appropriate approach to ending the tyranny of taxation without representation within the Nation's Capital. Some will claim that the U.S. Constitution is a barrier. To argue that the very document that gives us our rights, denies them to some, seems obviously contradictory. Some will claim that Maryland retains rights over the land that is Washington, DC. To those I would say, "Read the documents of conveyance." Still others will argue that the 23d amendment stands in the way. That argument falls under the weight of logic. If Congress exercises exclusive legislative authority over the District, then it can do with the District what it wishes, including creating a State out of it. Exclusive is exclusive. It cannot be anything less. 67-297 0 - 87 - 2 THIS IS THE THIRD IN A SERIES OF AT LEAST FOUR HEARINGS THIS SUBCOMMITTEE INTENDS TO CONDUCT ON THE ISSUE OF STATEHOOD FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. AT OUR FIRST HEARING, WE HEARD FROM MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE. THE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY THE TASK FORCE FORMED THE BASIS FOR OUR SECOND TODAY, WE WILL HEAR FROM SEVERAL DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL AS THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTION. BEFORE WE CALL OUR WITNESSES, I THINK IT IS USEFUL TO SHARE AN OPINION EXPRESSED VERY EARLY IN THIS CENTURY BY ANOTHER PROFESSOR OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, PROFESSOR FRANK PERRY. IN A 1920 ARTICLE WRITTEN FOR THE GEORGETOWN LAW JOURNAL, PROFESSOR PERRY STATED, "FROM A STUDY OF THE WORDING OF THE CONSTITUTION AND OF THE ORIGINAL GRANTS OF THIS TERRITORY FROM THE STATES OF AUTHORITY, WITHOUT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ERECT OUT PROFESSOR PERRY'S OBSERVATIONS NEARLY SEVENTY YEARS AGO, STAND TODAY AS A SOME WILL CLAIM THAT THE U.S. CONSTITUTION IS A BARRIER. TO ARGUE THAT THE VERY DOCUMENT THAT GIVES US OUR RIGHTS DENIES THEM TO SOME SEEMS OBVIOUSLY CONTRADICTORY. SOME WILL CLAIM THAT MARYLAND RETAINS RIGHTS OVER THE LAND THAT IS WASHINGTON, D.C. TO THOSE I WOULD SAY, READ THE DOCUMENTS OF CONVEYANCE. STILL OTHERS WILL ARGUE THAT THE 23RD AMENDMENT STANDS IN THE WAY. THAT ARGUMENT FALLS UNDER THE WEIGHT OF LOGIC. IF CONGRESS EXERCISES EXCLUSIVE LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE DISTRICT, THEN IT CAN DO WITH THE DISTRICT WHAT IT WISHES, INCLUDING CREATING A STATE OUT OF IT. EXCLUSIVE IS EXCLUSIVE. IT CAN NOT BE ANYTHING LESS. Mr. FAUNTROY. And to comment on this whole area of concern, and hopefully to ratify what I have just said, we have a very distinguished panel of witnesses. And I want to call the first witness to the witness table. Professor of law at the George Washington University Law Center, Prof. Peter Raven-Hansen. Mr. Raven-Hansen, it is a real pleasure to have you. We have received your statement and look forward to your presentation of your remarks in whatever manner you choose. Yes. Before Mr. Raven-Hansen begins, let me submit for the record the statement of our distinguished colleague and ranking minority member of the House District Committee, Representative Stewart B. McKinney. [The prepared statement of Mr. McKinney follows:] |