Evening star., 1917-01-23
M|DC|IY CITIZENS
FOR REFERENDUM
Association Unanimously In
dorses Cary Bill for Vote on
All Public Questions.
LEWIS URGES PHONE BILL

The referendum Is the unanimous do
mand of the Mid-City Citizens Associa-
tion. Without dissent. approval was
given TO the Cary bill, now pending "a
the House of Representatives, propid-
ing for referendum on the question
of representation in Congress by i
delegate. government ownership OF
telephones. prohibition, equal suffrage
for both sexes. initiative and referen-
dunn. recall. government by an elective
non-partisan commission and public
ownership of street railways and of
all public utilities. The organization
met last night at 18th and L streets,
over the United States Savings Bank.
The organization also approved pend
Ing legislation for pensions for super
George w. Henderson OF the committee
on schools read the draft of the
measure
Annual Dinner Date.
Thomas Sergeon, vice president and
chairman of the dinner committee, an
nounced that the annual dinner will be
held in Carroll Institute Hall the even
ing of January 81. Among those who
have accepted invitations to be present,
he said. are the three Commissioners,
Mai. Raymond w. Pullman, chief of
police: Representative Robert NJ. Page.
United states Attorney Laskey and
conrad Syme. corporation counsel
Announcement also was made that
the special membership committee,
headed by NJ. p. Sullivan. -would pay
mittee. headed by Max 7. Pimes to-
night. at Dfsmer's. The Pines COM
mittee was victor in the recent MEM
bership contest The forfeit fixed was
to be a dinner to be given to the win
ners by the losers.
New members elected last night were
Herbert Williams. X. II. Nash Mar
shall H. Andrews James p. Cochran.
w. NJ. Stuart. l. T. Luckett and J. c.
X. Campbell
The speakers of the evening were
Representative David J. Lewis of Mary
land. known as the father of the par
eel post" in Congress. and Charles
Clayton. clerk of the House committee
on labor. Both discussed the bill in
troduced by Representative Lewis pro-
viding foy government ownership OF
the telephones in the District of Co
lumbia.
Representative Lewis made the OBJ
servation that in comparison with
freight charges. the human voice
weighs a ton when heard over the long
distance telephone.
the District of Columbia. he observed.
"disinherits" the greater part of the
10000 homes from the connection with
the outside world to which they are
entitled. In view of the known cost
of maintenance he could see no reason
why this should be SO.
Would Eliminate Middleman.
In making investigation for the par
eel post legislation. he said. he was
struck with the fact that farm prod
ucts are much in the same state on the
farm as they are wanted in the kitchen,
without need of a middleman between
farmer and housewife. But discussion
is necessary to a bargain, he comment
ed. and where there is no telephone
connection between farm and home that
bargain is difficult to make.
Mr. Clayton also commented on the
loneliness of big cities. The universal
telephone he considered would do much
to remove this isolation. as shown by
the tremendously increased use of the
telephone in proportion to the lowness
of the rates.
rate in Washington is $4.21 per 100
calls, and that the average use is S23
calls a year for each 1000 phones in
use here. In contrast, he said that
Cleveland, with al,uOV pHOHes, pay
s14s per 100 calls. and the average use
is zoos calls year.
"Washington Is Being Soaked"
washington is being soaked" he de-
clared
He explained that the basis OF the
charges in Washington Is the best
economic return to the company that
can be made on the investment. He i'll
lustrated this by telling of a railway
that at 1 cent a mile carried many
passengers with a slight profit, made
greater profit carrying fewer passen-
gers at cents a mile. but which drove
away traffic at crarge of cents a
mile. In this instance. the best eco
nomic return was at cents a mile.
AS the s4.21 rate is the best economic
rate for the telephone concern, he sug-
gested. it is not expected that 1t VIII
willingly take less. The government.
however, he pointed out, would be
satisfied with less profit.