Evening star., 1940-05-05
Citizens Call
zoning Board
Arbitrary
Federation Threatens
To Seek Remedy
At CopitoI

a. SAeA oAJ AA AoAAAAA6 w 6AVS oAAA
cient weight to community senti.
ment and warned that If the COM
failed to do 50 in future
they would seek remedy at the Cap
Itol.
After being convinced by sew
eral spokesmen there was no hope
for any change in the zoning law
during this session Of Congress, the
Federation adopted a report Of its
zoning Committee expressing the
strong disapproval" Of rezoning Of
in the face Of objection
from a large number Of adjacent
owners and urging greater
weight be given to the protests Of
both organized and unorganized cit.
izenry.
Rezoning should be made over
the objections Of the neighborhood
only when q preponderance Of evi.
dence is presented that the action
Is for the benefit of the public, such
as for q school or firehouse, the
resolution said.
Hopeful Of Policies.
Immediately on adoption Of the
report, however, a reso-
luton was pushed through that the
federation Is extremely hopeful"
the commission will follow the policy
laid down in the report, adding:
However, In the event this is not
done the federation Is Of the opin-
lon that remedial legislation max
ing such policy compulsory should
be passed at the next session Of
Congress"
As soon as the federation dis
posed of this matter initiated by
the Friendship Citizens Association
in connection with erection of
large retail store In this neighbor-
hood, the delegates rushed through
committee dockets to:
l. Support food-stamp plan and
low-cost milk for the District.
2. Urge the superintendent Of Po-
lice and United States Attorney to
give special attention to violation
of the code in connection with in.
decent publications and amend
ments to Federal statutes to restrict
distribution Of this type of litera-
ture through the mails or inter.
state commerce. Also to make con.
viction of offenders easier.
Liquor License Action.
3. Request the Commissioners to
set up machinery for determination
Of neighborhood sentiment In con-
nection with liquor licenses, pro-
tect communities against glaring
signs, prohibit by regulation the
sale Of distilled liquor by telephone,
limit the number Of licenses and
exercise more stringent control over
transfers.
4. Urge amendment Of the Alco-
holic Beverage Control Act to pro-
vide for different expiration dates
for annual licenses, forbid issuance
or renewal of any license except a
class B or E license if the premises
are within 900 feet by direct line
from schools, colleges, libraries, pub
lie Fairgrounds, churches. hospitals
or public institutions, and to allow
protestants the same appeal rights
that applicants have.
S. Indorse parking facilities in
municipal center.
s. Indorse elimination of illegal
wage assignments.
Z. Approve improvements in the
fire, marine and casualty insurance
code.
Reconsideration Refused.
Earlier the delegates refused to re-
consider their action in approving q
Thirteenth and Upshur streets site
for Wilson Teachers College and
the location of a new Abbot Voca.
tional School in Brentwood Park.
The request to reconsider came from
the Mid-City Citizens Association
and was made by Delegate George
A. Warren.
In the long debate over the
zoning commission, delegates from
Friendship Citizens Association
sought to throw out the committee
report as not accomplishing any
thing.
"Only a change in the regulations
will be effective" declared Samuel
j. Flickinger, president Of the as
sociation.
Leon Pretzfelder, presenting the
committee report, insisted that the
Friendship resolution, which would
give the residents within five blocks
Of an area power to prevent recon-
ing on proper showing Of detri-
mental change, would to all intents
and purposes abolish the commits
sion and make a zoning commits
sion Of the neighborhood.
Wender Suggests Threat.
The delegates were sympathetic
to the extent Of being unwilling at
first to approve the committee re-
port and did 50 later only after Vice
President Harry Wender suggested
the resolution threatening remedy
at the Capitol.
Pointing out that the three Com
missioners are q majority Of the
nve-man commission, Mr.. Wender
said, when you speak Of the COM
mission you are speaking Of the
Commissioners"
IF the Zoning Commission will
not be reasonable" he said, I'VE
will seek remedy on the Hill"
The resolutions dealing with the
A. B. G. Board were brought in by
Mrs. Hoarace ]. Phelps, chairman
Of the Welfare Committee. and the
food stamp and low cost milk action
was recommended by the Rev. Harry
v. Porter.
Mon Seriously Wounded