Evening star., 1937-06-21
Slaughter House
Continued From First Page.)

ourselves, DaVy said, but l think
what we are proposing to do in the
area will be far more important than
the operations OF q slaughter house"
The plan involves the erection Of
800 to 1000 low-priced homes in an
area where they are greatly needed.
Full Plan Would Be Withdrawn.
THE construction OF a slaughter
house in this area will prevent us
from going ahead with this develop
ment, except perhaps with some 50
houses" Davy said. LAS to the whole
project, We would definitely withdraw
it," he told the committee. He called
the sales hazard too great
Since the company already has in
vested in the property, he said, it was
possible a small number of houses
might be built.
In opening the hearing Chairman
Norton said opponents of the bill
would be heard tomorrow.
Representatives Palmisano, Jenckes
and Randolph were the only other
members of the District Committee
present at the opening Of the hearing
Frank Foror OF New York. presi-
dent of Adolf Gobel, Inc, was in at
tendance.
Seal on Stand First.
The first witness was E1wood H.
Seal. corporation counsel, who out
lined the recently introduced House
bill. He reintroduced brief sup
porting the zoning legislation as con-
stitutional and told the committee
that the District Commissioners were
in favor Of it.
In reply to question by Represent
ative Randolph, he said the Commits
sioners regard the proposed slaughter
house as a potential nuisance"
Randolph said he understood the
Commissioners were now even more
In favor Of the bill than before. Here,
Chairman Norton broke in with as
surances that they were. This COM
mittee has received such tremendous
demand for this legislation that the
Commissioners, representing the public
OF the District, would have been COM
PEELED to favor it," she said.
Seal explained that, under existing
law. District authorities could not con-
troll nuisance industries now existing
or threatening to encroach. For this
reason, he said, the proposed legisla-
tion giving the zoning Commission
full powers was desirable.
The House bill, he said, was aimed
at list Of nuisance industries and
would prevent future erection Of such
plants.
Settle Makes Strong Plea.
Thomas S. Settle, secretary Of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, made a strong argument
for passage Of the bill.
He reminded the committee that
Congress acts as a "city council" for
the District. The trainers Of the
Constitution gave it exclusive legisla-
tive powers over the seat Of govern
ment, a matter he said was important
to bear in mind under the present cir
cumstances.
He went on to say there was an
urgent need to bring Washington's
zoning laws as up to date as other
cities.
If this bill is arbitrary, as some
think" he said, "just bear in mind
what Is being done across the river in
Alexandria, Alexandria prohibits
abattoirs, except by act of City Coun-
cil."
Nuisance Industries as outlined in
this bill, Settle said, are prohibited
even in the heavy industry area in
Alexandria and also in the metropoli.
tan areas of Maryland and Virginia.
Other Cities Cited.
He cited Baltimore, Pittsburgh and
Louisville as other cities with more
up-to-date zoning laws than Wash
ington has. Baltimore permits a
slaughter house only in industrial
areas by special permit. There are
non conforming uses here, as in other
cities, which would continue even If
the pending bill is passed.
Small existing slaughter houses in
Washington would not be put out of
business by the bill, Settle said, but
would prohibit erection in the future
Of abattoirs and ammonia plants"
Howard A. Gray, director Of the
housing division of P. w. A., was the
next witness.
Erection of the Gobel plant in Ben
ming, he said, would damage use of
Government land now being held in
the vicinity for housing project.
The odors and noise from cattle in
the pens. he said, would make 1t an
unsuitable site. The Langston ter
race housing project, a mile away,