Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-21

abolition of the limitation placed oy
Congress last session on the pufolase
of sites for public schools. which pro
hibus the city to pay price Tor such
land that Is 25 per cent higher than
the assessed value of the plots, were
made in the report by Paul Crohnelih
for the committee on public schools.
Mr.. Cromelin declared this provision
recently the subject of much aglta-
ton. was seriously endangerlng the
five-year building program for the pup
lie schools.
"A very critical situation is now
confronting our public schooI sys'
tenn" said Mr. Cromelin: "a SITUATION
that is giving grave concern TO ON
Gals of the school system, members
of the Board of Education, the Lls
tict Commissioners and all otherS
who have at heart the interests OF our
schools.
Situation Held Serious.
..your committee refers to the ser!-
ous situation with which we are con
fronted in the hindrance and impair
ment. if not destruction, OF Ihe So
called five-year school building pro
gram by the enactment of lesslatlon
limiting the price to be paid Tor SITES
for public schools
Due to this legislation. MI. Crone
lin said the school building program
now is at a standst!ll, so far as the
n,1rchase of school sites is concerned.
and declared that unless prompt relief
is provided building of much needed
schools would be stopped entirely dur
ing the present year.
Prompt and decisive acton py
| WASHINGTON citizens associations
trade associations, ETC., concefhlnS
this situation was recommended Dy
the committee Each community IN
terested in the acquisition of par
ticular site for school purposes. sald
Mr.. Cromelin, should see to IL tna'
| proper evidence of the value OF tne
proposed site is submitted to the DIS
| trict authorities or to the condehnd
| ton jury, as the case may pc anu ~!
that suitable precautions he taken TO
| insure that the price ultimately pa1d
| in each case be fair and reasonable.
Would Remedy Measure.
Referring to the present law MI
| Cromelin said From the STANDPOINT
of the Congress making the appro-
nrjatjon and the facts presented to IT,
there NAV have been justification Tor
the insertion of such a prohibition as
was adonted. particularly inasmuch
as the dire result of the passage OF
the same was at that time unknown
and if is confidently felt that IL tne
Congress is shown that only the lalf
and reasonable price of land purchased
or acquired for school purposes Is pdiu
and is to be paid, the Congress VIII
certainly take the necessary steps W
correct the existing legislation ana
RI carry out it's legislative deciara-
QrhnnI
nroeram. the necessity and wisdom OF
which is undisputed. st.
Odel S. Smith, speaking FOR the
public order committee, urged pas
sage nv Congress of legislation re-
garding fugitives from justice, va
grants, and to provide better regu
| lation of the sale Of deadly weapons
the latter of which has for consider
able period been recommended gen
orally by citizens of Washington
| Mr.. Smith, for the committee. aise
urged fewer arrests on the part o.
| policemen, but greater moral suasion
| i'm the interest of law enforcement
heavier penalties for persons convict
| ed of violations Of laws. Another
nroposal was for the esta blishment o.
a central police headquarters building
Mr.. Smith reported that there were
93,2O8 arrests during the year endlne
! June 80, 1926, and that there was
/ noticeable and steady increase In ar
rests for violations of the liquor laws
During the fiscal year ending in June
| 1925, he said. there were l4.226 ar
| rests for violation of prohibition law
and an increase to 19,204 in the yea
| ending June, 1926.
Reporting for the public health
committee, DR.. d. Percy Hickling rec
commended the establishment of public