The Washington times., 1895-05-28
CIVIC COMMITTEES MEET
President John M. Gregory Con-
graduates the Center Council.
BETrERMENT OF THE CITY
Hon. Edward willets Believes Wash
tngton Is a Pretty weii-Governed
Place-No Great Scandals Need In
vestigation-Dr. Kent Takes Ex-
ception-Inspection of Schools.

The Center Council of the Civic Center
held a regular meeting at the Fourth Pres
byterian Church last evening, at which
sundry routine matters were disposed of,
some changes We're made by the addition
OF new members to committees and enter
tanning addresses were made and interesting
reports received showing the progress made
in the preparation for and amplification Of
the work in contemplation during the
coming autumn and winter
Prior to the meeting of the council there
was convocation of the chairTnen of the
Civic committees, at which DR.. Robert
Reyburn was elected chairman OF the first
committee on public sanitation; Mrs Ellen
Spencer Mussey was chosen to preside over
the committee on manual, industrial and
technical education; Mrs. II F Blount,
was placed in charge of the committee on
art and home life; DR.. j o. Adams was
named as chairman Of the committee on
suppression of cruelty, and DR.. G. Wallace
w. Hanger waseiected chairman ofthe COM
mttee on housing the people. Dr. Maurice
Miller was elected member of the council.
FL. Siddons was elected to represent the
council at the meeting OF the National
Municipal League, at Cleveland, Ohio.
LONo AMI 1AllEN EF OR16s
President John NJ. Gregory delivered a
brief address, in which he said that after
long and patient efforts fourteen out of
the twenty, organized more or less per-
fectly, with anagg regate membersh hip OF over
seventy five workers.
ITO fill these committees - he said
ito the maximum number of nine members
each, We must have $50 members. When
we consider the work these committees are
designated to do, we shall ag rec that
every one OF them ought TO be filled up
to the full complement with the best men
and women the city can furnish.
''0ur motto should be the bettennent of
the city of Washington. 1t is ours to study
the whole problem of public good, for all
sorts, conditions, and classes of our citizen
ship.
Hundreds of tereficeHt societies, not TO
enumerdte thehu dSotChristian churches,
are. each in it's chosen sphere and place,
fighting evil aud promoting good; il is
ours to survey the WELD, collect needfuI In
formation. help plan the campaign, repIenish
the ammunition, and bring up the reinforce
ments"
Hon Edward Will cts ,chairmanof thecom-
mittee on legislation and police, in making
his report, asked What is the committee
on legislation to do?" He then said:
washington does not need so much assist
Washington is pretty well governed city,
and is comparatively pure city. No great
scandals need investigation, nor is there
much that can be charged against the ad-
ministration OF affairs"
NEED OF ACTION.
Mr. Willets believed, however, that in
the matter of perfecting the laws of the
District there is need of immediate and
concerted action, and he advocated CO.
operation with the Board of Trade and all
other organizations having that end in
view.
Rev Mr.. HillikeF reported from the COM
nlittee on employment for the industrious
poor, and said there was, in his judg-
mmeDt, a need of reform in the system
under which charities are dispensed 1--WE
create a fund. 4" he said, "and then in effect
say. Come and get it.. And this he
regarded as demoralizing and thought it
neutralized great deal of the work for
moral reform.
Dr. Alexander Kent did not quite agree
with Mr.. wiliets. He is in favor OF the
specific reforms needed, and believes
there are some things in Washington almost
as bad as can be found in other cities
some grave defects that need remedy.
"Some European cities are half a century
ahead of US, and we shall have to draw
upon them for information as 70 details.
1t viii BE- found that many reforms secured
else where VIII have to be adopted in Wash
iDgton. -
Mrs. Carl Barus, from the committee on
educational work. made an interesting re.
port of the inspection of heating and
ventilation OF the public schools. The
whole matter had been brought to the at
tention of the District Commissioners and
the building Inspector, who are heartily
in favor of improved methods for the preser-
vation OF the health of the teachers and
pupils and, early in June, confe renee is
to be held to ascertain If other means
may not be provided, economically. to eff
feet a change in the buildings now occupied
by the schools.
Miss Annie Tolman Smith, of committee
| on manual training made report, in which
she said, among other things, that legis-
| lation viii be asked for the founding OF an
| institution for colored youth, thirteen TO
| eighteen years of sge, wher ethey may be
| employed during the summer months, and
| thus keep the@l out OF idleness.
The council adjourned to meet on the last
| Monday in September about six weeks prior
| to the annual meeting of the civic center.