Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-01

represent the majority of the business
interests of Washington.
These three bodies. the Board of
Trade, the Chamber of Commerce and
the Merchants and Manufacturers As
ISOLATION, also ardently championed the
cause of representation in Congress and
a voice in the presidential election for
the people Of the District and urged a
permanent equitable settlement of the
problem of fiscal relations between the
Federal and local governments.
Outstanding among proposed capital
improvements were flrSt-claSS airport,
preferably at Gravelly Point; enlarged
park and playground areas. adequate
school facilities and street and highway
extensions.
Board of Trade Enlarged.
The year was one of marked enlarge
nent and progress for the Board of
Trade. The membership was increased
to more than $500 men and arrange
mentS were completed for moving the
headquarters into larger quarters on the
third floor of The Star Building. The
new offices have modern clubrooms, a
library and other up-to-date facilities.
They will be occupied early in 1880.
OF outstanding Importance was the
effort of the community affairs COM
mittee to secure the erection here of a
Roosevelt memorial coliseum. This
work was begun with trip by commit
tee members to New York for consulta-
tions with the directors of the Roose-
Welt Memorial Fund.
Cooperation of the Allied Architects
of Washington was enlisted later and
the "a designers now are drawing plans
for a monumental coliseum and ap-
proach to the eastern entrance to the
city, which will be submitted to the
foundation with view to influencing
the decision of the directors as to what
form the memorial will take.
The boards efforts for an airport
here during the year began with tour
of an officer of tn; board in company
with Assistant Engineer Commissioner
Mai. Donald A. Dawson of a number
Of airports throughout the country. The
gathered information was presented to
the joint congressional committee.
Members of the board appeared be-
fore this committee, urging the selec-
ton of the Gravelly Point site and ac-
ton on the project in the near future.
The aviation committee of the board
materially assisted in getting important
witnesses to appear before the joint
committee.
Besides working for Gravelly Point
and making surveys of contemplated
airports within a radius of 40 miles of
Washington the aviation committee has
completed plans for a meeting of the
board in January to be sponsored joint
~ by the National Aeronautic ASSoci-
alton and the Aeronautical Chamber
of Commerce for the purpose OF arous-
ing national interest in an airport for
Washington. Sixteen prize winning
drawings of airports chosen from more
than 500 in the Lehigh Portland Cement
Co. competition have been secured for
exhibition at this meeting.
The board presented at the Central
High School auditorium the film,
History of Aviation" for the purpose
of creating airrnindedness in Wash
ington.
Fought Thirteenth Street Closing.
The board threw itself wholeheart-
edly into a fight to prevent the closing
Of Thirteenth street at Pennsylvania
avenue by the proposed Government
development of the triangle. An ex-
tensive survey was made of conditions
in the area to show that the blocking
of Thirteenth street would seriously
hamper the efficient handling of traffic,
and the effort of the board eliminated
with the presentation to the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission
Of the data amassed.
The commission promised detailed at
tention would be given to the problem
and complimented the board for its
work. The trade body also was re-
quested to make thorough study Of
the entire District highway system
under the supervision of Charles Eliot,
I'd, city planner, and submit recon-
mendations to the Planning Commits
sion.
The board was active in obtaining
the reorganization of the Police Trial
Board, which was finally effected in
conformance with a plan suggested by
the public order committee of the or
ganiZation.
Endorsement Of the bill for increase
in the salaries Of policemen and fire.
men was voted by the board members,
who went on record as opposed to the
abolition Of capital punishment In the
District.
Recommends Budget Study.
The board recommended the appoint
ment by President Hoover of a COM
mittee for the study and settlement of
fiscal relations between the Federal and
District Governments. A thorough
study of the budget was made and a
practical budget based on the amount
of money forthcoming was urged. The
board expressed itself in favor of the
continuance of the S1.70 tax rate on
real estate in the District. 1t was rep
resented at the national tax confer
ence by E. F. Colladay, w. L. Beale,
John T. Bardroff and Robert j. Cottrell.
The organization took an active part
in the Inauguration of President Hoover,
two of it's directors being named vice
chairmen of the inaugural committee.
The board Offices co-operated with the
committee in sending out all the inVi-
tations and the personnel OF the boards
membership committee was called on to
furnish many of the major aides to the
governors of States and other distin-
guished guests present.
The industrial interests committee
was instrumental in the securing OF the
freight rates. the increase proposed
being from S2.S4 to S3.13. The suspen-
sion of this increase over period OF
almost six months is estimated to have
saved the community approximately
$500, 900.
A special group. headed by John j.
Esch, former chairman OF the inter-
state Commerce Commission, was
formed and held hearings, at which
various coal and railroad interests were
heard The consumers OF coal, repre-
senting the large stores, hotels, build
ings and public utilities, were called in
and the board was urged to appear
before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission to bring an equitable adjust
ment of the entire freight rate situa-
ton.
The committee on municipal art held
its bi-annual competition for meri-
torious building designs and almost
500 buildings were submitted to spe-
cial jury of architects, who made eight
awards. From these eight structures
the Fire Arts Commission selected the
best, and highly complimented the
board for its work in endeavoring to
beautify the city.
The board continued its work fol