The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-11-12
BRIGHTWOOD ASKS
UTILITIES BOARD
Citizens Go on Record After
Wilton ]. Lambert Scores
District as Helpless.
PUBLIC WOULD
GET PROTECTION
Plan of Commission Receives
Hearty Endorsement at Regular
Association Meeting.

THE Commissioners are practically
helpless. where the public utilities cor
porations are concerned" Wilton J.
Lambert declared at a meeting of the
BHghtwOod Citizens Association, in
Brightwood Hotel, last night, "and the
corporations are running at random"
Mr.. Lambert made the declaration in
speaking on his resolution, afterward
adopted, that the association go on
record as favOrinG the establishment Of
a public utilities commission 10 super
wise and control public service corpora
lions in the District Of Columbia, and
that the president appoint a committee
of three to urge upon Congress legis-
lation for the purpose
Citing the Virginia corporations COM
mission as an example of an. efficient
representative body to protect the peo-
PIES interests, and at the same time
guard the public utilities corporations
from injustice. Mr.. Lambert said that
such a commission was sOrelv needed
here. Congress had too many other
duties to give needed attention to the
District, he declared, and Congressman
also lacked personal interest
Charles c. Lancaster said he favored
such a commission II it were composed
OF District citizens, but not if made
I'D of men from other Siaces.
Another resolution by Nj Lambert,
calling upon the telephone company
to establish a pay station in Bright
wood Hotel, called for remarks about
the proposed commission. Such
complaint as that, William Mex. Clay
wrn grrR4W
lie utilities commission Tor prompt
settlement.
Requests Long Term Loan.
A lOng-term loan or bond issue by
the District received much attention.
President Louis p. Shoemaker intro
duced a resolution reiterating a for
mer request to Congress that a long
term loan should be granted by Con-
gress, or that some other arrange
ment should be made by which the
District would not pay back so rap
idly as now money advanced to it.
The resolution said that taxation had
greatly increased, private develop
ment had been enormous. and the
necessity for public improvements be-
yond the old city was requiring citi-
Zens TO build practically another city
The present methods imposed by Con-
gress were unbusinesslike, and must
be changed if improvements were not
TO be retarded.
congress imposes a vicious system
upon us" Mr.. Shoemaker said. at
tries to appropriate for permanent
improvements out OF current reve-
nues. No other municipality would
dare impose so vicious a system upon
its citizens. We must make Congress
change il
why don't we have enough money?
Because revenues are not sufficient.
There IS enough revenue from taxa
tiOn, but Congress wishes to Increase
it. Several years ago we advocated
lOng-term loan or bond issue, but
without avail"
An Unfinished City.
Mr.. Shoemaker said that Washington
was an unfinished city, and that many
permanent improvements had TO be
made. He argued that TO have those
improvements paid for out Of current
revenues, would be most unjust
Mr.. Clayton. urging the same issue,
stated that the bonded debt of the Dis
trict was less than SlO,OO0OO0.
The resolution was adopted.
Commissioner JudSOn was commended,
by a resolution introduced by Jacob
Xander, and adopted, for directing his
William Ramsay said the association
ought 10 stand behind Commissioner
JudSOn-
.'Four years ago, when the same prop
osition was before the public" MI. Ram
say said lit was reported that the pow
er possible Of development from the
falls would not be one-fOurth Of what
the District needs. If we could get the
power from the falls the city and the
District would grow twice as rapidly,
and we should have plenty OF light for
Rock Creek Park, too Mr. Ramsay
concluded. in reference to his resolution
upon the dark and narrow roadways OF
Mr., CLAYTON remarked that the deveI-
opment of power at Great Falls might
lighting plant
lowing resolutions:
ON extension of street cleaning serv-
ice 10 county roads and streets, by John
A. Saul.
DR.. Arthur Mathewson-
on improvements and extensions OF
streets by Charles W. Ray, II. Lee Rag
land, W. w. Mathewson, Claud New
man. Judge d. O'Callaghan, and B.
Z. Kelly
An extension Of sewerage system, by
or suburban lighting. by William
Mex. Clayton.
Last nights meeting was the first
since the adjournment. May Is and
President Shoemaker, who is cOmmenc-
Ing his tenth term as president, was cor
daily greeted by the members Charles
n. Ray is secretary.
President Shoemaker Tpade a eulogy OF
che late Horace 8 Jones', a member of
the association, who died last summer,
and Mr.. Lambert introduced a resOlu-
ton Of sympathy, which was adopted.
w. +. Ashford and John c. Proctor
were elected members.
After business the association had a
social session, at which refreshments
were served.