The Washington times., 1919-11-11
PRAISES CIVIC
BODIES IN Dc:
Brownlow Says Citizens Should
Take Active Part in City
: Management.
BY BILL PRICE.

In a most interesting review Of
District matters last night. before
the Congress Heights Public I'm
proyement Association. Commissioner
Brownlow encouraged participation
OF all citizens IN District affairs,
through their citizens associations,
until such time as Congress may
confer more direct participation
through suffrage. He especially COM
nended the campaign drive Of the
Federation OF Citizens Associations
for largely Increased membership.
Congratulating the Congress
TO cooperate in the membership
drive. Mr.. BrownIow said:
I know that a great many citizens
OF the District are very much con-
csrned with the question OF suffrage,
but also know that whatever may be
the outcome of that campaign, there
ts no immediate prospect of obtaining
the vote in the National Capital In
the meantime. when so many i'm
portsnt municipal problems are press
ing for solution, and when there Is
such q vital need for presenting local
questions to Congress, we need not
fairs o nthe part OF the people gener-
ally.
Praises Associations.
The best method for making this
participation general and effective Is
by getting all the people into the
citizens associations, where full dis
cussion OF local questions may be had,
and through which. when decisions
are reached. the desires and needs OF
the people may be presented to the
Commissioners and to the committees
OF the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives.
II believe, also, that when the citI-
zens' associations have increased their
membership so as to include a full
representation of the people, each as
sociation should, In addition to dis
cussion OF matters pertaining to the
particular locality represented by
each association, take up important
whole II the membership Of each as
sociation is greatly enlarged. it will
be feasible to organize practical work
ing committees. which will study the
various questions and bring 10 bear
upon their solution not merely mat
ters OF opinion and desire, but sup
port through facts and figures which
cannot be brought into question.
The commissionersa all are heartily
lntSreS(eo IN rnls mem Oersnlp cam
.paign. believe il win be successful
and that It's success will mean more
prompt action in Congress on scores
Of civic problems which must be
solved
Dffneule District Prsbleas.
Commissioner Brownlov reviewed
many OF the difficulties the District
faced during the war period, and
what he termed just as serious diff
Acuities to be adjusted since the war
There are many pressing local
problems to be solved with the aid of
Congress: but, unfortunately for the
District. Congress has been COM
peiled to spend the bulk Of it's time
IN settlement of foreign questions,
and on giant problems of postwar
reconstruction. This immensely short
ened the time Congress had to devote
TO the District and its needs. He
was confident, though. that there was
no indifference TO the District, in Con-
gress. and that the national leKisla-
tive body wisely will enact such leg
islation as IL needed
Some of this legislation Mr.. Brown
low regarded as imperatiyely neoes-
sary now. He cited the increases of
the salaries of policemen and fremen,
which he felt sure soon would xo
through the Senate, following pas
sage in the House; increase in the
salaries OF poorly paid District clerks
and WOrkers zenerally uanu ~ IAo-