Evening star., 1940-03-26
Clear Civic Interest
Urged as Requisite
For Commissioner
Midcity Citizens Hit
lnodequocy Of Areas
Fairgrounds

In an evenings docket of 13 items
of business the Midcity Citizens
Association last night urged selec-
ton of a bona fide resident of the
District to fill the post on the Board
of Commissioners to be vacated by
George A. Allen. In the motion Of
fered by George A. Warren, it was
specified that the appointee be a
resident of clear civic interest who
must be actively identified with local
matters: in plain terms, thorough
going Washingtonian." Mr.. Warren
also urged that the person chosen
be further qualified by advocating
suffrage for the District.
Keen disappointment was ex-
pressed in a resolution deploring
failure of the National Capital
Parks and Planning Commission to
recommend provision of playground
facilities in the midcity area. Men,
bers, pointed out that several out
lying sections of the city have been
provided such areas, declared the
midcity area to be the largest in
Washington having an inadequate
number of Fairgrounds.
Attention was called also to the
fact that property costs in outlying
communities are higher than those
of downtown districts.
Frown on Defender Plan.
Disappearing the proposed Gre
alton of the office of public de-
fender for the District, the associa-
ton advocated that fund be pro-
vided for lawyers appointed by court
to defend INDECENT persons on trial
The Bilbo proposal to revise the
District of Columbia code was in
dorsed, members terming such re-
vision "in urgent demand" The
Sheridan bill for investigating small
loan practices in the District also
was supported by the association.
Acting on request from the
Washington Federation of Churches,
association opposed pari-mutuel
race track in the District. On the
recommendation of DR.. F. Thomas
Evans, chairman of the Taxation
Committee, the citizens urged local
health authorities to establish q
Health Center in the midcity area
be made as soon as possible.
Ask Move to Cut Milk Costs.
The association asked the District
Commissioners for immediate steps
to cut down "monopolistic practices"
among local milk dealers as means
to lower consumer COST Another
move urged that local taxes be
levied only against those domiciled
in the District and that levies bear
ing least on persons least able to
pay are desirable
Among community matters the
association opposed rezoning of an
area on New York avenue between
Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets
NV. to permit construction of a
gasoline station: voted cooperation
with the Trinidad Citizens Asso-
| cation in an effort to clean up K
street between First street and
Massachusetts avenue NV. and ap-
pointed committee comprised of
Joseph Jaeger and E. Brandstetter
to investigate possibilities of remov-
ing parkway trees on New York
avenue between Twelfth and Elev-
enth streets NV.
The association postponed indef-
nltely its annual dinner scheduled
for April. The meeting, held at
1l26 Twelfth street NV, was pre-
sided over by A. j. Driscoll.
1t. Paul L. Barnes of No. 2 Po-
lice Precinct reported that over
5000 crimes ranging from overtime
parking to murder had been COM
mitted in his precinct since Janu-
airy l.