The Washington times., 1935-01-01
DISTRICT BUSY
BUILDING IN
YEAR "a

throughout the year, the Dis
trict government during 1884
cleared it's decks of the routine
transactions of administration
with a minimum of fanfare, and
achieved notable advances in its
building and road construction
program.
Through the availability Of
Public Works Administration
funds, a number of new road
ways were constructed, five sew
age projects undertaken, and
building of the P Street bridge
was begun.
Schools Erected
District funds were expended
for construction of the Benning
Bridge and for the Calvert Street
Bridge. The Logan School was
completed and the Wilson High
School and the Anacostia Junior
High School are in the final
stages of construction.
The most important change of
a political nature during the
year was the appointment Of E.
Barrett Prettyman to the post of
Corporation Counsel, succeeding
William w. Bride.
Although there was a constant
threat Of the wholesale changes
in the various District depart
ments, the majority of these were
left untouched. Elwood Street
was appointed Director Public
Welfare to succeed the late George
s. Wilson, who retired, but the
rumored replacement of William
A. Van Duzer as Traffic Director,
of Miss Sybil Baker as Director of
Fairgrounds, and of Capt. M. M.
Barnard as General Superintend-
ent of District Penal Institutions
are hanging fire at the turn of the
new year.
Health Chief Retires
Another governmental post still
in the realm of conjecture is that
of District Health Officer. With
the retirement of DR.. William
Fowler committee of prominent
local physicians was appointed to
advise on a successor. Agreement
on this score has not been reached.
Creation of liquor board. with
appointment of George Offutt,
Mrs. William Beverley Mason, and
Isaac Cans as it's membership.
was an important development of
the year. More than $1,000,000 in
license fees, fines and sales taxes
was collected by the liquor body.
Mr.. Offutt, chairman Of the
board stated that the results of
the past year in the cause of
temperance and in the orderly
management of the sale of liquor
indicate the success of repeal in
the District.
Relief Big Problem
One of the gravest of the prob
lens which confronted the Dis
trict Commissioners was that of
giving relief to thousands of fami-
lies among the unemployed. Ap-
proximately $11,000,000 was ex-
pended for this purpose, the
Federal Emergency Relief Ad-
ministration providing the bulk
of this sum.
Commissioner George E. Allen,
who directed the dispensing of
money to the unemployed, OBJ
tained an 8-centa-quart price on
milk for families on relief rolls.
The year was marked by a
record in the number of traffic
fatalities, which brought criticism
on Traffic Director Van Duzer.
Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen
launched a program Of traffic
law enforcement in an attempt
to curb the high death rate.
Participating in the campaign
for safety was the Board of Trade
and other trade and civic bodies.
A safety contest was held by the
Board of Trade, which sponsored
the use by the Police Department
of an automobile equipped with
loud speaker to cruise around and
warn motorists and pedestrians
against infraction of the traffic
laws.
Parole Probe Underway
Extending into 1885 is the in
vestigation of the Parole Board.
which is expected to lead to re-
organization of that body and to
a change in the procedure of
granting paroles, with the posi-
bility that the District parole law
will be changed through new leg
iSlation.
The District budget for the
fiscal year 1885 has occupied the
attention of the District Commits
sioners for the last several
months. The budget was submit
ted to the Budget Bureau with
provisions for an increased Fed
eral appropriation, and unless
Congress approves this increase,
new taxes are threatened by Dis
trict heads.
New Laws Sought
A legislative program was pre-
pared by the District Commits
sioners for presentation to Con-
greSs, containing measures to
broaden the powers of the Com
missioners, giving them jurisdic-
tion over any agency supported
wholly or in part by District
funds.