Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-16
SUMMER NAP |S0vER
Civic Bodies Plan Campaign
for City Betterment.
DEMAND FOR LEGISLATION
Inaction of Congress on Measures
Of Importance Cited.
CITIZENS SEEKING REMEDY
Matters of Local Interest Include
Probe Of Telephone Cost
/ and Water Rates.
DEMAND FOR LEGISLATION
CITIZENS SEEKING REMEDY

Plans for the betterment of the Dis
trict of Columbia are stirring to action
the members Of the committees OF the big
civic and trade organizations of the Ma
tional Capital which have been quiescent
during the summer season. With the re-
turn to Washington of many of the
prominent business and professional men
and the return also of cool weather these
plans are taking definite shape. The first
meeting Of the Chamber of Commerce is
scheduled to take place october s. and,
although it is not likely that the Board
Of Trade will hold n meeting before No
vember II, the date of its annual meet
ing, the committees and officers of the
board will be working from now on franz
ing their reports and recommendations
One Of the most important matters
which is being considered at present is
the framing Of a plan by whtci! much-
needed legislation for the District may
be enacted by Congress. Although many
important District measures we're before
Congress at it's last session. practically
no legislation in local affairs was enact
ed The citizens of the District are
weary il is said, Of this inaction and in
attention on the part of Congress one
faction is seeking to obtain suffrage for
the District and the election of dele
gate to Congress.
Seeks to Expedite Legislation.
The Chamber of Commerce committee
on law and legislation. headed by n.
Leftwich Sinclair. is striving to reach
a decision on some method to expedite
legislation by Congress. Mr.. Sinclair
has appointed subcommittee, with
William F. GUIDE as chairman. This
committee is not committed 10 lhe
suffrage idea--in fact, it has not YET
really begun its labors Mr.. GUIDE him.
self at this time, is inclined to FAVOR
the appointment by the President OF n
District delegate TO Congress instead OF
advocating suffrage in the District
Upou the work Of this committee prop
ably will hinge a number OF matters OF
great importance to the capital, matters
which are now before Congress awaiuhs
action. Among them are the puphc uthl-
ties commission bill, the universal trans
fer bill. the police and firemen pension
bill and the loan shark Dill.
The Board Of Trade and the tnaiiiber
of Commerce will renew the night TO pre-
vent the abandonment or infringement OF
the present half -and-half method OF ap-
propriating for the District, the federal
government paying One-half of tho eX-
penses Of tho capital and it's citizens the
other half. 1t is known that number
of the members of the democratic House
are opposed 10 tne coi'iiiuaeioh VI si'i-
plan.
The fight to obtain for the civil service
employees of the government an adequate
retirement and pension law will be con-
tinued by the organizations
Cost of Telephone Service.
A special committee of the Chamber
Of Commerce is investigating the cost OF
telephone service in the District, and
may make important recommendation in
regard to that matter. The committee
has appealed to other cities for statistics
and other data relating to telephone serv-
ice and already many of the cities nave
responded.
The increase in water rates in the
District is another matter at issue, the
issue being between the Commissioners
and people Of the District The District
Commi ssioners have ordered higher
water tax rate, and the citizens have
urged that the Commissioners have ex-
ceeded their power.
The plan to bring to Washington a
number of new manufacturing estab-
lishments and thereby increase the bust
ness Of the city and give employment
to the young men and young women
now compelled to seek it elsewhere,
preached by Robert n. Harper, chair
of the Chamber of Commerce, will be
brought forward again. it is understood,
now that the city is awakening from its
summer nap.
Retail Merchants to Meet.
The Retail Merchants Association, the
latest Of tho big organizations of business
men in the city to take independent form,
will hold a meeting Wednesday night al
the Chamber of Commerce for the pur-
pose of perfecting its new organization.
This will be the first meeting of the re-
tailers since they decided to break away
from the Chamber of Commerce, of which
the association was an auxiliary body for
more than a year. The retailers are plan
ming to push legislation in their interests
New laws on worthless check and new
C. o. D. legislation are among the things
sought.
A matter which is Of great interest to
all of the organizations of business men
is the bill for high pressure water service
as a protection against fire. For years
the business men have been arguing for
this service. The Board of Trade has
taken a leading part in this fight and is
expected to do SO again.
An effort will be made. too, to have
Congress pass a law for the superannua-