Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-22
Measures Projected for Dis
trict Under Discussion.
SOME WARMLY SUPPORTED
Delegates to Federation of Citizens
Associations Meet.
FAITH PUT IN CONGRESS
Belief that National Legislative
Body Will Stand by District Re
garding the Organic Act.

Nearly every kind of legislation pend
ing before the Commissioners or before
Congress. and affecting the District. was
in some manner brought into the discus
sions of the Federation of Citizens AS
sociations, which met last night in the
rooms of the Chamber of Commerce, for
the first time since last June.
The federation appointed committees to
study the question of delegates to Cen
gress; took up municipal ownership uni
versal transfers. rublc utilities commits
sion, half fare for school children. and
also took fling at the rival organiza-
ton. which met recently at the sugges-
ton of the Rhode Island Avenue Subur-
ban Citizens Association TO agitate the
universal transfer question
Although the federation adopted a reso-
luton by which it gave notice that it be-
lieves Congress will stand fairly by the
District III the matter of the organic act,
1t also adopted a resolution which shows
that the members have no little fear re-
garding the good faith of Congress con-
corning the firemen and police pension
fund bill, which. it has been said at the
Capitol, is in danger of going the same
priation went. thereby making one more
inroad in the half-and-half principle
Wants Stadium for Children.
Adopting suggestion of Allan Davis
and Edwin Clarkson, who reported on
the supervision of school children at play,
committee was appointed to locate a
tract of land to be used as a stadium for
older school children, as we'll as drill
field for the cadets The site is to be
named with reference to the symmetrical
tCff 1Ax-0
system.
The interstate commerce commission in
formed the federation through letter
read at the meeting that the federation
must make out formal case if it wants
TO bring to the attention of the commits
sion the charge of discrimination or
the part of express companies. 4 COM
mittee will attend to the matter.
In the matter of getting hearings before
the Commissioners, the federation tool
| the question up just about where it was
| left Off last year. The Commissioners re-
piled to the federation's request for hear
| ings and more publicity on matters of
legislation, to the effect that the Com
missioners thought they could use their
own judgment in the matter without hurt
| ing the District. Speaking of this las,
| night. William NICK. Clayton, president
| of the federation, said:
The attitude of the present board OF
Commissioners is close and exclusive
The Commissioners say to us in effect
| We don't believe there is any duty placed
upon us to obtain the wishes of the cit
| liens of the District. We are here to
| represent both the United States and the
| District. and we will take care of the
whole thing
That is their attitude continued Mr.
Clayton. land on that point we must
| take issue with them, and two or three
| of must go down to the Distric
| building about it.
Says People Have No Recourse.
Wilton J. Lambert spoke in regard to
the same matter He said that many
regulations adopted by the Commission
| ers and many actions taken by them are
the result of the recommendations of the
| heads and subheads of departments,
which recommendations have been ap-
| proved as a matter of course
Therefore" continued Mr.. Lambert.
| I'VE find the District saddIed with re-
| strictions. in some instances, which
come from department head, and the
people have no recourse Mr.. Lambert
pointed out the vast improvement in
police board trial cases since the Dis
| trict Supreme Court had ruled that the
Commissioners must grant hearings to
policemen who appeal The matter of
hearings before the Commissioners was
| left to committee consisting of
Messrs. Richardson, McGrath and
Marshall
The expected discussion on the Com
| missioners' recent action in raising the
water rates did not occur 1t has been
deferred until the next meeting when
| it is expected Commissioner Judson will
| be present to tell why he recommended
| the rates be increased.
Another matter the federation plans to
act on is the question of whether or moi
the District would be benefited by hav-
| ing a delegate in Congress. Messrs. Nc
Grath, Wood and Dyer constitute the
committee to report on this question al
the next meeting, Saturday, November 4.
The federation also approved a resolu-
| ton calling on Congress to turn over the
appropriation bills of the District to the
House and Senate committees on the Dis
trict. Half fares for school children has
| been before the federation at previous
meetings. and committee on the sub
| ject has been in existence for some time.
Last night this committee was instructed
| to go to the heads OF the street railways
| and find out what their views are. The
| abolishing of capital punishment in the
District may be recommended to the Com
missioners, as a committee, composed OF
Messrs. McGrath, Davis and Dutton, has
| that in charge
Favor Annual Assessments.
| Favorable consideration was given a
resolution asking the street railways TO
|
| Park There was slight opposition,
however. to the resolution opposing the
| idea advanced by Assessor Richards to
make annual assessments of real estate
| in place of triennial. G. w. Oyster, who
has opposed Mr. Richards on many sub
| iects, for once placed himself in accord
eyith that official TO study the subject,
| however, a committee composed OF
| Messrs. Lancaster, Davis and Richard
son was appointed
The plan for an inaugural week, with a
| series of fetes balls, parades and pyro-
| technics as adopted by the Brightwood
| Citizens Association recently, was placed
| before the federation, but action on il
| was deferred until d later meeting. The
| federation adopted resolution condemn
/ ing agitation in the matter of the danger
| to the organic act. The next resolution
| was one which called attention to the
! precarious condition or the fremen's and
| policemens pension fund, which stands
| in danger of beins placed in the category
| of street extensions and Fairgrounds,
he otrict will har 70 her