The Washington times., 1913-01-15
DISTRICT HEADS
OPPOSE NAMING
Of DELEGATES
Fear Representative in House
Might Cause Dissension in
Capital Affairs.

On the grounds that it would be
the means of introduction of par
tisan politics, and detrimental to the
best interests Of the District, the
Commissioners sent to Congress to-
day an unfavorable report on the
bill introduced by Congressman Cur
ry Of New Mexico to provide dele
gate from the District Of Columbia
to the House of Representatives. A
delegate, the Commissioners say,
might differ with the board upon
matters of pending legislation, and
thus be a hindrance rather than an
aid in the dispatch of public busi-
ness.
Commission Is Opposed.
The Commissioners arguments against
the proposed legislation are set forth In
the following letter addressed to Con-
gressman Ben johnson, chairman of the
House District Committee.
The Commissioners have carefully
considered the proposition embodied in
the bill and do not believe that its en-
actment will be in the best interests Of
the District. They believe that sooner
or later the election of such delegate
would become q matter Of partisan
politics and inject into the conduct Of
municipal affairs lines Of discussion and
action not benefcially pertinent to the
municipal business.
If It should be deemed desirable that
the affairs of the District before Con-
sress should be advocated on the floor
Of the House or Senate or both by
some one not a member of Congress,
that function could be as readily dis
charged by one of the Commissioners as
by delegate tc be chosen as proposed
in the bill under consideration.
But the Commissioners are not con-
yinced that there is any necessity for
interests upon the floor of Congress, as
the members of the committees on the
District of Columbia and of the sub
committees on appropriations OF the
become familiar by personal study and
in the discussions In committee, with
proposed District legislation. and are
therefore obviously fully competent to
present such matters as effectively as
delegate could do. This would seem
to render the services of a delegate
superfiuous.
Furthermore, a delegate, IL elected,
might and probably would occasionally
differ in opinion from the Commissioners
upon matters Of pending legislation and
thus be hindrance rather than an aid
in the dispatch of public business Even
IL at times the Judgment Of the delegate
might appear the better. 1t cannet be
regarded as good policy to expose the
Districts interest to the possibility of
such dissension.
Fear Suffrage Extension.
Furthermore, the Commissioners are
convinced that 1t. was the intention of
the trainers of the Constitution to ex-
clude from the seat OF government
everything that would divert from Con-
gress the responsibility Of exercising ex-
elusive Congressional legislation over
and within the National Capital The
grant of the privilege of electing a
delegate would be precedent for urg-
ing an unlimited extension Of local suf-
frage to municipal objects.
The Commissioners regard the in
terests of the whole country in the Dis
trict Of Columbia as irreconcilable with
any system OF control that does not
recognize the paramount and undivided
right and responsibility of the Govern
ment over its administrative affairs"
The bill provides for the election of q
confers upon him the same rights and
privileges exercised by the delegates
from the several Territories. Provision
Is made also that he be a member Of
the Committee on the District Of Co.
lumbis-