Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-27
ADVOCATES BROAD CHANGE
Would Have City Control Amuse.
ments and Protect Toilers.
LAUDS THE GERMAN SYSTEM
All Steps Leading to Greater Civic
Attractiveness Are Strong
ly Urged.

Foundation of New York I'm an address
today before the woman's welfare de-
partment at Rauschers, made a vigorous
appeal for the transformation of Wash
ington into the model capital of the
world, and urged that it be made an eX-
pertinent station for the nation along the
lines OF latest development in civic at
tractiveness and municipal control.
Taking the German plan of municipal
government which controls the city as
unit, Mr.. Howe unfolded a modern plan
Of municipal government for Washington
that would dictate the sites for factories.
business sections, residential sections. and
would place the National Capital in the
front rank of all cities.
He would have the city government
control the amusements of the city. so as
to enable the citizens to enjoy free
amusement all the year around. such as
public theaters and public concerts by
municipal orchestras He would circle
the ''spokes" of the capitals hub" with
broad boulevards and driveways. while
he would have reserved in the business
section of the city a great tract of land
where broad streets would not interfere
with the business activity of the city and
parking space for the comfort and pleas
ure of the people, besides giving the city
an additional touch of attractiveness that
no city in this country enjoys.
Advocates Protection.
The speaker declared that the mu-
nicipal government should SO control
the city as to protect the consumer and
the wage Garner. He declared that the
government should do for simple JUS
tice what people are doing today for
philanthropy; insure the working man
against accident and injury to health,
so as to insure TO the nation the best
specimens of manhood and wOmanhood:
to say to the manufacturer, You
have no right to injure or risk the
health of your employees"
Mr.. Howe declared that ban should
be put on the land speculator, and that
in the regulating Of civic attractive
ness the model city should have one
for factories. another for residences.
while the city should be cut up by
broad streets and parkings that would
afford comfort and quiet to each
neiShborhood.
Washington is the model city in the
country in the manner in which its street
system is planned, he declared, and the
checker-board effect which ruins every
American city today is solved by the
magnificent avenues that break the deadly
mOnotOny Of the plan of the average
city.
Washington is recognized as a model of
street planning for this very reason, the
world over, he declared, but it is not a
model city according to the modern and
up-to-date plans of German cities.
Plan for Factories.
Mr.. Howe protested against the cree
ton Of factories within the city limits
He declared that when factory or any
building that spreads black smoke is to
be erected the municipal government
should order it erected outside the city
limits, where the public nuisance would
not affect the comfort or the attractive
ness of the city.
Not unit lthis self-respect is pushed
of the citizens of Washington, he de-
clared, II the capital is to be made the
model city that it should be. Back Of
every public advancement is seIf-respect.
and when this is lacking, he warned,
the city will go backward, not forward.
Not until this self respect is pushed
to the fore and the people are thoroughly
aroused will Washington take its place
the most beautiful, as well as the
most perfectly governed city in the
world he said.
Stringent Regulations.
Mr.. Howe declared that the city should
be constructed as worlds fair, with
every available space set aside for some
specific use, where provision would be
made for future use and natural growth
He declared that a German city would
no more permit a company to use cut-and-
dried plans for suburb until the plans
had been made perfect in every respect
than it would permit a man to walk down
the street and shoot up the town.
Should this German system be applied
TO Washington, there would grow out OF
sections of the city which are now eye
sores, he declared. garden spots that
would attract people from every city
in the country. Where the monotony OF
the city is unbroken by business houses,
he would distribute street arkings i'm the
center of the streets and boulevards
which will afford personal comfort as
well as relief to the eyes. Instead of
having the people expend millions of dol
lars in entertainment, he would have
controlled by the government,
saying that at a cost of 30 cents per
capita theaters could be maintained and
public concerts held. while the city
could get per cent dividends on its in
VeStment.
Step to Better Health.
All slaughter houses, large bakeries and
other establishments where the food of
the people is handled, he declared.
should be under government inspection
and control, as the health of the coun-
trys citizens is its greatest safeguard.
The model city should be a unit, he
said, and two facts in city development
should be recognized-first, that the city
Is here to stay and is the final form of
civilization; second; that the city itself
is a unit. an industrial engine to be
used for the comfort, happiness and well
fare of every one living in it,
Should this plan of city government be
adopted in this country, Mr.. Howe de-
clared Washington and other cities
would be rid of all the modern nuisances
that make unattractive the American
cities and render them far inferior, in re-
gard to civic attractiveness and devel
opment, to the modern German city.
Mrs. Archibald Hopkins. chairman of the
woman's welfare department, introduced