Evening star., 1926-03-25
bLEASE PROPOSES
DISTRICT MAYOR
Senator Tells Southwest
Merchants City Rule Is
Complicated.

| Citizens of the District of Columbia
| should he allowed to vote for Senators.
Representatives and the President of
the United States. Senator Cole l..
Blease of South Carolina told mem
bers of the Southwest Business Men s
| AsSocia ion at their first anniversary
| Get-together' dinner at Roland's Cafe,
| 32l Seventh street southwest. last
| night
| There are too many boards and btl-
| reauS in the municipal Government,
| he Senator declared adding that a
| change to an old-time single governing
| head and body--a mayor and board of
| aldermen-WOuld be more satisfactory.
There are too many selfish persons
| clamoring to he credite with accom-
! plishing things. he said, declaring that
The specific need is for one man as
leader who would stand out pre'emi-
emily above all others and would
i.ave his own advisers. AS conditions
exist. he said, with the multiplicity
of bureaus and boards, 1t is difficult to
determine where to place either blame
or credit for any accomplishment. be-
cause too many individuals have to be
consulted before action is obtained.
He spoke of the dangers incident to
the granting of the right of the suf
fraSe franchise in the District. and
warned that before making a decision
the most thorough investigation
should he made to ascertain what
class and type of voters would WELD
he balance of power.
Wary on Gasque Bill.
Senator Blease said he disiked pull
ing away from his colleague, but he
would have Ito be powerfully sure of
the controlling element and the pros.
nf hnt for hafnrp ha acts a,
vote i'm favor of the Gasque school
board election bill. 1t would be far
better to he content with a few hard
ships and difficulties, if any exist un-
der the present system, he said. than
60 have the whole business spoiled by
"cE'SS problems.
Washington taA rate is too high.
the senator said. contendinS that the
city should moi be in the charge Of
ommitteeS in Congress who are
strangers to the city. unfamiliar with
its needs and indifferent. possibly. be
cause at the. end of two years they
may he kicked out" There are too
many laws in the United States. he
declared stating that there Is not a
lawyer in the country who knows
all of the laws even of his own State.
He concluded by urging all citizens
with desires for better things for the
District to come to his office and state
their wants.
Capt. Headley Speaks.
Capt. Albert J. fieadley, in charge
f the fourth police precinct. outlined
briefly history of events in the
Southwest from his entrance into the
service as private 80 years ago. and
paid tribute to the courage and BRAY
cry of the personnel under his com
mand. He urged more friendly at
titude by residents toward the police
officers in their neighborhoOd
George NJ. featman, president Of
the association, welcomed the guests
and introduced Robert Strobel, chief
Of the Southwest fire department" "
who acted as POSTMASTER. Other
guests of the association were ID. l..
Bates. Lieut.. w. r.. Holmes of No. 4
precinct, capt. J. B. Lyons of No. l3
engine company. New W. Strausbauch
and James J. Mct'racken. Music was
furnished by i. j. INLAND and John
FhilpOt.
Mr.. Strobel was chairman of the
committee in charge of arrangements
and was assisted by Arthur W. May
and Mason f.. Taylor. Officers of the
association are: President. Mr.. Yeat-
man: vice president. William r. Mil,
Ter; treasurer, Joseph P. Burke; sec
retary, Carroll V. Donnelly. and chair
man of the membership committee,
George B. Miller