Evening star., 1923-01-20
SCORES CONGRESS
FOR D. c. POLICY
Citizens Association Says
Legislators Refuse to Heed
Peoples Demands.

Refusal of Congress for many years
past ito pay heed to the demands of
the people Of this community takes
the form of genuine scandal" IN the
opinion of the Central Citizens Asso-
citation, expressed in resolutions made
of record at a meeting last night In
the Juvenile Court rooms.
"The Congress of the United States
in reserving to itself parental author
ity over the District Of Columbia Is
morally bound to exercise reasonable
diligence in carrying into effect, for
the benefit of the general public. the
responsibilities incident to it's reser-
vations," the resolutions state.
This scandal manifests itself in
transferring to commissions the right
to regulate without the right to Pc
nalize, and with no right of appeal
the Congress, which refuses 70 exer-
else upon it's own responsibility the
obligations of it's position.
Cites Public Utilities Board.
"T-he dictates Of these regulatory
commissions are exempllhed IN the
Public Utilities Commission, whose
acts of omission are transcend1ng In
their glaring indifference to the ex-
pressed will Of the local people in
many ways.
"It is a fact beyond question that
no city in the United States Is so thor
oughly dominated by corporate inter-
ests as is the city of Washington, due
to the ignominious status OF the cii,
zens in being denied any political
rights that need be respected, or in
deed any civic right whatsoever.
"The responsibility for this, Of
course, lies with Congress and may
not be evaded by pleading ignorance,
from it's responsibilities in the prem
ises.
"ReaI Duty" of Congress.
IF the demand upon the time Of
the legislators is so great they can
not protect citizens of Washington,
then a real duty devolves upon 1t to
enact general legislation, within the
constitutional limits reserved to it,
giving to the constituted citizenship
of Washington the right to select its
administrative officers of such gen.
eral laws, with necessary authority to
make rules to enforce such laws with
adequate penalties.
'The Central Citizens Association
believes that the conditions into
which we have been submerged war
rant us in laying this petition before
the Congress-, to request relief from
the intolerable conditions that are
now our portion as citizens of the
National Capital.
Therefore, be ii
Resolved, That the truths above
enumerated should be placed before
each member of the Senate and the
House of Representatives and the
President.
The resolution was introduced by
Thomas J. Donovan, president Of the
association.
Inadequate Lighting Protested
The association also entered q n>S-
test against the inadequacy of the
lighting that prevails under the
viaducts of H. K and Il streets north
east during the early morning hours,
due to the fact, it was pointed out,
that the lights there are carried on
circuit that is automatically shut
off at states times, irrespective of the
lighting conditions at such hours from
natural sources. This particular con-
dition, it was stated. "only accentu-
ates the deplorable lighting that OBJ
tains throughout the city, due in
large measure to the type of frosted
or opal globes that is used in the
street lamps and by the very nature
of the dimming contemplated to