Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-11-28
BY JESSE C. SUTER.

NAAhANAAAI>1AV Avn In WoulA
have been an occasion for
far more rejoicing and
L thankfulness had the Dis
trict made its goal for the Com
munity Chest. To have failed,
within the campaign period, to
raise by cash and pledge The
amount which is absolutely nee
essary to the carrying on of essen
tial social service activities is
shock to our civic pride. The time
set for closing of the campaign
found the fund more than a quar-
ter million dollars short of the
mark, and this in a community
which has so proudly gone over the
top in many a community cam
palgn for worthy cause.
The real shame and tragedy OF
it is that there will be cases Of dire
distress and of suffering which the
various agencies will be unable to
meet through lack of funds. The
campaign is to be prolonged, by the
willing workers who have already
devoted so much time to doing
this job for all of us. with the hope
that the goal may yet be reached.
Last Monday was the first Dis
trict day in the House of Repre-
sentatives. but it went by default.
The District Committee was caught
not ready. The committee and its
chairman are not deserving OF
blame in this instance, as there was
no advance assurance that the
District would be allowed q day
during the extra session. The civic
groups are anxious to learn Just
what the House District Committee
plans to attempt to have acted
upon in this session. The prevail
ing opinion is that there is slight
hope for District legislation until
the regular session.
The civic spotlight has been to
great extent focused on the
Health Department and its chief.
Murals at the children's sanatorium
at Glenn Dale and the admission Of
adult patients to that institution
have been subjects for lively dis
cussion. Conditions in some of the
older buildings at Gallinger Hos
pital have also been brought to the
attention Of the public. As to the
adequacy Of the appropriations for
Gallinger Hospital, there appears
to be a disposition to accept the
figures OF the Bureau of the Budget
as the standard rather than those
of the Health Department.
Civic, labor and Federal employe
groups met during the week and
planned a concerted action before
the Public Utilities Commission
for a rehearing OF the CAPITAL
Transit rate case. incidentally, the
group went on record for public
ownership Of the local transit sys-
tenn restoration Of the ONCE of
peoples counsel and protesting
against the sale of tokens in lots Of
six for so cents.
A model showing the proposed
tunnel under Dupont Circle was
put on exhibition during the week
and all local papers carried pic.
lures of it. There appears to be
a rather general reaction favoring
the change as making a decided
improvement in the traffic and
safety problem at this point. It
seems to fail to satisfy some as to
Massachusetts avenue. The Con-
necticut avenue business men fear
that the proposed change might
hurt business.
Taxation and representation
continue to be the most discussed
civic subjects. Most Of the or
gained groups agitate vigorously
Tor national representation and
Then there are many groups and
individuals who are demanding the
establishment of some form of an
elective government. In all of
these groups there appears to be
a unanimity of sentiment for the
immediate relief of the Bureau of
the Budget of all responsibility of
the District budget.