Evening star., 1935-04-18
COPELAND URGES
v0TEFORD|STR|cT
Plea for Capper Resolution
Made at Historical So.
ciety Meeting.


the Mayfiower Hotel.
Copeland, a member Of. the Senate
District Committee, discussed in detail
the reasons for original location OF
the Capital in the District and Tor
the early Congresses inSistence on
control of the local government as
he declared recognition Of District
dwellers "as Americans and citizens
In the accepted sense could not pos.
sibly disturb the existing control OF
the Nation over its Capital.
1T would give these isolated Ameri-
cans at the Capital the same frac-
tioual participation in the bodies
which control the Capital as the
citizens Of the several States now
possess
From my long and close contact
with the people of the District, am
thoroughly convinced. and it is quite
unnecessary to say it, that they are
sufficiently civilized, educated, sup
stantial and patriotic to take tnelr
place through elected representatives.
in the Councils of the Nation. am
likewise fully convinced the DISTRICT
should have a fuller participation In
all measures having to do with ap-
nropriations for the District and a
larger part in their local affairs
Early Dispute Recalled.
The capital was located in the
District formed from Maryland ana
virginia in 1900, Copeland said, as a
result of a bargain between Alexander
Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson after
q dispute between advocates OF site
IN the Delaware River and the
Potomac River,
A march of unpaid soldiers OF the
Revolutionary Army in 1888 on Con-
rress. then meeting in Philadelphia,
led to the decision to set up a seat OF
government under absolute control
and domination of Congress, Copeland
said.
But Copeland denied the trainers
OF the Constitution meant Congress 10
have the same control over the DIS
trict of Columbia as Section 8 OF the
Constitution gives the body over forts'
arsenals and dockyards.
The speaker pointed out that prop
erty in the District was and IS prl-
vately owned to great extent, while
a fort arsenal or dockyard Is wholly
owned by the Government and OF
necessity under its absolute control.
Blames Oversight.
He attributed the plight OF the
District dwellers in great extent 10 an
oversight of the State of Maryland in
ceding its part of the District to the
National Government. The Senator
pointed out that Russia. Mexico, Spain
and France all provided in their ces-
sions of territory guarantee OF full
rights of citizens of the United States
for people living in territories ceded TO
this country by those nations.
Virginia made the same demand IN
ceding the Northwest Territory to TIM
Federal Government, but failed to
reiterate it when part Of the District
was carved from her soil, Copeland
stated. Maryland likewise held out
for no such proviso. Later Virginia's
contribution to the District was ceded
back after protests Of the citizens OF
Alexandria on the lack of the vote.
Desire of the Government to be
able to protect itself at its head
quarters without dependence on any
other authority or embarrassment by
any conflict of authority led the
founders Of the Nation to decide that
the seat of government should be un-
der control of the Government, Cope
land said.
Recalls Early March.
IT, ~.a;..ta5 o,,+ +I,o ;nJ;o,ot;o,, of
the members of the Congress at the
appearance of the unpaid soldiers
about their place of meeting, and
the failure of the Philadelphia and
Pennsylvania authorities to afford
Congress protection from these mu-
tinous troops. Continuing the Sen
ator said:
1T isn't difficult to believe that this
experience was not soon forgotten by
the men who participated in it. It
was only human nature for them to
take the position that there should be
established seat of government abSo-
lutely under the control and domina-
ton of the Congress. There would
be an unfailing means OF protection
for the legislative body and for the
executive and judicial branches as
well. There would be no possibility
Of insult or interference with normal
functions"
Copeland held it Is debatable
question as to what extent Federal
control must go to accomplish freedom
from such interference.
THE residents of the District of
Columbia are our fellow Americans
and, as Jeeffrson stated 1t In the Dec
1aration Of Independence, are endowed
with certain inalienable rights
Once Had Voteless Delegate.
"These rights our ancestors fought
for and would never surrender. Gen.
erations then unborn were to come
along, and they, too, were endowed
with these same tnalienable rights
which their ancestors could not sur
render in advance"
At no time in the 135-year- old his
tory Of the District Of Columbia have
residents of the area had a voice in
national affairs, Copeland said.
For brief period the District was
permitted voteless Delegate in the
House of Representatives, but even
Shis boon was withdrawn in 1874,
when temporary commission govern
nhent, made permanent in 1878, was
substituted for the territorial form,
the Senator told the audience.
Up to 1872, the speaker stated,
Georgetown and Washington, the two
municipalities of the District after
Alexandria's withdrawal, were self
governing communities to very lin
tied extent, with mayor and council.
From 1872 to 1874 the municipalities
were combined and the citizens per-
mitted only to vote for members of
the lower house of territorial legis-
lature and for the voteless Delegate
In the House of Representatives, Cope
land continued.
There has been no voting by Dis
trict residents since the establishment
EDUCATIONAL.
The Temple School