Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-03
WANTS RIGHT TO VOTE
Central Labor Union Requests
Restoration Of Suffrage.
AN APPEAL. TO CONGRESS
Portion Of Recommendations in
Reynolds Report Approved.
SUGGESTED DISTRICT BUREAUS
Declaration for Governor Of District
by Appointment as Preferable
to Present Method.
DISTRICT BUREAUS

iSoioCll INooSCNciL- anu SuLS SSS
receive from the Central Labor Union Of
this city strong recommendation for
the restoration of suffrage in the District
of Columbia. A decision to the foregoing
effect was reached at a meeting of the
central body in Typographical Temple
last night. The organization tacitly agreed
to the recommendation recently made by
James. Bronson Reynolds with the excep-
tion of the proposed committee of 100 citi-
zens to be empowered to decide minor
matters concerning the local government.
The Central Labor Union does not believe
1t will be good policy or good business
to create such a committee. The report
of the committee as adopted Is, In part, as
follows:
THAT we have very carefully consid-
cred the recommendations in Mr.. Rey-
nolds' report and have given hearings to
representative citizens who feel an In
terest in the Districts form OF govern
following conclusions as the result of de-
alterations and Investigations. We con-
cur in the suggestion of the Reynolds re-
port for an executive head. We. how
ever, differ in our idea as to the manner
of selecting such executive. believing that
the. people of the District of Columbia
prefer that inestimab.e right, dear to
every American citizen, Of recording their
approval or disapprova1 of the official
acts Of a public servant at the ballot
box. We might add. with all the vigor
and emphasis with which we are capable
that even the selection of a governor by
appointment would be preferable to our
present method Of administering the af-
fairs of the District OF Columbia
Suggested Departments.
'The further recommendation OF the
Reynolds report establishing. seven de-
partments Of the city government. to, be
known as the department. Of health, de-
partment of police and, fire, department
Of street engineering. department of
charities, department of correction, de-
partment Of buildings and public works,
department Of housing and labor, we be-
lieve the Central Labor Union should APP
prove and adyoc ate, and it is with added
emphasis that attention is called to the
need for a department of housing and
labor. 1t is perhaps proper to give e1-
preston to the belief prevalent among
the working people Of the District Of Co
lunnbia that in the adjustment Of such
a department the domestic comfort of the
working people should be its chief con-
Germ. Not only Is it proper TO eliminate
the many insanitary and alley houses of
the District Of Columbia. but 1t should
be equally important for the nunic pal
government to see that its citizenship
is In a position to maintain standard
of living that would meet with the ap-
prevail OF the public opinion. and we
would strongly urge the establishment of
such department., even under our pres
ent form of government.
I'VE are also of the opinion that the
bureau of insurance as we'll as the other
bureaus, under the department of hous-
ing and labor, would be much-needed
reform in our municipal affairs. for the
reason that We believe that the indus
trial classes are being annually filched
out Of thousands and thousands Of dollars
by what Is commonly known as industrial
insurance, to say nothing of large insur-
ance corporations of national and In
ternat.onal reputation.