Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17
Central Organization of Cit
zens' Associations to Vote on
New Constitution.
BODY HOPES TO BECOME
MORE Representative
Frequent Meetings in Winter Months
to Keep Congress Advised Of
Wishes of Citizens.

With the object Of increasing the ef-
fioiency Of the Federation Of Citizens
Associations as a clearing house for
the activities of Washington's civic
bodies, Edward F. Colladay. president
of the federation. at a special meeting
OF that organization last night, in the
Chamber Of Commerce. gave notice OF
radical amendments to the constitution
which he will propose at the November
session.
Because the federation has been criti-
cised as not being truly representative
Of tho Individual associations affiliated
with 1t, President Colladay has worked
out a plan designed to reduce the ex-
preston of individual opinion in the
organization and to gauge its actions
more largely through votes cast in ac-
cordance with instructions from the
various associations.
His amendments will provide for two
meetings a month instead of one dur
ing the months of January, February,
March and April, at which TIM Con-
gress usually is busiest and things are
apt to happen over night that require
immediate action If the citizens of the
capital are to express any opinion con.
corning them. One of the recognized
shortcomings of the federation has been
the fact that its meetings were SO far
ing the District would be disposed of
before 1t could register an opinion or
take hand in influencing the result
Members to Be Informed.
In addition, the Colladay plan provides
that every. resolution passed by an in
divdual association and forwarded to the
federation shall be Immediately referred
by the president to the proper standing
committee, and that copies Of the resolu-
ton also shall be sent OF each delegate
and alternate, and each association hav-
ing membership in the affiliated body.
This will make it possible for the dele
gates to attend the meetings. with a
knowledge Of what is to be voted upon
and with instructions from his association
as to how he shall vote.
There is believed to be every likeli-
hood of the Colladay amendments be-
ing adopted, but they will not be voted
upon until December. In the event Of
their adoption. the federation probably
will inaugurate an active campaign for
increasing its membership, as 1t is
| remove objections that have served to
keep a number of associations from
joining the central organizations.
Engineer Commissioner Kutz, in ad-
dresses before the federation and other
civic societies, has urged that this body
| become the mouthpiece of the individ-
ual associations, and the Colladay
amendments are regarded as the be-
ginning Of an effort to increase its use
fulness to a degree unprecedented in its
history.
Will Vote on Prohibition.
Delegates from more than a dozen as
sociations attended last nights meet
| ing. to dispose Of a considerable amount
of unfinished business left over from
last spring.
The question of declaring for or
against prohibition of the liquor traffic
in the District. a question which has
been before the federation for about a
year, was brought up. and lively
| argument ensued as to why it had not
been disposed Of sooner. w. H. Rich
| ardson. delegate from the Benning as
for having failed to obtain instructions
| from their associations as to how to
vote on this question, declaring that
| action had been purposely DELAYED The
| result of the discussion was q decision
| to take vote on the matter at the De-
cember meeting, prior to which time
| the delegates will get line on the
prohibition sentiment in their respect
I've organizations
| At it's meeting next month the fed
Grafton will enter upon a new years
of officers. Notice will be sent to the
associations to elect their delegates he
| fore the next meeting in order that a
| full vote may be cast