Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-06
Citizens Associations Anxious
Over HaIf-and-HaIf Plan.
ARE CAUTIOUS ABOUT VOTE
Suffrage Not Wanted If It Involves
District Paying All.
MERGER. TO BE INVESTIGATED
Federation Appoints Committee
After Two Hours Debate
on Amalgamation.

Placing itself squarely on record in
favor of maintaining the organic act of
1878. the Federation of Citizens AS
sociations. at a meeting in the Chamber
of Commerce last night, unanimously
voted to consider as inimcal to the best
interests Of the city any plan to establish
suffrage here that would imperil the
financial relations subsisting between Con-
gress and the District of Columbia gov
eminent.
The federation spent more than two
hours discussing resolutions offered by
President William NICK. Clayton. one of
which sought to bring forth it's declara-
ton Of support with respect to the half
and-half system of appropriating for the
District, and the other to obtain it's dis
approval of the carrying out of the mer-
ger plans of the Maryland Virginia Rail
way Company until the scheme can be SUI
pervised by a public utilities commission.
Lancaster Only Champion.
The first proposition met with no oppo.
sition, although 1T was not put to vote
until practically every delegate had
registered his views. Charles G.. Ian.
caster appeared as the only champion OF
the interests back Of the proposed merger
Of certain District of Columbia and Vir
ginia utilities, but by a vote of ) to 4
several members not voting, it was de-
cided to refer the second resolution to q
committee with instructions to obtain ad
dittOnal information about the amalgama
ton plans.
Appointed on this committee. which will
report at the November meeting of tn,
federation, are William N. Cromwell O
| n CNa- ~
and George Francis Williams of Bright
wood.
Opposed to More Securities.
The resolution recited that whereas
the Senate had passed the public utilities
bill. the federation is opposed to an.
stock or bond issues of local utilities
without the sanction of a utilities com
mission, before which body the inter
ests of the people of the District of Co
lumbia can be represented as well Al
those. of the corporation seeking thi
privilege"
In urging the adoption of the resolu
ton, President Clayton paid tribute t.
that this official. in opposing the carry
ing out of the merger plans of thu
thirty million dollar corporation. ha,
proved himself loyal friend of thu
District.
The federation. declared Charles c
Lancaster, delegate from the Citizens
Northwest Suburban Association, SHOULD
| not condemn. the promoters of the mer
ger scheme until it had more informa
ton as to what the plans are.
Grass Would Grow in Streets.
More light is what we want" sal,
Mr.. Lancaster in urging the reference
Of the matter to, a committee. 'Thi
talk about water stock is mere clap
trap. You'll drive capital out of Wash
ington and grass will grow in tn
streets"
| d. A. Edwards of the Lincoln Park As
ISOLATION expressed the opinion that tn
| talk of merger Is a cute scheme
! boost the stock of some of the local util
| ties
| Properly supervised, the consolidate
| of utilities here would in my opinion, b
a good thing said Mr.. Edwards.
| Mr.. Edwards was the author of tn
resolution referring the matter to CON
| mittee.
The Clayton resolution putting the fed
Grafton on record to the effect that sui
frage must not be obtained at the eX
pense of abolishing the half-and-half sys
| TEN of apprOpriating for the Distric
| was introduced at a meeting of the fed
| Grafton held two weeks ago. action bein
deferred until last night In order tina
the matter might be thoroughly con
| sidered.