Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-10
FAIL TO TAKE ACTION
Northeast Citizens Discuss
Change of Government.
GAS COMPANY ACCUSED
Speaker Alleges Its Influence Is Be-
hind Proposition.
PRAISE FOR MR.. SMITH
House District Committee Chairman
Eulogized by President Tucker.
Standing Committees Named.
PRAISE FOR MR.. SM1T1

AAAO6A 6SN W = ASSAASAS ~SAAS~'
Standing Committees Named.
The proposition to change the form OF
the government of the District of Column
bia came UP at the meeting last night
Of the Northeast Washington Citizens
Association and was the cause of a pro-
longed and lively discussion in which at
least one member charged the Washing
ton Gaslight Company with being behind
the movement for one-man rule In the
city. The matter came up in the form
of resolution introduced by w. S.
Branson putting the association on
record as in favor Of the single executive
idea. The resolution was finally referred
to the executive committee after several
members had expressed their views
against it. incidentally President Tucker
made a little speech. in which he con-
graduated the association on the fact
that Chairman Smith of the House COM
mittee on the District of Columbia had
been reelected to Congress despite the
efforts made to defeat him, and said that
Mr. Smith had proved himself friend
Of the District and that his reelection
was a good thing for the people. Other
and the announcement by President
Tucker of the standing committees for
the ensuing year.
President Tucker in opening the meeting
said he had read with great satisfaction
of the reelection of Samuel w. Smith of
Michigan, chairman of the committee on
the District of Columbia of the House of
Representatives. and told the members
of the association that he had written
Mr. Smith letter of congratulation The
he received from Mr. Smith
read to the association. 1t reads. In part
1T is my hope during the coming SEES
sion OF Congress to find time to meet
the association, when we will have an
what seems to be for the best interests
of the people of the city Of Washington
and District of Columbia
Friend of the District.
President Tucker said he had learned
from the newspapers that local influences
had been at work in Mr.. Smiths district
they did not succeed.
Samuel w. Smith,. said President
Tucker, lis one of the best friends the
people Of the District have had on the
committee. He is a man who is never
afraid to act where corporations are
concerned. and / regret that the fact
that he had performed his duty should
have been used against him."
Continuing, Mr.. Tucker said that a
member of Congress who worked hard
for the passage of the dollar gas bill
was defeated for reelection. That man.
he said. told it that he was beaten by
gas interests. 1t was, therefore his good
work for the people of the District that
caused his defeat
1.-THE association adopted a resolution
commencing Mr.. Smith last winter. To
the letter sent him 1 received courte-
I clad Mr.
Smith was returned to Congress. and 1
am also glad that Senator Gallinger is
to be retained
What about our friend. Sims?" was
the inquiry of John Fleming, a member
of the association.
He is a good man. too" said Presi
dent Tucker. and I'm glad he comes
back to Congress"
w. S. Branson offered a resolution ask
ing the association to express itself as
being in favor of changing the form of
the District government. His resolution
favors the election of a delegate to Con-
gress and the substitution Of a single ex-
ecutive for the three Commissioners. In
support of his resolution Mr.. BransOn said
he came from Virginia many years ago.
and told of the difficulty he had in pro-
tecting his rights there.
DR.. Starr Parsons objected to the as
ISOLATION taking up the question of
change in the form of government. He
thought the present form is all right.
and said he thought the citizens associa-
tions would have no weight before Con-
gress should a delegate be sent there.
Il would like to say something of the
origin Of this movement, DR.. Parsons
stated. IF 1 am correctly informed and
I believe 1 am. the Washington Gas Light
Company started it. The Commissioners
made certain recommendations unfavora-
BILE to the gas company and the company
has it in for them. and l think we should
not take up the question for that rea-
SON.
Dr. Parsons told of the successful eff
forts made by the members of the asso-
citation to get cheaper gas. and said an
effort at making a further reduction was
attempted.
IF the Washington Gas Light Com
pany can restore my rights" said DR..
Walters. then say. glory to them
Mr. Branson said he was reliably in
formed that President Roosevelt favors
a change in the form of government and
urged that all the citizens associations
make fight for such change.
Advised to Go Slow.
DR.. Parsons advised the members of the
association to go slow in the matter of
asking for a change. saying with three
Commissioners in charge of affairs the
people have better chance to get what
they want than they would with a sin
gle head. He concluded by asking why
the form of government was changed to
the present
DR.. Walters explained that it was never
the intention of Congress to make the
change a permanent one. The change. he
said. was made because 1t was desired
to legislate the board of public works
out of existence.
Mr.. Branson said he understood the
charge was made because of the manner
In which elections were held and because
of the large negro vote that was cast
John Fleming said he thought the peo-
pie would never be satisfied with any
form of government.
Whatever has been said about the
present system Of government" he sad,
there has never been charge of cor
ruption under the present FORM
He referred to the days of Alexander
Shepherd and said the people were not
satisfied then. The trouble was. he SAID.
that Shepherd was twenty years ahead of
the times. and people who damned him
at that time. afterward confessed the
error of their way and turned out to
l.;