The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-02-25
SEEKS EXPRESSION
OF LOCAL OPINION
Chambe Committee Dis
cuSSes Subject Freely.
WILL CONFER WITH CITIZENS
Improvement of AnacOstia River Is
Considered at Meeting Held Last
Night-The Engineer Commissioned
Gives Information TO the Commit
tee-WiiI Try to Bring Shriners.

tee-Witl Try to Bring ShrineFs.
yesterday was a comparatively busy
day with the committees Of the Chamber
of Commerce At O'Clock the committee
on conventions held a meeting and took
steps to bring the annual convention of
the Mobiles of the Mystic Shrine to this
city in 1872
At o'clock the committee of nfteen
which has under consideration a plan TO
obtain expression of public opinion in the
District on local matters, discussed that
question. Last night, at s o'clock, the
committee on Anacostia Flats held a
conference with presidents of citizens as
sociations upon that subject
Possibly the most interesting meeting
of the three was that of the late after
noon, at which was considered the sub
ject of devising means to give express
sion and effect to public opinion upon
matters affecting local government and
progress Fourteen of the fifteen mem
bers OF the committee We're present, and
various plans suggested for the purpose
were freely discussed.
New Body Suggested.
Among them was the formation of a
central civic body in which delegates
from the various organizations of the
District could meet, discuss, and formu-
late it's views
Another was that a committee OF the
Chamber should engage itself with the
work of getting action by the several
bodies and working it into concrete shape
for use in Congress or in such other
ways as might be expedent
After full discussion of the subject, it
was determined TO invite the presidents
Of the citizens associations of the Dis
trict 10 a conference on the subject some
afternoon next week which the chairman
of the committee might find feasible.
1t was also decided to send TO the presi-
dent of each association a copy of the
resolution creating the committee as the
official notice of what was expected to
be considered at the conference. This
conference will probably be called next
Friday
The members OF the committee Of ff-
teen are: Ernest H. Daniel. chairman;
William f. Shannon, vice chairman;
Henry B. +. mcfarland, Henry l.. West.
Thomas c. Moves, L. H. Dillon, James
F. Oyster, William N. Cromwell, B. f.
Saul. B. b. Earnshaw. DR.. J. s. Tyree,
John Dolph. George w. Stuart. Hugh F.
Harvey. P. NJ. Brown, and Albert Schulz
tets.
Discusses AnacostiR Flats.
A pretty fair illustration of what might
be accomplished by the meeting of the
representatives Of the local bodies Of the
District. in conference, was afforded 1t
the meeting last night. called 10 consider
the subject Of the reclamation of the
AnacOstia Flats. Chairman Schulteis in
vited representatives of the citizens asso-
Citations Of the District to meet the COM
mittee and consider what IS best to be
done TO further the project. Representa-
tives of six associations responded, prin-
cipally those in the territory to be af-
fected most by the proposed improve
ment.
The sense OF the meeting was ex-
pressed in a formal motion at the close
of the discussion requesting the chairman
of the Chamber committee TO urge upon
the proper authorities at the Capitol as
large an appropriation as possible TO COM
plete the work started upon section
of the plans approved for the improve
ment of the river and the reclamation
of the flats. This means that portion Of
the river from its mouth to the navy
yard bridge. It was also the sense of the
meeting that the expense of the further
Improvement of the river and flats above
the navy yard bridge should be borne
jointly by the United States and the Dis
trict % Columbia.
Congress Has a Plan,
The fact developed in the discussion
that a definite plan Of the improvement
of the river has been adopted by Con-
gress. contained in the report of Col.
Allen in 1898. The Gallinger amendment
to the river and harbor bill pending in
the Senate. adding 100000 to the S15O.OO0
voted in the appropriation OF the House
bill. was discussed and, In general, ap-
proved
-AeJ. SNNoNAAf A@AiSiiACIA NbliAiAliSSibliSA VI
the District, was at the meeting, and told
the committee the status Of legislation
pending on the subject and advised the
procedure winch was adopted in the reso-
lutiOns at the close of the meeting. Mai.
Judson explained the project in full,
stated what might be accomplished, and
how, in the nature of circumstance. tho
I-x- h
plantations were of great interest and
value to the meeting. and brought forth
an expression of gratitude for his cour-
tesy in attending the gathering.
The subject was discussed by Thomas
W. Smith. f. H. Tucker, A. G. Herr
mann, A. E. Randle, D. A. Edwards. and
NJ I. Wells.
Taft FRvors Plan.
One expression brought out by Col.
Randle was that President Taft was in
favor of the plan, as being a part of his
policy Of craftsmanship. He had made
Manila a healthy city as the basis of his
work in the Philippines, and he had done
similar work in Havana, and Col. Randle
declared he thought the President, before
he left Washington, would have the
great sanitary work Of improving the
Anacostia River under way, as the means
Of making Washington healthy.
At the meeting of the committee on
conventions, of hich H. c. c. stiles is
chairman. It was decided that efforts
should be Immediately made to bring
to Washington the annual meeting of the
oIaIe oe