davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1935-12-29
SOUTHEAST PLANS
MEMBER DRIVE.
Maio Launches Campaign
for 1000 Additional Citi-
zens in Associations.

Citizens associations Of the south
east will inagurate 0 membership
campaign for the next three months,
with q goal Of 1000 new members,
William A. Maio, chairman, Southeast
Council Of Citizens Associations, an
nounced yesterday.
In letters to the presidents Of all
the associations which are members
of the council, Maio yesterday pointed
out advantages in large membership
and announced q prize to be offered
the citizens association which gains
the largest per cent increase over re-
spective memberships as Of December
81 of this year. The drive will begin
January ] and continue through
March.
The prize will be awarded by the
Southeast Council and consists Of
silver loving cup to the winning asso-
citation.
In an effort to start activity on the
drive, Maio, who Is president Of the
Southeast Citizens Association, an.
nounced there will be o special meet
ing Of the Membership Committee and
the Executive Committee tomorrow
night at his home, 1918 Pennsylvania
avenue southeast, at 8 o'clock.
This meeting will inaugurate the
citizens associations local drive for
new members, Maio stated. The
guest speaker at this special meeting
will be Peoples Counsel william A.
Roberts. The purpose Of the meeting
will be to have each member Of both
committees bring in at least 10 new
members during the campaign. Mrs.
A. M. Minnix Is chairman Of the
Membership Committee and Maio
heads the executive body.
The groups which were asked by
Maio to participate In the drive are
the following citizens associations:
Anacostia, Congress Heights, WASH
ington Highlands. Hillcrest, Summit
Park, East Washington Heights, Ran
die Highlands, North Randle Commu-
nifty, Lincoln Park and Southeast.
Following action at It's last meeting,
the association will be represented to-
morrow afternoon before the Board
Of Public Welfare in support Of the
appointment of Col. william Peak to
the position of general superintendent
Of penal institutions.
On this special committee the fol-
lowing are serving: Joseph l.. Gammel,
chairman, Of Lincoln Park; Edward
Newcomb Of Congress Heights and
Vernis Absher Of Southeast,
Evening star., 1935-12-29
P. E. 0. Reception.

The officers Of the District Of Co
lumbit State Chapter, p. Z. o.. win be
at home to all members Of the organ
ization at the home Of Mrs. H. L. Un-
derwood, 2S0O Ontario road, January
s, from 4 to o'clock. Members Of
washington chapters, unaffiliated and
visiting members are invited.
Evening star., 1935-12-29
IMPROVED TRANSIT
SERVICE ORDERED
Utility Body Limits Bus, Car
Loadings-Adopts Taxi,
Gas Rates Plans.

Unprecedented activity marked pub
Lie utility regulation in the District
during the past year as a flood OF
major problems swept into the Pub
lie Utilities Commission for investiga-
ton or action.
Decisions affecting virtually every
Washington resident as we'll as the
utility concerns themselves were reach
ed by the commission as they acted
on the following problems: Mass
transportation, valuation and rates OF
the gas companies, uniform fares for
taxicabs, revised telephone charges,
investigation Of the rate of return of
the power company and numerous
questions of stock ownership in the
gas companies and the Washington
Railway g. Electric Co.
Problems of improvement of the bus
and rail services of the Capital Transit
Co. were constantly before the COM
mission throughout the year. A series
of orders flowed from the commission
for rerouting and reconstruction and
revision of tracks and, as the year
ended the commission was studying a
mass of testimony taken at public
hearings into complaints against the
company. This investigation is to be
concluded early in January when
further orders are expected to be Is
sued to correct deficiencies.
Recruiting Orders Issued.
When the year opened the commits
sion was planning general order for
rerouting bus and street car lines to
bring into effect the promised bene-
fits from merger of the Washington
Railway g. Electric and Capital Trac-
ton Cos. The first major step in
the year was issuance of this order
which affected street car and bus
riders ia virtually all sections Of the
District.
The commission had ordered many
changes In tracks to make rerouting
possible and when the company was
slow In achieving track reconstruction
the commission demanded more
prompt action and rearranged work
schedules in the hope of accomplishing
greater speed.
changes which were effected during
the year were: Substitution of buses
for the Connecticut avenue and the
Congress Heights-Anacostia railway
lines; institution of an express rush
hour bus line from Takoma to down.
town Washington and extension Of
the East washington and the South
washington bus lines from their old
terminal at Commodore Barney Circle
to outlying east and southeast points
to afford better and direct service to
the city proper.
The Takoma rush-hour express bus
proved an immediate success and
there were petitions for making 1t an
all-day service. Substitution Of bus
service for street cars on Connecticut
avenue caused travail for passengers
as well as the company and the COM
mission. This change had a major
influence In the calling Of the recent
public hearings on the entire service
of the Capital Transit Co.
AS the hearings were adjourned over
the Christmas-N Year holidays, the
commission issued the first series OF
additional orders requiring that all
street cars and busses observe maxi
mum loading limits, that they carry
rate of fare signs and route maps.
One of the most important decisions
Of the commission was the adoption
Evening star., 1935-12-29

Federation of Citizens Associations,
pm, Board Room, District Building.
Although hard to predict what dele
gates will consider at these meetings,
Secretary David Babp declares action
may be taken at this meeting on a
proposed change In the constitution
to hold the annual meeting in May
of each year.
Evening star., 1935-12-29
BY JESSE c. suTER.

~ HRISTMAS week never was
n o time for much civic ac-
tivity, and that Just closed
was no exception to- the
rule. The Public Utilities Commis-
sion, without concluding the pro-
ceedinss In the transit hearing, an
nounced several orders intended to
afford street car and bus riders relief
from some of the conditions against
which complaints were made.
Overlooking Is to be prevented
through enforcing q rule limiting
each vehicle to O definite maxi
mum capacity load instead OF on
an average basis. The rated capac-
ity of each car and bus will be
plainly lettered on the interior, as
is done in the case Of elevators.
Routes and transfer points ana
other information will also be dis
played, so that one may be on their
way and really know where they
are going.
Some notifications Of routes and
revision Of stops are to be MADE
as soon as the engineers can work
out the details. The president OF
the Capital Transit Co. promised to
work with the commissions experts
for the improvement OF the service.
The District Commissioners.
civic, business and professional
leaders have their attention direct.
ed to the matters requiring legisla.
ton a. the time approaches for the
reassembling Of the Seventy fourth
Congress. Chairman King OF the
Senate District Committee has re-
turned to the city and Is preparing
to actively push Q legislative pro-
gram. He Is reported to heartily
approve the plan Of the Commits
sioners to hear the citizens and
learn their views regarding pro-
posed taxation and other legisla-
ton. He Is proud OF the record
made last session by the District
Committee and the Senate in the
handling of District legislation.
Civic leaders who have been look.
ing over the various legislative pro.
posals advocated by the different
groups, express the opinion that
there is great need for q joint con-
ference for the purpose Of endeav.
oring to agree upon Q uniform pro.
gram.
Evening star., 1935-12-29
Progress Recorded
Despite Failures
inSOme Fields.

History Is destined to record 1885
as a year Of progress for the District
government, despite several disturb
ing developments and the repeated
failure Of the long proposed municipal
center project to become reality.
The IL months were crowded with
problems old and new-problems
which taxed the ingenuity and forti-
tude Of the three Commissioners and
the various department heads. OF
these, emergency relief. carried over
from 1894, remained to constitute,
perhaps, the gravest and most ag-
gravating.
The ramifications of the relief
problem made it a difficult one. Di-
minishing Federal aid, which ended
completely in November. forcing the
District to bear the entire burden Of
carii for its unemployables, intensi-
fed the situation.
Relief Goal Not Reached Yet.
The job of administering relief fell
on the shoulders Of Commissioner
George e. Allen, who acted as the
District relief administrator as we'll
as works progress administrator. At
the very beginning of the year. he
mapped out a program designed to
solve the relief situation before the
end Of 1885, That goal, however, has
not yet been reached.
The end of the year finds nearly
as many families on relief as the year
before, but the majority Of them had
been transferred to w. P. A. The
District goes into the new year, how
ever, facing the problem of caring
for about 5000 unemployahles, and
q considerable number of others not
eligible for the w. P. A. program.
Allen has planned to seek q supple
mental District appropriation, per-
haps of 100000 for this purpose.
Among a series of serious incidents
which marked the relief problem was
the development of epidemic menin-
gifts among men at the transient
lodges, which had to be quarantined
for time.
Housing Project Aids.
Allen, in connection with the relief
work, took leading part in forma-
ton Of plans for the $5,000,o00 low
cost housing project of the Federal
Government at Berwyn Heights, Nd,
to which most of the employable
transient men were assigned to work.
That move greatly reduced the burden
Of transient relief in the District.
Earlier in the year Allen had con-
ferred frequently with Relief Admin
tstrator Hopkins regarding the general
program on work relief, and when
President Roosevelt announced the
w. P. A. plan the Commissioner S
friends found 1t contained many ideas
similar to those he had championed.
Although several important mu-
nicipal projects were started during
the year, the end of 1885 finds the
Commissioners still seeking funds for
beginning the long-planned municipal
Evening star., 1935-12-29
the washington Rapid Transit Co..

the Washington Rapid Transit Co.,
consisting mostly Of buses, for
$830,000. The commission rejected
this proposal on finding 1t was not
proper price, and the company ap-
pealed to court, but later abandoned
that litigation. The North American
Co. holds Q large lien on the WASH
ington Rapid Transit Co., as well as
being major holder Of Capital
Transit Co. stock.
On application by the Chesapeake
q Potomac Telephone Co., the COM
mission In the past year approved
several changes In certain brackets
Of telephone charges. including re-
duction In some Of the "nuisance"
rates for special equipment and re-
ductions In certain service connection
rates.
Evening star., 1935-12-29
RESERVE MEETING
SCHEDULE MADE
Maj. Gen. Leon B. Kroner
to BE Speaker on
January g.

District Reserve headquarters an
nounced yesterday the January and
February schedule Of conferences for
the headquarters. I'd Squadron Of the
3o6th Cavalry, local unit. Maj. Gen.
Leon B. Kroner, chief Of Cavalry. will
be the speaker on January g. There
will be discussion Of principles OF
cavalry in delaying action. On JAM
uary % Maj. c. A. Willoughby will
lecture on the Palestine campaign.
following which there will be dis
cussed the conduct Of an advanced
guard.
Three lectures will be given at the
February conference. Maj. Rosen-
ham Beam will discuss aviation and
its cooperation with cavalry units;
Capt K NJ. Uglow will speak on the
pivot Of maneuver in cavalry delay.
ing action, md Lieut.. Col. H. s.
Merrick will discuss maneuvering force
in cavalry delaying action. Speakers
scheduled for the February 20 meet
ing will include Lieut.. Col. J. D. Stout,
who will lecture on military intelli-
gence with particular reference to
cavalry as a military intelligence
agency, and a discussion Of cavalry
on reconnaissance by a speaker yet
to be selected.
In order that officers may receive
instruction in accordance with their
respective grades and experience, the
Cavalry class will be divided into two
groups. Group A will consist of all
second lieutenants, while group B
will be composed of field officers, cap
tains and first lieutenants. Practical
instruction in equitation for District
Cavalry officers will be held at Fort
Myer, Va, at 9 O'Clock on Sunday
morning following each Thursday
night conference during the inactive
training period.
A conference will be held by Dis.
trict Reserve officers next Friday eve
ming. Capt. Robert NJ Bolton will
discuss supply and mess management
at the meeting Of junior officers. The
senior group Of medical officers will
hear Maj. S. Leroy Irwin discuss
tactics and technique Of field artil-
lery. Motion pictures will also be
shown.
The following District officers will
be continued on active duty with. the
Civilian Conservation Corps for an
other six months. They include Capts.
John A. Aman and Albert J. McCurdy,
jr.; First. Lieuts. Nathan Glaubech.
Melville M. Menefee, Samuel @. Nord-
linger, Thomas H. Quill, Don G.
Smith and Second Lieuts. Frank j.
Bane, william B. Shelley and Henry
H. Waller, jr.
Evening star., 1935-12-29
Civic Problems, Civic Bodies
applying Local Rules to Federal Bnldings-Sreet
Car and Bus Loads Limited BY
New Orders.
New Orders.

THESE ana other problems EN-
phasize the necessity for the adop-
ton by Congress Of o definite and
equitable fiscal policy toward the
National Capital. Such policy
and the removal of the District
budget from the Federal Bureau
OF the Budget and banishing the
present practice of secrecy are
being urged by all Of the civic
bodies. There Ia O feeling that
II such reforms were effected the
citizens would be put in . position
to render intelligent assistance
regarding the finances Of the Dis
trict.
Civic Demand for Inspection
OF Federal Government Buildings.
THE Post once Department fire
has brought to the notice Of
the various civic bodies that these
great establishments of the Fed
eral Government in Warrington
are not tested as are similar es-
Establishments which are privately
owned. AS o result some have
been passing resolutions to the
effect that the same rules regard
ing safety and fire prevention be
applied as In the case Of private
buildings. Some one was heard
to remark, There the citizens
Associations go again, butting- in
on something that Is none Of their
business"
As q problem, these associations
regard 1t as very much Of their
own business. Many Of them and
members Of their families are EN-.
ployed in these buildings and they
regard matters involving their
safety as Of as much Importance in
q Government building rs in q
private one. It is pointed out that
each year the President Of the
United States issues q proclama-
tion setting the observance Of
"Fire-prevention week." He then
calls upon all Of the people to
clean up their premises, install fire
prevention devices, etc. These cit
izen organizations have responded
heartily to such calls and have
cleaned up and installed fire pre-
vention and safety devices. Think.
ing it over after the Post once
fire none Of them could remember
OF Uncle Sam ever showing any
particular interest in these fire.
prevention proclamations.
Another matter of lack of In.
spection In which the civic bodies
are showing an increasing interest
is that Of the inspection OF eleya.
tors in the Government buildings.
Private buildings, as Q rule, are
doubly protected as to elevator
safety. AL elevators In private
buildings are periodically inspected
by District inspectors and in ad-
dition most Of such buildings are
covered by casualty insurance poll
cies which provide regular inspec-
tions Of the entire elevator equip
ment.
OF course 1t is recognized that IL
these additional inspections are to
be added to the duties of the pres
ent force of District inspectors the
load will be more than the present
personnel can carry. This will
necessitate additional appropria-
ton and, in equity, the added bur-
den should be borne by the Fed
eral Government. The advocates
OF the regular inspections of the
United States buildings believe
that the same rules and require
ments should apply as in the case
Of privately-owned property.
Evening star., 1935-12-29
School Buildings and Bridges
Among the Capital Needs.

Among the Capital Needs.
WHILE more school buildings
w and some bridges are among
the recognized needs Of the Dis
trict, the Commissioners and the
civic organizations are hesitant in
pushing forward aggressively for
appropriations for them. The Dis
trict Is In such peculiar fiscal
position that neither officials nor
civic leaders know how to pro-
ceed. There are several unknown
factors which must be known as
an approach to an intelligent
handling Of any matter depending
upon the appropriation Of funds.
All plans must be held In abey.
ance pending the knowledge Of
what Congress will do regarding
the budget for the next fiscal year
and what will be the share of the
United States, as the Districts
largest property owner and larg.
est business establishment. There
is a widespread agreement among
civic leaders that nothing should
be done by organized civic WASH
ington, even In the interest Of
needed capital projects, which
might be construed as an invita-
ton to increase the taxes, which
are already high.
The problem presented Is o diff.
ficult one. Just how are we to
get q new northern high school
and other needed school buildings
and enlargements? How are we
going to get q new Pennsylvania
Avenue Bridge over the Anacostia
and q new Chain Bridge over the
Potomac? The citizens of the
Southeast continue to call atten-
ton to the old narrow bridge at
Pennsylvania avenue, which is en-
tireiy inadequate to carry existing
traffic and point to an absolutely
impossible condition rapidly ap-
preaching with the increasing
trafHc. The citizens of the Con-
duit Road section are Just as force
full In calling attention to the
decrepit condition Of the old Chain
Bridge, whose new lease on life
has long since expired. It Is con-
sidered dangerous and Q trafic
msnsce.
Evening star., 1935-12-29
w. |. CLEVELAND NAMED
CHEST RALLY CHAIRMAN
Montgomery County Proposes
Separate Suburban Charity Drive
When Capital Acts. 49,.

w. 7. Cleveland, Montgomery County
delegate to the Interfederation Con-
ference, Is chairman Of a special con-
ference committee named to further
a proposal to conduct Community
Chest campaigns In suburban areas
in conjunction with the Washington
drive each year.
The conference believes both the
Capital and its adjoining areas in
Maryland and Virginia would profit
by this plan.
Evening star., 1935-12-29
Entertainment and Dance.

The Sons of Jonadab win give q
free entertainment and dance at Jr.
o. U. A. NJ. Hall. eos I street. on New
Year eve.
Evening star., 1935-12-29
FRIDAY, JANUARY 3.

Burroughs Citizens Association. 3
pm.. John Burroughs School. A dis
cussion of weekly pass rates for buses
and of taxation matters will be in
cluded on the program this month,
President David Babp states. Mrs.
Jesse Adkins will speak on the pro-
posed Juvenile Court act. The enter
tainment feature Of the evening will
be sound motion pictures portraying
the development Of the automobile.
Evening star., 1935-12-29
Seventh Street Congestion
Cause Of Much Complaint.

nNE OF the advantages expected
to be realized through the
transit rerouting. made possible by
the street railway merger, was the
joining of the Seventh street and
the Georgia avenue lines. A
through straight line without the
"Z" turn through Florida avenue
and avoiding the several cut-outs
should cut down the running time
from Takoma, Georgia and Alaska
avenues, Brightwood and Soldiers
Home. The riders on these lines
express themselves as much disap-
pointed and claim that instead Of a
saving, estimated at IS minutes, it
requires u far longer time than by
the old and longer route with the
frequent delays on the Florida
avenue cutouts.
Some Of the associations inter-
ested have been making o study Of
the causes for the delays. It is re.
ported that double parking, the
pulling out from the curb by parked
cars and the use Of the car tracks
by many trucks and other vehicles
hold back the trolley cars so
that they are unable to maintain
satisfactory headway. It is also
charged that the traffic lights are
not timed to permit o satisfactory
transit movement.
The cars which formerly were
routed between the wharves and
the navy yard via Seventh street,
Florida avenue and Eighth street
east, now 60 through Ninth street
instead of Seventh. This leaves
the only cars on Seventh street
those going through on the old
Brightwood line.
There continues a demand from
Takoma, Brightwood and Petworth
for an express car service through
either Ninth or Eleventh street.
The Eleventh street proposal would
involve the turning on Of Georgia
avenue through Kansas avenue
and the opening up Of Eleventh
street through to intersect Kansas
avenue. The Ninth street express
car proposal would involve the
turning from Georgia avenue
through an extension of Vermont
avenue from its present terminus
at Florida avenue. There have
been several movements on foot in
the past to extend Vermont avenue
to Georgia avenue. Advocates OF
this extension claim that 1t would
be inexpensive because OF the
short distance to be covered in
acquiring the right Of way. Ex-
tension on q direct line would take
q corner Of the Banneker Recrea-
tion Center which has been &C.
quired by the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission
with District funds.
Evening star., 1935-12-29
SATURDAY. JANUARY 4.

Chillum Heights Citizens Associs
tion, 8 pm, Keene School.
Evening star., 1935-12-29
Citizens' Federation Adopts
Committee Calendar Plan.

A DVENT OF the new year VIII
"A find the Federation Of Citizens
Associations trying cut q new sys-
tenn for keeping the delegates IN
formed and permitting the keeping
Of close tab on committees. It Is
planned to follow, in part, Q meth
cd which the Montgomery County
Civic Federation has found to be
most helpful.
Not less than five days preceding
each meeting of the federation the
secretary win compile and mail to
each delegate Q calendar which viii
list all pending resolutions and
other matters before the several
committees. with the origin. date
Of reference and other pertinent
matter. The original plan was TO