Evening star., 1943-01-21
Member of the Associated Press
The Real Remedy

Ihe difficulties experienced by
Democratic and Republican leaders
in perSauding members to serve on
the House District Committee should
lead to some reflective consideration
on their part.
Everybody is familiar with the
usual reasons given for such reluc-
tance. The members prefer to devote
their time and energies to serving
their voting constituents back home.
But that attitude cannot be recon-
ciled with the obligations they as
sumo as members of a Congress
exercising exclusive control over the
District Of Columbia. When that
attitude prevails, and only those who
unwillingly serve are found on the
House District Committee, the people
of the District must deal with men,
bers inimical to their interests but
with Congress which jealously in
sists upon its undivided rights of
control. This makes for unsatisfac-
tory government.
AS one remedy, more Importance
should be attached by the leaders to
service on the House District Com
nittee. The preceding session of
Congress developed an encouraging
working relationship between Chair
man Randolph and Majority Leader
Mccormack, under which District
legislation was given more frequent
consideration in the House. But too
often the opportunity even to bring
local legislation before the House
depended upon its being non-con-
troversial in character. Proper re-
spect by the House for the impor-
tance of local matters would in itself
lend more prestige to service on the
District Committee. Until the House
leaders themselves attach more i'm
portance to the District Committee,
It Is going to be difficult to find the
members who will regard it as i'm
portant to serve on the committee.
AS matter of fact, such service
Is an important duty and there have
been plenty Of we'll known members
of Congress who have found in it the
opportunity to serve the Nation by
serving its Capital, an opportunity
which carried its own rewards Some
of the biggest men in Congress In the
past have been those whose names
have been linked In some capacity
with development of the American
Capital. They have not found the
duties of committee work too arduous
or barren.
The fundamental, American rem
edy for chronic lack of interest in
the District. however, is to provide
the same incentives, for service to
the District, that are found in service
for the people of the States. The
incentive lies in working for the well
fare of voting Americans. The people
of the District should be voting
Americans. They should have their
own representation in the House,
sending TO Congress members whose
chief interest would be the interests
of their voting constituents. Such
remedy, applied by giving the people
of the District such representation in
Congress as Congress itself deems
proper, together with representation
In the Electoral College, would pro-
vide not only the interest by Congress
In the District which would benefit
the National Capital, but at the same
time would retain the existing exclu-
sive control of the District by Con-
gress. The difficulty of finding able
and willing men to serve on the
House District Committee is another
argument for votes for the people of
the District.