Evening star., 1934-06-03
N|GHTPARK|NGBAN|
HIT BY FEDERATION
Citizens Protest Move to
"Force" Horse Racing
on District.

DOQleS, tne feQeraClOn OF ClIlZenS
Associations last night registered
definite opposition to a proposed ban
on all-night parking of automobiles
as applied to residential sections OF
the District. The vote was 38 to 5.
The federation also adopted a sol
emn protest" against passage of the
pending Black bill to legalize horse
racing in the District and to permit
pari-mutuel betting, which. it held,
would seriously affect the welfare OF
the community.
This resolution, diplomatically
worded, was a drastic amendment to
one brought in by George E. Sullivan.
chairman of the Committee on Laws
and Legislation, which in strong
terms charged the Senate District
Committee, which held hearing on
the matter yesterday. with pre- ejudiced
and unfair treatment"
Debate Is Lively.
The federation session. the last of
this season, was marked by numerous
verbal encounters between members
over traffic matters the Community
Chest and the racing bill
In opposing the all-night parking
ban the federation approved portion
of a resolution proposed by the Stan
ton Park Citizens Association. The
body asserted the effect of such an
order would be to boost the rent for
available garages, hurt the sale of au-
tomobileS and force many persons TO
sell their cars because they couldnt t
afford to pay garage rent.
The Stanton Park Association urged
bar on daytime parking of cars IN
the congested downtown section, but
the federation decided it should not
urge adoption of restrictions which
are claimed to be harmful to the ouSl-
ness district. Both resolutions were
adopted on motion by Fred S. Walker,
chairman of the Committee on Safety.
Opposes Racing.
The resolution against the racing
bill as finally adopted, reads:
Whereas the pending proposed
legislation to legalize race horse gam
bling in the District of Columbia has
already passed the House OF Repre-
sentatives. Notwithstanding it was
opposed by the District Commls-
sioners. by the Federation of Citizens
Associations and by the overwhelming
sentiment of the community;
Now. therefore. be it resolved, by
the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions that it hereby solemnly protests
against the passage of this bill as one
seriously affecting the welfare OF the
community"
Stricken from the resolution we're
two paragraphs over which there was
long and heated debate. These con-
tanned protests that the Senate COM
mittee hearing yesterday was presided
over by a Senator from State
(which favorS race-horse gambling,
land the very same State from which
sthis proposed legislation emanated,
sand from which the suggested bene-
sficiaries of the proposed legislation
Shall"
Senator Hit.
) The original Sullivan resolution pro-
stested also that the only other mem
Der of the Senate District Committee
gactively participating in or even at
tending throughout the hearing was
"a Senator from another State
which favors and permits race-horSe
gambling.
/ Sullivan's committee protested against
f"such prejudiced and unfair treat
ment of the matter" All this por-
ton of the resolution, however. was
eliminated at the urgent suggestion
of William NICK. Clayton.
On motions by Walker. the fedora
ltion approved resolutions offered by
the Dahlgren Terrace Association
urging that the driving permit Of a
.motorist convicted of driving while
drunk be suspended for a period of
five years. and that the District in
evoke stringent enforcement of the rule
against double parking by commercial
Svehicles.
4 Asks Safety" Observance.
The federation approved a resolu-
tion by the Glover Park Association
I calling for public hearings on any
major traffic regulation change be-
fore adoption and a proposal by the
Columbia Heights Association for a
proclamation by the Commissioners
: of a 30-day period for observance as
/ Traffic Safety Month, during which
8 The pending bill to provide pen
! sions for needy blind persons. which
, has passed the House, was approved
in principle by the federation, on
: motion by Mrs. Clara Wright Smith,
chairman of the Committee on Pub
lie Welfare. The bill has been re-
ported out favorably by the Senate
District Committee.
Acting on a proposal by the Lin
coin Park Citizens Association, the
federation approved a plan to use
public school facilities for recrea-
tional centers.
Relief Probe Approved.
: The body approved the investiga-
,tion of the operation of the District
Emergency Relief Division. made by
the Office of Federal Relief Admins
traitor Harry L. Hopkins. and agreed
that the number of persons found en-
titled to relief had been reduced
since the study was made.
The federation definitely rejected a
proposal by the Dahlgren Terrace As
sociation that the Community Chest
be abolished and that relief be
handled by public agency, including
representatives of the District Com
missioners, the major trade bodies, the
Federation of Citizens Association
and the Federation of Civic Associa-
tions. Under this plan. funds would
be raised through adoption of an in
heritance tax. one-cent increase in
the gasoline tax and use of revenues
from the licensing and sale of alco-
holic beverages
The federation decided such a plan
would stifle individual giving to
charity" and heartily Endorsed the
principle Of collective solicitation and
distribution Of relief and welfare
funds, but urged that efforts be
made to improve the relation Of the
chest to the needy"