Evening star., 1934-04-08
federation BACKS
DRUGS REGULATION
Citizens Organization Urged
to Hold Primaries for
Party Delegates.

The Federation of Citizens Asso.
Citations at a meeting in the District
Building last night considered high
way and sewage disposal problems,
indorsed the Copeland bill regulating
tne manufacture and advertising OF
food, drug and cosmetic products, and
considered several committee reports
on legislation affecting the District
A noval departure for activities OF
citizens associations, suggested by A.
j. Driscoll, president of the Midcity
Citizens Association, was referred for
study to the Committees on National
Representation and Local Suffrage.
He suggested that the citizens as
sociationS take over the task OF con-
ducting primaries for the selection OF
District delegates to the national con-
ventions of the two major political
parties Mr. Driscon read prepared
address which said in part: Would 1t
not be in the interests of better citl-
zenship if they (the citizens associa-
tions) were to take over the primaries
of the political parties
Ignored by Parties.
1.-THE two major political parties
know our method of selecting dele
gates. We have no standing before
these political leaders when it comes
to the appointment of officers in the
District. Frequently we have foisted
upon us men and women who are
appointed to pay political debts in
the States which have not the pop
ulation we have. Numerous
cases of carpet-bagging could be cited
which would be impossible if the cit
izenS were to present united front
in the matter of primaries; not leav-
ing them to clique for the manip-
ulation Of matters to their own ends.
THE machinery for the citizens
conducting their own primaries Is al
most ready. Each association could
have charge of the primary in its own
territory and the Federation could act
as the central body. Each association
could designate the time and place of
voting. When the delegates arrive
at the convention, the leaders will
know that they are truly represent
atives of the people of Washington
and not the personal representatives
of clique"
Unanimous for Bill.
The vote in favor Of the Copeland
bill was unanimous, after its terms
had been explained by DR.. c. B.
Campbell, chairman of the Fedora
tion's Committee on Public Health,
and by Mrs Harvey B. Wiley. Several
delegates spoke in favor Of it.
DR.. Campbell said one well known
toothpaste is rank poison, that an eye
lash cosmetic now sold causes blind
ness, and that some coal tar dyes
used in clothes cause illness to their
wearerS.
The federation spent most of its
time in a discussion Of the slx-year
plan of highway improvements, which
was finally adopted with amendments.
The plan calls for the construction
of bridge over the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad tracks in the line OF Eastern
avenue in 1885 and one over the same
tracks in the line of Franklin street
northeast in 1887 A group of dele
gates from the territory surrounding
the Franklin Street Bridge obtained
an amendment to move up that bridge
to the 1885 estimates. They said
children going to the Crosby Noyes
School now must cross the tracks at
grade, or else make long detours to
get to the school.
Change Bridge.
Another amendment adopted was
to strike out reference to a bridge
over the Anacostia in the line OF
Massachusetts avenue and substitute
a bridge in the line Of East Capitol
street.
Another report adopted. asked fol
the appropriation of $4,000 per an
mum for preliminary plans for bridges
including the Michigan avenue via
duct.
Another report asked prompt ac-
ton by Congress authorizing con-
struction of a sewage disposal plant
and asking the Commissioners to press
for an allotment of funds from the
Public Works Administration. The
plant would cost S8000,000, the re-
port said.
The federation opposed a bill ap-
propriating 100000 for refundlng
Borland law assessments not covered
by the reassessment under the amend
ment to the Borland law.
The federation proposed the time
limitation on claims for refunds. set
by the act of February II, 1929, be
extended until December 81, 1884, for
all taxpayers, and that the refunds be
made payable only to the taxpayers,
or to their legal representatives in the
event of death or bankruptcy.
A Committee on Constitutional
Amendments reported proposal to
have the secretary of the federation
selected by the president, with the
concurrence of the Executive Com
mittee, and to abolish the present
post Of corresponding secretary.
Another amendment was proposed
by George E. Sullivan, which would
in future bar from membership in
the federation any professional, oc-
cupational or business organization
This was referred to a committee.
r. L. King of the District Emer.
gency Relief Division asked the CO.
operation of neighborhood citizens
associations in furnishing garden tools
and vacant lands to persons who
wished to cultivate gardens.
The federation favored bill te
require BARRIERS to submit themselves
for medical examinations before they
are allowed to ply their trade.