Evening star., 1939-01-01

Committee of the District Federation
the situation for many another group
From now on, our time will not
be our own. There is so much to
do"
National representation and suf-
frage for the District of Columbia
are favored unanimously by group
of organizations queried last week
for summaries of their legislative
programs, though the various organ
izatiOns were not in agreement on
all the measures they indorse.
In addition to the District Fed
Grafton of Women's Clubs, which
includes 80 women's groups, the
survey included the Voteless Dis
trict of Columbia League of Women
Voters, the Washington Branch of
the American Association of Uni
versity Women, the Women's City
Club and the Twentieth Century
Club.
Legislation to improve child well
fare work in the District and ap-
propriations for a new central
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the majority support.
Most Of the clubs are considering
means of raising additional revenue
for the District, but are divided as
to the best method. The support
Of a sales tax by the federation is
opposed vigorously by other groups.
There is also considerable senti-
ment against chain store tax.
Most of the clubs also are inter-
ested in legislation affecting the
schools though their programs vary
Representation and Votes
Head Women Voters Program.
National representation and suf-
frage for the District of Columbia
continue to head the legislative pro-
gram of the Voteless District of
Columbia League of Women Voters
Mrs. Louis Gutenberg, president
of the local league, announced that
results of tabulations of the ques-
tionnaires sent out by the national
league to congressional candidates
before the last elections are to be
made public shortly and will be
used in the leagues efforts to secure
representation.
Asked to sum up some of the
major legislative items the organ
ization expects to stress during the
new session of Congress, Mrs. Often
berg declared that its program will
be based largely on the studies made
In the District on reorganization
of the District Government and
merit system, taxes, child welfare
and relief.
A child welfare luncheon recently
sponsored by the league and at
tended by representatives from
many of the organizations interested
in legislation already has resulted
In wide Endorsement of the leagues
preliminary child welfare program.
Under this program. in support
of the findings of the Child Welfare
Review Advisory Committee, it has
recommended to the Budget Bureau,
among other things, appropriations
for 20 additional workers for the
Board of Public Welfare to take
Sd1 Q vi NAllAO p1dSA4lS
investigation of adoption cases and
commitment OF feeble minded chill
dren; four subsidized boarding
homes for neglected and dependent
children and detention home for
children awaiting action by the
Juvenile Court; a general superin-
tendent of child-caring agencies
and services of the board; and re-
tention of the National Training
School for Girls at its present loca-
ton for another year.
The league is particularly inter-
ested in securing a superintendent
of childrens services, we'll qualified
to reorganize the present setup
under the Board of Public Welfare,
and believes that no changes should
be made at the National Training
School for Girls until such super
intendent has been appointed.
Federation Maps Campaign
For District Sales Tax.
Holding that sales tax would be
the most effective means of raising
additional revenue for the District,
the District Federation of Women's
Clubs expects to work actively in the
interest Of such legislation. Mrs.
Howard explained that the organi-
zation considers it meets the. defini-
ton that "a tax may be considered
good that is definite in amount, eco
nomical to collect, certain as to
time and payment and productive Of
revenue"
The federation also expects to op-
pose proposed legislation for chain
store tax, having recently reaffirmed
its stand against such measure.
1--WE also consider legislation for
the improvement of conditions of
youth of utmost Importance, Mrs.
Howard declared, land probably will
take up improvement Of health con-
ditions In the District at an early
date"
Among other measures the fedora
tion will press in Congress will be
appropriations for a new central
library and for additional teachers
and schools in the District, fiber
identification and uniform State
narcotic legislation.
Mrs. Charles P. Keyser is vice
chairman of the department of leg
islation, which Mrs. Howard heads,
and Mrs. Irene Brungart is secre-
tary. Miss Elaine Eppley heads the
federations special Committee on
National Representation for the
District.
Suffrage, Representation
To Be Pressed by A. A. u. w.
Discussing briefly the nropram Of