Evening Star Newspaper, December 6, 1936, Page 49

- WOODRING T0 TALK Army Officers to Be Honor Guests at December Buf- fet Supper. Secretary of War Harry H. Wood- ring will be the principal speaker at the December meeting of the Wash- tngton Board of Trade, to be held at the Willard Hotel on the night of Monday, December 14. Gen. Malin Craig, chief of staff of the Army, and the heads of the vari- opus Army services will be guests of bonor. Commissioners Hazen, Allen and Sultan also are to be guests. Secretary Woodring has not yet announced the subject of his address. A buffet supper, as usual, will follow She business session. Plan Yule Broadcast. Plans are already being made for the fifth international children’s Christmas broadcast, sponsored joint- Iy by the Greater National Capital Committee of the Board of Trade and the National Broadcasting Co. It will be held this year on December 21 in the gold ball room of the Shoreham Hotel, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Thirty invitations have already gone out to embassies and legations where there are children under 13 years of | age. Dressed in their native cos- tumes, the youngsters will wish the children of the United States a merry Christmas on behalf of the children of their native lands and then send greetings to the children “at home” in their native tongues. The program will be broadcast on & national hook-up and rebroadcast by short wave to all parts of the world. Merrill Is Speaker. E. D. Merrill, vice president and general manager of the Capital Tran- sit Co., addressed the Junior Board of Commerce on the city's transporta- tion problems at their weekly meeting Thursday at the Lee House. Four Junior Board groups plan meetings during the coming week, three of them to be held Tuesday. The Law and Order Committee will meet at the Harrington at 12:15 p.m. for luncheon, and at the same time the membership subchairmen will lunch at Childs' New York avenue restaurant. The directors meet at the Mayflower at 8:15 p.m. Tuesday. Mrs. Elizabeth K. Peeples, director | of the Community Center Department, | will address the Recreation Committee | at luncheon at the Harrington on Friday at 12:15 pm. 173 Conventions in 1936. Curtis Hodges, executive director of the Greater National Capital Commit- tee, reported yesterday that 173 na- tional and regional conventions will have been held in Washington at the end of 1936, and that 124 more al- yeady are scheduled for 1937. He also reported that up to Novem- ber 1 there had been an increase of slightly more than 100,000 tourists | here this year than during the cor- responding period last year. Traffic Group to Meet. The Executive Committee of the Traffic Committee of the Board of Trade will meet for luncheon at the Army and Navy Club Thursday, it was ennounced yvesterday by Col. Law- gence C. Crawford, chairman. On Tuesday the Subcommittee on Traffic Enforcement, headed by John A. Bresnahan &s chairman, will meet for luncheon at the Harrington. Robert J. Cottrell, executive secre- fary of the Board of Trade, was in New York on business last week. OXON RUN INTERCEPTOR SOUGHT IN 1938 BUDGET Ernest J. Read to Call Meeting of Heads of Groups Interested Sometime This Week. Definite steps to have included in the 1938 District appropriation bill an item for construction of the Oxon Run interceptor are to be made this week when Ernest J. Read, president of the Congress Heights Citizens’ As- sociation and newly appointed chair- man of a special committee selected for this purpose, calls his co-workers together to make specific plans for presentation to the Budget Bureau. He was selected for the position by William A. Maio, chairman of the Southeast Council, at a meeting of the group last month. Read said that presidents of the associations vitally affected by the sewer project, namely, Washington Highlands, Hillcrest, Summit Park and Congress Heights, would be asked to attend the meet- ing and definite plans would be made at that time to get united action in an effort to include an appropriation in the 1938 budget. The chairman re- vealed that an item had been in- cluded in the 1937 budget for the sewer, but that it had been cut out by the Budget Bureau. Support of the four associations listed above was voted at a recent meeting of the Southeast Citizens' Association. The group proposed to bring the matter to the attention of both Houses of Congress at the coming session. In an effort to have the item re- stored by the Senate District Com- mittee last year, Read appeared at the hearings and talked to Senators ‘Thomas and Copeland regarding the interceptor. He added that Senator Copeland was very much surprised to learn that such a large area was without proper sewerage. o SUTER TO GIVE TALK ON FISCAL RELATIONS Will Address American Univer- sity Park Group Wednesday. Gift Toys Are Asked. Jesse C. Suter, vice chairman of the Citizens’ Joint Committee on Na- tional Representation for the Dis- triet of Columbia, will speak before the American University Park Citi- gens’ Association next Wednesday at 8 pm. in Hurst Hall at American University. The subject of his talk will be “Fiscal Relations Between the Federal Government and the District of Columbia.” The proposed library at Wisconsin and Albemarle streets, the small claims court and the working hours of firemen are a few of the subjects to be discussed. L. T. Savage, president of the asso- eciation, asks that every member either bring to the meeting or send to the eighth precinct some toy to be con- tributed to the needy children of l ‘Washington. [ K THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON D. C. DECEMBER 6, 1936—PART TWO. Civic Problems, Civic Bodies AT BOARD MEETING| | v e s Cemeinof conps e Jefferson High Completion Urged Along With Proposed New Memorial. BY JESSE C. SUTER. ITH the convening of Congress less than a month off there is a steady increase in the discussion of civic problems of the voteless and unrepresented District ot Columbia. The Commissioners have the corporation counsel out visiting the meetings of the cjvie organizations and explaining their legislative program for the coming session. ‘The organizations are studying these and other problems, particu- larly those which affect their own neighborhoods. The indications are that an insistent demand will be made on the Seventy-fifth Con- gress for much-needed legislation which has had to wait while the Congress had on hand matters which it considered of greater im- portance. ‘The Commissioners on Thursday announced the adoption of a new night-time parking ban to become effective on 52 traffic arteries on December 20. The restriction will continue until the difficulty with snow removal has passed in the 8Spring. On the highways desig- nated in the regulation parking will be prohibited from 2 s.m. until 8 am. The rule is designed to per- mit snow removal from these heavily-traveled streets so as to facilitate the movement of traffic, Commissioner Hazen is credited with planning to urge the sale of the District Building and two of the squares acquired for the pro- posed municipal center. He would sell to the United States and use the proceeds toward the building of the municipal center according to the modified plans. ‘The long-looked-for merger of the Washington Gas Light Co. with the Georgetown company has at last received the approval of the Public Utilities Commission. The Georgetown company will be ab- sorbed by the Washington com- pany, by which it has been owned for many years. The Utilities Commission has had under consideration the proposed substitution of busses for street cars on the Takoma-Fourteenth Street line, but as this is written has reached no decision. Briefs were submitted to the commission on Monday by representatives of the several civic groups of the section served by this part of the transit system. Announcement by the Capital Transit Co. that, effective Janu- ary 3, 1937, the $1 weekly pass will be abandoned has created somewhat of a sensation in civic circles. The company appears to be entirely within its legal rights in stopping the sale of these passes, as they have simply been contin- ued on a temporary and voluntary basis. The $1.25 passes, good on all cars and busses upon which the fare does not exceed 10 cents, are to be continued. It has been an- nounced that no action will be taken on the petition of the com- pany for an increase of fare until revaluation is completed. National representation for the District of Columbia and specula- tion as to the composition of the District Committees and Subcom- mittee on Appropriations are among the most-discussed matters in civic circles. Commissioners to Hold Legislative Hearings. EARINGS on the Commise sioners’ legislative program are expected to be announced to be held shortly after December 15. The program at present contains 12 items: (1) Sale of District Build- ing and two squares of ground and apply the proceeds toward the erec- tion of the new Municipal Cen- ter; (2) semi-annual inspection of motor vehicles; (3) study need for a subway; (4) new small-loans law; (5) law to control the sale of narcotics; (6) new law to regu- late the practice of pharmacy and sale of poisons; (7) establish a farm for the treatment of in- ebriates; (8) change the proce- dure in lunacy cases; (9) compul- sory indemnity insurance and financial responsibility for taxi- cab drivers; (10) place wrestling under the control of the District Boxing Commission; (11) exten= sion of Prospect street from Thir- tieth street to Foxall road, and, finally, the perennial measure pro- posing to enlarge the powers of the District Commissioners. A number of bills which had considerable consideration last year are to be offered by the Com- missioners for introduction in Con- gress in their present form. An- other group of bills are now under consideration by department heads and are expected to be pre- sented to the civic groups for their consideration when they are reported to the Commissioners. On the legislative program of most of the civic groups the pro- posed amendment to the Consti- tution which will empower Con- gress to make national voting American citizens of the residents of the District occupies first place. ‘There are some who will suggest to the Commissioners that they follow suit and not only inciude this item but put it at the top of the list. The proposed amendment had the approval of a former Board of Commissioners in March, 1930. That favorable report was made at the request of the chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary, Hon. George S. Graham of Penn- sylvania. With Commissioner Al- len so ardent a supporter and campaigner for national represen- tation it is thought that he might use his influence to include this item in the legislative program. Rated Capacities of Busses Considered Too High. AMONG the bus passengers there is a growing protest at the overcrowding which is permitted under authority of the Public Utilities Commission. The busses with a rated capacity of 74 pas- sengers, seated and standing are generally conceded by the passen- gers to be too overloaded for either comfort or safety. Much delay is also occasioned by the slow pack- ing-in process required of the drivers. Some of the associations propose to request the commission to re- open the matter of bus capacity with a view to relieving the un- satistactory eondition. Some of the smaller units which lack a rear exit are also the source of much complaint at the helpless bus driver. Some of the passengers claim it is as difficult to get through the crowd to get off at destination as for a foot ball player to get through his opponents’ line. School Needs Studied by Bureau of the Budget. CHOOL estimates are said to have engaged the attention of the Bureau of the Budget during several sessions. The school offi- cials appeared and presented their claims for consideration of the numerous school needs. Repre- sentatives of several civic groups appeared and urged inclusion of school-building projects. Among these were the proposed Northern High School at Fifth and 8heridan streets northwest. These citizens claim to be unable to see any rea- son why it should be necessary to have the Federal Budget Bureau pass on these matters which have had the thorough consideration of the school officials and the District Commissioners, who are familiar with the needs and reach their decision only after the closest scru- tiny of the proposals. These civic leaders say that they have no quarrel with the Budget Bureau over the system, but pro- pose to urge Congress to formulate a more businesslike and equitable method of framing the District budget. The demand is for the doing ay with the secret pro- cedure and have the estimates go direct from the Commissioners to Congress without reference to any Federal agency. Discarded Liquor Bottles Menace to Children and Tires. HILE Commissioner Hazen continues to arouse interest in his proposal to provide a farm for the treatment of inebriates another serious factor of the liquor problem is brought to light. The school committee of the Petworth Citi- zens’ Association has brought to the attention of the A. B. C. Board that discarded liquor bottles out in that section are being gathered by small children who have been seen drinking some of the small quanti- ties of liquor left in the bottles. The beverage board recognized the seriousness of the problem but stated that its control was beyond their power. It is proposed that a flying squad be sent out from the city refuse department to gather up these bottles and thus prevent this temptation to the children. Motor car drivers complain of the increasing amount of broken glass on our streets. The milk bot- tle for a long time held the place of honor in supplying the broken glass to cut automobile tires but it is claimed now that it has been sup- planted by the discarded liquor flask. Many citizens living in the resi- dence sections are inclined to hold the beverage board and the Dis- trict Commissioners responsible for granting so many licenses in the residential areas which were {ree from such establishments even during the pre-prohibition era. The board, it is believed, in their discretion could have held down the number materially. The Com- missioners could also have helped protect the residential neighbor- hoods by creating dry areas under the regulatory authority granted them under the law. an authority they were expected to exercise. Had this been done there might not have been the bottle problem. Jefferson Junior High School and the $3,000,000 Memorial. OR many years Washington's sole memorial to Thomas Jef- ferson has been the Jefferson School building in southwest Wash- ington. Operated for a long time as an elementary and grammar school it was some years ago changed to a Junior high school. It was con- sidered a fine type of school build- ing in its day and had among its graduates some of Washington's leading citizens. Its close proximity to the rail- road, which passes right in front of the building and its obsolescence for modern school requirements re- sulted in plans for its replacement with a modern building on another site. Congress appropriated for the site, a part of which was acquired some years ago. All efforts to purchase the remainder of the square at an amount within the appropriation have failed. Com- missioner Hazen, long & resident of South Washington, has taken up the matter again in the hope that a solution of the problem may be found. Now as the Southwest Citizens’ Association continues to struggle for this building replacement, which is so sadly needed, the ‘THomas Jefferson Memorial Com- mission has come forward and an- nounced that they have located a site for the erection of the $3,000,- 000 monumental memorial to the suthor of the Declaration of In- dependence. The Jefferson School is § local memorial to Thomas Jefferson, once chairman of the local school board. To one 8o closely associated with the cause of education, the South Washington people believe, there can be no more fitting me- morial than a fine junior high school and they are depending upon the followers of Jefferson in Congress to put this project through to completion without turther delay. Senators and Representatives Are Our Legisiaters Alse. J ETTERS have gone oud from the Citisens’ Joint Committee on National Representation to all members of the Senate and House of Representatives who were elect- on November 3, 1936, reminding them that in their election to Congress they were also elected as the local and national legislators of the voteless and otherwise un- represented District of Columbis. The letter bore the signature of ‘Theodore W. Noyes, chairman. As the involuntary constituents of these indirect representatives they are urged to, in a measure at least, look after our interests as they would were we among those whose votes sent them to Congress. Prizes for Decorations. ‘The Priendship Citizens’ Association will donate a prize for the best dec~ orated home and the best decorated store in its area during the Christmas ssason, FEDERAL BUILDING |25 NEEDED BILLS Spe PROBLEM IS CITED Citizens Believe Decentrali- zation Would Dispose With Traffic Congestion. More active interest is being shown by civic bodies in the distribution of Government buildings throughout the city, A. F. E. Scheer, of & special com= mittee of the Interfederation Cone ference now studying this problem, believes. Scheer yesterday declared this ques- tion was first brought before the Dahlgren Terrace Citizens’ Associa- tion more than a year ago, and since that time has occupied the attention of delegates to the Joint Conference of Northeast Citizens’ Assoclations, composed of civic groups of the northeast quarter, and the Inter- federation Conference, composed of the Federation of Citizens’ Assocla- tions, the Montgomery County Civie Federation and the Arlington Cou=¢» Civic Federation. The question is now being brought up at individual meetings, he said. Traffic Congestion Cited. Congested traffic is the principal result of unwise planning and group- ing of Government buildings, he said. At the present rate of construction it is rapidly becoming impossible for the thousands of workers to cram into this central area and then leave it again at one time each afternoon. The public transportation facilities | become ensnarled and overtaxed far beyond a reasonable limit under these circumstances, and the problem of parking the thousands of automobiles of those who use this means of trans- portation has rapidly become un- solvable. ‘The Bureau of Standards is one example of the beneflis of spreading out the Federal buildings in other sections. Workers in this department do not each morning have to go through heavy traffic to get to their work, nor are they unnecessarily de- layed in leaving each afternoon, un- less congestion downtown has tied up transit service that far out Connec- ticut avenue. Motorists also have no difficulty in parking their cars, be- cause no such strict parking regula. tions as exist downtown are in effect | there. Car Moving Snarls Traffic. ‘Traffic throughout the city would be greatly aided if the present regu- lations now in effect were abolished, he believes. Those who motor down- town to shop in the department stores | are constantly kept on the jump every hour by moving their cars from one one-hour parking space to an- other, and thus adding to an already congested traffic area. Should the Federal Government continue to concentrate its depart- ments into one central and compact area, Scheer envisioned a time when | the department stores would have to ! seek relief by moving into more scat- | tered sections. He cited a few in- stances of commercial establishments which have already left what is con- sidered the downtown area of Wash- ington. Parking problems in these few cases have been greatly reduced. While he did not express himself as in favor of this scattering of com- mercial establishments, he does be- lieve this will become necessary if more Government buildings are crowded within this ares. MEETINGS LIMITED . Friendship Starts New Policy to Increase Attendance. Beginning with the December meet- ing, held last Wednesday night in the Janney School, the Priendship Citizens’ Association will meet at 7:30 p.m. instead of 8 p.m., and the meet-! ing will end sutomatically at 10 o'clock unless a motion to the con- trary is made and passed. This is all part of a new policy inaugurated by the association in an effort to increase attendance at meet- ings. In the past some meetings have “dragged out,” as one member put it, until nearly 11 o'clock, causing mem- bers to leave before all business was completed, or in some cases not at- tending at all. As a part of this plan to increase attendance, refreshments will be served. OUTLINED BY SEAL Announces Principal Legis- lation for D. C. to Be Sought at Session. More than 25 bills affecting the Dis- A large majority of the proposed bills already have been put before the House and Senate District mit- tees at one time or another. Those concerning which it has al- | ready been decided to hold pubiic hearings include a bill to provide for a Magistrate Court to take care of traffic violations, & lunacy bill, a bill to provide for treatment to persons addicted to liquor and another to put wrestling under a commission super- vision such as boxing. Would Make Subway Study. Hearings also will be held on a bill to provide ISr semi-annual inspection of motor vehicles; another calling for appointment of a congressional com- mittee to study the needs for a sub- way here; one to provide for regula- tion of loaning money, other than by banks; a bill to broaden the powers of the District Commissioners, and a | bill that would require financial re- sponsibility of vehicles for hire. Other proposed legislation for the | District, on which hearings might or might not be held, includes a bill which would set $75 instead of the | present $35 as the “dividing line” be- | tween petty and grand larceny; & bill providing that no person who is not & member of the bar shall engage in the practice of law, such as the drawing up of legal documents, wills, etc, and another to provide for fur- ther regulation of the practice of the healing arts. Habitual criminals would be given & heavy penitentiary sentence under other proposed legislation. The Dis- frict would be relieved from liability ‘where people fall on the snow and ice under another proposed bill. Another bill would permit the District Com= missioners to appoint sergeants in crime detection, with some getting & yearly salary raise of $240 and others & pay boost of $600 annually. Still an- other proposed bill would define usury. Ask Real Estate Regulation. Other proposed legislation would de- fine and regulate the sale of real es- tate and provide for the establish- ment of a real estate commission; would reduce from six months to 30 days the time limit for the filing of a claim suit against the District; would regulate the sale of goods made in the District, and would regulate the manu- facture and selling of narcotic drugs here. Possible legislation taken under ad- visement by local government de- partment heads on recommendation of the District Commissioners include (1) a bill to regulate the practice of optometry, (2) a bill to regulate the practice of pharmacy, (3) a bill to regulate steam engineering, (4) a bill to provide that “bags and sacks” of coal be properly weighed and the weight marked thereon, (5) a bill to provide for new District of Columbia corporate laws and (6) a bill which would appeal & section of the Alco- holic Beverage Control Board’s pow- ers and give the District Commission- ers more power concerning liquor control here. BUS SUPPORT ASKED P.-T. A. Leader Sends Letters to Civie Organizations. All civic and parent-teacher as- sociations east of the Anacostia River have received letters asking their support to have the Capital Transit Co. place into operation a bus from the Kenilworth School to the | Anacostia Junior-Senior High School, | Mrs. Mabel White Hubbel, representa- tive of the sixth division Parent- Teacher Associations to the D. C. Parent-Teacher Association Congress, announced yesterday. Mrs. Hubbel said that attached to each of the letters will be a resolution to the Public Utilities Commission urg- ing immediate action. The organiza- tions will be asked to adopt the reso- lutions and forward them to the Utilities Commission. With the Associations New Firemen’s Shifts Supported—Seventeen Groups Meet This Week—Inhabitants Hold Annual Dinner Tomorrow Night. HOW THEY STAND. The attitude of District eciti- sens’ asgociations on current city-wide problems, as registered through last Wednesday, fol- lows: Admisslon of Non-Resident Pupils to District Schools. Oppose WEEKLY REVIEW RI'V!IW of the civic week from| Thursday, November 326, to ‘Thursday, December 3: Anacostis—Opposed construciion of abattoir on Benning road northeast; flmfl' up and indorsed official bounda- Trinidad—Opposed attendance st District schools by Maryland and Vir- ginia children; opposed operation of one-man street cars on H street; op- posed rerouting changes effective No- vember 22; opposed abolition of $1 pass by street car company; indorsed & proposed convention hall and sta- dium in the Kingman Park area. Columbia Heights Citizens Associa- tion—Opposed abolition of $1 street car pass; requested Congress to “take over the street car system in the Dis- trict and thereby give the Nation's Capital the adequate, prompt and efficient service deserved”; opposed The Association of Oldest Inhab- ftants and the North Cleveland Park groups also met, but considered mat- ters of only local interest. CIVIC CALENDAR. 'I‘I-m Association of Oldest Inhab- itants will celebrate its seventy- first anniversary when it holds its annual reception and banquet tomor- row night in the ball room of the Raleigh Hotel. The reception will be at 7 o'clock and the banquet will be- gin at 7:30 pm. ‘The following citizens’ associations are scheduled to meet this week: MONDAY, DECEMBER 7. Citizens of Takoma, D. C, 8 pm., ‘Takoma Public Library. Dupont Circle, 4:30 pm. pan- American room, Mayflower Hotel. Forest Hills, 8 pm, Ben Murch BSchool. Kenilworth, 8 pm, Recreation Center. Manor Park, 7:45 p.m., Whittier School. Michigan Park, 8 p.m., Bunker Hill School. Georgetown Progressives, 8 pm., Curtis School. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8. Burleith, 8 pm., Gordén Junior High School. Foxhall, 8 p.m., 8t. Patrick’s Church chapel. North Randle Community, 8 p.m., Free Methodist Church. Randle Highlands, 8 pm., Minnesota avenue southeast. Summit Park, 8 p.m., East Wash- ington Heights Baptist Church. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9. American University Park, 8 pm., Hurst Hall, American University. Brookland, 8 p.m., Brookland Meth- odist Church. Rhode Island Avenue, 8 pm., Woodridge Sub-branch Library. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11. Brightwood, 8 pm, Paul Junior High School. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12. Kenilworth 2407 rts Outranked by Civics As Hobby of William A. Maio Penna. Ave. Bridge Main Goal in Program of Southeast Head. BY ROBERT B. HANSON. Although naturally a retiring and modest person, William A. Maio finds himself now embarking on his fourth consecutive term as president of the Southeast Citizens’ Association and his third as chatrman of the Southe east Council, the latter organization comprising representatives of 10 citi- zens’ associations of that section. The dark-haired, slender president lsts civics as his principal hobby among such diversions as swimming, fishing, playing base ball, studying geography and history, coin collect- ing and tree planting. The latter has resulted in two fig trees being grown to a height of 12 feet in his back yard at 1018 Pennsylvania avenue south- east. He first planted the tree about a year ago, he said. Ordinarily it would take about two years for a fig tree to attain full growth, he ex- plained, but these sprouted up in two vears, bearing fruit enough for his wife and two young children to enjoy them for several months. Active in Civic Affairs. His “first love,” however, is civics. Maio, besides his position as head of the association and Council, is vice | cnairman of the Board of Governors of the Metropolitan Police Boys’ Club, a charter member and past president of the Lido Civic Club and a member of the Buchanan and Hine Junior High School Parent-Teacher Associ- ations. In connection with his civic interests Maio has manifested great interest in obtaining a vote for Dis- trict residents. As chairman of the Lido Historical Commission of the Lido Civic Club, Maio made a complete study of the life of Phillip Mazzei, Virginia’s over- seas agent during the Revolutionary War and erstwhile friend of Thomas Jefferson. When Gen. Italo Balbo visited this city on his notea mass flight to-the United States from Italy in 1933 Maio's zeal for history and study of Italian notables led him to discuss at length the activities of early Italians of the revolution period with | Balbo. | A collection of about 200 species of coins and currency from 15 countries, gathered when the United States sub- stituted the present currency for the old large bills, is evidence of another of his “pet” hobbies. Upon his compietion of high school ) e WILLIAM A. MAIO. the energetic leader worked as a ste- nographer for two different members of the House of Representatives. Prior to his presidency of the association he was a second vice president and chair- man of the Membership Committee, which saw 186 new members admit- ted to the association during the year. Helping With Anniversary Program. Maio recently was made chairman ! of a special joint committee repre- senting the Metropolitan Police Boys’ Club and the Southeast Citizens’ As- sociation to make plans for the ob- servance of the third anniversary of | the founding of the club, to be held | February 22. Asked what he had in mind for the | coming year for the association, Maio | replied that: “We might have a membership drive, but the principal project we are interested in at present is tne con- struction of the Pennsylvania Ave- nue Bridge.” | In the 1937 budget an item of $25,- | 000 for the study of plans for the re- placement of the structure was in- BENNING VIADUCT STOPLIGHT ASKED Citizens See Increase in Traffic Hazard When New Bridge Is Finished. Foreseeing the involved traffic site uation which will result with the com- pletion of the bridge over Benning Viaduct, the Benning Citizens’ Asso- ciation is asking the traffic depart- ment for stop lights at the east and west ends of the viaduct, even though the bridge is not to be finished before the Spring. Situation Now Hazardocs. According to Frank James, pred- dent of the group, the situation evea now makes an attempt to cross Ben- ning road at either end of the viaduct & highly risky undertaking, and the opening of the new bridge will greatly increase traffic hazards at this point. ‘The converging of traffic from Minne- sota avenue, Benning road and Kenile worth avenue southeast, is expected to create a problem which can not pos- sibly be handled without lights, James said, adding that in the past con- fusion at these points had become so great that officers stationed to direct traffic at the ends of the viaduct had | thrown up their hands and left the scene in disgust. Officer Is Asked. In connection with the traffic prob- lem in the Benning vicinity, the asso- ciation is also requesting that an offi- cer be stationed at the intersection of Foote street and Minnesota avenue southeast, from 8:30 to 9 a.m., noon to 1 pm. and at 3 p.m,, when the con- gestion at this point is greatest, and a source of real danger to children going to and from school. The secretary stated recently that only occasionally was an officer pres- ent at this intersection, and that the child’s traffic detail was far too young to handle the traffic, the oldest mem- ber of the squad being only 12, and | cluded. The association now intends to wage a fight with the co-operation | of other civic and business organi- | | zations in Southeast to have included in the 1838 budget an item of $650,000 | for the beginning of construction of | the bridge. i | Maio also added that both tne as- | sociation and the Council intended to “push” the 18 projects for the gen- | eral improvement of Southeast that is on the calendar for the coming year | | of both organizations. CONVENTION HALL STUDY LAUNCHED {President Morris of Trade Board Names Group to Make Survey. ington an auditorium large enough to house any convention, Edgar Mor- ris, president of the Board of Trade, has named a special commit- tee to study the problem again and devise ways and means of its accomplishment. The auditorium proposal has been considered for! | estimates of costs have been made and tentative architect’s draw- | ings have been completed. Armory Included. The plan includes, in addition to the auditorfum, an armory to house the District National Guard and Re- serve units of the Navy and Marine Corps, and a stadium and athletic fleld of sufficient size to accommo- date the major sports events of the country. A tentative site considered is at the foot of East Capitol street, on the Anacostia River, where facilities could be provided for water sports. The chief difficulty, however, is the method of financing its construction and the method of operation after- ward. Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen has manifest considerable interest in the matter and independently has called upon the National Capital Park and Planning Commission for its aid in building the structure. The new committee, which already has begun its new study, plans an- other meeting during the coming week, although the date has not yet been announced. Heaton Is Chairman. Arthur B. Heaton, chairman of the Committee on Public and Private Buildings of the Board of Trade, is serving as chairman of the special group. Heaton, an architect, has made the tentative drawings. Serving with him are Morris, Robert V. Fleming, Dr. William C. McCfellan, Edsar Morris, Karl W. Corby, Marcy L. Sperry, Ford | E. Young, Lloyd B. Wilson, F. L. San- doz, E. F. Colladay, Francis G. Addi- son, Robert J. Cottrell, Claude W. Owen, C. Melvin Sharpe, L. Gardner Moore, John Saul and E. C. Graham. * Father, Broth Mail Orders Filled Reviving the drive to build in Wash- | Edward W. Martin, W. W. Everett, | An ldeal Christmas Gift for 7 GROUPS BACK NEW FIRE SHIFTS Increased Personnel Would | Be Necessary to Start Three-Platoon System. ‘Twenty-two of the District'’s cit- izens' associations, meeting within the | two months, have expressed their ap- proval of & resolution, originated by | the Bradbury Heights Citizens’ Asso- ciation, which calls for a change from the existing order to the three-platoon | system for the city's firemen. At present, two shifts of 10 and 14 hours | each are being maintained. Only two associations, the Mid-City | |and Georgetown groups, have taken |a definite negative stand on the | question. | ‘The proposed change, which is also backed by the City Fire Fighters As- | | sociation, would necessitate an ine | crease of one-third in the present per | sonnel, swelling the allocation for fire | control proportionately. The estimated additional cost of the three-platoon system falls well over a million dol- the majority comprised of children aged 10 and 11. Practical Ways to Say err rl e i St M Ch 3 o FIELD GLASSES $9.50 to $15.00 BINOCULARS $20.00 to $50.00 lars a year. Although the score stands 17 to 1| |in favor of the proposal, its success is not so overwhelming as would np-‘ | pear at first glance. Several of the associations, among which are the | Logan-Thomas and the Forest Hills Associations, have signified their dis- approval by tabling the resolution. The chief objection to the plan is| the extra expense its adoption would | entail. It was also pointed out that| the fireman does not work during the | greater portion of his watch, especially | in the case of the night forces, mem- bers of which are free to go to sleep— OPERA GLASSES $8.00 t0$25.00 D | subject, of course, to call—and who, | in some instances, hold down regula: | daytime jobs in addition to their | duties as firemen. | | Protagonists of the proposed change | have advanced the opinion that the fireman, more so than the average i working man, is entitled to an eight- | |hour working day because of the, | dangerous quality of his work. Mem- | | bers of the Benning group, who went | on record as favoring the plan, de- | clared that inasmuch as the fireman must be prepared to risk his life at any time, he should at least be ac- corded the usual advantages which the man in other less dangerous call- ings receives. Associations favoring the three- platoon system are: Benning, Bright- wood, Burroughs, Columbia Heights Forum, Columbia Heights, Conduit Road, Congress Heights, Bradbury | Heights, Kenilworth, North Cleveland Park, Petworth, Randle Highlands, | Sixteenth Street Heights, Trinidad, | Summit Park, Dahlgren Terrace, North | Randle Community, Glover Park, | Logan-Thomas Circle, Friendship, | | Georgetown Progressives and Lin- | coln Park. * er, Sweethecart Tie Holder and Collar Pin Sets With 3 Initials € 2for $1.00 = elry personalized TR LE® oon elals. - Thess s are in white or yellow ishes and come in velvet-lined gift box. Jewelry—Street Floor Thermometers $1 to $2.75 Microscopes $2 to $18 Folding Oxfords $5.95 to $11.50 Air Guide Barometer $3.75 to $15.00 Magnifiers 75¢ te $3.00 Use Your Charge Account or Our Convenient Budget Plan Optical Dept.—Street Floor L) |