Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-07-02
Civic Problems, Civic Bodies
Senate and House Fiscal Differences;
A District Playground Merger
BY JESSE C. SUTER.

AL tHc ClOSe VI dIlUIIlcI AltCI~
esting week filled with matters
of civic interest the voteless and
unrepresented people of the Dis
trict are left guessing as to what
will be the outcome on the very
important appropriation and tax
alton bills for the District. AS
this is written both bills are in
conference hopelessly deadlocked
on the items which are most de-
sired by the community. The
share toward the District ex-
penditures to be paid by the
United States is the all important
question upon which the two
houses of the Districts great local
legislature are as far apart as the
poles. Many of the other differ
ences have been ironed out.
The most spectacular civic
events of the week were the 5Oth
anniversary dinner to Commits
sioner Melvin c. Hazen and the
swearing in of George E. Allen
as Commissioner. The Hazen
dinner was a huge success in
every way. 1t was enjoyed by all
and especially by Mr.. Hazen and
his good wife. Hazen was lauded
as a Virginia gentleman but all
Of the speakers overlooked the
fact that Mrs. Hazen is a native
of the District of Columbia. Some
Of the natives are of the opinion
that her influence as a native
had much to do with the things
for which Mel" was praised at
the dinner
Commissioner Allen on Thurs
day was indicted into Office by
Mr.. Justice Black of the Supreme
Court of the United States. In
his brief inaugural address he
again announced his belief first
in national representation for the
District of Columbia and then
for the election of local officials.
Commissioner Allen, like Com
missioner Hazen, is married to a
native of the District and there
fore must get some of his local
viewpoint from Mrs. Allen.
With the commission form of
government once more legally
established Commissioner Hazen
is relieved of the burden of re-
naming on the job constantly
for the purpose of maintaining
a quorum. The Engineer Com
missioner is provided by law with
assistants who may act in his
absence, but this is not the case
with the two civilian Commits
sloners, one of whom must be
available always.
An interesting feature OF the
dinner to Commissioner Hazen
on Wednesday evening was the
presence Of two men who had
distinguished themselves in the
office of Engineer Commission
err. These were Gen. Charles w.
kutz and Col. j. Franklin Bell.
Gen. Kutz had a great deal to
90 with the enactment and put
ting into operation of the Dis
trict coming law. He also had the
distinction of making the first
map indicating the area covered
by the respective citizens asso-
Citations. This map showed a
large amount of overlapping of
territory. much of which has
since been eliminated by mutual
consent of adjacent groups.
Col. j. Franklin Bell had many
achievements to his credit. He
was good fighter on Capitol
Hill for a square deal to the Dis
trict. He was so good a WASH
lngtonian that some people re-
marked that one would think
he was a native of Washington.
D. c., instead of Washington.
Pa. The colonel has been build
ing world fairs and manae-
ing municipalities since leaving
Washington. He is planning to
locate here permanently.