Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-17
MANY TOPICS TAKEN UP
Complaint Made of Inadequate Gas
Facilities.
REPORT ON THROUGH SERVICE
Plans for Raising Monev for the
Bliss School Students-Announce-
ment of Standing Committees.

At last nights meeting of the Takoma
| Park Citizens Association, In Takoma
Hall, Charles w. Davis. chairman of the
| special committee on the government OF
the District of Columbia, argued in favor
| of representation in both the House or
Representatives and Senate, and presented
a new idea in connection with the present
agitation for a change In the form OF
local government by saying: IF we are 70
| have any change in the number OF dis
| trict Commiss. oners we should nave the
number increased rather than diminished
First of ALL he continued, THE DIS
| trict of Columbia has no District govern
| ment as such, because it is wholly under
! federal control. 1t is made so by the
| Constitution of the United States. and
nothing short of constitutional amend
| ment can open the door to change IN
| our form of government, unless We should
ask for a restrictive municipal govern
ment, which would be unwise. We are
under the government of the United States
| as a whole Every member of Congress
| and every senator Is representative or
| the District. Many of them have pur-
| chased homes and live here They are all
alike representatives of the District and
are interested in it's welfare. This Is the
best represented piece of territory III the
| United States.
| .'The Commissioners are in no sense
governors of the District, but act as our
| agents in our BUSINESS relations with the
| federal government. This work Is crowd
| ing upon them to such an extent as to
render it almost impossible for them 10
give each matter the necessary afternoon,
and for this reason, II we are to nave
any change in the number of Commission
ers, the number should be increased l
believe we should elect two delegates
one in the House and one in the senate
for the purpose OF presenting our wants
sired. This would greatly relieve the
Commissioners and at the same time place
us more perfectly in touch with the law
making power"
Principal Topics Discussed.
| The need for better fire protection in
the town of Takoma Park; improved
lighting facilities; representation in both
branches of Congress; the appointment Of
standing committees for the ensuing year
and an appeal for funds for the benefit
| of the destitute students of the Bliss Elec-
| trical School, destroyed by fire recently.
were the principal topics discussed at the
meeting.
Prof. G.. 0. Townsend, in speaking of
| the importance of having fire company
within the town, called attention to a re-
| cent article in The Star, in which 1T was
| stated that the matter had been under
discussion for some time past, and that
although the chemical engine at Bright
! wood had performed excellent service in
the past, the area was too large for one
company. He referred to the rapidity
| with which the town was growing and the
necessity for better protection from fire
A resolution presented by him, urging the
District Commissioners to locate a COM
pany at Takoma Park, was unanimously
passed.
n which n
| members took part. Complaint was made
that the gas frequently went out and
many narrow escapes from SuffocatiOn
have occurred as a result. In one in
stance the gas in cellar went out,
filling the lower part of the house with
gas, and had the furnace been in opera
tion the result would have been disas-
trous. 1t was announced by President
Albert F. Woods that larger main was
being laid as far out as the booster"
| at Petworth. A committee, composed of
]. A. LeClerc, chairman; Prof. c. o.
Townsend and w: 6. Plat. was ap-
pointed to present the matter to the
| Washington Gas Light Company.
Through Car Service.
Secretary James w. Dyre, chairman of
| the joint committee representing the
| Takoma Park, Brightwood. Brightwood
Park Petworth and Park View Citizens
Associations made a report of the work
of the joint committee and a recent state
ment of the officials of the Brightwood
electric road to a member of the COM
mittee. He said that the officials of the
road are endeavoring to meet the de-
mands of the citizens Of that section
and that plans were under way for en-
larging the barn at Brightwood for the
! accommodation of more cars. with a
view to installing the through service
to the center of the city as soon as the
improvements are completed and the cars
obtained. The present management, he
said. has made no promises. but when
they are made they wills be kept.
Relief of Bliss School Students.
Mayor Plat expressed the desire that
the citizens of Washington would come to