Evening star., 1921-08-31
COMMITTEE URGED
T0PLAN RECEPTION
FOR ARMS ENJOYS
Citizens Ask Charge of Hous-
ing, Street Decorations
and Other Details.

A central civic committee. to aid in
the arrangements for the entertain
ment-including housing. street dec
'orations. transportation and working
the delegates to the dis
armament conference, and the hum
dreds of visitors who will come to
Washington at that time is sug-
gestfon put forward today by WASH
ingtonians who desire that the Ma
tional Capital shall accord every
courtesy and accommodation to the
visitors.
The suggestion that such a commit
tee be organized will be taken up with
President Harding within the next
few days. it Is said.
Like Inaugural Committee.
The plan is for the appointment of a
chairman of such a central committee
by the President himself. and per-
haps other members of the committee.
At the time of presidential inaugu-
rations it has been the custom to have
central inaugural committee. with
many subcommittee to work out the
details.
The disarmament conference will
bring to Washington many distin-
guished foreign guests. and hundreds,
probably thousands, of visitors from
all parts Of the United States. The
ments for the comfort of these visi-
tors is large. Unlike the inaugural
festivities, which have in the past
lasted only day or two, the disarm-
ament conference may last for several
months.
Would Relieve State Department
With e central civic committee,
headed by q capable executive, il is
believed that much may be done to
tighten the burdens of the State De-
partmenl, which, of course, will have
charge of all the official arrangements
for the conference.
1t is pointed out that the central
committee would designate already
existing organizations to care for
various activities. The Real Estate
Board already is cooperating with
the State Department and the foreign
embassies in the matter of obtaining
housing facilities for the visitors. But
such matters as transportation. the
providing of working facilities for
the hundreds of visiting newspaper
men, the decoration of the streets of
the capital. etc, must also be cared
for.
Washington at the time of the dis
armament conference will be the
center OF attraction for the entire
world. and the administration, as well
as the citizens of Washington. is
anxious that the city shall put it's
pest 1901 FORWARD.
Housing Arranged For.
Announcement was made today by
John A. Petty, executive secretary Of
the Washington Real Estate Board.
that the board had completed arrange
ments to handle the housing of the
delegates to the disarmament confer
ence.
John P. Story. jr. who had been Sc
lected to act as chairman Of the spe-
cial committee in charge of the ar
rangements. resigned on account of
would prevent his giving the neces-
sary time to the work. President H.
L. Rust appointed Percy H. Russell as
chairman. and the full committee was
named as follows: Robert c. Howard,
Robert L. McKeever, J. Leo Kolb and
F. E. Middleton.
In speaking Of the method that the
board will pursue in assisting the
embassies of the various countries to
be represented at the conference, Mr.
Petty said that owners and agents
would be asked to list with the Real
facilities. The board would classify
such listings' and select properties
that meet the requirements OF the
different embassies and place them at
their disposal. In doing this the
committee will only submit such
reasonable rents. In order to deter
mine what housing facilities are
available a listing coupon will be in
serted in the daily papers. and in this
way owners and agents can file with
the boards Offices complete descrip-
ton Of their properties.
Fair Rentals Asked.
It was stated further that this pub
lie service which the real estate boarl
has undertaken was requested by the
officials Of the Department of State
for the purpose Of having the guests
of the nation properly housed during
the conference and at rentals that
were fair and reasonable.
In undertaking this work, the board
is asking the full cooperation of all
brokers and the citizens of Washing
ton in providing the necessary quar-
ters for foreign guests and at such
rentals as will be deemed fair and
reasonable.
During the war wealthy residents
Ct Washington. owning handsome
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