Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-05
Citizens Committee Lays Dis
trict Matters Before Him.
FOR UTILITIES COMMISSION
Mr.. Taft Asked to Recommend Crea-
tion of an Independent Body.
TEACHERS RETIREMENT LAW
National Convention Hall Project
Also Explained to Mr.. Taft.
/:
Promises Consideration.

President Taft listened today 10 a COM
mittee from the Federation OF Citizens
Associations OF the District talk about
important propositions the federation
would like to see become law here.
The committee consisted OF W. Mex.
Clayton. president OF the federation:
Allan Davis. Glenn Brown, W. y. Crom-
well and c. c. Lancaster
The President was told that the fed
Grafton would feel pleased If he would
recommend to. Congress. in his annual
message. the creation of public utill-
ties commission with authority TO reglI-
late street railways, gas, electric, tele-
phone and other corporations doing SINH
lar business i'm Washington. This COM
mission, President Clayton said, should
be modelled after the public utilities com
mission In New York, with full power
as an Independent body and not as an
adjunct of the interstate commerce com
mission. 1t was also recommended that
this commission be selected from prop
erty owners OF the District, from among
men of known ability and standing.
Deferring Debt Payment.
The President was also told that peo-
pie of the District would like TO defer
payment of the 100000 which the Dis
trict owes the federal government for
extraordinary expenditures. II this
amount must come out of District rev.
enues at one time. he was told, there
would he cessation OF improvements in
suburban portions of the Dist let tlse-
where an issue of bonds is permitted for
meeting expenditures incurred for prof.
ects that Will be of benefit to future gem
era.ions.
retirement law for school teachers OF
the District was put before the Presi-
dent as one of the greatest needs of tie
schooi system here. He was told that
many old teachers still In the Sc. vice be-
cause they are compelled to work for a
living would retire Ii there was a Law
permitting them to do SO and a fund from
which they would receive pay.
Z. c. Lancaster, president CT the North
west Suburban Citizens Association, laid
before the President the attitude Of his
association In favor of a national con-
vention hall.
The President said he would be glad
to take into consideration the recon-
mendations made to him.
Time for Navy Yard Voters.
BY reason of a change i'm the system
of granting leaves of absence at navy
yards many employees arc without time
to go to their homes TO vote. -...-----~'---
c. NJ. Shinn, president of the West
Virginia Republican Association, sub
mitted to the White House a request OF
the employees for an executive order
granting time. the DAYS aosent to be de-
Quoted from annual leave in the future.
The President referred the matter to
the Navy Department, which stated that
such an order would not be lcgai The
President, therefore, stated that he could
take no action. The Navy Department.
however has arranged for leaves Of alb
sence for voting under these conditions:
To all employees now entitled TO this
leave.
To such employees as have taken their
leave to date. but will be entitled TO adj
ditional leave before the expiration or
their service year. They will be allowed
their leave in advance.
In the case of employees who have not
completed their service year--that is, who
have not been employed full year-but
will be entitled to leave when the. year l.
out, nothing can be done except to permit
them to be absent without pay. the leave
to be deducted from their fifteen days
when earned and paid for at that time:
equivalent, IL is held, TO granting leave
with pay now.
Virginian Recommended for Judge.
Judge A. c. Carson OF the supreme
court of the Philippines. a Virginian.
was recommended to President Taft today
for appointment as a Judge of the new
commerce court. H $ name was presented
by State Senator Fulton of Richmond,
Judge j. H. Harrison of Rappahannock,
D. c. O'Flaherty OF Warren and Greed
NJ. Fulton of this city.
Judge Carson and President Taft are
old personal friends. They knew each
other i'm the Philippines. and the Presi-
dent has a high personal regard for the
Virginian.
Senator Martin invited the President to
attend the Virginia State Teachers As
sociation i'm Richmond. November -. The
President could not accept the invitation
The Presidents visitors today included
DR.. S. j. Mixter, the Boston surgeon; Dr.
Henry s. Pritchett of Boston, DR.. Samuel
Nice. Lindsey, professor of social legisla-
ton at Columbia University, and Direc-
tor Smith of the geological survey. DIR.
Lindsey discussed child welfare matters
with the President.