Evening Star Newspaper, January 25, 1942, Page 64

CIVIC NEWS. Civie Problems, CivicBodies Crosstown Bus in Operation Today; Fiscal Equity Problem Acute By JESSE C. SUTER. Civillan defense problems, very properly, continue to occupy first place in the activities of the civic groups. Even other matters considered in meetings of the bodies last week, in most instances, had a civilian defense slant. Proper control or elimination of the so-called penny arcades for protection of the boys and girls; streetcar and other street noises and the night riding of bicycles without lights, riding bicycles against traffic and riding on sidewalks were among the subjects considered. Protests were promised in some of the associations against the re-* zoning of the Friendship tract for a low-cost housing development which, it is contended, will destroy values in tiie “A Restricted Area.” A demand was made for heated school buildings for the all- night air-raid watches and that no women teachers be required to remain on such duty later than 8:30 pm. This latter demand is supported by the Board of Education. ‘The Board of Trade hss been handed a special job of inducing business firms to stagger their business hours so as to assist in the effort to better handle rush-hour street traffic. An able committee HISTORY OF THE under the leaderhip of President Fred A. Smith is working earnestly FEDERATION.,... on this difficult problem and receiving fine co-operation from busi- 3 ness concerns. \ E-9 11941 Traffic Arrests Exceed Those of 1940 by 14,032 Year’s Total Is 128,092 Although December Number Fell 17% Below That for November Traffic Record for December The Trafic Record as Revealed at Police Headquarters for the 31-Day Period Ended December 31: FATALITIES, 11; PEDESTRIANS, 7; MOTORISTS, 4. THE SUNDAY STAR, JANUARY 25, 1942. WASHINGTON, D. C, CIVIC NEWS. * Pedestrians uruted for violation of pedestrian-control revuln on, 62. By JOHN H. CASSADY, Jr. Although traffic arrests in the District in December dropped more than 17 per cent below the November total, Washington ended the year with a record of 14,032 more arrests than in 1940, according to mmpmdhylmpecwrmurl Miller, chief of the Traffic Division. The December total was 10,279, which was 2,194 less than the number of traffic violations recorded in November. This pushed the grand total WRITING OF THE District legislation continues to lag but gives promise of early action on several bills which represent urgent needs. The Senate Committee on the District of Columbia has issued a new edition of the committee Legislative Calendar under date of January 9, 1942. It is No. 1, of the Second Session of the Seventy-seventh Congress. It is a very informative publication. From it we learn that, up to its date of issue, 41 bills considered by the Senate and House District Committees in the Seventy-seventh Congress, have been enacted into law. Of these 26 were House bills and 15 originated in the Senate. ‘Work continues in the Senate Committee on the court consoli- dation and recreation bills. Both of these measures are expected to be soon in proper form for action. ¥ In the case of the court bill it was found, upon close study, to require the change or amplification of a number of administra- tive and other details which had been overlooked. In working out a cure of these defects the committee has been having valuable assistance of both bench and bar. L New Crosstown Bus Line Begins Today Today is a red-letter day with a number of the neighborhood citizens and businessmen’s associations for the crosstown bus line between Westmoreland Circle and Catholic University began opera- tlon. This line is expected to save considerable time for persons in the extreme western and northeastern sections of the District. It will prove particularly valuable to students at both the Catholic and the American Universities, Another prediction of the proponents of the line is that it will eventually reduce some of the load through the downtown by permitting passengers, who are not bound for city destinations, to transfer to one of the several inter- secting car and bus lines. Encouraged by the success in getting the Public Utilities Com- mission to order the first crosstown line, the Federation of Citizens Associations and some of its constituent bodies are now urging the establishment of a second line over the Military road route. This northern line was recommended by the Public Utilities Committee of the Federation of Citizens’ Associations last year. The advocates of the route which was opened today succeeded in getting the Fed- eration to simply favor a crosstown line without specifying the route, The Federation at its recent meeting voted unanimously urging the establishment of the Military road line. * * X % Population Growth Makes Fiscal Equity Problem Acute The rapid and enormous increase in the population of the Dis- trict of Columbia increases and emphasizes the fiscal inequity under which that voteless and unrepresented community is required to operate. To the already large population of Federal employes and their families there are promised further increases during the year of 250,000 persons. In a normal community, where large business is subject to tax- ation and free lists are very limited, it would be a difficult job to take care of such large growth in a short time. Such a normal commu- nity would, however, have the authority through the free exercise of the taxing power and appropriation to finance the required expan- sion of the municipal services. Here the situation is entirely different for several reasons. First, the population growth is to meet the expanded needs of tht Dis- trict’s largest industry which controls the community and declines to pay its share of the municipal costs. Secondly, the Federal Gov- ernment, represented by Congress, is in complete control of the finances of the District. It lays the taxes and appropriates the resulting tax money. Possessing this autocratic power Congress exercises it with great partiality in favor of the United States Government, which is not only the District's largest business concern, but is responsible for the present municipal overload. The question arises continually in all of our local civic groups as to what the District people can do about this fiscal inequity. Possessing only that constitutional, but very unsatisfactory, right of petition they have from time to time gone to great trouble and expense to make accurate showing of fiscal conditions here and else- where. The fairness and accuracy of these exhibits have been con- firmed by the study of experts employed by Congress. They indicate clearly that equitable treatment of the National Capital community would result in an increased Federal payment toward the support of the District and the enactment of taxation laws, which would impose a burden upon all District residents alike. The fight for fiscal equity has been a long one and the problem continues unsolved and at present much more acute. Unlike most other communities the assessment of real property, for taxation purposes, in the District is on a basis of 100 per cent of actual value. In other communities such assessments usually rep- resent a much lower percentage of actual value. The present Dis- tax rate on real estate, $1.75 per $100 of assessed value, is a low rate, as compared with some other places, but no idea of the burden of the tax rate can be had unless one knows whether the assessment to which this rate is applied is high or low as compared with the real value of the property. The District citizen in his plea for fiscal equity is confronted continually by men in Congress who will look only at the tax rate and ignore entirely the very important factor, which is the rate of assessment. Another matter which is avoided completely in considering District affairs, particularly at this time of extraordinary burden, is the large contribution made to the United States by District tax- payers in Federal taxes. The District pays annually more than each of over one-half the States. But there seems to be no chance for redress available to a community having no voice or vote in the councils of our Nation unless, through some miracle, the Congress would have a complete change of heart and resolve to deal justly with their voteless and unrepresented, involuntary constituents of the District of Columbia. * % ox x City Refuse Division Handicapped by Lack of Funds Board of Directors of the Outdoor Cleanliness Association met last week and heard reports of a comprehensive survey of the activi- ties and capabilities of the City Refuse Division. The important tasks of the department have increased largely as the population has grown. But the funds are inadequate for carrying on this necessary work of street cleaning and the collection and disposal of garbage and refuse. The prospect for the fiscal year 1943 is little, if any, better than the present. More manpower is needed and only a small increase can be made under current budget figures. The estimate of the division was cut by the Commissioners about $80,000. Restoration of this amount would be a big help. Inquiry at the District Building gave the very interesting information that the salvage campaign has made a noticeable showing in the material collected by the division. The amount of paper, rags and metals has diminished substantially and that of worthless trash has increased enormously. 3 Another interesting fact learned by the Outdoor Cleanliness Association is that Supt. Xanten has turned into the District a handsome profit on grease reclaimed at the garbage reduction plant at Cherry Hill, Va. He has been holding this accumulation of grease for & higher market and recently sold the accumulation of several years for $35,000. *xx s Public Utilities Hearing Announced Three public hearings have been announced by the Public Utilities Commission. The first, on January 29, will be a resumption of a hearing adjourned last March on the rerouting of some of the Chevy Chase buses. Merchants on lower Connecticut avenue are demanding that, despite traffic congestion, buses be returned to that thoroughfare. On January 30, at 2 pm., there will be a hearing on the petition of the Federation of Citizens' Associations for the required sale of tokens at the rate of three for 25 cents. At present, six for 50 cents is the smallest quantity to be purchased on cars and buses. > On February 12, at 10 2.m.,, there will be a hearing on all phases of service by the Capital Transit Co. to Takoma, Petworth and Chillum areas, including rates, routing and service. All of these hearings will be held in the new headquarters of the commission in room 203, District Bullding. ’, A Dr. Geores C LAVEN ««A_VETERAN CIVIC LEADER £ ) FROM ANACOSTIA AND FOREST HILLS, WHO WAS DENT OF THE FEDERATION.1929-32 -| FOUR TIMES PR % IR \ Civic Units Still Stress Defense Nine Associations Meet This Week; Whitehurst Speaker Nine citizens’ associations meet- | ings, with a majority of the groups | continuing to stress civilian defense, comprise this week’s civic calendar. H. C. Whitehurst, District director of highways, will discuss proposed | highway development in the city, including plans for the Georgetown area, at a meeting of the George- town Citizens’ Association tomor- row night. Also on the program will be reports of active committees on civilian defense, it was an- nounced by Joseph I. Cavanaugh,| secretary. Other associations to discuss civil- | ian defense this week include North Capitol, Fort Davis and Mid-City. The latter group will hear a report by John L. C. Sullivan on wprk being done by air-raid wardens in | the Mid-City area. Harry N. Stull, | president of the Federation of Citi-. zens’ Associations, has been invited as guest speaker, it was said by A. J. Driscoll, head of the Mid-City as- socfation. Edward D. Merrill, president of the Capital Transit Co., is expected to attend a meeting of the Conduit Road Citizens’ Association Thursday night to speak on transit problems involving that section. Committees for the ensuing year will be appoint- ed at this time, it was said by Cur- tis E. McGhee, president of the as- sociation. Following is the schedule of the | nine citizens’ associations meeting | this week: Monday. Georgetown — Parish hall, St. John's Church, Potomac and O streets NW., 8 pm. Mid-City—Thomson _ School, Twelfth and L streets N.g., 8 pm. North Capitol—McKinley ngh School, Second and T streets N.E, 8 pm. Tuesday. Hampshire Heights — Barnard School, Fourth and Decatur streets N.W, 8 pm. Society of Natives—Washington Club, 1701 K street NW., 8 pm. Southeast—Friendship House, 619 D street SE., 8 pm. Trinidad—Wheatley School, 1213 Montello avenue N.E, 8 p.m. Thursday. Conduit Road—Palisades Park Field House, Edmunds and Sherrier places NW., 8 pm. Fort Davis—Ryland M. E. Church, Branch avenue and S street SE., 8 pm. Junior Board Hears Night Club Operator Jimmie Lake, well-known Wash- ington night club proprietor and ring announcer, will address the Junior Board of Commerce at its weekly luncheon Thursday at 12:30 pm. at the Annapolis Hotel. He will discuss “Lake’s Likeable Logic of 1941.” Millard West, jr., will preside. Other sessions include an officers’ meeting tomorrow at 12:30 p.m., at Taft House Inn, and 'a meeting of the National Defense Committee at 8:15 pm. in The Star Building. Tuesday, at 12:30 p.m., the Public | keeping all of the associations busy, | the Alice Deal Junior High. | Safety and Public Welfare Com- Health Committee will meet at Taft House Inn, and Wednesday, at 7:30 pam., the first-aid class will be held at Central High School. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday the bowling league will meet at Petworth Alleys, mflm.y.stno pm., the Red Cross class will again meet at the high school. DOCTOR OF GEORGE HAS A MEDICINE DEGREE BUT HAS NEVER PRACTICEDs eeee Tucker Sees Defense Work As Big Civic Job Opportunity Heads Citizens’ Association in Friendship Area By BAINBRIDGE CRIST. ‘When Leonard L. Tucker began his work with the Social Security | Board six years ago—almost at the inception of that New Deal agency— it indirectly launched him on his civic career. For, as he explained in an interview, it was his training with the agency that developed an interest in social welfare and com- munity affairs. During the last four years, when he has been increasingly active in the Friendship Citizens’ Association, he has risen in its ranks until he is now serving his first term as presi- dent and as delegate to the Federa- tion of Citizens’ Associations. Aside from civilian defense work, which is the long-range program of the asso- ciation, he said, calls for a branch library and full development of Fort Bayard Park as a playground. An- other objective—concrete platforms on Wisconsin avenue—has been | realized. A branch library, he said, might be located somewhere between the | Woodrow Wilson High School and | The present branch, at Wisconsin avenue and Albermarle street N.W.,/was a make-shift from the old No. 8 police | precinct in 1927. It was inadequate then, he charged, and is “hopeless now” in a rapidly growing com- munity. Interested in Public Welfare. At the Federation, Mr. Tucker is a member of the Public Utilities, mittees, He said he hoped to give more time in the future to the Wel- fare Committee and was interested in obtaining improvements in caring for the aged and adequate hospital facilities for the city. Mr. Tucker is chairman of the Civilian Defense Committee of the Friendship area. He described civilian defense as the “grandest opportunity that associations of Washington have had to do a really big job. And I am trying to do that for the Friend- ship area, along with the other duties as president.” Mr. Tucker was born in Marion, Va., but has admittedly lost a good deal of a Southern accent. He came to Washington when he was 18 years old, graduated from Southeastern University and is an auditor by pro- fession. He was in private practice LEONARD L. TUCKER. —Harris-Ewing Photo. of accounting for several years, then went to the Post Office Department, and finally to the Social Security Board, where he is now a reviewer. He has also studied law. Likes Dancing, Motoring. He has two hobbies—dancing and motoring. Civilian defense work and the rationing of tires have delt a severe blow to his motoring plans, but he, Mrs. Tucker and their 14- year-old son used to enjoy sight- seeing trips to the country. He still finds time to go dancing with Mrs. Tucker at least once a month, either to a dance of the State society or to | & hotel. When civilian defense is a thing of the past, Mr. Tucker said he hoped to devote time to the Boy Scout movement. He was himself a Scout in Virginia and his son is a ‘member of Boy Scout Troop 19 here. And another thing he may do when he gets time, is take a review wurse in law. He makes his home at 4320 Fes- senden street NW. Although now a built-up section, there was a “corn field” across the street when he first moved there. His duties with the Government have taken him on & number of trips out of the city, a factor which delayed active partici- pation in civic work. And, as in the case of many another Govern- ment employe, the decentralization program might conceivably mean a change of address again. {In Civic Circles| Secretary David Babp thinks the Federation of Citizens’ Associations “reiterates” too much and doesn’t take enough new action. At least that is what he told the delegates in the recent cross-town bus debate at & recent meeting. President Roosevelt, through his secretary, Marvin McIntyre, has con- veyed to the federation his “deep appreciation” of the “patriotic sup- port” of that body. The letter is in response to a resolution pledging co- operation of which a.copy was sent to the White House. Fo a long time citizens have been complaining about not being able to get three car tokens for a quarter when six can be had for fifty cents. They will air their grievances be- fore Public Utilities Commission Chairman Gregory Hankin at the public hearing Friday at 2 pm. in room 203 in the District Building. The commission has now moved to t.he second floor of the building. Incidentally, Chairman Hankin may be at odds with the Commis- sioners but from the remarks made on the floor of the Federation from time to time, he is in pretty solid with the citizenry. What delegates see between now and February 7—the next meeting date—may cetermine whether they urge & drive on pinball machines. Some of the group are not satisfied that the voluntary agreement of owners of penny arcades to keep children under 16 years old off the Three Associations Will Meet meetings: . Tuesday. Columbia Heights — Luncheon. Sholl's Cafe, 3027 Fourteenth stree! N.W., noon. Thursday. Central—Luncheon, New Colonial Pifteenth and M streets N.W., Hotel, ump.m jortheast—Luncheon, Continental mn«mmmnm E streets, 12:30 pm. Trade Board Gives Committee Schedule Six committee meetings and two coming week by the Board of Trade. are scheduled for tomorrow. They are the Traffic Committee at 12:30 pam. at O'Donnell's Restaurant; the Executive Committee of the Greater National Capital Committee at 12:30 pamn. at the Lee Sheraton Hotel, and the Subcommittee on Recreation of the Public Schools Committee at 4 pm. at 1756 K street NW. ‘Tuesday, at 12:40 pm., the Mem- bership Committee will gather in the board offices. Friday, at 2 pm,, | at the District Building the Zoning | Committee will meet, and at 7:15 p.m. the Midwinter Dinner Commit- tee plans a session in the board offices. The two conventions, which will the National Council of ivate Truck Owners at the Willard' Hotel, National Public Housing Conference, Friday and Saturday, at the Wash- ington Hotel. Three of the committee sessions | draw about 700 delegates here, are | Tuesday and Wednesday, and the | for the year to 128,092, as compared to 114,060 in 1940, Inspector Miller Trade Board Announces Competition Awards Contest in Architectural Design Opened Leon Chatelain, jr, chairman of the Committee on Architecture and Architectural Awards of the Wash- ington Board of Trade, this week sent out announcements of the bi- ennial competition for certificates of merit to owners, builders and architects or designers of attractive buildings. Over 1,000 announcements were mailed to architects, members of the Washington Real Estate Board, designers, sign companies, members of the Federation of Citizens’ Asso- ciations and builders and con- tractors. Awards are made under three classifications: (1) New buildings, in all types of classes, of especially meritorious design; (2) remodeled bulldings, in all types of classes, and (3) signs deemed by the jury of award to advertise with especial artistic effect and the avoidance of detriment to the adjacent archi- tectural design. All awards for the three classes are made for buildings or signs completed before January 1, 1940, and January 1, 1942. Submissions _are limited to the area in the District of Columbia and the immediately adjacent sub- urbs of Maryland and Virginia and must be in the Board of Trade of- fices by noon of February 2. All | buildings and signs will conventions were announced for the | soleckions of oy be made, as usual, by a committee of three architects who do not prac- tice in the Washington area. Pres- |ent plans contsmplate that the selections will have been made prior |to March 1 and that the certificates |of merit will be presented at the Board of Trade's general mem! ship meeting in March. Exteriors only are considered in the award of the certificates. While photographs of submissions are re- {quired for classification and the | preliminary consideration of the |jury of awards, no final selections will be made without an inspection of the submissions by the award Jury. In 1940 there were 153 submissions |and 20 awards were given. It is expected that the number of sub- | missions and awards will be consid- erably increased this year due to the fact that the builders them- |selves will be eligible for awards. Previously only owners and archi- tects or designers were eligible. Other details are available at the board offices. reported. . ‘The list of violations for the year included 11,591 speeding cases, as against only 7,793 in 1940; 138 reck- less driving cases as compared with 290 in 1940; 4,164 charges of passing a red light as against 3,161 in the previous year and 398 driving while drunk cases, which was eight more than in 1940. Eleven fatal accidents occurred during December and seven of the victims were pedestrians. In the 1467 accidents reported, 257 mo- torists and 190 pedestrians were injured. Violations of “no parking at any time” regulations led the list for the second consecutive month. Arrests in this category totaled 1,090, which was an increase of 100 over the November figure. Speed- ing violations were still in second place with 815 arrests, which was 128 below the number of speeding charges made in November. Over- time parking, which was third on the list in November with 733 cases, was in the same spot in December with 645 violations. Violations of pedestrian-control regulations dropped sharply, with only 62 charged in December as against 136 in the preceding month. For parking less than 20 feet from the building line or less than 50 feet from an intersection, 382 mo- torists were given tickets. Among the other “leaders” were the 426 arrests for parking more than 6 inches from the curb and 414 arrests for disobeying official parking signs. ‘Twenty - seven persons 4 were charged with making unnecessary noise with auto horns, 54 were ar- rested for driving with improper lights and 53 for turning from the wrong lane. Forty others were ac- cused of driving while drunk, as compared with 33 in November. Dupont Circle Area Seeks $25,000 Fund A $25000 civilian defense fund will be solicited by subscription in the Dupont Circle area by the Du- pont Circle Citizens’ Association, the Connecticut Avenue Business- men's Association and the Civilian Defense Committee for the area. Early response to the drive has been good, it was stated, with sev- eral hundred dollars already re- ceived. Dupont Circle area is described as including 46 blocks with a popu- lation of about 146,000 and has some 500 air-raid wardens. Warden headquarters are located at Columbus University, which has provided the quarters free for the duration. F. Moran McConihe is deputy warden. Rowland S. Mar- shall, 1316 New Hampshire avenue | N.W., is handling collections in the drive. Traffic Arrests No parking at any time 1,090 Speeding 815 Parking overtime 645 Paked more than 6 inches fom curb Parked disobeying o cial sign | Parked less than 20 feet from building line and less than 50 feet from intersection Parked 7 to 9:30 am. ___ Parked obstructing entnnce.. Passing stop sign No shopplng or standing, 4 h 6 p. Pnssing red light - Failing to keep to right No parking to corner. Parked in bus stop Parked within 25 feet “of swp sign, - No. D. C. permlt Parked 2 to 8 al Failing to give right of way to another vehicle __ Parked abreast Parked on public space. Parked 2 to 9:30 am. .. 9 Driving z:t ‘wrong side of szreet 96 Parked within loading zone . 92 Parked obstructing alley - 88 No standing, 4 to 6:30 pm. 87 Failing to exhibit permit__ 85 Disobeying arrow 81 Truck parked in (mnt of resi- dence .. 4 Failing to lock ignition 7 huln. to exhibit rerist!‘lfivn hmng to give hand signal.___ Parked obstructing crosswalk. Parked obstructing driveway . No stopping or standing, 8 to 9 am. Failing to glve “full attention to operation of car Violation of pedestrian control tions Violation of one-way street_ Failing to report inspection Parked with left wheel to curb Permlmn(mww!thno puml '} ¥R BEE 8R8E S¥223288F $8283 & 8 3833 for December ARG GO BB O® 997 99333 -imu- » woood Failing to sign permit -- 28 Falling to heed hand signal.. 4 Inadequate hand brakes _____ 28 |Obstructed windshield 4 Unnecessary noise with horn_. 27 | Permitting unapproved auto to No rear light i 27| be operated 4 | Inadequate foot brakes 26 | Opening door on traffic side._. 4 Parked in restricted zone [obstruct,ed vision __ L] | Parked on lawn Driving through occupied Dead tags .- - 25‘ safety zone 5 4 More than § teet from cab 25 | Violating no left '.um sign 4 Parked on hack stand ________ 25| Commercial vehicle in meter Parked between loading plat- space _ 4 form and curb.. ... 25 | Parking on slght-uemg stand 4 Failing to keep in proper lane 22 | Excessive smoke __. 4 Failing to give rlkht of way to | No emergency contro] 4 18 | Defective muffler 4 18 | Operating after revocation of > permit 4 17 | Failing to t permn 4 Blocking intersection . 3 16 | Mutilated registration care 3 15 | Dirty tags - 3 Expired permit . 15 | No front tags 3 Parked within 20 feet of car | Pailing to deposit coin in meter 3 stop ...~ —---—- 14| Failing to display taxicab badge 3 Backing without caution ____ 14| Violation of interstate truck Failing to wear.proper glasses 14| route regulations 3 Following another vehicle too Failing to pull to curb to dis- closely ... .- 14| charge passengers . 3 Parked less than 3 feet from Violation of sticker regulation 3 another vehicle ________ 14 | parked on vendor’s stand 3 Pulling from curb 5o as to in- Parked overtime in 20-minute terfere with traffic ... 14| meter zone 3 Parked obstructing fire escape 13 | Parked within 25 feet of slow Backing to turn _ 12| sign - b = K Parked overtime in 60-minute No windshield wiper 2 meter zone . 11 | Tampering with auto - 2 Improper tags - 10| Cruising - 2 Driving through unoccupied Failing to change address on safety zone ... ... 10| taxi identification card 2 Parked within 5 feet of animal Failing to exhibit taxi identifi- cation card 2 Paflmx to back into space- to L ark Not parked “within meter l'ptce g Loaning permit Permitting auto to be operated in unsafe mechlnlal oondl- o Passing barricade - Failing to stop ememlnz trom l].ley Sl mding two on bicycle . bicycle on sidewalk . Riding Riding bicycle with no lights on Cutting in ____ hmng'npull'.ocurblnrnn perm! Obtaining permit by mlsrep~ resentation - < B B e b MR R BN “ae