Evening star., 1928-12-23
BY GRACE TALBOT HADLEY

- ANITA CLAUS, sovereign OF tlt
Christmas season, taking undis-
puted possession of the city, with
~ gifts galore, planting Christmas
trees that blossom magically al
night with myriads of glittering lights
hanging holly wreaths in windows, fill
ing children's stockings with good
thing why not Christmas stock
ing for Washington; well, why not?
Washington is wonderful city, but
II still wants many things. So. imbued
with this idea the writer started out to
fill up the city'S stocking with all good
things.
Senator Hiram Bingham, as chairman
of the Senate subcommittee on ap-
preparations for the District of Colum-
1ja. is perhaps the nearest TO being
in the Presidents room at the Capitol.
Senator Bingham. If you were Santa
Claus, what would you put into Wash
tngtons Christmas stocking?"
He was deep in thick volume deal
ing with the District of Columbia. Very
quiet in manner almost to the point Of
diffidence, he is, however. very inter-
esting to interview The Senator
smiled and dropped in good wish
Il would like to see Washington be-
come the most beautiful city in the
whole world, by persistent continuation
Of plans already under consideration
and With the necessary funds to make
the needed Improvements. Now, I've
sa-a enough, have l not?"
mo, no, please think again!"
So he thought again and his eyes be-
gan to sparkle, as plop! he dropped
into the Christmas stocking a model
airport for the city of Washington. II
would like to see people flying here in
their own planes and find a model air
port with all the facilities of a modern
airport"
with plenty of space to park their
planes while they view the seven won-
ders of Washington" he was asked.
"Yes. said the Senator, there is
nothing here in the East to compare
with the great airports abroad. Wash
lngton by reason of its ideal location is
the logical terminus of tranScontinental
and transoceanic air lines that may be
established on regular schedules within
the next five years, so the city should be
prepared with the proper kind Of an
airport"
Senator Bingham is president of the
National Aeronautic Association and
the only air pilot in the Senate. It is
no trick at all for him TO take the air.
In 1918 he was in command Of the fly
Ing school at IsSoudon, France Last
Fall when the great dirigible Graf
Zeppelin came into sight over the city
the Senator was calmly lunching at his
club. When the cry went up, THE
Graf Zeppelin is here!" he left his
luncheon and hurried out to Anacostia.
There he obtained an airplane, and his
slogan being, America first in the air!"
ne went right after the giant airship,
overlook 1t, raced on ahead of it. and
he was one of the first to board the
Graf Zeppelin when it landed at Lake
hurst.
X X
SENATOR ARTHUR CAPPER, chair
man of the Senate committee for
the District of Columbia, said: IF
might give only one gift to the nearly
100000 people of the District. it would
be a greater and continuing interest by
all members of Congress in what is and
justly should be the one great source
of pride to all good Americans, our Ma
tional Capital. When that time comes
we shall have the best schools in Amer
lea, ample playground and park space,
a fair division of tax burdens that full
fills the obligations of the National Gov
eTnment in the upbuilding of national
city. District residents will have some
voice in the Government to which they
contribute taxes and which has the
power to send them to war. All the
people will have adequate library facil-
tiles. There will be an entire elimina-
ton Of unfit alley dwellings and no need
of the District will be overlooked
Proctor L. Dougherty, Commissioner
for the District, was interviewed in his
Office in the District Building. The
Commissioner was much amused at the
idea of the city having a Christmas
stocking. He said IF were Santa
Claus, what would I put into Washing