Evening star., 1921-04-03
CITIZENS WILL ASK
PUBLIC HEARING ON
CAR SERVICE HERE
Federation Decides to Appeal
to Utilities Commission
to Take Up Case.

The Public Utilities Commission
will be asked by the Federation of
Citizens Associations to hold pub
lie hearing to consider whether the
service being rendered by the two
street railway companies is adequate.
Decision to ask for the hearing was
reached by the federation at its meet
ing in the District building last night
on motion of William NICK. Clayton.
chairman of the utilities committee
At the request of Mr.. Clayton the
federation also adopted the following
resolutions on the street car situa-
tion:
THAT the federation opposes any
excess profits tax as applied to the
public service corporations of the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Opposes Raising Valuation.
THAT the federation opposes any
raising of the present ascertained
physical valuations of the railway and
electric light companies by the COM
mission without the people being con-
suited.
crossing policemen tax against the
railway companies should be repealed.
That the federation believes that
some portion of the initial cost of
paving between tracks of the street
railways should be paid for from the
general tax funds. of the District of
Columbia"
Strict Enforcement of the law
against carrying concealed weapons
and enactment of additional legisla-
ton to regulate their sale was favor
ed by the federation. The delegates
approved a report of George Finch,
of the law and legislation committee.
urging the adoption of any concealed
weapon law that is deemed necessary
by the authorities for the protection
of life and property.
Suggests Fund to Fight Cases.
The federation gave its hearty in
dorsement to the Tinkham bill for
the establishment of a home and
school for the feeble-minded of the
District The bill would empower the
Commissioners to acquire 1900 acres
of land in Maryland or Virginia for
the feeble-minded Institution, to be
known as the Columbia Training
School.
Mr.. Clayton suggested that the cit
izens' associations raise a fund to be
used in presenting the public's side
of utility rate cases before the utili-
ties commission and in working for
merger legislation in Congress that
would meet the peoples views. He
stated that he has an offer from a
public benefactor to double any
amount the citizens raise for these
purposes. No definite action was TAX
en- on the suggestion last night.
Favors Personal Interviews.
Mr.. Finch made a vigorous speech
to his fellow delegates on the neces-
sity of following up resolutions
adopted by the federation by person.
ally interviewing members of Con-
gress. The federation, he declared,
will never accomplish the things for
which it is working unless its men,
bers get personally before the men,
bers of Congress the wishes of the
people.
Mr.. Clayton asked the federation to
send letter to President Harding
indorsing both Edward +. Colladay
and Charles s. Shreve for the position
of United States district attorney.
Motion Is withdrawn.
Other delegates sought to have
other names. added to the letter Of
and when a motion was
made to refer the entire matter to the
committee on law and legislation, Mr..
Clayton withdrew his motion. He
explained that he offered it only be-
cause Mr.. Colladay and Mr.. Shreve
are ex-presidents of the federation.
The Conduit Road Association SUBJ
mitted a resolution urging that the
new Key bridge be reserved for We
and pedestrian traffic and that
the old Aqueduct bridge be left in use
for the street car tracks. The resolu-
ton was referred to a committee for
report at the next meeting.
Mrs. Cabot Stevens made an appeal
to 1.-The delegates for the Near East
Relief. and when she had concluded
Mr. Clayton moved that the federation
indorse the drive for this cause with
the request that the delegates carry
the appeal back to their associations
The motion was unanimously adopted