Evening star., 1915-02-06
C|TY'S PROMOTION
THEME Of CITIZENS
District Commissioners Par
ticipate in Meeting of Park
View Association.
1O6 NEW MEMBERS
ARE ADDED TO BODY
Investigation of Insurance Rates
Advocated-John G. McGrath Re-
nominated for Presidency.

| Evidencing the awakening of a new
civic spirit, representatives of the gov
erenmental, civic, business and other
institutions touching the interests of
the people of Washington joined last
night with members of the Park View
Citizens Association in the discussion
of ways and means for further promot-
ing the development of the National
Capital along social and physical
lines.
The meeting, which was held in
Whitney Avenue Christian Church,
Park road and Georgia avenue, was
remarkable for a number of features.
Including the attendance and partici-
patton in the proceedings of the three
District Commissioners and w. F. Ham.
vice president of the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company. 1t was the
first time that the head of large
Washington public utility and the Com
missioners have appeared on the same
program to discuss measures for the
promotion of the ciyic welfare of
Washington.
The association also established a
new record for such bodies Ill the mat
it added 106 names to its roster.
McGrath Renominated.
John G. McGrath was unanimously
renominated for president. and two
resolutions, one calling for an inves-
tieation by the Commissioners Of the
increase in fire insurance rates, and the
other favoring the inclusion in the an
nual District estimates of an item for
the payment of police and f1remens
pensions, were adopted.
Just what is being done for Wash
ington and what should be, done
this the most beautiful and best gov
erned city in the world was explained
by the following speakers:
Commissioner Newman. Commissioner
Brownlow. Engineer Commissioner
architect; Edward F. Colladay, presi-
dent of the Federation of Citizens As
sociations; W. H. Richardson, chairman
of the clean city committee; Allan
Davis. principal of Business High
School: ". F. Ham vice president of
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company: William E. Shannon, organ
izer of the Federation of Citizens As
sociations, and James F. Oyster, former
Lauded by Commissioners.
President McGrath. who presided,
and the members of the association
we're Iauded by the Commissioners for
the manner in which they have con-
Quoted the affairs of that organization.
The Park view Association, declared
Commissioner Newman, the first speak
er, has become an effective agency for
developing public .opinion in the local
ity which 1t represents. Organizations
of this character, Mr.. Newman said.
| may do immense good If they will thrash
out Thoroughly ali questions under CON
| sideration and then stand by the will
! of the majority, so that they may pre-
! sent a united front when submitting
requests to the Commissioners or to
Congress.
| Engineer Commissioner kutz went
| into the details of the complex prob
lem which annually faces the Commits
sioners in the preparation of the Dis
| trict estimates. In order to show the
taxpayer just how hts money is eX-
pended, the head of the engineer de-
partment presented some figures illus
trating the disposition that is made of
a fifty-dollar tax payment. OF this
amount 1881 is expended for the pro-
lection of life and property, s4.ss for
health and sanitation. s7.04 for high
ways, $500 for charities and correc-
tions, and s12.77 for schools.
The Engineer Commissioner said that
] the citizen who pays $50 taxes a year
contributes only S2,J2 toward the main
tenance of the Districts recreational
facilities and but cents toward the
upkeep of the municipal bathing
| beach.
Brownlow Makes First Speech.
Following Mai. Kutz's address, Park
View members listened to Commission
| er Brownlow in his first speech before
any citizens organization since his be-
coming a member of the board of Com
| missioners. The new District official
explained that he had been busy get
ting acquainted with his job, and it
was not his purpose to scatter around
any promissory notes until he has
looked up his rating. He urged CO.
| operation among all the agencies work.
| ing for the betterment of Washington
to the end that this. purpose may be
realized in the highest sense. Com
missioner BroWnlow. paid a high trib-
ute to his predecessor on the board.
Justice Siddons.
After the Commissioners had spoken
the plans for the new Park View
school, to be located at Newton and
Warder streets, work on which will
begin within a month, he said. This
building, obtained largely through the
efforts of the Park View Association,
will cost $132,OOO. Mr.. Ashford ex-
planned how he had prepared the plans
so that there would be facilities for the
meeting of civic organizations should
Congress pass the bill authorizing the
Of mil honSe1 for aocio1 cANt6r