Evening star., 1936-07-19
Civic Problems, Civic Bodies
One.Man Street Car Hearing Watched Closely by
Civic Groups-Personal Property Tax
Returns Must Be Filed in July.

their otner organization amllationss
These neighborhood organizations
have doomed as particular neigh
borhood problems were pressing
and then waned when their efforts
were crowned with success or they
were thoroughly discouraged
through failure.
At the present time q few asso-
Citations are fiourishing, with large
memberships and large treasury.
while others have dwindled in
membership and interest. Some
students of our civic organizations
hold that this diminishing of the
membership and interest Is in large
measure due to the fact that Or
ganizations of different character
are increasingly taking on civic
work It is pointed out that the
Washington Federation of Churches
has an active civic committee, that
the various veterans organizations
are taking part in civic affairs, and
that the Central Labor Union Is
similarly engaged as well as the
various sectional business mems as
sociations. The Medical Society,
the Dental Society and the Phar-
maceutical Society are all showing
a real interest in local civic queS-
tions. But these three last named
groups occupy a somewhat differ
ent position from the others in that
they are affiliated as regular mem
bers of the Federation of Citizens
Associations.
Some of these students Of civic
organizations contend that the
churches, the veterans and the
various occupational groups should
encourage their members to anil
late with the basic citizen organ
izations of the neighborhoods
where they reside. and that most
Of the civic activity should be ex-
pressed through these groups which
are organized merely as citizens
rather than through any such
other divisions of the community.
This idea has been emphasized
several times during the last year
in growing sentiment favoring
the restriction of the membership
in the Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations to neighborhood citizens
associations. Many of the most
broadminded civic leaders are in
clined to support this opinion, in
the hope that it will result in an
increase In the number of recruits
in the ranks of the federation's
neighborhood member organiza-
tionS.
A prominent civic leader re-
Gently was overheard saying that
the organized citizenship of the
District is at present at its lowest
ebb. Because of this condition he
expressed himself as inclined to
withdraw his activities. This man,
usually an optimist, may have
been suffering from the heat or
indigestion, for surely such atti-
tude Is at variance with his entire
civic career.
Civic activities may be at the
low ebb suggested by this leader,
but study of the past would in
dicate that this Is just one of the
downs" which emphasize the ne
cessity for a lot of hard work to
put things on the up"
Everyone must concede the abb
Solute necessity at this time for
recruiting the ranks of the citi-
zens' associations to their full war
strength" The vital local prob
lens which confront this helpless
community before the next Con-
gress require numbers, intelligent
study and efficient, united action.
There is big job ahead and some
civic leaders believe that the time
will be well spent this Summer in
planning for a real muster in the
Fall. Old members must have
their interest re-awakened and
new members must be brought
into the fold. Then, when dele
gates are selected to the Fedora
ton of Citizens Associations, the
ableSt members each association
affords are none too good for this
difficult work.
Our civic problems are manifold
and complex They may be CLASH
fed. catalogued and analyzed, but
when all is said and done the per-
sons most directly affected can only
point to the problem with its solu-
ton and humbly beg our foreign
r1lierx to effect the cure