Evening star., 1939-05-04
EVENING WASHINGTON, D. c. THURSDAY,
Friendship Citizens
Insist on. Elective
City Council
Proposed Setup Seen
Leading to Suffrage
And Representation

If a city council form of govern
ment patterned along lines specified
in the Griffenhagen report is estab-
lished in Washington Friendship
Citizens Association will offer full
Endorsement on condition that the
body be "unalterably elective" by
bona f1de residents Of the District,
it was decided last night at the
monthly meeting.
After Executive Committee study
and report which held that every
advantage should be taken of any
'substantiar move toward local en-
| franchisement at the present time,
the association, voting unanimously,
saw in the council setup forerun-
ner of complete local suffrage and
national representation"
Samuel J. Flickinger stressed the
importance, however, of installing
the elective rather than appointive
government system, declaring that
unless District residents can choose
their own administrators of city af-
fairs there will be little point IN re-
organizing the present authority
and that, in fact, switching control
from one appointive body to an
other might further complicate the
local government situation and
probably place local suffrage even
farther out Of reach"
The association also favored
Board of Education supervision of
all municipal and school play
grounds in the District.
Backs Takoma Move.
In line with a move by Takoma
ID. c. Citizens Association,
Friendship voted to request the
Health Department and the Zoning
Commission to regulate rigidly
against construction of single homes
on lots under 40-feet frontage in "A
restricted" residential zones. The
Friendship resolution stated that
unless such a measure is enforced
undesirable, from a property value
| standpoint, and unhealthy struc-
lures would spread rapidly.
Endorsement of immediate appro-
| priation for new main public
library structure centrally located
was voted and in a linked resolution
the group decided to request allot-
ment Of funds for a branch library
to be constructed at Wisconsin ave-
nue. and Albemarle street NV.
The congressional investigation of
milk practices in Washington, now
in progress, was lauded in resolu-
ton offered by DR.. H. N. Roberts.
The Education Committee of the
organization was instructed to urge
establishment of night courses at
Woodrow Wilson High School.
Ready to Join Council.
Friendship voted to join the newly
formed Northwest Council of Citi-
zens' Associations on condition that
present boundaries of the group be
recognized as final. Objections were
voiced against constitutional
clause of the council which dele
gates the power to form associa-
tons boundaries to a special
committee. Citizens cited that the
boundaries of the Friendship group
have stood for As years since the
founding of the association.
Under a new statute approved
last night, any child of high school
age of adult members of the as
sociation is eligible to join as
full-f1edged member without fee.
AS outlined by Mr.. Flickinger at the
April meeting the move is to ac-
quaint youths of the District with
local civic affairs and management.
American Legion-sponsored en-
ployment week received indorse-
ment.
The group will ask for more eff
cient street and alley cleaning and
refuse collecting in the community