Evening star., 1936-09-27
BY JESSE C. SUTER.

tnat tnls cotunln mas
been on vacation, civic
. activities have been on
the increase. The Montgomery
County Civic Federation held its
opening meeting as did also the
Interfederation Conference. The
District Commissioners and the
Public Utilities Commission have
been busy apd the new agency
making the inquiry into the fiscal
relations between the United
States and the District Of Co
lumbia has set everybody to dig
ging up statistical and other in.
formation.
Last week the Commissioners
completed the budget hearing
which was begun, on September
10. Budget Oficer Donovan Is
now busy revising the estimates
and Is expected to report immedi-
ately . double -barreled budget Of
46 and - millions, respectively. The
first will cover bare necessities and
maintenance while the second in
cludes capital expenditures and in
creases Of personnel.
The Commissioner took SUM-
cient time from their budget studies
to adopt regulations for the licens-
ing of parking lots. garages and
other commercial establishments
engaged in the storing of automo-
biles. The fees are on gradu-
ated scale and the license system
will begin on November /.
Conversion Of the 20 stream
line cars Of the Capital Transit
Co. to one-man operation and the
purchase of 20 secondhand cars
to be reconditioned and replace .
like number of old one-man cars
has been authorized by the Public
Utilities Commission. This authori-
zation includes permission to op-
crate additional cars Of this mod
ern type.
The Commission has before 1t .
petition Of the Washington Gas
B Light Co. for permission to pur.
chase the Alexandria and the Hy-
attsville Gas Light Companies. This
will require also the approval Of
the Maryland Public Service Com
mission and of the Securities Ex-
change Commission.
The public schools opened on
Monday last with a largely in
creased enrolment which is ex-
pected to. have further additions.
Buildings overflowing, unwieldy
diversified classes, and teachers with
programs well beyond their ability
to handle. eficiently are problems
with which the school officials and
our public-spirited Board Of Edu-
eaton must struggle. Platoon oper-
alton and shifting from one build
ing to another Is all that the local
authorities can do. The power to
correct these clearly apparent de-
flciencies can only be remedied by
the Districts foreign legislature In
which 1t Is not represented.
The Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations holds its opening meeting
on Saturday night in the board
room at the District Building. This
will mark the real beginning of
the seasons activities Of the citi-
zens' associations. At the second
meeting, which will occur on No
vember 7. the annual election OF
officers will be held.
Criminal Justice Association
To Hold Membership Campaign.
THE Washington Criminal Justice
Association began operation
some months ago through the
taking of records Of criminal cases.
This work is being carried on under
the expert direction of James M.
Hepbron, the noted director of the
Baltimore Criminal Justice Com
mission. Mr.. Hepbron has been
induced to serve as acting director
to get the new organization in
proper running order. A compara-
lively few subscribers have pro-
vided funds for carrying on the
work through its initial stages,
but it is now planned to put it on
. permanent financial basis.
Various classes Of memberships
will afford all good citizens an
opportunity for having . part in
this work, which Is designed and
expected to bring about . decided
Improvement in law enforcement
and crime conditions in the Ma
tional Capital. A number Of public
spirited citizens are enlisting in the
membership campaign, which will
be put on Immediately.
The Criminal Justice Association
is receiving the hearty support of
the law-enforcement officials and
other ofncials, who recognize in 1t
great possibilities in the assembling,
analyzing and interpreting Of facts
concerning criminal justice. This
Is not head-hunting agency, but
q fact-finding body. Facts regard
ing crime, criminals, prosecutions,
punishments and arrests repose in
the records Of many governmental
agencies and hence just such an
institution, outside of official con-
troll, IS needed. to dig out these
facts and place them in proper
relation to one another.
The Baltimore Commission, un-
der the able direction Of Mr.. Hep
bron, has accomplished much, and
the promoters of the local orEani-