Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-13
Neglected Nations Capitol

A recent article in The Star by
Hector Mclean, relating to the Is
members of Congress upon whom the
burden of the District of Columbia
affairs fall chiefly, was quite inter-
esting and informative.
That article states that the govern
mental organization of the District
of Columbia is unlike that of any
place else in the world" It also states
that District of Columbia residents
number nearly 100000" and that the
residents have mo vote"
In the postwar years many things,
right or wrong, have been done to
impress upon our allies and our po-
tential enemies that America is the
land of the free with equal rights for
all. Great efforts have been expended
to obtain free elections in foreign lands
and statehood has been sought Wig
orously for certain territories. In view
OF this 1t is seen that while great
efforts have been expended elsewhere
the District Of Columbia has been sub
stantially neglected along these lines.
After reaching far and wide to make
good impression it is seen that the
best example could be set by giving
the almost 100000 residents of the
Nations Capital, upon which the eyes
Of the world are focused, full repre-
Sentation in the Congress which gov
ems that Capital and the Nation, in
lieu Of the present situation of taxation
without representation.
The great disdain by the governing
element of the District of Columbia is
clearly evidenced in the mentioned
article. AS first fact, the Federal
Government payment for the use of
tax-exempt land, fire protection, ETC.,
has been reduced from an original and
fair SO per cent payment for city opera
ton to low Of 8 per cent, and now the
payment is las per cent. A second fact
is that the main virtue one Congress
man finds in his assignment as men,
Der Of the House District Committee
is that he can make speeches about
the District Of Columbia and thus en-
able him to avoid the real issues in
his home area. third fact is the ref
erence by one Senator, when assigned
to the Senate District Committee, to
garbage can" treatment.
The day after the mentioned article
was published, series of television
programs about "Our Beautiful Po-
tomac" began. The first of these pro-
grams depicted the deplorable and un-
sanitary condition of the Potomac
River and its feeders about the District
OF Columbia. Experts from the District
and Federal governments spoke about
this unsafe and unsightly river condi-
ton and made it clear that if sufficient
funds were available. the Potomac
could with relative ease be made clean
and beautiful. With the governing
fathers treating the District of Column
bia as an unWanted stepchild, it
seems our Potomac River will remain
in its present sorry state or decline
therefrom.
Our Nations Capital City, the Dis
trict of Columbia. should be shining
example in all respects to all nations.
1t could be so if treated with fairness,
equality and respect by all citizens of
the Nation The question of funds
for cleaning the city and river, main
tanning adequate police force, payment
for only its equitable share for bridges
beneflting the various States more
than the District of Columbia, etc., is
most important. Since the District of
Columbia Is closely knit unit, having
no rural areas to support as in the
cases Of the States. taxes should be
and would be the lowest in the Nation
II the Federal Government were to