davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-10-17
WHOMo FIR5To| IN AMERICA /
 By Joseph Nathan Kane
 Author of Famous First Facts"

Who was the first U. s. senator with Indian blood?
 What was the first stats admitted to the Union?
 Where was the office build- ing mail chute first installed?
 Answers in next issue.
Evening star., 1934-05-20
MEMORIAL DAY PLANS
ANNOUNCED BY CITIZENS

President Charles W. Ray of the
Brightwood Citizens Association an
nounces that the annual Memorial
Day exercises will be held May 80
at $3.50 pm, at battle-ground Ma
tional Cemetery, under auspices Of the
Grand Army of the Republic, the
Brightwood Citizens Association and
Fort Stevens Post, No. 80. Of the Dis
trict Department of the American
Legion.
Department Comdr. John M. Kline
of the Grand Army of the Republic
will be the presiding officer, with
John Clagett Proctor, vice chairman
of the committee. and Post Comdr.
Leo ]. Reel, representing Fort Stevens
Post. The hour was set later this
year in order to give those attending
the exercises at Arlington National
Cemetery ample time to reach the
Battle Ground Cemetery in Bright
wood.
The June meeting of the associa-
ton will be held at the suburban
estate of President and Mrs. Charles
w. Ray at Sandy Spring, Md, &C
cording to announcement. A motor
caravan will leave the Brightwood
Bank Building at pm. Friday,
June 8. At the conclusion of the
business session, which will start at
8 o'clock on the lawn, the members
will be entertained by Mrs. Ray and
her friends.
Evening star., 1934-05-20
HILLCREST CITIZENS
RAISING ORGAN FUND
Sum of So, 500 Must Be Obtained
by Coming Winter
Months.

The Hillcrest Citizens Association
is raising funds for the purchase of
an organ TO be placed in the pro-
jected new building of the East Wash
ington Heights Baptist Church, ground
for which was broken May 10.
This action is being taken by the
association to express its appreciation
for having been allowed to hold its
meetings in the church'S present
building. The new edifice is expected
TO be completed in about six months.
A special committee consisting of
H. r. Towsend, Rev. Glenn B. Faucet
and Mrs. r. Malth, reported $50 had
been received SO far and that several
more contributions were expected in
the near future.
The organ, according to Rev. Glenn
B. Faucet. will cost about So, 500 and
will be one OF the best that can be
had in the small organ class.
Various activities will be called by
the citizens association in an endeavor
to raise further funds for the pur-
chasing of the organ BY the time
the new building is finished the fund
is expected to be complete.
The new structure is to be built ad-
jacent to the old one at Branch and
Alabama avenues southeast, and will
be designed in the spirit of the early
Virginia Colonial, suitable to the loca-
ton and most expressive of the sin
cerity and simplicity of the church
and its practices.
The building will be known as 1.-The
Little White Church on the Hill," and
will cost approximately $4,000.
Evening star., 1934-05-20
Status of Bills
District of Columbia Leg
islation of Civic Interest
Is Reviewed.

The congressional status of District
bills of interest to Washington cit
iZens' associations is as follows:
National Representation for District
of Columbia IS. j. R. 9; H. J. r. so:
House, in Judiciary Committee. SEN
ate, in Judiciary Committee.
Authorizing Commissioners to bor-
row $40 100000 of P. w. A. funds for
public improvements IS. 3404:
House, on calendar. Senate. passed.
Old Age Pensions III. r. 4548):
House, Norton bill with amendments,
on calendar. Senate, on calendar.
Alley Clearance or R. 1928; S.
1890: House, on calendar. Senate,
passed at last session Congress.
Legislation on Horse Racing (H. r.
79O6): House, passed. Senate, in Dis
trict Committee.
Gasoline Tax increase from 2 to 4
Cents a Gallon CH. r. 1850: House.
in District Committee. Senate, unin-
troduced.
Proposed Amendments to Liquor
Control Act CH. R. 8519: H. r. 8525;
H. R. 8568): House, passed. Senate,
on calendar.
Broadening of General Powers of
the Commissioners Oh. R. 56l0):
House, in District Committee. Senate,
on calendar.
Strengthening Of Gambling Laws
(S 2985): House, in District Com
mittee. Senate, passed.
Widening of Thirteenth street Oh.
r. 8571; S. 3258): House, in District
Committee. Senate, in District Com
mittee.
Providing for Financial Response
bility of Owners and Operators of
Motor Vehicles Oh. r. 1646): House,
on calendar. Senate, in District Com
mittee.
Requiring Financial Responsibility
for Drivers of Public Vehicles (H. r.
SOAP: s. 3032): House, on calendar.
Senate on calendar.
Abolishing the ONCE Of Engineer
Commissioner and Substituting Civil
ian Commissioner Is. 3206): House,
unintroduced. Senate, in District
Committee.
Transferring Powers Of Board of
Public Welfare to Commissioners Is.
3289: House, on calendar. Senate,
passed.
Amending District Usury Law Is.
$50: Senate, passed, House, in Dis
trict Committee.
Authorizing Erection Of Stadium
at the East End of East Capitol Street
Oh. r. 1851; S. 3479l: House, In Dis
trict Committee. Senate, in District
COMMITTEES.
Evening star., 1934-05-20
.CheuyChaseGroup
Gets Ne,U Members
By Zoning Efforts

The Chevy Chase Citizens Asso-
citation owes the .ddition of three
names to its rolls to the manner in
which it tool up the cudgels in be-
half of a group of residents in the
neighborhood.
The three men attended the meet
ing of the association last Wednesday
night to present for the groups ac-
ton petition asking. the Zoning
Commission to reconsider its action
in rezoning lot on Legation street.
The lot had been classified as for
residential, detached homes only, up
until 1929, when it was reZoned so
that apartment construction would be
permissible. The citizens told the
association that. when the reZoning
was done, petition circulated had
been signed by persons living three
blocks away, but those who resided
close to the lot, and would be most
affected by any apartment construc-
tion, knew nothing of the zoning
hearing.
The Chevy Chase group voted to
concur with the petition, and ask
the Zoning Commission to reconsider
the action, and by their willingness
to act in behalf Of non-member resi-
dents of the neighborhood gained the
three new members.
In all, 80 new members were ad-
mitted at the meeting.
Evening star., 1934-05-20
DRIVE NETS 1,133
NEW MEMBERS
Thirty-fiVe Associations Still
Delinquent in Making
Reports.
sociation no end of trouble.
Some time ago members of

From compilations made thus far,
1,l33 new members were obtained in
the recent civic membership drive of
the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions. This includes figures as re-
ported by 27 of 81 organizations COM
peting in the District. Arlington
County, Va, and Montgomery Coun-
ty, Md.
The announcement was made
Thursday night by A. j. Driscoll,
chairman Of the drive, at a meeting
of his committee held in Conmis-
sioner Hazen's Office at the District
Building
Mr.. Driscoll, along with four of
the committee on the drive, decided
to withhold a tabulated report on the
number of members obtained by each
association.
This Is because Of the fact that
less than half of the associations had
been heard from and would
rather not have this published until
all or the majority Of the associations
have sent in their reports" Mr.. Dris-
coll said.
The other four members Of the
committee agreed with Mr.. Driscoll
that any tabulated reports should be
withheld until delinquent associations
have reported. Those at the meeting
included: A. H. Gregory, treasurer of
the committee; Mrs Elizabeth T. Sui
livan, Harry N. Stuu and John H.
CoXhead.
The committee has decided to con-
tinue to function until all reports are
in from the remaining associations.
Evening star., 1934-05-20
NEW TAK0MA LEADER
OF PROMINENT FAMILY
Father of Mrs. M. L. White Was
Friend of Andrew Carnegie
When in Scotland.

The election of Mrs. Mary Lamond
White as president of the Takoma
Park Citizens Association last week
set precedent in the history of the
association, since it was the first time
a woman had ever been elected.
Mrs. Alcena Lamond, prominent in
Eastern Star circles and who has
served as second vice president of the
association for several years past, was
reelected for another term. She is the
mother of Mrs. White. Mrs. White is
the daughter Of the late Angus La
mond, after whom the Lamond Sta
ton on the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road, a short distance south of Ia
kcma Park, was named. He was an
active worker in the early days of the
association and through his long
standing friendship with Andrew Car
negie, was instrumental in securing
the library in Takoma Park. Mr.. La
mond's estate in Scotland .ldjoined
that of Mr.. Carnegie, and wien both
came to America their friendship con-
tinued on this side of the Atlantic.
Evening star., 1934-05-20
PLANS BEING ARRANGED
FOR SOUTHWEST DANCE

The Southwest Washington Citizens
Association is sponsoring a dance to
be held on June Is at the Neighbor-
hood House, 470 N street southwest.
Proceeds of the dance will be turned
over to the benefit funds of the Boys
Club of Washington, Third and c
streets, and the Neighborhood House.
Capt jeremiah Sullivan of the
fourth precinct is chairman of the
committee on arrangements. A large
part of the regular meeting of the
association was devoted to formula
ton of plans for this event last week,
the decision being reached to have
card playing and bingo games along
with the dance. j. M. Schaffer, presi-
dent of the association, announced
meeting of the Arrangements Com
mittee would be held soon for fur
ther discussion of plans for the frolic.
Evening star., 1934-05-20
PLANS INDEFINITE
FOR TAKOMAFETE
Citizens See Enthusiasm
Tagging, but League
Offers Support.

In the event a decision is reached
to hold a Fourth of July community
celebration as has been the custom
for many years past, the Community
League of Takoma Park will join in
the movement.
At the meeting of the Takoma Park
Citizens Association last week Ches-
ter c. Waters, representing the as
sociation, conferred with several of
those who had been prominently
identified with the community cele-
brations in the past and reported to
the association that enthusiasm was
lacking at the present time. Members
of his committee discussed the situa-
ton and following his report the as
Sociation voted not to hold a cele-
bration this year.
There is a possibility the matter
will be taken up later and efforts
made to secure the cooperation OF
the various civic organizations in Ia
koma Park. In this event the Com
munity League will be represented
by S. E. Blassingham, who has been
reelected president for another year,
and who was instructed by resolution
to assist in the promotion of this
community event.
In former years it has been Gus
tomary to hold a parade at $50 am.
on the Fourth, starting on the Mary
land side of Takoma Park and ex-
tending through the business sec
tion of the town, concluding at the
Takoma Public School grounds on
Piney Branch road. This was usually
followed by patriotic exercises on the
school grounds and an athletic pro-
gram on the Whitaker Street Play
grounds, with a fireworks display on
the Maryland side at night.
President Wallace C. Magathan, in
this connection, has issued an appeal
to the citizens of the town to mot
let this tradition of community cele-
bration die. In the past it has been
well managed and popular in this
community as we'll as in nearby COM
munities. The Executive Committee
plans to cooperate with Chairman
Waters in so far as possible and be-
speaks your cooperation in contrib
uting as~well as assisting otherwise
to make it a success"
Evening star., 1934-05-20
Citizens FORUM
TO DRAW UP OWN
HOME-RU[E PLAN
B. w. Payne to Head Group
Assigned to Task During
Summer.

Asserting residents Of the District
are treated by Congress as though
they were not citizens except where
laws impose duties and levy taxes, and
that they are denied rights and privi-
leges enjoyed elsewhere throughout
the United States, the Citizens Forum
of Columbia Heights adopted a re-
port at its meeting last week favoring
a home rule plan for the District.
The report. submitted by Burd w.
Payne, chairman of special COM
mittee, has taken into consideration a
plan of A. B. Carly of the Columbia
Heights Citizens Associations execu-
tive committee. suggesting general
council of Is members-five United
States Senators, five members of the
House and five citizens elected one
each from four sections of the Dis
trict and one representative at large.
This form of council, in the opinion
of the Forum Committee, would in
effect be nothing more than change
in the personnel of control.
Payne Heads Committee.
A specific home rule plan will be
drawn up by committee Of nine,
headed by Mr.. Payne and reported
at the Forums next meeting, the third
Tuesday in September.
National representation, as well as
some form of local government that
is home rule or citizens in control Of
their own local affairs, is opposed by
certain selfish and self-appointed in
terests," the report charged.
The report further pointed out that
the District is not even Territory"
of the United States, and if it were
such would be entitled at least to a
delegate without vote in the House.
Under the present system, the report
continued, the people of the District
are not on a par with the people OF
Puerto Rico, Alaska. the Philippines
or Hawaii, each of which now has q
delegate sitting in the House.
Will Prepare Own Plan.
Such Justice" the report said,
places District residents as little less
than subjects to the other people Of
the country.
Mr.. Payne and his committee, not
thoroughly in accord with the plan
submitted to the Columbia Heights
Citizens Association, proposed. how
ever, to take it under consideration.
and after an investigation draw up its
own "home rule" plan. Mr.. Payne
said any present ideas are too imma-
ture to be disclosed. Announcement
of the committees work will be made
as the plan is formulated, he said.
Evening star., 1934-05-20
Outing Plans Progress.

With all but so reservations pur-
chased, the Merchants and Manufac-
turers' Associations Booster Trip Com
mittee is devoting its efforts toward
program and itinerary plans for this
annual outing. which will be held the
week end of June %, %, "a and 25.
The group will leave aboard the S.
S. Southland Friday, June %, at $50
pm, cruising down the Potomac to
Old Point Comfort, which will be
reached Saturday morning. After a
morning of golfing at the Hampton
course, the trip will be resumed, tax
ing in Newport News and Norfolk,
where inspections of naval vessels are
scheduled.
Saturday afternoon a cruise will be
made up the Chesapeake Bay, return
ing to Annapolis Sunday morning to
enable those who desire to do so to
attend church. After a cruise on the
bay Sunday afternoon, the boat will
return to the Capital early Monday.
Dr. M G. Gibbs is chairman of the
Booster Committee, with Lewis Payne
as vice chairman.
With more than half of its 100000
ouestionnaireS returned, the Washing
ton Board of Trade this week bore
down" on tagging replies in its COM
prehensive survey of transportation in
the Capital. which it is undertaking
in collaboration with the Public Utili-
ties Commission and the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission.
In a communication to all business
houses and agencies which acted as
'key units" in distributing the ques-
ton cards the board urged that all
cards not yet filed be checked up on
and submitted Immediately if possible.
The survey is intended to provide
the basis for traffic Improvements in
the Capital.
Evening star., 1934-05-20
SOUTHWEST GETS
ADDITIONAL LAND
FORGARDENPL0TS
Fifty-nine Projects Being
Worked in Section, Citi-
zens Learn.

More garden plots will be placed at
the disposal of needy families in the
southwest section, according to DR..
Henry w. Cattell, chairman of the
Subsistence Gardens Committee of the
Southwest Citizens Association.
At present, DR.. Cattell said in a
report submitted by j. M. Schaffer,
president of the organization, a few
days ago, SO garden plots are being
worked by needy residents of the
southwest section.
Plans Are Described.
The southwest gardens are located
on the east side of First street south
west. on the property of the Griffith
Consumers Coal Co. There are Al
gardens for colored persons and 18
for white persons. The additional
gardens will be turned over to white
persons, DR.. Cattell said
r. l.. King, who is handling the
gardens project for Leroy A. Halbert,
head of the Emergency Relief Divi-
sion. addressed the last meeting of
the association, detailing the plans
being followed in carrying out the
program. approximately 500 families
were aided by the project last year,
King said, and this year the number
is expected to be doubled. A few
plots still are available, he added.
Mrs. Brooke Thanked.
DR.. Cattell. in his report, expressed
appreciation to King. Mrs. Frederick
H. Brooke, chairman of the Advisory
Committee on Subsistence Gardens,
and c. H. st. John of the coal COM
pany and the contracting firm of
Potts g. Callahan.
Thanks to Mr.. King. Mrs. Brooke,
Mr.. st. John, Potts g. Callahan and
several Others" DR.. Cattell said, gar
denS have been plowed and allotted
and seeds and plants have been dis
tributed."
A. j. Olmsted and Mrs. Louise N
Frazier are members of the commit
tee headed by Dr. Cattell. Mrs.
Brooke's committee is composed of
representatives of the Emergency Re-
lief Division, the District Work Plan
ming Committee and the Council of
Social Agencies.
Evening star., 1934-05-20
d. c. Federal Suffrage
League Oreanized.

At THE meeting of the Citizens
Joint Committee on National
Representation for the District of
Columbia on Monday there was
formed the District of Columbia
Federal Suffrage League, which is
to be the enthusia sm- producing
and Embarrassing auxiliary of that
committee, which with practical
unanimity represents organized
civic Washington. The new organ
ization received a double indorse-
ment at the Chamber of Commerce
meeting by the adoption of rec
ommendation in the report of
President Miller that all members
Immediately enroll in this dollar
a-year league. Immediately after
the address of the Postmaster Cen
eral, Thomas P. Littlepage, chair
man of the chambers Committee
on National Representation, was
recognized, and he offered con-
gratulory resolutions, which in
cluded both authority and instruc-
tions to his committee to proceed
to enroll all members of the cham
ber and all other citizens possible.
The board of directors of the
league is being selected, and a
campaign organization is to be set
up Immediately for the propagation
of the organization. The general
plan is to have the constituent
organizations of the Citizens Joint
Committee undertake the enroll
ment of their own membership
prior to any general canvass being
undertaken. It is the expressed
desire of the committee to give
every one an opportunity to par
ticipate in the campaign to obtain
for the Washingtonian voting rep
resentation in the Senate, House
of Representatives and the elec-
toral college and the same access
to the courts as enjoyed by a citi-
zen of a State.
The league has the hearty in
dorsement Of President Fleming
of the Board of Trade and Presi-
cent Yaden of the Federation OF
Citizens Associations has already
enrolled as a member. The Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations at
its meeting on May unanimously
indorsed the plan for the league,
which was prior to its being re-
ported to the joint committee.
It was interesting that the
Chamber of Commerce should have
adopted the indorsing resolutions
right after Mr. Farley had placed
the Washingtonians on the grand
stand watching the governmental
procession. It appeared to be evi-
Gent the Chamber of Commerce
desired to march in the grand
parade.
Evening star., 1934-05-20
Postmaster General Farley
Addresses Chamber of Commerce.
THE Chamber of Commerce was

honored by having as its prin-
cipal speaker on Wednesday eve
ming the Postmaster General. Mr..
Farley paid eloquent tribute to the
beauties of the National Capital
and to the work which the cham
ber is doing for the, city. He laid
particular stress upon the many
advantages accruing from resi-
dence here. Those present were
particularly impressed with two
passages from the address. The
first was:
You occupy great vantage
point. Really you are sitting in
the grandstand while the process
sion of Presidents, Congresses, cab
met officers and the rest of Gov
ernment marches by. We come
here, play our part and go away.
Yours is the continuing body,
charged with watching over the
interests of the Capital City, which
is the pride of the whole United
States"
This enforced requirement Of
District citizens simply to sit on
the side lines and watch the pro-
cession pass by Is one of the very
things against which the Cham
Der of Commerce and all other
bodies have been protesting. There
appeared to be no more satisfac-
ton to those present that Mr.. Far
ley honored the District with
seats on the grandstand than if
they had simply occupied their
accustomed place on the curbstone.
The other passage of particular
interest follows: Occasionally"
said Mr.. Farley, "of course,
have heard echoes of a complaint
that the vast expanse Of Govern
ment real estate places an undue
tax burden on private property. I
have not the inclination to dis
cuss with you what should be the
logical amount contributed by the
Government to the maintenance Of
the District. 1t is the most nat
ural thing in the world that WASH
ingtonianS should feel that the
Government is not paying its fair
share. That is typical of every
political subdivision in the coun-
try. We are all of us inclined
to pay more attention to our dis
advantages than to our advan-
tages. My only idea in MENTION
ing this subject is to point out
that perhaps your griefs are not
as intense as you think they are
when you match them up with
civic joys"
While there was no disposition
to find fault with the Postmaster
General for not dipping into the
intricacies of discussion of equi-
table fiscal relations between the
United States and the District, still
many were disappointed that there
was no differentiation between the
Nations Capital and every politi-
cal subdivision of the country"
Evening star., 1934-05-20
Excess Condemnation Bill
Reported to the Senate.

THE bill to provide for acquisi-
l ton of land in the District
in excess of that required for pub
lie projects and Improvements and
for other purposes has been favor
ably reported to the Senate by the
District Committee and is now
among a number of other bills on
the Senate calendar. The COM
mittee report shows grateful ap-
probation of the extensive work
done in connection with this bill
by DR.. Llewellyn Jordan of the
Law Committee of the Board Of
Trade
The bill has the approval Of the
Commissioners of the District. the
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, Fine Arts Com
mission and Chamber of Commerce.
In his report on this measure
Chairman Delano states in con-
clusion. EXCESS condemnation, as
provided in this bill, would in
many cases be to the best interest
both of the agencies acquiring the
land and the owners of the land"
The Commissioners point out this
bill will provide a procedure very
similar to that employed in the
original laying out of the City of
Washington. In the development
of the original city there were no
irregular shaped parcels o. ragged
pieces of land left in the laying
out of streets and parks.