Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-04

| Ross p. Andrews, president of the Re-
tail Merchants Association. is in favor
of representation Of the District in Con-
gress by a delegate. Mr.. Andrews out
lined his position in an interview today
in which he discussed the bill introduced
by Senator Poindexter, and which pro-
vides for such representation. Mr.. An
| drews said:
| Il am emphatically in favor OF a dele
gate in Congress representing the Dis
| trict of Columbia. / think it takes nerve
to ask any man elected to serve the in
| terests, for instance of Minnesota. to
devote his time to the consideration of
| District of Columbia affairs. A personal
friend of mine on the District committee
| says that while he appreciates his OBJ
| legation of serving the National Capital
and all that, at the same time his con-
stituents look to him to serve the inter-
ests of those who elected him. They say
to him, Why do you spend your time
on the affairs of Washington city? We
want you to look out for us. This men,
Der Of Congress came near to being de-
feated on account Of his zeal for District
affairs. My experience has been that this
is the universal sentiment in Congress.
Inconsistent Situation
1T is an inconsistent situation that al
lows this community no right to par
| ticipate in the discussion of legislation
| for its own government, and l am most
| heartily in favor of the efforts of the
| District Delegate Association to secure
this much needed representation.
| II think all organization of the Dis
| trict should follow the example of the
Federation of Citizens Associations in
1 tI,ns,,
assistance to this worthy campaign I
shall be pleased to call a special meeting
of the Retail Merchants Association to
| take action on the proposition
Attitude of Senator Poindexter.
| Senator Pondexter, author of the bill
| in question, issued a statement last night
| regarding his attitude on this PROPOSE
| ton.
The District delegate bill should be
| enacted for two general reasons says
Mr.. Poindexter in his statement, first,
/ in order that the 100000 inhabitants of
| the District may have the right to choose
some one to represent them in legislation
| which SO vitality concerns them, and, sec
| ond. in order that other delegates and
representatives may. be relieved to some
| extent of the burden and responsibility
| of taking care of local District matters.
| AS the situation now is Congress has a
| good deal of it's time taken up sitting in
| the capacity of a city council for the city
| of Washington. With the interests OF
their own constituents to look after, even
| the members of the District committees
/ in the House and Senate can scarcely be
| expected to give the requisite time and
| attention which the present arrange
ment calls for. to District matters
| Many Matters Local.
"Of course( in sense the government
of the District of Columbia is a national
concern in which all congressman might
we'll have responsibility and interest,
and no doubt all do have such interest;
however, the government Of the District
| also involves vast number of matters
which are largely of local and, in a very
slight sense. of national concern. There
should be by all means special delegate.
whose chief concern and responsibility
would be to study these questions and
present them properly in the House or
Representatives. 1t would be a relief to
the rest of the country by relieving Con-
gress in general from the anomalous sit
uatiOn of being called upon to decide
upon so many questions, which it is no
ones especial business to care for.
1.-THE entire helplessness of the people
Of the District in deciding any of their
own affairs is responsible for the con-
tinued reports which we hear of local
Hobbies with special interests concerned
in the exploitation of certain real estate
or other property interests through Con-
gress. Giving the people Of the District
an election. altogether aside from the adj
vantage of delegates in Congress, would
well afford an opportunity for the formu-
lation, in specific and distinct form, of
public issues affecting the District, and
for their decision in the greatest of all
tribunals general election by all the
people,"