Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-13
DISTRICT OWNERSHIP
OF UTILITIES URGED
Commissioner Newman Compares
Water System to Privately
r. Owned Concerns.
Neglect of Colored Residents Charged
by A. F. Hilyer at Howard Park
Association Meeting.

Ownership by the District of Columbia
Of public utilities was advocated by Com
missioner Newman In an address made
last night before an audience of co'ored
men and women. composing the Howard
Park Citizens Association. meeting in
the Church of the Redeemer. Sth street
near Barry place. His ideal of local gov
eminent as a service for the people also
was set forth.
Illustrative of the benefits of municipal
ownership. he contrasted conditions sur
rounding the water department and the
privately owned utilities run for profit.
He called attention to the fact that the
purest. healthiest water in the United
States was served in Washington plenti-
fully, without any concern to the pubic
regarding bond issues. watering of stock,
payment of extravagant dividends or OF
excessive salaries to officials and hardly
q thought of water rates. On the con-
trary. he said the street railways. the
gas supply and other privately owned
public utilities were always subjects of
general complaint.
Causes No Worry
Not ten minutes have been spent by
the Board of Commissioners since he
has held office, he said, in consideration
of matters pertaining TO the water
plant. while days and days have been
consumed in the consideration of COM
plants and conditions surrounding
privately owned utilities. Referring
to the fact that the public was strong
ly reSentful of a thirty thousand-dollar
salary discovered to be the stipend OF
gas official, he considered this resent
ment justified. as ii came out OF the
pockets of the gas consumers. and he
pointed out that no SUCH alarm was
ente tanned regarding the salaries paid
to the directors OF the water plant
Government service for the people he
outlined as service in all departments
of civic government which would have
the confidence of citizens so that they
would turn to them for Information
and advice. just as they now did to the
police department. The insurance de-
partment he would have to be place
where a citizen might bring his fire
or life insurance policy and receive eX-
pert opinion upon it's value and en-
lightenment upon its provisions
Only a small audience heard Com
missioner Newman. The severe cold OF
the night kept many away, as was eX-
planned by the president d. e. N1seman
Mr.. Newman was introduced by Rev ).
NJ Newman. president of Howard Uni
versity.
Neglect of Colored Folks.
A. F. Hilyer made response for the
association Giving assurance that the
association and all it represented could
be counted on to join in any plans for
civic betterment. he took occasion to
point out what he regarded as neglect
Of the colored residents of the section
Our section has long been overlooked
and neglected in many civic matters, ne
said. I'VE need more and better side
walks paVed streets and better Sprlnkllng
and oiling of our dirt streets.
The saloon and the unlicensed dance
hall and club came in for denunciat1on
That the association was opposed to all
such he gave his word
eve are opposed to segregation, wheth-
er it be in the government departments,
the city government, in any of our places
of employment, or whether II pc that
latest and most insid.ous undemocratic
and unchristian form of race segregation
/ refer to the move to have Congress pass
q law combining us to the houses We al
ready occupy.
1T is also. further, seriously proposed
IN another effort TO humlliate US and
drive from our aching hearts every hope
that our position may at some time be
better in this, our common country, to
have a law passed to compel US to ride IN
Jim Crow street cars.
Now. Mr.. omm .ssioner. these IN
christian and undemocratic proposals are
almost sure to come before you Tor APP
proval or disapproval. unless the very
shame of 1t shall compel their promoters
to abandon them: and when they do come
before you, please try to consider the
human side. Please try to consider US.
I'VE feel sure that you W II d.sapp owe
all this crop of bills hostile TO the colored
citizens of the District of Columbia.
Other Responses Made.
Responses were also made by Assistant
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