The Washington times., 1914-04-05
SYME PLEADS FOR
BEAUTIFUL CAPITAL
hiunicipaI Governments Trials
and TribuIations Told by
Corporation Counsel.

Iu-an address last night before the
J ederation of Citizens Associations,
Jrporation Counse. Conrad H. Syme
{ lined the desired relations of his de-
-tment with the citizens of Washing
l \. and dwelt at length upon the
ressity OF cooperation. Mr.. Syme
: ID:
Washington is the only capital in
world which was established be-
4 e a single Government building was
I rsed. II is my view that every effort
: ouId be directed toward making the
Governments home as beautiful as
p0Ssible Those who live here should
We the paramount resolution to keep
: city beautiful, sanitary and eff
,nt while the Government should
II sintain it.
When / first went to the District
] ilding in an Official capacity, ] vas
artled at the ease with which a mu-
I'cipsl government can make enemies.
his is no criticism. ] might say that
en- In the building whoh had been long
the government service and yet
- ere not in touch, sometimes did not
reflect on their action 10 the individual
'iiEen.
Tries to Find Them.
Il have been trying to find out how
y any such rough places could be cor
l-Cted-how the making of enemies
could be lessened. 1 do not mean an
H4en,y as u hostile; I speak of those
who have been inconvenisnced by some
y rsonsl application of law.
For instance, the sale of property
taxes is sometimes a just ground
7 en- advertised. for sale when there is
Ily one assessment due. As this as
s5nent tax is out OF proportion with
. full value. of the. property, the ac-
: on is not right without full under
iarding. It hurts the mans credit"
Mr.. Syme pointed out the difference
: tween a national government and
unicipal one. The city form, he said,
uches the individual, often TO the
{, lick. and unjustly.
In speaking of the eight-hour day law,
30 said the purpose was righteous. 1t
y as passed TO prevent having the work.
= = hours so long that health was i'm
,ariled. In its application TO women. he
id that as each woman is a potential
- other. oyerwork is prone to do func-
'lOnA injury.
Law Is Evaded.
This law was intended TO reach the
: lis Of the department stores and fac
-ies," he said, but in reaching these,
,e law touched others not in similar
Z tuatious, but whose employment was
United by the law. to their own loss
sud the loss and Inconvenience OF the
"-0ployer.
Hotel housekeepers. and those
W omen who live and work in the hotels
Ire Of this latter class. Upon confer
"nce, We have met this.
We have arranged for these women
= be on call; for them to work no
more than eight hours day actually
but to string out the working tune over
tho tventy-four; this brings their Ia
bors within the law. Had we stuck TO
the letter and spirit of tn. law. these
vCmen would have been thrown out OF
work
But hero is another aspect, where
he law Is Just Within three weeks OF
zster, about every woman In the city
anted a new hat for the occasion, and
ere were not sufficient nilliners IN
zshington to supply the demand,
"rking eight hours day.
Should Shop Earlier.
The representative of one of the big
torres came 10 me and asked II nothing
Iuid be done to meet the emergency.
told him that he could so back and
I'll the fashionable women Of Wash
gton that they were not going to
car Easter bonnets at the expense Of
lese girls, who would be compelled to
crk fourteen or sixteen hours a day
supply the demand, and that II any
re was caught working any OF them
rlcre than eight hours a day, somebody
~ould go to jail. Let the women get
cir bonDets earlier"
w I. Swantcn. OF the Tax Reform
'ssocation, discussed the George as
aSsment bill, and illustrated the mat
e- with a number of charts.
od@ Anl nv 4 hal
onnecticut Avenue Citizens Associa-
on protesting against the attempt to
Itroduce the teaching Of sex hygiene
ito Washington schools was presented
" DR.. Emery A. Bryant, and will be
prVar1ed to the various associations
- tho fnderafi finn fnr sidarafinn