Evening star., 1937-04-21
CONGRESS T0GET
MEASURE TO BAN
ABATT0|R IN D. c.
Fight on Permit for Plant
Shifts to Capitol as P. w. A.
Completes Bill.
CITY HEADS ARE READY
TO GRANT GOBEL PLEA
Senator King Expected to Intro
duce Proposal During the
Week.

The fight against operation of an
abattoir by the Adolf Gobel Co. in
Benning shifted to Congress today
Howard A. Gray, director of the
P, w. A. Housing Division, announced
that legislation to prevent the en-
trance of an industry of this kind
(packing house, into the District has
been prepared for introduction this
week"
Gray made this statement after he
had been informed by Corporation
Counsel Elwood Seal that a permit
for the abattoir would probably be
issued to the Gobel Co. by the Com
missioners within a week or two
Under the proposed legislation the
company would not be allowed to
operate an abattoir," Gray said, be
cause it would have to have an oper-
ating permit, which would be issued
on compliance with certain conditions
the company could not meet The
act is modelled on the law now in ef-
feet in Lynchburg, Va, where SIM
liar situation was fought out"
Gray said Chairman King of the
District Committee was expe led to
introduce the measure in the Senate.
Project Protection Sought.
The housing director attacked the
contention that packing plant would
furnish employment for Washington
workers.
1T would mean only the importa-
ton of butchers and skilled meat
packers from Baltimore" he said.
The labor from Washington would
be very small"
P. w. A. lawyers have been working
on the legislation for the last month,
Gray said. Extensive work and re-
search was necessary to make it con-
form to existing District zoning and
property laws.
The P. w. A. Housing Division en-
tered the abattoir fight several
months ago in order to protect It's
Langston terrace housing develop
ment, located in the neighborhood
where it is proposed to complete the
Gobel abattoir, and tract of land on
Ridge road, only 1900 feet from the
Gobel property, also owned by the
Housing Division. The Ridge road
property is reached by passing the
Gobel property, Gray said.
Work on Langston terrace is ap-
proximately half finished, with be-
tween 300 and 400 men employed.
Changes in Plans Made.
There have been indications in sew
eral quarters that the Commissioners
would grant the permit on the ground
the company had made changes in its
plans which met specific requirements
imposed by the inspectional and en-
gineer departments of the District.
The proposed new abattoir became
public issue after the company had
obtained a permit for construction of
foundations for the plant. Its oper-
alton was strongly contested by Sec
retary of the Interior Ickes, Chair
men Frederic A. Delano of the Ma
tlonal Capital Park and Planning
Commission and numerous civic
bodies.
Roosevelt Also Interested.
President Roosevelt also is said to
have been interested in the proposed
program.
Among supporters of the project
were the Central Labor Union and
the Kenilworth and Lincoln Park
Citizens Associations, who saw in the
project an opportunity for additional
employment in the eastern section OF
the city.
After the Commissioners had de-
clined a permit for completion of the
project, the company filed suit in
District Court, seeking s50,O00 from
each of the three Commissioners,
claiming they had refused to issue
the permit without reasonable excuse
If the permit is granted, as now
expected, it is anticipated that the
damage suit will be dropped.