The Washington herald., 1913-04-27
Civic Bodies Are Constantly Broadening Their Scope and
Endeavoring to Bring About Reforms that viii
Benefit the Whole District

Possibly i'm no other American city are
the questions of its administration and
advancement subjected to such scrutiny
and intelligent study by its citizens as
in Washington. Although the people here
take no direct action in their govern
ment, they are coming to exercise a
strong advisory power IN the manage
ment of affairs which affect themselves.
The people of Washington have won
recognition as competent advisers to the
heads of the District government and to
Congress, legislating for the District,
through the citizens associations, which,
organized, for the purpose of keeping
watch over all matters affecting the well
fare and prosperity of their communities,
have undertaken their tasks with all
seriousness and have conscientiously in
vestigated all questions which have
claimed their attention.
There are about seventy of these asso-
Citations in the District, some more ac-
tive than others, though nearly all of
them hold regular meetings to discuss
the needs of the communities which they
represent and the best means OF having
these needs satisfied
Sanitation and public health. schools
and school facilities, service rendered by
public utilities, street, park, and parking
improvements matters of policing and
fire protection, public celebrations and
civic matters OF general social and eco
nomic interest are the divisions into
which the work of the associations nat
urally fall. Standing committee are
appointed by most of these organiza-
tions upon these general divisions of
their work; questions before the asso-
Citations are referred to their proper
lengthy
and searching reports are brought in by
the committees to the association.
"Log.rolling', Is Scarce.
The tone of most of the citizens asso-
Citations is distinctly progressive. AS
they have no political preferment to eX-
pect from "logrolling," no voice in the
final decision of the matters upon which
they pass, the tendency is TO handle
every problem coming before them from
the standpoint of greatest benefit to the
greatest number of their community.
The Improvement or the proposed act
of Congress under discussion is sub
jected to "A matter of fact, Thoughtful
analysis as TO what its possible bearing
upon the community may be, and gen.
orally few words are wasted for effect.
Each man submits his honest opinion
and does his thinking before he begins
TO talk.
Another question to which the asso-
Citations are giving more and more at
tention, which is continually coming up
at their meetings and which carries their
interests beyond the bounds Of their
organizations jurisdiction, tempering
their demands for their sections and
linking the various associations with one
another, is that of a more beautiful
washington. There is deep, conscious
ride in most of the members of these
associations in being citizens of the seat
of the country's government, and a feel
ing that is gaining in strength and in
sistance that this city should be made
the most beautiful in the world.
This growing sentiment to make Wash
ngton ever more beautiful found prac-
teal expression in an undertaking Sf the
Rhode Island Avenue Citizens Associa-
ton some five years ago, when this as
ISOLATION decided to hold a regular year
ly competition among the members with
in the bounds of its jurisdiction for the
best ordered and kept gardens and
lawns The competition steadily gained
in interest until all the members of the
community entered into il. Landscape
gardening was studied.
Gardening Contest Successful.
groui., gardens, trees, and shrubbery.
householders began to consider garden
ing and planting effects from the points
OF view of the amount OF ground to be
improved, of the house lines against
which the planting should be ordered,
and OF the best ways of obtaining har-
monious combination with adjacent prop
critics. The result has justified the
effort.
Bristow Adams, president of this asso-
citation, has been one of the most en-
thusiastic workers for Improvement in
vate grounds. He believes that great
deal can be accomplished toward in
creasing the beauty of the city by in
teresting its citizens in the up-keep of
their own premises, by persuading them
to adopt standards of excellence in de-
signing their yards.
Mr. Adams has delivered many lee
lures upon the good effects which the
lawns and gardens" competitions have
had in the Rhode Island Avenue section
before meetings of other citizens asso-
Citations. About eight other associations
have adopted the plan, offering prizes
TO the most successful landscape gar
deners in their community. Mr.. Adams
hopes to arrange an interassociation
competition of the owners of prize win
ming private grounds to further stimu-
late interest in the movement.
One Of the most important functions
fulfilled by the associations is keeping
the Commissioners thoroughly informed
as to the needs of their districts Many
of the older associations submit item