The Washington times., 1908-11-07
POLITICAL SCHEME
IS SINGLE HEAD MOVE
Addressing Park View Citizens Association Dr. Crane
Flags Motives Actuatng Gas Monopoly and Post
in Urging Change of Government

That a political scheme TO block legis-
latiOn that might be adverse 10 the
stock-jobbing and other plans Of the
local gas companies Is back OF the
movement, now being fostered in GER
tain quarters against the present form
OF government OF the District Of Co
lUmbia, was the statement made by Dr.
Arthur b. Crane, last evening. before
the Park View Citizens Association.
He included Representative sam"
Smith OF Michigan IN his denunciatiOn
on what he termed the Vaccinations Of
the people back Of the attack on tie
District government.
DR.. Crane declared that the move
ment against the Commissioners is a
clever political dodge. the real SigEifi-
canoe OF which is not realized by some
OF the people who have lent their names
| to the movement. He asserted thas the
/ Post. a synonym for the gas companies s.
/ desires a one-man commission merely be-
/ cause it hopes therby TO carry thro IGN
! present sIock-watering schemes,
Works Only Evil
After listening TO his arguments. the
| ASSOCIATION voted practically unimOusly
/ in favor OF a resolution declaring mat
| the proposed change would work only
evil for the District at this time ana
! would serve TO advance the selfish in
| terests Of certain corporations The
| resolution also expressed the confidence
Of the association N the present Board
Of Commissioners, ana HleIged liz sup
port in all measures for the welfare
I OF the District.
Those persons" said DIT Crane in
/ opening MS address, ~ 40 are alolug Ia
. the movement tor mass meeting 70
protest against the present form OF gov
ernmeut, and consequently the present
! Commissioners. must realize that LIey
are censuTIng and seeking TO zen owe
the Commissioners Tor the PLAIN per
foTmanCe OF their very plain duty When
the agitation swept the DlStTlCt last
year IOr cheaper gas. citizens every
( n mere Joined In the movement, and
| practically every citizens association
| IN the District memOralized the Com
/ iIuisSiuners TO project them against the
/ ravages OF the Gas trust IEe COmInl5-
siOners responded 10 their requests, and
now some OF the very men VINO were
| instrumental IN passing the resolutions
/ for cheaper gas are helping IN move
ment that has as its object the 0uStnB
OF the COmmissiOneTs-and wnyE BE
/ cause they did take up the cudgeis and
| hght the gas company. Ihey are hsAt-
| ing the company now IN the SUITS Loi
| the furnishing Of inferior gas
No Facts Printed.
| when there was a popular de-
mand for s0-ceHt gas last fan and
winter. the Post did not print any Of
the facts. and when IL did print any
! thing II was usually distorted. None
Of the court actions were printed at
any length. and as soon as the Com
missioners took up the night, in re-
n hN
/ Post began TO night the Commis-
! siOners. II his continued this ngEJ
and now. through persuasive WlieS,
liz has inveiEled some of the very
men who We're crying for cheaper
gas, TO further the plot TO block leg
/ islatiOn on the gas question before
I Congress at the short session TINS
That is all there IS to the so-caned
| agitation for a representative form OF
I government. The Post does not hone or
] Ctl cot 10 get a change IN the org Iuic
/ law it's only purpose IS 70 bring q move
! n.ant before Congress that will 50 take
up the time and thought OF The com
! mittees that il will be- impossible TO get
! them 10 repeal The law. giving the
equity courts the power 10 appraise the
! property OF the Gas trust. ana 10 pass
/ other measures that would be OF benefit
I to the people. The tools Of the gas
/ company, who have fallen in with its
plans, evidently do not realize that this
| Is the sole object OF the Clamor for a
| change,
Doing Simple Duty.
"The question OF a change OF form
in the District government is away be-
/ side the mark. i Is largely an aca-
demlc question and will demand careful
thought. The only question before the
people of the District now is, whether
or not the Commissioners shah be pun
I ished FOR doing their simple duty. The
/ question raised by the Gas trust is not
/ at the foundation. whether or not there
J shall he a change, but is only for the
purpose Of permitting the gas interests
to go before Congress in this. the short
/ term. and ask for a change in the or
| ganic law. so that il will crowd cut
other measures.
In other words. It Is a clever politi-
cal dodge and its only purpose is one
Of throwing pepper IN the eyes of Con
gress and 90 blind the committees and
the people with an academic question
hat will Permit OF endless controversy
as to prevent the repeal Of the law al
lowing the Gas Company 20 have its