Evening star., 1940-01-11
Finch Tells Citizens
Commissioner Rule oi
D. T.. Not Intended
New Michigan Park
Committee Named to
Get Troffic Light

Wilbur Finch, president of the
District of Columbia Suffrage AS
sociation, last night condemned the
operation of the District govern
ment under a temporary measure
adopted in 1874 and made perma-
nent In Organic Act of 1878, which
he said, was never intended to at
tain permanent status.
Speaking at a meeting OF the
Michigan Park Citizens Associa-
ton last night in the Bunker Hill
School, Mr.. Finch said he had docu-
mentary PROOF, taken from Con-
gressional Records for the Forty
third Congress, which showed con-
clusively that an investigating COM
mittee appointed by Congress had
never intended the commissioner
form of government, Temporarily
recommended for Washington in
1874, to be permanent.
This committee had been au-
thorized to investigate the activi-
ties of the form of government ex-
isting here for some years previous
to 1874 and had succeeded in over
throwing the form then existing.
Concentrates on Vote.
Mr.. Finch said his association
was devoting itself to attaining To-
cal suffrage before concentrating on
efforts to gain national representa-
ton for Washington, adding that
no constitutional amendment is re-
quired to grant Washingtonians a
hand in their own administration.
Kenneth Armstrong, president Of
the Burroughs Citizens Association,
supplemented Mr.. Finch's remarks
with several observations relating
to the evils of the present system
OF government here. A. j. Driscoll,
president of the Midcity Citizens
Association, also spoke
John J. Hurley, president of the
association, was authorized to ap-
point a new Committee on Traffic
and Safety as the result of agita-
ton concerning hazards at the cor
ner of Twelfth street and Michigan
avenue NE. The committee, headed
by Maj. Edward Kane, also includes
William Russell, Anthony Girardi.
William Killilane and Francis
Marks. The committee will concen-
trate for the present on obtaining
a traffic signal for the corner in
question.
Late Light Involvement Killed.
A motion to commend proposed
action by the Distric which would
maintain 900 traffic signals for two
hours after midnight in lieu of the
present amber blinKers was first
approved by the association, then
defeated and stricken from the rec
ord. 1t was agreed by the associa-
ton that the necessity of stopping
at the late hours of the night at
intersections would encourage BAN
dts who might lurk In the vicinity
of such lights waiting for motorists
forced to stop because of the signals.
The association protested the lack
OF sidewalks IN the area. particu-
larly on the south side of Michigan
avenue. Mr.. Hurley promised to
take the matter up with the Dis
trict Commissioners.
Mr.. Russell, engineer in charge
of construction on the Bates Road
Overpass over the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad tracks, told the associa-
ton the overpass probably would
be completed in month. Tenta-
tive plans for a dedicatory cere-
mony were initiated last night.
Mr.. Hurley announced the new
Bunker Hill School at Fourteenth
street and Michigan avenue NE.
would be opened officially on Janu-
ary 10. Mr.. Hurley said plans for
a dedication ceremony were al
most complete
Fourteen new members were ad-
mitted to the association.