Evening Star Newspaper, October 31, 1937, Page 38

C—+4 SCHOOL CAMPAIGN WAGEDBY CITIZENS Inadequacy of Conditions in Bradbury Heights Is Pointed Out. Continuation of the Bradbury Heights Citizens” Aseociation’s fight for a school in Bradbury Heights was indicated yesterday by several officials of the association. In the meanwhile the association is urging improved school bus service. “A survey has shown that there are 300 children ranging from kin- dergarten to sixth grade agedn Brad- bury Heights, yet the nearest school 48 3 miles away. Other schools our children must attend are as much &s B miles away. No adequate means of transportation has been provided for them,” President Henry W. Austin said last night in summing up the community's school problem. Distances Traveled. The youngest children, those at- tending kindergarten and the first three grades, must go 3 miles to ihe Orr School; those from the fourth through the sixth grades must go 3%z miles to the Randle Highlands School; junior high pupils attend Anacostia Junior High, 4 miles away, or Elliott Junjor High, 5 miles away. Senior high schrol pupils ettend Eastern High School, about 5 miles from Bradbury Heights, Mrs. May E. Bussell, vice president of the association and chair- man of the School Committee, said. A few others attend Montgomery County, Md., schools, which are only 215 miles away. No tuition is charged there. A school bus service, termed “inad- equate” by Mrs. Bussell, has been op- erated for the past several years by the W. M. & A. Motor Lines. The line runs from the District line and Bowen road SE, to Pennsylvania avenue and along the Avenue to Eighth street SE. The bus does not pass within a mile of either Anacostia | Junior High or Eastern High, which | 1t is supposed to serve, and does not | pass directly by the Randle Highlands School, according to Mrs. Bussell. One Bus Not Enough. The one school bus is nof enough to care for all the children who would ordinarily use it, yet other buses have refused to carry school children. On numerous occasions, Mrs. Bussell con- tinued, the bus has been dangerously overcrowded. Pupils unable to ride 3/ % or Trarme 27 % o Accravars £I% o Torme 28K s Mcswsurt sancs . ol | 2] el 71— T I8 % v Tarerre $7% w accrnns THe By JOHN H. CASSADY, Jr. | F TRAFFIC DIRECTOR WILLIAM | A. VAN DUZER ever finds himself | in need of assistance in diagnosing | Washington's traffic ills he can | pick up his phone, call Col. Lawrence | C. Crawford and in a jiffy Washing- | ton’s “Sub-Traffic Bureau” will be on | the job. i | It would be impossible to find a sub- traffic bureau listed as a District gov- ernment department, but there’s little doubt in the minds of those directly | connected with local traffic problems | that the Traffic Committee of the | Board of Trade has earned itself that | title. ! it either catch rides or are late. Last winter, W. D. Willis, delegate | of the association to the congressional | hearings on school appropriations, | points out, an appropriation of $8.000 | for two portable schools for the use of the youngest children was passed by the House of Representatives. This appropriation was Kkilled in| the Senate District Committee, when | Dr. Frank W. Baliou, superintend- | ent of the District schools, suggested | that school buses be substituted and | recommended that $2,000 be appro- priated for that purpose. The bus | appropriation in turn was lost in the | Conference Committee. | Willis appeared before the Board of Education this year and. urged | that provision be made in the school | budget for an eight-room extensible school for Bradbury Heights, He es- timated last night that such a school | oould handle about 200 to 250 pupils, | or the first five grades. | Provision was made in the 1938-39 | school budget estimates for the pur- | chase of a school site in the vicinity | of Pennsylvania and Alabama avenues SE, but nothing was said about a| &chool, officials explaining that there | would be time to consider a school after the site was acquired. { PINEY BRANCH FIGHTS HOSPITAL SITE PLAN| President Shorey Sees Cost as| Prohibitive to Addition to Present Gallinger Quarters. Reiterating the Piney Branch Citi- ®ens Association stand against the use of the District Tuberculosis Hos- pital at Fourteenth and Upshur streets N.W. by Gallinger Hospital for ma- ternity cases, George L. Shorey, presi- dent of the group pointed out yester- day that if the District Commissioners allow the hospital to use this building | it will lessen the chances of the Dis- | trict getting money for an addition to the hospital. Mr. Shorey said the hospital admin- istration not only would increase in cost but also would be less effective. Previous experience has shown, Mr. Bhorey said, that the more an organ- ization of this type is spread the less effective it becomes. Mr. Shorey also expressed the asso- ciation's appreciation for the almost | unanimous support interested associa- tions have lent to opposing use of the site by Gallinger Hospital. TO DISCUSS TAXES Northeast Conference Also to Act on Street Extension. The complicated tax situation in the District, crime and traffic and the proposed extension of New York avenue N.E. into Maryland are ex- to be discussed at a meeting of the Northeast oCnference Thurs- day at 8 pm. in the twelfth police precinct. 1t is also expected that the District's newest civic group, the Metropolis View Citizens’ Association, will be ad- mitted to membership in the confer- ence, A. F. E. Scheer, chairman, an- nounced. The annual election of offi- cers also will take place. Two Resolutions Drawn. ‘Two resolutions, one that all em- ployes of -the District government should reside within the confines of the city and the other that non-resi- dents attending District public schools should pay a tuition, will be presented at & meeting of the North Cleveland Park Citizens’ Association Tuesday at 8 pm. at 3923 Windom place N.W,, J. B. Dickman, jr, president, an- nounced. Ladies’ Oriental Shrine. Zu Su Court will hold their cere- monial banquet at the Continental Hotel next Tuesday at 6:30. The ceremonial and regular meeting be presided over by High Priestess Lawson. This meeting will be held at Brightwood Temple. A bene- fit turkey dinner will be given by the court Thursday at Almas Temple. I 1 Probably nowhere in Washington outside the Department of Vehicles and Traffic itself could be found an organization with a wider range of knowledge of traffic problems than this important committee of the board, which has investigated every phase | of traffic control. The committee members don't re- gard themselves as traffic wizards. Rather, they feel they are represent- | ing the views of the man in the street. | But the thoroughness with which they | study problems of traffic control would seem to qualify them as near-experts. Membership of 410. Boasting & personnel of 410 mem- bers, the committee for the last three vears has been under Col. Crawford, a retired Army officer, as chairman. Serving with him are Col. A. B. Bar- THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. O, OCTOBER 381, 1937—PART TWO. AI]I]I"[]N m TAH Civic Problems, Civic Bodies Board of Trade’s Traffic “Clinic” Diagnoses Troubles of D. C. Highways 89K o0 Tuarrre 146K o Accrnents W% wacmns Prgcincr Mol £ [Egilsze | wel 7 | P I N YIX oo T $8% whamms Acc10oeNTs INEacH Preciner In DistricT o CoLumsia ResuLTing In PersonaL Ingury or Deatn Dunrine THE First NiNe Montrsor /1937 A chart prepared by the Traffic Committee of the Board of Trade showing the accidents in each precinct which resulted in personal injury or death during the first nine,months of 1937. ber, vice chairman; Adelbert W. Lee, secretary, and a corps of subchair- men who are pretty nearly experts in their own particular phases of the traffic problems. These «subchairmen are Maj. 8. D. Ashford, automatic signals, signs and markers; Col. John Q. Tilson, laws nd codes; J. F. Victory, parking; Dr. J. Franklin Hilton, operating regula- tions; John A. Bresnahan, enforce- ment; Thornton W. Owen, education and publicity; Joseph R. Trew, high- ways; P. Y. K. Howat, rights and safety of pedestrians, and Col. E. G. Bliss, chairman of the “follow-up” subcommittee. One of the most recent activities of Col. Crawford's committee was the preparation of a comprehensive chart showing the number of accidents in each precinct in Washington which resulted in personal injury or death during the first nine months of 1937. Citizens to Get Copies. At its regular monthly meeting Fri- day, the chart was exhibited and plans were made to send copies of it to every citizens' association and other organ- izations and clubs to emphasize the danger spots in Washington's highway set-up. It localizes the points where serious accidents have occurred so that the problem of correcting whatever hazard exists can be approached di- rectly. Probably the most important item on the committee program now is a study of the five-year building pro- gram of Capt. H. C. Whitehurst, the District highway director. District officials have requested the trade board’s opinions on the program, and the commitee is making & thorough in- vestigation to determine which projects shall have priority. Making Recommendations. Last summer, at Commissioner Mel- vin C. Hazen's suggestion, the board undertook the preparation of an ex- tensive set of recommendations for im- proving traffic conditions. That job fell to the Traffic Committee, and the subcommittees have submitted their recommendations to the Executive Committee. The report probably will be ready soon. The Traffic Committee's accomplish- ments in the past are numerous. A re- cent one that stands out is the traf- fic school which the board sponsored last year in McKinley and Dunbar High Schools. The board paid out more than $1,000 to operate the school, and expects to start the course in safe driving again this year. The course is given under direction of Traffic Direc- tor Van Duzer. High on the committee’s list of needs is the addition of more policemen for traffic control, a night traffic court— which, the committee contends, is pro- vided by law—installation of parking meters as an experiment, mechanical inspection of vehicles, more rigid en- forcement of regulations against double parking, additional signal lights and uniform safety zones. METROPOLIS VIEW GROUP ORGANIZED New Association Favors| Sales Rather Than Busi- ness Privilege Tax. Citizens’ associations favoring abo- lition of the business privilege tax yes- terday received added support with the announcement of the recently organ- ized Metropolis View Citizens’ Associa- tion that it would have the present levy abolished in favor of a general sales tax. The group also announced indorsement of suffrage for the Dis- trict. The association, organized August 20 for the area bounded by North Cap- itol street, the steam railroad tracks and Rhode Island and Michigan ave- nues N.E, also included in its list of indorsements erection of a school at Fourth and Franklin streets N.E., con- struction of a playground with a swim- ming pool at Lincoln road and Frank- lin street 'N.E., removal of -electric trolley poles along Fourth street N.E., improvements and surfacing of streets and erection of traffic signs in the area. At a meeting in the Crosby-Noyes School Monday, attended by more than 60 of the 160 pald members, the asso- ciation elected the following officers: George E. Miller, jr., president: H. F. Mericle, vice president; Mrs. Clara Purcell, secretary, and Mrs. James ‘Walden, treasurer. Already a member of the Northeast Conference of Citizens' Assooiations, the group has applied for membership in the District Federation of Citizens’ Associations. On Monday night plans also were formulated for a Christmas party, with a lighted community Christmas tree at Fourth and Franklin streets N.E. The association voted to meet the first Monday in each month, HILLCREST TO OPPOSE ANY LIQUOR LICENSES Association Seeks Especially to Protect Area Near School Roadhouse Seen Detriment. With renewed efforts the Hillcrest Citizens’ Association is making plans to fight issuance of any liquor license in its community, especially around the Stanton School. Dr. Frank W. Ballou, superin- tendent of District schools, recently sent word to the Hillcrest group ask- ing it to help take action against any liquor license that may try to come into their community, according to Charles F. Foster, president of the association. g A liquor license was applied for last June and, although .the School Board itself did not take any action in pre- venting it, & few members of the achool system and the help of the Hillcrest Association had the license will | disbarred by the A. B. C. Board, he said. Mr. Foster also fears a roadhouse, on the thoroughfare coming in and out of Hillcrest, would be detrimental to the community. With the Associations Twelve Groups Now on Record Opposed to Busi- ness Receipts Tax—Federation Among 20 Bodies Meeting This Week. WEEKLY REVIEW. EVIEW of the civic week from Thursday, October 21, to Thursday, October 28. ANACOSTIA—Opposed the gross business receipts tax; affiliated with the District Suffrage Association; nominated officers. BURROUGHS—<Elected officers for the coming year. GEORGETOWN—Heard talk by Jo V. Morgan, assistant corporation counsel, denouncing the business- privilege tax; passed a resolution ap- proving the proposed 100-man in- crease in the District police force; approved the present method of se- lecting the Board of Education mem- bers. TRINIDAD—Opposed the business- privilege tax and any increase in the 1939 District budget; approved the present system of selecting the mem- bers of the Board of Education; elected officers. NORTH CAPITOL—Instructed its delegates to the Federation of Citi- | zens’ Associations to vote in favor of National representation and indorsed the eight-point revised tax program as outlined by the Chevy Chase Citi- zens’ Association. MID-CITY—Approved installation of the Kreml traffic system in the second precinct; elected officers. LOGAN-THOMAS CIRCLE—Heard talk by Ray H. Everett, executive sec- retary of the Social Hygiene Society, on the Community Chest, after which they voted to support the Chest to the fullest extent. SOCIETY OF NATIVES—Reiter- ated its former stand in asking that the new Pennsylvania avenue bridge be named in honor of John Philip Sousa; voted to contribute $25 to the Community Chest. SOUTHEAST—Voted to seek legis- lation at the coming session of Con- gress requiring non-resident students attending District schools to pay a tuition; requetsed that the monoument that has been proposed honoring the late Guglielmo Marconiy inventor of the wireless, be erected in Southeast ‘Washington; heard a talk by Dr. John W. Mixon on the Community Chest and elected officers. ’ The Benning Association also met, but acted on only local matters. CHIC CALENDAR. 'HE ' following asosciations are scheduled to meet this week: Monday, November 1. Bladensburg—Church of God, 8 p.m. Citizens Association of Takoms, . —Takoma School, 8 p.m. Dupont Circle—Mayflower Hotel, 4:30 pm. Y Forest Hills—Ben Murch School, 8 pm. Kenilworth — Kenilworth Recrea- tional Center, 8 p.m. Manor Park—Whittier School, 8 p.m. Metropolis View—Crosby 8. Noyes School, 8 p.m. Michigan Park—Bunker Hill School, 8 pm. Progressive Citizens of Congress Heights Baptist Chureh, 8 pm. How They Stand. The attitude of District citi- zens on city-wide problems since the start of the fall sea- son: Free Admiitance of Non-Resi- dent_Students to District .13 - Increased 1939 District Budget. Oppose X - B Tuberculo- sis Hospital as an Adjunct of Gallinger. Oppose Favor __ Conversion of Old Tuberculo- sis Hospital as an Educa- tional Center. Oppose - -0 Favor - 4 Progressive Citizens of Georgetown— Curtis School, 8 p.m. Tueeday, November 2. Columbia Heights—Fourth Presby- terian Church, 8 p.m. North Cleveland Park—3923 Win- dom place N.W., 8 pm. Wednesday, November 3. Association of Oldest Inhabitants— 0ld Union Engine House, 7:30 p.m. Friendship—Janney School, 8 p.m. Thursday, November 4. Bradbury Heights—Bradbury Heights Baptist Church, 8 p.m. Connecttut Avenue—All Souls’ Me- morial Church, 8 p.m. Northeast Conference—No. precinct, 8 pm. Washington Highlands—9 Missis- sippi avenue SE, 8 pm, Friday, November 5. Chillum Heights—Keene School, 8 pm. 12 police ) Saturday, November 6. Federation—Board Roem, Building, 8 p.m. District " WILL DISCUSS FLOOD Washington Highlands Also to Elect Officers. Flooded conditions in the Washing- ton Highlands area, long a detriment to the community, will be discussed at a meeting of the Washington High- lands Citizens’ Association Thursday. ‘The group, which will meet in the home of Harry D. Butler, 9 Missis- sippi avenue SE. at 8 pm, will also elect officers for the coming year, Earl W. Nair, secretary, announced. SCHOOL 1S SOUGH Children Forced to Exercise Outside in Bad Weather, Is Citizens’ Claim. The Rhode Island Avenue Citizens' Association, third civic group in the Northeast section striving for improved schools this year, places the Taft Junior High School topmost on its list of “musts” to be presented to the Budget Bureau soon. ! Located on South Dakota avenue at Quincy street N.E., the building was erected four years ago minus two originally designated wings. It is for the construction of these wings—one devoted to four classrooms and the other & gymnasium—that the citizens have recently gone on record advocat- ing the project. Population Growth Cited. Both items are considered of equal importance. To show the need for additional classrooms the association points out the fact that immediately on construction of the school virtual capacity was attained. With recent large-scale home building, such as in Woodridge Gardens and Michigan Park, an increase in school attend- ance has naturally followed, accord- ing to President Freeman Weiss. Over- capacity at Taft has been avolded solely by transferring the children to other schools, he said. Mr. Weiss added: “This diversion of puplls, while it has served the purpose of the Education Board in decreasing attendance, nevertheless makes an in- convenience for the children besides adding a risk to their personal safety. Since Langley and Powell Junior Highs, both sevefal miles distant from our community, are the nearest insti- tutions receiving the transferees, it is necessary for the pupils to travel by bus or street car.” Lacking gymnasium facilities brings about a serious health threat to the children, the citizens maintain. At present it is necessary that all health classes be held either in the basement corridors or out of doors. Wallace Perry, member of the organization, states that he has seen children hav- ing such classes gutside in inclement weather. The association feels that the presence of a regular gym instruc- tor alone should warrant a proper place for his teaching, as well as pro- vide an indoor exercise room for activ- ities during bad weather. Need of Gymnasium. Taft Junior High School is one of few lacking a gymnasium in the Dis- trict, and citizens regard this as un- usual for a relatively modern building. The fact that the school grounds are fully developed for recreation pur- poses, with suitable equipment, makes the incompleteness of the school itself seem ludicrous to Mr. Weiss. The matter of overcrowded locker conditions connects closely with addi- tional schoolrooms. At present vir- tually all the children are compelled to “double up” on locker allotment, & condition remediable by more class- rooms, hence .more corridor room. Accomplishment of the desired con- struction work, & move backed by sev- eral civic bodies of the Northeast and the local P.-T. A, would bring the number of classrooms to the origi- nally planned total of 16, excluding the gymnasium. CHILLUM HEIGHTS SCHOOL TO0 SMALL Citizens Seek Addition as Well as Completion of Eastern Avenue Plan. Need of an addition to the John R. Keene School was cited last night by | H. M. Dixon, president of the Chillum | Heights Citizens’ Association. “Expressing hope that funds for this addition be provided in the District appropriation for the coming year, Mr. Dixon pointed out that the increase of population in the last three years of more than 10,000 has made this need acute. Seek Avenue Completion. Other appropriations sought by the | association would provide for comple- | tion, of Eastern avenue from Takoma | Park to Brookland and extension of | South Dakota avenue and its parallel sewer from Brookland to Riggs road.; A large part of this area will remain undeveloped or develop adversely to| the best interests of the city, Mr. | Dixon stated, unless these improve- ments are made. The need of many street and high- way improvements throughout the whole section was pointed out. Narrow Street Cited. Specifically mentioned was the narrowness of streets approaching the John R. Keene School. Mr. Dixon said that the streets were not only narrow but there are hardly any sidewalk fa- cilities. The association will ask that money be provided for the widening of Blair road for two blocks north of the school, Rock Creek Church road for two blocks south, Concord avenue for two blocks west of the school and that sidewalks be provided on these streets wherever needed. i Equipment for the Fort Totten Park area and new fire apparatus will also be asked by the association. 10-DAY YULE PROGRAM PLANNED FOR TAKOMA Parade and Prizes for Residential and Business Lighting Soon to Be Arranged. ‘The Takoma Park Chamber of Commerce is considering plans for a 10-day Christmas community cele- bration, with a large tree to be planted in the center of the business section of Takoma Park and {lluminated each night during that period. J. Douglas Bradshaw, chairman of the Christmas Celebration Committee, in outlining part of the program, pro- vides that a different organization in the community present a program each night appropriate to the occa- sion. Five organizations already have volunteered to participate. A parade would feature the opening night, and during the 10-day period an illumination contest would be con- ducted, with prises for the best lighted private homes and: three for the best {lluminated places of business. Budgeting Procedure Is Cumbersome—The Whys and Wherefores of the Community Chest. Greater Washington a Reality. By JESSE C. SUTER. OTHING better illustrates the utfer helplessness of the District of Columbia and its administrative offi- cerd than the necessity of lay- ing aside the study of important problems in order that the Com- missioners and other District offi- cials may make their annual ap- pearance before the employes of the Bureau of the Budget and justify the estimates for the fiscal year 1939. Our cumbersome and unfair ‘budgetary procedure is at that stage now and the taxation studies and other important matters are held in abeyance. Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen has again broken out in opposition to this requirement and he has struck a responsive chord in Chair- man Palmisano of the House Dis- trict Committee. Representative Palmisano advocates the removal of the District appropriations from the Budget Bureau and goes even further than any of the civic bodies have gone. He declares that he would leave to the District Commis- sioners the determining of the items and amounts which would make up the District’s annual supply bill. Few citizens are so optimistic as to believe that Congress is willing to go that far and some, in fact, con- fess that they would not favor glving the Commissioners any such power. Giving the District its own civil service system, entirely separate and apart from the Federal body,’ was also advocated by Representa- tive Palmisano during the last week. This is in harmony with the demands of the Federation of Busi- ness Men's Associations for the cre- ation. of such agency and that all District appointments be restricted to those who have been bona fide residents of the District for at Jeast five years. The District Commit- tee chairman believes that District jobs should go to District people, but he would exempt from the resi- dential requirement any special- ists who might not be locally avail- able. Throughout the organizations the opposition continues to pile up against the business privilege tax as inequitable and generally inde- fensible. A new angle has developed on this obnoxious and unwanted tax. It has been discovered that various excise taxes may be de- ducted from the gross receipts upon which this tax is based. Numerous amended returns are being filed and the estimated yield from this tax is expected to be materially reduced. Those who have made a close study of this law offer it as a striking example of the ineffi- cient manner in which the Dis- triet’s all-powerful legislature per- forms that function imposed by the Constitution. The National Capital Park and Planning Commission met last week and had under consideration many important matters. Some of the street changes recommended to facilitate the movement of traffic and increase the safety of the streets and the purchase of additional lands were among the questions under discussion. It's Your Chest— Once for All—Enough for All ERPLEXING and exasperating civic problems like taxation and budget must now be put aside, temporariiy, and all of the civic and social-minded- join forces in putting over the 1938 Washington Community Chest Campaign in a manner worthy of this fine com- munity. We are without either vote or representation in our Gov- ernment, we have no power of in any way determining either our taxes or appropriations, but we can all have a part in filling the Com- munity Chest, which is all ours. This will be the tenth annual campaign and will run from No- vember 10 to 23. Preliminary work of the special assignments unit in- dicate & trend to substantial in- creases in the subscriptions among the larger contributors. A goal of $2,059,000 has been set for 1938, which is $200,000 more than the amount given for 1937. The extra amount is required ause the neighboring counties are partici- pating in the campaign and be- cause this growing community has increasing social problems which must be met. While the Community Chest has now completed nine years of highly successful operation, there are still those who have not grasped the real Chest idea—the what, why and how of it. The Community Chest is_a financing federation which provides an efficient method, through a single campaign, of sup- plying all or a part of the finan- cial support of Washington's social agencies. It substitutes one cam- paign for independent campaigns for each agency. It handles and accounts for these funds through one central office instead of through 69. The compelling reasons for & Community Chest in place of the older and more complex independ- ent campaign methods are many. One campaign instead of a mul- tiplicity relieves the civic and soclal-minded citizen of much time-consuming work and releases him for other civic and personal activities. Through the Chest method all beneficiary agencies must pass the examination of the citizen management of the Chest and their budgets be approved. The cost of campaigns, collections and accounting is greatly reduced through the single campaign and the central handling of the funds. Many other reasons could be given which would string the list out in- definitely. : How the Chest operates, beyond the annual campaign, is misunder- stood by some good citizens. The Chest merely collects the subscrip- tions, and, from time to time, pays to the agencies amounts on ac- count of their approved budgets as required and as the funds on hand rmit. $ Most of the agencies in the Chest have other income which the Chest simply supplements, as for example, for 1936 the Y. M. C. A. required only 8.38 per cent and the Y. W. C. A. only 12.39 per cent from the Chest. For the same year the Florence Crittenton Home had from the Chest about 45 per cent of its entire budget, of about 25,000, Some agencies have no source of funds than the Chest and some have only & very liberally of their time and best effort and their money as well, but ‘workers in the campaign encounter a few people who try to ease their conscience for not contributing by offering groundless criticism. The word of some anonymous person over the telephone or of some pan- handler will be taken in preference to that of our fine citizens who sponsor and operate the Chest. Some of such people even try to influence others to withhold con- tributions and thus further justify themselves in shirking this civic duty. We must remember that it has been demonstrated that a larger part of every dollar contributed through this modern business method goes for the work of the agencies than under the old regime. ‘We must also remember that the Chest method is & convenience, & protection of contributors against many rackets and against ineffi- cient and costly handling of this important financial job. “It'’s_your Chest. GIVE ONCE FOR ALL AND ENOUGH FOR ALL.” Historic Background Essential To Understand Civic Problems. ACK of a knowledge of the ori- gin of the District of Colum- bia and its form of government are serious handicaps to any one wres- tling with many of our civic prob- lems. Such a background would of course be valuable in any com- munity, but because of conditions peculiar to the District they are here absolutely essential. That so much misinformation re- garding the District has been spread throughout the country makes it all the more important that those in the civic ranks equip themselves with the facts for their own guid- ance in working out solutiorts of the many problems and that they may be able to refute the many harmful, untrue reports which have been circulated. Members of the District’s exclu- sive legislature, in which it has no representation, have in many in- stances started their legislative ca- reers with their minds poisoned against the District through these untruths. The District has a most interest- ing history and a creditable one. It has been “more sinned against than sinning.” Its chief fault has been trying to do more than its share in the building of a great National Capital. Several times it became bankrupt trying to carry the Nation's burden. Did you ever know of the great liberality of the original proprietors of the lands which comprised the original City of Washington? Did vou' know that these proprietors gave outright to the United States all of the land required for ,the streets and avenues and alleys and in addition gave Uncle Sam, also without cost, each alternate lot in each square of the city? There are other facts of equal interest and the knowledge of which are needed to get at the heart of some of our vital civic problems. To those who would thus equip themselves for a higher efficiency” in civic endeavor it is recommended that they consult the current edition of the Con- gressional Directory. Turn to page 397 and find a brief and accurate history of the District. This will give a fair background of informa- tion regarding the District of Co- lumbia, origin and form of gov- ernment. This outline will be helpful toward a more extensive study of local history. Evidence Accumulates Against Race Track Gambling. HOULD the movement be re- newed to legalize race track gambling in the District of Co- lumbia there is much new evidence available to the opponents of that vicious proposed legislation. It is of special value because the un- savory conditions uncovered are in the home of the race track system which was a model for the National Capital and thereby a probable model for the entire country. The use of the electrical ma- chines of the pari-mutuel system do not appear to have changed human nature one bit or reduced the amount of downright cussed- ness common to race track gam- bling and those who operate it. All of the obnoxious conditions which resulted years ago in ban- ning such gambling devices and systems in the District appear to prevail under the modern methods. In the light of recent disclosures the solution of the problem of the threat of the introduction of race track gambling here should be of much easier solution. Horse rac- ing in the District is not unlawful, and that idea should be empha- sized continually for the benefit of those who try to cover the real gambling purpose of the proposed legislation by telling the public that it is merely & proposal to legalize ‘horse racing. Greater Washington Becomes a Reality. FH’I’Y THOUSAND DOLLARS 'was spent a couple of years ago in attempt to establish the correct boundary line between the District of Columbia and the State of Vir- ginia. A commission was appoint- ed, research work done and much testimony presented. The result was about as conclusive as the work of the Jacobs Committee, but in a general way it was known there was such a thing as a bound- ary line on the Virginia side. The Maryland line was always well de- fined. By a very simple process of agreement between the unofficial citizens of the District, Maryland and Virginia the entire District line has now been obliterated, so far as the Community Chest cam- paign is concerhed. For a decade representatives of the civic groups of the District, Mont- gomery County and Arlington County have been conferring con- cerning their common problems in the meetings of the Interfedera- tion Conference. Recently the con- ference has also included delegates from Prince Georges County. Thought overtures have been made to both the City of Alexandria and Fairfax County, they never have become members. It remained for the Community Chest to bring these five adja- cent jurisdictions together for a ‘united Chest campaign. A piece of campaign literature displays a car- toon by Jim - Berryman in which old Father D. C. is shown fitting T PARK VIEW UNIT HOSTESSESATTEA Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Leach and Mrs. Rokins Will Serve atY.W.C.A. Members of the Park View Chapter of the Y. W. C. A. will be hostesses at tea today from 4 to 5, Mrs. D. E. Clarke, Mrs. Glen Leach and Mrs. Charles 8. Robins serving. Motion pictures are being shown tomorrow to the children at 614 E street northwest. A music class in the “Art of Listening” will begin that day for & series of six weeks, ‘The Chapter Council meets at 11 am. The Membership Committee meets at 7:30 p.m. ‘The Chevy Chase Chapter will have its annual luncheon and sale from 12 to 2:30 on Tuesday. The business women's monthly din ner on Tuesday is at 6:30. Miss Elsa Peterson and Mrs. Wilson Compton will be the speakers. ‘The Wednesday Club meets at 614 E street NW. at 3:30. That same day at K street there will be basket bRl for business girls from 5 to 6. The Xemos Club will meet from 6:15 to 10. Practice bridge will be at 7:15. Mrs. Corbin and Mrs. Wright will be at home to the board, staff and committee members on Thursday from 4 to 6. The Elizabeth Somers’ Glee Club will have a party for new members. At 6:15 the Blue Triangle Club will commence its evening ac- tivities. A class in tap and social dancing will commence at 7. In the afternoon, Girl Reserves at Western will hear Helen Middleton speak on “What It Means to Be a Girl Re- serve.” The girls at Wilson High School will enjoy a barn dance that same day. ‘The Girl Reserve Interclub supper will be held at 6 on Friday. Saturday at 10 a.m., Muriel Lester, founder of Kingsley Hall, will read some excerpts from her books. A class in “Speech Training for Club Women" is being offered Mon- day morning and one on “The Re- ligious Development of the Child" on Tuesday morning. TAKOMA CONFERENCE NOVEMBER 9 CALLED Problems Affecting Business Con- cerns in Metropolitan Area to Be Organization Basis. A conference of business men of the Washington-Metropolitan area of Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties has been called for Novem= ber 9 by President Oliver W. Young« blood of the Takoma Park Chamber of Commerce, with a view to pere fecting an organization through which may be cleared problems affecting business concerns, particularly regu- latory legislation and taxation. The conference will be held in Takoma Park and a general discus- sion entered into of various angles of business interests, through the establishment of a clearing house, which will prove of mutual benefit of all lines of organized business. The Takoma Park Chamber of Come merce has authorized President Youngblood to call the conference and invitations have been sent to all chambers of commerce and business organizations in Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties, to partici- pate. According to John W. Coffman, sr secretary of the chamber, the vast importance of such a unified organ- ization may be realized from the fac’ that more than $200,000,000 worth of business is transacted annually in this large area comprising the Washing- ton-Metropolitan area. EIGHT AND FORTY A business meeting of District of Columbia Salon, No. 14, Departemental of Eight and Forty, was held at the ‘Washington Hotel with Mrs. Helen M. McCabe, le chapeau departemental presiding. Plans were given for the Child Welfare program. The annual Thanksgiving party for the children at Glenn Dale Tubercu Hospital will be given the Saturday afternoon before Thanksgiving. Re- freshments and entertainment will be furnished under the direction of Mrs. | Amelia Boberg, Child Welfare chair- man and her committee. Four more childrenr suffering with tuberculosis will have care through the Eight and Forty. The major program is the prevention of tuberculosis among chil- dren, and $3,000 has previously been given to endow three beds at the National Jewish Hospital, with $4.000 just presented by Mrs. Mollie E. Aver- 111, retiring national chapeau of 8 and 40, this will make seven beds endowed, and enables 8 and 40 to be assigned an entire ward for children of World War veterans suffering from tuberculosis. Care of tubercular children is the primary_object of 8 and 40. The Na- tional Jewish Hospital cares for any child, regardless of creed or religion. Mrs. Mary Haws, le chapeau na- tional of Johnstown, Pa., will be the guest of the D. C. Salon on November 10, when a dinner will be given for her at the Washington Hotel. Mrs, Haws will speak at a meeting fol- lowing the dinner. On Armistice Day she will be the guest of the American Legion, attending the ceremonies at Arlington, and the armistice ball at the Mayflower Hotel in the evening. Mrs. Helen McCabe, le chapeau de- partemental, will be hostess November 3, when a social will be given at her home. Woodmen Cirole. The dedication of the flags will take place at the monthly meeting of Willow Grove on November 5§ at 8 pm. Refreshments will be served. At & recent meeting of the Imps Club plans were completed to take care of one worthy family at Thanks- giving. To Elect Officers. Better bus service in the commu= nity and the election of officers will feature the meeting of the Bradbury Heights Citizens' Association Thursday at 8 pm. in the Bradbury Heights Baptist Church. the jigsaw puzzle together which makes Greater Washington or the Washington Metropolitan area, as some prefer to call it. “Germs don't respect geography; neither do crime, poverty or de- spatr,” and for this reason and for this worthy purpose the boundary lines have been abolished.