Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-20
ADVOCATES BUREAU
TO SERVE DISTRICT
R. w. Gates of Lanier Heights
Association Would Safe
guard Taxpayers Money.

| A bureau representing the taxpayers
Of the District and organized along the
lines of bodies in other cities, for the
purpose of seeing that 1.-The taxpayers
money is wisely and properly expended
assessments of real estate made in an
| equitable manner and the District
business economically managed" is pro-
posed by r. Woodland Gates, attorney
and president of the Lanier Heights
Citizens Association.
Such an organization would keep tab
on all public business" said Mr.. Gates
today Its expenses could be met by
| donations by business men generally of
sum equal to approximately 2 per
cent of the amount of their respective
annual tax bills. / believe that this has
been found sufficient in most cases. The
business men in every city are, for the
most part. paying the bills through tax
alton and they should desire to know
that every cent is properly expended
and all business ably managed, Just as
they now insist upon knowing all about
their business and where every cent
goes.
Proves Success in Other Cities.
THE work of such an organization as
refer to has brought about the saving
Of large sums Of money to the taxpayers
in certain cities and has made officials
more careful and considerable of the
public welfare. The organization in San
Francisco keeps in touch with all nego-
tiations entered into by the city and
county officials in behalf of the NUM-
cipality and has been of assistance to
those officials. A notable instance is
that of assessment of real estate. The
organization appointed a committee to
work with the officials and the result
was an equitable assessment satisfactory
to all.
1T will thus be noted that the BUSH
ness men OF San Francisco, through
their organization, work with the city
and county officials and not antagonistic
Go them, and the business men have
hound 1t greatly to their financial adj
vantage to support the organization by
their small contributions. The courts
have recognized the organizations right,
as representing the taxpayers, whose
money the city and county officials ex-
pend. to be advised of every step in the
negotiations covering any particular
business, when and as taken, not to be
simply informed as to the outcome Of
the negotiations.
Il think the courts here would sustain
this view II Washington had an organ
ization of the kind, for although we
have no city council or county board of
supervisory, our money is being ex-
pended and We are entitled to know
every detail Of our business"
Sees Too Many Civic Bodies.
Mr.. Gates also thinks that one citi-
zens' association in Washington, instead
of the fifty or more small ones, sending
representatives TO the Federation Of
Citizens Associations, would be q good
thing for this city.
i believe that it would be advisable to
have one citizens association only in
Washington" said Mr.. Gates, with its
members elected from wards to be clear
~ defined-very much as a city council
Is elected. The meetings of such an
association would be devoted to business
solely and would, think, be well at
tended. The proceedings Of such an
association would be watched and its
resolutions read, for 1t would have be-
hind its requests the strength Of the en-
tire District"