Evening star., 1945-03-07
Criticizes Citizens Council

Cr1tlcIZeS Citizens Council
To the Editor of The Star
"The voice of the people is the
voice of God" No one has honored and
supported this century old dictum with
stronger faith and greater ability than
the editor in chief of The Star.
The residents, both urban and sub
urban, of Southeast Washington have
had, for over 80 years, a strong, active
and effective organization to voice the
needs and wishes of their citizens
Our organization is democratic in
principle and our motto is: Home Rule
and determination!
There are eleven citizens associations
in the Southeast and the Southeast
Council of Citizens Associations is
co-ordinating and clearing house. All
associations hold annual meetings and
any officer can be replaced
Most municipal projects and improve
ments are local in character, for ex-
ample: When and where a new school
should be built; fire engine house,
a playground, streets to be improved.
sewers and water mains to be extended,
changes in the zoning map.
OF course, we have not received all
we have asked, but our accomplish
ments have been great enough to Justify
our efforts
And now comes unsolicited and un-
invited corporation, Citizens Council
for Community Planning of Washing
tnn n q - pizod CT
under the laws of the District, telling
us that they have invited about 100 of
our business civic, welfare and religious
leaders to meet at 4l9 D street Sc. at
3:45 pm. tomorrow, when the corpora
tion will lay before these 100 civic
leaders preliminary plans for the future
improvement needs of their sections.
1 hesitate to question the good faith
Of any one who offers to work for the
betterment of our city. But to me it
seems that this close corporation of
seven members "details of this organiza-
ton are set out below is "Pollyanna"
front for group that has great political,
financial and social strength.
Who and how many are the people in
this incorporated organization?
Their application for charter made
under oath discloses weakness rather
than strength
Over the signatures of the seven in
corporatorst are set forth in four brief
paragraphs the organization and its
purpose: Par. l. Name: Citizens Coun-
Gil for Community Planning, Washing
ton, D. c., Inc. Par. 2. The period for
which it is organized is perpetual. Par.
3. The purpose shall be: The further
ance of community planning and the
improvement of housing and neighbor-
hood conditions in Metropolitan WASH
ington and in the conduct of said busi-
ness to do all things necessary and ex-
pedient in or to the promotion and
furtherance of the purpose of this cor
poration. Par 4. The number of trustees
shall be seven.
The seven incorporators have made
themselves the seven trustees. The
charter does not fix their term in Office
or provide how their successors shall
be named, nor does it say who the
officers shall be to carry on the busl-
ness of the company. The question of
money to finance its operation is not
mentioned.
The city directories disclose the fact
that one of the incorporators is real
estate agent, another a minister, an
other an architect; the remaining four
are listed in the telephone directory.
All, with the exception perhaps of TWO.
are residents of far out Northwest
Washington.
CHARLES A. BARKER