Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-10
Fine Art Is Needed.


Fine Arts!
It's letter TO the National Bicentennial
Commission warns the cookies Of any
body's heart who has ID looked for
place to park his automobile, GU sought
for an out-of.own guest an unimpeded
view of the east front of the Capitol,
the Lincoln Memorial or the Ellipse or
CD tried to negotiate a pleasant trip
through the Mall around 4 50 o'clock of
a sunny afternoon. From the general
tone of the letter one might suspect
that some members of the Com
mission Of Fine Arts have had just such
a series of experiences and are deter
mined that something must be done,
conclusion in which all good citizens
will concur.
But what is to be done? And by
whom?
First, the Commission of Fine Arts
q Federal commission set up for the
general purpose Of protecting the ap-
pearance of the Federal City, addresses
its communication on the fragrant
''usurpation" of the streets and parks
by all-day and all-night oarkers to
the National Bicentennial Commission,
another Federal commission set up for
the purpose of arranging appropriate
functions and tributes to recall the
memory of George Washington on the
occasion of the wo-hundredth ami
verSary of his birth. In due time the
letter has reached the District Com
missioners, who, as Federal agents,
have general jurisdiction, RESPONSIBLE
only to the exclusive legislating au-
thority, Congress, over the streets Of
part of the National Capital. It is to
be presumed, however, that, as the
authority of the District Commissioners
does not extend to the national parks
located in the District of Columbia,
there must be q conference between
the Commissioners anC Col. u. s.
Grant, Sd, who Is the director Of the
once of Public Buildings and Public
Parks of the National Capital. But
Col Grants authority does not extend
to the United States Capitol, nor to
the Capitol grounds, one Of the loca-
lions esthetically effaced by the park
ing Of automobiles. So, Col' Grant
must obviously confer with David
Lynn, the architect of the Capitol, be-
fore he could take any step that would
be interpreted as discriminatory In the
interest of no-parking. But any such
general question as parking Tor the city
at large ought to be considered by the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, another Federal commits
sion set up to discuss all questions that
have to do with present and future
conditions in the National Capital.
And this body undoubtedly would refer
the matter to the Coz" mating Com
nnittee of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, on which
are represented the various bodies con-
trolling the destinies o: the Federal
City.
OF course, there is one element OF the
population of the United States that Is
vitality interested in the outcome OF the
parking controversy, although unrepre-
scented on any Of the boards or COM
missions that eventually will settle II.
This element is composed OF the work
ers and taxpayers of the District OF
Columbia. Although, as pointed out by
the Fine Arts Commission, "the streets
and avenues, the parks and reSerVa-
lions all belong to the people OF the
United States" and because of the park
ing of automobiles 1.-The people of the
United States are thus robbed Of their
heritage in their Capital" 1t remains
that the taxpayers of the District OF
Columbia are now taxed for the repair
and upkeep of the streets some ninety
per cent of the total cost thereof and a
somewhat smaller proportion, say, sew
enty-five per cent, for the purchase and
upkeep of the parks and reservations.
They therefore have some small RICH!
to the use of the streets and parks
even II it is exercised through the es-
thetically repugnant business Of park
ing automobiles. And the reason they
park their automobiles in the street:
and In the parks is because the auto
mobile remains the quickest and most
efacient instrument of transporting
them 10 and from their places of bust
ness.
A Congress, reserying the right OF ex'
elusive legislation over the Capital, ha:
set up as its agents numberless COM
missions ana boards. But Congress ano
all its boards and commissions ane
committees and Investigations thus IA
have failed TO provide for the unSightly
yet necessary, business of adequatel,
transporting hundreds of thousands o
workers to their Offices and to thel
homes.
All power to the Commission of Fin
Arts! II it can start the ball rollins
toward satisfactory solution OF tn
transportation and parking problems
the National Capital. it will be, indeed
a Commission Of Fine Arts, with tn
use of the adjective in all its connota
tions fully justified.
-S@oS-S----
The Navy has again weathered on
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