Evening star., 1934-01-09
COMMUNITY VOTES
ON LIQUOR URGED.
Congress Heights Group
Hears Idea May Aid Fight
for Representation.

Proposing to use a local option prin-
ciple of liquor control as an entering
wedge" toward eventual suffrage in
the District Of Columbia, the Congress
Heights Citizens Association in regular
session at Congress Heights School last
night formally went on record in favor
of community elf-determination."
The subject aroused spirited debate
over some sections of the report OF q
special committee, which was finally
adopted with few dissenting votes.
The resolution was presented by a
special committee consisting of Rev
G. L. Connor, chairman; Mrs. Charles
McGogney, j. Louis Gelbman, Benson
Taylor and William Kelly.
1T is the unanimous opinion OF your
committee" said the approved report,
that the question of liquor control,
which carries with it grave RESPONSE
bilities of far-reaching effect, should
be subject to the will of the citizens OF
Congress Heights. The committee feels
that the will of the people should be
determined by local option vote, and
recommends that our association urge
upon the Commissioners the privilege
of community Differentiation IN the
matter of control of the sale OF In
toxicating liquors"
Declaring he was "teetotler," Ed
ward ]. Newcomb opposed the resolu-
ton because a dry vote might BRING IN
bootleggers and because he considered
the citizens association would not DE
representative enough OF the COM
munity to force its will on all the peo-
of q
phrase referring to the undesi.ablllty
of patients of st. EliZabeths Hospital
obtaining liquor in the community, was
deleted from the resolution.
Seen as Wedge"
Louis Gelbman defended the resolu-
ton, declaring that neither the COM
mites nor the association had any
right ito foist" its own individual ideas
on the whole community. A local option
vote, he thought, might be an enter.
ing wedge" in the drive for local
suffrage, for which the association long
had fought.
The association, he declared. should
have set up its own machinery Tor tax
ing a complete community vote on the
liquor question. If the pressure from
citizens associations could be made SUI
ficient on the Commissioners and Con-
gress, Goldman explained. there would
be possibility of getting larger
measure of local option.
II am about the only wet on the COM
mittee.'' he said, but We all felt the
resolution would give the community a
chance to express itself.
On motion of Charles Benner 1t was
decided to appeal to the Commissioners
orlo To
further weight for eventual suffrage,
send official notification of the aSsocla-
tons act to the Commissioners, to the
chairmen of the Senate and House Dis
trict Committees. and to the Suffrage
Committee of the Federation of Citizens
Associations.
Asks More Street Cars.
Complaint of a shortage of street car
service, due to about 1000 C. w. A. and
P. w. A. workers in the general vicinity,
secured authorization of the Transporta-
ton Committee to go to the Public
Utilities Commission for better service.
The Public Utilities Committee, head
ed by Harold G. Costello, reported pro-
gress on a movement to get place in
the community at which to pay gas,
electric light and telephone bills. but
no final action has been obtained. A
report will be made next meeting on
the subject.
Hearing reports that children were
attending school in the basement of
Congress Heights School, the associa-
ton asked it's School Committee to CO.
operate with similar committees from
other associations of the community to
work for the proposed Anacostia Junior
High School.
George B. Stevens, a trustee, was
authorized to convert 6l2 per cent
first mortgage bond for $500 belonging
to the association into another security
of like nature.
A proposal to amend the constitution
so that new members may be elected
by two-thirds majority at the same
meeting when they are proposed, went
over to the next meeting.
The association moved to support the
project for bridge across the Eastern
Branch at South Capitol street from
P. w. A. funds.
The Committee on Highways, Streets
and Sidewalks are authorized to follow
up on the requests made of the District
Commissioners for community develop
ment from c. w. A. funds.