Evening star., 1914-03-04
Decision Reached by Citizens
Committee at Annual Meet
ing Held Yesterday.
CRUSADE TO BE STARTED
AGAINST HIGH FENCES
President of the Organization Pre-
sents His Annual Report-Former
Officers Reelected.

Washington will have its third annual
April Is to is.
This was decided last night by the
cleanup committee at its annual meet
ing held in the rooms of the Board of
Trade.
The committee reelected its old Off
GERS, including w. II. Richardson, presi-
dent; +. &. Watrous. vice president; DR.
Arthur J.. Murray, secretary; John JOY
Edison, treasurer, and j. G.. McGrath.
Fred q. Coldren and Mrs. Frederick v.
CoviIe. executive committee
With its campaign this year the clean
CITY organization will launch a move
1uent for tearing down all high board
fences. A feature of the meeting last
night was an address by Mrs. Ernest j.
Bicknell Woman's Department of the
National Civic Federation, on this sub
ject The committee condemned the high,
tight board fence as an lnsanltary
nuisance and detrimental to the morai
and social interests of a community
The decision to conduct Il cleanup
crusade followed the reading by Presl-
dent Richardson of his annual report:
in which he reviewed the results OF
the last campaign. 1t was stated that
during the six days of that campaign
$3.50 cubic yards, or 1900 tons, OF
trash refuse, etc, We're cleaned up and
carted away from various premises
Attested by Improved Conditions.
The effectiveness of the work is at
tested by the improved appearance OF
our streets, lawns and public reserva-
tions and parks said Mr.. Richardson.
Typhoid fever and kindred diseases
are showing marked decrease, due in
a large measure to the work OF this
committee and the coordinate work OF
the fly campaign. l am credlbly in
formed that a very marked decrease
in the infant mortality rate is mani
Testing itself as one of the results of
cleaner and better sanitary conditions
resulting from our work
Mr. Richardson referred to a con-
ference which he and Dr. Murray had
with the District Commissioners, and
the recommendations made by the
clean city representatives for bringing
about improved sanitary conditions.
These included:
Municipal collection of garbage,
refuse and all waste matter.
District supervision and cleaning Of
all blind and so-called private alleys.
Extension of present service to meet
the need Of the extended limits of the
city growth.
tenn of trash collection in the poor
localities.
A more rigid enforcement Of the law
regarding the throwing Of paper, trash,
etc, into and upon the streets
The elimination Of all high, tight, in
sanitary fences.
One or two inspectors whose duty it |
Will be to enforce compliance.
Review of Work Performed.
In concluding his report President Rich
ardson said:
During the year have made between |
seventy-five and eighty personal calls and |
requests in the interest of cleaner prem |
ises and have sent out 147 postal card |
requests in the interest of the same OBJ |
ject; seventeen letters have been written |
in reply to letters of complaint or inquiry. |
The spirit of our work is becoming in |
fectious. as evidenced by an instance Of
the Georgetown Citizens Association |
which has taken up the matter Of waste |
paper On streets and lawns and kindred |
matters. Park View association also
caught the spirit and printed across
the margin of it's circular advertise
rnents this legend: 1T is unlawful to
throw this in the street I wish it might
be put on all printed matter.
Much depends upon the personal ef-
fort of our individual members, and our |
committee should exist in fact and not
in name only. The experiences and les
sons of the past should be an inspira-
tion and incentive to greater work and |
more efficient service. l desire to again
urge upon this committee that We do all
in our power to bring about the elimina-
ton of high. tight board fences and a
municipal collection service for the Dis |
trict. l desire to advise a wider and
more perfect organization of our COM
rnittee. There should be sufficient in
terest manifested to at all times insure
a full attendance at all meetings. Dues
should be paid up by each and every
member in order that we may be able
to properly carry on our work.
Recommends Cleanup Campaign.
1T may appear presumptuous upon my
part at this particular time, but / wish
TO recommend that this committee con-
duct a cleanup campaign again this
spring The experiences and results of
our past campaigns fully justify this ac
ton. Aside from the tremendous physi-
cal results. the moral effect of such an
effort is far-reachlng in its influence upon
that class of people who are derelict in
such things. 1t can be conducted largely
as matter of publicity and without
much expense to this organization. 1
might say that the Commissioners some
time ago expressed the opinion that an
annual cleanup to be commended.
and adopt the custom and we may do SO
with great profit to ourselves"
Dr. Murray announced that he had re-
ceived Communications from several citi-
Zens associations stating that they had
acted favorabiy on the proposal for a
municipal refuse collection system in the
District in lieu of the present contract
system. The committee unanimously
voted to support the citizens alley bill
which is now before Congress.