The Washington herald., 1921-09-04

quest" The bill had been drawn
by Mr.. Clayton from the New York
and New Jersey laws on the sub
ject and from the more radical
Wisconsin law.
President Taft Helps.
For a year after beginning the
fight the local citizens associa-
tions passed resolutions and wrote
letters to Congressman urging the
bill. Then Mr.. Clayton went to
President Taft and asked him TO
mention II in his forthcoming an
nual message. The President did
] so, urging Congress to give the
District such a commission. This
added greatly to the federation's
prestige and !. they capitalized II
still further by sending a deIega-
ton personally to thank the Presi-
| dent for his assistance. -.
At this time oliver p. Newman,
later District Commissioner, as
sisted in the campaign by inter-
viewing prominent men on the
| question. And while he worked at
that. Clayton tried a new tack; he
visited the utilities corporations
themselves in an effort to convince
them that the proposed commission
had certain advantages for them
more than ohsetting the disadvan-
tages.
GaIIinger Presents Bill.
| In every Congress for years. he
learned. these corporations had been
threatened with unfavorable legis-
lation of one sort or another. much
of it purely nagging. Escape at
least from this annoyance and ex-
pense he showed would be gained.
Which of these things had the ef-
feet is not known, but one day SEN
ator Gallinger undertook to draft o
new public utilities bill which he
introduced as his own. 1t was later
passed as rider to the District ap-
preparation bill of 1918. President
Taft signed the bill and William
NICK. Clayton was given the pen
with which he signed as a souvenir
The fight for a utilities commits
sion was. of course, but one angle
of the traction controversy. The
Federation of Citizens Associations
was on record early for a merger
of the two companies in the Dis
trict, and that issue is perhaps the
most prominent before it at the
present moment. Universal trans
fers was a matter that with the
Utilities Commission they were
quickly successful. But there are
many other matters of general con-
Germ in which they had a hand.
.wet' and "Dry,, in ID. C.
The question of prohibition in the
| fofr ~ raIn 4,
outlet in the civic bodies OF the
District. Some associations were
ardently "dry" and others wet" Sc
anxious were the opposing sides tc
secure the influence Of the fedora.
tion that that body for its own pro-
lection had to adopt a new clause
in its constitution providing that OF
the civic organizations eligible &c
membership only such would be ad.
mitted as had twenty-five pait
white members and has held regu'
la-ly ordered meetings for three
months prior to. application fol
membership"
That amendment, which is still IL
force. blocked the rush that was be.
ing contemplated to pack the fed
Grafton. with those who would infiu
ence the expression on prohibition
Eventually a majority of the asso.
Citations went on record as dry
and so instructed their delegates tc
the general body.
Higher Pay for Laborers.
Among the many other political
fights in which the federation haC
a hand a few are deserving of men
tion. 1t undertook to help improve
the working conditions and wage.
of the worst paid citizens OF the
District. 1t was found. for example
that the laborers in the city street
cleaning department were drawing
but $3.50 a day and out Of that were
expected to buy their own white
uniforms and keep them clean.
The Commissioners had not re.
riieved this situation. so the presi.
dent Of the Federation with Senator
Hollis, of New Hampshire. called
upon President Wilson, who hat
then only just taken ONCE. The
President forthwith wrote a letter
to the Commissioners. and the lat
ter acting on 1t. requested some
$4,000 more in wages for en-
ployes of the District and got 1t.
Aids Fire Department.
Seats for the motormen and con.
ductors of the street railways was
agitated for two years by the fed.
Grafton before action was secured
The citizens bodies also worked for
and finally saw put into effect the
two platoon" system-two working
! shifts instead of one-for members
Of members of the District fire de-
partment. The federation took ar
effective stand for increased pay fol
school teachers. policemen. and fire.
men, and in the W. r. & Z. street
railway strike Of 1917 1t took ar
emphatic stand on the side OF the
men in favor Of collective bargain
ing"
In 1917 the federation took UP a
plan for an inaugural educational
exhibit and a permanent exposition
Of the States to be established In
Washington. A committee was ap-
pointed, headed first by Edward F.
Colladay as chairman, and later by
William Nick. Clayton. which met
with the governors of the States
who assembled in Washington al
the Powhatan Hotel, March 6, 1911
This committee was early Joined
with like committees from the Board
OF Trade and Chamber of Commerce.
Many Fights Yet to Be Won.
Numerous matters of public inter-
est on which the federation has
taken its stands are yet to be won.
For example the delegates of the
Citizens associations are generally
opposed to the Borland law which
assesses the cost of street improve
ments, such as paving and sewers
to the adjacent property. 1t is con-