Evening star., 1927-03-06
CITIZENS REQUEST
CENTER POLE SHIFT
Federation Would Clear
Rhode Island Avenue With
out Extra Levy.

Removal of the trolley poles in the
center of Rhode Island avenue north
east was urged in a resolution adopted
last night at meeting OF the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations, In
approving a report of its committee
on highways, parks and waterways.
1t also went on record as opposing
the assessment as beneht against
abutting property owners or me eA
pense of widening any arterlal nleh-
way or thoroughfare, taking the pc.
sition that such work was In ala OF
traffic and that the property owners
were ont benefited thereby.
The association spent nearly TWO
hours in debating the question OF al
1nitting to the body the Progressive
Citizens Association OF Georgetown
the organization composed of women
which was inaugurated following lne
refusal of the Georgetown C1tizens
Association to admit women. 1he as,
sociation was finally admitted, ana
its president, Eta l.. Iaegar'' re re
introduced to the federation Inc
vote was As to Is for admission.
Outlines Recent Campaign.
G.. 7. Stengle. chairman of the com.
fnittee on law and legislation, reported
on the campaign conducted py thaI
COMMITTEES in connection with the per
sonnel of the new Public Utilities Com
mission and the appointment OF a
peoples counsel. He said that the
committee conducted clean campalgn n,
made thorough investigations. ana
told of the Senate committee approx
ing the nomination after the fedora
tion committeeman had been informed
that no action would be taken at this
session. The committees recommends
ton that the president OF the federa-
ton and the members of the law and
LEGISLATION committee call on the new
commission and assure it of the fed
eration's cooperation in any matter
affecting the public welfare was
adopted.
Before the adoption of the report
William NICK. Clayton informed the
body of the methods used in rushing
through the combinations. He said
that at $50 on the evening Of March
3 he was assured by a member of the
subcommittee handling the nomina.
tions that there would be no further
meetings of the committee to act on
the nominations, but that one hour
later he learned that call had been
sent out for a meeting of the full
committee for the morning OF March
4. He was told at that time that the
name of Benjamin F. Adams had
been withdrawn and the name of
Col. Brand substituted. He pointed
out to the federation that in con-
firming the nominations the Senate
had not compiled with its Rule No.
3S requiring nominations to go over
a day after beiAg reported to the
Senate.
Urges Underground Wires.
The report on trolley pole removal
on Rhode Island avenue was pre-
sented by DR.. George c. Havenner.
In addition to recommending that the
Public Utilities Commission be petit
toned to order the removal OF these
poles to the curbing. 1t also urged
that the commission be petitioned to
order all wires, except trolley wires.
placed under ground. It also urged
that the District Commissioners be
petttioned to direct the railway COM
pany to comply with its charter and
pave the area between its tracks from
Fourth street to Twelfth street north
east, along Rhode Island avenue.
William S. Torbert OF the Rhode
Island avenue association objected to
the removal Of the center poles on
the ground that they were g protec-
ton TO pedestrian traffic, acting as
bulwarks Of safety, behind which
in trying to reach the sidewalks
when traffic was heavy. The report
was adopted, 4s to 3.
Reporting on a resolution OF the
Conduit Road Citizens Association
recommending that appropriations for
trees and parking be separated as
between city and suburban develop
ment, DIR. Havenners committee rec
commended against this, but did rec
ommend that the Commissioners be
petitioned to increase the appropria-
tions for development of trees and
parking for the entire city to x100,000
in the appropriations for 1929; recon
rnended that curbing be set on all
graded streets in the suburbs, and
also that the appropriation for curb
ing for 1929, to be taken from the gas
tax, be fixed at $23,400. After the
chairman accepted an amendment, Of
fered by Mr.. Clayton, that the appro-
priation for trees and parking be in
creased to 900, the report was
adopted by a. viva voce vote.
Traffic Survey Favored.
On the resolution of the Central
Citizens Association recommending
the widening of North Capitol street
from B street to Florida avenue, the
committee reported that this was a
much-used thoroughfare and carried
very heavy traffic, but recommended
at the same time that the Comrlis.
sioners be requested to make a traffic
survey of it and, If widening was
deemed necessary, TO include such O.
recommendation in the 1929 budget.
1t was during the consideration of
this report that Mr.. Suter succeeded
In having mis- benefit assessment
resolution adopted.
He cited case in Takoma Park
where in order to handle traffic and
make conditions safe, IL was neces-
sary to condemn a building and tear
IL down. the cost being assessed
against the adjacent property owners.
He said these owners had not yet fig
ured out how the improvement was
benefit to them, as ii was for the
benefit Of Maryland and District auto
mobilists.
The federation laid on the table
by a vote of as to 10 an amendment
to its constitution which would have
increased the dues TO $12 year.
Two Plans Rejected.
A resolution of the West End Citi-
zens' Association recommending the
abolitions of the Citizens Advisory
Council and substitution therefore
of an executive committee of the
federation, and one of the Southwest
Citizens Association which compel
the Advisory Council to hold public
hearings on matters not referred to
IL by the federation were rejected by
the federation on recommendation of
its committee on law and leRtsla ton,