Evening star., 1940-01-21

I Citizens Associations. On May 7
at that April meeting, was named
eral years ago. Mr.. Clayton served
three terms, Mr.. Edwards, Mr. Col
laday and Mr.. Shreve, two each, and
Mr.. Westlake, three, the first Of
which came In 1919.
In 1921 the federation added to its
growing history with a mass visit to
the White House to call on President
Harding. Jesse c. Suter, later q
president, stood by and called of
the names as the delegates shook
the presidential hand.
Without q doubt the major event
of the second decade, however. was
the creation of the Advisory Coun-
Gil to the Commissioners-an idea
of Commissioner J. Franklin Bell.
The decision was that the fedora
tion would elect six members, the
colored Federation of Civic Asso-
Citations two and the president Of
the federation would be ex-oficio
chairman.
All the drama of a political elec-
ton attended the balloting for these
men. For several days before the
election on May 2 predictions were
freely made by opponents that fill
clustering and factional fights would
be called into play to block the plan.
The opponents feared the council
would supplant the federation. A
"Scurrilous' letter was circulated
among the delegates, urging them
to vote certain ticket, which De-
tectives Ira Keck and C. P. Weber
Of the Police Department tried to
track down to its source. These
policemen were on hand at the elec-
ton the next night, but everything
went of all right despite the ten.
sion.
Councils Power Increases.
For the first two years or so the
council increased in power to the
point that congressional commit
tees were referring to it for reports
almost more than to the Commis-
sioners. A growing resentment
against this concentration Of power
served as it's undoing, however, and
by the end of the 20s little was being
referred to it and in 1881 it was killed
in a constitutional revision by the
federation. In its place the feder-
alton created an Executive Com
mittee and Citizens Advisory Coun-
Gil, but the group never sat as the
advisory council. It was done away
with in 1888 when the new consti-
tuition of the federation was drawn
up.
In the public utilities field, victory
was won in 1927 when the Public
Utilities Commission was set up with
only one District Commissioner and
two other appointees independent.
The following year began in earnest
the battle for the merger Of the
transit companies which had SIM
mered since 1912, with sporadic
arguments on both sides.
Presidents during this second era
were Mr.. Westlake, two terms;
Charles A. Baker, lawyer, champion
of the commission form of govern
ment, three terms; Mr.. Suter, now
of The Star, two terms; James G..
Yaden, who fought alleged graft in
the District government in connec.
ton with the Water Department,
two terms, and rock gardening DR..
George C. Havenner, the only presi-
fo oNycnpt,tiuo fnrv,pe
Into the 30s the federation
charged. A victory followed in 1888
when the transit companies merged
and the dream of universal trans
fers became a reality, but in 1885
the delegates cracked wide open
again on the matter of the famous
"red rider" under which school
teachers and janitors of the schools
all had to sign voucher each pay
day before receiving their money
that they had not taught or advo-
Gated Communism.
Sharp debate ended finally in
urging repeal, long sought by the
schools. George Sullivan, delegate
from Takoma Park and champion
of the rider. resigned from the group
when it voted against him after a
long argument.
Aid Reorganization Study.
In the matter of District reor-
ganization, the federation leaders
have appeared at public hearings
and indicated support Of reorganiza-
ton only if it provides for an elective
city council. With this they have
no objection to city manager re-.
organization.
Presidents during this latter dec
ade have been DR.. Havenner, three
terms; Mr.. Yaden, three terms;
Thomas E. Lodge, now chairman
of the Alcoholic Beverage Control
Board, two terms; L. A. Carruthers,
two terms, and stamp-collecting
Harry N. Stull, serving at present.
During its entire lifetime the fed
Grafton has been an enthusiastic
champion of the cause of national
representation for the disenfran.
chised Capital citizens, and in the
last few years has added local suf-
frage as goal.
And If there has been one bone
OF contention among the delegates
from the very beginning to the pres
ent point, 1t Is the matter OF asso-
citation boundaries. Just let some
body else get in another associa-
tion's back yard and begin soliciting
memberships and in large number
Of cases the battle is on. A few,
however, have taken the point of
view that 1t makes no difference
what association the people belong
to as long as they join some civic
group and therefore have become
more passive on the subject. It has
been said there Is a federation rule
that the question Of boundaries is
beyond the Jurisdiction Of the fed
Grafton, which, however, will offer
its good offices to settle disputes,
but nobody seems to know where 1t
Is, according to Former President
Suter.
Today, however, the central body