Evening star., 1923-12-09
CONCENTRATE ON
URGENT NEEDS.
SAYS REED
Continued from First Pase.)

My personal opinion is that Con
gress will treat the District fairly.
There are some things that ought
to be done; they should be put first
and no local organization or influence
should in any way attempt to side
track them. or delay them by push
ing forward other less important
! measures.
I refer to bills relating to health,
| sanitation, education. prevention Of
| accidents and safeguarding of life
| and property.
Do not push for too many laws.
| The people are tired of the activities
of the lawmakers. We have been
! running wild since the world war.
In the last five Congresses nearly
| 100000 bills and resolutions were
| offered and sent to committees for
| consideration. About $500 were
| passed.
Some one has estimated that during
| Union have passed an average of
1 1000 laws a month.
In order to interpret and pass upon
| these new statutes II has been neces-
| sary to increase the number Of Judges
to enable the courts to meet the
problem of handing down decisions at
| the rate of more than 1900 per
month
| The District of Columbia Of course,
| set a good example for the country
4 Ia
| full measures.
Faces Heavy Burden.
The Sixty-eighth Congress. from
present Indications. will have before
1t an unusual number of bills for It's
| consideration. I have heard the pre-
diction made that the number may
pass the 10000 mark In this multi
| tudinous mass of bills will be those
relating to the District, and. as
| have already said, it Is a situation
| that the people and the organizations
/ of the city should handle with pru-
dence and good judgment.
Some of the problems pressing for
| solution in the near future may we'll
! receive the most earnest, thoughtful
| consideration of all Washingtonians.
! The District is about up to that point,
| reached sooner or later by every
! growing city. where there is need for
permanent improvements too vast
and costly to be paid for by annual
| tax levies and appropriations. l re-
| fer to construction in connection with
| water supply and sewers and per-
manent buildings for educational pur-
| poses. Such improvements and struc-
| lures are for the comfort and well
| fare not only of the present genera
\ ton but of generations to come. In
practically all our American cities
and states the cost has been met by
| bond issues, on the theory that it
! was fair and just to pass part of the
| tax burden on to those who in tNe
years to come would be the bene-
! ficiaries of such necessary perma-
! nent improvements.
! Urges City Solve Problem.
If Washingtonians think they can
devise some other method for imam
cling and securing these great projects
that are now much in their thoughts
and evade a bond issue, let them lose
no time in getting their experts and
economists to work on the problem.
But let me say emphattcally that
no bond issue should ever be thought
of or tolerated by any community for
any purpose except for necessary and
extraordinary permanent improve
ments such as / have mentioned.
In any expenditure of money for
public improvements 1 hope the sew
eral organizations of the city VIII
CO. Operate in securing full dollars
value for every dollar of the tax
payers money expended. Officials are
aided and encouraged In getting re-
suits by a proper community sent-
ment.
More Parks Desirable.
Additional areas of land for parks
and Fairgrounds should be acquired.
The glory Of Washington is its hun
dreds of parks. public squares and
triangles. In the heart Of the city
| Washington was first planned. To-
day the far-fiung city limits show
vast areas rapidly being. built up
with scarcely any provisions for
question deserving most thoughtful
consideration. can take you to
some small areas in the center of the
city originally costing the govern
which are today worth several mil
lions Of dollars. Practically every
tract so far purchased for park pur-
poses has been gilt-edged invest
ment, if one should look at 1t only
from a financial viewpoint
We should not forget that every
year finds thousands of new citizens
added to the population of the city
without any addition to the land
acreage of the District. The recent
donation of a very large tract of
land by Mr.. Charles C. Glover for
park purposes was certainly hne,
public-spirited act.
Appeals to Real Estate Men.
Rec estate men and promoters
who are laying out new city subdi-
visions should be encouraged to IN
clude in their schemes ample proVi-
sion for Fairgrounds and open spaces
to be acquired by the District.
Washington has long needed
commodiouS convention or exposition
hall, and now that such building
has been constructed we may expect
an increase in the number of annual
or periodical meetings OF societies
and organizations that Will come TO
the city.
Better public roads and cheaper
automobiles arc mailing IT possible
for thousands to visit Washington
who heretofore could not afford such
a trip. 1t is an education for old ana
young to spend a. few days In WASH.
ington, and such excursions Should
be encouraged. Camping grounds
and conveniences for tourists should
u AL