Evening star., 1909-05-23

| model or what a city should be:
Therefore be it resolved. THAT
this conference urge upon Congress
the Importance for the adoption OF
comprehensive city plan for the
District OF Columbia and for the
efficient administration machinery
to deal with the problems OF de-
veloping and applying that plan"
Resolution adopted by city plan
ming conference.
Speaker Cannon talked to the guests at
the dinner to the delegates to the national
conference on city planning at the Ra-
leigh last night. He was on the program
to speak about Legislation and City
Planning" but that was only what the
card said. and Uncle Joe" did not let
the bounds of an outlined toast hedge in
his flow of ideas. He touched on legisla-
tion once-for a f1eeting moment. when he
paid his respects to Tammany Hall. and
declared that it was wonderful or
ganization, but that he would vote against
1t If his friend Olcott, sitting by him.
would run for mayor over in New York.
True. he touched on city planning now
and then, but always got back to his main
subject-which was seemingly the uni
verse at large. Everybody sat still and
listened to every word he had to say, ap-
plauded him tremendously and laughed
immoderately at some Of the Illinois Jokes.
Uncle Joe was not the only speaker.
Mrs. V. G. Simkhovitch Of New York,
Henry Morgenthau of New York. Com
missioner Macfarland and Benjamin c.
Marsh had something to say. The dinner
was simply an adjourned meeting of yes
terday afternoons session. at which rep
resentatives of a dozen or more cities
told what was being done for planning
for future citizens. their health and their
welfare in all directions. At the after
noon session two important resolutions
were adopted. one urging Congress to con-
slider the adoption of a comprehensive
city plan for the District of Columbia, and
would be great enough to deal with the
problems for untold years to come. The
other resolution provided for a yearly
convention in the interest of city plan
ming.
Chord of Hopefulness.
At the dinner social workers. sociologic-
al experts. settlement house workers.
architects and public-spirited citizens sat
down together. The chord which the
speeches seemed to strike was one of
hopefulness for the future In spite of
distressing conditions in many an Ameri-
can city today. Distressing because the
-, hai, ha1~ ;, in,
many instances by rising land values
and property owned by great concerns.
like railway or industrial companies.
Many an object lesson was explained to
the diners by persons who deal with the
subject at first hand in their everyday
work, and suggestions for lettering were
offered by at least two of the speakers,
Mrs. Simkhovitch and MIR. Marsh.
Mrs. Simkhovitch was the first speaker.
She was introduced by the toastmaster,
Allen ID. Albert, jr., who had good
natured tilt with her regarding womens
rights before the speech began.
Two Programs in New York.
Mrs. Simkhovitch said about city con-
sestion, that there are two programs.
These she designated as 'the long dis
tance' and 1.-The short distance" Outlin-
ing them, she said:
"Our long distance program involvesI
First, the purchase or control Of land
outside of cities. insuring lower rentals
and either nearness to work or else
rapid, very cheap transit. This involves,
Of course. a scientific city plan. Second.
The furnishing of city advantages to sub
lrbs and country communities. Third.
he gradual restriction of the number or
persons living on a given area, which In
wolves limiting the height of houses ana
ne introduction of adequate inspection.
"Our short-distance program Is not so
certifying in magnitude, but It's good
five-year job. 1t involves: First. an ed
ucatlonal campaign to bring about a city
plan for every city and growing COM
nunity in the United States. Second, CO.
operation with industrial removal socle-
ties and all private and public bureaus FOR
the removal from city to country, ana an
organized opposition to the habit OF char
table persons and societies of supplying
money for rent to enable families to re-
main in the city. Third, the appointment
! National commission TO consider ana
report upon the entire subject.
Speaker Cannon's Remarks.
Mr.. Cannon was evidently much inn
pressed by what Mrs. Simkhovitch said.
After he was introduced, and had said
that his office was the most congested
place In the United States, he paid a
great compliment to the woman speaker
by saying to her that If she could null
tiply herself 5000 times civilization
would be infinitely better off. There had
been much to say about conditions in
New York and about a street they call
Jones over there. which must be much
congested according to all accounts. Mr..
Cannon said about it:
Il have high opinion of New York.
They tell us all sorts of things about,
New York. how they vote and how they
do this and that They get along some
how. but God knows how they do it.
couldn't be elected constable over I'm New
York-unless l joined Tammany Hall.
Tammany is a wonderful institution. 1t
furnishes help to the sick and aid to the
poor Some of our friends criticise 1t:
and I've said to my friend Olcott here
that If he was to run for mayor I believe
I'd break the law and go over and vote
for him. But l can't talk to you about
New York. or any of the problems there.
so I'll just jolly you along a while. be-
cause 1 couldn't manage Jones street.
He made a plea for the weak and urged
the strong to help them.
The unit works out his own salvation.
being cruel, the weak goes to
the wall, but that does not excuse the
strong from helping the weak nor the