Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-03-07
Changes in Park Commission
Made to Coincide With
Views at Hearing.
OTHER LOCAL MATTERS
VOTED BY COMMITTEE
Notice Served on Insurance Code
Disputants to Compose Differ
ence Within Week.

"A
report on the hill To enlarge the Ma
tional Capital Park Commission into
a city planning agency. with several
notifications from the form in which
ii passed the House. and also tackled
a variety Of other local matters.
The amendments 10 the park and
planning bill do not alter its basic
principles. but were made with a view
70 meeting. as far rs possible, the
views Of those who testified at the
hearing two weeks ago. Chairman
Capper probably will report the bill
TO the Senate this week.
The committee served notice on the
groups which have been appearing
for and against the new code of in
surance laws that unless they recon
cile their differences within a week
the committee will proceed TO take
some action on that legislation.
Hearing Scheduled Tomorrow.
Announcement was made that the
committee Will hear Senator Phipps
Of Colorado again at pm. tomor-
row in support OF his contention that
the United States should bear 40 per
cent of the cost of completing the
project for the linking of Rock Creek
and Potomac Parks. AS this measure
passed the House, the entire $500, 00h
needed would be taken from the sur
plus revenues of District taxpayers.
The committee voted to report IA
vorably the bill to transfer portion
of Anacostion Park To the jurisdiction
of the commissioners for use as
tree nursery.
tn 70. tY-in he
under which children and invalid
adults may he kept in non-fireproof
institutions and to provide for the
eventual freproofinc of such build
ings was given consideration by the
committee, but ii was decided to seek
further information from the Com
missi"nerS before passing on il.
The hill to tra.N er control over
traffic in the pubhN parks from the
Chief Of Engineers Of the Army 10
the Director of Public Buildings ami
Parks and To authorize the director
to appoint additional park police was
referred To Senator Edwards of New
Jersey for further investigation.
A measure to pay retired police
men and tiremen certain pension al
lowances which they failed to receive
for a number of Years was referred I"
Senator King of Utah for further
study.
Changes in Park Bill.
Briefly stated. the changes which
the Senate committee made in the
park and planning bill are:
That two of the four eminent Citi
zens to- he added to the park com
mission shall he bona fide residents
Of the District. The House bill re-
quired that only one should be
District resident.
Elimination OF the clause requiring
each member of the commission to
adhere in principle to the Official plan
of the commission. The personnel
Of the park and planning board would
include several officials Of the Fed
eral and District governments and
the District Commissioners had eX
pressed fear that the foregoing re-
Quirement might hamper an irdivid-
ual member of the planning commits
sion in the performance Of his other
official duties.
At the suggestion Of Senator King
the Senate committee agreed Ia word
the bill SO that the park and plan
ming commission could make recon-
mendations "as to afTiC and trans
portation, plats and subdivisions.
highways. parks and parkways. school
sites and Fairgrounds. housing. build
inc and coming reGula tons. public and
private buildings. bridges and water
fronts. commerce and industry and
other proper elements of city plan
ming"
When the measure was up for
public hearing the District Commits
sionerS took the view that the specify
ing of so many subjects on which
the Park Commission could make
recommendatio lions might lead 10 some
conflict with he functions Of the Dis
trict government.
Representative of Views.
Following the hearing two weeks
age the Iark Commission met and
drafted several amendments design
ed to make the bill conform as nearly
as possible To views developed at the
hearing. The Park Commission
agreed to the amendment that two o,
the citizen members he residents of
the District, and also agreed to Strlk-
ing out the provision requiring IN
dividual members TO adhere To the
plan of the commission. The Park
Commission was agreeable 20 modi-
ficatiOn of the clause defining the
duties Of the new commission so as ~
give it specific authority in planning
for parks, Fairgrounds and hlgh
ways. with a provision that II could
make recommendations to the proper
authorities concerning all other proper
elements of city planning.
The amendment of Senator King
specifies in greater detail the ele-
ments on which the Planning Com
mission could make recommendations.
As passed by the House. and as II
is to be reported TO the Senate. the
bill changes the name of the com
mission to the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission. In ad-
dition to the seven officials who now
constitute the Park commission. the
reorsaniZed body will include four
citizens appointed by the President
who are qualified and experienced in
city planning.
Object of the Bill.
The object of the bill is 10 develop
a comprehensive. consistent and co
ordinated plan for the National
Capital and it's environs in Maryland
and Virginia. The existing Highway
Commission. which passes on changes
in the highway plan. would he abolish.
cd by this bill.
Hearings on the insurance code end
ed several days ago with the under
standing that Thomas Baldwin. Dis
trict superintendent Of insurance.
Continued on Page 6. Column 81