The Washington times., 1925-12-01
The Citizens Advisory Council
AS an Official Body
By BILL PRICE

With becoming modesty the Citizens Advisory Council
leaves future developments mainly to the viii OF congress
the suggestion that the council shall be made an official poo
attitude of the District Commissioners to this PROPOSE
ton will be made known bill giving official status
introduced Congress and the views of the
asked by that body as is customary
situation of Advisory Council interesting
Though by direct suffrage its members
elected by of citizens associations To that extent
it representative body. is regarded by the Com
missioners who consult all matters of District appropra
tons legislation Whether it has proven useful to the
Commissioners in settling local problems has interfered
with the of the Commissioners has not
been made known. The council is merely advisory It is
without official responsibility should clash with the
wishes of the Commissioners the latter will they fit
Congress will begin consideration Of District matters
the council is in disagreement with the Commissioners
may be expected in matters will Congress listen to the
council the Commissioners, both?
AS the situation stands Congress regards the Commits
soners the final authority for consultation and
commissioners should They undoubtedly stand for
the community and they of the community trusted and
respected by District citizens
Congressional permit representative citizens
appear before them express their views Whether that
policy continued in the future-with the Citizens
Advisory presumably representing public sentiment
Certain it that Congress has been quite
fair to public sentiment matter Of receiving widely
divergent opinions to what should be done.
Citizens Advisory Council should be given an official
advice the District Commissioners On the other
hand many large civic organizations here which 90
not recognize exclusively representative OF pub
lie sentiment.
The District Commissioner in fatherng the proposition OF
an Advisory Council appeared have view the recognition
Of public opinion voiced from body as close to the pub
lie as could be without direct suffrage The Comms
soners have long aware that sentiment here was daily
growing stronger complete suffrage particularly IN strct
local matters council promoted and created as
concession to this growing desire and with sincere purpose
"a truly recognise suffrage sentiment suffrage supporters wiz
he neased They look the Commissioners Tor 1ursne
i; beba of direct suffrage the idea Of the council
as inst bit Of land is to end with present arrange
n.nts the people of Washington will not be sausileo
h Council itself is already record as favor1ng the
of the election Of members Of the Board OF Eou
to bv nouular vote The council might go even 1urtne
rd favor the principle Of the election OF District Com
oissoners bv direct popular vote That would 90 away
nhstitute schemes for appeasng local sentiment WIN I
eiecton of five Commissioners by the ballots OF all the
If the District one to be delegate In Congress- our
ecslave body would longer be in doubt as wna 10 u"
or how to do it. -, : -
Giving the Citizens Council official status ism gong
ton the efforts of loyal Americans in washington 10
the right to vote the polls the same as all otner
They will continue fight and their wishes Will eventually
he ed nv