Evening Star Newspaper, March 24, 1935, Page 32

D—4 WA AID SOUGHT 10 BUILD LIBRARY ON CONDUIT ROAD 60-Year-0id Building, Once Used as School, Held Utterly Inadequate. The use of P. W. A. funds to re- place the old wooden school now used for a public library at 4954 Conduit road is being advocated by the Con- dult Road Citizens' Association and other civic groups in the vicinity. This venerable structure has served the public for more than 60 years. It was built in the Fall of 1874 to re- place & school that had burned the previous Spring. Costing but $1,250, it was used as & school by the chil- dren of Foxhall and Potomac Heights for more than 50 years. At first it was adequate for the needs of the small community, but by 1928 the section was sparsely populated no longer and the building became out- moded. Accordingly it was aban- doned by the school authorities and the last of the one-room schools went cut of existence. Structure Becomes Library. Its career had not ended, however. The frame structure was taken over by the Public Library, repaired and refurnished. and became the Conduit road branch of the Public Library. The new branch was opened No- | vember 27. 1928, with Miss Ml!d.\'ed A. Page in charge. It was painted white with green blinds and con- tained about 5,000 books. At present the circulation is from 25,000 to 30.- 000 among the 1200 borrowers on the rolls of the library. £ The one-room building is becoming so crowded during rush periods in the evening that the Conduit Road Citizens' Association has begun a campaign to have it replaced by a larger and more modern structure. A resolution was passed at the last meeting asking that part of dhe P. W. A. grant to the District be used for this purpose. Cost Set at $25,000. In a report issued by che Public Library, the cost of a new branch library for Conduit road is estimated to be about $25,000. The National Capital Park and Planning Commis- sion owns a plot of ground at Ashby street and Conduit road, one block east of the present site, upon which 1t is proposed to build the new library. Tentative plans call for a large brick building which would serve the entire area west of Wisconsin avenue. As the population of the section in- creases, the library plans to have more books placed there and a larger staff added. At present there is but one librarian, Edward M. Lohse, at the Conduit road branch. Lohse has an assistant several nights each week, however. ‘When the new library is completed, the old building will probably be torn down and the site added to the Fort Drive Park. PRAYER OPENS MEETINGS Clergy of All Faiths Appear Before Federation. As a result of a resolution recently adopted by the Federation of Citizens’ Associations invocations are held at the opening of all meetings of the body by members of the clergy from all faiths. The first to open the meeting with & prayer was the Rev. Canon Raymond Walnen, chaplain to Right Rev. James E. Freeman, DD, Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Washington. ‘The meeting of the Federation on March 16 was the first time the session had been opened under this new resolu- tion. Status of Bills Legislation of Civic Inter- est Pending in House and Senate. The congressional status of District bills of interest to Washington citi- zens’ associations is as follows: National representation for District of Columbia (8. J. Res. 12). In Sen- ate Judiciary Committee. District appropriation bill for 1936 fiscal year (H. R. 3973). House: Passed. Senate: In Appropriations Committee. Resolution of small loan business (H. R. 3464). House: In District Committee. Requiring financial responsibility of motor vehicle operators (H. R. 3457, S. 408). Senate: Passed. House: On calendar. Creation of a commission to control rents (H. R. 3809). House: In Dis- trict Committee. Provide pensions for the needy blind (H. R. 4510). House: Passed. Senate: In District Committee. Strengthen gambling laws (S. 398). Senate: Passed. House: In District Committee. Substitute civilian trial board for t Police Trial Board. H. R. 2734). House: In District Commit- tee. Abolish capital punishment (H. R. 2808). House: In District Committee. Establish training school for police- men and firemen (H. R. 2858). House: In District Committee. Amend code relating to lunacy hear- ings (H. R. 3451). House: In Dis- trict Committee. Amend act authorizing Commission- ers to remove dangerous buildings (H. R. 3458). House: On calendar. Amend act creating board for con- demnation of insanitary buildings (H. . R. 3459). House: On calendar. Regulate foreclosure of mortgages and deeds of trust. (H. R. 3461). House: In District Committee. Amend code relating to residence of firemen (H. R. 3641). House: In Dis- trict Committee. Amend code relating to residence of policemen (H. R. 3642). House: In District Committee. Establish commercial airport for District (H. R. 3806). House: In Dis- trict Committee. Provide old-age pensions (H. R. #4135). House: In District Committee. Provide for election of Delegates in Congress for the District (H. R. 4346). House: In District Committee. Broadening powers of Commission- ers (H. R. 4347). House: In District Committee. Authorizing use of District surplus funds for necessary public projects (H. R. 4345). House: In District Commitiee. Prevent fouling of the atmosphere (H. R. 5233, 8. 204). House: built in 1874. THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, Conduit Road Library Held Inadequate D. C, THREAT T0 EXPOSE IMMUNE TRAFFIC VIOLATORS MADE ‘The old school building at 4954 Conduit road, which is now being used as a branch library. The Conduit Road Citizens’ Association is advocating the use of P. W. A. funds to replace this structure, which was —Star Staft Photo. SMOKE NUISANCE BILL IS ATTACKED Petworth Committee Ch'air- | man Criticizes Measure Now Before House. Proponents of the pending House | bill to prevent fouling the atmosphere | with smoke advance “illogical and absurd” reasons for its passage, ac- cording to Josiah L. Carr, chairman, | Laws and Legislative Committee, Pet- | worth Citizens’ Association. | Reporting at a recent meeting on the proposed measure, Carr declared: “If the purpose and scope are con- |fined to manufacturing establish- ments’ and other places of business, |it is based upon a false premise.” | The bill declares, he said, “that the | emission of unnecessary smoke, etc., |is hereby declared to be a menace to public health and safety.” “If smoke is a menace to health,” Carr stated, “then an act of Congress would not make it a menace. Under no conceivable circumstances can the relatively small amount of smoke | emitted by places in the District be considered a menace to health or safety. If this were true, then all | the people in Pittsburgh would have | been dead 10 years ago. “If its scope is not so confined, | | then it can readily become an in- | strument of irritation and abuse in | its enforcement, for the reason that unnecessary smoke is being emitted | | daily from thousands of homes in the | District and from thousands of auto- | | mobiles, to say nothing—going to the | absurd—of cigars, cigarettes and | pipes in mouths of smokers. { “Its enforcement would add a bur- den to the taxpayers of the District | without compensating results. “It is but another step in the sur- |render of utility and liberty to esthetics. “The reasons given by the advo- cates of the bill are illogical and | absurd.” 'BUS FARE INCREASE OPPOSED BY CITIZENS | Express Service Plan Turned| Down Because of Price Boost to 10 Cents. | | Fearing a future universal 10-cent fare on all transportation facilities has caused the Northeast Citizens’ Association to unanimously oppose the recent” Public Utilities Commission | order calling for express bus service | from Takoma Park. The order permits a charge of 10 cents on the new express busaline, Roscoe Jenkins, chairman of the Pub- lic Utilities Committee, reported. “The continuatio and extension of such | kind of service at a 10-cent fare” Jenkins believes, “will lay the founda- |tion and excuse for a universal 10- | cent fare.” In adopting the resolution, it places the association on record as opposed not only to this order of the commis- sion, but to the establishment of “any transportation service calculated to increase the fare now paid.” Copies of the action have been directed to the commission and people’s counsel, William A. Roberts. Last month the Piney Branch Citi- zens’” Association opposed the Takoma Park express service because it would hinder traffic along Thirteenth street south of Madison street. Last week, | simultaneous with the Northeast group’s action, the Piney Branch body agreed to appear before the | Georgetown Recreational comission @t its next hearing. It has already presented a petition of 300 families in the affected area against the project. The week before the Citizens’ As- sociation of Takoma, D. C, com- mended the commission for the ex- press service during rush hours, but opposed the service during non-rush CHAIRMEN NAMED Rhode Island Avenue Head Makes Appointments. Committee chairmen of the Rhode Island Avenue Citizens’ Association have been announced by its new president, Clayton C. Marsh. They are: Membership, William P. Thom- as; Legislation, Charles O. Pierce; Schools, N. M. Rowland; Streets and Sidewalks, Edward H. Alsop; Public Utilities, John L. Fowler; Zoning, E. G. Sievers; Parks, M. C. Belfield; Press, Ji Hardey, 3;: Special Use wfovenant, George Civic Association Calendar Southeast Group to Make Plans for National Rep- resentation Debate—Southwest Unit to Hear Talk by Dr. Ruhland. Monday, March 25. Georgetown Citizens’ Association, 8 Program—Discussion of plans to dis- continue street car service west of Dupont. Circle and north on Wiscon- street car barn site into park area: discussion of recent co-ordination cf recreational facilities between Na- tional Commission and school system; ac- tion on Executive Committee’s reso- lution indorsing inauguration of night school classes in Western High School; discussion of activities of the Council; discussion of condition of Georgetown Playground. Midcity Citizens” Association, 8/ pm., Thomson Community Center. Program—Address by Traffic Direc- tor William A. Van Duzer on local traffic situation, Capt. J. E. Bobo of No. 2 precinct, guest; report by Dr. Flora Taylor on arrangements for annual banquet in April, plans to reorganize No. 2 precinct. North Capitol Citizens” Association, 8 pm. McKinley High School. Pro- gram—Executive Committee report on special meeting held March 14; re- port and action on character educa- | tion: report and discussion of pro- posed plans for reorganization.of the District government; discussion of plans for a card party and dance April 25. Trinidad Citizens’ Association, 8 p.m., Wheatley School. Program—Ac- tion to secure item for character edu- cation in 1936 District budget; report on needed repairs on K street north- east; action to secure a proposed re- creational center; Playground Com- mittee report on recent activities of Playground Council. ‘Tuesday, March 26. Joint conference of Northeast Citi- zens' Associations, 8 pm., No. 12 pre- cinct. Program—Discussion of en- forced sterilization of equipment; discussion of proposed consolidation of police and traffic de- partments; report by A. D. Calvert on proposed extension of Seventeenth street northeast from Bladensburg road to Benning road; discussion of the following: Plans for additional ground for Fort Totten, District jobs for District residents, staggered hours of Government employes and proposed inauguration of daylight saving time; Capital Park and Planning | restaurant | | report by K. P. Armstrong on selec- tion of members for Board of Edu- | pm., St. John's Church Parish Hall. | cation; report by H. M. Dixon on | | proposed extension of Eastern and | South Dakota avenues; report by A, | H. Gregory and Mable M. Hubble on | activities in schools; report by Cal- | vert on proposed mass meeting in northeast. Logan-Thomas Circle Citizens' As- sociation, 8 p.m. 1120 Rhode Island avenue. Program—Laws and Legisla- tion Committee on proposed reorgan- | ization of District government; report | by Shrine Decoration Committee on plans to decorate the area during | Shrine Conclave in June; refresh- ments. Southeast Citizens' Association, 8 | pm.. Buchanan School. Program— | Action on proposed old-age pension | bill; action to appear before Public Utilities Commission in April; plans | for debate on national representation | for the District to be held on April 8; action on Federation of Citizens' As- | sociations’ preliminary report on reor- | ganization of the District government. | ‘Wednesday, March 27. Rhode Island Avenue Citizens’ Asso- ciation, 8 p.m., Woodridge Sub-branch Library. Program—Action on year's program for group as drawn up by the | Executive Committee; discussion of proposed small loan bill and proposed | bill for establishing a District airport. Southwest Citizens’ Association, 8 pm.. No. 4 precinct, 492 E street | southwest. Program--Address by | George C. Ruhland, District health | officer; report by Dr. Leon Gordon on | health work in public schools; report by Harry S. Wender on appearance be- fore Senate Subcommittee on Appro- priations last week on the following: A proposed new Jefferson Junior High School, an increased medical and nursing staff in the public schools and efforts to secure school dental clinic; action on resolution indorsing lunacy bill with certain changes; action on proposed removal of municipal swim- | ming pool. 3 Thursday, March 2. Conduit Road Citizens’ Association, 8 p.m., Our Lady of Victory Church. Program—Discussion of proposed in- auguration of night school classes; plans for completing Palisades Play- ground; addresses by George H. Shinn of Washington Board of Trade and Julius Peyser, attorney. POWER PLANT OWNED BY CITY IS FAVORED Columbia Heights Citizens Oppose Use of Soft Coal and Cheap 0il in the District. To further beautify Washington through a better heating and lighting system, the Columbia Heights Citi- zens' Assoclation has adopted a reso- lution advocating establishment of a municipally owned hydroelectric plant which will supply current at an esti- mated cost of about 6 mills per kilowat hour. At the same time the association calls attention to the increasing “smoke nuisance” here and expressed its opposition to the burning of soft coal and low-grade oil in the District. “Not only is thousands of dollars spent yearly to clean public and private buildings because of this,” the resolution declares, “but the health of our citizens is endangered by breath- ing this smoke-laden air. “Enforcement of the smoke law un- der existing regulations has proved a dire failure,” the resolution charges. It further points out the association has asked for relief along these iines repeatedly, all to no avail. FIRE HOUSE IS SOUGHT IN NORTHWEST SECTION | Sixteenth Street Heights Citizens Point Out Nearest One Now Is 2 Miles Away. Agitation for a fire house in the Sixteenth Street Heights area is gathering momentum, according to | 8. B. Loveless, president of the Six- teenth Street Heights Citizens’ Asso- ciation. Loveless points out the fact that the nearest fire house to the area is located at Georgia and Concord ave- nues, more than two miles away, and the equipment at that station is not suitable for use in the event of a big fire. Action will be taken by the associ- ation at the next meeting. Gets 30 New Members. R. E. Berry and Gertrude E. Walter were recently admitted to membership in the Sixteenth Street Heights Citizens’ Association. More than 30 new members have been ad- mitted to the group within the past two months, according to S. B. Love- less, president. ‘Methuselah’ and ‘Bartholomew’ Decried by Southwest Civic Unit The Southwest Civic Association has its own names for the fire-fight- ing antiques of its district which continued, “that the Southwest is level it needs no high-power equip- It also has no hills to speed Yaden Demands Equal Rights for All as First Step to Solve Problem. A threat to go before the House Crime Investigating Committee to ex- pose the “big fellows” who habitually violate traffic regulations and are not punished has been made in a letter from President James G. Yaden of the Federation of Citizens' Associa- tions to People’s Counsel William A. Roberts. d The letter was a reply to one from Roberts askihg for the stand of civic groups on traffic problems. #1 am unable to enthuge very much over any of your so-called ‘forward looking movements’ on traffic in. the District of Columbia,” Yaden said. “I do not care to impugn the motives of any of you, but the whole thing fails to cause me to enthuse. “I think we all agree that the traffic situation in the District of Columbia is horrible and apparently every action that is taken only compounds the con- fusion. Bus Removal Held Useless. “If you should move some of the busses 1 the streets which they now occup¥, you would create some more parking space for public and private automobiles and trucks, and I do not see that this will help the mat- | ter one particle. A large percentage of | the traffic of Washington moves in busses and street cars, and I have not yet seen one effort to facilitate the movement of street cars and busses which constitute the mass transporta- | tion in Washington. “Since the farcical act of the Dis- | trict Commissioners in promulgating a snow removal order from 2 am. to 8 am. I have become convinced Lblt‘ the traffic situation is in the hands of | the ‘big fellows’ of Washington, and | the wishes and comforts of the com- | mon people are disregarded. | “I wish to assure you that I am | willing to join any constructive move | for the betterment of the traffic con- | | dition in Washington. God knows, as ! sin avenue: action to convert old P | character education and communistic | well as everybody else, that something | | ought to be done about it. However, | | T shall not lend any assistance toward | | creating more parking space on the | | streets for automobiles and trucks. | “You, or any one else who has as | | many as one eye, may go over the | | streets of downtown Washington and | | find that space on the streets sur- | | rounded by ‘no parking’ signs and by | | fire plugs is a reserved space for law | | violators and so far as I know there is | nothing more than a ‘lame attempt’ | to enforce the law. | Two Sets of Regulations. | “If I am any judge of the traffic situation in Washington, there are | two sets of laws and regulations— First, the unwritten law and unwrit- | ten regulations for those who have | influence and pull, and, second, writ- ten laws and written regulations for | | those who do not have influence and | who are expected to obey the laws | and regulations. As long as I con- | ‘tmue as president of the Federation | of Citizens® Associations, I propose to | make war on the unwritten laws and unwritten regulations which people with pull and influence may violate with impunity. | “In response to a letter from Con- | | gressman Randolph, I propose to | | carry this message to the Subcommit- | | tee of the House Committee investi- | | gating crime conditions in the District | | of Columbia. It any one doubts| | whether I know what I am talking | | about, I am prepared to call the roll. | | When you, the Public Utilities Com- | mission, and the District Commission- | ers are ready to carry forward a | constructive program on traffic and crime in the District of Columbia, you may count on me to assist, but until | I am convinced that there is real| genuine effort to promulgate traffic | | regulations and see that they are| | carried out without fear or favor, I do | not care to enter into the farce ex-’ ’gp‘tto protest and continue to pro- STUDY LANDSCAPING 'ALONG CONDUIT ROAD } Special Committee Appointed to| Decide Best Means to Beautify New Highway. A special Landscape Committee has been named by the Conduit Road Citizens’ Association to consider the various plans suggested for tree and shrub planting in the center park- ing area of the newly paved Conduit road. The members of the commit- tee are Ellis R. King, president of the. association; John G. Minor and After a visit to the office of the District engineer to determine what landscaping the District has in mind and how much money will be avail- able for the project, the committee will take the plan under consideration along with one suggested by the Potomac Palisades Garden Club. Then the committee’s own sugges- tions will be added before the matter is returned to the association for action. In a resolution adopted some time ago, the association suggested that juniper trees of the low-spreading type and plants such as the hyacinth and tulip be planted in the area. The garden club, however, favors & planting of the white dog-wood The committee will discuss in de- tail all suggestions made before mak- ing any definite recommendation to the association. —_— PROJECTS LISTED Citizens Seek R. I. Avenue and N. Y. Avenue Link. The Rhode Island Avenue Citizens' Association Other northeast improvements in the report were the paving of South alkou avenue, from Randolph stregt MARCH 24, 1935—PART TWO. Civie Problems, Civic Bodies School Accommodations Among Prime Needs of Citizens—Water Meter Situation Reveals Fiscal Peculiarity. BY JESSE C. SUTER. IVIC INTEREST in the do- ings at the Capitol during the past week has been centered chiefly in the inquiry of the District Crime Committee and the hearings on the District of Columbia appro- priation bill before the Senate District Appropriations Subcom- mittee. Proposals by the House Committee on Rivers and Harbors to improve the Washington harbor and water front on a 50-50 basis has also attracted considerable organi- zation interest. There is, however, a lack of enthusiasm over the equal division of cost, as the feeling is rather general that the proposal of the District Engineer that the Dis- trict be required to pay only for the structures for its own use would be better. General approval is being given to the plan for the District to par- ticipate on an equal basis with the States in whatever allocations are made, under the pending work re- lief bill, for highway construction and elimination of grade crossings. Open bars versus closed bars and the selection of an airport site are matters with which House District Subcommittees are struggling. Civic leaders have been pressing for ac- tion by the House District Com- mittee on the anti-gambling and lunacy commission bills. At the District Building the Pub- lic Utilities Commission continues to work om the re-routing problem, and during the past week handed down a decision fixing the valua- tion of gas light companies for rate making purposes. The slash of $13.000,000 from the amount claimed by the company will prob- ably result in an appeal which will long delay the accrual of any bene- fits to the consumers. The District Commissioners have kept eyes on Congress and in probable spirit of optimism have started the ball rolling for the Fourth of July celebration. A com- mittee of citizens appointed for that purpose by the Commissioners met at the District Building Wed- nesday and selected C., Melvin Sharpe as chairman. Throughout the organizations ac- tions reflect a unanimity of senti~ ment for more school buildings, more policemen, and the building of the courts units of the Municipal Center on Judiciary Square with funds advanced by the P. W. A. School Accommodations Should Head the List. O DISCORDANT note is de- tected when the question of school accommodations is raised in any of the civic bodies. Most of the members have first- hand knowledge of the need for new school buildings, completion of unfinished buildings, and addi- tions. One civic leader was heard to remark recently that every one in the District but the people at the Budget Bureau knows of the need for the reconditioning of old build- ings and replacement of anclent and inefficient heating plants. In its fight for school accom- modations organized civic Wash- ington has a valuable ally in Chair- man King of the Senate District Committee. The Senator an- nounced last week that he favors making the school building needs an important part of any public works program in the District. He thinks consideration in this con- nection should be given not only to the immediate needs, but to meet the requirements which will have to be met in the immediate future. This view of Senator King is not based merely upon official recom- mendations and the requests of or- ganizations and individual citizens, but on knowledge of conditions gained through personal observa- tion. Proposed Expansion Of Education Center. Wn‘fl the completion of the tuberculosis sanitariums at Glenn Dale, Md,, it is now proposed that the site of the pres- ent Tuberculosis Hospital be used for a new Wilson Teachers’ Col- lege and for a junior college. School officials and several organ- izations have already expressed themselves as favoring such use of this property. ‘To many the site seems ideal as it would round out the most com- plete educational center in the District. There is already located in this area the Powell Elementary School. on Upshur street between Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets, which is immediately across the street to the south. Immediately to the north, at Thirteenth and Allison streets, is the Fresh Air or Health School. East of Thirteenth street is the Roosevelt Senior High School, the Macfarland Junior High School and the site for the Petworth branch of the Public Library. Ample playgrounds and stadium adjoin the two high school buildings. The school plant located in this center represents most every type of instruction known to the local schools and would afford a most convenient field of observation for students in a teachers’ college. This entire tract’ from Kansas avenue to Fourteenth street and from Upshur street to Allison street was acquired many years ago as a site for a municipal hospital. The ‘Tuberculosis Hospital was the first and only unit ever erected because of the united and vigorous cam- paign of opposition by a joint com- mittee representing the citizens’ associations of Piney Branch, Pet- ‘worth, Brightwood, Columbia Heights and Park View. A memor- able fight was waged before the Senate against the erection of the Gallinger Hospital group at this location and a demand made for a more ample site for the Tuber- culosis Hospital. Gallinger Hospi- tal was finally located in its present site and the movement for a new site for the tuberculosis hospital finally resulted in the locations of these institutions at Glenn Dale. Civic Interest Quickened by “Gentlemen’s Agreement” Incident. T THE outset of the inquiry by the District Crime Committee there seemed to be only a passing interest shown in its work by the civic bodies, the uniform feeling being that it was “just an- other investigation.” The minded had followed the testimony as daily reporied in the papers but had not been especially roused until the story of the so- called “gentlemen's agreement” came ouc. Civic leaders and a number of organizations immediatelv sat up and took notice. The Federation of Citizens' Associations at its last meeting by a unanimous vote commended the Crime Committee for the thorough and effective manner in which its investigation is being carried on. Other bodies have followed with similar com- mendations. Meddling by individual legis- lators in the executive functions of the District government is re- garded by many close students of rs as one of, if not the greatest faults of our unrepre- sentative and voteless government. Many leaders hold that in the power granted Congress to exer- cise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever over the seat of government the framers of the Constitution never contemplated the assumption of executive func- tions by the Congress over the Capital. They contend that the founding fathers were so firm in their belief in maintaining a per- fect balance between the three branches—legislative, executive and judicial—that they would not have for a moment entertained the idea of combining the legislative and executive branches in governing this District. By way of pleasantry at times the chairman of the Senate and House District committees have been referred to as the “Mayor of Washington,” or the “Mayor of the District.” The mayor of a com- munity is its chief magistrate, the executive head of its government and not one of its legislators. There are some of our civic lead- ers who think this fiction of pleasantry is taken seriously, not by the able chairmen who usually head the District committees, but by some of their colleagues who continually misquote the Consti- tution as giving Congress the power of exclusive jurisdiction over the District. The latter is claimed to be much broader authority than the exercise of exclusive legislation But what are we going to do about it? Taxation without rep- resentation was regarded by the founders as tyranny and current events in the District of Columbia prove to us the soundness of their contention. Shortage of Water Meters With Water Money Plentiful. OMPLAINTS by citizen groups C of overcharge for water be- cause of the absence of meters in many sections brings out in strong relief a picture of one of the peculiarities of the District’s con- gressionally conducted fiscal sys- tem. A companion picture to that of the overcharged, flat rate, water users is that of the under- charged, flat rate, users who would be far more saving in their use of the water if metered to them. The most interesting feature of this water meter shortage is to be found in the fact that funds in abundance collected from the con- sumers of water remains in the Treasury earmarked for water sys- tem use only. Besides there being a lack of meters and funds for in- stallation, testimony before the House Committee on the District appropriation bill for the next fiscal year .showed many meters of an obsolete type and others which should be replaced are in use There is an insistent demand by several organizations for an in- crease of the appropriation for the installation and replacement of water meters.. Some of the leaders urging such increase, which will not increase the tax burden, point to the fact that they have never heard of the gas companies or the electric power company being short of meters and giving unlimited service at a flat rate. They say they have never heard of either of these public service corporations being denied by their directors the required appropriations to purchase and install meters. Fair play re- quires that all water be metered or no water be metered, is the cry of these small users on the flat rate service. The District’s Law Written and Unwritten. T THE recent meeting of the Federation of Citizens' Asso- ciations, President James G. Yaden read some interesting cor- respondence between People’s Coun- sel William A. Roberts and him- self. Roberts sought to interest him in legislation intended to re- lieve the streets of some of the con- gestion. Yaden curtly replied de- clining to take a hand in the effort unless there is some assurance that all such laws would be enforced against all comers without fear or favor. He told Roberts that from his observation there existed in the District written laws applicable to the average citizen without official or other influence and that there are other unwritten laws granting special privileges to those with the requisite pull and that such un- written laws exempt the favored ones with exemption from com- pliance with the written laws. In view of such a state of affairs he was not inclined to help inflict ad- ditional laws on the section of the population which would be com- pelled to obey them while those with pull would be exempt. A few nights later Yaden was encountered standing at the en- trance of the United States Chamber of Commerce leisurely smoking a cigar and in a reflective mood. He remarked: “You can’t think of what has just been pass- ing through my mind.” He im- mediately explained that he was just turning over in his mind the thought of “the utter helplessness of the people of the District.” He added: “I den't know why I get o riled up over it, for you know I am a citizen of the State of Ken- tucky and have my vote there. ‘The more I go into the eivic work for the District, the more disgusted I become at the utter helplessness of this large and intelligent com- munity of fellow Americans. I feel that if we could but acquaint the people throughout the country of this un-American condition here at the Nation's Capital, they would rise up and demand that the fun- damental American principles pre- vail here of all places. We must surely devise some way of having this ‘message to Garcia’ go out into every corner of the United States.” Here is a problem with which many of the District’s public-spir- ited citizens have long struggled. It would take money to put through such & plan, but for such gere should wn abundance of money, even in TRADE BOARD UNIT HEALTH AGTIVITIES 10°BE DISCUSSED Dr. Malcoim Gibbs Named Chairman of M. and M. Booster Outing. | Means by which the Washington Board of Trade may co-operate with the District Health Department to | improve health and sanitary condi- | tions in the Naticnal Capital will be outlined to the Public Health Com- mittee of the board Wednesday at 4:30 pm. in the trade board’s offices | in_The Star Building. Dr. James G. Cumming, chairman of the Subcommittee on Co-operation With Public Health Authoritles, is also an assistant District health officer in charge of communicable diseases. In this double role he has had an ex- ceptional oppor- tunity to study the needs from both viewpoints. Dr. Cumming has recently been busily engaged in the department’s war on scarlet fever, which has reached mild epi- demic stages here since the first of the year. At the same meeting R. W. D. Jew- ett. chairman of the Subcommittee on Co- ation With the Health and Hospital Council, also will make a re- port for his committee. Reports will be made on the early work of the Central Admission Bureau and the medical and dental service of the | Community Chest. Dr. A. C. Christie, chairman of the Public Health Committee, will preside. On Thursday the Traffic Committee of the board will meet for luncheon at the Harrington Hotel at 12:30 pm A special meeting was held last week on the proposed ccmpulsory motor in- spection law for the District. Thurs- day's meeting will be the regular ses- sion and Wallace B. Robinson, chair- man, said new business will be in- vited. Dr. J. G. Cumming. Bureau in New Offices. Louis Rothschild, director, and the stafl of the Better Business Bureau are now quartered in new offices in The Star Building The new suite, much larger than the rooms on the third flcor, is lo- cated on the fifth floor, and instead three small offices there are now each larger than the rooms va- cated last week The transfer was necessitated by the expansion of the Associated Press, which now occupies most of the offices on the third floor of the annex to The Star Building. Rothschild's “True Story Playlet,” which has been presented before a number of Washington civic and luncheon clubs, was presented again Thursday at the Mayflower Hotel for the Kiwanis Club. The play illus- trates the work of the Better Busi- ness Bureau. The cast was made up of members of the Art Club Players under direc- tion of Harold Alien Long. Richard Midgley played the part of the direc- tor of a better busiiess bureau. Others in the cast were Maude Howell Smith, Pauricia Jones, Jesse Veitch and Maurice Jarvis. M. and M. Prepares for Outing. Dr. Malcolm G. Gibbs has been | appointed chairman and Lewis A. Payne vice chairman of the twenty- fourth annual booster outing of the Marchants and Maaufactur- ers Association to be held June 21 to 24. Ap- pointment of the committee was announced yes- terday by James E. Colliflower, president. ‘The annual trip of the association, its only recrea- tional activity, will be held aboard a chartered steamer which will | visit various points of inferest on the | Potomac River and Chesapeae Bay. Other members of the committee | are R. P. Andrews, Frederick Buckholz, P. M. Dorsch, T. R. Pitzgerald, " Charles H. Frame, Pranklin W. Harper, | Joseph R. Harris, Ringgoid Hart, Mark Lanscurgh, Louis Levay, George E. McCann, William J. McNamara, E. J. Mather, Bert L. Olmsted, Benja- min Ourisman, William E. Russell, L. S. Scott, George C. Shaffer, Ben- jamin Skinker, Arthur J. Sundiun, Ford E. Young and Dewey Zirkin. Dr. M. G. Gibbs. More Summer Visitors. Washington’s anoual “slump” in | tourists may be avoided this year, or | at least considerably lessened, Curtis | Hodges, executive director of the | Greater National Capital Committee, believes | The reason for the change is the large number of conventions and excursions already planned runaing well into the Summer months when the tide of visitors usually reaches its lowest point. The usual crowds in the Spring months ar¢ expected, drawn by the cherry blossoms and the annual Easter holidays. But for a change, an jocrease in the number of visitors is expected for the hotter Summer | months. Hodges pointed out that the | Shrine conclave will probably bring the city's largest crowd in June. & throng comparable to inauguration day attendance in past years. During July, the committee has learned, several groups of tourists are coming to the Capital, and a Jarge number of boys’ delegations are to come here under the auspices of the Young Men's Christian Association. August will see another exception- ally large group here when the Boy Scout Jubilee will be held. With these now in prospect and with others anticipated without any advance wnotice of their coming, Hodges is confident a record Summer lies ahead. | e Mass Meeting Considered. A huge mass meeting to be partici- pated in by all civic groups of the Northeast section to push improve- ments for the area was suggested by A. D. Calvert at a recent meeting of Ithe Joint Conference of Northeast Citizens’ Associations. Calvert, who | represents Lincoln Park, was named to report on the plan at the next meeting. Representative Is Member. Representative Chauncey W Reed Illinois is a member of the Amer- University Park Citizens' Associa~ tlon.