Evening star., 1935-06-19
FIGHT FOR SUBWAY
AND VOTE URGED
BY MRS. NORTON
District Chairman Lauded
at Presentation of Her.
Portrait.
SUGGESTS P. w. A. FOR
UNDERGROUND SYSTEM
Leaders of Both Parties Pay
Tribute to Her Successful and
Constructive Work.

Construction of a subway system to
relieve Washington streets Of some OF
its traffic hazards was advocated to-
day by Chairman Norton Of the House
District Committee. She also reiter-
ated her plea for national representa-
ton for the District.
Mrs. Norton made these two pro-
posals at ceremonies in the House Dis
trict Committee room after the unveil-
ing of an oil painting of herself.
Declaring the Subways constitute one
of Washington's greatest needs az
idents should unite and force Congress
to authorize their construction "to
prevent so many people from being
killed"
Suggests P. W. A. Funds.
The time is ripe, she pointed out
because of the possibility Of financing
the projects with P. w. A. funds.
Mrs. Norton also suggested that her
committee and District residents give
serious study to a subway program
and make suggestions as to the loca-
ton of underground routes.
Later Mrs. Norton explained she
had in mind series of trafic subways
running from the Capitol to George
town and from the downtown con-
gested district north to Chevy Chase
and Petworth. These arteries, she
said, could carry a large volume oi
Washington's vehicular trafic without
jeopardizing either drivers or pedes-
trians.
Eventually Washington must have
traffic subways, Mrs. Norton declared
She said she believed steps soon should
be taken to construct the first unit,
which should run from the downtown
congested district northward.
While the District Committee has
been credited with many achieve
ments since she has been its chair
man, Mrs. Norton declared one of her
greatest ambitions is to get Congress
to enact legislation Ito allow the peo-
pie of the District to govern them
selves"
"It is the right of every American
citizen to vote" she said. Suffrage
will not be universal until the District
Is included"
The painting was presented by a
civic committee. In accepting it Mrs
Norton said she appreciated the con-
fidence and respect shown her by the
people of the District and attributed
whatever success has fallen to her
Craftsmanship to the cooperation of
the committee members.
Several score congressional and
civic leaders, District officials and
close friends of Mrs. Norton attended
the ceremony.
The painting, the work of Elaine
Hartley Levine, youthful Washington
artist, was unveiled by Mrs. Eleanor
Patterson. publisher of the Washing
ton Herald. 1t will remain on the
wall of the District Committee room
Representative Palmisano, vice
chairman of the District Committee
accepted the painting on behalf oi
the committee after paying a tribute
to Mrs. Norton. Others who eulogized
her were Minority Leader Smell
Senator Barbour, Republican, of New
Jersey; Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen
Mrs. Patterson, Public Printer A. E
Giegengack and DR.. George C. Haven.
ner. Speaker Byrns was prevented
from attending because the House
convened an hour earlier than usual
Constructive Work Praised.
Smell said Mrs. Norton's activities
as head of the District Committee had
been constructive along every line,
and he was glad to know that the
people of the District for once appre-
ciated the chairman. Senator Barbour
declared New Jersey was proud of Mrs
Norton.