Evening star., 1914-04-05
Corporation Counsel Syme Ad-
Mses Cooperation in Pro-
noting Washington.
PEOPLE AND OFFICIALS
SHOULD WORK TOGETHER
Law Enforcement Also Discussed.
Federation of Citizens Indorses
Half-and-Half Appropriations.

Cooperation between the citizens OF
Washington and the public officials who
represent them to the end that the Ma
tional Capital may be made the best
governed city in the world was urged by
Conrad H. Syme. corporation counsel of
the District of Columbia in an address
last night before the Federation of Citi-
zens Associations.
In an informal. heart -to-heart talk, the
Districts legal adviser took the members
of the federation into his confidence as
to some of the difficulties that beset the
municipal authorities in safeguarding the
publics interest and told how the people
may lessen these burdens by offering
helpful suggestions rather than indulging
in unnecessary criticism.
He described methods adopted for en-
forcing the eight-hour law. so that this
legislation might not result in working an
undue hardship. and of obtaining relief
for victims of loan shark" companies.
When a local department store found
that it would be unable to meet the de-
mand for Easter bonnets by working its
millinery force under the eight-hour law
it was informed, the corporation counsel
said. that a suspension of the operations
of the law would not be tolerated in
order that sufficient supply of Easter hats
could be provided.
On the other hand he stated this
statute is enforced in such way as not
to require housekeepers at hotels and
other employees in isolated classes 10 he
thrown out of employment
Restrictions on hotels,
Hotels which provide living accommoda-
tions for their housekeepers are not per
mitted TO utilitize their services CON
for
he explained but these employees are
subject to call and their work may be
distributed during different periods of
time, SO that the total amount of SER
vice rendered may not exceed eight hours
in any twenty-four.
In discussing the loan shark cases,
Mr.. Symc said that his office is not called
upon to adjust matters between mai
viduals, but that it has gone as tar as it
can in an endeavor to protect borrowers
who have been charged illegal interest
rates. In its efforts along Ahis line the
office, he charged has been MADE the
target OF unjust criticism by persons who
have charged it with not having accom-
plished what it should have in the inter
est of victims of the loan companies.
MIR. Syme referred in glowing terms to
the ability of the three members of the
board of District Commissioners and
their desire to establish here a model
municipal government. He stated that
he had accepted the office of corporation
counsel because he believed there was
constructive work to De done and that
it was his ambition to have a part in
that work.
While not referring directly to the ques-
ton OF suffrage, the speaker indicated
that he does not favor this proposal.
Washington, he said, IS the federal city
and must eventually reflect the grandeur
OF the country of which it Is the capital.
We live here because the government of
the United States has its home here. 1t
is our duty to keep the home in order for
the government, while the government,
in turn. should make the home as beau
tfu as is compatible with its greatness
and dignity.
Indorses Half-and-Half System.
Preceding Mr.. Syme's address, the fed
GRAFTON transacted routine business BY
, a unanimous vote it approved the recon-
mendation of the executive committee
| of the committee of one hundred for d
continuance of the half-and-half act gov
erning the relations between the local
and federal governments
Emery A. Bryant of the Connecticut
Avenue Citizens Association presented
a resolution recently adopted by that
| body protesting against the attempt to
introduce the study of sex hygiene in
the public schools of the District. The
resolution will be forwarded to the var-
| Gus associations having membership in
| the federation
w. |. Swanton. secretary of the Tax
| Reform Association, gave a brief talk on
/ the George assessment bill. He used a
number OF charts showing the sources
| from which the Districts taxes are de-
| rived and presented some comparative
! statistics as to the present tax and the
amount of revenue that would be OBJ
tained from the operations of single
tax laIC