Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-21

the need Of teamwork by the bust
mess and civic organizations and said
that without united action the Dis
trict would fail to obtain all it asked
of Congress.
Commissioner Ladue. who was pre-
scented to the chamber for the first
time since he was appointed Engineer
Commissioner succeeding Col.
Franklin Bell, said that the views of
the various groups proved very help
full to the city's executives and that
their recommendation should and
would be given consideration. He
pledged himself to cooperate with
the associations in all ways possible,
declaring that he was here to serve
the people of the District.
Mr.. Graham, speaking for the
Board of Trade, opened the discus
sion by championing the District
Commissioners as the spokesman for
the District of Columbia and urging
all trade and civic associations TO
"put their shoulders to the Wheel
in support of the programs recon-
mended to Congress by the city heads.
The Commissioners. he declared.
should be the clearing house for all
the requested legislation sought by
the local bodies.
Each of the trade bodies and the
civic groups. he said. should appeal
to the Commissioners for what action
thew deem needed regardless OF
whether all the organizations agree
or not. This, he believed. would give
the city heads a composite picture OF
what the District wanted ana needea
as a whole. Then. he concluded, an
the organizations should back up the
Commissioners on what they recon-
mend to Congress.
Graham Sees AlibI.
Mr.. Graham termed as only an alibi
the complain made by some Con
gressmen that 1--WE don't know what
the District wants" because of the
different requests by the various
groups in the past, and said that al
ready these organizations had estab-
lished a cooperative movement when
thew united in petitioning the Com.
missioners last Spring for lowering or
the proposed. estimates for the next
fiscal year and for reduction of the
tax rate. He lauded the Commits
sioners for their splendid co-opera-
| tom in their consideration OF THESE
matters.
Mr.. Graham predicted that the
meeting was the beginning of an era
|
various organizations and one that
would see the elimina ton of jealousies.
Pledging the cooperation of the
| Merchants and Manufacturers Asso
citation, Gen. Stephan said that team
| work among the organizations already
was crystallizing into action. He cited
| his own organization, which is made
| up of distinct groups of business IN
| terests having chairmen as members
of the board of governors of the asso'
citation, as an illustration OF how
teamwork could be obtained. Unity of
understanding. he said, would be
| productive of cooperative action by
| the associations.
| Mr.. Yaden. the last speaker. said
that he would support any cooper
alive movement that would produce
| concerted action to the benefit of the
city as a whole. He added, however
| that he did not agree with Mr.. Ora
| ham that the Commissioners should
be recognized as the only spokesman
| for the District.
Enumerates Problems.
ut is my opinion" he said, "tha
I. there should be another organization
whose loyalty to the Commissioner:
is unquestioned, which should go be
| fOle Congress as the representatives
| of the citizens of the District which
would whenever possible support and
corroborate the recommendations Of
the Commissioners"
Mr.. Yaden enumerated a number
of matters which probably will NEAR
increased expenditures for the Dis
trict and said that the associations OF
Washington should join in making q
concerted drive on Congress for 8
readjustment of the fiscal relations
under which the Federal Government
would assume it's fair and just proper
| ton of the tax burden.
| He spoke of the need of increased
appropriations, which will be neces
sary to do away with the "detested
portable" school buildings, which still
are in use; extension of the street paw
ing and sewer installation work, AND
pointed to the proposed consolidation
Of the local street railways and the
move for national representation in
Congress for the District as other
problems which the organizations
| could we'll unit in seeking