Evening star., 1934-01-24
V0TEF0R DISTRICT
IS URGED BEFORE
D: c. SENATE BODY
Removal of Finances From
Federal Budget Bureau
Also Advocated.
CITIZENS TELL SENATORS
MOST PRESSING ISSUES
Many Of Speakers Plead for Bet
ter School Facilities and
Lower Rents.

IOE LIle people OF LIle DlSlTlCt, anu re-
moval of District finances from control
of the Federal Budget Bureau, were
among the broad legislative proposals
advocated by speakers at the open forum
meeting of the Senate District Commit
tee today.
More than 100 citizens filled the COM
mittee room, in response to the invita-
tion OF Senator King. Democrat. of
Utah, chairman, to the people of WASH
ington to tell the committee what they
regard as the most important District
problems needing consideration by Con-
gress.
An old age pension law was urged
by number of witnesses. Elimination
of the smoke nuisance throughout the
city and especially that caused by the
trash dump in Benning was stressed by
many Others.
Ask School Facilities.
Many speakers pleaded for better
school facilities.
It was while the need for more speed
in building the new Woodrow Wilson
High School in the Reno section was
being advocated that Mrs. Leslie Wright
urged the withdrawal of District esti-
mates from control of the Budget Bu-
reau.
UNLESS the Budget Bureau is told to
keep out of District matters We will
never get anywhere" Mrs. Wright de-
clared. There is no reason why Lewis
Douglas should sit up there as cZar
over the District of Columbia"
Mrs. Wright said six months had
been required to prepare plans for the
Woodrow Wilson High School, that the
specifications for bids have just been
signed and that the present prospect is
the building will hardly be ready for
occupancy in September, 1885.
Women Back Resolution.
The joint resolution proposing a con-
stitutional amendment that would en-
power Congress to grant national repre-
sentation to the people of the District
was one of several measures brought to
the committees attention by the Vote
less District of Columbia League of
Woman Voters represented at the meet
ing by Ernest Field Parkinson. This
organization also supported the old age
pension bill. the bill to define the duties
Of the PoliceWomen's Bureau as a per-
manent organization and bills relating
to adoptions and illigitimacy in the Dis
trict.
The first speaker was Herbert j.
Browne, who complained that rents are
too high in Washington, and advocated
a new system of real estate assessments
based on the so-called Pittsburgh plan,
which. he said, would make the rates
on buildings and other improvements
only half the rates on land. He argued
that placing the bulk of the valuation
on the land rather than on buildings
would reduce rent.
Outlines Legislation.
Mrs. Elizabeth T. Sullivan of the
Federation of Citizens Associations
mentioned the following as subjects
needing attention by Congress:
The old age pension plan, in the
Copeland BILL elimination of slum hous-
ing conditions. the King bill to regu-
late the practice of law, passage of
House resolution calling for a joint
committee to go over and codify the
general laws Of the District. She said
any legislation to broaden the powers
of the Commissioners should outline the
new powers in detail, rather than con-
fer on them broad general authority
over matters now handled by Congress.
DR.. Llewellyn Jordan of the Board
OF Trade urged a more equitable law to
govern assessments in connection with
condemnation of land by the city for
streets and other purposes. At his sug-
gestion Senator King promised to ap-
point subcommittee on the question.
A large delegation from Benning, in
Guiding Mr.. and Mrs. C. w. Sheriff and
r. j. Hickman, urged the committee
to eliminate the nuisance caused by
the open burning of trash on the Ben
ming dump. In this same connection,
DR.. Charles B. Campbell told the COM
mittee the District has new 100000
incinerator in the Southeast, which
was shut down by order Of Congress,
necessitating the use of dumps. He de-
clared this incinerator could be oper-
ated and more men put to work with
out increasing the expenses of the Dis
trict government.
Citizens Ask Underpass.
The Benning citizens also stressed
the need for better school facilities and
for an underpass for school children
and pedestrians to avoid crossing rail-
road tracks from Minnesota avenue to
kenilworth avenue.
w. J. Carey of the Southeast Citi-
yens' Association, urged new bridge
over the Anacostia River, at Pennsyl-
vania avenue southeast and suggested
it be called after President Roosevelt
or after Chairman King.
An appeal for legislation to aid needy
blind persons in the District was pre-
sented by B. Franklin Parker, who said
there were about 200 blind persons in
the District. who would need help un-
der such law.
Mrs. Belle Cutler Parker of the
School Committee of the West End
Citizens Association, described the
urgent need for a new elementary
school with a junior high school unit in
that area, after telling of the made
quacy Of the Grant School.
Appeals for Colored Pupils.
Edgar w. Horad of the Parent
Teacher Association of the Charles
Young School, told of the need for
better school facilities, particularly for
colored high school pupils in Kingman
Park and adjacent territory. He also
opposed any move to transfer the re-
corder of deeds Office to the jurisdiction
OF the District government, expressing
fear 1t would lead to the elimination
Of colored personnel in that office.
George Emerson urged large appro-
priation for the vocational rehabilita-
ton service in the District. Allen Fish
er suggested improvements in the zon-
ing law, including a requirement that
the commission indicate reasons for
granting or denying application.
Representative Hamilton Fish, jr.. OF
New York, deplored the smoke nuisance
in Washington and urged the starting
of an r-pollution inquiry.
James F. Duhamel of the Association
of Oldest Inhabitants of the District of
Columbia, and delegate to the FED
Grafton of Citizens Association, dis