Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-10
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
Commissioner wight'ss Address Before
Brightwood Avenue Citizens.
RESTORATION OF .O3LD.DISlRICF LINES
The Speaker Introduced by Presi-
dent L. p Shoemaker.
ADDRESSES BY MEMBERS

Mr.. John B. Wight. president Of the board
of District Commissioners, delivered an adj
dress on municipal affairs and plans last
night before meeting of the Brightwood
Avenue Citizens Association The meeting
was given up entirely to speeches on the
subject of the work of citizens associa-
tons and their effect upon the government
of the District. There was no business
transacted. This was the first Of a series of
such gatherings planned by the Brightwood
avenue citizens, for a discussion Of the
Districts needs and the best manner for
meeting these necessities.
President Louis P. Shoemaker called the
meeting to order in the assembly hall of
the Brightwood Hotel In a laudatory
speech he introduced Commissioner Wight.
There are many thousands of men," said
Mr.. Shoemaker, around and about us who
have availed themselves of the opportunity
to embrace the flood tide of life as it APP
peared. They have however. done so for
themselves for their immediate interests,
and they have thereby promoted only their
individual welfare. We have with us this
evening as our guest man who has done
much more than this. Such man would
like to call civil patriot, man VINO not
only succeeds himself and for himself, but
brings success to others. A man VINO Is
llOl only CdpdDIe OF managing anu pup
erly conducting his own affairs, but shows
executive ability and his capacity to sue
cessfully represent others. This our guest
has clearly evidenced to do before he &C
Cepted a public Office.
Now we know he is capable of managing
the affairs of a municipality; nay even
more, for We have in this country many
thousands of municipalities. but one Dis
tT1ct OF Columbia, but one home Tor the
United States government, but one great
capital city for the United States of Amer
lea and he is the presiding officer OF our
board Of Commissioners, successfully con-
Quoting our municipal affairs.
Mr.. Wight Address.
Mr.. Wight was welcomed with applause,
and began by saying he wished soon to see
Florida avenue wiped off the map of the
District as a dividing line between city and
county. He said there should be no county,
but, instead, a Greater Washington, in
cooperating the entire District. The oblit-
GRAFTON of this old dividing line might be
one of the features of the centennial ceIe-
bration of the location of the seat OF gov
errment in Washington. The national CAP
ital, he said cannot be kept down in the
matter of growth in population. AS the
country grows there will be a correspond
ing advance in the capital city.
The Commissioner expressed the hope and
belief that that portion of the District
coded back to Virginia, unconstitntlopauy
as he believed would become again part of
the territory set aside for the capital. Steps
are being taken in that direction, he said.
The line would be just south of Arlington,
bringing the ground that holds the sacred
dead under the direct supervision OF the
government. Another advantage TO be
gained by securing this additional territory,
Mr. Wight declared, would be a purifca-
ton of the Virginia side, OF the Potomac,
which is now disgrace to that state and a
menace to Washington and the government.
There is gambling and outlaWry on the Viz
pripja side of the river he said. rlNallng, IL
not SURPRISING, that Of any frontier west
ern town If In the District, his river
bank would be policed and the outlaw ele-
ment driven away.
Discusses Citfzens' Associations.
Mr. Wight then went directly into the
subject OF citizens associations saying:
THE existence of these associations is
due to a peculiar form of government.
When the city became a community instead
of wards, the people of the outlying dis
tricts formed into bodies, each looking out
for it's own local necessity. At the present
time there are more than q dozen of such
associations.
THE power they possess, while general
" employed without discrimination among
themselves is sometimes used for evil in
the early history of the organizations 1t
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 an
other, were used SO persistently before the
Commissioners, the House appropriation
committee and the Senate District commit
tee that 1t was exceedingly difficult for
Congress to ascertain what the District re-
quired. The contentious of the organiZa-
lions are very sharp and bitter
THE Commissioners are a clearinghouse
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
be the hub. These they must necessarily
consider, and then form an opinion as to
what are the most essential, because In
variably the aggregate number OF requests
exceeds the possibilities of the estimates
which NAV be submitted Discretion 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. If there is to be unwise contention,
and little gained.
IF my position is correct, what is the
proper attitude of the citizens association
toward the Commissioners and Congress?
Is 1t not clear that while each association
should present, with all the force and vigor
possible, it's needs and wishes, at the end
there should be harmony of action, when
all should work together 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 accomplished even for indivi-
dual localities than when there is striving
and pickering for local wants. possibly
against the judgment Of those in authority,
who may feel that other wants are more
pressing
Commissioners Not Responsible.
The Commissioners are not to blame, Mr..
Wight declared, for a. failure to provide
more and better streets. He cited the fact.
in support of this, that last year the Com
mssioners asked for an appropriation of
s650,0OO for the improvement of streets, and
were allowed only about 100000 by Con-
gress. Mr.. Wight said he, was decidedly in
favor of improving the streets, for only in
this way would the various sections i'm
prove.
The speaker went into District affairs in
detail, explaining the plans of the Commits
sewage disposal system, street lighting and
paving. sidewalk laying and street railroad
and school facilities, He gave some inside
light ON the street railroad legislation of
the last session of Congress, saying the