Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-05-20
Carroll Pierce and Judge J.
T. Goodrich of Fredericks-
burg Make Addresses
J. R. CATION PRESIDES
Advocate Change in Form Of Govern
ment-Meting of Fourth Ward Citi-
zens Friday Night.

There was very interesting and
largely attended meeting of the vo-
ters of the third ward held last
night in the Odd Fellows Hall, North
Columbus street.
The meeting was under the auspi-
ces of the Citizens Committee, Jas.
R. Cation, chairman, presiding. Vari-
Gus defects of the present system of
government and how they would be
overcome by an intelligent, respon-
sive business like form of govern
ment were taken up and discussed.
Carroll Pierce, vice president and
general manager of the Citizens
National Bank and president of the
Chamber of Commerce, in his adj
dress explained that the Chamber of
Commerce was an organization
composed of large number of the
citizens of Alexandria and it was
entirely proper and one of the func
tioEs Of the Chamber of Commerce
to investigate and advocate any
matter that affected the general well
fare of the city. He stated that the
Chamber of Commerce was spending
n the neighborhood of $4,000 per
year to try to up-build the city of
Alexandria and advance the interest
of it's citizens and that a change in
city government was essential to
the progress Of the city
Mr.. Pierce further stated chat cv
cry progressive business organization
had had to make changes in their
methods to meet the changes in con-
ditions, where as the present City
government was evolved over hun
bred years ago and as a system is
MORE unworkable at the present time
than it was hundred years ago.
He further discussed the matter as
business proposition and stated that
in his opinion thousands Gf dollars
could be saved by the application OF
ordinary simple business methods in
transacting the city's business. The
speaker said that this matter was
not political matter, and if it d.d
not take the city's business out OF
politics it had no merits; that no
member of the Chamber of Com
merce had any political aspirations
that he knew of and none of them
desired any public Office.
Judge John T. Goolrick, Of Freder-
icksburg, who is holding court in
this city in the absence of Judge
Barley, attended this meeting and
was called upon by the chairman to
tell what the system mad done in his
city.
Judge Goolrick spoke O. his pcrso-
nal knowledge of what the system
had done in the cities of Staunton
and Fredericksburg, and he stated
that they had derived great benefits
srom the system without increases
in taxation; that the people Of Fred
-icksiburg would not think of re-
venting to the old system and that
hev were enthusiastic over this
5ystem that had given them so many
tangible benefits.
Judge Gcolrick emphasized the
ACT that this system of govern
mont took the city's business abso-
utely out of politics and absolutely
fixed responsibility and recommend
I'd the plan to Alexandria if they
desired to progress and get full
value for money expended.
James R. Cation in his address
made a thorough and simple analy-
sis of the whole matter as present
I'd to the people Of Alexandria. He
stated that he had made an exhaus-
tive study of the subject, believed
n it and was ready to fight for it.
although he had no political ambi-
sions and no desire to fill any city
office.
The speaker said that the matter
was a simple one and if the system
advocated would not stand the light
Of day and its merits were not plain
" evident, that the citizensI should
!. not vote for it. In very emphatic
marnerhe stated that a change IN
methods was necessary and he hoped
hat some advocate of the present
svstem would consent to meet him
publicly ON the rostrum and debate