Evening star., 1925-03-08
CAPPER OUTLINES
D. c. VOTE STEPS
Full Voice in Congress Held
Dependent on Success of
House Representation.

"A plan of government more re-
sponsive to the needs of the growing
city is pan ticularly needed in Wash
ington,' according to Senator Capper
of Kansas, newly designated chair
man of the Senate District committee
who yesterday discussed some of the
problems confronting the District of
Columbia. Senator Capper enumerated
steps which he believed would bring
| about a change for the better, as fol-
lows:
First. The election of delegates or
members of Congress to represent the
District. and to act as it's spokesmen
on the floor and in committees
Second. The delegation of greater
power to the District Commissioners
over certain legislative matters
which are of Importance, but which
Congress could well leave to the Com
missioners.
Third The consideration of District
legislation by joint Senate and House
District committees or subcommittees
following the plan which was adopted
with so much success during the last
session of Congress with respect to
many bills
Finds Capital Trailing.
Washington is trailing other
municipalities in its development .
Senator Capper said. Il say this in
no way to condemn the District Com
missioners. The trouble lies in the
cumbersome way we have of govern
ing the Capital City. The fault lies
with Congress. if anywhere
Congress. with its multiplicity of
duties and interests. cannot give the
time which is demanded of it with
regard to the District. There are
many matters, such as opening
streets and closing others, changing
the names of streets, and so forth.
which could well be left to the Com
missioners. Congress has to attend
to these matters now, which occupies
much of the time which its committees
on the District, and the two houses
themselves could otherwise spend on
matters involving great policies for
the Capital City
Senator Capper said that person
ally he was strongly in favor of
granting 70 the District national
representation, by which the people
of the District would be authorized
to elect members of the Senate and
House and to vote for presidential
and vice presidential electors.
House Delegates First.
While / believe the Constitution
should be amended so as to give the
people of the District these rights
said Senator Capper, Il believe that
perhaps we will first have to provide
for the election of a delegate or
representative in the House. or per-
haps more than one. While the States
undoubtedly would agree to the pro-
posed constitutional amendment I be-
lleve that the opposition in the Senate
to giving Washington the right to
elect two Senators is too strong to be
overcome now
The most important thing, to be-
gin with, believe, is to set up cleo
ton machinery in the District and
prove its success. If the District
were permitted to elect delegate or
delegates to the House, this machin-
cry would be developed and / think
a long step would be taken toward
the national representation which
many citizens of the District desire.
Furthermore, l think it of the
greatest Importance that the District
should have spokesmen in Congress
without further delay-men who rem
resent the people here and can speak
for them.
System Now Outgrown.
The present system, with Congress
as the board of aldermen for the Dis
trict was all very we'll when the city
and when Congress were both much
smaller. There is no other munich
pafity that ] know of which has such
a large governing body as this. 1t
is impossible for members of the
Senate and House all to acauaint
themselves with the needs of the city
and the problems that come up for
solution"
Senator Capper said, however, that
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