Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-16
Members of Civic Bodies
Would Probe Accusation of
House District Committee.
SUGGEST. THAT COUNSEL
ATTEND ALL HEARINGS
Believe It Is Time for Washingto-
mans to Protect Good Name of
City-Mass Meeting Favored.

Resenting the attack made on the in
tegrity of local business men in the
charge that condemnation juries fire.
qnently have been packed" and be-
ileving that the time has come when
Washingtonians should no longer re-
main passive in the face Of the con-
tinuous investigation of District affairs
being conducted by the House District
committee. members of the Chamber of
Commerce. Board of Trade and Fedora
ton of Citizens Associations are con-
sidering petitioning those organiza-
lions to participate In a concerted effort
to investigate the various charges pre-
ferred and demand that the District
be represented by counsel while it is
under fire.
Ofncials of the organizations which rep
resent the business and civic interests of
the National Capital have been discussing
the need Of an undertaking Of this char
acter and 1t is believed to be likely that
a mass meeting Of the membership Of the
three bodies will be called at an early
date to consider whether District citizens
shall continue to remain inactive in the
lace OF the indictments of the House
commlttee. which. it is admitted, If unan-
swered, may have the effect Of giving
the L1strlct a bad name abroad.
meeting to consider the situation is
favored by several officers of the Board
OF Trade and Chamber of Commerce,
while 1t is thought that the Federation
or Citizens Associations will join with
these organizations in any movement de-
signed 10 bring out an expression Of
pubic opinion regarding the House Dis
trict committees investigation
Declare Now Is the Time.
1t is pointed out by those who are
back OF the proposal for a mass meeing
that, In view of the serious charges pre-
ferred by the committee. now is the time
of all times when the associations which
are the mouthpieces Of the business and
civic interests of the city should come
forward and demand that the allega-
tons be sustained and the District
given q chance in court
One suggestion made is that a joint sub
committee be appointed which shall have
authority thoroughly to canvass the
situation and appoint counsel to repre-
sent the citizens of the District at the
House committees hearings.
Those who advocate this proposal claim
that the Chamber of Commerce. Board Of
Trade and Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations should be sufficiently alive to the
interests of the city to keep thoroughly
informed of the work of Chairman john
son and his co-investigators SO that they
may be in a position to give their sup
port to the committees recommendations
which the civic and business organiza-
tons consider for the good of the city,
and resent attacks made on District Of
ficials and Washington citizens which
cannot be sustained by facts.
Investigation Is Suggested.
1t is suggested that the three oreaniza-
finn9 he
an intelligent investigation Of all the
by the House committee, including the
proposal that the District pay to the
federal government approximately 81, 600. :
900 as interest on the 3.G5 bonds this
charge having been contracted prior to
the acr OF 1878.
Taxation and assessment matters also
are to be included in the proposed in
vestigation and. in fact, everything that
is done by the House committee is to
be scrutinized by the local organizations.
II the plan for having them unite in this
work materlalizes.
The District has been under fire since
1910 and in that time has been prac-
tically unrepresented at the District
committees hearings. it is pointed out
Washington business men believe that
the stories which have ben sent over
the country growing out OF the in
may create the impression
that District government affairs are in
a deplOrable state. 1t Is their conten-
ton that if the municipality is provid-
ed with counsel at the hearings the
chance of injustice being done District
men or affairs will be reduced and
that the active interest manifested by
in the PROCEEDINGS
will be an indication of civic pride
which will have a beneficial effect Oh
The impression that will be formed out
side as to the conditions obtaining
here.