Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-14
The Board of Trade.

WaShingtQns progress toward the at
tanment of the ideal national capital is
the resultant of many forces, all powerful
none all-powerful, none dispensable. Owing
to the peculiar conditions here prevalent.
the lack Of local self-government, the en-
dowment of Congress with supreme legis-
latiye powers and of the President with
the appointive power. the demand upon the
citizens differs from that made in voting
communities, where each citizen is vested
with an individual share of responsibility
and authority. Here the creation of public
sentiment is by natural rather than statu-
tory and institutional processes. Wash
ingtoniaus work for their city because of
self-interest, expressed either in specific or
general instances, in the way of personal
activity for personal ends or general ac
tiyity for the welfare Of the whole com
munity.
The Washington Board of Trade is one of
the agencies which conserve the public
spirit and the civic enterprise of the people,
and one of the mediums through which that
spirit and that enterprise are manifested.
1t is i'm the circumstances an admirable
medium for this purpose. II affords OPP
portunity for concentrated action represent
ing the desires OF a large representative
group Of citizens 1t is a clearing house
of ideas a focusing glass TO bring the
energies of the members to the point of
securing maximum results.
Last nights meeting. starting the work of
the season, showed that the Board of Trade
is I'm a healthy vigorous condition, with
larger membership than ever and with an
aggressive spirit animating all members
and officers TO secure the maximum for the
community. The score of achievements
during the past year is largely the record
of continued work along the firmly estab-
4ished lines OF undertaking. Whatever is
good for Washington, whatever makes for
the evolution of the ideal capital whatever
serves the welfare of the people and pre-
serves the standards of the federal city,
that is the aim of this body of citizens The
specific objects of endeavor are many and
varied. Pure water, better public buildings,
more adequate fire and police protection.
better and more schools, more equitable
adjustment of the financial relations of the
District and the general government, an
equalization OF the tax burden, the strict
preservation of the spirit of the organic
act, the preservation of the public health
through the reclamation of the fat lands of
the river basin and the institution of more
effective methods of sanitation-these are
some of the general and specific objects of
the boards work
The session of Congress that nets the Dis
trict a definite advance along any one Of
these lines is of advantage to the local com
munity. If one much needed public I'M
provement is secured through the concen-
tru;ion Of public sentiment, through the
Board of Trade, the Business Mems Asso-
citation. the newspapers, the local citizens
associations, or all combined, working with
the Commissioners, the organization of the
people into these bodies is justified. Much
is done each year that does not show in
tangible works; much good missionary ef-
fort is spent to make smoother the path 10
future legislation. Prejudices are overcome
and new members OF Congress are Instructed
In the peculiar relations OF the District and
the government and the particular require
ments of the federal capital.
The District is to be congratulated upon
having evolved a citizen body of such dig
nifty. effectiveness and prestige with Con-
gress as the Board of Trade. 1t stands for
much that cannot be defined in the ordinary
terms OF civic activity, and with its CO.
working associate in the same field, the
Business Mems Association. 1t has scored
heavily in the past for the good of the COM
munity. and will undoubtedly continue in
the years TO come to work effectively for
the evolution of the model capital.