Evening star., 1935-08-11
PubAcWorks Funds GiUe Bright Hope to
Plans for the Complexion ofMany Important
Local P'9jech, Long at StandShh in W'asz-
mgton5 Broad Program Of Expansion and
Beamtratim- m-Some ofMe Big Jobs LStedfor
Early CONSERVATION and Improvement.

ministration funds and labor, and
the Louisiana avenue improvement.
Further, under the banners of the
New Deal the Civilian Conservation
Corps In this locality has marched
forward to clean up the Fort Dupont
area; to improve Theodore Roosevelt
Island in the Potomac River, down.
stream of the Key Bridge; to enhance
the beauty of the Mount Vernon
Memorial Highway, to modernize Fort
Hunt, the abandoned Army post
nearly opposite Fort Washington
across the Potomac, and make it
desirable future recreation area, and
to do some work in the National
Arboretum Fort Totten, near Bates
road, east of Rock Greek Cemetery
and north of the Soldiers Home. has
been cleaned up and made an accept
able public gathering place, with an
inviting view.
A Washington project has many
barriers to hurdle, many morasseS
to cross, before it achieves reality.
With. fervent oratory an idea for
some new development here is pub
licized. 1t blossoms forth in news
paper columns. Editorial writers
g.owingly tell of it. The artists and
the architects and the engineers make
sketches of it and these are repro
duced in the public prints. Popular
agitation grows and finally a bill is
introduced in Congress for its frui-
ton, with the backing of a number of
groups.
THEN comes a torrent of debate.
There are extended hearings One
session of Congress passes it on to
another, for the newcomers must hear
the thrice-told tale all over again.
The meaure is buffeted back and forth
between Bureau of the Budget and
the Houses of Congress and after
many set-backs it eventually over
comes the bars of committees and
amendments and comes through with
substantial number of "ayes'' in
Senate and House and Is placed be-
fore the Chief Executive for approval.
The President, with special pen,
aflxes his name with a flourish in q
modest ceremony, in which the prin-
cipal public sponsor gets the quill as
cherished souvenir.
But this is merely the completion
of the first act In the drama of trans
lating the worthwhile idea into reality.
Upon the Nations statute books war.
rant in law now exists for its develop
ment, but there's not an Indian
headed or Lincoln cent ap-
propriated for its consummation.
The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission considers It,
So do the District Commissioners. The
Fine Arts Commission gives Its In
dorsement after proper study. The
coming regulations of the District Gov
ernment are complied with. Then, aft
er lapse, some kind-hearted Repre-.
sentative becomes, interested in the
project and public interest is kindled
anew. Then comes the battle for funds
in Congress. It must not be opposed
to the Presidents current fiscal
policy" The Appropriations Commit
tees, ever jealous Of the Public Treas
ury, scan the figures carefully and
want a justification Tor the project.
Finally, after patience that job would
never have displayed, an initial appro-
priation is made for the project, any
thing from one-tenth to ofie-quarter