Evening star., 1925-03-08
CITY COUNCIL PLAN
IS RECOMM|TTED
long, Spirited Debate Pre-
cedes Action by Federation
of Citizens Associations,


acrimonious, during the course of
which 1T was charged that the fed
GRAFTON was on trial, the Federation
OF Citizens Associations at a meeting
in the District Building last night
recommitted the report OF it's special
committee on the proposed CITY
council.
At the conclusion of the debate the
federation found Itself right back
where 1t started. And this. as was
pointed out by those who took part In
the long debate, was in the face OF
the fact that the association at its
last meeting approved the council
idea. as suggested by the Commits
sioners, and directed the appointment
of the special committee to draw up
the details.
Under the terms of the motion
. which sent the report back 10 the
committee, another report will be
made to the federation at its first
regular meeting in April.
President suter speaks.
The feeling of those who opposed
action last night was that the cleo
tion of such a coucil to consult with
the Commiss onerS would defeat the
purposes of the federation. Near mid
night the association called on It's
president. Jesse &. Suter, TO take the
floor and give il the benefit of his
| knowledge of the situation.
Mr.. Suter said that the proposed
city council was initiated by the Com
missioners, who were desirous of hav-
ing a representative body of citizens
confer with them on city matters.
When requested by Commissioner Bell
for his views Mr.. Suter said he told
him that citizens would not approve
giving representation entirely TO the
trades bodies of the city, and h.
thought it should be made up Of rep
resentatives of the citizens associa-
tions and that special interests should
not be represented. Mr.. Suter said he
suggested that the federation lect
such a body
Mr.. Suter said that he was con-
vinced this was the greatest oppor-
tunlty ever furnished citizens to OBJ
| tain representation in the City Gov
ernment, and he told of the efforts
OF other organizations TO be repre-
sented on the body. Such bodies can
only be represented under the plan
as at present approved by becoming
constituent members of the fedora
tion. Delay in approving the plan
would be a great mistake. and might
result, he said, in taking the whole
matter out of the hands of the Fed
Grafton.
Oppose 10 Reference.
Referring the matter back to the
member bodies would produce the
same result, and he cited instances
where IT was impossible to get a
referendum on comparatively trivial
matters from the member bodies. If
the matter went back to the member
bodies, he said. il will go before many
of them which are not representative,
and at m meetings. where there are only
handful of people present.
This point brought several mem
bers to their feet to protest against
this remark, but Mr.. Suter insisted
that this was rue, as he had attended
some such meetings and pointed out
that 1t was known to the Commits
sioners. He said that if the matter
went before the public in the news
papers that this body. after instruct
ing a committee to report and after
approving the plan in general, would
appear ridiculous and it might result
in the failure of the whole matter.
The report which precipitated the
debate was prepared by a special
committee composed of William s.
Torbert, chairman; Proctor l..
Dougherty, George A. Finch, ]. G.
Yaden and Fred S. Walker. 1t
merely provided for the details of the
election of the eight members of the
council with the president of the
federation as ex officio chairman. 1t
designated the name as The City
Council of the District of Columbia
Plan of the Council.
The report provided that to be
eligible persons must he 25 years old;
be bona fide residents for a period of
five years. and have no official posi-
tion in the city government. The
terms of office are to be for two years,
four of the first eight elected to serve
only for one year. so that at any one
time there would not be a complete
change in the council. 1t then pro-
vided for the election of one member
by each association of the federation
of citizens associations and one by
each association member of the fed
GRAFTON of civic associations, and for
process of elimination by the fedora
ton until the eight members are
elected. 1t provided that the nomina-
tions should be in by the latter part
of this month and the elections next
month, but action last night will have
the effect of necessitating a change in
this provision.
1t provides for a system of recall,
after election, of any member of the
council, and as to powers, privileges
and obligations, says:
The City Council of the District
of Columbia, constituted and quail
fed as hereinbefore provided, shall
be charged with the duty of advising
with and assisting the Commissioners
Of the District of Columbia in con-
sidering and passing Iegisla tion.
pending and proposed, affecting the
District of Columbia, and including
the exercise of powers delegated to
said Commissioners by the Congress
of the United States.
May Recommend Legislation.
'1t shall be within the power and
privilege of said council to recon-
mend legislation and the exercise of
delegated power and submit such
recomm endatfons to the Commission
ers of the District of Columbia
The respective federations shall
have the right to call for and receive
reports from the members of said
city council elected by them.
Said council shall meet at such
times as the Commissioners shall
designate; but said council may. Of
its own motion, hold meetings for
consideration of matters before it.
said council shall make such rules
and regulations for the transaction of
its business as it may deem proper.
provided such rules and regulations
are not inconsistent Win It's 0ut1eS
and obligations as hereinbefore de-
fined"
Would Enlarge Council.
j. w. Murphy served notice that
when the matter comes up for con-
sideration again he will move that
the membership of the council be in
creased to % and that all reference
to the Federation of Civic Associa-
tions be stricken from the report
The question of employing an at.