Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-10
SESSION EACH WEDNESDAY
Commissioners to Be AT Home" to
Their Constituents.
GRIEVANCE DAY HEREAFTER
Reception Of Complaints Of Individ-
uals and Public Hearings Given
When Required.
ar We, Hear We, Hear We,


Voting polls are not to be opened in the
District. but all citizens. rich and poor.
richly attired and raggedly dressed. are
TO be given a chance 10 voice their senti-
ments on municipal matters.
Next Wednesday the first opportunity
along this line will be afforded by the
District Commissioners as a board. E.v-
cry Wednesday thereafter at 1880 o'clock
in the morning the opportunity will come
again. This is much more often than
elections occur in those cities whose deni-
zens proudly boast of their ability to vote
once a year
Citizens with kick will save up their
grievances each week until Wednesdays.
Persons with favors to ask from the Dis
trict government will look forward to
each Wednesday az the day of joy for
them. Some might look back on some
Wednesdays as days of sorrow were it not
that there are other Wednesdays to come.
All hands around in the National Capital
will feel that Wednesday in the District
is the day for unburdening themselves.
Weekly Board Sessions.
It's just this way. Regular weekly board
sessions of the Board of District Commits
siOners will begin next Wednesday MORN
open session of the board will be held
regularly each Wednesday morning. In
other words, the District board will give
''at homes" of an informal nature regu-
larry, and IL citizens OF the National Cap
ital do not attend the lat homes 1t will
not be for the want of an invitation. 1t
has been announced that the invitation
This holding of a weekly session is in
accordance with plan adopted by the
Commissioners several weeks ago. with q
view to increasing the efficiency of the Dis
trict government and eliminating red tape.
The putting into effect of the plan was
held In allegiance until after the board
finished the preparation of the annual
budget to DE submitted to Congress. That
work is expected to be completed early
this week, SO that the first Of the regu-
lar weekly board sessions can be held next
Wednesday,.
The holding of a board session at a
stated time each week, it is explained
however. does not mean that the Commits
sioners will not get together for board ac-
ton at other times. Is in the past. Tn
der the past arrangement. to be continued
in the future. the three heads of the mu-
niciral government met in conference
whenever there was business to be con-
sidered.
Public Hearings Also.
Besides transacting current business re.
quiring board action, the Commissioners
will at the regular sessions give public
hearings and listen to citizens who have
of the board as a whole. 1t is also con
templated that public hearings asked BY
citizens. either as individuals or through
civic associations. will be held. as far as
possible, Wednesdays.
III
tire board is concerned. is unique in
the annals of the District, it is not new
in American cities. Out in Chicago the
younger Carter Harrison, when mayor,
put into effect a somewhat similar plan.
At set time each morning he gave
up an hour or more to the public re-
air, favors to ask or tales Of woes to re-
late, with the. hope of municipal aid
Each morning when Mayor Harrison
walked into the room where this public
reception was held he found a long
line typifying the elements which go into
the melting pot OF the American popula-
ton. There would be men with dia-
mond studs in their neckties, women with
plumed hats, children with bare toes
sticking through their shoes.
Stenographer Takes Notes.
A stenographer stood at the right hand
of the mayor during the reception and
made rapid notes of the remarks of each
visitor and a note as to the mayors ac-
ton. Some went away with a scowl,
provoked by a crisp negative on the
part Of the city's chief executive; others
wore away an expression of hope, on
q promise that further investigations were
to be made by the mayor or one of his
assistants; while still others beamed with
t1,n l,a hnr IF o\1nncann6 dor
or satisfactory answer TO a supposed
grievance.
The Commissioners have in the past
been individually easy to see. but the
District Boards lat home Wednesday
is expected to be largely attended.