Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-03-15
Districts Dilemma

Your editorial Of March 1,
opposing home rule for the
District. predicted that 1t
would be a local government
Subservient TO an all-power-
full national Government"
and would find itself sad
died with a responsibility 1t
cannot discharge" BY actual
experience brought freshly
to mind by recent arguments
and hearings on District sup
port, both Of these presum-
ably undesirable character
istics may be charged also to
the present status Of local
government here. It seems
important, therefore. to con-
slider what really can be done
to avoid remaining perma-
nently impaled on either or
both horns Of that dilemma.
Voting representation in
Congress Ton which some
friends are so discouraged as
to be willing to settle for the
desirable but much less prac-
tically useful presidential
suffrage alone) would be val
liable in connection with
whatever powers Congress
must or does retain for direct
handling, with such addi-
tional influence on local mat
ters as colleagues may &C
cord to our less than one per
cent actual voting strength
to which our population
would entitle US. Such repre-
sentation. however, II OBJ
tanned before some form Of
local self-government is es-
tablished. might still more
firmly fasten on us subservi-
ence to action on Capitol
Hill on matters with which
the Nations legislators
should not be bothered in de-
tail. even with a few we'll
qualified local residents in
their midst to help them act.
The one most important
aim should, therefore. be to
devise and obtain some form
of local government to which
can be given most or all of
the extensive powers Of local
legislation which the SUI
preme Court, on more than
one occasion. has indicated
as quite constitutional for
Congress to delegate. So tag
from being neglectful Of its
truly national role in connec-
ton with its headquarters
city. Congress should then be
freer to attend to that role
instead Of bothersome local
details.
If the phrase responsibility
It cannot discharge" re-
fers to fears about the Fed
eral payment, recent hear
ings gave support to the
belief that a chief reason for
difficulty in getting a pay
ment appropriated even close
to what was authorized as
fair after legislative study,
is its being an economy
minded subcommittee big
target amidst a lot Of details
Of how the District would be
allowed to spend its own
money. 1t should fare better
amongst other sizeable Fed
eral grants and payments In
lieu of taxes TO States and
their local units. And as for
losing all or most of the Fed
eral payment by such ideas
as that it is largesse to a
ward Of the Nation so long as
1t can't govern and support
itself, why dignity the dan
ger as something reasonably
to be feared instead Of stick
ing by the strong and true
reasons for a fair sharing Of
both control and support of
the National Capital by Gov
eminent and residents for
the benefit Of all concerned?
George w. HOdgkins
4 \ II
Gerhard P. Van Arkel sug-
gested The Star was "out Of
step with the White House,
the District Commissioners,
both major political parties
:. ;" in its editorial stating
that the proposed home rule
measures would not provide
voting rights worth a hill Of
beans, and that only a vote
for President, Senators, and
Congressman would be mean
ingful.
Mr.. Van Arkel went on to
say that national representa-
ton, with some creditable
exceptions" has been in
dorsed only by those who
would use it as a stalking
horse to defeat any measures
for self-government." / sub
init that Mr.. Van Arkel is
"out Of step with the White
House, the District Commits