Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-08

I traffic has resulted in a condition that
requires consideration. The subcom-
! mittee on traffic, of which Senator
Hastings is chairman, has been making
a study of the situation.
No Real Centralized Control.
lone of the many interesting facts
developed at the subcommittee hear
ingS is that there exists in Washing
ton no real centralized control Of Dis
trict traffic. The regulatory power is
diffused among several Federal and
local agencies. The members of the
subcommittee agree with the traffic
authorities of the District government
that the remedy for this condition is
co-ordinated control Of traffic.
, If this coordination Of authority
were in effect today, there would be less
concern about the lack of provision for
parking and storage of automobiles in
! the Federal building group in the Mall
The Hastings subcommittee probably
will make recommendations looking
| toward marked alienation of this
and other traffic matters.
LAS regards the Mall development, I
| know that you have read with pleas
ure that plans are in progress 10 spend
SIS 100000 year on additional pub
lie building projects in this city. until
total of $ll5,000.000 shall have been
expended. The congressional commit
tees on public buildings and grounds
are in charge of this.
Every one interested in the beautifi-
cation of Washington will watch iGuS
progress of this legislation with keen
interest.
1T is scarcely necessary to assure you
that l welcome every proposal to MAIN
tain and augment the beauties Ct the
Nations Capital. I want to see Wash
lngton the most beautiful capital city
in the world. Nothing less VIII satisfy
me.
There remain few streets and sec
tons where Washington'S magnifcence
ends. and eyeSores begin. Fortunately,
existing legislation eventually Will wipe
out some of these miserable. SqGalid
spots. Others must be abolished by
future action of Congress.
FavOrs Alley Dwelling Bill.
I'm this connection 1t may be noted
that the District committee has before
it a bill which should be passed. 1t
provides for the diScontinuance of AL
ley dwellings in Washington. This leg
iSlatiOn is desirable from many stand
points, and is generally supported.
I'm the path Of WaShington's progress
there lie several old landmarks. We re-
greet to see them fall before the wreck
er'S hammer. But they must give way
to greater plans. know that many Ct
| you deplore the passing of Center
! Market.
Washington has real affection for
this building. 1t is to be razed to pro-
| vide a site for the new Department OF
Justice Building.
But its demolition will be more
orderly than the removal of the old
! North Liberties Market. which. as many
of you may recall was located where
the Public Library now stands.
In a most interesting book, 'Wash-
ington, Past and Present. by Charles
Moore, chairman of the Commission CT
Fine Arts, there is good-natured &C
count of the way in which Gov. Shep-
herd tore down the North Liberties
Market.
He invited the judges of the court
| to clambake down the river, beyond
the power of injunction Mr.. Moore
writes. Then his men tore down the
offending structures. 1t was not until
a quarter of a century later that Con-
gress settled the last bills for the demo-
lition.'
These were irregular methods, but
Gov. Shepherd, in his zeal for beutify-
ing Washington, was not one to shrink
read local history Alright.
Full N0tice Given.
But we are proceeding in more
orderly manner today. Full notice has
been given that Center Market Is to go.
must confess that / was rather sur
prised at the apparent indifference of
the public when this fact first became
known. A modern municipal retail
bat tn ma a HE
institution in any community.
II am glad that number OF citizens
associations, the Federation of Wom-
ems Clubs and other organizations are
taking up the fight for new market.
l have received great many letters on
the subject.
1T is necessary that Center Market be
replaced by a modern market building,
conveniently located. Congress should
provide the required legislation at this
session.
Another District improvement which
I strongly favor Is an airport. 1t Is vital
to the future of Washington. The Joint
Congressional Commission on Atrports
held hearings on the subject last Spring.
This commission expects to make final
recommendations next April. Congress
should take some specific action on this
matter before the close OF the session.
Il am Fundamentally committed to
the movement for expansion of public
library facilities and for the, acquisition
and development Of public parks and
Fairgrounds. Furthermore, IN certain
sections Of Washington sanitary facih-
ties are lacking. These should be at
tended to without delay. The street
construction and maintenance program
should be kept up to date by generous
appropriations, as some of our streets
are in deplorable condition.
The regulations against excessive
smoke should be rigidly enforced. and If
additional legislation on this subject is
needed it should be provided.
Expects Beneficial Session.
at have outlined here. somewhat
Sketchily, some Of the Districts out
standing needs. Many of these are pro-
vided for in bills now pending before
various committees of Congress, notably
| the Senate committee on the District OF
d.