The Washington times., 1911-11-15
A PROGRAM OF REAL AID.
VANCEMENT.

Commissioner Judson presented, in ar
address to the Lincoln Park Citizens
Association last evening, program OF
definite improvements designed to put
the municipal administration of this
city in touch and step with conditions
in the progressive cities of the coun.
try. 1t was a statement and exposition
OF the enlightened, progressive policy
now prevailing at the District building
and as such would be well worth the
study of every citizen.
The issue between progressiveness
and standpatism in this town is going
to be closely drawn before long. The
people have need to understand what il
is all about; and for the future OF
Washington vast deal depends or
whether the forward or the backward
tendencies shall prevail.
Major Judson discussed the Com.
missioners' plans for municipal conduct
of the garbage business of the city
through which it is expected that great
saving can be effected and at the same
time efficiency can be improved. This
plan is already being opposed with
vigor. Every move toward municipal.
ization of functions which ought to be
handled by the city is certain to be
opposed in like fashion. The question
at length will be whether the people OF
Washington want to 60 ahead and run
their government for the benefit of all
the people, or for the benefit of the
franchise owners, the contractors, and
the special interests that seek private
| profits.
General Harries, in his valedictory
address, ridiculed the idea of munici
pal ownership. Commissioner Judson
leans decidedly toward that idea, and
his leaning is the explanation of much
opposition that is being more or less
skillfully organized against the present
regime at the municipal headquarters
The contest is certain to come, and il
will be decided right if the people un
derstand it and are sufficiently in
earnest to hold up the hands of the
present progressive administration.
The time is past when such pro
posals as the municipal asphalt plant
and the municipal garbage reduction es
tablishment can be brushed aside will
the assurance that the public admin
istration is not competent to handle
such business propositions. Experience
of other cities has demonstrated the
contrary. The world is moving, ant
Washington cannot gain anything by
shutting its eyes to the progress thai
is being achieved elsewhere. Neither
will Washington gain anything, in tn,
estimate of Congress, by assuming thai
old-fashioned and expensive methods
are good enough for this town becaus,
Congress pays half.
Nothing will do Washington NOR,
harm, in the long run of its relation,
with the Federal Government, than t.
let Congress get the notion that thi,
town rather likes extravagant govern
ment because Congress pays half th'
bills, and therefore it is a clever way
to let some of our enterprising citizens
make an honest dollar doing for th'
city things it ought to do for itself.
Just one illustration. The Grea
Falls power project is again urged b!
Major Judson. 1t has been secuted al
impracticable. If it is impracticable; i
there is no advantage in making elec
trio current for Washington's use b,
harnessing the falls-then why is 1
great current using corporation holding
to what it claims is controlling in
terest in the waterpower of the falls
The fact is, that the whole country il
turning to waterpower for lighting ant
other facilities which require electric
ity. Washington has a better natura