The Washington critic., 1886-09-27
ATTENTION, CITIZENS I


tional seat of government, contains
nearly quarter of million of in.
habitants. This large community of
tax.paying citizens have no direct voice
in the government of their local affairs
and no chosen representatives, to look
after their interests in the halls Of leg.
islation and singular rs this anomalous
condition may appear to the people of
the country at large, a great proportion
of the citizens of the Capital are not
des;rous Of any radical changes in the
form Of government under which they
are domicilcd.
That the prosperity Of Washington IS
much retarded owing to the absence of
duly selected representatives in Con.
gress, or some properly organized body
TO voice the sentiments of the com
munity in regard to legislation affect
ing its general interests, all must admit;
under existing circumstances, the com.
nunity is divided into cliques and fac
tions by which proposed legislation af-
Getting the general welfare of our city Is
often antagonizcd and defeated Con.
grcss becomes bewilderei through
these various local quarrels and is at a
loss to know what the real sentiments
of our citizens are.
1t is to remedy this unfortunate con-
dition of affairs to q great extent that
The CRITIC presents few suggestions
for the consideration of the Washing
ion public.
Let the representative residents of
Washington come together and organ
ize Citizens Association for the sole
purpose of promoting the interests aud
advancing the prosperity of the city.
Washington has no Board Of Trade,
Commercial Exchange, or any general
business association of property in
terests, or any organization of the peo-
pie affording occasions to give express
sion to their sentiments on matters af
fecting their interests. The result is
that the 250, 900 inhabitants of the
National seat of Government are with
out any representative body to make
known their views and advocate their
needs and desires.
The power Of well organized Citi-
zens' Association. coming together for
common purpose-the advancement
fthe city prosperity-would be recog.
nized, and the influence welded by
such an association become potent aud
far-reaching in its results.
1t would be an association represent
ing the general welfare of the COM
munityanG voicing the sentiments of the
citizens in a general way; while under
our present state of existence, we, as a
community, have no representative
voice and are not likely to have in any
other manner than is herein suggested.
This is practical matter, the neces-
sity of which is seriously apparent,
and requires but the cordial co.opera-
tion of a few energetic and enterprising
citizens 10 put it into successful opera
tion.
Let some one with appIecativs
views of the present magnifcence and
future greatness of Washington invite
few kindred spirited citizens to a
conference, formulate plan of asso.
citation setting forth the object and use
fulness of such cooperative organi-
Zation Of residents. and then call pub
lie meeting and organize intS body
representing the whole community.
1t is assumed that there are plenty OF
residents In our city whose participa.
tion in such an association would give
it high character and influence before
Congress, and inspire the community
with the sincerity of its general pur.
poses.
BY unity of purpose great results
can be accomplished.
1t was by the persistent efforts of a
very limited number of citizens few
years ago that the old system of local
municipal government in the District
was legislated out of existence and the
comprehensive plan of NATIoNALIzING
Washington as the Capital Of the Re.
public was inaugurated. The present
grand position and magnificent gran
deur Of our city in comparison witt
Washington in the dilapidated condi
tion of its previous existence is the re
suit of the organized efforts of the few
pioneers In the grand movement.
Through the efforts of public or
ganization, or Citizens Association
"a eli ytn u f,,r har ol, nnIi ,
material prosperity dnring the mex
three years than it will reach if left T.
run itself, as at present, in another dc
cade.
Such an association of the resident
of Washington would prove an impor
tant and potential factor in aid of tn
Commissioners of the District in thei
applications for liberal appropriation
by Congress for the progress and de
velopment of the Nations beautiful
Capital
1t would, also, not only provide tn
much.needed opportunity for our rep
resentative business men and citizen
to meet and mingle together in further
ance of common purpose-the ad
vancement of the communitys inter
ests-but would at the same time af
ford occasions for conference and con
sultation with regard to initiating ant
promoting numerous private bushes
enterprises. Let the good work b.
startedl
JAMES MORGAN, member OF thu
Board of Public Works OF Cincinnati
having been placed under arrest oil