The Washington times., 1919-08-18
CIVIC BODIES
Of D. c. PLAN
TO RUN CITY.
Municipal Ownership of Car
Lines First Aim of New
Society.
BY BILL PRICE.


An ambitious program for enlsrg-
ing the influence and co-ordinating
the activities Of citizens associations
through the medium OF the Fedora
ton of Citizens Associations Of the
District will be upfolded at s special
meeting Of that organization called
for Thursday night.
The meeting is called primarily to
pass upon the preliminary report or
the Joint committee considering the
merger OF the street railway lines OF
the District; but the developments
may be far-reaching TO the future OF
the association, even to the point OF
leading to the erection Of permanent
headquarters for the federation.
Persistent Westlake and other OF
fcials Of the Association will set IN
motion q drive for increasing the
membership so that il will include
delegates from every citizens asso-
citation in the District. The Fedora
ticn is composed OF delegates from
more than three-fourths Of the Citi-
Gems Associations. but 1t Is desired
to bring every association within the
membership.
To get in even closer touch with
the members of the associations than
ct present, a plan will be devised by
which the various committees Of the
federation will hold conferences with
committees Of the same class in the
local associations. The federation
coEamtttee on legislation, which is
the committee that makes recon-
mendztions for District legislation to
Congress. will have frequent confer
ences with members Of the legisla-
tive committee OF the various asso-
Citations. The same thing will be
done by the public utilities commit
tees ana others.
To Unite All Elements.
The Federation, as a clearing house
for member associations, proposes to
bring about a strengthening Of re-
lations with the member associations
and be a moUthpicce to unite every
element in behalf of whatever cause
it advocates.
The plan will bring about an en-
larEement Of activities that may be
useful in many directions.
The report of the merger committee
will be carefully considered. The
Federation, like all important civic
bodies Of the District, favors a mer-
ger in some form, even though II has
to be forced by Congress, and will
L
proposed 70 members Of Congress the
taking over Of the street railways by
q new Public Utilities Commission,
which will operate them for the pub
lie on q basis of fair returns TO the
owners Of the roads.
He has not presented details Of his
plan. although he has talked over the
matter with Chairman Mapes, Of the
House District Committee, who is
deeply concerned over the badly tan
gied railway problems Of this city.
The Federation seeks no advantages
for stockholders of either railway
line. but does seek to put the service
here on a basis that means permanent
betterment for the public.
The CommissiOnerEhIP.
The federation may take up Thurs
day night the question Of presenting
10 President Wilson its hope that
when he names a new Commissioner
20 succeed Nj. Gardiner he will give
confederation to some good man be-
longing to one Of the citizens asso-
Citations. A strongly intrenched view
in the federation is that no promi-
nent man Of the. District can be deep
ly interested enough in District af-
fairs to be q Commissioner IL he does
not belong 70 some ASSOCIATION. 4nCSe
associations are the active spokesmen
OF their respective communities, their
members stand for what is best for
washington, and they would feel
pleased IL the President should rec
oEnize their work and worth by nam
ing some man who shows his civic
interest by at least maintaining an
active membership.
II is not the idea OF the Federation,
Il has been explained. that the Presi-
dent should necessarily name as Com
missioner one Of the accredited dele
gates to the Federation. There would
be Just as much satisfaction IL he
should name q man belonging to
member association who has the real
good Of Washington At heart
The Federation has been watching
the Commissionership night with in
terest. but has not put forward a
candidate, and probably will not do
so. It does believe, though, that the
time has come when the citizens as
sociations Of the District. uniformly
standing for the progress and ad-
vancement OF Washington. and watch
full of the city's interests. should be
recognized by the White House.