Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-04-26
Large Gathering Present at
Mass Meeting at Cham
Der of Commerce
PROJECT ENDORSED
More Than Fifty Volunteer 10 Circu-
J. late Petitions Calling For an Eiec-
ton on the Subject

More than two hurhfred citizens at
tending the Citizens Meeting in the
Auditorium of the Chamber of Com
merce last night discussed the present
and proposed City Governments from
all angles.
James R. Cation, the chairman of
the Citizens Committee, called the
meeting to order, and in his opening
remarks directed attention to the fact
that the city has a bonded debt OF
$500 900 and floating debt of ap-
prox:mately 100000, and was spend
ing ea.ih year more than it received
in revenue.
He pointed cut that there would
have to be day Of settlement soon,
and there were only two ways of
meeting the situation, either for the
present government and greatly in
cresed taxes, or for the city COVER
ment to be put on an economical
business basis through business ad-
minIstrat;on.
He pointed out some of the ways in
which business methods would cur
tail expenses, and emphasized very
strn.gly the fact that he did not al
tach any blame to the present city
officials, but that in his opinion they
mad accomplished as coed results as
Could be expected from an antiquated
system which had no provision f-r
use Of business methods, and system
which was devised and worked GU
over one hundred years ago.
The chairman then invited 4 gen
cral di.uss.cn of the matter and ask
Cd that any questions bearing on the
matter be asked.
CARROLL Pierce explained the posi-
eion ct the Chamber of Commerce ir
:he matter. He pointed out that tne
Chamber Of Commerce was a COM
munity affair, and was organized and
composed of a large number of the
citizens of Alexandria, and that the
principle of the organization was L
take up anv matter affecting the vel
fare and advancement. OF Alexandria.
In view of the conditions It was only
lust and proper for the Chamber Of
Commerce TO take up and investigate
the matter of city government, and "a
this investigation had developed thai
a change was necessary, the Cham
Der Of Commerce had called meet
iag Of the citizens and turned oyeE
10 them what data they had secured
on he subject.
Mr.. Pierce emphasized that no mem
Der Of the Chamber of Commerce wa
interested in filing any public Of
fee. tut had simply fulfilled the func-
tion TOR which the Chamber of Com
.ne;c was organized. They had mad
an exhaustive investigation CT tn
matter and recommended it to thc
Ic:tiaens meeting, and that he saw ~
reason why the voters of the city
should not pass OF the proposition.
F.! Howard w. Smith gave MS expert
fence as a member of city council for
Esix years and discussed present meth
eds of transacting city business.
| It was brought out in the discus,
/. Gil that fro ap 'aratus purchased
evcree. -n"r: ago. lad CO. serefa
thuus y, ,..&:!.ars m.ra than Va, NJ.
,essary. or account of too much delay
caused by reason Of objections raised
in the Council.
| The proposition was discussed by
W. A. Smoot, L. Ruben, W. f. Flick
lin. T.. R. Boyer, Geo. A Harlow, }
H. Tr;nyer, J. T. Harrison, anc
others, who expressed themselves a:
,.eartly IN favor of the new plan
and believed it would yield untolc
benefits to The City of Alexandria.
John NJ. Johnson expressed himsel,
as strongly in favor Of city man
ager. but thought manager could b.
employed by the present city council
hut The disadvantages of this plal
were pointed cut BY others present.
i a vote was taken to ascertain TIL
, sentiment of the meeting, and tn
5 councii-ntanager form was endorse
, by practically every one present, an
about fifty men volunteered their ser
vices to circulate the petitions.