The Washington times., 1923-08-04
B0ND|SSlJE
OPINIONS
SOUGHT
Citizens Federation President
Asks Organizations to
Express Views.

Opinions on the proposal Of
Commissioner James F. Oyster for
a bond Issue by the District gov
eminent is sought by Charles A.
Baker, president of the Federation
Of Citizen Associations, in a let
ter to the forty-one citizens asso-
Citations in Washington.
Baker informs each association
that the Commissioners are seek
ing public expression as to what
should be their course in getting
money to make. permanent and
much needed improvements in
Washington.
Urged Az Duty.
Z obviously. 1t should be the duty
Of our people to promptly comply
with this request and sustain the
commissioners in their effort to
solve this problem In a manner &C.
ceptable to the people they strive
to serve" Bakers letter said.
From no source can an expires.
sion of opinion be obtained which
will more clearly reflect public SEN
timent than through the medium
OF the forty-one members bodies
of the Federation Of Citizens Asso-
citation. AS rapidly as opportunity
offers, action should be taken and
the Board of Commissioners mott.
fed"
The full text Of the letter follows:
The past six years have brought
to US a large increase in spopula'
ton and an unusual expansion in
city area.
Held Up by War.
"Exigencies Of the great war not
only prevented public works from
keeping pace with this growth, but
interfered with repair work.
"As a consequences, our city is in
urgent need Of new and improved
paYements and sidewalks; additions
to the water and sewer systems;
schools and school equipment with
which to educate the minds of our
boys and girls, and parks and play.
grounds in which to develop their
bodies.
along these and other lines the
promptly be brought up to date
These represent the necessities OF
municipal life. Delay in providing
them is a false economy which
| serves to undermine the mental and
moral vigor of our youth and our
citizenship in general.
Our District Commissioners are
| no wengaged in compiling a list OF
these arrearages together with their
costs. Approximately, they tell us
the list will call for an outlay OF
$40, OOO.0 900.
That amount is obviously too
large to meet from current
revenues.
Two Alternatives.
Two alternatives present them.
| selves, say our Commissioners:
'Q) Extend over a period of many
years the work which Is needed and
| should be done now.
"I2) Request the Congress to
| authorize a bond issue.
Briefly the Commissioners call
attention to the fact that the Dis
trict Is out of debt; that, with "A
proper sinking fund provision, the
expense of these improvements,
| which are of semi-permanent
| nature, may be spread over A
period Of years; that this method of
providing for extraordinary public
| improvements Is the course usually
| followed and Is considered econom-
ically and equitably correct. In
| conclusion they request public ex-
preston as to what should Re their
course. Obviously, 1t should be the
duty OF our people to promptly COM
ply with this request and sustain
the Commissioners in their effort to
solve this problem in a manner &C
ceptable to the people they strive
| to serve.
From no source can an express
sion Of opinion be obtained which
will more clearly reflect public SEN
timent than through the medium of
the forty-one member bodies of the
Federation Of Citizens Associations
AS rapidly as opportunity offers
action should be taken and the
| Board of Commissioners notified"