The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-07-20
Primer on City zonino.

Hoover's advisory committee on city
coming took the form Of coming
primer. Answering the question,
why do we need city zoningf" the
committee says:
"Some one has asked, Does your
city keep Its gas range In the parlor
and Its plano In the kitchenT That Is
what many an American city permits
Its household to do for 1t.
I'VE know what 10 think Of house
hold IN which an undlsclplined daugh.
ter makes fudge In the parlor, In
which her sister leaves soiled clothes
soaking in the bathtub. while father
throws his muddy shoes on the stairs
and little Johnny makes beautiful mud
pies on the front steps.
"Yet many American cities do the
same sort of thing when they allow
stores to crowd In at random among
private dwellings, and factories and
public garages to come elbowing 10
among neat retail stores or well-kept
apartment houses. Cities do no bet.
ter when they allow Office buildings so
tall and bulky and so closely crowded
that the lower floors not only become
too dark and unsatisfactory for human
use. but for that very reason fall to
earn fair cash return to the indlvid-
ual investors. -.-'sn. ~'-~~asp'
at is this stupid. wasteful tumble
which coming will prevent and gradu-
ally correct. We must remember. how
ever, that while coming Is a very I'm
portant part Of city planning, It should
90 hand In hand with planning streets
and providing for parks and play
grounds and other essential features
Of well-equlpped city. Alone, It ID
M universal panacea for all municipal
Ills, but as part Of a larger program II
pays the city and the citizens quick
er return than any other form Of civic
improvement.
Protects Property and Health.
The committee argues that coming
protects property and health, and In
this connection says:
Suppose you have Just bought some
land In a neighborhood of homes and
built a coy little house. There are
two vacant lots south of you. II
your town Is zOned, no one can put
up a~large apartment house on those
lots. overshadOwing your home, steal
ing your sunshine and spelling the In
vestment of 20 years saving Nor II
anyone at liberty to erect noisy.
malodorous public garage to keep you
awake nights or to drive you to sell
out for half of what you put into your
home.
IF town is zoned, property values
become more stable, mortgage com
panies are more ready to lend money.
and more houses can be built.
"a coming law, II enacted In time.
prevents an apartment house from be-
coming giant, airless hive, hous
ing human beings like crowded beeaL
N provides that buildings may not b
80 high and so close that men and
women must work In rooms never
freshened by sunshine or lighted from
the open sky"
To Alter Civil Service Act I
The National Civil Service Reform
league has asked the congress to in
corporate the following provisions In
the civil service Interpretations which
II says would remedy most Of the
Of the present law:
"Rules shall be made by the Unit.
ed States civil service commission for
standards Of efficiency In
the public service uniform for each
class Of employees; for ascertaining
and recording periodically the EN-
cheney of individual employees and Of
groups Of employees; for service
records and ratings to be used in de-
the promotion. demotion or
Of employees.
The commission may likewise pro-
vide for such efficiency tests, investf-
cations, and examinations. periodical
or otherwise, as may promote the good
Of the service and for the suspension,
demotion or removal from the service
Of any employee who falls to pass sat
such tests. investigations
and examinations or who fails to
reach the standard Of efficiency pro-
vided by the commission.
Employees may also be suspended.
or removed for any cause
which will promote the efficiency Of
the service upon written specifications
fled by the appointing authority.
head of department or any citizen. with
4 board Of hearings and adjustments
appointed by the civil service COM
such board shall give notice
Df such specification to the person
whose removal Is sought who shall
have the opportunity to be heard, and
The hearings. investigation and deter
nination of said board shall be made
within thirty days after the filing Of
such specifications, and the findings
md decisions Of such board. when ap-
proved by the commission, shall be
inal unless Overruled by the Presi.
lent, and shall not be subject to re-
'ision by any court"
IF this power Is given to the civil