Evening star., 1930-06-08
ALLEY LEGISLATION
|. IS HELD DOUBTFUL
IN THIS SESSION
Moves to Remedy Situation
Next Session Going
Forward.
PROPONENTS EXPECT
BUDGET BUREAU ADVICE
Members of Congress Appreciate
Evils of Hidden Communities"
as Crime Breeders.

While the nearing end of the session
and the remaining controversial meas
ures confronting Congress, together
with the adverse report by the Budget
Bureau and the Commissioners upon
the Bowman alley-closing bill, have
dimmed the hopes of proponents of
alley-closing legislation for action at
this session, renewed interest in one of
Washington's oldest problems indicates
that some definite steps will be taken
toward its solution next year.
This is the view Of those who have
been backing the Bowman alley-closing
bill, as well as members of Congress
The Commissioners adverse report on
the BILL according to John Ihlder, the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commissions advisor on housing prob
lens, indicates that the Commissioners
and those who drafted the measure are
not far apart. Both are agreed as to
the principle. and the changes that
would bring them into full agreement
with the details, it is believed, will not
be hard to make. AS for the Budget
Bureau, proponents of the measure
hope to obtain that agency's advice this
summer as to methods by which the
necessary financial arrangements could
be made to conform with the Presi-
, dents economy program.
Chairman Capper of the Senate Dis
trict committee is in accord with the
desire Of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission to correct
alley conditions. He said he thought
Lieut.. Col. U. S. Grant Sd, executive
ofdcer of the commission, has the
problem well in hand.
Senators Favor Solution.
Senator Jones. Republican, of WASH
angton, and Senator Copeland Dem
ocrat, of New York, both members of
the District committee, declared them
selves strongly in favor of reaching a
f1nal and definite solution of the in
habited alley problem, which has heen
considered by Congress from time to
time for many years.
Nothing better could be done for
the city of Washington than to get
rid Of these inhabited alleys declared
Senator Jones, who has been a leading
member of the District committee for
many years. II am heartily in favor
OF the movement and am glad to see
public attention directed to it again."
Senator Jones recalled the attention
which Congress gave the question in
legislation enacted just prior to the
World War. but he observed that ap-
parently that was not sufficient to
correct the problem entirely. He said
he had not had an opportunity to
study the bill recently prepared by the
Park and Planning Commission but
he presumed it would be necessary to
provide for the gradual elimination Of
these hidden communities in the in
terror Of city squares.
Senator Copeland is In favor of the
bill transmitted to Congress by the park
commission. Discussing the general
subject Of improving the alley condi-
tionS, the New Yorker said:
To my mind it Is the most import
ant question that has come before the
District committee in my period of serv-
Ice, and if we could find a solution of
this problem We would be doing some
thing worth while"
Copeland Not With Parties.
Senator Copeland said he regarded
the alley situation as mot only a local
disgrace but a national disgrace" The
New York Senator was prevented by
other senatorial business from joining
the legislators who went on q tour of
inspection of some of the most con-
spicuouS examples of hidden alley COM
munities yesterday, but he has person.
ally observed the alleys on previous
occasions.
without discussing the provisions Of
the pending bill, Senator Blaine, Repub-
1ican, of Wisconsin, another member Of
the District committee, expressed the be-
lief that from the standpoint Of health
and sanitation, some method ought to
be devised to improve the alley Situa-
ton"
The menace to children being reared
in the atmosphere of the alleys is the
principal evil of the problem, accord
ing to the mG<Ioers of the House Dis
trict committee who made tour of
some of these alleys last Thursday.
They have expressed their apprecia-
ton of the fact that the worst fea-
lures Of the alleyS-the crime and vice
that lurk there under cover of dark
ness-cannot be seen in a heralded
daylight visit. They have been i'm
spreSsed by unsanitary conditions and
believe they should be corrected.
Mrs. Mary T. Norton of New Jersey,
who for more than 20 years has taken
"a leading part in welfare work in her
shome State. was especially interested
IN the children's problem of these al
sleys and brought forcefully to the at
tention of her colleague-"What are
I'VE going to do about it?"
Mcleod Against Them.
Acting chairman Mcleod of the
House District Committee says that
a"such conditions have no place in
w CAPACSoSo AAS NOAA
sclusions regarding the alleys and his
determination to help wipe them out
as follows:
The So-caIled concealed communities
are undoubtedly undesirable and may
gbe fostering places for crime. They
SHOULD be eliminated for the best in
terests of the surrounding communities.
PThe reason that there may be similar
Nconditions existent in other large cities
Nof the country is no reason or excuse
Swhy they should be allowed to continue
Tin Washington, the Capital City OF the
Country, which prideS it@elf upon nav
ing ideal conditions, or at least Is so
regarded by the balance of the country.
"StepS should be taken at once TO
seliminate the unsanitary conditions In
these alley streets where babies and
6children are being reared amid such
unwholesome, corrupting surroundings
Sas personally witnessed on a recent
etour of these sections. These conditions,
stogether with the fact that several OF
the alley communities are absolutely
shut of by lack of access to abutting
streets or thoroughfares, make the
areas unapproachable places of con-
cealment, which in no way benefits the
citizenry of any city. Such rendez-
vous for crime as this has no place In
washington"
Representative Albert r. Hall, Repub-
lican, of Indiana, is another House Dis
trict committee member who feels 1t
his duty to correct the alley evil, eS-