Evening Star Newspaper, March 31, 1935, Page 42

O DELEGATES ATCAPTOLASKED BY CTEN GROUP Logan-Thomas Circle Unit Adopts Program for D. C. Rule Changes. A delegate with authority to work with the House and one with the Benate in matters relating to affairs of the District is included in the recommendations of the Logan- Thomas Circle Citizens' Association to be included in a proposed re- organization of the District govern- ment. The recommendations were drawn by a committee appointed by Presi- dent Ella M. Thompson in response to a request by the Federation of Citizens' Associations, which is seek- ing to get views from all representa- tive civic organizations. Representation Method. The first item deals with national representation for the District. “In consideration of the fact that an amendment to the Constitution would be necessary to get a representative with full powers to act and vote and that, as each and every member in the House is a representative of the District, we hereby declare in favor of a delegate with authority to work with members of the House in mat- ters relating to the affairs of the District,” the Logan-Thomas recom- mendation says. For the Senate the same proposal is made; likewise as to the electoral college, if possible to make a law providing for an ex- pression of choice. The association favors the federa- tion-approved City Council. Particular stress on appointment of the School Board and Board of Library Trustees, as is done at the present time, is made in order to keep politics out of such adminis- tration. Regarding drawing up of city regu- lations or the holding of any civic hearings, the Logan-Thomas Circle Citizens asked that there be some check or modification on the City Council by the Commissioners or Congress to prevent undue delay. Plan of Nomination. Instead of having the President nominate two of the District Commis- sioners, and the council one, the Lo- gan-Thomas Circle plan would have the council nominate two Commis- sioners. In regard to the Public Utilities Commission, two members instead of one would be nominated by the City Council. Abolishment or consolida- tion of two or more offices might be recommended by the City Council through the delegate, the citizens be- lieve, with all procedure made into law by Congress. “In conclusion,” the report says, “this committee hereby expresses the opinion that the powers of the Com- missioners, the Board of Public Utili- ties and of the City Council, should be carefully studied before final draft, in order that our city government be not cluttered up with unnecessary and impossible methods of procedure that would be apt to retard action.” — NAMED SECRETARY Miss S. C. Mariarity Appointed to Michigan Paric Post. John F. Hillyard, president of the Michigan Park Citizens’ Association, has announced the appointment of Miss Sarah C. Moriarity as secretary of the group for the coming year. Mis Moriarity, who is a member of the local bar, is connected with the internal revenue and is a former graduate of Columbus University. 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 (S. 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: House: Passed Creation of a commission to control Tents (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 Comimttee. Substitute civilian trial board for present Police Trial Board. (H. R. ;‘;leu). House: In District Commit- 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 Commis- sioners to remove dangerous buildings (H. R. 3458). House: Passed. Amend act creating board for con- demnation of insanitary buildings (H. R._3459). House: Passed. 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 District 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 District 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 Dis- trict Committee. Authorizing use of District surplus funds for necessary public projects (H. R. 4345). House: In District Committee. Prevent fouling of the atmosphere (H. R. 5232, S. 2034). House: In District Committee. Senate: In Dis- trict Committee. Authorizing P. W. A. funds for new courts building (H. R. 6231, S. 2035). : In District Committee. House: . ate: In District Committee. THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., MARCH 31, 1935—PART TWO. Civic Problems, Civic Bodies TRANS'ENT HEAUH Tell Senate Group of City’s Needs These civic and business leaders appeared before the Senate subcommittee on the 1936 District appropria- tion bill during recent hearings to outline District civic needs. Above, left to right: George C. Shinn of the Board of Trade, bridge items; Richard B. English, Southeast Business Men's Association, Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge item; Evan H. Tucker, Citizens’ Advisory Council on Community Center and Northeast Citizens’ Associa- tion, school and community center items. Below, left to right! Sylvan King, chairman of the joint civic group representing trade bodies and citizens’ associations, on increasing the size of the police force; Mrs. Ernest R. Grant of the District Tuberculosis Association and Dr. John Minor of the District Medical Society, on public health; Thomas J. Llewellyn, Federation of Citizens’ Associations, on bridge items, and Edward F. Colladay, head of a special committee of the Citizens’' Joint Committee on Fiscal Relations Between the United States and the District, on Federal share of District expenses. VOTE FOR DISTRICT DEBATE IS SLATED Audience to Act as Judge for Discussion to. Be Held April 9. In order to determine the sentiment of Southeast Washington toward na- tional representation for the District, the Southeast Citizens’ Association is planning to hold a debate on the sub- ject April 9 with the audience acting as judge. The debate will be held in the Hine Junior High School, Seventh and Pennsylvania avenue southeast, be- ginning at 8 o'clock,. The formal question to be argued is: “Resolved, that the right of suffrage should be granted to the citizens of the District of Columbia.” Personnel of Teams. team, all residents of the Southeast section. Louis F. Frick, counsel for the Southeast Business Men's Asso- ciation, and Richard B. English, vice president of the business men, will argue the affirmative. They will be opposed by C. G. Degman and J. C. L. Ritter. President William A. Maio of the citizens’ association has invited all of the Southeast associations to at- tend, as well as others throughout the city. He is looking for a good turn- out and believes citizens will welcome this opportunity to vote on the ques- tion. General Views Sought. “The Southeast Citizens’ Associa- tion has long been on record in favor of national representation for the District,” Malo said last week, “but I believe that through this debate we can get a more general idea of the views of Southeast citizens.” Capt. Ellis R. King, president of the Conduit Road Citizens’ Associa- tion, who was present at the last meeting of the Southeast group last week, said he would urge members of his association to attend the debate. Several other groups also have an- nounced they will be on hand. NEW FIRE EQUIPMENT SOUGHT BY CITIZENS Brightwood Association Also An- nounces Change in April Meeting Date. ‘The need of dern fire-fighting equipment for tt 7ashington subur- ban section will presented to the District Commis: sners and Fire De- partment officials by the Brightwood Citizens’ Association. The association seeks to replace the present apparatus at No. 11 Truck Company with a new truck with hydraulic extension ladder. Elmer Johnson, chairman of the Fire and Police Committee of the association, has been placed in charge of the matter by President Charles W. Ray. Announcement is made by Secre- tary C. E. Bogardus that the April meeting of the association will be held Tuesday, April 16, instead of Friday, April 12, in the Paul Junior High School. The change in the date of the meeting has been made at the request of G. R. Wilhelm, chairman of the Entertainment Com- mittee of the assoclation, who has invited Miss Bertie Backus, assistant superintendent of the District public schools, to address the citizens of the Brightwood section in the auditorium of the school. The subject of her discourse will be “The Effects of Mov- ing Pictures on Character Education.” The association extends a general in- vitation to the public to attend this event, which will be jointly held by the Brightwood Citizens’ Association and the School and Home Associa~ on. Plays Friday. 'HE last of the three concerts being T given oby Rlcmrdm Goodman, pianist, at the Washington College of Music, will take place Friday evening at 8:30 o'clock. The program will ;.n de “Toccata in G Major,” “Pre- ude,” p " from Ravel's “Gaspard de la Nuit” and Schumann’s “Cgraival.” Civic Association Calendar Fifteen Meetings This Week—Takoma Group Plans Annual Election—Swimming Pool Action Slated by Forest Hills. Monday, April 1. Citizens’ Association of Takoma, D. C, 8 pm., Takoma Public Library. Program—Nominating Committee re- port, with annual election; action on several proposed amendments to the constitution and by-laws; review of work during past year; review of past year's legislative program, with an outline for coming year's work. Dupont Circle Citizens® Association, 4:30 pm, Pan-American room, Mayflower Hotel. Program—Address by George Offutt, chairman of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board; Nominating Committee report. Forest Hills Citizens’ Association, 8 p.m., Ben Murch School. Program— Report of Schools Committee on ap- pearance before Senate Subcommittee on Appropriations in behalf of Wood- row Wilson High School project; Po- 4 lice and Fire Committee report on There will be two members on each | efforts to enlist aid of the tele- phone company to abolish crime con- ditions; action to secure local wading and swimming pools; report on pro- posed adoption of daylight savings time; action on proposal to control pedestrian traffic; report on proposed smoke nuisance bill; report on pro- posed inheritance tax measures. Kenilworth Citizens’ Association, 8 pm., Kenilworth Recreation Center. Program—Education Committee re- port; report on proposed airport at the old Benning race track; report on proposed northeast mass meeting; report by delegates to joint confer- ence of Northeast Citizens’ Associ- ations. Manor Park Citizens’ Association, 8 pm., Whittier School. Program— Education Committee report on pro- posed renaming the projected Manor Park High School Calvini Coolidge; Transportation Committee report on proposed double tracking of street car lines on Kennedy street; report on projected schedules for bus service; entertainment by Whittier School and Paul Junior High School Parent- Teacher Associations. Michigan Park Citizens’ Associa- tion, 8 p.m., Bunker Hill School. Program—Address by Willlam A. Roberts, people’s counsel; discussion of plans to secure addition to or a new Bunker Hill School; report and discussion of plans for development of Turkey Thicket Playground; re- port and discussion of proposed ad- Jjustment of gas rates; report on zon- ing problems; inauguration of a mem- bership drive; report by Dr. William Deviny on joint conference of North- east Citizens’ Associations. Progressive Citizens of Georgetown, 8 pm,, Curtis School. Program—Ad- dress by George W. Offutt cf the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board; report on proposed Weir plan for recreation management; report on proposed broadening of powers of Dis-. trict Commissioners; report on plans to decorate area during Shrine con- vention in June; action to secure a proposed recreation center. Tuesday, April 2. Columbia Heights Citizens’ Asso- ciation, 8 pm. Fourth Presbyterian Church. Program—aAddress by Rep- resentative Moritz of Pennsylvania on “Pittsburgh Graded Tax Plan”; re- port and action of Federation of Citizens’ Association- proposed reor- ganization of District government; re- port by Lillian Chenoweth and action on proposed recreation center ad- jacent to Powell Junior High School; report by A. B. Carty on proposed tax measures. North Cleveland Park Citizens’ As- sociation, 8 p.m., 3923 Windon place. Program—Discussion of Home Own- ers’ Loan Corp. plan; discussion of methods to improve local bus service. Wednesday, April 3. Association of Oldest Inhabitants, 8 pam., Old Union Engine House. Pro- gram—aAddress by Jesse G, Suter on “Spreading the Truth Regarding the District”; address by James Caldwell of the Federal Housing Administration. Friendship Citizens’ Association, 8 pm., Janney School. Program—Dis- cussion of proposed opening of Forty- second street; action on proposed leg- islation against gambling; report results of membership drive; action to secure improvement of mail deliv- ery service; action on resolution fa- voring establishment of medical clinics on yearly flat-rate basis. Thursday, April 4. Washington Highlands Citizens’ As- sociation, 8 pm., 3910 First street southeast, 2 ] Friday, April 5. Burroughs Citizens’ Association, 8 pm., John Burroughs School. Pro- gram—Report by K. P. Armstrong on possibility of securing Public Works Administration funds for school proj- ects and on appearance before Senate Subcommittee on Appropriations; dis- cussion on proposed legislation regu- lating Juvenile Court procedure; action on proposed smoke nuisance bill; address by Harry Baker, jr., principal, Taft Junior High School, on “School Needs of the Community.” Chillum Heights Citizens’ Assocla- tion, 8 p.m.,, Keene School. Pro- gram—Report and action on proposed location of District Airport at oid Benning Racetrack; report on pend- ing House and Senate bills authoriz- ing Southern Railway Co. to construct overpass on New York avenue north- east; report of delegates to joint con- ference of Northeast Citizens' Asso- ciations; action on proposed resolu- tion favoring conversion of Tubercu- losis Hospital site into recreational- educational center. Saturday, April 6. Federation of Citizens' Associa- tions, 8 p.m. board room, District Building. —_— Orchestra at HOWB!’a U. TH:E Concert Series Committee of Howard University announces that the sixth and final recital in its 1935 series will take place Tuesday evening in Rankin Memorial Chapel. The Chamber Section of the National Sym- phony Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Hans Kindler, will present a program of chamber orchestral music. Louia Vaughn Jones, violinist, will play the Lalo “Symphonie Espagnole.” Mr. Jones is a member of the music faculty, Howard University, and head of the Department of Violin. He is a graduate of the New England Con- servatory of Music, with European training under Capet, Hayat and Dar- rieux in Paris, and Sollamay in Bu- dapest. The program is as follows: Choral prelude, “I Call to Thee. Lord.” “Symphony No. 3 in C"....C. P. E. Bach Allegro assel. agio. Allegretto. “Symphonie Espagnole”...seesess..Lalo Allegro von troppo. Andante. s Prom the “Pizzicato Polka™ .. «‘Slavonic Dance No. “Dance of the Comedis tered Bride” ... Frauenheim Recital. THE program of the piano recital to be given by Norman Frauenheim Tuesday evening at the Sulgrave Club at 8:45 o'clock will be as follows: Bach-Liszt Mozart Mendelssohn R B Flat Minor, “Carnaval” ..... ceeeen +.... Schumann termezzo in eg | School on April 25 by the North Cap- 18" | Association at the last meeting of the BENNING AIRPORT FIGHT 15 PLANNED BYW. A DRIGGERS Kenilworth- Member Pro- poses to Speak Before Many Associations. Encouraged by action taken by the special airport subcommittee of the House last week in ruling against the Grayelly Point site, W. A. Driggers of the Kenilworth Citizens’ Association is preparing for personal appearances before civic groups in behalf of the old Benning race track site for a pro- posed District airport. Driggers, who has been an airplane pilot for many years, made his first appeal to citizens’ groups last Tues- day, only & few hours after the de- cision of the House subcommittee had been announced. He appeared before the joint conference of Northeast cit- izens’ associations and explained why he and several citizens’ associations favor the proposed race track site. ‘The conference is composed of 10 associations of the Northeast quarter, many of which have already indorsed the Benning project. Chances Thought Better. Although Representative Smith of Virginia, author of the Gravelly Point airport bill, has opposed the subcom- mittee ruling on the grounds that the only other site available for consid- eration is the Washington Airport, Driggers feels the Benning tract is equally suitable for this purpose and is more encouraged by the elimination of Gravelly Point. “We should not let the opinion of these so-called flying experts influ- ence our stand for an adequate air- port,” declared Driggers. “We are the ones who will have to pay for it in the long run. Therefore, it should be in the District where District residents would benefit most from it.” Airports should be compared with city streets and State highways, Drig- gers believes. The District should own a municipal airport and contribute to its construction. There are 702 munici- pal airports in the United States to- day, many of which show a profit. Profits from such projects, he ex- plains, come from the sale of gas and oil, storage and repair work. To the objection by some of the smokestacks standing near the race track, Driggers explains the prevail- ing winds in the District are from the west and northwest, whereas the smokestacks are west northwest of the track. This would offer no obstruc- tion to planes coming in against the wind to land at the field and outgo- | ing planes would pass to the side of | the chimneys. Ground Is Solid. ‘Whereas Washington Airport and Gravelly Point are fills and both un- satisfactory for airport use, the ground at Benning is old and solid, with gocd drainage, with the exception of one small portion of marsh land. Although nearby marshes would cause fog at certain times of the year, Driggers stated the hazard from this cause would not be near as great as on flields adjacent to the river. “I can't see the use” Driggers stated about fields across the river, “of using airplanes as a fast means of transportation and then place the airport at a location where it takes one-half hour to fifty-five minutes to get to the downtown areas.” Draw bridges, he said, would in some cases slow down transportation from the city to an airport across the Potomac River. In 1927, when interest in a District airport was high, Driggers said over half the citizens’ associations at that time favored an airport within the | District. Because the groups have not recently acted upon this matter to any great extent, Driggers is pre- pared to present the Benning site plan before citizens’ associations in all quarters of the city. A. F. E. Scheer, chairman of the Northeast Conference and president of the Dahlgren Terrace Citizens’ As- sociation, sala the citizens’ association favors the Benning site only if an airport’s cost is to be shouldered onto the District. “If we must have an airport inside the District,” Scheer declared, “we believe we should co- operate with the Kenilworth group and indorse the Benning race tra site.” At the conference meeting Harry N. Stull, delegate from Stanton Park, said the private airlines should be compelled to share a proportionate burden of tke expense of construct- ing an airport within the District. The commercial airlines use and de- rive the most benefit from the proj- ects in carrying out their business, he declared. Will Hold Card Party. A card party and dance will be given at the Langley Junior High itol Citizens’ Association. New Members Elected. Mrs. Joseph J. Saunders and John Hyland were elected to membership in the North Capitol Citizens’ Asso- ciation at the last meeting of the group. Contribute to Symphony. An appropriation of $10 was made to the National Symphony Orchestra fund by the North Capitol Citizens’ Inadequate Jail Deplored by Midcity Citizens The inadequate facilities for han- prisoners at the District jail have been emphasized by the Midcity Citizens' Association in a resolution recommending the appropriation of sufficient funds by Congress to ac- quire a new site for and the building of a new jail to meet modern needs. The present jail was built in 1876, and while it may have been wholly adequate then, the group modern conditions have brought about & crying need for a larger, more safii- tary and more comfortable building. group. Facilities Here oners charged with felonies because it has often been necessary to place prisoners in the misdemeanor block who should have been placed in the felony cell block, or, if not this meth- od, it was necessary to crowd them into the felony block, thus inviting disorders which all too frequently attend serlous overcrowding with that type of prisoner. The resolution further points out there are no facilities for outdoor ex- Citizens Make Last Plea for Budget Items—New Model Procedure Needed to Solve Modern City Problems. . BY JESSE C. SUTER. HURSDAY stood out as an im- portant day in a busy civic week, for it was District day in the House and four District bills were passed. The auto- mobile responsibility bill, the excess condemnation bill, the bill authorizing the destruction of unsafe bulldings and one providing for condemnation of insanitary structures made up the list. These measures already have passed the Senate. The auto respon- sibility bill had to go back to the Senate because of an amendment ex- empting non-residents from its provi- slons. The Senate District Committee on the same day met and approved a bill creating a new offense known as “neg- ligent homicide” for fatal automobile accident cases. The committee also ordered a favorable report on the long pending nomination of Public Utilities Commissioner Elgen for an- other term. The Committee voted to report out the bill to authorize the Commissioners to obtain an advance from P. W. A. for the erection of the courts units of the group of municipal buildings on Judiciary Square. Three other bills be ordered reported to the Senate, including one authorizing compensation to military instructor of the high school cadets. ‘The Senate side for the appropria- tions Subcommittee completed its hearings on the District budget by hearing_Citizens’ Joint Committee on Fiscal Relations Between the United States and the District of Columbia on Friday morning. Throughout the week events of spe- cial civic interest included the ap- pearance of prominent civic leaders before the Crime Inquiry Committee and before the District Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Appro- priations. The delegations appearing before the Senate subcommittee have represented practically every neigh- borhood. These citizens have made earnest pleas for restoration of urgent items omitted by the Budget Bureau or the House, or for the increase of amounts which have been reduced. Schools, increased police force, Fire Department and health items have had the most general support. Another item of interest was the report to the House District Com- mittee by its airport subcommittee. The Commissioners have forwarded to the House District Committee the Harlan estate tax bill with their ap- proval and several suggested amend- ments. An Earnest Plea For Fiscal Equity. SPECIAL committee appointed by Theodore W. Noyes, chair- man of the Executive Commit- tee on Piscal Relations Between the United States and the District of Columbia, was granted a courteous and attentive hearing before the District subcommittee of the Senate Commit- tee on Appropriations on Friday morning. The spokesman for this spe- cial committee was its chairman, Edward F. Colladay, who is the chair- man of the general Joint Committee on Fiscal Relations, and also is the chairman of the Board of Trade Com- mittee on Municipal Finance. Colladay also has the distinction of being a former president of both the Federa- tion of Citizens' Associations and the Board of Trade. ‘The committee presented a petition signed by the heads of the principal organizations of the District asking first for a return by Congress to the definite proportionate plan of | sharing the expenses of the District as provided by existing law and, sec- ondly, in event of the continuance of the present temporary lump-sum plan that the lump sum be substan- tially increased. petition, which had been previously presented to the Senate and House of Representatives, was supported by a printed argument along the two lines indicated in the petition. Colladay made & supple- mental oral argument backed up by a mass of statistics proving conclusively that the District is not undertaxed, either locally or nationally, and that there is a very definite and primary obligation on the part of the Nation to bear an equitable share of the cost of the operation, maintenance and development of its own National Capital. Urgent School Facilities Lead Other Civic Requests. MONG the many meritorious proj- ects urged by citizens before the Senate Appropriations Sub- committee the plea for increased an improved school facilities continues in the lead. Delegations from most every neighborhood in the District have appeared and presented con- vincing evidence in support of their earnest petitions. Recently The Star has published a series of illustrated articles which are graphically striking examples of inadequate school accommodations. Similar examples can be given of many other cases equally unsatis- factory. Most of the public-spirited and patriotic citizens who make up or- ganized civic Washington have or have had children in the schools and know whereof they speak when urging that the boys and girls of this gen- eration be given an educational square deal. They are convinced any breakdown in the educational system by reason of lack of proper facili- ties will work a permanent injury to pupils now in the schools. The feeling is general that some- thing should be done sbout it now. If the District budget, because of the withholding by the Federal Gov- ernment of its equitable share, can- not meet the situation, then there is & firm belief that the school building and school reconditioning program should be put over as a part of the new P. W. A. program. Mean- while civic bodies are continuing to pass resolutions, formulate petitions and to use every means krown to a subject people to influengp the ex- clusive and powerful local Legisla- ture to grant the relief for which they continue to pray. Alexandria to Join Campaign Against Potomac River PoMution. LEXANDRIA is not to be out- stripped by other communities of the metroplitan area in the reclamation of the Potomac River from sewage pollution. At its meet- ing last Tuesday evening the City Council discussed the question and appointed a committee to study plans for sewage disposal, in line with the program already started by the Fed- eral Government and the adjacent a measure prompted by the action of the Interfederation Conference at its last meeting when it appointed a special committee to confer with the authorities and civic bodies of the neighboring city and to ascertain what, if any, plans are under way as Alexandria’s part in the Potomac River clean-up. This committee was authorized to offer co-operation in every way possible. Mpyor Emmett C. Davison has met the overtures of the Interfederation Conference most graciously and the committee represehting the District of Columbia, Arlington County and Montgomery County will meet with him in hiff office tomorrow morning. Delegates to the Interfederation Conference are hopeful this confer- ence with Maycr Davison will lay the foundation for a permanent civic liaison between that community and the civic bodles of other parts of the metropolitan area. 1935 Models Needed For 1935 Conditions. HEN some of us years ago went for one of those “long bicycle rides” of 15 or 20 miles we were constantly passing a striking appeal of a sewing machine company to “Exchange that ancient machine of thine for a Wheeler & Wilson No. 9.” This message, on strips of tin, was tacked on fence rails, trees and here there was space and a tack would hold. ‘The successor to the sewing machine man is the host of automobile sales- men of today who are most convinc- ing in proving that if one is to keep up with the procession and get effi- clent service he must have an up-to- date model. But what has that to do with civic problems? To read the testimony of District officials in justification of their budget estimates, to note much of the testi- mony before the crime inquiry or the pleas of our new health officer, the observer is bound to note that many of the local difficulties are due to the use of old, obsolete models in an at- tempt to meet the requirements of 1935 jobs. Our school accommodations, our Fire Department, our court buildings, | our police force, our jail and much of our transportation facilities are old models not suited in their present con- dition to do first-class work for a 1935 community. As we study the many plans submitted for a revamping of the local government we discover that the model now in use was invented many centuries ago and before repre- sentative government came into pop- ular use. ‘The automobile salesman will look in the “blue book” and tell you what your “old crate” is worth, but in the case of the District’s accumulation of antique models there are no “blue book” listings and consequently many have a value only as curios. This is particularly true as to some of the school buildings and heating plants and also some of our street cars. Some of our civic leaders have been wondering just how it is that our wonderland collection of antiques has escaped the alert agents of Henry Ford. There is only one explanation, and that is that this collection of | relics of antiquity is probably re- garded by Congress as a sort of ex- tension service of the National Mu- | seum. Organized civic Washington is thor- oughly convinced that 1935 models are | needed in most cases and that others need what the auto shops call “a com- | plete overhaul and paint job,” to say | nothing of plenty of grease and oil. Unified Recreation System Uniformly Desired, But How? HE Recreation Commission, sof called, is a self-constituted body | composed of a District Com- | missioner, & member of the School Board and the superintendent of National Capital parks and a non- | | voting chairman and secretary 4n the | persons of the chairman and secre- | tary, respectively, of the National Capital Park and Planning Commis- | sion. So far there has been no | general civic approval of this new | set-up and considerable undercurrent | of criticlsm. The people’s counsel | has declared there exists no legal authority for this ccmmission, which has been created to serve for a trial period of one year. Through civic circles there is a de- cided opinion that the direction and | control of public recreation should be in the hands of a larger body of local citizens. Many express the opinion that as all the money for the District recreation activities, under public auspices, comes from the local tax- payers they alone should have control. One plan proposed is to place con- trol in the hands of a board of nine bona fide local citizens, three to be appointed by the Commissioners, three by the Board of Education and three by the office of National Capital Parks. Still another proposal is that a board of recreation be created of nine bona fide residents of the District to serve staggered terms of three years each. This board would be named by the District Commissioners and would have charge of the recreation system in somewhat the same way as the Board of Education handles the schools. Questions involving the use of school facilities would, under this plan, be determined by joint action of the Board of Recreation and the Board of Education in the same man- ner as some public utilities questions are determined by joint action by the District Commissioners and the Pub- lic_Utilities Commission. Proponents of both of these plans | clalm that a community recreation | system is a more logical job for a citi- zen board than for the general gov- | ernment of the United States. They | even claim that residents of the Dis- trict, voteless and unrepresented as they be, could be safely entrusted with the management of swimming pools and recreation centers now under the control of officers of the United States. CHAIRMEN NAMED Michigan Park Committee Heads Are Appointed. Committee chairmen of the Mich- igan Park Citizens’ Association have been announced by its president, John F. Hillyard, who has just recently been elected as head of the group. They are: Membership, John M. De Marco; Law and Legislation, Martin F. O'Don- oghue; Public Utilities, E. J. Bren- nan; Streets, Sidewalks and Parking, Leo F. Stock, jr.; Police and Fire Pro- tection, Charles J. Hausler; Enter- tainment, Vladimir Vasa; Education and Public Building, William J. De- viny; Sanitation, Dr. Richard F. Shaw; Publicity, John J. Hurley, and Zoning, Joseph L. Parkhill. Annual Concert. choral ensemble of the Burrall Class, Calvary Baptist Church, will present its annual Spring recital Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. at Woodward Hall in the church. George Wargo, first violist of the National Symphony Orchestra, and Emerson Myers, pian- ist, will be the assisting artists. The choral program will include groups of sacred numbers and Rus- sian and American compositions. PROBLEM STUDIED BY TRADE GROUPS D. A. R. and U. S. C. of C. Head List of 27 Conven- tions Slated for April. Tubercular transient® in Washing- ton, although not many in number, constitute such a menace to public health that two subcommittees of the Public Health Committee of the Washington Board of Trade have been given the task of finding out what to do with them and about them. When the committee met at the Harrington Hotel last week Dr. A. Barclie Coulter raised the question, pointing out that the Capital cannot commit them to institutions here for i treatment, nor are facilities available for re- wurning the pa- tents to their homes. Dr. Coulter said that as a result they are /4 permitted either to live in board- ing houses, tran- slent stations or roam the streets at will, since Public Health authorities are without means to segregate, treat and otherwise dis- pose of them. Emergency cases can be and are treated at public hos- pitals, but once the patients pass the emergency stage the law prevents their commitment to the District Tuberculosis Hospital or to Gallinger. Officials of the Board of Public Welfare also said no means is pro- vided for purchasing tickets to send them home or to return them to cities whence they came. Named to study the problem and seek a solution are the Subcommittee on Co-operation With the Public Health Department, of which Dr. James G. Cumming is chairman, and the Subcommittee on Co-operation With the Board of Public Welfare, headed by R. J. Posson. It is expected they will make reports at a meeting to be called during the coming week. Dr. A. B. Coulter. Embassy Linoleum? Another harbinger of Spring has made jts appearance in Washington, and once more the Better Business Bureau's calls are increasing. This time, it is the reappearance of the linoleum salesman who has a “strip left over” after covering the “floor of an embassy kitchen.” Mrs. Sallie P. Muchmore, assistant director of the bureau, devoted a radio address last week to the subject of the reappearing lineleum salesman. In- vestigation has shown, she said, that if all the linoleum offered by door- to-door salesmen actually had been left over from a job at an embassy then every embassy and legation in Washington has had its floors covered with several layers. As a matter of fact, she sald, the canvassers purchase linoleum rem- nants at the regular retail price and then with a smart sales talk dispose of it at considerable profit to him- self to the housewife who can't re- sist a “bargain.” “By educating the woman in th~ house to beware of the various scheme promoted in this manner,” Mrs. Much- more said. “I am not only saving you from buying something that is per- haps not worth the price, but I am :idmg t]he ethical, legitimate door-to- ‘oor salesman and the ethical mer- fx?l;lsl of this city who are interested ving you a good piece - chandise at a fair pnce‘.’" 94 e April will continue the record- breaking trend for conventions that began the first of the year. January, February and March, in turn, set new Tecords in the number of conventions and the attendance when compared both with the preceding month and with the corresponding month last year. Twenty-seven conventions are scheduled for April, according to Curtis Hodges, executive director of the Greater National Capital Com- mittee of the Washington Board of Trade, and more than 15,000 dele- gates are expected at the meetings. The Daughters of the American Revolution and the Chamber of Com- merce of the United States head the list, each expecting close to 4,000 per- sons to be present. Other conventions scheduled follow : Grand Council, Order of De Mol ApAnnl’) 3;‘4. at tAhe Mayflower Hotel. erican Alumni Counc; Apr 3-6, Whrdman Park Hotel, o - .;\lmencan National Red Cross, April o!D:gh'fm of Founders and Patriots erica, April 11, Washington Hotel. = “h _ American College of Surgeons, sec- tional meeting, April 11-12, May- flower. College Art Association, 2 Wardman Park Hotel, 7 1017 National Retail Lumber Dealers’ Association, April 16, Shoreham Hotel. 1_xmencau Society of Newspaper Editors, April 18-20, Willard Hotel. School tour from Caledonia, N. Y., April 19-24, Harrington Hotel. Association of Civic Service Club Executives, April 22, Mayflower Hotel. National Soicety of United States Daughters of 1812, April 22-24. nl‘;a‘uom.l Academy of Sciences, April Eastern States Regional Confer- ;x;c;s Civil Service Assembly, April American Road Builders (board meeting), April 25-26, Willard Hotel. American Soclety of Interuational Law, April 25-27, Willard Hotel. American Trade Association Execu- tives, April 20-May 2. Commission on Evangelism, Federal Council of Churches, April 30-May 1, Cllz;;y] BA.t.IlJm:i Church. le Atlantic Automotive 3 Association. S National Astrologians’ Assocation. National Soclety Children of Amer- ican Revolution, mCatl.h;l:g Assoclation for Interna- nal ce, April 22-23, W B p! Mayflower American Short Line Railroad, board meeting. American Physical Society. American Geophysical Union. American Guild of Organists, tri- State convention, April 25-26, May- flower Hotel. SEEK BETTER LAWNS Circulars to Be Sent to North Capitol Residents. A fight for improvement of prop- erty values in the North Capitol Cit- izens’ Association area will be made by that group this Spring, when the assoclation will send circulars to every resident of the community asking for Florence Howard is director and Eve- lyn Wells accompanist, ’ improvement in the condition of lswns and houses. ¥