Evening star., 1927-05-12
STUDY OF CAPITAL
NEEDS TO Be MADE
Board of Trade Officers and
Committee Chairmen to
Map Work.

Executive officers and all committee
chairmen of the Washington Board of
Trade vii! meet in an unusual con-
ference Monday evening at the VIII
lard Hotel to map out an intensive
program of study of the needs Of the
District of Columbia in anticipation
Of concerted drive during the next
session of Congress for legislation 10
remedy unsatisfactory conditions in
the Capital and its governmental ma
chinery, Edwin G. Graham. president
of the board, announced today.
Plans contemplated by the officials
of the board call for probably the
most comprehensive and far-reaching
program ever undertaken by the or
ganization In the interest OF the prop
er development OF Washington.
Exhaustive surveys Of a multitude
of matters affecting the welfare of the
District are proposed in order that
complete and convincing statements OF
facts might be laid before members
of Congress together with definite
recommendations for needed legisla-
ton. Concise summaries of the find
ings are to accompany the reports,
according to present plans, and every
effort possible will be made to make
available for the committees Of Con.
gress all desired information.
Fact-Finding Program.
Members of the Board of Trade have
in mind a scientific program Of fact
finding that it, is hoped will obviate
the necessity Of extended public hear,
ings before coinmifteesR Of Congress
on proposed legislation affecting Wash
ington.
Long -drawn-out public hearings. it
is pointed out. in the past sessions
of Congress, in many instances, but
served to deal death blows to impor.
tant and desired measures by creating
a confused state Of opinions regarding
the needs OF Washington and the
wishes of the majority of the local
residents.
Fiscal relations. representation for
the District Of Columbia in Congress,
revision of taxes, regulation OF traffic,
provision OF more adequate housing
for the District Police Court, schools
and streets. are among important sub.
jects which will be made the object
Of surveys by the committees of the
Board of Trade, under the new pro-
gram of activity. #
The Board of Trade now is perfect.
ing a detailed index of all measures
affecting the District of Columbia
which were considered during the past
session of Congress. This index was
compiled with the aid OF a number
Of congressional officials
Figures on Estimates.
In addition to copies of proposed
measures affecting the District of Co.
lumbia and data to- be collected con-
cerning local institutions and faciii-
ties, officials of the Board of Trade
will have available for study figures
included in the estimates for the
operation of the District Government
which the District Commissioners
have agreed this year to make public
to representatives of local trade as
sociations as we'll as to the Citizens
Advisory Council.
Mr.. Graham will preside over the
conference Monday evening which will
be banquet session to be held at
$50 o'clock.
Other executive officers who will
attend the session include. J. Harry
Cunningham, past president of the
board: William w. Everett, first vice
president; +. j. Murphy, second vice
president: Ben T. Webster, secretary:
Walter Fl. Klopfer,- treasurer; Edwin
c. Brandenburg, general counsel, and
Richard L. Conner and Robert j.
Cottrell, assistapt secretaries.
Each committee of the Board of
Trade Is to be assigned a definite
program of study and survey In prep
aration for the projected submission
| of statements to the committees OF
Congress.