The Washington times., 1905-10-10
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP
MATTER DISCUSSED
Resolutions Brought Before
Northeast Citizens.
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
Broadening of Scope of Public Schools
Urged by Prominent Member of
Organization.

That Washington people are getting
interested in the questions of municipal
ownership which are so decidedly agi-
tating many of the great cities of the
nation is becoming evident from the
actions of the various civic improve
ment organizations this fall. The pub
lie ownership issue is being taken up
with increasing interest.
Last night the Northeast Washington
Citizens Association undertook TO
struggle with the question. but finally
postponed till the next meeting consid-
Grafton of resolutions introduced by
Secretary S. Sowerbutts.
Resolutions Introduced.
They are as follows:
"'Wheeras there is constant friction
between the citizens of the District of
Columbia and the various corporations
owning the public utilities of said Dis
trict, and
whereas many municipalities in
various countries, after suffering from
similar conditions, have thrown of the
yoke of corporations whose last thought
was the general good of the people, ak.
Whereas the system OF government
as now established in the District CT
Columbia. being free from politics end
partisanship. offers field for the far
trial of municipal ownership OF public
utilities. which has worked so SUCCESS
fully in many places. under less favor
able conditions, therefore be it
Resolved, That the Northeast Wash
ington Citizens Association favors the
principle OF municipal ownership OF pub
tic utilities in the District of Columbia
and be it further
mittee be Instructed to test the opinion
of the various citizens associa-
tions. and other public organiza-
tions. on the advisability of corporation
in the work of acquiring municipal own
ership of public utilities in the Distr'ct
of Columbia
Parsons and adopted by the association.
that they send letter TO the president
of the Washington Railway and EiectrIS
Company relative to the Inadequate sefV-
ice on the c street car line-
Officers Installed.
At the meeting last night officers Tor
the year were installed as follows:
President. Evan II. Tucker: vice presi-
dent. DR.. Starr Parsons; secretary. 3
Scwerbutts; financial secretary. w. G.
Lang; treasurer. A III. F. Holstan: ex-
ecutive committee. W. ]. Frizzel1, j.
Fleming. F. D. Foster. Harry Linton,
and DR.. l. D. Walter.
Mrs. John Milton Gitterman. A. NJ.
president of the Public Education As
sociation of Washington. appeared be-
fore the association and asked for the
cooperation of the members in further
ing compulsory education and urging
a child labor bill. In the course of her
remarks Mrs Gitterman said:
There are many citizens of the Dis
,rict of Columbia who cannot read or
write. There is an utterly shameful
number who cannot even write their
own names to sign for a package or
registered letter
'iSince 1894 there has been COM
pulsory education law on the statue
books. but as 1t made no adequate pro-
vision for its enforcement. IL has re-
rrained practically a dead letter.
I'VE respectfully urge that this old
inadequate law which called for only
twelve weeks of school attendance-in
apology for which we must recall that
1T was drawn up forty years ago-be
now superseded by an effective modern
law. a law comparable to that now ir
operation in thirty-two OF our States.
Il appreciate that the Industrial re-
quirements here are not so great as
those in New Y Y)rk. Chicago. and Other
large cities. but, | think, every citlZer
of the District will agree with me IL