Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-03
Urge That Consumers Get
Into Line for Onslaught
on Cost of Living.
COAL, BREAD AND MILK
CHARGES UNDER FIRE
Federation Provides Committee of
Fifteen to Investigate Pres
ent Conditions.


sumers" to bring down the cos, ~
living in Washington was launched
oS .he Federation of Citizens Asso-
ciauons at meeting in the board
room of the District building last
night
Ihe first step was the adontion of
resolution for the appointment of-.
committee of fifteen to investigate
immediately the prices being charged
ior coal, bread and milk.
Eowln ). Hege and others express
ed the belief that this committee
should be given power to go further
and inquire into the cost of other com.
inouieies entering into the daily life
of the people,
Inc motion to appoint the inyesti.
satlng committee was made bv
Thomas Donovan of the Central citi.
zehs association after nearly all of
the delegates had questioned the fair
ness OF the present prices of coal.
u. A Edwards of Lincoln Park
said he understood coal costs s4so
ton at the mouth of the mine and
$l5 at the consumers back gate.
When such difference in price ia
required to get the coal from the
mine to the consumer it is time that
some action be taken, he declared
Need Of Investigation.
George Finch of Piney Branch az.
serted sc
"hlch the federation should devote
more time this winter than that of
the cost Of living. LET us organize
the consumers" he appealed, in sup
port of the motion to appoint an in.
vestigafffg Committee.
Discussion of the cost of living waa
prompted by w. B. westlake's report
of the efforts made by a committee
OF the federation a week ago to keen
down the winter price of milk. A
resolution was adopted commending
Mr.. Westlake and the committee for
the action taken during the recess
of the federation.
In connection with the discussion
OF coal prices. Mr.. Westlake told the
delegates that the public utilities of
washington are using the advance
in coal prices as the basis for peti.
tions for higher rates.
Questions Light Rates.
He said he made a private inquiry
which convinced him that the recent
increase in electric light rates grant,
Ell the Potomac Electric Power Com
pany was not justified on the basis
of coal prices.
William NICK. Clayton. in reporting
for the utilities committee, urged the
delegates to have their respective or
ganizations work at this session of
Congress for the street car merger
and for a new public utilities COM
mission separate from the board of
Commissioners.
Mr.. Clayton asserted that the pres
ent utilities commission has reached
the point where it is a rate making
body without insistence on regulation
of public utilities" Rather than go
on under the existing utilities law
it would be better. Mr.. Clayton said,
for the people of the District to put
their fate back in the hands of Con-
gress. where rates were fixed before
the commission was created
During the coming winter the big
gest utility question the federation
will have to fight. the speaker con-
tinued, will be the effort of the vari-
Gus utilities to get higher rate of
return on the value of their prop
critics as fixed by the commission.
Track Extensions.
Mr.. Clayton also reminded the
delegates that the utilities commits
sion has consented to hold a hearing
the latter part of this month or early
in November to determine what track
extensions should be made by the
two street car companies to meet the
growing needs Of the city. He sug-
gested that each association decide
now what extensions, If any, are need
ed in its territory and recommend
them at the hearing.
After a lively debate that lasted
nearly an hour, the federation went
on record in favor of free textbooks
for high school children, as now pro-
vided pupils in the grade schools.
When Jesse c. Suter, chairman OF
the education committee, reported the
question favorably. several delegates
took issue with him, declaring they
saw no reason why all of the people
should be taxed to pay for school
books for their neighbors. Opponents
of the resolution asked why the com.
mittee did not go further and propose
that the city furnish lunch and cloth
ing for the pupils in the public
schools.
When a vote was taken on the
question, however. it was passed by
4 large majority.
school Children's Fares.
The federation received a letter
rom ]. c. Wright, asking for it's CO.
operation in the movement to obtain
L reduced rate of car fare for school
children. Mr.. Clayton told the dele
gates he had conferred with the
aeads of the two railway companies :
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