Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-11-07
Head of Citizens Federation
Wants Headquarters Office
StuII Also Plans
To Make Meetings
More Profitable


soclatlons, representative body of
81 constituent bodies having mem
bershlp totaling more than 10000,
should have headquarters office
from which to transact its business.
This is the definite conviction of
Harry N. Stull, newly elected presi-
dent of the Federation, a veteran
worker in civic affairs.
Mr.. Stull. who was elected at the
Federation meeting Saturday night,
announced today he planned to ap-
point soon a committee to study
ways and means of getting an office.
Every other important city-wide
organization in Washington has a
headquarters" he said in an inter-
view. The Federation ought to
have one, so that when members
OF Congress or any one else wants
information there will be some one
in an office to give it to them out
of our files.
I'VE ought to have an Office
where committees could meet with
out having to ask TO. the free use
OF rooms granted to us by others"
Explains Plans.
Explaining that his plans for es-
tablishing a headquarters had not
yet been completed, he, expressed
hope that some ways and means
could be worked out. The Fedora
ton has an income of only $40 a
year from each of its constituent
bodies as a regular source, Mr.. Stull
explained. There is now a sur
plus, however he explained, and
there may be some way of raising
more funds or obtaining a head
quarters for files of the association
and a stenographer to be on duty
throughout the business day. This
idea. he explained, was no reflection
on David Babp, who has just been
reelected secretary of the Fedora
ton and whose service in this ca
pacity received praise from the new
president.
BY attempts to speed up procedure
in the Federation, Mr.. Stull an
nounced he would try to make
meetings more profitable to the dele
gates.
While the new president believes
that every one should have the OPP
portunity to speak who desires to
speak, he feels it will be possible
to shorten meetings by elimination
of superf1uous discussion.
Will Enforce Rule.
TOO many points of order have
been raised sometimes in the past"
he declared. I'VE have the great
est respect for Roberts Rules of
Order, but attempts at times to
inject questionable parliamentary
practices into the Federation ses-
sions definitely have not helped the
reputation of the Federation.
I'VE have a fve-minute rule. No
one can talk NOR than five min
utes on any one subject, according
to our constitution. until all others
have had an opportunity to speak
1 intend to enforce that rule. I
believe that by so doing we can
shorten the meetings, bring pro-
cedure to the point more quickly
and thus make the sessions more
attractive to the delegates, whose
duty it is to attend"
Having appointed L. A. Carruth-
ers, past president of the Federation,
as chairman of the Committee on
Fiscal Relations, Mr.. Stull reiterated
his approval and thai of the Fed
GRAFTON of the Overton plan recently
before Congress for establishing a
formula for fiscal relations between
the Federal and District Govern
ments.
Deplores Uncertainty.
"One of the greatest difficulties
facing not only civic organizations
but also the District government"
he said, lis the uncertainty as to
the amount of money the Federal
Government is going to appropriate
from its funds for the upkeep of
the District.
Il most certainly favor the Over
ton plan, which fixes the RESPONSE
bility of the Federal Government
according to the relative amount of
property owned by it as compared
to the rest of the city.
"The fiscal relations problem will
never be settled" he declared, until
we can have definite law which
specifically fixes the responsibility
of each government.
"Organized citizenry in the Dis
trict is definitely on record as be-
lieving that the Federal Govern
ment should pay in accordance with
its growing Importance in the Dis
trict. The Overton plan is elastic
when the United States Govern
ment buys more land its fiscal obi
cation to the District would in
crease; if the Government should
sell off its holdings to private own
ership or to the District its obi
CATION to support the District would
decrease. The elasticity of the plan
is one of its prime virtues"
A payment of 100000 by the
Federal Government towards q Dis