Evening star., 1934-08-05
COIpOys Thinks District Vote
Essential to Worthwhile Rule
Government Here Held
Contrary to Ameri-
can Principle.
Declares Only Fe,o Mem.
bers Hare Time for
Local Problems.

This Is the fourth Of a series OF
interviews irith Washington ciric
leaders on Their ideas and sugoes-
ttons regarding proposed reorgdni-
cation OF the District government.
A study OF this subject is being
made at the request OF the Senate
by a committee composed OF Maj.
DGniel J. Donopdu, District Gu-
dttor, william A. Roberts, peoples
counsel, and r. J. Bailey, ioho rep
resents Budget Director Douglas.
The committee has submitted
number OF uoluHles on the history
OF the District government ana
plans to submit another on sao-
oested changes. To fncite public
suggestions, Roberts recently broad
cast an appeal for citizens to i1rits
in their ideas.
National representation for the
District Of Columbia Is prime es-
sential Of any worthwhile plan for
reorganization Of the District govern
ment. according to John B. Colpoys,
prominent labor and Democratic
leader, who has recently been ap-
pointed United States marshal FOR
the District of Columbia.
with our present local set up, 1t
strikes me that the place to begin
a reorganization is to give the Dis
trict representation in the exclusive
legislative body which alone has the
power to determine the form Of gov
ernment under which the residents OF
the Nations Capital shall live" said
Mr.. Colpoys. IF it requires con-
stitutional amendment to acquire the
right of representation, and those
who have studied the question closely
are satisfied that it does, then I say
we should get busy and get that
amendment.
For more than thirty years." con-
tinued Mr.. Colpoys. Il have been an
active advocate and worker for this
cause. believe that 'AmericaniZation
of the Washingtonian' is the prime
essential of any worthwhile plan for
a reorganization Of our District gov
ernment."
Native OF B0St0ns
"You know" he said, 81 was born
and raised in Boston, where they
once staged a tea party in emphatic
protest against the very idea OF
taxation without representation
which prevails here now. Our District
government" he continued, "is en-
tirely secondary to the fundamental
American principles and perfect
mockery to the men who held the
Boston Tea Party and contrary tC
the spirit Of the men who founded
this country of ours"
Mr.. Colpoys further stated that
Congress will not give up any OF it'
Jurisdiction over the District or ma
terially lessen its control, but it is q
matter of common knowledge that
only a small minority of its members
have any time to make study OF ou
problems. This he did not wish con-
sidered as harsh criticism, but merely
a recognition that these men and
women on Capitol Hill, very naturally
give first call on their time to those
whose votes send them to Washington
and have little or no time for &C.
quiring an essential knowledge oi
District affairs.
Continuing, Mr.. Colpoys said, 81
have met number of members who
have been in Congress a fun two
years with no familiarity with OF
understanding of the District o1
Columbia or its operation. Anc
when you think of the large turnover
in the membership at each election il
is an utter impossibility for the
average Congressman to even get 6
smattering Of knowledge of the Dis
trict before his term expires"
Pending the granting by the Con