Evening star., 1936-01-19
FEDERATION URGES.
INCREASED FUNDS
Health Appropriation Slash
Hit and Subway Sur
vey Opposed.

Demands for increased appropria-
tions for District public health serv-
ices and opposition to proposed ex-
penditures for a survey OF subway
possibilities were registered last night
by the Federation of Citizens AsSo-
Citations.
Protesting against heavy cut made
by the Budget Bureau in Health De-
partment funds, the federation
adopted resolution urging that Con-
gress approve the Commissioners es-
Inmates calling for appropriation of
s452,o00 for the department.
The action was taken on motion by
DR.. Charles B. Campbell, delegate
from the District Medical Society, who
declared the District health problem,
and particularly the tuberculosis death
rate here can be cut by more liberal
appropriations. He said the District
spends but cents per capita for
health services, as against about 10
cents for comparable cities.
There was protracted debate over
the proposal championed by Peoples
Counsel William A. Roberts for a
survey to determine the need, costs
and effect of the series of suggested
subway lines. but the federation re-
jected the survey plan as not justified
Minor Courts Needs.
In other actions the federation
championed the need of appropria
tions for provision of new buildings
for the minor courts of the District;
declared District jobs should be given
to bona fde residents; urged that the
post of general superintendent of
penal institutions be given to Dis
trict resident; favored adoption by
Congress of a bill requiring liability
insurance for taxicabS, and insisted
the basic rate of return to be allowed
the Potomac Electric Power Co., under
its sliding scale plan, should not be
in excess of per cent on an agreed
rate base"
Need of the new courts buildings
was stated by George E. Sullivan,
chairman of the Laws and Legislation
Committee, in presenting motion
from the Association of Oldest In
habitants. 1t was adopted without
debate
The cause of District jobs for Dis
trict residents came on resolutions
from the Congress Heights and Kalo-
rama bodies at a time when the
Commissioners are pondering a contest
over selection of successor to Capt.
M. NJ Barnard as general penal SUI
perintendent. The Board Of Public
Welfare months ago proposed selec-
ton of Harold E. Donnell, Maryland
prison head, while number Of Dis
trict citizens associations have in
dorsed Col. William L. Peak, super
intendent of the District Reformatory
at Lorton, Va.
On motion by William NICK. Clay
ton, veteran chairman of the Utili-
ties Committee, the federation again
voiced opposition to further use OF
one-man street cars.
Subway Question Debated.
Proposal by the Southwest Citi-
ens' Association to favor the spend
ing of $4,000 for subway survey
precipitated debate involving large
number of delegates.
ames G. Yaden, past president of
the body, declared it to be scheme
to waste $25,000-or even as much as
$5O,000"
IF there are to be any subways
at ALL" he said, lone line would have
to be under Pennsylvania avenue
epl <bare ,,o,, Mould r,,,, into ,Ypdor.
ground water It doesn't take an ex-
pert to know that. If subways were
feasible they couldn't be financed.
Cities having subways are groaning
under the necessary bond debt"
President Thomas E. Lodge left the
chair to register his opposition.
"1f we had subways adequate to
help mass transportation" he said,
there would have to be lines to
Georgetown, Chevy Chase, Petworth
and other outlying sections. We would
need large bond issue and the
Federal Government would not think
enough Of the plan to contribute five
cents. Neither would the street car
company"
=
iations Committee declared the fed
eration's Executive Committee had
found mo justification" for the sub
way survey expense, and Fred S.
Walker, Park View delegate, said he
was opposed to spending millions for
subways so the streets could be used
as free garages for automobiles"
/. s,.~ Notice to Be Given.
Notice of the opposition of the fed
Grafton to the survey will be sent to
the Commissioners and to Senate and
House committees.
On motion by Harry S. Wender of
the. Southwest Citizens Association,
the federation proposed increased ap-
preparations for the Office of the peo-
pies counsel. Wender suggested en-
ployment of an accountant. secre-
tary, stenographer and an attor-
ney-investigator as Roberts assist
ants, at total salary cost of $3.50,
and. additional sums for periodicals
and books and provision for larger
Office.
The federation rejected proposals
from a committee headed by Jesse c.
Suter for amendment Of the consti-
tuition of the body to set the annual
election of officers and delegates of
the federation for May instead of No
vember.
The District Dental Society was ad-
mitted to the federation. Later
move to bar admission to any but
neighborhood citizens associations
was tabled.