Evening star., 1937-02-06
COLLINS DECLARES
NEW POLICE BASE
FORD, c, ESSENTIAL
Present Headquarters a
Disgrace, D. C. Committee
Member Holds.
SUPPLY BILL HEARINGS
MAY START TUESDAY
Trips to Work House and Lorton
Postponed-Jefferson High
School Need Stressed.

Declaring construction of new head
quarters for the Metropolitan Police
Department is WashingtonS most
pressing need, Representative Collins,
Democrat, of Mississippi. today pledged
he would do everything in my power"
to have Congress make provision for
q new building.
Collins, who is chairman of the
House District Appropriations Sub
committee, said he is convinced some
thing ought to be started right away
to relieve the conditions under which
the administrative personnel of the
police force must work.
That building ought to be blown
up," Collins said. Conditions there
are absolutely disgraceful."
With two other subcommittee men,
hers-Representative Engel, Repub-
lican, of Michigan. and StarneS, DEM
ocrat, of Alabama-CollinS yesterday
paid a visit to police headquarters at
462 Indiana avenue as part of the
extensive tour the subcommittee has
been making during the last several
days.
Worst Seen So Far in Tour.
ats the worst building I've seen
since We began this inspection tour"
said Collins after Police Chief Ernest
W. Brown had led the group through
the cramped Offices and squad rooms
of the old structure. IF any one
needs a new building, you certainly
do" he told Maj Brown.
The subcommittee members had
planned to wind up their personal
inspection trip today with visits to the
District Work House at Occoquan, Va,
and the reformatory at Lorton, but
the trip was postponed because of the
urgency Of other matters requiring the
legislators attention.
We've fallen so far behind in work
back here in our Offices" Collins said,
that we have to take time out to get
caught up. We hope to get around to
these other places later on"
The subcommittee chairman indi-
Gated that hearings on the 1888 Dis
trict supply bill probably will begin
on Tuesday, under present plans.
Collins had hoped to start the hear
ings Monday Daniel j. Donovan,
District auditor and budget officer,
and the Commissioners, are slated to
be among the first witnesses.
New School Also Stressed.
Reviewing the extensive inspection
tour which the subcommittee made
during the last four days. Chairman
Collins said he believes construction
of a new Jefferson Junior High School
in Southwest Washington is the most
important item proposed in the supply
bill He placed this project next to
a new police headquarters in i'm
portance.
The Children's Receiving lone,
which the subcommittee visited yes
terday. also was placed high on
Collins priority list of institutions
needing improvements. He criticized
conditions at that institution, point
ing out that its inadequate facilities
make it necessary to throw all types
Of children together.
The group also visited the central
building of the free public library
system and Collins expressed hope |
the District would be provided funds |
in the near future for construction
of a new central library. He sug-
gested the funds might be provided |
through a Public Works Administra- |
tion grant.
The chairman recently introduced !
q bill to provide for a new $2,500,000 |
central library on Sixteenth street. |
He said the bill could be amended !
to call for P. w. A. funds for the !
project.
Dr. George F. BoWerman. librarian,
explained the present structure is ex-
tremely overcrowded and cUngested.
He pointed out that, because Of the
lack of space, they have been forced |
to move several divisions to another |
building some distance away.
Health Center Site Visited.
Yesterdays tour also included visits
to the site Of the proposed health
center on Pierce street, between New
Jersey and New York avenues; the
Social Hygiene Clinic of the Health
Department at Sixth and streets,
the Georgetown Public Library Branch
and the Districts incinerators.
Collins expressed himself as highly
gratified over the results of the sub.
committees inspection tour, which
covered many phases of the municipal
government, including streets. bridges,
welfare institutions, schools and
Health Department facilities.
Its been a fine experience" he
said. We've been al e to get first
hand information on the District and
its institutions that will prove very
valuable when we begin the job of
framing the supply bill.
Wed like to do lots of things cit
izens of the Capital want us to do.
I've inspected a lot of places this
week and I know that all sorts of i'm
provements are needed. Maybe Well
be able to grant every item proposed
in the appropriations bill, but that