Evening star., 1928-10-18
BOARD |NDORSES
COMMUNITY CHEST
Trade Group Adopts ResoIu-
ton Urging Reduction in
Sewer Assessments.

Endorsement of the community chest
plan for financing local charities. orgar-
ization of which now is being effected
after years of study of the proposal
was voted unanimously by the Wash
ington Board of Trade at its first Fail
meeting last night at the Willard Hotel.
The board also adopted a resolution
urging reduction of the assessment for
the laying of service sewers in the Dis
trict from SO to Sl60 per front foot.
and approved referendum No. So of the
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States concerning agricultural problems
William NJ. Butterworth. president of
the national chamber. who was a guest
of honor, spoke on radical changes in
American business methods now III
progress, contending that business
groups have found it better to establish
their own, elf-imposed codes of con-
duct than to resort to legislation to
correct abuses.
A stirring appeal for national repre-
sentation for the District was sounded
by Frederic William Vile. Washington
correspondent, during an analysis of the
political situation. While November
probably will bring out an unparalleled
number of voters, it will be day of
mourning for the half million disfran-
chised residents of Washington, he said
Red Cross Asks Aid.
Other speakers were Earl F. Gates CT
the American Red Cross. who urged
public support here for the forthcoming
annual roll call of the relief organiza-
tion; Commissioner Proctor L. Dough-
erty, who spoke briefly of the work OF
the Board of Trade: Lawrence Williams,
Rufus S. Lusk and Robert j. COttrell,
Everett president, conducted the meet
ing.
Walter S. Pratt. chairman of the
committee on charities and corrections,
who submitted a report recommending
approval of the community chest plan,
urged wholehearted support by business
interests of the city for the plan. re-
porting that already % local charities
have applied for inclusion in the az
rangement.
Mr.. Lusk, in presenting the resolu-
tion calling for a lowering OF the as
sessmentS on sewers, declared that the
existing assessments amount to approx
mately "a per cent. of the total cos.
of LAYING the service sewers, whereas
the apparent intent of Congress il
legislation on the subject was that adj
Joining property owners should pay SO
per cent of the costs.
Mr. Lusk who is executive secretary
of the Operative Builders Association.
said that in streets where small size
sewers are laid, abutting property
owners in some cases pay as much as
200 per cent of the total cost under
present assessment rates.
Airport Plans Told.
Mr.. williams, chairman of the avi-
alton committee, told of plans for pro-
noting the establishment here of
permanent airport.
In his talk on the presidential cam
paigns, Mr.. Vile declared that while
Washington has a population of more
than 100000 as intelligent, patriotic
and law-abiding citizens as are to be
found in the country they are deprived
of the franchise-though taxed as
cruelty as were our revolutionary fore
fathers
Mr.. Vile said that no one can even
approximate prediction as to the out
come of the approaching election.
Never, he said, has there been CAM
paign so filled with unknown qualities,
a time when essentials and main issues
have been so obliterated and so much
emphasis placed on intolerance and un-
truth.
Mr.. Butterworth, in his address on
American business, pointed out that
competition is taking on new and baf-
fling phases; that science and invention
shift the industrial and economic stage