Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-03
FOR SIRIC1ER VAeRANCY Law
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS ASSOC1A-
TON FAvoRs PENDING BILL.
Proposed Retirement OF Scnoo'
Teachers Also Indorsed-Commls-
sioner West Congratulated.

The Columbia Heights Citizens Asso-
citation went on record last night in favor
of the passage of a more stringent Fas-
rancy law and the pending bill for the re-
tirement of teachers and against the
Scott bill to increase taxation in the DIS
trict 1t also passed resolution congrat-
ulating District Commissioner West upon
his reappointment.
James S. Easby-Smith, formerly as
sistant United States district attorney for
the District of Columbia. declared that
q more stringent vagrancy law Is needed
here.
He favored the one in the hands OF the
House District committee and declared IT
should be passed at once. He called at
tention to the hold-ups In this city In the
fall and winter and said that If the pend
ing bill were passed there would De no
Migrants upon the streets to TURK IN oai
corners and snatch purses.
II know he continued, many OF our
residents are supporting whole famlhes
through the back doors of their homes. 1
believe that eS per cent ~, OF 5se ptsS f
Columbia Is due to the men VINO are sup
ported in idlenesS."
He also said that the District needs a
better law governing corporations
vagrancy Bill Endorsed.
Perciyal Brown declared that the va
grancy bill Is radically wrong. He d.
Yected attention to its provisions. and said
that respected residents If they became
penniIess could be sent to the workhouse
under the proposed law. Any man who
comes to the city in search of work, Mr.
Brown declared, could be picked up by
policeman, and if he had no money or
friends would have to serve term.
Rabbi Stern also believed the bill to be
too far-reaching and that innocent men
temporarily out of employment would De
made to suffer.
But the association took a contrary
view. and Messrs. Easby-Smith. w. w.
Bowie and William H. Saunders were ap-
pointed committee to wait upon the
House District committee and urge the
passage of the measure.
Retirement Of Teachers.
Mr. Brown, who is chairman of the
school committee Of the Chamber of Com
merce, advocated the pending bill for re-
tirement of public school teachers. He
said that such measure has been
adopted in the states OF New YORK. In
diana and Illinois, and many countries
of Europe.
Leftwich Sinclair read an editorial
from The Star in which the bill was
heartily favored The a. ass soc h,,9 then
Mr.. Sinclair declared that from ex-
pressions of the District Commissioners
there is absolutely no need for the pas
sage of the Scott bill to increase local
taxation. The association also took the
same view. A committee consisting of
Mr. Sinclair, DIR. A. B. Jameson and Per-
cival Brown was appointed to appear be-
fore the House committee in opposition
TO the measure.
A letter from A. T. Stuart, superintend-
ent OF schools. calling attention to the
need of normal school in Columbia
Heights, was read.
West Congratulated.
4 resolution congratulating Commits
sioner West upon his reappointment was
passed and a committee consisting of
Judge Bundy, Mr.. Hiatt, A. l.. Sinclair
and w. b. Todd was appointed to notify
the Commissioner Of the sentiments of
the association.
1t was decided to offer prizes for the
best kept lawns during the coming sum-
mer, the prizes to be so. 50 and 81.
Ernest l.. ThurstOn, William F. Morsell
and Frank +. Cunningham were elected
to membership in the association.