Evening star., 1927-04-17
CITIZENS COUNCIL
SCOPE STIRS FIGHT
Federation Holly Debates
Subject, Deferring Action
Until May 7.

Future scope OF the Citizens Ad-
visory Council, new storm center III
the civic life of the National Capital
was debated hotly by the Federation
of Citizens Associations last night at
the District Building, and the whole
subject was precipitated into a ses-
sion three weeks hence, when three
wide different amendments to the
organic act creating the council will
be voted upon by the federation.
Movements TO approach the trade
bodies of the city. which have evinced
a growing feeling against the increas-
ing power Of the council, were
brought into the debate, but received
at least a temporary setback at the
hands of a more conservative wing.
The federation voted to adopt as
"the sense Of the meeting, but not
as an amendment to the council laws,
a report of the committee on law and
legislation, which has rejected the
more radical departures from the
precedent already set by the council.
Out of the prolonged and ensnarled
parliamentary tangle the federation
finally ordered the committee report,
together with the proposed amend
ments, which were rejected by the
committee. Jumped together and sent
in printed form to the delegates at
once, for consideration and action at
the session May Z.
Conservatives Are Winners.
While most of the fireworks last
night revolved around parliamentary
tactics to prevent hasty action, the
conservatives won out in at least two
important tests of strength, The pro
gressives, however, promise action at
the next meeting, when the merits OF
the case will be debated,
a progressive proposal, submitted
by DR.. George G. Havenner, a mem
ber Of the council, which would have
Invited trade bodies to appoint COM
nittees to meet with federation com
mittee with view of formulating d
plan for creating a "liaison agency"
to coordinate the activities of these
several organizations pertaining to
eity-wide betterments, was thrown out
on objection of Jesse c. Suter, who
said he opposed it's presentation under
the heading of special privilege
during consideration of committee re-
ports, Dr. Havenner insisted after
the meeting last night he would at
tempt to bring up his proposal again
under new business.
The key action of the federation
was taken in adopting a substitute
motion by William S. Torbert which
approved as the sense of the meet
ing the report of the law and legis-
lation committee. This committee.
after rejecting two proposals for
changing the scope of the council,
presented by the West End and
Brightwood Associations, had recon-.
lnended to the federation a brief
change in the law of the council, re-
stricting its activity.
This proposed change, adopted as
the sense of the meeting" read as
follows: "The council shall act as an
advisory body upon matters affecting
the District of Columbia, but it shall
not in any way restrict the activities,
or abrldge the rights of the fedora
tions hereinafter mentioned or of
their respective member bodies, and
its action thereon shall not be con-
strued as expressive of the views of
the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions or the Federation of Civic Asso-
Citations"
The amendment of the West End
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