Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-05
COUNCIL ELECTED;
ABOLITION PLANNED
Federation Of Citizens Asso-
Citations Hope to Form
Larger Group in Fall.

kANNlSOEY &OukACtfs anu OAACn AAAAAAEAAGNCA.
proceeded to discuss q plan to abolish
It In November and substitute q large
council which would serve also as al
executive committee Of the federation
Action on the plan, however, was de
ferred until May.
Aside from eleeting . new council
the federation appointed special com
nittee to make an exhaustive inyesti'
Eation into the 2,000-pound short tor
asopted By washington coal dealers
AMI prices charged for the fuel. 1t also
created a special committee to study the
effect of the new restrictions on auto.
mobile parking. adopted by the Com
m,ssioners for the downtown area.
Members OF Council.
Elected to the new council are L. A
Carruthers, Or. George r. Ellis, w. q
Gath. Thomas Z. Lodge, John A. Saul
and Charles I. Stengle. Three Of them
Stengle. Lodge and Saul, were mem
bers Of the last council.
All of the councilnen were elected on
The FIRST ballot. Seventy-one votes
were cast. majority being necessary tc
elect. The race was narrowed down te
10 candida.-s by the laSt-minute with
drawal of A. NJ. Holcombe. Votes re-
ceived by each candidate were:
Carruthers, 80: DIR. Ellis, 46; Gath,
Mrs. z. c. Rittue. 20, and John Walker
IS. Six ballots were cast for Holcombe
and five for Edwin s. Hege, who with
drew several days ago.
offered TO withdraw.
As seven candidates received a ma
jority of the votes cast, and there were
only six places TO be filed DR.. George G
Havenner, president Of the federation,
declared elected the six receiving the
largest number Of votes. This eliminated
Mrs Rittue. Stengle sought to with
draw in favor Of Mrs. Rittue. but DR..
Havenner declared this would be con-
trary to the organic act creating the
council
Interest In the election was not as
keen as In past years, due chiefly TO the
sporadic attempts In the federation 70
abolish the council. This was reflected
in the voting. OF l24 potential votes
only II we're cast. Four Of the delegates
did not vote. One of them was william
NICK. Clayton. chairman Of the Public
Utilities Committee. who announced
that the Brightwood Citizens Associa-
ton had instructed him and Saul. his
colleague, not to participate in the cleo
ton. But Saul cast ballot anyhow.
Debate Gas Situation.
The gas situation, brought up in q
preliminary report of subcommittee Of
the Public Utilities Committee headed
by M. M. Mclean, precipitated debate
when several delegates took exception to
certain findings Of the committee. The
report was received, however, by q close
vote Of ~ TO 20.
The report declared that recent COM
plants over high gas bills. filed with
Peoples Counsel Richmond B. Keech,
were less. than 200, and that about 10
or IL Of the So civic organizations had
made protests. This Is Q comparatively
small number, especially from individ-
uals." 1t said. "Of the latter complaints
many have been investigated and found
to be erroneous"
The report said further that one Of
the possible grounds for complaint may
have resulted from the increase In the
use Of gas for house-heating purposes,
and that the temporary 8-inch pressure
allowed by the Public Utilities Commits
sion win not increase consumption to an
appreciable degree provided appliances
are properly adjusted and managed.
Opposes Report.
"Your committee is also Of the opin-
lon" the report added, that q certain
degree Of high-preSsure craftsmanship
may have been INDUCED in by agents OF
Tilt ANE EpAukAAly 10 A1luuCE AlUl3GUU1QGEN
TO adopt gas heating, and that in some
instances the estimates as to the low
cost OF gas heating were exaggerated.
There was some ground for complaint
IN such instances"
As soon as Mclean concluded the
reading Of his report, @. z. Sullivan
moved that 1t be referred back to the
Public Utilities Committee for further
study. Il don't indorse any Of those
l. =
TO dispute any Of them"
L. s. Trundle pointed out that the
report said many of the complaints
about excessive bills had been found
to be erroneous although the committee
failed to determine the accuracy of the
statement.
Harry N. stun likewise took excep-
ton to some Of the statements in the
report. Mr.. Mclean declares that less
than 200 written complaints were made
TO Peoples Counsel Keech." he said.
but as matter Of fact he has received
thousands OF protests over the telephone
and at public gatherings. The fact is
that q great deal OF the gas trouble is
due to the pressures which went up as
high as IA inches. Pressures were re-
duced because the utilities commission
got after the gas company. I think that
important facts existing are not con-
SNe-tD0 %A SAA~ NNtCAb-
New Council Recommended.
The plan to abolish the existing adj
visory council and create a new council
which would likewise serve as the fed
eration's Executive Committee was
recommended in a report Of q special
committee appointed TO consider pro-
posed amendments to the federation's
bylaws A vote on the report wa
GaH~ NGa.f 4r vI.r a. e..
IN opportunity to study thoroughly the
plan.
The dual council and Executive Com
Inittee would be composed of ~ dele
gates and the president OF the fedora
ton, who would be chairman. The
present. council Is composed Of six
delegates elected by the federation and
the federation president who is e.
Officio chairman, and two delegates frcn
the Federation of Civic Associations
The latter organization, under the pro.
posed plan, would be invited to cleo
three of It's delegates TO participate e.
members Of the council"
The proposed new council would have
the power to consider and advise" or
all public matters affecting the Dis.
trict, and report to the federation. Thu
existing council Is authorized to act al
an advisory body to the commissioners
Committees Appointed.
APPOINTMENT OF the special commit.
tee to investigate the coal situation wa:
taken on motion Of w. /. Swanton. Ar
amendment by william A. Roberts
directed the committee particularly Il
determine whether coal prices in tha
District are fixed in violation Of law
The committee Is composed Of @. A
La Vigne, Swanton. O. B. Bishop, +
T. Campbell and j. c. L. Ritter
Edwin s.. Hege, B. A. Bowles and q
r Wales compose the special commit.
tee appointed TO study the automobile.