Evening star., 1938-03-20

OoA oS ava PSs "SAA M
and with record of achievement in
many related lines, was invited to
serve as chairman Of the new group
and the other members were care
fully selected.
I'm choosing the membership en-
phasis was laid on women prominent
in official and civic capacities" Mrs.
Thorpe explained. "for we knew that
much of the committee work would
be along legislative lines and with the
police and traffic departments of the
city. At the same time we wanted q
cross-section of Washington woman
hood. AS now organized, the commit
tee OF 40 includes Republicans, Demo-
Gratis Protestants, Catholics. Jews,
civic workers. clubwomen and many
Others. We have the assistant treas
urer of the United States, a captain
of the police force. the director of
the mint, wives of five Senators, two
Representatives. wives, political COM
mentator, a feature writer, assistant
editor Of famous magazine and the
president OF the D. C. Federation of
Women's Clubs in our membership.
Always on the Alert.
I'VE make studies. following these
IN many cases with recommendations,
and are on the alert for anything We
think will improve traffic conditions"
At present the committee members
are elated over the agreement by the
Senate and House conferees that the
site of the proposed Jefferson Junior
High School Shall b. unrestricted as
% location This has been the ma jor
objective of the committee in the past
year and has been carefully studied.
Other accomplishments of the COM
mittee, within the comparatively short
period of its existence, include many
useful suggestions to city officials as
to parking, lighting. one-way streets,
an educational exhibition through
which drivers reactions were tested
and the resurrection and passage of
the Safety and Responsibility Act,
which had long been hanging fire. In
addition, the committee has secured
increased appropriations for play
grounds in the central area of the city,
AS might be expected, the ''woman's
angle" and the "children's angle" CO.
incide at many points when it comes
to traffic questions. One of the first
studies undertaken by the group was
that OF juvenile casualties. 1t was
found most Of them occurred in the
central area of the city, the section
between Constitution and Florida
avenues. The reason for this was
thought to be that insufficient play
ground facilities kept the children on
the streets, and so in danger. The
committee, armed with statistics, ap-
peared before the District Appropri-
ations Committee. asking that some
thing be done about it," As result
an annual appropriation Of $4,000 to
keep Fairgrounds open during the
summer and adequately stated was
granted. Since that time an en-
couraging decrease in the number of
trafic accidents within the area has
been noted
Soon Learned Answer.
1t was this same interest in Juvenile
casualties that led to the work on be-
half Of the Jefferson Junior High
School. The committee found a dis
) proportionate number of the traffic
injuries to children in the Southwest
section occurred in the immediate vi
cinity Of the school,
"A brief study of the situation pro-
vided us with the answer" Mrs.
Thorpe said. Prom the traffic stand
point, the Jefferson Junior High
School is in about as precarious a posi-
tion as it Is possible for school to be.
On one side only roadway separates
1t from the railroad. A viaduct OBJ
structs the view Of approaching traffic
on the other. The Procurement Di-
vision Of the Treasury is close by and
every morning just as the children are
going to school. hundreds Of employees
are rushing to work in automobiles. As
for the building itself. 1t is IS years old
and in an appalling condition. It must
be replaced soon and it would seem
most unwise to rebuild 1t on the same
site"
Soon after the committee became
interested in the school. the citizens
OF the community and the committee
working together managed to secure
an appropriation Of 100000 for the
purchase Of land and the architectural
plans were begun. But when the bill
came up for discussion in the House,
rider was attached. making 1t al
most mandatory to purchase ground in
approximately the same location as
the present site.
Victory Over Coffee Cups.
Thinking that the time had come
for action. Mrs. Thorpe took Mrs.
King, wife of Senator William H.
King. and Mrs. Thomas, wife OF Sem
ator Elmer Thomas both of whom are
committee members, on tour to study
conditions at first hand. The situation
was so obvious to both that they
+ made immediate reports to their hus-
bands. Mrs. Thorpe feels that the
victory for the committee was won
over the coffee cups, for the repeal
Of the rider was recommended in the
report of the Senate Subcommittee on
Appropriations. The provision was
agreed to, but 1t Is subject to separate
action by the House when the report
Is filed.
TT is not just the matter of the e25
pupils now attending the school," Mrs.
Thorpe said. "All Of the young people
Of tho community for generations to
come will make use Of that building.
A taxi driver called my attention to
what I think would be an ideal site.
It Is between H and I and Seventh
and Ninth streets SW. The clearing
Of . small triangle would give the
school command of the view of the
new boulevard to be built along the
water front. 1t is so central to where
we all live,' the taxi man said. and the
children could go to school without
the help Of the missus.' I agreed with
1,iy,e ond could In, ujpo c,,nh copfcr