Evening star., 1895-11-09
CITY GOVERNMENT REFORMS
Members of the Civic Center Explain Its
Purposea
Addresses Last Night at the Annual
Meeting OF the ORgnnixation-It0
Work In Warrington.

The promotion of good government was
the theme discussed by the Civic Center Of
the city of Washington at its first annual
| meeting, held last evening in the lecture
room of the Fourth Presbyterian Church.
About one-fourth of those in attendance
were ladies. who seemed interested in the
work of purifying municipal government
DIR. John NJ. Gregory. president, opened
the meeting with a short address. He spoke
of the good work being done for the general
elevation of the community here by the
many organizations that exist. But the
Civic Center had a specific duty in the ad-
vancement of municipal reform in all its
branches, while remaining non-partisan and
non-sectarian.
The Civic Center and the District.
Mr.. Edwin Willis, chairman of the first
municipal committee, was the next speaker.
He outlined the form Of government of the
District of Columbia, and said that while
the people living under 1t had no part in
its management, the purpose of the Civic
Center was to influence. The workers in
the Civic Center had no complaint to make
of municipal officers and believed the Com
mfssioners and Congress would really well
ceme their suggestions for municipal reform
IL these suggestions should be definitely
stated and contain sound propositions.
I'VE can be to the Commissioners the eye
to discover the fnfractions of the law and
the willing hand to assist in their enforce
ment of law. We can, in our respective
walks of life, see the possibilities and de-
fects. great and small, of our good city, and
suggest amendments in regulations and
lines OF policy which will lead to and develop
into great and permanent good for the
future"
Mr.. Willis said the Commissioners were
busy men, and who. however hoy estly or
esSiduously they may work, will make mis-
takes of omission and commission and will
ask for suggestions and help from honest,
Impartial and intelligent fellow citizens;
will endure and thankfully receive fair criti-
cisms. and II the Civic Center shall prove
such an agency as shall help them as shall
have studied the problem Of the government
OF cities to so good a purpose as 20 justify
reliance upon its judgments and reports.
our honored chief magistrates will welcome
our advent"
To Help All Work of Reform.
Rev. DIR. s. NJ. Newman, pastor Of the
First Congregational Church and chairman
Of the first committee on public morals,
spoke of the great diversity in. the work Of
improving the condition of a city He said
the duty Of the Civic Center was to harmon
ize and help all associations working In this
cause. He emphasized the Idea that a city
could not approach perfection by being de-
veloped In one line only. Neither could So
ciety be elevated by such methods, but in
order to secure the best results improve
ments of all classes should 60 along side
by side.
Some Things to Reform.
Mr. Frederick L. Siddons, chairman of the
third municipal committee. spoke of some
Of the abuses to which the Civic Center
might devote its attention. He stoke of the
personal tax, which he characterized as a
rank fake" though still in existence here
The occupations of the streets by the steam
railroads, the liberation by the District Of
sections of Washington given up to vice and
immortality. the charges of the gas and
electric light companies, which, he said, had
been pronounced by a committee of the
board of trade to be so per cent above what
would be necessary to allow a reasonable
return on the investment involved in the
companies, were matters which the Civic
Center might well look into.
Brief remarks were made by Mrs. Ruth G.
d. Havens, B. Pickman Manu. Rev. ]. H
Bradford and Edward Daniels.