The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-01-01
Needed in 1918
By EARL GOODWIN.
Washington, is on the Verge Of Great Dev.lopnsni
Let It Halt
Do Me-

l.
Congress has the chance this year to do wonders fo
the National Capital If that body will realize Washingon
the main war shop the city will easily attain its proper
place municipality Congress fails to take this fac
into consideration then viii continue to be overcrowd
ed underdeveloped and in many ways uncomfortable
have the given Washngtons physical well
fare and growth the authorities give military can
Torment will be thoroughly satisfied.
The greatest gift in the power of the nation far
Washington is concerned is the right of suffrage Wash
gton should vote 1t should have representation In Con-
gress and should make its laws Only when Washing
ton has full suffrage will take its place among the cities
of the world Let us hope the steps toward complete su
frage will be taken in 1918. :.
One of the first pieces of legislation from the Appro
prations Committee will be the District bill The Com
suddenly increased population Of prime Importance in
those estimates is the request for adequate school fa
ties, and exceedingly important the recommendations
concerning school teachers pay For the wage scale
of the women to whom entrus children has been
too low Now, at the first chance, teachers leave their
classes to take less responsible but better paid posi-
tons They resignng in numbers which threaten the
closing OF some of the lower grades.
Another important matter is the recommendation for
two platoon system in the Fire Department The present
oldfashioned method Of imprisonng fireman in his fire
engine house day and night for practically week at time
has been discarded in half hundred modern cities Wash
ngons splendid Fire Department should have the beneh
of modern thought and frefghting administration The
twopatoon system is recommended to the attention Of
Congress Under this proposed system hremen spend hall
their time at home, which is little enough.
Another improvement will be placing all traffic police
under central authority instead of dividing the
authority among the several precincts.
The crying shame of Washington is the paid Gov
eminent salary for the great body of efficient workers. Fed
eral and municipal So much has been said this already
that the pen almost refuses to write further There is one
fact however which not escape even the hardest
hearted opponent of decent wage for Government cerks
No human being live decently and raise American
family on the piul allowances doed out by the Govern
ment This was true years ago How much greater the
shame today when the cost of living engu the clerk and
puts him further and further in debt 1t is my earnest
that the year 1918 will the United States Gov
throw away its policy of cheese pairing and pay m
workers enough to live with comfort and decency
The movement for Government ownership OF pubic
utilities has assured proportions which promise completes
results Let us hope the outcome of the present gas and
telephone hearings will not result in further burdens on the
public but instead recommendation from the Uhtes
Commission that the Government take over those two ac-
tiytes And let us hope that this Government which 10
doing greater and greater things each day. will take them
over and run them they should be run.
Let us hope that the donohng policy regarding treat
Falls will end and masterfu plan to dam the old 20
tomac will be drawn and that work the dam Will start
this very year. In this great of conservation and saw
ing no more startling waste be found than the un
harnessed light heat and power flowing away from u
at the rate of million dollars worth year Harness the
tomac and it will work for the benefit OF the people OF
washington running their electric light plants their street
cars and heating apparatus at few cents day.