Evening star., 1925-01-20
DECLARES DISTRICT
PARK GROWTHLAGS
Representative Gibson Tells
Trade Board Congress Has
Been Slow to Act.

Washington is trailing cities Of
more than 100000 population in the
matter of park areas, and 1t should
stand at the head OF the list instead
of the foot" declared Representative
Ernest w. Gibson Of Vermont and
a member of the House District COM
mittee, in an address before the
Washington Board OF Trade at it's
regular monthly meeting in the Will
lard Hotel last night.
Representative Gibson recalled that
in 1901 there was the Mcmillan Park
Commission. which made numerous
recommendations for an extensive
park development here However"
he continued, but few of the recon-
mendationS We're carried out, until
now Washington is at the foot of
the list in the matter of park devel-
opment among cities Of more than
5000 population. Congress is often
long on talk and slow on action" he
said.
He said also that the schools of
Washington should be the best in the
country.
Criticizes Budget bureau
He criticized the work of the Blu
reau of the Budget in cutting appro-
priations as they have been cut in
the past If the bureau keeps doing
as it has in the past" he said, 1T
Will destroy an asset in the conduct
of the Government"
In conclusion, Representative Glib
son was emphatic in the declaration
that the District should have the kind
OF government the people want He
also made recommendations for GER
tain civic improvements, one of them
being to get rid of the old buildings
along lower Pennsylvania avenue,
which he termed as "ramshacEle"
Representative Gibson's address
followed closely an address delivered
by James I. Lloyd, president of the
Board of Education, in which he
praised the beauty of Washington and
declared that it was the best gov
erned city in America
The board adopted a resolution ex-
pressing appreciation Of the work done
here by Lieut. Col c. 0. Sheriff., super
intendent of public buildings and
grounds, and expressed the hope that he
would be retained here in his present
capacity. Embodied in the resolution
was clause approving a proposed bill
in Congress to givsAthe rank of brig
adler general to the person holding the
office of superintendent of public build
ings and grounds. The resolution was
introduced by Walter H. KIopfer, treas
urer Of the board.
Others EuIogize Sheriff..
OdelI Smith and others delivered
eulogies on Col. Sheriff. in which he
was praised as a man who accom-
plishes things and has the interest of
the District at heart" All were en-
phatic in expressing the opinion that
Washington would be sure to improve
rapidly il Col Sheriff. is maintained in
his present office.
DR.. William Mather Lewis presi-
dent of George Washington Univer-
sity, as chairman of a special commit
tee from the Board of trade to con-
slider referendum No. ~, of the United
States Chamber of Commerce, deal
ing with the Post Office Department.
made the following recomm endations:
That the Post Office should be
brought up to a high state OF eff
cheney and that the attainment of
efficiency should be the first consider
alton in the financial program Of the
postal service.
should be based upon a scientific de-
termination in which efficiency is the
first consideration and consideration
is given, in addition to cost of opera
ton, 10 the portion of fixed charges
that should be met otherwise than
through rates.
That postal salaries should be re-
adjusted by proper classification on a
differential scale rather than on a
uniform nationwide basis.
THAT an adequate emergency fund
should be made available to the Post
master General to use in increasing
salaries in communities where the
Civil Service Commission certifies
eliglbles cannot otherwise be OBJ
tanned"
The report was adopted.
William T. Galliher, chairman of
the inaugural committee, delivered
brief address. He said, in part:
at is a distinguished honor to be
chosen chairman of the inaugural
committee. And be the Inaugural
ton ceremonies simple or elaborate,
they will be carried through to the
credit of the Washington people," he
said.
]. Harry Cunningham, first vice
president, presided in the absence of
the president, Samuel ]. Prescott, who
was out of the city.