The Washington times., 1914-06-09
P|NEY BRANCH VOTES
FOR CITY OWNERSHIP
Citizens Association Goes on
Record in Favor of District
Operating Public Utilities.

Unanimous Endorsement of municipal
ownership of public utilities in he
District was taken by the members Of
Sc PiRey Branch Citizens Association
II their meeting in the Iowa Avenue
NJ E Church last night E. S. Clark
son, the associations delegate to the
City Federation Of Citizens Assoeia-
Ions was instructed to register the
Piney Branch organization as un-
eonfvocsny approving the taking 0ver
II all public utilities in the District ard
eliminating all private concerns dealing
in service of a public nature.
In the discussion preceding the vote,
sorn< opposftion was expressed against
municipal ownership. but the vote was
unanimous In favor Of the motion.
The association decided to co.operaosf of
with the general committee in charge OF
the community Independence Day cele,
brstion, pledging 3 per cent OF all
money raised for the fireworks d1spiay
In Piney Branch. and TO dispense with
the contemplated. afternoon program SO
"a not TO conflict with the general cele-
bration at the Sixteenth street reservoir
I'm the evening. however. the .P1ney
Branch community will hold fireworks
display on the public triangle near
thirteenth and Emerson streets. L. O.
JulIhn, chairman In charge. announced
that his committee would meet FRIDAY
night al 472s Thirteenth street to COM
plete ARRANGEMENTS for the Fourth OF
July celebration
Clarkson Precipitates Actien.
The action on municipa! ownership
was precipftated by the report of E
s. Ciarkson. who declared that the city
federation had not approved Of munich
paI ownership as body. John F. Robb
said he thought the association should
20 on record fayoring the municipality
owning and operating all public utih-
ties. and his motion to this effect was
then discussed.
Henry Ii. ThurtelI opposed the own
ership of the street car lines. but de-
clared the telephone and electric lights
rates aer too kigh and we should seek
some relief IF We have municipal
ownership" said Mr.. Clarkson, 1--WE will
be At the whim of Congress It will
net be municipal ownership, but Con-
rrexsfonal ownership, and Congress
could condemn our streets and property
At will to benefit the street car service.
In ten years time the cars used now
snsp its fingers at Us II we sought new
equipment"
Better wages, better hoUrs and better
services were expected results of mu-
nicipafly operated street cars. accord
inG TO Frank Morrison. He cited the
u
ownership, saying that Washington
could do likewise
In favoring yubiic ownership, L. G.
JuIihn said: Broadly speaking munich
pal ownership Is a good thing. 1t is
in accordance with the trend of the
tIn1es. We have seen the parcels posi-
succeed under the supervision Of the
Government and We have likewise seen
express dividends dWindle."
Congress Unfavorsble Attitude.
Directing his remarks especially TO-
Mr. Cl.rkson. Mr.. Julihn continued:
This Congress, thank God, is the only
one IN this generation that has assumed
this unfavorable attitude toward the
District I am unwilling 10 take the
Democratic view and ascribe all the
brains Of the country to the Democratic
rerty. whose emblem even disclaIns It
Al this time the national waltz is the
hesitation, and hesitatins is the chief
Thing now being done toward the Dis
rrfct by the Democratic party, but the
G. o. p. and the Bull Moose are coming
back. and coming soon. and then things
v III be different"
The motion for municipal ownership
followed and carried without a dissent
me Suburban Country Club will be
asked to cooperate with The Piney
Breach Citizens' Association in keeping
Unnecessary noise from automobiles.
and the Commissioners will be asked TO
Ill all holes and sulleys low apparent
along the Piney Branch sewer.
President Charles p. McCurdy will sp-
fund Of 800 for the fireworks display on
Independence Dar. The association vii |
not meet again until October. |