Evening star., 1936-08-30
ny Jesse C.. SUTER,

LAN1ON . uclcdt cAiu VIC
* appointment by the Presi-
dent of q director and an
- advisory committee to con-
duct the inquiry into the flscal
relations between the United states
and District governments over
shadow in interest and importance
all other civic affairs. With the
first of these events there Is gen.
eral satisfaction. while the second
has inspired the hope that there
may be q better fiscal day for the
District just ahead.
Additional estimates from vari-
Gus departments Of the District
government for the fiscal year
have been given out for publica-
tion and these have constituted
the chief news from the District
Building. Commissioner Hazen last
week announced that 1t Is up to
the police precincts to enforce the
gambling laws in their territory.
He indicated requiring precinct
captains to report to headquarters
all places in their precincts sus-
pected of being gambling resorts.
The new assessor, Fred D. Allen,
in his annual report made public
during the week, states that the
present method of taxation Of au-
tomobiles Is unsatisfactory. He
urges the Commissioners to seek
legislation for a weight or horse
power tax on motor vehicles as a
substitute for the present personal
tax on such vehicles.
The assessors report also dis
closes that his office is checking
Federal income tax returns in quest
Of those who have failed to make
return of their personal property
or have made incomplete returns.
The Public Utilities Commission
was under criticism for the one
member hearing on the one man.
car problem. The commission
Thursday announced reduction in
the telephone rates by an order
effective September /, 1896. Fifty
five per cent Of the reduction is to
apply to domestic schedules and
As per cent to commercial sub
scribers.
Supt. Ballou of the District
schools Is back at his desk at the
Franklin Building and busy with
the many matters which must re-
ceive attention before the opening
Of the schools. While some of the
boys and girls are tired of the
vacation and ready to turn back
to school, there are many more to
whom the return of DR.. Ballou is
an ill-omen..
There are important vacancies
in the school system to be filled,
but what is most gratifying is the
news that there are to be S. new
teachers and librarians, 6 new
clerks and 18 custodians. Many
Of these new positions have already
been filled.
The normal increase in the
school enrolment will add from
1000 to 5000 pupils. but there will
be added accommodations for only
625 pupils.
Civic organizations in the south
east section are showing signs
Of renewed activity manifest in
the form of a celebration Of
Greater Anacostia Field day at
Anacostia Park. The citizens as
sociations Of Anacostia. Congress
Heights, Randle Highlands, South
east Washington and Washington
Highlands were joined by the Ana
costa Lions Club and Anacostia
Business Mems Association in put
ting over last Thursdays event.
1t was explained that the day was
no particular anniversary, but
simply arranged as an occasion to
enable the folks of the section to
get better acquainted and to give
a substantial boost to the COM
munity.
Texans Solve Problem
For Voteless District.
A LMosT too good to be true"
exclaimed prominent
Washingtonian summering at a
seaside resort, when shown this
banner displayed on the front page
of last Sundays Star: "Blanton
Beaten. 81, in Texas Run-Of."
The happy solution of this major
District problem was news that
was music to the ears of even
those who take only a casual in
terest in civic affairs. Some were
inclined to hum or whistle the
strain, WAS 1t a Dream?" while
to others the appropriate tune
seemed to be that popular song
of some years ago, IT Don't Care
If You Never Come Back"
But the gentleman from the
seventeenth Texas congressional
district has already announced
that he will swear off politics and
become a citizen of the District
of Columbia. So far there has
appeared no evidence Of rejoicing
over this news. but 1t Is reported
that the president of a citizens
association has extended an in
vitation and sent a membership
blank to Mr.. Blanton to join the
association in question.
1t will apparently be difficult for
most citizens to visualize Mr.. Blan-
ton standing shoulder to shoulder
with District civic leaders and "the
damn DOCTORS" and fighting for
all of the very things he opposed
in Congress. On his visits to vari-
Gus local civic bodies he invariably
insisted they were entirely wrong
in everything they sought and al
ways tried to get such gatherings
to "yes". him on his District
heresies.
Some of the civic minded see a
new problem in the entrance of
citizen Blanton as local partici-