Evening star., 1928-12-08

your association was associated on the
City Council of Gov. Shepherd and
served with him in the forefront of
many of the activities of the, city at
that time.
II suppose most of you can recall the
time when We had practically unpasS-
able streets and avenues and few re-
spectacle sidewalks: when our tricky
water was the color of lemonade and
when the city was divided by the Wash
ington Canal running along B street.
Some can recall with what pride
you looked on the hand-pumped fire
engine that you now have in your head
quarters; you recall the few trees of
the city and the wonderful program of
Gov. Shepherd for the planting of trees
in a systematic manner Gov. Shep-
herd also widened the sidewalks, and
now in 1923 we are forced to narrow
the sidewalks to widen the streets, be-
cause the number of pedestrians is be-
coming notably less. But we are still
trying to preserve the trees"
Further tracing the progress of the
city since Gov Shepherds time, Com
missioner Dougherty quoted President
Coolidge'S congressional message of two
years ago characterizing the present
program as aiming to have our Capital
SApIcSS GLiG SOul OI AIIlGIlCd.
Expressing the sentiment that we are
fortunate to live in this period when
the great building program is actually
under construction, the Commissioner
reviewed the progress to date on the
Department of Commerce Building, the
Internal Revenue Building, the Admin
istration Building for the Department
OF Agriculture, and cited plans for the
enlargement of the Government Print
ing Office. the Department of Justice
and Archives Buildings, and the pro-
posal to erect municipal group in har-
mony with the Federal development.
Edison Welcomed Back.
The association stood in body to
welcome John Joy Edison as lone of its
most >honored members" Mr.. Edison,
who some time ago was badly hurt by
an automobile, expressed his thankful
ness at being able to attend, and told
the association it welded an amazingly
powerful influence whenever it expressed
itself on any measure for the progress
or welfare of the Capital of the Nation.
Holding the lump sum Federal appro-
priation of $9,000,000 a year for the
District was wholly inadequate, Mr..
Everett stressed the Importance of
equitable fiscal relation between the
local and Federal governments as an
essential step in Washington'S growth.
In bringing greetings from the 3,100
members of the Board of Trade, Mr..
Everett praised the work of the asSo-
citation in laying the foundation" upon
which the newer organizations can
build. Mr.. Everett outlined the three
main objectiveS of the Board of Trade
at present as the development of an
airport at Gravelly Point. the making
OF model survey of Washington SO the
city will know exactly where it stands
industrially. educationally, etc., and the
erection of a stadium here by the Roose-
velt Memorial Foundation, and re-
quested the cooperation whenever
possible of the Association of Oldest
Inhabitants to obtain these projects.
Weld Speaks for Chamber of Commerce.
Mr.. Weld declared that though the
Chamber OF Commerce was one of the
younger organizations of the city it was
the first to go on record in favor of
national representation for the District
Of Columbia
THE Chamber of Commerce has en-
deavored to serve the city as best 1t
can and to help to make it a truly
beautiful and truly representative city,"
ne said. And I am pleased to say
that all the major organizations are
backing us in that program, giving us
reason to hope that our activity will
eventually lead to action
Representative Anthony j. Griffin of
New York, who was to have been the
principal speaker of the evening, sent
telegram of regret, having been called
Unexpectedly out of town yesterday
afternoon. Mr.. Bryan also informed the
association regrets had been received
from Commissioners Sidney F. Talia-
ferro and William B. Ladue, Gen. Anton
Stephan, president of the Merchants
and Manufacturers Association, and DR..
George c. Havenner, president of the
Federation of Citizens Associations,
! other invited guests.
Music was furnished by George H.
O'Connor, accompanied by Matt Horne,
and an original poem was read by John
Clagett Proctor.