Evening star., 1915-01-10
IDEA GETS RECOGNITION
OF ALL COMMISSIONERS
Virtual Referendum of Proposal for
Board to Investigate Fiscal Re-
lations Is Mapped Out.
NEWMAN TELLS OF FIGHT
Gives Interesting Address on Move
to Dust Him From Position on
Executive Body by
w. J. Frizzell.

Whether Congress shall be asked to
create a joint commission to inVestf-
gate the desirablity of changing the
fiscal relations existing between the
United States and the District of CO.
lumbia is "a question upon which cit
liens of the District will be given an
opportunity TO express themselves.
The agency through which they will
transmit to Congress their views on
this subject Is the Federation of Cit
liens Associations, which, through rec
ognitiou given it last night by the en-
tire board of District Commissioners,
may be said to have sprung into q new
relationship to the people of Washing
ton-that of a semi-ofticial organIza-
tion for making known the wishes of (;
majority of the population of the capi-
tai.
All three Commissioners and Senator
MARITIME of New Jersey attended a get
together meeting of the federation IN
the rooms of the Chamber of Commerce
last night and expressed their views
las to the best means of putting an
end to the controversy over the half
and-half provision of the organic act.
Ask Study of Act.
Suggestion was made by two of the
District heads, Commissioners Siddons
and kutz, that a comprehensive study
of the act by congressional com
mission would be the best means of
stablishing more harmonious rela-
tions between the local and federal
governments, and the federation was
referred to as the logical body of Dis
trict citizens to urge this plan of pro-
cedure
The suggestion was incorporated into
IA motion. offered by William Mex
Clayton, which was referred to the law
and legislation committee of the feder-
alton and in turn will be referred to
the various citizens associations of the
District for action. 1t is expected that
the fedora ton will be able to acquaint
Congress within q month of the views
of a majority of the citizens of Wash
ington concerning the need of 4 con-
greSsional commission to consider
what, if any. shortcomings there are
in the haIf-and-half plan and to rec
omrnend a new fiscal relationship be-
tween the United States and the Dis
trict, if such a course be considered
desirable.
Summed up, the views of the District
officials and others who addressed the
meeting as to the wisdom Of Washing
tonians insisting upon a full investI-
cation and settlement of the issues in
volved in the nalf-and-half controversy
were as follows:
Senator Martine-The half-and-half
principle is all right. Congress should
meet half of the expense Of running
the District.
Asks Thorough Canvass.
D. A. Edwards, former president Of
the federation, who spoke for that
body-If any change is to be made in
the fiscal relations between the two
governments, let it come only after the
whole situation has been thoroughly
canyassed by a congressional commits
sion.
Commissioner Newman-I am al
ready on record as to my views con-
cerning the half-and half principle. 'ih
speech before the commercial Clup,
Commissioner Newman advocated the
adjustment of the principle)
Commissioner Siddons-The taxation
question is a question for sober-lnlnd-
ed men to get together over and thresh
out. This is the only way the pres
ent agitation can ever be stopped.
Engineer Commissioner kutz-Ihe
proposal for an inquiry into the justice
of the half-and-half principle is one
that we should seriously consider. |
feel that the people of Washington are
now paying more than so per cent OF
the cost of maintaining the local gov
ernment.
%
WORRY about the lf-and-half plan.
We can depend upon Congress to DO
the right thing by US. What | am
most interested in is the work OF the
public utilities commission.
Harmony was the keynote of the
meeting, which was attended by rep
resentatives of a large number OF cit
izens' associations, and presided over
| by Edward F. Colladay. president or
| the federation. Predictions that the
federation is to become the official
mouthpiece for the citizens of Wash
| ington and that through it Washing
| toniaus in the future may be able more
effectively to present their claims
| to the Commissioners and Congress
were made by practically all the
| speakers. {,
Interest in Newman.
| Aside from the discussion of the half
and-half principle, interest centered prin-
| cipally on that portion of the address of
| commissioner Newman in which he re-
! ferred to the fight that has been made To
oust him from the office of Commissioner.
What he said in defense OF MS position
was enthusiastically applauGed by the
dele,ates and others attending the meet
| ing. Among those present was w. J.
| Frizzeu. who brought the custer proceed
| ings.
| ness session. during which the federation
annroyed a recommendation of the school
| committee favoring as site for the East
| ern High School the property bounded by
Massachusetts avenue, B. 18th and II
streets southeast.
| Senator MARITIME was introduced as
| the first speaker, and in no uncertain
terms he announced his advocacy Of
maintaining the half-and-half princi-
| pie. The New Jersey legislator criti-
cised the attitude of Senator Kenyon
/ on this question, stating that his col
| league from Iowa was afraid the sun
and moon would stop in their orlits
| unless the half-and-half principle was
| abolished and prohibition law against
| sale of liquor in the District enacted.
He declared that Congress. not the