Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-11-07
CITIZENS EXPECT
JUSTICE FOR D. c.
BY HARD|NG'S AID
Federation Hopes for Better
Fiscal Returns and Voice
in Government.

line tederatiOn OF Citizens ASSO-
Citations. meeting in the District
building last night. expressed its be-
lief that President-elect Harding
will help the nations capital to Sc
cure substantial justice" in its fiscal
relations with the federal govern
ment, and that he also will help
Washington to obtain a voice in the
government.
The federation indorsed a report
from a special committee. headed by
Jesse c. Suter, which found that
there is little if any profiteering"
on the part of local coal dealers.
Officers Reelected.
The organization reelected Will
third term. All other officers were
reelected, as follows: Vice presi-
dent, Jesse c. Suter; secretary, Le-
land Atherton. and treasurer, Capt.
George W. Evans.
The delegates voted to accept re-
port from William NICK. Clayton on
the recent gas-rate hearing. In addi
ton to accepting the report the fed
Grafton decided to urge Congress to
establish a uniform rate for gas fur
nished the United States and District
governments and the private con-
sumers Of the city.
At present the people pay $1.32 per
thousand cubic feet. with a sliding
scale for wholesale users. while the
government buildings pay 20 cents
and the District government less than
40 cents for street lights.
Harding Resolution.
The resolution expressing the fed
eration's feelings toward the next
President was offered by afr. Clayton
and reads as follows:
Resolved, That in the election of
Warren G. Harding to the presidency.
Judged by his votes in the Senate and
his public utterances, the District Of
Columbia will have a warm and con-
sistent friend in the White House the
coming four years.
1--WE sincerely believe that Warren
G. Harding. as President of the United
States, will help the nations capital
to secure substantial justice and
equity in the fiscal relations between
the cftyI.and the nation and that he
" in aid and assist ,as to. secure that
now denied to us only Of the 10000
BOO Americans under this haE--a voice
and a vote in national and local
AFFAIRS"
In his report on the increase in
gas rates Mr.. Clayton cited three
reasons why he believed the fedora
ton should object to the commits
sion's findings. They were. in sub
stance: First. that the increase is
discriminatory as between the pri-
vate consumer and the government.
and, therefore. void; second, that the
commission went beyond its authori-
ty in fixing a rate intended to COM
pensate the company for failing to
earn per cent on its valuation dur
ing the past five months in addition
to giving it that rate of return in
future months: third. that the COM
mission has no authority under the
utilities law to fix a rate of return
on the value Of the company's prop
erty.
Have Lively Debate.
These suggestions resulted in a lively
debate among the. delegates as to
whether they should be Endorsed or ac-
cepted. Some argued that the fedora
ton should not attempt to pass on these
legal questions by indorsing the. report
and therefore should only accept the re-
port. Other delegates contended that
Chairman Clayton of the utilities COM
mittee had considered the questions
thoroughly and that it was the duty of
the federation to uphold his findings.
The delegates finally adopted a motion
by George Finch to accept the report
and urge Congress to abolish the dis
criminatory gas rate of the federal and
District governments.
The federation voted to increase the
annual dues of member associations
from S. to SO year. Before taking
this action the delegates voted down a
proposal to have each association nav
10 cents to the federation for every
In good standing. They also
voted down a motion to make the dues
SIS year.
In accepting reelection for another
year. President Westlake told the dele
gates that, in his opinion, they did not
raise the dues sufficiently high to en-
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