electoral College mo
greater than that of the people of
the United States; the power to
delegate to such government as
Congress may establish in the Dis
trict "all or any of its power" over
the District, and providing that the
citizens of the District shall enjoy
with the citizens of States equal
rights in the Federal courts.
The best statement of the argu-
ments in support of this resolution
Is the summary of the Senate Dis
trict Committee report of 1922, favor
Ing a resolution by the late Senator
Jones of Washington for a somewhat
similar though more detailed amend
ment of the Constitution.
That summary is reprinted here:
The proposed constitutional
amendment does not reduce the
power OF Congress in respect to the
Capital, but adds new power; it
does not propose the admission of
the District into the Union as
sovereign State; 1t does not propose
the destruction of the 10 miles
square provision of the ConStitu-
ton; it does not lessen in the small
est degree the control by the Nation
through Congress of what remains of
the 10 miles square; it does not
disturb in any way the financial rela-
tion of Nation and Capital; it is not
based upon either the abolition or
retention of the half-and- half law;
1t does not propose or involve
changes in the municipal govern
ment Of the District.
ut plans to beStow upon the 437,-
900 (now 663,153 Americans of the
District distinctive, basic right of
the American citizen-in a govern
ment OF the people by the people for
the people-in government which
roots its justice in consent of the
governed-in representative gov
ernment which inseparably couples
taxation and arms bearing as a SOL
dier with representation.
This distinctive American privi-
lege decorateS the American with a
badge of honor and arms him with
power. It's lack Slurs the Washing
tonian as unfit and defective, and
slurs the Nation as in this respect
un-American and impotent.
What the amendment proposes is
equitable in itself and compulsory
In accordance with American princi-
pies and traditions.
ut gives to residents of the District
rights and privileges which, under
our scheme of Government, belong
to all who pay national taxes and
fight as national soldiers.
1T gives to residents of the Dis
trict a self-protecting power in the
national councils which is denied to
the resident of no other community
In all of the mainland and contigu-
Gus United States from Maine to
Texas and from New York to Cali
fornia.
I'm the matter of access to the
Federal courts it raises District resi-
dents from lower plane than that
of aliens to the status of citizens OF
a State.
National representation of the
District will remove from the Nation
the shame of impotency.
1T will proclaim to the world that
the great Republic is as devoted to
the principles of representative gov
ernment and as capable of enforcing
them as other republics with capitals
In nation controlled districts, like
Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. These
nations have not found themselves
impotent to give full national repre-
sentation to the people of their CAPT.
tails.
"It will proclaim to the world that
the people of Washington are as fit
to participate in national representa-
tive government as the people of
Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires and
Mexico City. Washington will cease
to be the only capital in all the
world whose people, slurred as
tainted or defective, are unworthy
to enjoy the same national repre-
sentation as that enjoyed. by all
other cities of the Nation.
washington will cease to be the
only American community-numer-
Gus, intelligent, prosperous, public
spirited and patriotic-in all the
expanse of continental and con-
tiguous United States whose fitness
to exercise national privileges as
well as to bear national burdens is
denied.
National representation will clothe
the Washingtonian with vital
American privilege to which he is