Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-06
CITIZENS DEBATE
/ SCHOOL GROUNDS
landScaping Is Warmly Dis
cusSed by Federation; Wom-
ans Bureau Bill Backed.

Approving pending legislation to es-
tablish by statute the Woman's Blu
reau in the Police Department, adj
hitting to membership the Washing
ton Society of Engineers and approx
ing a few committee reports unani-
mously, the Federation of Citizens
Associations debated itself through
such a lively session at the District
Building last night that it postponed
till the next session some of the most
disputed questions, including the pro-
posal for a landscape architect for
school grounds and the Mcleod bill
to make the Juvenile Court a part of
the Supreme Court of the District.
The most intense debate waged
around the school grounds landscap-
ing project, with President James G.
Yaden leaving the chair temporarily
to launch a fight on the joint report
of committees on education, and on
highways, parks and waterways, pre-
scented by Mrs. II. S. Parsons.
Single Vote Sustains.
With Mr. Yaden quoting from En-
gineer Commissioner Bell as to the
the joint committee report quoting
from Maj. l.. E. Atkins, assistant to
the Engineer Commissioner, as to- the
means by which landscaping could be
done under present regulations, and
both sides being supported literally
by earnest proponents of their causes,
Charles I. Stengle finally moved to
postpone the whole matter for two
weeks.
The vote stood q to 26 for post
poning, but so bitter was the fight
that on a request for a roll call be-
ing denied by President Yaden there
was an appeal from the decision Of
the chair. He was sustained by one
vote, q to 26. Mr.. Stengle in NOV
ing to postpone for further consider
alton said there seemed to be reports
before the federation showing Col.
Bell on one side of the argument and
Maj. Atkins on the other side, and
the matter should go over until it
could be cleared UP.
Opposes Committee Work.
Mr. Yaden in attacking the report
of the two committees submitted
substitute resolution approving the
request of the Rhode Island Avenue
Citizens Association that a "compe-
tent landscape architect be employed
and approving the movement to beau
tify and improve the school grounds
of the District.
Stating that he was sorry to have
to oppose the work of two. of his COM
mittees, Mr.. Yaden said the commit
tees 'do not understand the spirit of
this movement"
in my judgment" he declared,
this federation can do itself no
,<ats Sraf1 lanV to on
as refusing to improve and beautify
the school grounds in the District of
Columbia
George G.. Havenner Of the COM
mittee, and Mrs. Parsons objected to
Mr.. Yaden's statement, declaring the
committee report did provide for inn
proving the school grounds.
Mr.. Yaden quoted Col. Bell as say
ing that employment of such a land
scape architect was very necessary"
and that there was no one in the Dis
trict government competent to do the
work
The joint committee report, con.
sidering the recommendation Of the
Rhode Island Avenue Citizens Associ-
alton, and the Washington Chapter of
the American Institute Of Architects
in favor of a landscape architect, and
8. proposal from the Park View Citi-
zens' Association favoring legislation
and appropriation for designing, grad
ing and planning school grounds con-
cluded unanimously to indorse the
need and desirability of identifying
school grounds as far as the circum-
stances permit" but adding 1--WE feel
that it is unwise at this time to in
dorse legislation creating the posi-
tons Of landscape architect and staff"
Reasons for Opposing.
Reasons for opposing such legisla-
ton were given in recommendations
as follows: I'm the case of the older
type of school buildings with very
limited play space we urge proper
grading, drainage and resurfacing.
For the newer type of schools with
more space for possible landscap ping,
we find that the superintendent Of re-
pairs has full authority to employ a
landscape architect or other assist
ance as needed and we recommend
that he do SO at once. Further the
committees understand that for new
buildings to be constructed from the
appropriation for 1928. specific pro-
vision for the landscaping of the
grounds is included in the plans and
contracts"
II. w. Peaslee supporting Mr.
Yaden's proposal insisted shat a land
scape architect was necessary from a
technical point of view and that it
would be more economical to employ
a fun time landscape architect than
get one at various times for various
pieces Of work, as suggested by the
committees
Endorses Merger Bills.
Approval of The bills providing
for merger of the street railways
here was voted by the federation in
adopting a report by Maj. Clayton z.
Emig, vice chairman of the commit
tee on public utilities.
The report reviewed at length the
statistics submitted by the two rail-
ways to the Public Utilities Com
mission. The proposal for a merger
should be further studied, Maj. Emig
suggested through public hearings
by the public utility committee of the
federation or by the Citizens Ad-
visory Council
Debate of considerable feeling ragged
around recommendation of Mrs. H
NJ. Phillips, chairman of the commit
tee on charities and corrections, to ap-
prove substantive legislation for the
Woman's Bureau, with w. s. Tor
bert leading the attack. The vote in
approval of the bill stood "a to IS,
out WheH MIS-. EIlilIpS Continued Win
her committee report on the Mcleod
bill on the Juvenile Court, such lively
difference of opinion sprang up that
on vote Of 80 to 10 the rest of her
report went over to the next meeting.
Engineers Are Admitted.
Opposition was raised to admission
of the Washington Society of Engi-
neers TO the federation, but by a
close aye and nay vote It was finally
admitted The Hillcrest Citizens AS
ISOLATION unanimously was passed into
membership. but the application of