Evening Star Newspaper, April 7, 1935, Page 36

D4 CITIZENRY ACTIVE IN FINAL APPEALS FOR 1336 BUDGET Gratitude Greets Senate Committee Approval of Needed Items. Civic leaders have made their last plea before Congress for items to be| included in the 1936 District appro- | priation bill. The bill, leaving the House carry- | ing a total of $39,308,404, as reported from the Senate Appropriations Com- mittee carriers $42,760,619. The Fed- eral share was raised from $5,700,000 to $8.317,500. The increases are viewed in civic circles as indicating nearly all the {tems asked for by delegates of various associations are recognized in Senate circles as being needed and urgent. ‘The civic groups are gratified and are hoping that when the bill comes up in the House for final action, these in- creases will be left intact. More Citizens Appear. A far greater number of citizens appeared before the Senate group during hearings on the bill than be- fore the House committee several months ago. Chief among advocates for a larger lump sum contribution by the Federal Government was the Citizens’ Joint Committee on Fiscal Relations Be- tween the United States and the Dis- trict of Columbia, which presented a petition including the names of many officers of citizens’ associations. Among the signers of the petition who represented local civic groups ere Theodore W. Noyes. president, Association of Oldest Inhabitants; James G. Yaden, president, Federa- tion of Citizens' Associations; Evan H. Tucker, president, Northeast Citi- zens' Association, L. A. Carruthers, chairman, Commiitee on Fiscal Re- lations of the Federation; Harding Burroughs, president, Society of Natives of the District; Anna Kel- ton Wiley, president, Federation of Women's Clubs; Caroline Hogue. president, Voteless District League of ‘Women Voters; Edith L. Phelps, chair- man, Department of Legislation, Fed- eration of Women's Clubs. In addition, Mrs. Morgan Otterback. chairman, Educational Southeast Citizens’ Association, ap- peared at the hearings with the Fiscal Relations Committee. K. P. Arm- strong, secretary of the Burroughs Citizens' Association and the Joint Conference of Northeast Citizens’ Associations, also asked for a larger Federal contribution during the hear-| ing at another time. Many School Pleas. Increases in funds for schools was one of the principal items sought. The Federation of Citizens' Associations was represented by its Education Com- mittee chairman, Harry N. Stull of the Stanton Park Citizens' Association, and Wallace C. Magathan, president, Citizens' Association of Takoma. D. C., who is also a member of the Federation Committee. 1M a plea for a character education fund. Stull was supported by H. C. Phillips, president, and Mrs. J. C. Fer- nald, chairman, Committee on Educa- tion of the Citizens’ Forum of Colum- bia Heights: Mrs. Jacqueline A. Cuney, president, Bloomingdals Civic Associa- tion, and Edwin S. Hege, president, Chevy Chase Citizens’ Association. The Senate subcommittee restored the $87.500 knocked out by the House for character education. Another item presented by Stull was the Federation’s request for $70,000 to complete the Woodrow Wilson High BSchool and to improve the grounds. On this item the following also pre- sented pleas for the project: Mrs. Les- lie B. Wright, secretary, Forest Hills Citizens’ Association and representing Alice Deal Junior High School, and Mr. Hege. This $70,000 was recommended by | the subcommittee. School Addition Approved. Magathan presented the indorse- ment of the Federation of the pro- posed construction of a 10-room addi- tion and gymnasium to the Paul Junior High School. In this request he had the support of Mrs. Mary La- mond White, president, Takoma Park Citizens’ Association. and ninety thousand dollars was set aside for this purpose by the com- mittee. For the construction of a four-room addition and acquisiiton of space for four additional rooms to the Bunker Hill School, Kenenth P. Armstrong, secretary of the Burroughs Citizens’ Associations and the Joint Confer- ence of Northeast Citizens’ Associa- tions, was supported by a similar re- quest from Dr. William Deviney of the Michigan Park Citizens’ Association. The committee approved an appro- Ppriation of $115,000 for this purpose. Federation'’s indorsement of funds to draw up plans for a pro- posed high school in the Manor Park area was presented by Marathan. ‘This request was also made by Mrs. White and received the. subcommit- tee's indorsement by approval of $40,000. Stull asked appropriations for a proposed new Dennison Vocational School: the subcommittee approved $140,000 for beginning a new school * between Upshur, Allison, Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets, with au- thority to enter into contract up to $280,000. Another school request and the eamount approved by the subcommit- tee included $10,000 to partially re- equip Shaw Junior High School, re- quested by Mrs. Cuney. Bridge Plea Granted. Thomas J. Llewellyn represented the Federation in a request for a $15,000 item to draw up plans to re- place the Pennsylvania avenue south- east bridge. Vernis Absher, chair- man, Bridges Committee of the Boutheast Council of Citizens’ Asso- ciations, and A. W. Lee, president, Randle Highlands Citizens’ Associ- ation, also appeared in behalf of this item. The $15000 was allowed by the Senate group. For a proposed bridge across Frank- lin street northeast $200,000- was al- lowed from the gasoline tax fund. In this request the following appeared: Llewellyn, representing the feder- ation; A. F. E. Scheer, chairman, Northeast Conference and president of Dahlgren Terrace Citizens’ Asso- ciation; Evan H. Tucker, president, Northeast Citizens’ Association, and K. P. Armstrong of the Burroughs group. Capt. Ellis R. King, president, Con- duit Road Citizens' Association, rep- resented the District Department of the American Legion in a request for & proposed Chain Bridge. Requests for 141 additional police- men were made by Sylvan King, chairman of a special citizens’ com- mittee, including representation from the Federation of Citizens’ Associ- tions and the Federation of Civic As- sociations. An addition of over $300,- 000 to the appropriations for the Po- lice Department was approved. A plea for funds to repair the Sormer No, 2 precinct station was A ' Henry | Committee, | One hundred | Prof. S. S. Steinberg Is Head of Universi Department. Sidewalk, Drainage and | Roads Objectives of His Group. By & Staff Correspondent of The Star. | OLLEGE PARK, Md, April 6. —One of Maryland’s most prominent engineers who has, for years, taken an active in- terest in civic affairs, heads the newly organized College Park Im- | provement Association. He is Prof. S. S. Steinberg, head of 1 the department of civil engineering, | University of Maryland, and presi- | dent of the Maryland Association of | Engineers. Recognized as Authority. A former member of the highway departments of Delaware, South Caro- lina and New York. and a contributor to leading engineering journals, Prof. Steinberg has been recognized as one | of the foremost authorities in his line | | ever since he came to Maryland. Within the past year he has been | | made a member of the State Planning | Commission which recently drafted a i 10-year plan for development of the | State roads system, and served as | | State representative for Maryland of | the United States Coast and Geodetic | | Survey. | He is a graduate in law as well as engineering and has taught both sub- | Jects. | For years he has been a trustee of | | the College Park school. He is the only | person to serve four consecutive terms | as president of the College Park Home | and School Association, the leading | Sontheast Debate. | HE debate on national repre- sentation sponsored by the Southeast Citizens’ Associa- | tion will take place Tuesday | i night at 8 o'clock at the Hine | | School. Although the event is not a regu- | | lar meeting of the association, Presi- | dent W. A. Maio has invited all in- | terested citizens to attend. The audi- ence will act as judge. National representation is ra\'oredi | by the Scutheast group, Maio says, and has been for many years. The question: “Resolved, That the | right of suffrage should be granted | to the citizens of the District of Co- | lumbia.” The teams: Affirmative, Louis F. Frick of the Southeast Busi-’ | ness Men's Association and R. B. | English, business men's vice presi- dent; negative, C. G. Degman and J. C. L. Ritter. 1 | American University Park. H | S A member of the association and | community resident, Represent- ative Reed, Republican, of Iili- | nois, will address the American Uni- | versity Park Citizens’ Association | Wednesday night. This week the | group will discuss plans for the sixth | annual garden contest, to be held under sponsorship of the association’s Garden Club, Thomas E. Lodge, Leg- | islation Committee | nounces. | Summit Park. | OLLOWING its application for membership in the Federation | of Citizens’ Associations, the Summit Park Citizens’ Association 1 will hear a report Tuesday from a | special committee and act on changes | in the constitution necessary for such membership, William J. Smith de- clares. chairman, an- Hillcrest. OR the second time in its 10 years F of existence, the Hillerest Citi- | zens’ Association tomorrow wil observe “Past Presidents’ night President Rudolph Malth announces. | The first celebration was held last | | year. It probably will be an annual affair, Malth says. The association is 10 years old, and — made by A. J. Driscoll, president, | Mid-City Citizens’ Association, and $12,000 was recommended for this | | project. The request for a new fire house at Fourteenth street and Rhode Island avenue northeast was made by Joseph L. Gammell of the Lincoln Park Citizens’ Association and rep- resenting the Police and Fire Com- | mitee of the federation, Armstrong | of the Burroughs Association, Clay- ton C. Marsh, president of the Rhode Island Avenue Citizens’ Association. This request was met by the subcom- mittee's approval of $77,241. A statement from Dr. George L.| Johnson, chairman Public Service | Committee, Southwest Civic Associa- tion, requested additional fire-fight- ing equipment for southwest. A pe- tition for the purchase of additional equipment was also presented by Al- bert E. Stephan of the Columbia Heights Citizens’ Association. A $30,- 500 recommendation of the subcom- mittee provides for two new hose | wagons and new hose. The federation’s Health Commit- tee was represented by Dr. Charles B. Campbell, a member of the Mount Pleasant Citizens' Association. Dr. Campbell presented requests for ad- ditional health staff for the public schools. Dr. Erwin Steinman, chair- man General Welfare Committee, Co- lumbia Heights Citizens’ Association, asked for a child hygiene center and Harry S. Wender, chairman Laws and Legislation Committee, Scuthwest Cit- izens’ Association, asked for funds for a proposed dental clinic for public schools, as recommended by the Board of Education. Funds approved for additional hygiene and sanitation in public schools amounted to $32,480 of a total of $120,863 over the House bill. Asks Community Center Fund. Other requests included increased appropriation for the Community Center Department by Henry I. Quinn, member of the Sixteenth Street Highlands Citizens' Associa- tion, and representing the Board of Education, and a similar request from Mr. Tucker of the northeast body. J. 8. Gorrell, president Burleith Citi- zens' Association, asked for a $32,559 appropriation to maintain the Gor- don Junior High and other communi- ty centers. An additional $30,189 was urged by the Senate body as an increase over the appropriation voted in the House. Tucker also presented a plea for further development of the Critten- ton Playground. Appearing in behalf of a proposed Petworth branch library were Horace J. Phelps, chairman Library Com- mittee, and Lyster H. Dewey, presi- dent Petworth Citizens’ Association. Complaining of the flat rate charged for water in the suburban area, Armstrong appealed for addi- Prominent Engineer Heads New Maryland Association | the new body, which has three imme- Notes on Coming Meetings | the body adopted a resolution favor- THE SUNDAY 8§ PROF. S. S. STEINBERG. civic group here prior to the organi- zation last week of the improvement association. Objects of New Group. The former group will in the future confine its activities chiefly to !he-‘ school and will have representation in diate objectives—construction of a sidewalk along the entire length of College avenue, the heavily traveled main traffic artery of the community; improvement of drainage in ‘“the Park,” and maintenance of roads which do not come under the State or county system. It was decided to form the associa- tion to accomplish things of this sort by “co-operative effort,” Prof. Stein- berg explained, after a majority of the town's residents voted against incor- | poration, when that question was raised during the recent session of the Maryland Legislature, | its first president was George E. Sise- moore, who is still a resident and member of the group. Other presi-| Scott and Albert Sellman. All still | are residents and members and will | be present to participate. Refresh- ments are promised. | Since the Hillcrest body’s last meet- | | ing Boy Scout Troop No. 68. sponsored | Cars. | by the ecivie body: has recelvea its | diamond. The plans also called for charter. The troop has been invited | to attend the meeting. Brightwood. | O THAT two meetings may hear | the same speaker the Brightwood | Citizens’ Association, scheduled to meet Friday, has postponed its | meeting until April 16, President Charles W. Ray declares. The speaker of the evening will be Miss Bertie Bagkus, assistant super- | intendent of schools, who will speak on “The Effects of Moving Pictures | on Character Education.” | The other group meeting April 16 | is the Paul Junior High Parent-Teach- | | er Association. While the citizens'| | group meets in the east end of the Paul School, Ray said, the parent- | teacher body will meet in the audi- torium. After each group has con- | cluded its business session, the civic ! body will adjourn to the auditorium | to_hear Miss Backus. National representation for the Dis- trict will be discussed in the Bright- iwood group’s business session. Piney Branch. HE recent movement within citi- | zens’ associations of the North ‘Washington area to convert the Tuberculosis Hospital site into & huge | recreational-educational center was original with the Piney Branch Citi- | zens’ Association, Capt. G. L. Shorey, | president states, | cost houses in the District for people TAR, WASHINGTO SPEAKER POLICY IN MICHIGAN PARK 10 BE CONTINUED President Hillyard * Feels Plan Will Stimulate In- terest in Work. After noting the results of having three prominent speakers present at the last meeting of the Michigan Park Citizens’ Association, President John F. Hillyard plans to continue that | policy in the future to stimulate in- terest in the work of his group. When he was elected president Hill- yard promised the members a prom- inent speaker would be heard at each meeting. Presiding over his first meet- ing last week, however, Hillyard ful- filled his promise 300 per cent. The group was addressed by C. Macshall Finnan, superintendent of National Capital Parks; William A. Roberts, people’s counsel, and A. F. E. Scheer, president of the Dahlgren Terrace Citizens’ Association and chairman of the Joint Conference of Northeast Citizens’ Associations. Outlines Recreation Project. Finnan outlined the proposed de- velopment of Turkey Thicket, ons of the most important projects in the Northeast section today. ‘The members of the Michigan Park area have for some time been trying to get the 123 acres east of the Bal- timore & Ohio Railroad tracks run- ning along Michigan avenue {rom Perry to Shepherd streets deveioped into one of the best recreational cen- ters of the city. He explained to the group it would take over eight months to complete after appropriations were secured. The cost of this construction would | exceed over $100.000. He showed the group an architec- tural drawing recently made for the proposed playground. ‘The plans for the playground in- | dents are Henry L. Gramp, Clinton | cluded: A large three-room field house with locker rooms and showers for boys and girls and the possibility of a refreshment stand, volley bali, basket ball and horse-shoe courts, parking area large enough to park 54 a foot ball field and a soft ball the planting of sirgle and double rows of poplar trees around the playground. Roberts spoke on the need of low- with a moderate income, the taxicab situation, the public utilities appeal bill, the nced of a cross-town bus service and the smoke control bill. Attacks Taxi System. He classed the taxicab system as| being one of the “worst rackets in the | District.” | Since the taxicab companies ha\'e“ installed the zone system, he ex- plained, there have been many small cabs put into circulation which give the public cheaper service with a greater chance for injuries. | | toes. “The companies have made a prac- | tice of selling cabs to operators and having them pay for themi by the i day,” he said, “and if they miss a few payments the companies can take the cabs and sell them again.” Scheer gave an outline of the pro- posed projects in the Northeast sec- tion. In co-operating with the president on his plans for the year to increase membership, John M. De Marco, chairman of the Membership Commit- tee. reported eight new members. They were: J. Frank Brown, D. L. Miller, J. E. Taylor, E. E. Gunion, William Gor- man, John Alden, Albin M. Ember jand C. W. Snyder. Early last Fall, he says, members of | the Piney Branch body discussed plans | for such a center. Two months ago ing the conversion of the nurses’ home of the hospital into a public library when the hospital moves to Glenn | Dale, Md. Although the movement for the cen- ter has not yet received official in- | dorsement of his group, Shorey says members have approved the plan for several months in informal discussion a{ld he is sure they will approve the | plan. Cathedral Heights-Cleveland Park. HEN the Cathedral Heights- Cleveland Park Citizens’ As- sociation in February adopted | a resolution favoring “District jobs | for District people” the group let itself in for much city-wide publicity. Already the group has received | about 100 letters from other citizens’ | associations, members of the Senate and House, business firms and in- dividuals, Mrs. Olive Geiger Fair- cloth, secretary, declares. Copies of the resolution were sent to other associations, the House and | Senate District Committees and even the President and Vice President. All of them have at least been acknowl- edged. Some individuals writing the as- sociation are not identified in any way with civic groups. Since adoption of the resolution this campaign for the filling of va- cancies by bona fide residents has become a paramount issue, and steps will be taken when the group meets Tuesday night to complete plans al- ready made to further the group's efforts. East Washington Heights. HE recent order of District park I officials to move the holly trees from Fort Dupont Park into Anacostia Park will be acted upon when the East Washington Heights Citizens’ Association meets Tuesday night, Mrs. Florence Jackson, secre- tary, announces. - The order to remove them, she feels, is just more evidence tha. residents of Southeast must contribute to the upkeep of. the District and secure none of the rewards. NEW GROUP TO MEET Organized early last month to se- cure a boys' club for the West End area, the second meeting of the West End Club will be held Wednesday night at the Concordia Lutheran Church at 8 o'clock. For a long while the West End Citizens’ Association has sought such & club, Almon C. Barber, secretary, declared yesterday. The new organi- zation has been formed to sponsor the boys’ group. “The West End Club,” Barber said. “is to be an organization of the older people for the benefit of the younger people.” J. H. Gerone was elected temporary president at the first meeting; R. D. Lyons, president West End Citizens’ Association, was elected temporary first vice president and Barber tem- porary secretary. Wednesday night the group wil discuss plans for financing a club by entertainments and programs by its | tional funds for the Water Depart- ment for the installation of water meters. L members. Permanent officers and committee assignments will also be made at that unr. Civic Calendar Monday, April 8. Congress Heights Citizens’ As- sociation, 8 pm., Congress Heights School. Hillcrest Citizens’ Association, 8 p.m. East Washington Heights Baptist Church. E Kalorama Citizens’ Association, 8 p.m,, Collier Inn, 1807 Colum- bia road Northeast Citizens’ Association, 8 p.m., Ludlow School. Park View Citizens’ Associa- tion, 8 p.m,, Park View Platoon School. Piney Branch Citizens’ Associa- tion, 8 pm, Roosevelt High School. Stanton Park Citizens’ Associa- tion, 8 p.m., Peabody School. Tuesday, April 9. Burleith Citizens’ Association, 8 pm, Gordon Junior High School. Cathedral Heights - Cleveland Park Citizens’ Association, 8 p.m., St. Alban's Church Parish Hall East Washington Heights Citi- zens' Association, 8 pm. Brad- bury Heights Methodist Church. Southeast Citizens' Association debate on national representa- tion, 8 pm., Hine Junior High School. Summit Park Citizens’ Asso- ciation, 8 p.m., 3703 Bangor street southeast. Wednesday, April 10. American University Park Citi- zens’ Association, 8 p.m., Hurst Hall, American University. Benning Citizens’ Association, 8 p.m., 508 Minnesota avenue northeast. Richmond Park Citizens’ Asso- ciation, 8 pm, 3508 Quebec street. Saturday, April 13. ‘Mount Pleasant Citizens’ Asso- ciation, 8 p.m, Mount Pleasant Branch Library. | | Senate: | policemen (H. R. 3642). D. C, APRIL 7, 1935—PART TWO. LAW OBSERVANCE LEAGUE 15 URGED 10 IMPROVE CITY Pledge to Obey Statutes and Report Violators - Asked by Offutt. The formation of a law observance league among members of citizens’ associations is being advocated by George Offutt, chairman of the Alco- holic Beverage Control Board. Members of such a league would pledge themselves to obey all laws to the letter, not just those laws they favored or believed in. Offutt also recommends that league members report violations to " the police. He does not mean to make de- tectives or snoopers of the citizens, nor will they be called into court as wit- nesses. All reports will be investi- gated by the police and the necessary evidence gathered by them. The proper authorities would then use this evidence in prosecuting the case. Even if the case reported could not be prose- cuted, the police would know who to watch for further violations. This method has been tried by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board and found to be successful, Offutt says. All complaints are carefully checked to see whether they are justified or not. If a violation is discovered the case is prosecuted without recourse to the| Offutt stresses | original complainant. the fact that this method could be | easily applied to violations of all laws. Offutt believes the increase in crime and the crowded conditions of the courts are largely due to the fact that 10 or 15 years ago children saw their | parents and elders constantly violat- ing minor liquor, gambling and traffic laws. They then thought that they could do the same, only they went a step farther. This condition will be remedied when, and only when. the people become law conscious, Offutt believes. “We have too many laws anyway,” he said. “We started with ten com- mandments, now we have ten thou- sand. Every law treads on some one’s If a law treads on too many toes then it should be repealed. We want no laws on the statute books that can- | not be enforced or which do not have | public opinion in back of them. “After all. conduct is regulated by the standards of the people. If that standard is below par the way to remedy it is by education, not by | legislative prohibition.” Status of Bills Legislation of Civie Inter- est Pending in House and Senate, The congressional status of District bills of interest to Washington citi- zens' assoclations is as follows: National representation for District | In Sen- | of Columbia (S. J. Res. 12). ate Judiciary Committee. District appropriation bill for 1936 | | fiscal year (H. R. 3973). Passed. Senate: On calendar. Regulation 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: Passed. Bill in conference. Creation of a commission to control rents (H. R. 2809). 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). Passed. House: In District Committee. House: | Substitute civilian trial board for| | present 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 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 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 Disfrict Committee. Authorizing use of District surplus funds for necessary public projects (H. R. 4345). House: In District Committee, A 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, 8. 2035). House: In District Committee. Sen- ate: On calendar. Tighten liquor control act (H. R. 6510). House: In District Committee. Columbia Heights Citizens Ask Fixed Ratio for Budget After a careful study by the Taxa- tion Committee of the Columbia Heights Citizens’ Association “of the evident intention of Congress to in- crease taxation in the District with- out regard to a just and equitable sum being appropriated for District needs,” the committee made its re- port to the association recently, charging “the lump sum now being proposed as the Government’s share, $5,700,000, has a ratio of about 85-15, and is unreasonable, illogical and un- fair to District citizens.” The report, submitted by Alton B. Carty, chairman, was unanimously adopted by the association. “The budget for the District will undoubtedly approximate $40,000,~ 000, the report declared. the former agreement on a 60-40 basis the Government's share would be $16,000,00, ‘Ivut this agreement has been abruptly set aside by the Gov- ernment and & lump sum will be ap- propriated upon purely srbitrary im- pulses.” In 1925, after abandonment of the 60-40 plan, the lump sum of $9,000,- 000 was appropriated by the Govern- ment as its share of the District's expenses, the report points out. For 1930 the amount was increased to $9,500,000. In 1933 the figure was re- duced to $7,775,000 and for 1934 fur- ther regluced to $5,700,000. “This decrease came in the face of rapid increases in District govern- ment expenses, including urgent de- mands for unemployment relief, pub- lic health, schools, Fire and Police Departments, despite the pleas of tax- | payers,” the report declared. “Under | ‘The report demanded a fair lump sum appropriation and broader powers tor the District oners in umuu‘m for District expenses. Civie Problems, Civie Bodies Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Procedure Is Commended—Alexandria and District Co- operation Moves Forward. BY JESSE C. SUTER. AST week’s turn of the civic kaleidoscope brought to view more pleasing designs than for a long time. Civic leaders are hopeful no ruth- less jar will change that design into one less satisfying. Major events heve been unfolded with surprising rapidity during the week. The fine report of the Senate Appropriations Committee recom= mending the addition of urgently- needed items omitted from the District appropriation bill as passed by the House and the sub- stantial increase in the lump sum recommended are matters of grat- ification to both local officiags and the civic groups alike. The pre- liminary report of the House Crime Investigation Committee, in which the Police Department is supported in its request for an addition of 141 policemen and the re-estab- lishment of the old No. 2 precinct is also highly gratifying to the citizens, This preliminary report is also an appropriate supplement to the Senate committee report on the District 1936 budget. The most striking event at the District Building was the order issued by the Joint Board (District Commissioners and Public Utilities Commission) for a number of vital downtown track changes. Under these the four tracks will be re- duced to two on New York avenue between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets and on Fourteenth street between New York avenue and H street. New turns and crossovers are to be installed as a part of this change, opening up the way to the actual accomplishment of the ma- jor features of the ong-looked-for rerouting of our street cars. Some of these changes, at last approved by transportation experts, were recommended by traffic amateurs within the civic ranks a decade ago. Unemployment insurance, smoke nuisance. liquor law revision and other matters continue to be con- sidered by subcommittees at both ends of the Capitol. It is antici- pated that the report of the Crime Investigation Committee will be revealed shortly and that consid- eration of a number of important legislative proposals will follow. One of these is the proposed tight- ening up of the laws against gam- bling. At the District Building the air is filled with plans for police mag- istrates, hospital centers, ticket fixers and many other perplexing proposals. while some of the civic groups, at the instance of the Jun- ior Board of Commerce, are be- ginning to wrestle with daylight saving for the District tion of traffic. Some who have looked at these circles just casu- ally have pronounced them an ob- struction and predicted their eventual removal. Others, includ- ing some eminent engincers, have regarded these circles as most es- sential in providing a 1otary move- ment of traffic which would be ex- ceedingly difficult to hendle where these numerous streets reach a common center, like the spokes of a wheel. In an address to a civic group several years ago, Col. U. 8. Grant, 3d, spoke of the advantage of these circles in the distribution of traf- fic into these many intersecting streets. He told that the original idea of Maj. L’Enfant was to pro- vide these circles for the emplace- ment of artillery which could sweep the intersecting streets in case of riots. But the colonel added that had the major been able to anticipate the modern traffic needs he could not have provided a bet- ter plan for taking care of traffic where so many streets converge. Some civic workers who have been recently studying these cir- cles are wondering just how the traffic could be handled at these confusing points if tne circles were eliminated. Fiscal Relations Committee Continues Its Activity. CTIVITY of the Citizens’ Joint Committee on Fiscal Rela- tions and the United States and the District of Columbia did not stop with its appearance, by a special committee, before the Dis- trict Appropriations Subcommittee of the Senate. It had previously presented a petition to President Roosevelt and the director of the Budget Bureau. Its latest move has been to sup- ply every member of the Senate and House of Representatives with a facsimile copy of the petition and supporting argument, which was laid before the Serate a week ago by Vice President Garner and before the House of Representa- tives by Speaker Byrns This dis- tribution has been supplemented by The Star by sending to the members of both houses copies of a booklet containing a recent se- ries of articles on fiscal equity in Washington, reprinted from The Star. This Joint Committee was or- ganized back in 1916 and Edward F. Colladay became its chairman when he was president of the Fed- eration of Citizens' Associations, and throughout its life Theodore W. Noyes has been the chairman of its Executive Committee. The treasurer of the Joint Committee is Corooran Thom, president of the American Security & Trust Co., and the secretary is Robert J Cottrell, executive secretary of the Board of Trade. At the conclusion of the com- mittee's appearance before Sena- tor Thomas' subcommittee, Com- missioner Hazen told the Senate committee, “I want to say that this delegation represents the heart of Washington City. They represent every interest in Wash- ington and you could not find a more representative or an abler body of people if you searched the town over. And I want to say further that they have co-operated with the Commissioners in every way that they could.” Continued Opposition To School Contrel Change. N ABSENCE of some official an- I nouncement by the Commis- sioners that they have receded from their advocacy of a transfer to them of authority over the schools, as provided in the Pretty- man bill, there continues to be very active opposition to such change. Some of the groups are busy gathering ammunition for use before congressional commit- tees if the matter reaches the hearing stage. This is notably true in the case of some of the teachers’ organizations. When this question was actively urged by the Commissioners back in 1916 the high school teachers did some very effective work in gathering comparative information and evidence which plaved a big part in preventing a change of the method of appointing the Board of Education. In this effort the teachers and civic organizations made a strong team. Relations Between District Senate Appropriations Committee. S USUAL, organized civic Washington has been pleased with its most recent contact with the District Appro- priation Subcommittee of the Senate es well as the fair and intelligent interpretation of the urgent needs and equities in- volved. As usual the full com- mittee recognized the thorough and painstaking work of its sub- committee and reported to the Senate the bill as marked up. Civic leaders are warm in their praise of Chairman Thomes and his associates who so patiently and courteously granted a full hearing to every citizen who re- quested that privilege. Citizens were received at their face value, as patriotic, public spirited Amer- ican citizens and not as a group of outlaws and grafters trying to wrest from the public funds something for their own benefit. Throughout the hearing, as one reads the record, he can but be impressed that at all times the committee members, and particu- larly Chairman Thomas, main- tained an attitude of recognizing these petitioning Americans as being just as honest and patriotic &s members of the committee. Senator Thomas made it clear he recognized such presentations be- fore his committee as being the only forum which these voteless and unrepresented people have. He ‘was especially gratified to note the evidences of harmony existing be- tween thecivic leaders and the District C&nmissioners. Elsewhere on this page there is a brief resume of matters pre- sented to the subcommittee by the several groups. These claims were for the most part modest and represented urgent needs long overdue. Many of these were for school accommodations and met with approval by the committee. Favorable action by the Senate, both as to the added items and the increased lump sum is ex- pected, but real anxiety prevails throughout official and civic circles as to the fate of the emended bill in the House of Rep- resentatives. If the bill could re- ceive fair and impartial considera- tion by the rank and file of the House membership under guidance of the well informed members of the District Committe and other known friends, leaders would not fear the result. But real danger is recognized in the prospect of action by a very small number of the 435 members of the House misguided by e few members sore at some District people and at some of their own colleagues. They may get real satisfaction through such spite work, but many an American boy and girl will be de- prived of educational advantages to which they are entitled and it may be that some of these boys and girls are even the children of some members of the House and Senate. A community which has to de- pend for its legislation and its appropriations upon which it has neither voice nor vote is indeed in a bad way. ‘Washington’s Circles and Movement .of Traffic. ROPOSAL to move the Peace Monument and the Garfield statue once more brings up the question of the circles and their relation to the movement of traffic. This for the reason that both of these statues, at foot of the Capitol. are within small cir- cles. These circles, however, are 80 located as to in no way to others located at points by many intersecting streets. ‘This is an old subject which has been considered mafy times by An Official Ticket Fixer. A Civic Novelty. HE proposal of Commissioner Hazen to create an official fixer of traffic violation tickets does not meet with the ap- proval of the Columbia Heights Citizens’ Association. In some civic circles they can see possible ad- vantages in such an officer if his duties as a fixer are expanded to €mbrace other matters which are “fixed” under our peculiar form of government. These advantages would accrue only through the keeping of exact records of every case fixed, the correct names of all parties concerned including the names of the influential persons who interceded. All of this matter would of course be published from time to time. Some fear is ex- pressed that such course might in- terfere seriously with the enjoy= ment of special privileges so preve alent in the District. Interfederation Conference And Alexandria Civic Groups. SPECIAL committee of the Interfederation Conference had a most helpful two-hour conference last Monday with Mayor Emmett C. Davison of the city of Alexandria. The sewage disposal and river pollution problem and many other matters of common in- terest were discussed. The delegation explained to the mayor that from its inception, 10 years ago, it had been the desire to have the civic groups of Alex- andria participate as a member of this metropolitan group. The con- ference was formed of the Federa- tion of Citizens’ Associations of the District of Columbia and the Civic Federations of Arlington County, Virginia, and of Montgomery County, Maryland. The mayor is an old citizen asso- ciation man, having been an active worker in the Sixth Ward Citizens" Association. He sees the advantage of the team work being done in the adjacent jurisdictions by these federations and he also is im- pressed with the opportunity for constructive team work between the several jurisdictions as regards matters of common interest to the entire metropolitan area. 1t is anticipated that an invita- tion will come from Mayor Davison to the Interfederation Conference to shortly meet in informal con- ference in the council chamber at civic groups and engineers and Alexandria with a representative with a wide divergence of opinion group from the civic bodies of that ,utofdnllnluunahmw- ,d;nmudv. CREDIT AID SEEN FOR SMALL FIRMS IN PENDING BILL Housing Bureau for April Crowds Established in Star Building. Needed credit relief for the smaller industrial and commercial establish- ments is seen by the Merchants and Manufacturers’ Association in the Kopplemann bill, recently introduced in the House. The bill, offered by Representative Herman P. Kopplemann, Democrat, of Connecticut, a member of the House Banking and Currency Com- mittee, provides for the establish- ment of an intermediate industrial credit corporation, which would pro- vide means of securing intermediate and long-term loans through an or- ganization administered by execu- | tives experienced in intermediate credit. The measure would authorize di- rect loans to industry through the Reconstruction Finance Corp. and the Federal Reserve System. The Board of Governors of the associa- tion last week voted its approval of the measure and pointed out that Washington organizations may be af- fected by its enactment. The governors at the same time approved the Norton smoke-control bill as opposed to existing regulations and the so-called Roberts bill, offered | by the corporation counsel. The Nor- ton bill was drafted by a committee of experts after considerable study of the problem, participated in by the National Bureau of Standards and |other Government agencies. Two new trade sections have been added to the association, James E. Colliflower, president, announced. They are the awning section, com- posed of members of the Washington Tent and Awning Manufacturers’ As- sociation, and the oil heating section, | composed of members of the former | Oil Burner Association and the Fuel Oil Dealers of Washington. Housing Bureau Opened. Anticipating an “overflow” in Washington this month, Greater National Capital Commi of the Washin; and the Wash | tion have establish - reau in room 204 r Building. | Hotels of the have alread | reported a record reservation list 1 | view of 31 conver already sched- uled for the month. Some of these are extremely large, such as the ‘Amencan Red Cross, the Daughters {of the American Revolution, the | Chamber of Commerce of the United | States and the usual throng expected for Easter week end Because of this Roy Miller, of the committee's convention staff, and | W. M. Kockenderfer, secretary of the | Hotel Association, have been put in | charge of registrations of available | rooms in the Capital. | They hope to make a list of suffi- cient size to care for any over- crowding that may arise and to be able to accommodate as many visitors as come here during the month. Per- sons who have available rooms for rent may register them without cost by calling District 3822, crowd te~ Business Men Gullible. Widows and orphans have no mo- nopoly on gullibility, according to Louis Rothschild, director of the Bet- | ter Business Bureau. | Durimg the past week, Rothschild has had occasion to call attention to | two schemes by which ordinarily suc- | cessful business men have been made | the victims of cash-grabbing by fa- | cile-tongued salesmen who had “new” propositions to make. The first. he said. is known as | “front money.” The scheme is that an alert individual will select a small | business and then confront the pro- | prietor with a proposal to obtain new | capital. He represents himself as be- | ing in touch with an available source | of money, the owner of which is seck- ing small businesses to refinance as | investments. | The upshot is that the representa- ‘ti\'e of the would-be investor closes | the deal by asking for $100 or more | with which to finance the necessary survey and research to present the dwindling business house in the ‘ipmper light. Collection of the fee for investigation actually closes the deal. The second scheme is that of the 1hlgh-pressure individual who presents himself as representative of a finance | house willing to purchase old and un- | paid accounts. When he takes them over, instead of buying them, he | makes efforts at collection and then | returns to collect from the owners of | the accounts for the effort he has | fruitlessly spent | “Widows and orphans are not the ionly people in this world who are gypped,” Rothschild said. “Business men themselves, who, by their shrewdness, have made something of 8 success in the commercial world, | are sometimes just as gullible as the | 1nnocents.’ i —_— | Two-to-One Score Favors Busses in Anacostia Section Dicision Apt to Be Made by Public Utilities Commission. Civically speaking the score is now two to one for the replacement of o street cars by modern busses in the Anacostia-Congress Heights area, but the Public Utilities Commission still has the final say. The Washington Highlands Citizens’ Association “started the ball rolling™ for busses when they voted for this change at a recent meeting. Competi- tion arose, however, when the Ana- costia association voted to favor re- tention of street cars. Later the citie zens of Congress Heights voted in fa- vor of the busses. ‘W. Earl Nair, president of the Wash- ington Highlands Citizens’ Association, points out residents living in the com- munity are forced to walk half a mile or more after leaving the terminus of the street car in Congress Heights. If busses are installed, the plan is to have them run about a half mile be- yond the present terminus of the street car. The route taken would, in all prob- ability, avoid the corgested downtown area. At the present time about 34 street cars operate on the line. If busses are substituted there will be about 30 of the latest model. The entire matter, though, rests with the Public Utilities Commission, but the general opinion is that busses will be the mode of transportation in 1 the not to distant future, ! A L