The Washington herald., 1910-05-08
FEDERATION HAS
FAIR BEGINNING
Adopts Bylaws and Elects
First Officers.

Organization OF the new Federation OF
Citizens Associations Of the District was
completed last night by the adoption OF
bylaws and the election Of officers TO
serve until the annual meeting next No
vember
Acting under the newly effected organ
ization, the body approved the home
coming week proposed by the Chamber
Of Commerce and the proposition 10 hold
the Panama Canal Exposition in Wash
ington. Incidentally. the body floundered
somewhat upon the question Of jurisIic-
ton regarding questions it should prop
erly consider.
The draft of bylaws was presented by
j. G.. McGrath, chairman of the commit
tee appointed at a previous meeting for
the purpose. The rules defined the ac-
tivities of the body in matters not touch
ed upon I'm the constitution, set forth the
manner of presenting subjects 10 the
federation. and described the special
functions of the officers. Amendments
were offered providing for a committee
Of ten on eligibility and membership TO
be appointed by the chair, two from citi-
zens' bodies in the four sections Of the
city anu two from the affiliated civic
bodies.
W. VI. Clayton President.
Officers Of the federation were elected
as follows: William Mex Clayton, OF
Brightwood Park, president; Glenn
Brown. OF the American Institute of
Architects, vice president; Eugene
Thompson. of Anacosta. secretary. and
William Richardson, Of Benning. treas
urer.
After the preliminaries Of organization
were completed. President Clayton made
brief speech in which he reviewed the
movement leading up 10 the organization
Of the body. its aims and the opportuni-
ties lying before fl for usefulness. Mr..
Clayton thought that a means would be
found through the federated bodies to get
at public opinion on large questions quick
" and effectively, and that the organiza-
tion would soon come 10 be recognized
as a power In the community.
c. c. Lancaster. Of the Northwest Sub
urban Association. submitted for consid-
Grafton a resolution from that association
calling upon Congress TO erect at an
expense of 100000, a large auditorium
in which 10 hold meetings Of a national
and international character.
such Building Needed.
The resolution set forth that such a
building was much needed in the Capital
and that II should be a national building
for the use Of the people Of the nation,
built and maintained at public expense.
The subject was discussed by Glenn
Brown. G. NJ oyster, and others. The
sense Of the delegates vas I'm favor Of the
proposition. but objection was made 70
its adoption as the initial work Of the
federation on the ground that IL would not
be wise to 90 TO Congress with such re-
quest. which was almost sure to be in
terpreted as a begging proposition and
foredoomed to failure. Some OF the dele
gates said the federation could not af-
ford TO espouse an apparent losing cause
as its first effort at moving and getting
an effective expression OF public opinion.
on expression OF these views Mr., Ian
caster withdrew his resolution.
Widening Benning Road.
A proposition from the East End Subur-
ban Association. presented by J. 5. Wood.
met the same fate, in a different way.
The resolution was presented as one over
which the federation had jurisdiction.
The bylaws adopted last night said that
only subjects affecting the District as a
whole. and not local subjects. should be
considered. The rules also set forth that
subjects 20 be considered must come to
the body in writing from the associa-
ton and be presented through the dele
gate in "A succinct statement.
Mr.. Woods proposition was presented
by verbal statement. and questions OF
order were at once raised This led the
federation into a long discussion upon
its jurisdiction over subjects of local
import as distinguished from those OF
general interest. and sides were taken
upon the subject presented.
The resolution was finally withdrawn
after It became apparent that probably a
majority Of the delegates were opposed
10 il. on the ground that it was a loca
question to he dealt with by the citizens
associations Of Northeast Washington.
A resolution indorsing the homecoming
week project Of the publicity committee
OF the Chamber Of Commerce was pre-
sented by ]. G. McGrath and passed with.
out discussion. Similar action was taker
upon the Endorsement Of the Panama
Canal exposition project presented by
J. w. Dyer, Of Takoma Park.
Under the constitution OF the federation
it will hold no more meetings. unless
called together by the president, until
November.