Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-05
DECLINES TO ATTEND.
President of Park View Association
Ignores Joint Meeting,

Edward c. Ffnney, president of the
Park View Citizens Association, has pur-
sued the course adopted by Albert F.
Woods, president of the Takoma Park
Citizens Association in the move ment for
a change in the form of government of
the District. He has declined to attend
the meeting this afternoon i'll the Riggs
House.
Such determination on the part of
President Finney was outlined in a re-
port he made to his association at a
meeting last evening in the Whitney
Avenue Christian Church. 1t is in har-
mony with the acton recently taken by
the association, which went on record as
opposing a change in the present form of
government at this time
Mr.. Finney said he had been named by
Louis p. Shoemaker, chairman of the
meeting in the Riggs House several days
ago, as the accredited delegate from the
Park View Association and was invited
to attend the meeting this afternoon. Il
am opposed personally to any change in
t he form of government at this time and
do Eot consistently see how / can take
part in the movement" he explained IT
decline to attend the meeting and will
write to Mr.. Shoemaker to that effect.
A report of the recent meeting of repre-
sentatives of the various associations in
the Riggs House in connection with the
movement to change the present form of
government was submitted by George II.
Russell, a member of the committee of
five sent by the association to attend that
meeting. The movers for the meeting
and the parliamentary procedure were
criticised, as was also the voting. He
concluded by saying that the association
was recorded mot voting" at that
meeting.
A resolution presented by George w.
Sunderland was adopted. 1t directs the
secretary to communicate with the COM
mittee of the District of Columbia of the
House of Representatives, urging the dis
position of all legislation now on the cal
endar. including the bill for cheaper gas
and the bill repeating section ; of the act
of 1885, which permits the gas companies
to increase their capital stock, before con-
sidering the question of a change in the
present form Of government in the Dis
trict of Columbia
Secretary Cooper spoke in support of
the influences now being exerted to pre-
vent the cutting by Congress of the cur
rent estimates for the District. He pre-
scented A resolution. which was unan-
mously adopted setting forth that the as
Sociation cOmmendS emphatically the rec
ommendation of the Commissioners that
in making appropriations for the District
Congress shall distinguish. as the Com
mssioners have done in their estimates
between the items for extraordinary prof.
ects of improvement. calling for large
amounts of money and benefiting the flu
ture. and the items of current expenditure
so to provide for advances from the
United States Treasury, with interest at =
per cent on account of the Districts half
of the extraordinary appropriations. to he
repaid in reasonable annual amounts
without cutting the current expenditures
as has been done In the past, in the at
tempt to make the District pay currently
for extraordinary improvements.
Thomas w Smith. member of the
District electric railway commission, an
former president of the Washington
Board of Trade. who was a. guest of the
association. addressed the meeting along
similar lines.
In reference to the street railway situa-
ton Mr.. Smith did not commit himself
beyond saying that the question of crowd
ed cars is occupying the attention of the
commission. Charts are being prepare cd
showing the number of passengers car
ried by each car in the District daily
President Finney Informed Mr.. Smith
that the results of the railway commits
sions work already arc gratifying TO the
residents of Park View.
DIR. A. B. Crane took the initial step
for the formation Of A central organiza-
| ton. composed of delegates from the
citizens associations. labor bodies and
civic organizations of the District The
general plan suggested ny him calls for
council. TO he known as the citizens
advisory council of the District of CO.
lumhia. to make possible more har-
n1onious action on all matters of public
importance. The council is to discuss
current questions and by vote decide the
best action on the same. Meetings are
to be held once a month and its author
ity is to be advisory. and is never by act
or implication to become Legislative The
council is To consist of two delegates from
each organization.
A resolution was presented by DR. Crane
providing for the appointment of COM
mittee of three members to communica te
with the various organizations in the
District. The matter was referred to
| at the next meeting.
4 report of the joint committee com
| posed of representatives of the Takoma
| Park Petworth. Park View Bright wood
and ErightWood Park Citizens AssoCia
| tons. on the work of that committee was
| submitted by DR.. Crane and approved
William Nick Clayton. who presented
| the arguments in behalf of the citizens
along the line of the Brightwood railway
before the District electric railway COM
mission, was nominated an honorary
| member of the association. Thomas w.
| Smith was nominated for active MEM
bership. Their names were referred to
| the membership committee The follow
| ing were elected to active membership:
Miss Lola 4. Ames. William Rowell
| Horstman. Clifton c. Jerman, r. J. Gull
| inane Vincent s Marian, Robert T.
| Bradburn and ". G. Rengel.
The meeting was concluded with an
/ address by +. W. Oyster of the Petworth
Citizens Association favoring a change
in the present form of government. and