Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-12
P|NEY BRANCH HITS
HIGHER GAS RATES
Opposition Voted by Citizens.
Approve Use of $4,000, 900
Surplus.

Opposition TO the proposed increase
in gas rates for Washington was
voted last night by the Piney Branch
Citizens Association, at its monthly
meeting. The associa ton also ap
proved the proposal that the $4,000.oOt
of surplus District revenues now iylns
idle in the federal Treasury be usee
to acquire much needed school ouiid-
ings for the National Capital.
On motion presented by George "A
Finch, the association voted that the
proposed increase in gas rates, Whlcf
would give the company per cent or
its capital investment. was uHeoh'
Scionable.'
After stating that the peak for mgr
prices had been passed. Mr. Finch
said that if there was any particular
class in the city trying to keep prices
up, it was the duty of all citizens to
get together and see that they come
down.
He then added a second clause to
the resolution, in which me gas COM
pany was asked to consider seriously
going back to 95-cent gas from the
present S1.25. which he claimed was
d war price pure and simple a.,
The speaker, who is one OF the
Piney Branch Associations delegates
to the Federation of Citizens AsSocia-
tions then denied charges that the
federation wasted time and was a
useless organization.
The committees of the federation,
especially the public utilities COM
mittee" he said. "do an enormous
amount of work for the good of the
community. work worth to any busl-
ness man a salary of $4,000 year.
yet it all is gratuitous.
ct is impossible to figure in dollars
and cents just what their work is
worth In the recent controversy with
the milk dealers association, for in
stance, it was entirely due to the
work of the federation that l cent a
gallon was saved on this commodity.
which meant a total saving to the
citizens of the District of s25o,000."
After notifying the association that
the federation was in need of funds to
defray ordinary expenses. and de-
served the help and support of its
constituent bodies, it was voted to
suggest to the federation that the
Piney Branch association would be
amenable to a scent per capita tax.
Better Policing Discussed.
Edgar B. Henderson presided. and
after vote of congratulation had been
extended to Mr.. and Mrs. j. Wallace
Allen for their behavior when recent
1y attacked by a burglar in their
house, the question of better police
protection for the Piney Branch Sec
ton of the city was gone into at
great length.
1t was finally voted to propose to
the Commissioners that the tenth pre-
cinct be divided. it being pointed out
that the present boundary lines of
that precinct were the longest in the
city if not in the United States.
Chairman T. A. Bradford of the
public service committee. reported
that the associations plea for cheaper
carfare for school children was being
held up due to the lack of authority
of either the street car companies or
the Public Utilities Commission to
act. Letters from each were read ex-
planning the situation.
The association also renewed its
previous action in regard to the con-
geSted street car trackage in the CEN
ter of the city. and voted to have the
federation urge necessary improve
ments. 1t also renewed it's advocacy
of merging the street car lines, as
previously voted on.
A motion was carried whereby the
Society for tuberculosis be urged to
erect the proposed school for tuber-
cular children away from the Tuber-
culoSiS Hospital, and it also was re-
solved that steps be taken for the ul-
innate removal of the hospital itself
from that section of the city.
Street Grades Asked.
A resolution was adopted requesting
the Commi ssioners to grade streets
through the reservation surrounded
by 18th, Upshur. Spring road, Allison
and Colorado avenue, and to note the
associations protest against the re-
ported suggestion that the stables oil
the District street cleaning depart.
ment be erected on the reservation.
A motion was carried urging thai
the Commissioners place warning sig.
nails on streets in the vicinity of the
West School building.