Evening star., 1938-02-06

- tne CIVIC mlnoed OF VOCelo66
and unrepresented District
IL Of Columbia, but with no
indication Of vital civic problems
being solved by the all-powerful
legislature clothed with the power
Of exercising exclusive legislation
In all cases Whatsoever over this
misunderstood and suffering COM
munity. The District 1889 appro-
priation bill passed the House Of
Representatives on Thursday car
rying $45.076,522 and considerable
dissatisfaction. Senate hearings
on the bill will start at 10 am. on
Tuesday.
The Fiscal Affairs Subcommittee
Of the House District Committee
continues to work on the District
revenue bill with the avowed in
tention. 1t is reported, OF enacting
q permanent system Of increased
taxation calculated to raise an
amount which will leave a surplus
of about $7,000,000 above appro-
priations for the next fiscal year.
This plan is thought to be in har-
mony with the stand made by the
chairman Of the subcommittee IN
his opposition to increasing the
lump sum and In fact suggesting
its reduction.
The District appears to have
succeeded in holding It's lead in
crime, i'll health and other un-
desirable features OF community
conditions. The voteless. unrepre-
sented and consequently helpless
citizens Of the District are at loss
to understand whether the failure
of Congress to correct these deplor-
able conditions is due to indiffer-
ence or to a pride that the Ma
tional Capital, which 1t governs,
should really be leader in some
forms of community life.
The Public Utilities Commission
has announced a new scale OF
rates for the Potomac Electric
Power Co., effective at once. which
are spread to domestic. commercial
and Government consumers. max
ing total saving to consumers OF
$4,000. The basic rate Of return
on the agreed valuation Of the
property of the company was re-
duced from 617 per cent to 8 per
cent. The new power rates are
among the lowest in the country,
1t is reported. Current bills will be
rendered at the new rate for serv-
ice during January.
A series Of crime prevention
clinics which began over a week
ago continued into the past week.
These gatherings. held under the
auspices Of the Washington Grim
inal Justice Association. we're well
attended and were productive OF
valuable information and sugges-
tions.
On Wednesday last a campaign
was launched to raise $4,000 to
finance an enlarged work by the
association to meet the demands
of a composite program for studies
into the many phases Of local
crime conditions. This fact-find-
ing and fact-analyzing body has
already, in its brief life. developed
information Of the most practical
value in pointing the way to a
solution Of some Of the problems Of
criminal justice.
Tribute to Theodore w. Noyes
A Record Breaking Event. .
IN THE failure of this column to
appear in The Star last Sunday
there was omitted reference to
what was. probably, the most
notable civic occasion in the his
tory Of the District of Columbia.
That word probably" is probably
entirely out of place in this refer
ence to the great testimonial din
ner rendered Theodore W. Noyes
at the Willard Hotel on the occa-
sion of his S0th birthday anniver-
sary on the evening of January 26.
A search of the history Of the Dis
trict of Columbia fails to produce
anything even approaching 1t.
Civic, business, labor, financial
and other leaders were all there.
Diplomats, jurists. legislators and
educators were there and all joined
in singing the praise Of Washing
tons first citizen and wishing him
many more years to carry on his
work for his native place.
Many had long recognized in
private citizen Noyes the first citi-
zen, but here at this wonderful
gathering 1t was acknowledged and
made unanimous by leaders in
every walk of life. Here 1t could
be said was q native Washingto-
nian, born in . humble home In
Southwest Washington who had
worked increasingly and continues
to work for his native place. Here
surely is one who is . prophet
with honor In his own country.
Unity Of Action Required
To Win Vital Objectivex.
DR. CHARLES w. ELIOT gave
us the "5-foot shelf OF books, :"
but to our own Theodore w. Noyes
the District is indebted for giving
us so succinctly the five local civic
objectives OF the present day. In