Evening star., 1953-02-03
Unnecessary Stepping Stones

President Eisenhower presumably got some
Of his ideas Of what to tell Congress about the
District of Columbia from his conversations
with Senator Case.
Senator Case originated the novel scheme
Of having five instead of three Commissioners.
He saw this as "step" to increase representa-
tive government. He said it would provide
broader opportunity for appointment of Negro
and woman as Commissioners. President
Eisenhower goes even further. He told Congress
1t would be "a first step toward insuring that
this Capital provide an honorable example to
all communities of our Nation"
The President does not make himself clear
as to the example thus to be provided. If it is
group representation in government-the Gre
ton of new jobs to be filled by representatives
of groups instead of representatives of all the
people-the example is poor one for other COM
munities around the country to emulate This
type of proportional representation is undesir-
able, in principle and in performance. If Presi-
dent Eisenhower wishes to have Negro or a
woman, or both, on the Board of Commission
ers, he should appoint them. Not because of
their representation of sex or race or group but
because of their ability to serve him and the
people of Washington.
Would the addition OF two more Commits
sioners furnish an example of efficiency and
operating economy in local government? That
is not likely. The past session of Congress ap-
proved a reorganization plan for the municipal
government. 1t is in process of being effected
now. New men have been hired to bring it into
working order It is built around three Commits
sioners This was the plan favored, after extern
sive consideration, over an alternate proposal
for a nine-member council and city manager.
The f1ve-C Commissioner plan is neither fish nor
fowl. It would be more sensible to permit the
~a14n
plicating it by dashing off in pointless pursuit
Of two more District Commissioners
We do not need in the District of Columbia,
to be led by the hand and taught, step by step,
how to conduct ourselves as voting American citi-
zens This Is one of the most nterate and intel
Hgent communities in the country. It is qualified
in every reSpect-Save one-to exercise the right
and privilege Of voting.
The flaw, in our qualifications, is that Con-
gress does not now possess the power to grant
to the people of Washington the voting rights
enjoyed by other citizens Of the United States.
Under the Constitution, only the people of the
States are represented in Congress and in the
electoral college. The District is not, nor should
it be, State. This defect would be removed by
q constitutional amendment, empowering Con-
gresS to grant representation to the people Of
Washington in Congress and in the electoral
course to be followed, without the necessity for
experimental intermediary steps"
We shall never have an effective voice in
local self-government," the subject to which the
President asks Congress to give serious atten-
tion, until we have a voice in Congress. For it
is Congress that is directed and empowered by
the Constitution Ito exercise exclusive legisla-
ton in all cases whatsoever" over the seat Of
Government. So self-government for the people
of the District of Columbia is a misnomer, until
they are represented in the Congress which is
the source of our Government.
This session may see enactment OF some
palliative legislation that will be paraded as
"home rule" or f-government." It will be
neither. That will become evident if Congress
devotes to the subject the serious attention"
recommended by President Eisenhower. The
proposal for five Commissioners has no remote
connection with home rule, genuine voting
rights or representation or elimination of racial
segregation. 1t would be step backward,
attended by confusion and expense.