Evening star., 1921-03-17
FOCHT OUTLINES
HOPES FOR MODEL
WORLD CITY HERE
Will Resign War Claims Body
to Head New District
Committee.
FAVORS U. S. OWNERSHIP
OF ALL BUILDINGS USED
Wants Best Power, Gas, Water
Supply, Fire and Police Depart
ments for Lowest Tari6.


To make Washington the world
center of commerce and finance, civil
ization, humanitarianism, education
and science is an ambition to accom-
plish which the District Commission
ers and District residents should CO.
operate in a big. broad way with
Congress, Representative Benjamin
X. Focht of Pennsylvania, the new
chairman of the House District COM
mittee, feels.
Representative .Focht has broad
gauged view of the future> of Wash
ington-is eager to take leading
part in making all of it's institutions.
: schools, police and fire departments,
water system. parkways, play
. grounds, etc. models for the entire
country He wants to have all OF
the government activities housed in
magnificent nt-owned Dufld-
ings. and to arouse in every Ameri-
cans breast a yearning to visit the
nations capital as frequently as pos
sible.
Gives Up War Claims Post.
He believes that this development
should not be left to an uncertainty
distant future. but should be under
taken at once and pushed persistentiy.
with the Commissioners. the resi-
in-hand. Because he feels thus
strongly Representative Focht has
decided to relinquish the chairman
ship of the war claims committee
and to accept the chairmanship of
ithe House District Committee.
some time served on the District House
COMMITTEES. is the ranking member. and.
according TO seniority, Is In line 70 sue
coed Representative CAri z. Mapes as
chairman. Today in an interview at the
rooms Of the war claims committee, OF
which he is chairman. he expressed his
views as to the future Of the District OF
Columbia. IS So,
.'That Washington shall ultimately
have the best schools. are department;
electricity for the least possible tariff.
goes as a matter OF cdhyss. No sa,d.s -
Fer Tfseste2 N<rwer.
'-rhe street railway muddle :epshf to
be readily ironed ont by Mdlci61g. cons
solidation. which wtil inevitably resa4lt u
saving Of oveshead cptt. fnlloWitt
,'-hich there win be better facilities and
aImmediateiy after the civil ras
Washington made yne grand stride from
dirt to paved streets and newer and
better accommodafions,o OF every descrip-
time second and third rate as compared
to the advances made IN New York and
Philadelphia.
wow that America controls the
finances of the wurld. WaShington will
fer all future time be the-eenter the
commercial activity and the fulfillment
Of the broader conception Of ctvilixa-
ton ana humanitarianism. Leading
the world in philanthropy and unset
fishness. the example we offer the rest
OF humanity must be set on . stage
: that stands out pre-eminently to view.
and that stage Is Washington. =
Sees New Enerxy Here.
"The next phase in the Districts
broad development to me appears to
be right before us. There is new
and revitalized and quickened energy
here, otherwise l would not care to be
the chairman of the District commit
tee. for without the assurance Of earn
est cooperation from those who have
heart rather than sordid personal in
terests and selfish ends. there can be
no hope for steps Of advancement.
Il vision a. truly new Washington in
the sense of a more nearly completed
city on the lines long ago contem-
plated-in fact. q. worlds model city
in architectural beauty and parks Of
recreation, educational facilities. in
safety and freedom, generous allow
ances for service rendered and low
costs for public utilities. Every
human abode should be home and
not a tenement. with well supported
institutions Of advanced education. In
bodied in the scope and conception of
Christian civilization on which the
arches Of the republic rest. 1t is not
dream to see all this climaxed and
apexed during the existence of the
present generation.
Pleased BY Appointment.
Il am glad that President Harding
named two representative business
men on the commission, for there is
now truly Better prospect than ever
for the District of Columbia to once
again be on its way
The new chairman OF the House Dis
trict committee. i'm addition to his
pride in the progress of the National
Capital. wishes to see Washington
in every particular the model city OF
The world. After long service in the
Pennsyiyania legislature. house and
senate, he was elected to the Sixtieth
Congress, and has therefore served
while Roosevelt, Taft and Wilson
were In the White House. During the
axty-third Congress he was absent 81
going down to defeat in consequence
Of the. big split in the republican
party. but he came back to the Sixty-
fourth Congress. and on March 4 OF
this year entered upon his seventh
term.
Before he was eighteen years of re
he founded a newspaper and publish.
ing plant in his home town. which
under his di rection. has since been In
continuous and successful operation
Like President Harding. Representa-.
tive Fochts rabbits foot" is a print
sr's rule, which he used in the Yea RI
before the advent Of the linotype.
Linked With Pe.rose.
He was a member of the Pennsyl.
vania assembly, when Senator Pen
rose was leader of the state senate
From then until now Representativ,
Focht has confidently linked hi
political fortunes with the senator,
triumphant leadership. and with hin
has worked for regularity in part,
has beset the republican cause in hi
state.
The new District committee chair
man brings to service more than lon,
experience in politics and as an edit
and publisher. When in the assembl,
and state senate. he served on tn
appropriations committee, and wa
chairman OF the committee on bank
ing. He is author of much labo
legislation. and wrote the ballot Law
of the state. which combines tn
straight voting and Australian sys
TENS. During the two years he wa
absent" from Congress he served q
water supply commissioner OF Penn
syivania. This experience will be o
ADecial value In legislation regarding