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

THE PUBLIC UTILITIES
Municipal Ownership Dis
cussed by Citizens.
RESOLUTION ADOPTED
NORTHEAST WASHINGTON Asso-
CITATION GOES ON RECORD.
Reclamation Of the Anacostia Flats
nicn1Icco1-Noo fcforio1 Candidates
RESOLUTION ADOPTED
Reclamation Of the Anacostia Flats
Discussed-Magister Candidates
Indorsed-Committee

The question of municipal ownership of
public utilities claimed the attention of the
members of the Northeast Washington Cit
liens Association last night. At the last
meeting of the association Mr.. s. Sower-
butts secretary of the organization, pre-
scented a resolution favoring municipal own
ership, and 1t was made the special order
for last nights meeting. President Tucker
informed those present that the question
had been discussed by the members of the
executive committee, but that no report
had been agreed upon.
There should be no municipal ownership
of theaters and breweries and everything
else at once" he remarked.
1.-THE question of municipal ownership of
public utilities" SAID Mr.. Sowerbutts, us
at present forcing itself upon the public
mind, not SO much because of any desire
to take away the privileges and profits that
should be the result of legitimate corporate
enterprise, as 1T is a fact that Is beginning
to be realized that the granting Of a mo-
nopoly by 4 municipality should carry with
1t sense of obligation to allow the public
a fair return for the monopoly given"
Mr. Sowerbutts read number of ar
ticles from newspapers bearing upon the
question under discussion, including an in
terview with Andrew Carnegie favorlng
municipal ownership. He also read statis-
ties to show what had been accomplished
In many foreign cities in the matter of such
ownership. In Switzerland, he said, man
may purchase ticket emitting him to ride
as frequently and as far as he desires for
a period of three months. He also went on
to tell of the immense profits declared in
some foreign cities where the municipalities
own the street car lines and other public
utilities. Many people who would like to
see municipal ownership given q trial, said
SOWerhI1ttS would
creep in, with its train of graft.
Il frankly confess" he stated. that in
most of our large cities there woulf be
danger of such evils wrecking the reforms.
In the District of Columbia, however, we
have conditions which are entirely diff
ferent from those in any other place In
this country. Our local government is eff
fectually and absolutely divorced from
politics. Its rulers are men chosen for their
peculiar fitness for the positions"
In conclusion he said there Is abundant
proof that the local public utilities can be
managed by the municipal government and
If there should be a balance to the credit of
the District it should go where 1t ought
to go-back to the people who gave 1t.
Not Ready for the Change.
Mr. J. Fleming said there are two sides
to every question and he could see no ex-
ception to the rule in this instance. He
said he thought the people are not yet ready
for a change such as is suggested In the
resolution. He referred to the reference to
the Carnegie interview and said Mr.. Car
negie might have taken his employees into
his firm and allowed them to share the
municipal ownership. Mr.. Fleming said,
would be a sad day for the people Of the
country. He referred to the recent election
In New York, and thought the defeat OF
the municipal ownership candidate would
prove a good thing for the city. The
speaker also spoke of the result of the
election in Chicago, and said that nothing
had been accomplished there.
Mr. E. w. Oyster, representing the Pet
worth Citizens Association, spoke at some
length in favor of municipal ownership and
told Of what his and other associations had
done in the matter.
Mr. Foster DIR. Parsons, Mr.. Lang and
others discussed the question and the reso-
luton was adopted.
Eastern High School.
The Eastern High School trouble came
before the association In the form Of a
motion to sanction what was done by the
executive committee during the summer re-
cess. Objection was offered by Mr.. Eng
lish, who said that two of his children at
tend the school, and he had complaint
TO make He said he could see no reason
why Mr.. Swartzell should be censured. The
adoption of the report, he thought. wou6
mean the wronging OF a man who tried to
do his best.
On motion of Mr. English action upon the
resolution was postponed until the next
meeting.
Mr. w ]. Frizzell stated that the terms
of the present justices OF the peace expire
the last OF next month, and he suggested
that 1t might be well for the association
to recommend the reappointment of six of
the present justices. He mentioned Charles
S. Bundy, Lewis I. O'Neal, Luke c. strider
Robert w. Terrell, Thomas N. Callan and
Samuel C. Mills the ones who should re-
ceive the reappointments. Objection was
made to the association indorsing candi-
dates for office.
The question of getting cheaper gas also
claimed the attention of the association.
reference being made to the bill offered at
the last session of Congress. President
Tucker spoke of the efforts made by the
Commissioners to get hearing upon the
represented at the hearing. He told of
what the Northeast Washington Citizens
Association had done in the matter of get
ting cheaper gas, and said that no assist
ance was given by other associations. In
view of what happened in the past he
thought the only way to get cheaper and
better gas would be by getting municipal
ownership.
Reclamation Of Anacostia Flats.
DR. Starr Parsons. chairman Of the COM
mittee on sanitary affairs, reported to the
association that his committee had dis
cussed matters pertaining to the reclama-
ton of the fats of the Anaostia river and
submitted his report in the form of reso-
luton. which was to the effect: That this as
ISOLATION recommends the enactment of leg
islation by Congress- providing: % That all
the land, and riparian rights along the
Anacostia river, from the mouth to the
District line. which may be necessary IN the
Improvement of said river and the reclama-
ton OF its flats not already owned by the
United States or the District OF Columbia
shall be acquired at as early date as pos.
sfble % That the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia be directed to submit
to Congress, at an early date. such sug-
gestions for the modification of that part
of the plan of Col. Charles ]. Allen for the
Improvement Of said river which relate
to the section from the Pennsylvania ave-
nue. bridge to the District line, presented In
H. R. document No. 81, Fffty-ffth Con-
gress. third session, as in their judgment
are advisable, with view to material ad-
vantages and economy, with a detailed es-