Evening star., 1923-11-13
Trade Board Committees URGE
Many Improvements for City
More and Better Paid Police, Brighter
Lights, Bridge Repairs, attention
to Schools advocated.

Improvement and replacement Of the
Penn sylvania Avenue bridge, not less
than $500.
For replacement of the flooring OF
the Pennsylvania Avenue bridge. a
suitable sum to provide for dag
onally laid floor.
That Congress appropriate suf'i-
cient sum to place in the Benning
permit passage Of the dredges to
complete reclamation work upon the
Anacostia river.
That an appropriation be made to
, provide for preliminary work in the
replacement Of the klingle Ford
bridge.
That a suitable sum be appropriat-
ed to commence building of the Ar
lington Memorial bridge.
For repairs and maintenance of
minor bridges not less than $4,000.
Reclamation Delayed.
Speaking of the draw project in the
Benning bridge. the committee calls
attention to the point that the rec
lamation of the Anacostia flats above
the bridge cannot be undertaken be-
1t points out that there are many
stagnant pools there which are un-
healthful.
The report OF the public utilities
committee, which was presented by
Francis q. Addison, member of the
committee. recommended that the
board should take whatever action 1t
can to assist in bringing about a mer-
ger OF the street railway companies.
This committee also recommended
that the board undertake to have pro-
vided new and heavier bridge
across the Anacostia river and Penn
sylvania avenue in order that street
car extensions may be undertaken.
A recommendation for law re-
Guiring owners of automobiles for
commercial purposes to take out
bonds to protect persons who might
be injured by such machines was
| G. Coldren The committee recom-
| mended that the board approve the
endeavors of the District Commits
sioners to abolish all main line cross
| ings in the District and that appro-
pirate steps be taken to that end
Report on Schools.
! Many recommendations for the bet
terment of the public schools were
mittee on public schools. read by
Paul f. Lesh, chairman. and adopted
in its entirety. The report said that
IF those in charge Of the requests
! for appropriations and the making of
appropriations must curtail the ex-
penditure of public funds below the
| demonstrated needs OF the communi-
| ty that curtailment should not be
made in respect of the appropriations
nor the appropriations for the pay Of
school teachers"
The recommendations Of the COM
mittee follow:
Indorse in principle the five-year
building program Of the school au-
! thoritieS.
Indorse the proposal to provide for
a comprehensive act amending the
act Of June 80. 1906, giving adequate
and permanent salaries to the per-
lSonQel of the public schools,
Authorize the president of the board
| to appoint two delegates annually to
the District of Columbia Public School
Association. to report to the board
through the committee on public
| schools.
rndorse the proposed compulsory
education act which was before the
| last Congress.
/ the Americanization School.
| The committee report said: There
is no department or community effort
the neglect of which brings a more
certain and calamitous consequence
| than the neglect of the public schools.
The injury done by neglect in no
other department is more directly in
| f1icted upon the individual citizen or
| more irreparable. There will be no
later opportunity to serve this gem
Grafton of school children. They must
be given their birthright now, while
| they are children, or the opportunity
is lost, and they will be compelled to-
| morrow to assume the responsibilities
of adult life mentally crippled by the
lack of sufficient preparation or in
| some cases positively injured by ex-
posure to physically harmful sur
roundings provided under the name
of that cherished American institu-
tion, the public school,"
Questions Of Trame,
| The report of the industrial inter-
| ests committee. presented by E. J..
4, Murphy, chairman. referring to the
| one-way streets, said, in part: I'VE
| stand back OF the District Commits
! sioners in their regulation regarding
| one-way streets, believing same to be
I a necessity, and feeling that they
| should be given thorough trial be-
fore suggesting any further changes
| at this time"
! The committee said that 1t had
! looked into complaints that the gov
I ernment cafeterias were selling COM
| modities in addition to their regular
cafeteria trade. The committee felt
| according to the report, that but very
little, If any, actual business was di-
| verted from local merchants through
these channels.
The committee also felt that the
time was not oppOrtune for taking
| any action on the pending bill provid-
| ing for government fuel yards in the
District Likewise the committee did
not see fit to take any action on the
bill permitting officers and employees
OF the District and federal govern