Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03
NEED FOR CONTROL
Utilities Commission Neces-
sary in District Is Plea.
FEDERATED CITIZENS ACT
Appeal for Aggressive Campaign
Made to Affiliated Bodies.
STANDS FOR HALF-AND.HALF
Association Adopts Resolution on
Subject Concerning Police and
Firemen's Pensions,

Reiterating it's belief in the pressing
necessity for the establishment of a
public utilities commission for the Dis
trict of Columbia, the Federation of Cit
liens Associations, at its meeting last
night in the Chamber of Commerce. de-
cided to appeal to all the associations
which are members Of the federation to
make an aggressive campaign in the in
terests of such a commission.
''The fight should be pressed now" said
William NICK. Clayton, president of the
federation. Mr.. Clayton declared that
in his opinion bill for a public utilities
commission would be passed by the Sem
ate within the next two months, and
that he had excellent hopes for it's pas
sage in the House. He expressed q fear,
however, that If the members of the
House District committee should insist
upon investigations Of the public serv-
ice corporations in the District-as they
have indicated they would-action on a
public utilities commission bill would be
much delayed.
w. II. Richardson Of the Benning asso-
citation called attention to the fact that
the committee of the federation which
called last week on the President and
discussed the District needs with him had
failed to take up the subject of universal
transfers. He said that this topic had
been omitted merely because 1t was the
belief of the federation that universal
transfers could best be reached through
the establishment of public utilities
commission with power to act on such
matters.
Half-and-HalfP Principle at Stake.
A resolution from the Northwestern
Suburban Citizens Association calling
upon Congress to appropriate on the half
and-half principle for the police and fire.
mems pension fund received the approval
of the federation. The resolution advo-
Gated doing away with the practice of u.s.
ing the fines of the Police Court as a part
Of the pension fund for police and fire.
men.
The resolution was laid before the fed
GRAFTON by C. c. Lancaster. who declared
that the point at stake was the half-and-
half principle Of approprtating for the
the District. Glenn Brown said that he
believed the police and firemen sholad be
asked to contribute certain share from
their salaries toward the pension FUND,
and offered an amendment expressing
that as the opinion OF the federation Ills
amendment was lost.
During the discussion of the pension
fund, James M. Wood took up the cudgeis
for the laborers employed by the District
government.
effort to have the pay of the laborers en-
ployed here by the government increased,
said Mr. Wood. Instead of fighting for
pensions for men who are already well
paid, let us get adequate pay for these
poor men who have not sufficient inf1u-
ence to obtain any betterment of their
own condition. Under the law. the max
imum pay which may be given 'laborers
employed by the District government Is
$50 day. These men do not work
rainy days and they get no pay: they do
not work holidays and Sundays and they
get no pay: they get no pay when they
are sick and unable to work. Instead OF
averaging $50 day, 1t has been shown
Of only 80 to 90 cents day to live on.
Many of them have families to support.
Would Increase Laborers' Pay.
"I will offer q resolution asking that
the federation recommend that their pay
be increased to 81 day. ! have visited
many other cities and have found that
laborers are paid far less In Washington
than elsewhere, The lowest rate I found
elsewhere was $1.75. and the highest-in
San Francisoo-was 1925 day. The
average was about $3.50.
There are men on the police and fire
mems pension roll that have Independent
means. have been informed that some
of them are wealthy, one man possessing
property valued at several hundred thou
sand dollars. Yet this man draws a PEN
sion regularly. However, l do not oppose
an adequate pension for the police and
firemen. for l believe that they should
have it,
Mr.. Wood asked that his resolution lay
over until the next meeting.
The question of Increased water rates
for the District was considered at length,
but it was decided to take no action in
the matter until next meeting.
The federation went on record again as
being heartily in favor Of the adoption of
a retirement system for superannuated
public school teachers in the District.
Relative to New Streets.
Several matters of interest were brought
before the federation for the first time
in the form of resolutions submitted by
various citizens associations. with a re-
quest that they be taken up at future
meetings, or be referred to committees TO-.
consideration.
Among them was resolution submitted
by J. G. McGrath. asking for the amend
ment Of the law relating to street open
ings. Mr.. McGrath proposed that the
law should be amended so as to provide
for the Improvement of new streets at
the time that the property for the streets
is condemned.
Mr.. Richardson offered q resolution from
the Benning association asking that the
city limits OF Washington be extended
to the boundary lines of the District.
A resolution submitted by President
Clayton opposing future appropriations
for the public Fairgrounds from the Dis
trict revenues alone was unanimously
adopted.
Mr. Clayton declared that such an ap-
preparation was absolutely in opposi-
ton to the half-and-half principle laid
down in the organic act of the District
At the meeting last night We're Presi-
dent w. NICK. Clayton, Vice President
Allan Davis, Secretary Edwin c. Dut-
ton. Treasurer w. II. Richardson,
George F.. Williams, C.. c. Lancaster,
James NJ. Wood. D. A. Edwards. J. G.