Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-06
CITIZENS At BANQUET
North Washington Association
Entertains Large Company.
PUBLIC SERVICE IN DISTRICT
Representative 1Gal1en Cfitioises
Street Car Aeeennedatien1.
lKIATES HIS KXIE1TKHCE
Has Something Also 10 lay About
Pending Gas Bill-Addrsssss
BY Commissioners.
PUBLIC SERVICE IN DISTRICT
HArEs HIS Ex1E1TKHCE

oy Coum1su0ooto.
Representative Martin b. Madden was
the principal speaker last night at the sec
end annual banquet of the North Wash
inston Citixens' Association. held at the
RisEs House. Mr.. William p. Armstrong;
president Of the association, presided at the
banquet table and introduced the speakers
In his speech Mr.. Madden, who Is the
author Of the 75-cent gas bill pending be-
fore Congress-, scored tho management OF
several of the public service corporations
of this city, especially the Washington Cas-
light Company and the street railways.
In opening his speech Mr.. Madden apollo
gized for his late arrival at the banquet
stating: MY delay in appearing at the
dinner tonight was caused by the fact tnat
1 waited twenty-five minutes at the corner
of Columbia road and Connecticut avenue
for a car. I should have arrived sooner
had walked
at has been said that the public is not
interested In the management of public cor
porations, but the time Will come Wnen
these same corporations VIII reallze tnat
the public is not only interested, put tnat
it has rights which, through legislation, must
be respected. I was somewhat skepticai
when some Of your citizens informed me
that they were rewarded with smiles when
they preferred requests to the railway oni-
Gals, but have found that their statements
were not overdrawn.
Entitled to Better Service.
1.-THE public of Washington is entitled to
a better street car service, and intend to
devote my efforts toward that end. Be-
sides, the gas ought to sell at IS cents, be-
cause it can be manufactured by the COM
pany for so cents. Twenty-Five cents profit
on a 5O-cent investment ought to be enough
for any CORPORATION l believe legislation
will soon be enacted that will relieve TINS
oppression by public corporations, although
1 doubt If it will be passed at the present
session.
tfon authorizing the bureau of corporations
during the recess of Congress to investigate
public corporations and secure from lleH
officials such testimony that will enaple
Congress to pass bill authorizing tne
Commissioners to have full power In en-
forcing the law that will be put WITHIN their
Jurisdiction. -
Mr.. Madden stated that he takes an In
terest in the District OF .Geiqmnla a a.a.as
and thinks all men ought to have pr1ae
in having such a city as the national capi-
tai and in making it what it should be.
Addresses were also made ny Sonlnl,sn
sioners Henry B. F. Mcfarland and Henry
L. West, Postmaster B. F. Barnes and MT
A. r. Server, president of the North Capt.
toll and lexington Citizens Association. a.
Mr.. Macfarland's Address, an B:
Commissioner Macfarland upon being In
troduced, after speaking OF the fact that
more citizens relatively to population are
organized for public effort and to INFORM
public opinion here than anywhere eise' ana
that such Is an evidence of the civic pr1oe
and public spirit of the District people,
said: ,,,,.
..Your association illustrates this unique
distinction of the national capitat. our
outside critics. who literally do not know
what they are talking about, tell US tnas
we do not have self-government mere, ana
that We do not have civic sp.rm OF thav u do
not know the facts. Let them stuoy tne
organization of public opinion ana us Ell
fects In the District. and they must aom,t
that there is no other place where puo.o
sentiment is SO strong, SO constant, 50
effectiye. in its operation. Elsewhere II -
Inevitably divided and confused by paru-
san politics. Not having here one form for
the expression of public opinion , sns fr so os
Expression, namely. the ballot. which al
WAYS carries with it the divisions ana nos
Titles Of partisan politics. the other forms
Of expression; p"Il's staaements and above
ali. the newspapers, have free course ana
full erect. Nowhere else has the intelligent
taxpayer, without regard to race, sex or
even age. such influence. personally, or as =
boss or partisan newspaper mas 70 pc con
suited. The taxpayer needs no introduc.
ton, no political backing. no 1nnnenee, az
the District building. Anybody. whetner
taxpayer or not, is welcomed there. and
every suggestion, from whatever quarter. Is
considered. We are oirecty
and responsive to public opinion.
We have the initiative and referendum
practically. for any suggestion of legislation
or other action may be made by any one,
and If sufficiently supported. on ns meHts
will be adopted And every proposltion OF
legislation or other important action Is sub
mitted to the people, who have full oppor-
tunity to say what they think about 1t. The
Commissioners deal with the public ques-
lions. with all the District business. without
This would be impossible or course,
il we had partisan politics here. with
the inevitable bosses and machines who
payers directly or indirectly. That Is why
they have to have graft where they have
partisan politics. 1t explains also why We
are happily free from graft 1t makes those
of us who have lived here all our lives and
know our local conditions appreeiative Of
our real government by public opinion and
distrustful Of efforts to introduce partisan
politics into our municipal anairs. inc oos
meat he was carrying in his mouth when he
opened his jaws to snap up Its shadow In
the stream was no more foolish than we
should be to give up the real thing for the
make-believe.
Delegates Would Not Compensate.
Even two delegates in the House Of Rep
resentatives with the right to speak and
vote on District affairs would not COM
pensate us for the divisive and destructive
effects Of partisan politics on our public
opinion At most they could only present
our case to the House. We would not have
representation in the Senate. And prac-
tically the Commissioners. through the
committees. have now at both the Senate
and the House the fullest possible oppor-
tunity to present the arguments Of the
community. When the community is
agreed. when public opinion is clear and
definite and has a good case, 1t always
wins here sooner or later, and at least az
soon as anywhere else. This means. Of
course, greater responsibility for the indi-
vidual citizen and for citizens organizations
than where what is called public opinion Is
made up for the community by political
bosses or newspapers, but the citixens of
Washington meet the test with a zeal, in
telligence and devotion unequaied else
where As for seventy-eight years they
maintained the national capital without