Evening star., 1918-01-18
Explained the Handicap.

Explained the Handicap.
MI Clement explained in detail the
handicaps of the present equipment on
the local company and expressed the
belief that after the war it would be
necessary to install the automatic ap-
paratus used in other Giles In order 70
bring telephone service up to the stano-
ard of the times.
The report included a recommenda-
tion that Congress be asked to appoint
a commission of experts to make sur
vey of the local company and formu-
late q plan for improving the service.
but this was lost with the report
Joseph w. Folk, chief counsel OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission. also
made a strong appeal for enfranchis-
ing the people of the District, obsery-
ing that idiots, infants, some of the
women of the country and the men OF
Washington alone were prevented from
voting.
liberty loans, and in the trenches" said
Mr. Folk, '.and the time is coming when
she will be represented in the halls Of
Congress"
Commenting on the criticisms being
made of the management of the war,
Mr.. Folk said:
1.-The preparations this country has
made since it entered the war are un-
surpassed in history, and the wonder is,
that we have not made more serious
ones. Any American who is neutral
now is a traitor to his country, for you
must either be with America or against
her."
Turned Right Cheek.
Mr.. Folk said the kaiser slapped
Uncle Sam on the left cheek, ana our
good old uncle turned his right; but
that was as far as he would go. Now
Co 10 SlanDtnR.
the, speaker, and when he gets through
the kaiser won't have any cheek and
the German people won't have any
kaiser.
of Henry B. F. Macfarland. chairman OF
the committee on municipal finance. az
fecting the half-and-half system, were
adopted unanimously:
THAT hereafter the commissioners
shall not be limited in their estimates
to twice the amount of the estimated
revenues of the District, as now provid-
ed in the act of 1909.
That unexpended surpluses OF DIS
trict tax money shall be held in the
Treasury as trust fund for the bene-
fit of the District and be available as
District revenues for meeting the por-
ton of appropriations payable by tne
District in the succeeding year or
years"
Richard D. Simms, chairman Of the COM
mittee on military and naval affairs OF
the board, who has just been made br1ga-
dier general of the District National
Guard, was greeted with applause when
he arose to make his report.
He announced that the chances seemed
bright for securing from Congress author
ity to accept men who are below military
| Guard for the period Of the war and for
the defense of the capital against POS
sible repetition of the disaster of 1917,
| when the city fell into the hands Of an
H. rf pr;t oh hnn he
citizens of Washington were not organized
to meet them.
The speaker said he hoped to raise the
bulk of this home guard from among the
rifle clubs Of the city.
Aid for School Teachers.
Higher pay for school teachers, estab-
| lishment of a teachers retirement system,
extension of night schools, esta blishment
of Junior high school work and the ex-
tension of free text book privilege to
| high school pupils were the principal
recommendations in the report of the
schools committee, presented by Roy c.
Claflin and adopted
The report of OdeN S. Smith. chair
man of the committee on public order,
recommended an increase in the per-
sonnel Of the police force and higher
pay for the men and adoption of the
two-platoon system for the FIRE depart
ment.
The board voted to ask Congress to
postpone enforcement of the law clos
| ing alley dwellings in the District until
| 1928, and in the meantime that $3.50, 900
year be appropriated to provide for
| the gradual condemnation and removal
| of these dwellings,.
| William G. Henderson, who present.
| ed the report. said crisis will exist If
the 5000 alley dwellers are turned out
at once on July I of this year, as the
law now requires, in view of the al
| ready overcrowded condition of the
city.
Erection of a bridge spanning the
Potomac near the Lincoln Memorial to
typify the reunited North and South
committee on bridges.
The committee also recommended inn
mediate improvement of Klingle Ford
bridge, which was declared to be in a
dangerous condition. An appropriation
also was asked for replacing the pres
ent Calvert Street bridge.
William Clabaugh, chairman OF the
committee on membership, presented
the board with a service flag contain
ing hfty-four stars for the members of
the board who have entered the Army
and Navy.
D.. J. Callahan. chairman of the
war savings stamps, spoke briefly, urg-
ing the members OF the board to help
dispose OF Washington's share of the
stamps William T. Gallher presided,
Grip Follows the Snow.
in time will Prevent Grip. E. w. GROVES
signature on box. 30c.-Advertsement.