Evening star., 1934-09-18

his interrogation of Tucker.
What would you think of making
the libraries sustaining during the
emergency by charging q rental fee
for books?" he inquired.
1T would very largely hamper the
library service" Tucker answered.
Borrowing Mentioned.
what would you think of borrow
ing money to develop the Municipal
Center?" Hazen continued.
II have never been in favor of the
District going into debt" Tucker said,
"but we are facing an emergency and
that might be justified at this time" !"
j. w. Townsend of the Cathedral
Heights-Cleveland Park Citizens AS
sociation supported an item in the
school estimates for purchase Of a
site in the vicinity of Massachusetts,
avenue and Macomb street for a
junior high school to serve the terri
tory northwest of Wisconsin avenue.
A. j. Driscoll Of the Mid-City Citi-
zens' Association urged that all public
library and public school items be
given serious consideration and spe-
cifcally Endorsed a requested appro-
priation of $4,000 for community
center activities.
Lottery as Expedient."
The Commissioners also questioned
Driscoll concerning the lottery plan
after he finished his testimony. He
said the plan might be all right as a
temporary expedient, but he was op-
posed to an income tax or an in
crease in the real estate tax.
Driscon also declared he would not
oppose a 1-cent increase in the
gasoline tax or a weight tax on all
motor vehicles or a local sales tax.
Ray H. Everett, secretary of the
Social Hygiene Society, urged an in
crease of $4,000 or $4,000 in esti-
mates for treatment OF social diseases,
which he declared have increased in
Washington in the last year.
Need of adequate funds for recrea-
tional facilities for Washington's COL
ored population was stressed by
George w. Beasley, president of the
Federation of Civic Associations.
Extension of Howard avenue and
construction of a fence around the
Birney School was recommended by
Whitfield Mckinley of the Barry
Farms Citizens Association.
Hits Fiscal Policy.
Harry N. Stull of the Federation of
Citizens Associations led a parade OF
witnesses at yesterday afternoons
session and vehemently condemned
the existing fiscal relations policy be-
tween the Federal and District Gov
ernments
This business of allowing two OF
three members of the House to fix the
Federal contribution is utterly ab-
surd," he declared.
Stull added that the S5,700,000 al
lowed this year, minus repayment OF
70 per cent of certain P. w. A. allot-
ments, was totally inadequate
Specifically, Stull urged the Com
nlissioners to approve a s280,000 item
in the school estimates for replace
ment of the Dennison Vocational
School for Girls, and make provision
for greater community use of school
buildings. He declared the present
Dennison Building is unsuited for
vocational training and is located in
an undesirable community, and point
ed out that only II of the 173 school
buildings are now used for COM
munity purposes.
Tax Increase Discussed.
Stulrs condemnation of the fiscal
relations policy followed attempts
by the Commissioners to ascertain
whether residents of the District
would favor an increase in the tax
rate next year to meet some Of the
outstanding public Improvements that
could not be provided under the exist
ing Sl.50 levy.
He said the federation "does not
care for an increase but if necessary
he did not believe it would object to
a reasonable boost.
Kenneth P. Armstrong of the Bur
roughs Citizens Association also tolo
the federation he did not believe hi;
organization would oppose a tax in
crease if the Federal Government
would contribute its fair" share to-
ward municipal expenses.
An addition to the Taft Junior
High School and establishment Of
the long proposed combined truck and
fire engine house at Fourteenth street
and Rhode Island avenue northeast
were among the improvements rec
commended by Armstrong.
A large committee representing the
District Life Underwriters Associa.
ton asked the Commissioners to ap-
prove adequate funds for the District
Insurance Department. Mrs. j. w
Williams of the Monroe Parent
Teacher Association urged funds fol
an auditorium at the Monroe Scnool
improvement of the playground there
and full-time supervisor and as
sistant supervisor of colored play
grounds.
Randle Improvements.
Extensive improvements in thu
Randle Highlands section were rec.
ommended by A. H. Bacas of the
citizens association of that com.
munity.
Mrs. F. G. Mitchell, representing
the Florence Crittenton Home, asked
for an increase of $4,000 over the
$4,000 provided in the estimates to
pay for girls sent to that institution
An increase in the personnel of the
Police Department was sought by j
L. Gammell of the Federation OF
Citizens Associations. In response tc
questions by Commissioner Hazen, he
said he favored consolidation of the
Metropolitan and Park police forces
A. M. Holcombe of the Mount
Pleasant Citizens Association asked
adenlIate funds for sewers and in