Evening star., 1939-03-08
Southeast Council
Asks Voice in Rule
After Reorganization
Protests Any Site
West Of Capitol
For Auditorium

An independent school board and
separate legislative and executive
bodies, to be elected by District resi-
dents of no voting privilege else
where. were favored last night by the
Southeast Council of Citizens Asso-
Citations as revisions of the Griffen-
hagen report, after special COM
mittee offered a seven-point reor-
ganization recommendation Voicing
the necessity Of truly representa-
tive" government, the committee,
formed of William A. Maio, w. j.
Smith, A. w. Lee, E. J. Read and
H. w. Austin, pointed out that the
Griffenhagen plan, as it stands, rep
resents an essentially appointive
rather than elective government
which sis not in accordance with
the aims of the District citizen"
The remaining provisions of the
committee report specify in effect
that all municipal legislative power
be vested in governing body Of a
number Sufficient to represent the
geographical sections of the city,"
and that the executive body be COM
priSed of three members. According
to the plan three-year residence in
the District would be required of all
legislators.
Oppose Downtown Site.
Stressing the design and location
OF the proposed municipal audito-
rum as of vital importance to the
future development of the District,
and that the plan to choose the
John Marshall place site would de
feat this purpose" the council voted
unanimous opposition to any loca-
ton west Of the Capitol. In his
special committee report, Chairman
Leslie Leeper declared that down.
town site would not conform to the
plan of spreading all buildings not
essential to administrative contacts
to the east of the Capitol, thus
creating better balanced layout
and increasing the esthetic values
Of the Capital City"
Mr.. Leeper scored the overdevel-
oped building condition of the down.
town area and claimed better traffic
facilities were offered by an East
Washington location. The commit
tee favored any site east of Nine
teenth street Sc. to harmonic with
the area including the proposed
Avenue of the States, stadium. arm
ory and the Washington Baltimore
parkway.
Nolen Urges Joint Action.
John Nolen, jr., representing the
National Park and Planning Com
mission. urged the delegates to the
council to cooperate with North
east Washington In order to effect a
program of progressive develop
ment" for the Anacostia River
Parkway. THE whole east section
OF the city should band together for
their mutual benefit to promote
sustained action on a project that
will mean more to the Southeast
than the Rock Creek Park drive
ways mean to the Northwest" Mr..
Nolen declared.
The council voiced unanimous
accord in sweeping resolution pro-
testing any additional or increased
taxes for the District and favoring
an increased Federal share Of "at
least an equal percentage to that
proposed in the Overton plan"
Playing the steady decrease in
Federal payments to a mounting
District budget. Vernis Absher, fed
Grafton delegate. criticized state
ment attributed to Representative
Nichols, House District Committee
member, threatening withdrawal of
Government support Such an at
titude is not only totally unfair in
Its possibilities but is also unrea-
sonable," Mr.. Absher declared.
Repeating its desire for resident
OF the Southeast to represent the
section on the Board of Education,
the council authorized the secretary
Of the group to notify the District
Supreme Court of the stand and to
request that one of the Justices
speak before a council meeting in
the future.
The council voted to press author
ities for construction of either
bridge or tunnel to cross the Ana
costa River at South Capitol street.