Evening star., 1924-03-29
CITY HEADS ELECTION
BY VOTERS is URGED
Brightwood Citizens Approve Bill
for Popular Vote on Civilian
Commissioners.
WOULD INCREASE POWERS
Association Also Proposes Vote on
Education Board.

The Brightwood Citizens Associa-
ton last night adopted the tentative
bill of the Federation of Citizens
Associations, increasing the powers
of the District Commissioners with
several changes, the most important
of which was a recommendation that
the two civilian Commissioners of
the District be elected by the people.
The meeting was held in the Masonic
Temple, with Charles w. Ray preSid-
ing, and w. d. Wilson as secretary.
Under the provisions of the bill in
creaSing the Commissioners power
the judges of the Police, Municipal
and Juvenile courts, board of char
tiles, board of education and record
er of deeds were to be appointed by
these officials. Objection was made
to these provisions.
The members of the association eX-
pressed themselves in favor of elect
ing the judges, in addition to the. two
Commissioners; abolishing the office
of the recorder of deeds, these duties
to be performed by the clerk of the
supreme Court of the District and
the board of education to be elected
by the people. No recommendation
was made regarding the board of
charities.
Many Provisions Approved.
The other provisions approved by
the association included regulating
character and amount of licenses,
regulating erection Of fire escapes,
fixing amount and character of auto
mobile fees, authority to compromise
claims against District, regulating
vendors on city streets, control OF
public space, regulations controlling
conventions, inaugurations, etc;
enact rules relating to electrical con-
Struction, cancel and remit penalties
and interest on overdue taxes, con-
tract for day labor not to exceed
$500 without competitive bids and
over that amount by proposals, close
streets and roads in the District
when found necessary, fix rates OF
assessments for public improvements,
appoint District civil employees as
special policemen for protection of
property, make all ordinances and
regulations for effective admin st ra-
ton of municipality. The fact that
Congress has already legiSlated is
not to be deemed a limitation upon
the powers of the Commissioners to
make further and additional regula-
tions on the same subjects All of
the provisions were discussed and
unanimously indorSed.
Hit School Conditions.
The board of education. Congress
and District Commissioners were
criticised and charged with neglect
regarding better school conditions in
Brightwocd and vicinity. Mrs. II. S
ParSCn reported on conditions in the
schools and urged that steps be
taken to secure additional ground for
the Brightwood Park School. VIII
liam Mex. Clayton urged prompt ac-
tion in a resolution bearing on the
present conditions.
Charles w. Ray, William NICK.
Clayton and John A. Saul comprise
a committee that will urge speedy
action on the bill in Congress pro-
viding for the extension of Vermont
avenue from its present terminus to
Georgia avenue.
DR.. George IS. Heinecke delivered
an address on cancer
Walter Trey, president of the Ia
koma Park Citizens Association, also
spoke and invited the officers and
members to attend a joint meeting
to be held at the Takoma Park Pub
lilo Library on Monday, April IA.