Evening star., 1936-01-05
CITIZEN GROUPS MADE
1885 PROGRESSIVE YEAR
Mark of Accomplishment Sets Out
Many Projects of Individual
Associations.

AssOci
washington's citizens associations
have completed year in which many
traffic problems, local legislation and
efforts to secure self-government
played important roles.
As the year closed, interest was high
in George E. Aliens proposal to hold
referenda on questions Of city-wide in
terest in which residents should have
the right to express their wishes.
Recognized by many groups as a
step toward national representation
for the District, the plan has been
Endorsed by most associations which
have exacted upon it. In few cases
the plan was opposed. on the grounds
it would be too expensive or would
not accomplish much good.
Commissioner Aliens plan Is a new
one, since it was brought into prom
inence during the closing two months
Of 1885. The proposal would allow
two referenda each year to furnish a
means for residents to make known
their approval or opposition to pub
lie issues. Any number of questions
could be submitted at each referen-
dunn.
Alarmed over the large number Of
traffic deaths and accidents, many
proposals we're offered throughout the
year to decrease the toll. The Star
inaugurated a safety campaign in
which radio broadcasts, information
on the theater screen and the dis
tribution of safe-driving pledges were
part. Civic groups throughout
Washington were quick to adopt the
safe-driving pledge method of making
everyN one safety conscious. In
dorsement of the campaign was unan-
imous, and thousands of pledge cards
were distributed by the various groups
Briefly, some of the other high
lights of last years civic activity in
clude the following:
Public Utilities.
Early in the year the Chevy Chase
Citizens Association began a drive to
secure improved transportation facili-
ties. About the same time, the Foxhall
Citizens Association and the Citizens
Association of Takoma, D. c., petit
toned the Public Utilities Commission
to order lower gas rates pending a
study of the company valuation and
proper rate of return to the company
AS result of activity in civic groups
along Connecticut avenue north OF
Rock Creek Park, the street car tracks
have been removed and bus service
substituted. Complaints have been
numerous, however, that the buses tie
up traffic and give off Objectionable
gases
New busSes we're placed on the line,
which caused groups in other sections
of the city to request newer and cleaner
busses in their respective areas. Many
residents expressed the opinion the
northwest section was getting the
best In transportation facilities.
In the Spring, under leadership of
the Petworth Citizens Association
about II associations of the North
Washington area met jointly to discuss
methods of securing faster and more
modern transportation facilities The
abandonment of the Ninth street car
line. double tracking the Takoma street
car line east of Georgia avenue on
Kennedy street. a switch from the
Kennedy street to Georgia avenue line.
and a connection between the Georgia
avenue line and the present terminus
OF the Eleventh street line were among
matters urged at the meeting.
The Kennedy street-Georgia avenue
switch and abandonment Of the Ninth
street car line were secured, but many
of the residents affected by the latter
change have complained that Seventh
street car service is now too congested
and must be relieved.
Groups across the Anacostia River
in the southeast section made many
requests during the year for better bus
service and most Of these groups were
satisfied with improved service as the
year ended
Another issue, originated In North
east Washington. is the opposition to
the cost of SIPS for weekly bus passes
on all lines except the Connecticut
avenue line. It is charged that this
is discriminatory and 81 passes with
transfer privileges between street cars
and buses are being sought.
Southwest areas complained of dis
elimination against them when the
street car line south of Pennsylvania
avenue on Ninth street was replaced
with bus service.
Education.
This year residents Of Georgetown
and adjacent territory were rewarded
with library, opened in October.
This leaves the Petworth library
project first in the recommendations
of the Board of Trustees of the Wash
ington Public Library. The latter
project has been the goal Of the Pet
worth Citizens Association for many
years, and its Library Committee
chairman, Horace J. Phelps, appears
annually at all budget hearings to Sc
cure an appropriation.
Manor Park citizens took the lead
in a movement jointly with other bod
les to convert the tuberculosis Hos
pital site into a huge recreation-edu-
cation center. A teachers college,
vocational school, swimming pools and
Fairgrounds were planned for the site.
The question of teaching or advo-
eating Communism was brought into
prominence during the latter part of
the year. Text books were charged
by some as advocating Communistic
principles, while others believed the
easiest way to make child curious
about the subject is by suppressing it
entirely. Still other groups did not
take action on the question.
Traffic.
Beside the traffic safety campaign
Of The Star, the District put on an
other campaign of safety education at
the first of the year. The voice of
safety" was featured by which traf-
fic violators were warned of their
transgressions from police car pa