Evening star., 1940-03-06
Federation Marks
Both Anniversary
With Banquet
Sly Fun Directed at
D. c. Reorganization
By Speakers

By Speakers
The Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations last night celebrated its
S0th birthday anniversary in fitting
style at the Mayf1ower Hotel.
Three decades ago, to the night
William NICK. Clayton's idea of a
central body of citizens organiza-
tions developed into a meeting OF
presidents of a number of the groups
under the auspices of the then
Chamber of Commerce at Twelfth
and F streets NV. to discuss union
They set April 16, 1910, as organi-
1ation day.
Mr.. Clayton, first president and
still a delegate to the Federation
was to have been speaker at the
celebration last night, but at the
last minute was confined to bed by
doctors orders.
From a hospital bed another for
iner president, DR.. George c. Hav-
enner, telegraphed his old 'associ-
ates, IT still have a little of the old
fighting spirit. God bless you"
Federation Cited to Senators.
The more than 300 delegates,
friends and guests were in gay spir-
its at the party, however, as Henry
I. Quinn, former president OF the
District Bar Association and for
mer member of the Board OF ECU
cation, publicly and with twinkle
in his eye told Senator's King of
Utah and Capper of Kansas, amcng
the honor guests:
"You gentlemen may think the
Senate is the greatest deliberative
body in the world but you have
never seen the Federation of Citi-
zens' Associations"
AS principal speaker, Mr.. Quinn,
who resigned from the School Board
to fight the Griffenhagen reorgani-
cation proposals, eventually got
around to reorganization and took
q few jibes at Commissioner Allen.
Referring to the Presidents request
of Mr.. Aliens insurance company
that Mr.. Allen be loaned for a brief
period to the District to get some
action on the reorganization, he said
Mr.. Allen looked like "long-term
loan"
Mr. Quinn said he had served on
a "parlor' cabinet which submitted
reorganization proposals four years
ago to the Commissioners, but added
that the plan attracted nothing but
dust on the Commissioners desk.
Cites Rutland Mystery.
Another indirect dig at reorgani-
cation was taken by President Har-
ry Stull, POSTMASTER Of the eve
ming, when he suggested that a
famous fiction detective be called in
to solve "the mystery of DR., Rub
land" A proposal to oust DR..
Rutland as health officer was in
troduced into the reorganization
bill while in the hands of the Com
missioners. but no one has accepted
responsibility for the suggestion. 1t
was subsequently changed
In a more serious vein, Mr.. Quinn
referred to the ''un-American sltua-
ton here and urged that whether
or not suffrage is desirable for the
District, lets hold fast to that
which is good" In fair compari-
son, he said the District government
will stand high in the ranking.
As a native Washingtonian, Mr..
Quinn resented slurs cast on Wash
ington in a recent magazine story
and declared that no investigation
had ever shown graft in the District
government.
Suter Speaks.
Jesse C.. Suter, former president
Of the Federation, spoke briefly IN
place of Mr.. Clayton, after Mr.. Stull
invited the delegates ito shoot to
kill' at anybody who mentioned
boundaries. Boundary disputes OF
members and applicants for men,
bership have been chronic in the
organization 3O-year history.
Mr.. Suter came perilously close to
the firing squad once or twice as he
alluded to territorial disputes, but
hastily reminded that he hadn't used
the forbidden word. He told Of the
formation of the body and of some
of it's achievements, such as obtain
ing an independent Public Utilities
Commission.
Mr.. Stull expressed his thanks to
Theodore Moves, editor OF The Star,
and to The Star "for their fine con-
tribution to civic betterment and
cooperation shown civic bodies in
the District"
A number of past presidents OF
the Federation were on hand for the
celebration, incluging Edward F.
Colladay, James G. Yaden, l.. A.
Carruthers and Thomas E. Lodge,
In addition to Mr.. Suter.
Mr.. Lodge drew applause as Mr..
Stull expressed confidence in him
AS chairman of the Alcoholic Bever-
age Control Board, even though he
Is getting kicked around bit at
present" He referred to the con-
gressional investigation current into
the District liquor situation.
McCoach Attends.
Among the honor guests were
Engineer Commissioner David Nc
Coach, jr, Mrs. Henry Grattan
Doyle, president of the Board of |
Education; Louis L. BoWdler, presi-
dent of the Federation of Business
mems Associations; Fred w. Cast,
president of the Interfederation
Conference; Representative Bates
of Massachusetts,, Riley Elgen,
chairman of the Public Utilities
Commission; Miss Katherine Over
ton, daughter of Senator Overton,
and former Commissioner Charles
w. Kutz.
The Committee on Arrangements
was headed by James A. Crooks and
included Mr. Suter, David Babp,
William M. Greene and Wilbur S.
Finch. At its present age the Fed
Grafton has IS member bodies, rep
resenting 10000 members, Mr.. Stull
told the group.