Evening star., 1937-12-26
CONFERENCE HEAD
FAV0RS SALES TAX
Northeast Bodies Also Urged
to Fight for Extension of
New York Avenue,

A 2 per cent gross sales tax as the
main point in the new tax bill to be
enacted by Congress Is favored by
President A. r. e. Scheer Of the North.
east Conference Of Citizens' Associa-
tions.
In his annual report, made recently,
he also urges the conference to con-
tinue its tight for the extension Of New
York avenue into Maryland, saying
this would afford another needed
arteril highway in the district and
would eliminate congestion ut Peace
Cross and Fifteenth and H streets
NE. He also advocates the opening
Of Eastern and South Dakota avenues.
Parking Meters Opposed.
Urging that the conference 90 On
record 'in no uncertain terms" against
the installation of parking meters in
the District, Mr.. Scheer contends the
whole street is needed for the move
ment Of traffic and "a car takes up
just as much room when the owner
pays a nickel to park it as 1t does with
out the nickel" The installation would
result, he says, in taking more police
away from their legal duties and
making nickel grabbers" of them.
Developing the contention that the
District Is park poor" he advises that
a careful study be made OF the cost
OF parks in Washington.
oft 10 understood %ho% H. -x-
costs the people Of the District Of
Columbia some 100000 q year or
some S. per CAPITA" he says.
Discussing legislation in the District
and police work in general Mr.. Scheer
asks that the association bend its
efforts to eliminate from parking
ticket duty as many police as possible
and to see that they are placed where
they can give attention to the appre.
henslon of criminals. He also asks
that the group insist on the enactment
OF stringent vagrancy law and on
a regulation under which only those
who could show proof Of District resi-
dence for five years would be eligible
for relief.
He advocates passage of a reRula.
ton requiring all children who are not
residents of the District to pay tuition
in District Of Columbia schools and to
admit them only to schools that are
not crowded.
Commenting on the excellent work
done by the Police Boys Clubs Of the
District, Mr.. Scheer advises the es-
tablisihment of more of them. par.
ticularly in the vicinity of Seven
teenth street and Rhode Island ave-
nue. NE.
Statistics show that 1t costs the
District more than $500 yearly to main.
ain a boy in reform school and that
juvenile crime has been reduced not
less than IS per cent during the first
six weeks of the establishment Of any
such boys club It might be found
feasible to open up the gymnasiuns
OF our schools for boys club work." the
report says.
School Needs Cited.
Calling the groups attention to een-
eral Northeast improvements which
are needed, Mr.. scheer asks SUPPORT
for the school needs Of the North.
east, the completion Of IN ovespass
at Ninth street and New York aveuus
NE. the development Of the old
Washington, Baltimore b Annapolis
railroad bed into . speed highway, I'd.
dbnal apparatus for the Thirteenth
street and Rhode Island avenue fra
station and elimination Of the Budset
Bureau In order that the District
budget be sent direct to Congress,
Congraulating the conference on It's
work for the past year. Mr.. scheer
listed IL improvements for which he
salo the group was partly responsible:
The underpass at Eighteenth street
and New York avenue NE.
The overpass at Ninth and Franklin
streets NE.
f1rehouse at Thirteenth street and
Rhode Island avenue NE.
The Michigan avenue viaduct.
Completion Of Bunker Hill Park
Improvement Of Turkey Thicket
Playground.
Improvement Of Burroughs Play-
ground.
installation Of . trsilc fiaht m
Bladensburg road.
street improvement at the intersec.
ton Of Florida avenue and lexington
Place, which eliminated the need for
about four policemen.
Prevention Of the conversion Of th.
Small estate into q lov-cost housinr
project until it could be deyeloped Nv
private capital.
elimination Of great portion O,
commercially zoned property from
residential sections in the Northeast.