The Washington times., 1934-09-29
Still Bickerine
Stop It and Build

Ices upon speeding up the sewage disposal plant for the
District for which he has allotted eight million dollars
is highly commendable
TT SEEMS, HOWEVER, THAT THE ADMINS
TRAITORS DESIRE FOR RAPID ACTION COMES A
LITTLE TARDILY AND ALSO THAT 1T COMES
WITH RATHER POOR GRACE FROM THE HEAD OF
THE ORGANIZATION WHICH TIED UP THE PRO
GRAM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WHILE PIDDLING
OVER NoNEssENTIAL DETAILS.
The letter which Mr. Ickes has sent to the District
Commissioners cannot be taken anything but an un-
Justified rebue to the local authorities He demands the
submission of detailed plans for the huge project before
January l. plans for beginning construction this winter
and assurances that the work will be completed ny the
fall of 1886. -
In sharp words the Administrator declares that unless
these conditions are complied with he will not approve
the loan for construction
Tho entire tone of the Administrators letter is unfor-
innate in that implies that District officials are noong
up the project ,:..,-4 -; id
unfortunately the Administrator has persstenty tried
- create the impression that the District OF columbia
has een ''trying put something over on the PUBIC
works Administration. He has talked OF being burned
nv the District on prior loans has complained tnaE tne
% x mt able to turn over bonds other paper to Sc
ra the loans which Congress has authorized the ad-
ministration to make and the District to receive
rverv citizen of the District and every of its off,
Gals deepv regrets this attitude the part OF Admin
istrator 1ckes.
THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING UNDERMINED
ABOUT THE EFFORT OF THE NATIONAL Capital
TO RECEIVE REASONABLY FAIR TREATMENI
FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATIONS
There has been distinct effort the part of the local
government to comply with all requests and demands OF
A oSnio% IN c0nn
loans and in connection with those pending.
There has been delay in executing the final contract on
the sewage disposal plant but that delay has been &C.
counted for as much in the offices OF the
90 in the offices at the District Building.
PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATOR CKES SHOULD
REALIZE THAT THE DISTRICT GOVERNMENT IS
NOT AN AUTONOMOUS UNIT. 1T CANNOT PRO
cEED INDEPENDENTLY TO MAKE OR TO CARRY
OUT ANY AGREEMENT WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS
ADMINISTRATION OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.
These matters are all bound up with the Federal Gov
eminent which controls the city government and which
manipulates its finances
The District Commissioners will it almost goes without
saving endeavor to comply with every request demand
made by Mr.. Ickes in his recent letter.
Certainly they wish to expedite the construction OF the
sewage disposal plant not only because the plant neces
arv but they desire to place men at work as soon
as possible.
Mr. Ickes naturally would not want the District gov
eminent to start construction before it had carefully
mapped out the necessary plans and was ready to pro-
coed with the work on an efficient basis.
SINCE BOTH MR.. ICKES AND THE COMMISSION
Frs SEEM TO BE SEEKING THE SAME END
SPEEDY CONSTRUCTION AND CREATION OF OP-
poRTUNITIEs FOR EMPLoYMENT-THERE IS
NOTHING TO BE GAINED BY THEIR CRITIC1sING
EACH OTHER OR BY FAILURE OF EITHER TO AT
TRIBUTE ANYTHING BUT A GENUINE DESIRE TO
COOPERATE WITH THE OTHER.
Our international Relations
The Fewer the Better
It seems that most American school textbooks espe
cay in history courses shot through and through
with national spirit
Prof Bessie Louise Pierce Of the University of Chicago
who found this out by examining 400 schoolbooks is
panied rather than pleased She thinks the books don't
give adequate information about international relations
We delighted by the national spritif it's really
thereof our schoobooks but agree that children
shoud know more about international relatonsas they