Evening star., 1938-06-18
DISTRICT FRIEND
LOST |NcOPELAND
Death Of Senator Removes
One Who Fought for
Fiscal Equity.

The death of Senator Copeland,
Democrat, Of New York creates . va
cancy both on the District Committee
and on the Appropriations subcom-
mittee in charge Of the annual local
appropriation bill.
One Of the best-informed men in
Congress on District affairs, the New
York Senator has taken an active
part in the enactment Of virtually all
important local legislation for the last
10 or IL years.
One Of his last acts on behalf Of
Washington was to urge allotment OF
funds in the last deficiency bill to
keep the National Training School for
Girls and the Childrens Receiving
Home open during the coming fiscal
year. SO that welfare experts could
make more careful study Of how the
inmates Of those institutions should
be cared for thereafter. Just before
Congress adjourned those funds were
appropriated
Prevented Closing.
II this action had not been taken
the Training School would have been
closed on July i and the Receiving
Home on January l, under the terms
of the District Appropriation Act,
without adequate provisions for substi-
tute accommodations
Senator Copeland was an advocate
of national representation in Congress
for the residents of Washington. He
also was vigorous opponent Of the
present $5,000,000 annual lump sum
Federal payment toward total budget
Of more than $47,0O0.OOO.
Fought Dwindling Sum.
The New York Senator never gave UP
his belief in the definite percentage
ratio basis Of apportioning the ex-
penses Of the city, which for many
years was $3.50, and later fixed at so
per cent from the District and 40 pei
cent from the Federal Government.
After Congress had departed from the
fixed ratio law by making the Federal
payment an annual lump sum, he con-
tinued to fight against the gradual
reduction Of this lump sum from So
10000 to the present figure of $5,-
O00, 900.
He was instrumental a number Of
years ago in having q new healing
arts law enacted for the District, and
has assisted in the enactment Of many
other pieces Of local legislation.
Ha1en Expresses Sorrow.
Among Washingtonians who ex-
pressed shock at the Senator's death
and mourned him as q good friend Of
the District were Commissioner Melvin
c. Hazen, Francis @. Addison, jr.,
president Of the Washington Board Of
Trade; Mrs. Louis Gutenberg, president
OF the Voteless District of Columbia
League OF Women Voters; L. A. Car
ruthers, president of the Federation
of Citizens Associations: Charles F..
Horner, president Of the National
Aeronautic Association. and Dr.
Thomas Neill. president of the District
Medical Society.
Il considered Senator Copeland one
Of the best friends we had in the Dis
trict," Commissioner Hazen said today.
He was always very liberal and advo-
Gated many bills providing for District
improvements. His death was q great
personal shock to me-" t*.
Mr.. Addison stated: THE Washing
ton Board Of Trade has always looked
on Senator Copeland as one deeply
interested in the welfare of the Dis
trict and one who was most consid-
crate of the problems presented to
him by our committees. We regret
exceedingly his death"
Honor His Memory.
The District OF Columbia has lost
. real friend in the passing Of Sena-
tor Copeland" Mrs. Gutenberg said.
His sympathetic and understanding
attitude toward the problems of the
voteless District served to carry it
through many legislative crisis.
Working for the District these many
years never obtained one vote for the
Senator. but the people of Washing-
ton will honor his memory" as one
who devoted himself to serving q
people who were not his responsibility
The Voteless District Of Columbia
League Of Women Voters joins with
other citizen groups In mourning the
loss of their devoted friend.
Senator Copeland was one of the
most genuine friends the District had
on Capitol Hill" Mr.. Carruthers said.
He showed thorough familiarity
with the needs Of the District and was
always most considerate. The Dis
trict has sustained a very great loss. :"
Mr.. Homer, who worked with the
Senator to provide better airport ia
cilities for Washington, declared:
Senator Copeland's death comes as a
great loss to the field of aeronautics.
His work in behalf of remedial legisla-
ton was most timely, particularly dur
ing the last session, and his great in
terest in aviation led many others to
work for aeronautic legislation"
DR.. Neill added his tribute to SEN
ator Copeland as personal friend
and as q colleague in the medical
Held, stating. He was well informed
on medical subjects rs well as on poll
tics. The entire community suffers
loss by his DEATH"
WOMAN CunPpEpc