Evening star., 1940-05-09
Funds and Legislation
To Cut Fire Hazards
Backed by Bo|Ies
Rhode IsIond Avenue
Citizens Association
Marks Anniversary

Anirming his belief in annual in
spection to determine fire hazard
conditions of all buildings in the
District, Representative Bolles, a
member Of the House District Com
mittee, last night pledged efforts
to obtain sufficient appropriations
and legislation in Congress and by
implementing a broad educational
program in public schools as a
means Of lowering fire destruction.
Mr.. Bolles also criticized the Police
Department as being inefficient and
declared that the streets of WASH
ington were constantly Uttered with
trash.
Addressing the 32d annual cele-
bration of the founding Of the
Rhode Island Avenue Citizens As
sociation, Mr. Bolles described some
of his findings in Al local buildings
he had inspected, and declared, II
hate to think of the hundreds Of
structures that should be condemned
as fire traps due to bad wiring
alone" The Representative told Of
apartment houses and private resi-
dences that offer dangers in archi-
tectural design, construction mate
rails and in faulty or inadequate
alarm systems, and cited an instance
where q local theater, condemned by
inspection 10 years ago.. is still IN
operation.
Favors TwO-Platoon System.
Mr.. Bolles criticized the recent
layof of Fire Department person.
mel, viewing it as a large factor IN
the percentage increase Of fire de-
struction in Washington. He also
scored the long working hours Of
11remen as "depriving the depart
ment of its utmost efficiency" and
favored the two-platoon system.
The speaker said that youths OF
every home should be instructed to
detect possible fire hazards in order
to aid regular fire inspectors.
The Representative, turning to
local crime problems, termed the
present police setup as terribly In
efiicient, not as to personnel, but
regarding the existence of authority
that is divided four or five ways"
Mr.. Bolles, declaring efficient CO.
ordination between the different
branches as practically impossible,
advocated abolishing the park police
and combining the metropolitan,
building and Capitol police forces.
Favors Elective Council.
Mr.. Bolles also discussed local gov
ernment reorganization, expressing
favor of a form embracing a city
manager with plenary powers and an
elective council of local citizens. He
termed the lack of vote in the Dis
trict as an Outrage and criminal
condition" and declared that resi-
dents will not have the right to
consider themselves citizens until the
vote is granted"
The House District Committee is
powerless, he said.
"It has the leeway Of hand
cuffed man with an Oregon boot
who is locked up in Jail cell. II
the Commissioners or the Budget
Bureau disapproves Of piece OF
legislation, it doesn't have . chance.
I'VE haven't done thing this
session except some awful heavy
thinking. I'd like to see the Dis
trict Committee abolished and me
along with it."
Mr.. Bolles continued:
mo member of the District Com
mittee was consulted by the Appro-
priations Committee before the Dis
trict appropriation was sent to the
floor of the House. This is typi-
cal of the divided responsibility
throughout all parts of the District
government.
The association condemned the
practice Of intrastate livestock trucks
hating at gasoline service sta
tions in residential areas Thereby
creating public nuisance and tend
ing to reduce property values Of COM
munities." H. N. Ware, chairman
Of the Fire and Police Committee,
reported that Representative RAN
dolph has promised action to surb
the practice. The Neely bill to abolish
compulsory block booking Of motion
pictures in the District was indorsed
unanimously. Opposition was voted
the so-called Civil Rights Act for the
District sponsored by Representative
Seccombe.
s. S. Symons, president, recounted
the history of the association. Capt.
Sidney j. Marks Of No. IL precinct
presented the association with q
Police Boys Club membership
plaque. Last nights meeting, held in
Woodbridge Subbranch Library, was
presided over by Harold j. Clay.