Evening star., 1924-01-09

Washington is being largely de-
veloped by speculative interests for
quick return. with monotonous, un-
designed, repeat-type row fronts,
which stamp individuality out of hu-
man beings and mediocrity upon sec
tions. This is the conclusion reached
by the committee on housing and
reservations for future housing,
American Civic Association >made
public today.
Representative builders would be
invited to a conference to discuss
the setting of standards of construc-
ton, guaranteed perhaps by trade
mark. such as is used by manu-
facturers in some lines, under a
recommendation of the committee, of
which John Ihlder is chairman. Only
subscribers to these standards would
be permitted to use the trade mark
and if any subscriber falls below
these standards in his work he
would be formally and publicly de-
prived of the right to use the trade
mark.
There is no need for such imposi-
ton on the Nations capital or upon
it's residents" the report continues.
Variation in roof and parapet lines,
in porches, terraces and hooded en-
frances. in court treatment and set
backs-all are feasible and of incon-
sequential cost. When individual cities
can correct such evils. have the people
as whole no protection?'
Acquisition of School Sites Urged.
ACQUISITION at the earliest possible
date of a sufficient number of school
sites, each with ample playground
space. to provide school accommoda-
tions to meet present needs and the
needs of the near future, Is recon-
! mended by the committee on school
sites and Fairgrounds, headed by
Evan III. Tucker.
Mr. Tucker recommends that for
small children below school age addi-
tional play spaces should be set aside
wherever park space is available, and
that all such play spaces be equipped
|, with sand boxes, slides and swings;
that appropriations be made for mu-
nicipal Fairgrounds and sport fields
for children in all sections where such
facilities are not provided by the
grounds of primary, intermediate or
high schools; and that in the loca-
tion and selection Of land for extern
sions of the park system provision be
made for athletics and field sports for
adults, as well as Fairgrounds for
children of all ages.
Recommendation to School Board.
The following recommendations are
made to the board of education: THE
people of Washington should adopt
policy of urging on the Commits
sioners, the bureau of the budget and
appropriations which Will result in
abolishing from our schools: Part
time in the elementary schools and
double shifts in the high schools
nineteen additional rooms are need
ed: oversize classes in elementary
and high schools, where fifty-seven
rooms are needed: use of portables
and other undesirable rooms in
elementary and high schools. where
seventy-one rooms are needed: all
rented buildings, with need for nifty
eight additional rooms.
"A comprehensive plan for school de-
yeIopment and construction, with erec-
tion of schoolhouse accommodations as
needs are apparent and before real con-
pestion exists. Unless and until these
policies have been agreed to and shall
have been put into practice. the pres
ent congestion is inevitably bound to
continue and to increase" the COM
mittee said.
Zoning Committees Report
The zoning committee, headed by
Harry Blake, urges that the full intent
of the act creating the zoning COM
mission be carried out when requests
come up for changes in the regulations
and not allow changes for selfish pur-
poses not OF general benefit Pointing
out that the question of just how far
the zoning laws can go is now before
the courts, the committee adds: 1T
would be a mistake at this time to
attempt amendments of minor details
which can, perhaps, be satisfactorily
worked out through police regulations
or other means.
Six outstanding points in the
Washington housing situation are
named These are:
Securing of an adequate supply of