Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-31
YEAR is CHIEFLY MARKED
BY IDENTIFICATION ACTS
Legislation to Improve Capital Govern
ment Also Among Benefits Bestowed
Upon City by Congress-.

~ lhe 4NdtlondI capital ana for the
Improvement of it's municipal govern
lnent that the year now passing into
history will be remembered by Wash
ingtonians as the beginning of a new
era in Capital development
When the area south of pennSy1-
vania avenue has been lined with inn
posing Federal buildings, when the
wartime dormitories on Union Sta
ton Plaza have given way to the hand
of landscape planner. when the
Botanic Gardens have been extended
southwark to Canal street and the
Rock Creek and Potomac driveways
have been linked together by the i'm
provement of the intervening valley,
District historians will recall that all
of these undertakings were set in mo-
ton in the calendar year 1926.
The laws affecting Washington that
were passed in 1926 may be separated
into two groups-physical improve
ments and changes in municipal ma
chinery.
Under the former heading the fol
lowing are the outstanding:
Five Years Building Plan.
Authorization of a five-year S50s-
100000 Federal building program to
get Government employees out of I'M
slightly temporary structures and to
save a million dollars annually for
the rental of private buildings.
Authority to buy for iSS20,000 the
area bounded by First. Second. B and
Canal streets for the relocation of the
Botanic Gardens after which the eX-
listing gardens on Pennsylvania ave
nue. will fit into the Mall improve
ment.
Appropriation of the last installment
needed to complete purchase of the
Union Station Plaza, amounting to
So, 129, 597.64. Approximately half of
this sum was available in the Treas
ury as a balance from the appropri-
alton made when the plaza purchase
was started more than a decade ago.
Legislation to clear the plaza of build
ingS and give it a park treatment has
not yet been enacted.
Appropriation of 5000 900 from the
surplus fund of the District to ac-
quire the last strip of private land
needed to join Rock Creek and
Potomac Pathways.
Shoots Triangle Bill
Before the old year had faded out
the Senate had passed another bill at
the instance of Senator Smoot,
broadening the scope of the $50, 000,-
900 building program to include pur-
chase of all the remaining private
land in the triangle bounded by Penn
sylvania avenue, 3 street, Fifteenth
street and Peace Monument, and au-
thorizing an additional $25 100000 for
that purpose. While this measure is
not yet a law, favorable action by
the House is expected during the pres
ent session.
Another important project which
reached the same stage of progress
during 1925 is the bill for establish
ment of a national arboretum on the
Mount Hamilton tract, at the north
ern end Of AnacoStia Parkway, for
the scientific study of plant life by
experts of the Department of Agricul
ture. The Senate passed the bill in
the Spring and House leaders have
promised to put it through that branch
of Congress at this session.
One of the first and most important
enactmentS of the year was the crea-
ton of the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission. to cooperate
with all agencies of the Federal and
District governments in accomplish
ing an orderly and attractive develop
ment of the city.
The annual District appropriation
act, which will add to the physical
D6LLHTHl6nL I'll lIlS City LII Oo5h Sh|
erection of school buildings and the
paving of streets, was one of the
largest. carrying a total of more than
than $4,000, 900. 1t continued, how
ever, the arbitrary lump sum contr1-
button of $4,000, 900 as the Federal
Governments share of Capital main
tenance.
Limitation on Purchases.
The appropriation act contained a
new objectionable feature in the form
of a limitation, preventing the au-
thorities from paying more than 20
per cent in excess of assessed value
FOR any land for school or playground
sites, with a similar restriction APP
plying TO part of the appropriation
FOR park sites. The District Commits
sioners have not been. able to buy
school sites within this limitation.
The appropriation act also directed
the Commissioners to make a IA per
cent increase in water rates to meet
the cost OF additional water mains.
The Commissioners endeavored TO
avert this increase by having the
Washington aqueduct, which is under
the War Department, maintained out
of general revenues instead OF being
made a charge against water users,
but without success.
Congress was equally active in put
ting through legislation affecting the
administration of municipal affairs.
Under this heading the principal meas
ures We're:
Creation of a Board of Public We'll
fare, in which has been merged all
functions of a charitable, correctional
and social nature. 1t has taken the
place of separate agencies, such as
the Board of Charities, the Board of
Children's Guardians and the board
of trustees of the National Training
School for Girls.
A law granting financial allowances
10 worthy mothers to enable them to
rear their children at home instead of
sending them to institutions when
they are left destitute. A fund of
500 00G q year is To be provided for
this purpose. The Board of Public
Welfare Will continue to take children
under its guardianship in cases where
It is found their homes are not proper
places for them.
New Utilities Commission.
Creation of a Public Utilities COM
mission separate from the Board of
Commissioners, but with the Engineer
Commissioner as an eX-ofRcio member.
Revision of the traffic law. giving
the director authority to revoke or
suspend permits when he deems a
driver unsafe, subject to an appeal by
the commissioners and n review by
the District Court of Appeals. This
law also provided for the reinsurance
OF al drivers permits every three
years as a means of keeping check on
those who should not have permits.
The revenue thus Obtained is to be
used for extending the system of au
tomato traffic signals.
A new substantive law for the man.
agement and expansion of the Free
Public Library system, giving definite