Evening star., 1937-05-23
SLAUGHTER HOUSE
BANBY HOUSE SEEN
Mrs. Norton Predicts Bill
That Comes Up Tomor-
row Will Be Passed,

C0ntT0DeTStdt storm last Fall
greeted proposal OF meat packing
firm, to erect slaughter house in
Bennin0 section. Rejecting per-
NIT application, Commissioners set
rigid standards for Establishment
OF such an enterprise here. Com
pdny granted permit after revising
plans to meet standards.
Meanwhile, king-Norton legisla-
ton, regulating such industry in
Washington, Dds reported favor
ably by House District Committee
last Wednesday.
The next skirmish on the King
Norton bill, which would have the
effect Of banning new industries OF
the nuisance type in the National
Capital and strengthening the con-
troll Of the Zoning Commission over
similar existing plants, Is due tomor.
row in the House.
Chairman Mary T. Norton Of the
House District Committee, who will
call up the bill during consideration
OF the District calendar, said last
night she was confident" Of its
passage.
Mrs. Norton said she had discussed
the legislation with numerous men,
bers OF the House and had found no
one who was opposed to its passage.
Meanwhile. the Senate District
Subcommittee, which has devoted six
days OF hearings on the same bill,
continued in recess Senator Pat Nc
Carran, chairman Of the subcommit-
tee. Is engaged in helping to prepare
the adverse report of the judiciary
Committee on the Supreme Court
reorganization bill. Until this task
Is completed it will be impossible for
his group to resume hearings on the
anti-nuisance bill
Tomorrow Is District" Day,
Tomorrow is regular District
day. in the House and Mrs. Norton
who Is heartily in accord with the
purposes OF the anti-nuisance bill,
anticipated no difficulty in bring
ing IT to vote. 1t was ordered re-
ported from the District Committee
with very little discussion, due in
part to the desire OF a few members
who felt action should be delayed un-
I'll the McCarran subcommittee con-
cluded its hearings.
Support for the legislation comes
almost unanimously from the civic
associations in the District and from
heads OF Federal departments and
bureaus that are interested in park
developments in the Anacostia VAL
ley and in the Northeast section.
Corporation Counsel ElWood H. Seal
said that while the King-Norton bill
was aimed at all undesirable" types
OF Industry in the District, its passage
would have the effect OF prohibiting
the erection of the slaughter house
which Adolf Gobel, Inc. New York
packers, propose to build near the
Benning viaduct.
Hearings May Resume Soon.
The issuance of a permit to the Co.
bel Co., which the Commissioners were
compelled to do under the then exist
ing zoning regulations, served to focus
attention on the inadequacy of such
regulations for the protection OF
Washington.
The zoning regulations were made
more effective last November. giving
that body discretionary power over
nuisance operations.
The effect Of the King Morton bill
would be to put more teeth" in the
zoning law by taking discretion from
the Zoning Commission and freeing
Washington from the threatened en-
croachment of slaughter houses and
other industries which Federal and
District officials regard as undesirable
in the Nations Capital.
1t is possible that the Senate Dis
trict Subcommittee may resume hear
lngs on the bill the middle of this
week. 1t recessed last Thursday, sub
ject to the call of the chairman
Position Clarified.
During the taking of testimony on
the final day Of the hearing, one OF
the witnesses appearing in support
Of the King bill was Mrs Frederick
H. Brooke of 1921 N street. Inadver-
tently, The Star made it appear in its
early account of the hearing that
Mrs. Brooke was testifying in cpposi-
tion as defender Of the Gobel plant
Mrs. Brooke yesterday requested
The Star to make her position clear
and In connection with her testimony
said:
During the years I was chairman
Of the Subsistence Garden Committee
of the District, the ground in the
Benning road area was improved ex-
tensively and many new homes were
constructed in the section.
Those now living in this neighbor-
hood should be protected from the
depreciation that would follow with
erection Of q slaughter house nearby,
Also, the money spent by the Govern
ment in developing the gardens and
improving the section should not be
jeopardized."
In answer to arguments during her
testimony before the committee that
the slaughter house would give en-
ployment to many persons. Mrs.
Brooke pointed out that those needing
work could be utilized in laying foun-
dations for additional homes in the
area.