The Washington times., 1911-11-30
THE PRESIDENT AND DIS.
TRICT LEGISLATION.

President Taft, receiving repre-
sentation of the Federation of Citizens
Associations, talked about District of
Columbia affairs and intimated disposi.
ton to send special message to Con
gress, urging attention to the needs Of
the Capital City.
The experience of the last two ses-
sions is profoundly alarming to people
who have concern that Washington
may keep pace with its own growth.
Washington has been almost studious.
ly ignored by its legislative authority.
There is no city in America which in
a similar period has been so cut of
from possibility of getting legislative
attention. It is a condition that can.
not continue without at length finding
reflection in demoralized condition OF
public affairs.
These are times, in the development
of public policies, any city is entitled
to have SOMEBODY thinking, and
thinking mighty seriously, about its
affairs. 'f p. 80
Look at the municipal ferments that
have been taking place in Cincinnati,
in Cleveland, in San Francisco, in New
York, in almost any city you may
name, in recent years. What have
these things Accomplishment -
We all know, when we stop to think,
that they have wrought vast benefits.
Chicago has emerged from its dark
ages of corrupt management, and to.
day exhibits contract of partnership
with its great transit. system which
makes the city the majority partner.
Cleveland has definitely committed
itself to a program of municipal en-
lightenment that has contributed vast
ly to making it one of the most pros
porous and fast-growing towns in the
nation.
New York-yes, New York, Tam.
many and all-has more public owner
ship of public facilities than any Amer
lean city, and is today working out
successfully its terrific problem of i'm
proved transport facilities.
San Francisco has set itself well in
the way of reform and progress; Los
Angeles, Seattle, Cincinnati-it would
be useless to try cataloguing them
have awakened to an understanding
of the "city for the people" idea.
1t is going on everywhere, here and
abroad. But what of Washington,
which can neither act nor think for
itself, and which cannot induce action
by the only legislative authority that
exists?
Must Washington continue to be ig-
nored while the procession of municipal
progress marches by, and leaves at last
the National Capital as our most strik.
ing exhibit of archaic ideas and out
worn methods in city government
I For many years the demand has gone
up for a public service commission for
this city. Bills have been introduced !;
some of the most expert specialists
have worked on them.
But no bill passes. None has come
seriously near to passing.
Yet that method of administering
the public utilities of city has, in the
interim since the movement was start
ed here by The Times, been widely
adopted as the enlightened, practical,
effective plan of control. -. :.
And universal TRANSFERS. That fight
has been begun, made, won, and proved
its justification, in scores of towns,
during the period in which Washing
ton has been begging for a crust and
getting a stone.
Is Washington never to get step
with the pace of progressH
Look ahead. Great, absorbing polit.
ical affairs of national moment are