The times., 1899-06-10
COMMISSIONER WIGHT
TALKS TO CITIZENS
His Address Before the Bright
wood Association.
The Needs of Different Localities
and How 0btainable.
The Workings of the District Gov
ernment-The Authorities and
Appropriations.

The regular monthly meeting of the
Brightwood Avenue Citizens Association
was held last night in the concert hall
of the Brightwood Hotel. Louis P. Shoe
maker occupied the chair, and C. Green
was secretary. An attendance of thirty
members. including few ladies. was pres
ent. Commissioner John B. Wight was
guest of the association. He was intro
duced by the president. who. in a short
laudatory speech. said:
We have with lis this evening as our guest
who has laborcd for our welfare. Such 4
man ! would like to call a civil patriot,
who not only succeeds himself and for himself,
but brings success 10 others man who is not
only capable OF managing and properly conducting
his own affairs, but shows executive ability and
his capacity to successfully represent others
This guest has clearly evidenced TO do before
he accepted public office
We are pleased, Mr.. Commissioner, to have YOU
as our guest. and desire in the name of this
association 10 welcome you in this mpidly I'M
proving section of the District
In of the necessities of the people who
have established homes in this vicinity, | invite
your special official attention to this section, and
we confidently believe that YOU will exert your
best efforts to advance the best interests ii the
people.
Commissioner Wight's address was
| history of the various citizens associa-
tions, and a resume of the work accom-
plished by them. He said in part:
The existence of these associations is
due to a peculiar form of government.
| When the city became community instead
of wards, the people of the outlying dis
tricts formed into bodies, each looking out
for its own local necessity. At the present
time there are more than a dozen of such
associations.
THE power they possess, while gener-
orally employed without discrimination
among themselves, is sometimes used for
evil In the early history of the organiZa-
tions it seems that there was TOO much
importance attached to local matters, and
the wishes of the people of one section
OF the city without consideration of the
desires of another, were urged so per-
sistently before the Commissioners, the
House Appropriation Committee and the
Senate District Committee that it was ex-
ceedingly difficult for Congress to ascer-
tain what the District required. The con-
tentions of the organizations are very
sharp and bitter.
THE Commissioners are clearing house
for all the requests from the various sec
tions of the District The situation might
be very aptly compared to wheel, Bright
wood representing one section OF the rim,
the other outlying sections completing the
circle, while the District Building would
consider, and then form an opinion as
to what are the most essential, because
Invariably the aggregate number of re-
quests exceeds the possibilities of the esti-
mates which may be submitted. Discre-
tion must be lodged somewhere, with
somebody, to determine what shall be
urged and what is for the best advantage
of the District as a whole. II there is to
be unwise contention, the probability is
that much may be lost and little gained.
IF my position is correct, what is the
proper attitude OF the citizens associa-
tions toward the Commissioners and Con-
gress2 Is it not clear that while each
association should present with all the
force and vigor possible its needs and
wishes. at the end there should be har-
mony of action, when all should work to-
gether for that which has been decided to
be the best, believing that what benefits
one part of the District benefits all, that
by unanimity of action more may be ac-
complished even for individual localities
than when there is striving and pickering
for local wants, possibly against the judg-
ment of those in authority, who may feel
that other wants are more pressing.
The Commissioners are allowed TO sub
NIT estimates through the Secretary of the
Treasury 20 the Congress of the United
States for an amount not to exceed the es-
timated revenues for the ensuing year"
Mr.. Wight concluded by mentioning the
actual necessities of the District, and the
means and the plans the Commissioners
have to dispose of them. He said that an
improved sewerage system, better educa-
tional facilities, water works, and general
municipal affairs would be inaugurated
He believed that the land granted by the
State Of Virginia when the District was
founded, and which was returned should
be re-ceded its boundary being directly
south of Arlington, so that the National
Cemetery would be included.
Commissioner Wight was rendered
vote OF thanks by the association.
Speeches relating to the affairs of
Brightwood were made by W. V. Cox. L.
NJ Saunders DIR. c. G. Stone, Thomas
Bladgen, and Wilton ]. Lambert.
Mr.. Lambert read a communication on
the Sixteenth Street extension bill which
is apparently not well understood by the
people residing in the vicinity.
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