Evening star., 1940-03-10
Civic Problems, ,CivicBo
Birthright and Pottage Story
Has Long Been Irrelevant
BY JESSE C. SUTER.

Has Long Been Irrelevant
BY JESSE c. sUTER.
long as much activity as to
civic affairs right Liquor reorganization
amendment repeal track gambling welfare
men to the unemployment child theatrical
performers f the District problems
OF Congress have been wrestling during the
the hearings House District Sub
committee Of the Appropriations Committee
usual.
really bright spot highly successful
dinner in celebration of the 3oth birthday
Citizens Associations 1t the
@ IN Wch e mas engaged and resulted in arousng
much wholesome enthusiasm
1t has been decided Committee inquiry
into the liquor situation shall continue
far the testimony has been in large criticism the
A. B. C. Board The testimony has being as lumi-
mating and helpful the the subject which The
Star has been publishing daily.
Immediate partial relief Home for the
Aged at Blue Plains appears sight survey made by
the Health Department opened way for the transfer to other
institutions OF number OF the inmates Practical permanent
relief through adequate appropriation by Congress
The reorganization hearing gotten very far The
advocates OF local suffrage who have been demanding
basis upon plan formulated have presented
number of speakers early guess as to what
impression they have group
other appeared committee on Thursday
and Endorsed the form
that they do not favor local suffrage groups
pore District of Columbia national representation however
The hearing before a Senate District
Committee has brought strong protests
legaze gambling This one proposition upon
which there is general bill
defeated. Senator Capper
several fight
Birthright and Pottage Story Irrevelant
The old birthght and potage story,
Representative Judge
of the radical local surag Of that time injected
into the reorganization hearing the other day. Like the flowers
that bloom in the spring. has nothing with the
If there the sale by the District birthright
of pottage should the brthright
by whom and to whom sold and also what the poage
and who got it.
This subject was among matters discussed in series articles
which appeared in The Evening Star 1914 This the
VI % e % t anu @ uuge % rious @ n e h @ ee aa oeea @
republican form of of the Nation
State To quote from of these articles:
In theory the exercised
Ultimate soveresntv as odieed hv th contut n'o m the
United States resides In New York from 1777 to 1921
nd ~ @ fo,r ] sa4n t n n ~ - - - pp h t bS;t, w s u w ts
Assembly Instances the intervention of the State
have not heen lacne in Later
suffrage demanded by republican principles only in the choice
those officers who exercise purely governmental functions and not
in the selection by municipal perform
duties affecting private property interests"
alleged sale organic
the oteess and people had nothing deliver
they ha the right ana power TO make the SALE Their municipal
suffrage which had been reduced 1871 lost completely 1874
at best bogus and deceptive brthght if all The
supposed per payment
ernment toward the of the National Capital and help
it from the bankruptcy into which Federal appointed
a had placed it. 1t was simply the case Of assuming just obga-
ton long overdue.
when the for the original City of Washington acquired
from the original landowners who by outright gift made the
the plat of the city This gift which Thomas Jefferson then
Secretary of noble" all
kinds OF promises to what improvements the Government
to make But the United States delivered the poage
consequently there SALE
land nevertheless
The original the Washington
part of the 10 miles The remainder
incorporated towns of Alexandria and Georgetown and the larger
sections comprising Alexandria and Washington Counties None
OF the people of these extensive had smell of the
pottage voice sale
Though both of these municipalities possessed the bogus birth
right of local they repeatedly peoned the
to be ceded back Virginia and Maryland from whence
they had order that they might the birth
right which they had lost Alexandria succeeded in 1846 but
Georgetown able to make the grade
Political equity and equity fundamental though
independent rights which the people of the District have
manded Political equity the genuine birthght right
denied elsewhere only to convct and detectives Fiscal equity
due by the Federal Government because the Federal Gov
ements Capital this
OF national and international character well variety
Of services to the United States.
An Unjust Discrimination Acknowledged
Discrimination against the
through their denial Of the courts of the United saes
In effect acknowledged by the House Committee Judiciary
voting favorable the bill This bill through
amendment to the judiciary CODE intended permit the citizens
OF the District
were the citizens of State.
The removal this disability discrimination
sought by District citizens through amendments the
Constitution For this included
posed national constitutional Hearings
on these have been held number times before the
House Judiciary Committee resd committee
Several such proposals pending before the committee
the most comprehensive which is Summers
r citizens and of the Congress These permit the granting
to District citizens the right voting
and House of Representatives and the electors
and Vice President and to Congress delegate