davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-01-19
Minister Back of Federation
Food Stamp, Scent Milk
His Reports Used
By Delegates as
Support Basis

Many civic leaders consider the
Rev. Harry V. Porter the nearest
thing to a one-man gang in local
affairs.
The blond. 31-year-old Presby-
terian minister can be found at
the bottom of host of civic projects
not only for his Southwest area, but
city-Wide in scope, working quietly
behind the scenes.
1t was his research and report
to the Southwest Citizens Associa-
ton which prompted the group to
support scent milk and a food
stamp plan for the needy here and
as chairman of the Welfare Com
mittee of the Federation of Citizens
Association he obtained federation
backing of the same projects. Five
cent milk has already been set up
and funds for the food stamp pro-
gram are carried in the 1912 esti-
mates recently forwarded to Con-
greSS.
He is not at all sure that all
persons needing nickel milk are get
ting it, though, and is afraid that
the same situation may develop
if the food stamps 60 through.
Activities Listed.
Some of the young minister's
activities include the posts of cor
responding secretary and chairman
of the Welfare Committee of the
Southwest Citizens Association. At
one time or another he has headed
its Committees on Health, Education
and Recreation. He is former chair
man and now acting chairman OF
the Southwest Childrens Council
which he says is the Oldest neigh
bOrhOOd council in the city. He is
chairman of the Hospital Committee
of the Federation of Churches. for
mer chairman of the now defunct
District Health Forum, has not hesi-
tated to solicit for the Community
Chest or advertisements for the
program of a river outing which
he directed for Southwest youth last
year, has organized basket ball, soft
ball and football leagues for South
west youth, has taught from time to
time at the Y. M. c. A, has led
prayers at the District Jail and
well. that's just part of the one
man-gang argument.
Mr.. Porter came here direct from
the seminary at Princeton, N. j., in
1894 as pastor of Westminster Me-
mortal Church at 434 Seventh street
S.W. He is married and lives at
BIT C street S.W. in a house the
church bought from Commissioner
Hazen.
During the coming year he ex-
poets to press for improvement of
the Districts Fairgrounds as we'll
as completion of the Southwest
Recreation Center and the new
Southwest Health Center.
They've only got one dentist
chair in the whole place." he COM
Evening star., 1941-01-19

E. D. Merrill, president of the
Capital Transit Co., on possibil-
tiles of improved service. Among
the propositions was the extern
sion of the Glover Park-Trinidad
line to Bladensburg road. Mr..
Merrill, Mr.. Thomas said, de-
clared the line could not be ex-
tended that far. Two months
later final word was received
that there would be no new bus
service.
Last December at a hearing
on extending the westward ter
minus of the Glover Park -Trini-
dad line, representatives of the
association attended and talked
with Mr.. Merrill about extending
the eastward end even beyond
Bladensburg road because of the
new real estate development in
the area. A review of the prob
lem was promised, Mr.. Thomas
said.
Still undaunted and hopeful,
the association has appointed a
committee to appear at the P.
U. G. hearing on the revived
crosstown bus demands Of the
citizens February II.
Evening star., 1941-01-19
Civic Problem of the Week

In February extension of the
Trinidad bus line was suggested
to get more direct service to
downtown. The Transit Co. dis
approved this suggestion, as did
the Public Utilities Commission,
according to Mr.. Thomas.
When the crosstown bus pro-
posal from Westmoreland Hills
at the northwest end of Massa-
chusetts avenue to Bladensburg
road NE. came up the associa-
ton supported it vigorously, be-
ing interested in the eastern
terminal. The plan was disap-
proved, but a suggestion at the
hearing that the route eastward
follow Franklin street instead of
Monroe sreet to South Dakota
avenue and thence to Bladens-
burg road gave the association a
new idea. Why not extend the
Park road bus line, which ended
at Seventh and Monroe streets
NE. to follow Franklin and
South Dakota to Bladensburg
road. This, Mr.. Thomas said,
would connect two street car and
three bus lines. A year after
Evening star., 1941-01-19

The National Gateway Citi-
zens' Association was founded in
the Bladensburg Northeast area
in May, 1896, with better bus
service as a particular aim.
In December a conference was
arranged with the Capital
Transit Co. at which several
routes including through service
on New York avenue were sug-
gested. The group was told no
buses were available at the time
according to Past President Will
liam P Thomas, jr., and that
IN answer would be given at the
conclusion of traffic study.
In August, 1887. having had no
reply, the Transit Co. was again
queried and at the October meet
ing the association was told the
proposals had been turned down.
At the meeting in January,
1888, a Transit official heard
again requests for new service,
including a loop in Greenvale,
territory east of Bladensburg
road and north of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad. No encourage.
meut resulted.
Evening star., 1941-01-19
Nine Groups
Will Meet
This. Week
Arkansas Avenue
Annual Banquet
Slated Thursday

Nine citizens associations Will meet
this week, including the second an
nual banquet of the Arkansas Ave-
nue. Community Citizens Association
Thursday evening.
Henry I. Quinn, former member
of the Board of Education and we'll
known lawyer and civic leader in the
District, will be the principal speaker
at the banquet. to be held in Roose-
welt High School, Thirteenth and
Upshur streets NV. at pm. More
than 200 guests have been invited,
including congressional and District
officials. Entertainment will include
sketches by Capt. Dick Mansfield of
the ninth police precinct and origi-
nator of Those Were the Happy
Days" cartoon in The Sunday Star,
a dance recital and orchestral music.
Because of the inaugural holiday,
three groups ordinarily meeting to-
morrow. Lincoln Park. Sixteenth
Street Heights and the Interfedera-
ton Conference, have changed meet
ing nights. Lincoln Park will meet
next Monday instead in the Kings
man School, Fourteenth and E
streets NE. The Sixteenth Street
Heights Association will meet We'd
nesday instead of tomorrow. EX-
press bus service on the Thirteenth
street NV. line and possible
changes in the route will be dis
cusSed at this meeting, Mallet Pre-
vost, secretary, said.
The Interfederation Conference
will hold its monthly dinner-meet-
ing Tuesday instead of tomorrow
at the Y. w. C. A. Seventeenth and
K streets NV. Election of officers
will be the principal business. E. L.
Bennett, secretary, announced.
In line with transportation prob
lens, members of the Petworth Citi-
zens' Association will be shown the
film being presented by the Capital
Transit Co. People Come First"
at meeting Tuesday night in the
Petworth Branch Public Library.
Also on the agenda will be a discus
sion OF the Fifth street NV. bus line
and the proposed crosstoWn bus line.
The Fort Davis Citizens Associa-
tion will meet Thursday in the home
OF William T. Cameron, 1900 Thirty
fifth street Sc. Mr.. Cameron. a
member of the Navy Band, will give
several harp solos following the
meeting.
Following is the complete schedule
OF the nine citizens associations
meeting this week:
Tuesday.
Cathedral Heights Cleveland Park
Parish hall. st. Adams Church,
Wisconsin and Massachusetts ave-
nues NV, 8 pm.
Citizens Forum of Columbia
Helghts-Powell Junior High School,
Hiatt place and Lamont street NV,
8 pm.
1nterfederation Conference-Din-
ner-meeting), Y. w. c. A. Seven
teenth and K streets NV, s pm
Petworth-Petworth Branch Pub
lie Library, Kansas and Georgia ave-
nues NV, 8 pm.
Wednesday.
Sixteenth Street Heights-A. r.
Shepherd School, Fourteenth and
kalmla streets NV, 8 pm.
Thursday.
Arkansas Avenue Community
OinneD. Roosevelt High School,
Thirteenth and Upshur streets NV,
Z pm.
Fort Davis $500 Thirty-fifth
street Sc, pm.
Friday.
AnacoStia AnacoStia Junior
Senior High School, Fourteenth and
r streets Sc, 8 pm.
Burroughs - John Burroughs
School, Eighteenth and Monroe
streets NE, 8 pm.
Evening star., 1941-01-19

everybody"
Backs Receiving Home.
In addition to the food stamp
plan he is a champion of the new
receiving home proposed in the 1912
budget and expansion of the We'll
fare Boards child protection and
care. He is strongly for rehabili-
tation of prisoners, a farm for in
ebriates and is equally heartily op-
posed to horse racing in the Dis
trict. He regrets that the new Jail
provides no chapel or space comp
arabic to the old rotunda for con-
ducting religious services among the
prisoners.
From his unpretentiouS church
study. warmed by a small heater in
a corner, the tail. slender young
preacher will proudly show you the
work his young people have done in
repainting the walls and some of
the outside drainpipes of the build
ing as means of saving money.
And still more proudly he will say:
I'VE are having little note burn
ing here January 81 at pm. It is
$4,000 note and clears the
church of a s250OO Indebtedness.
That's pretty good for church of
$50 members and an annual income
of IS 900, isn't it,
Evening star., 1941-01-19
Army Procurement
Officers to Confer

The Is Army officers who head
field administration of the $4,000.
100000 procurement program for the
Ordnance Department will meet
here January 27 to make progress re-
ports.
Each of the executives of the l3
procurement districts will give an
accounting of munitions production.
inspection and expanding of plan.
ming activities in his district.
Evening star., 1941-01-19

the writing of the first letter, he
said, he P. U. C. denied the posi-
ton.
In May, 1888. a joint committee OF
two Maryland associations and a
National Gateway representative
conferred with transit officials
suggesting through service from
Maryland points south across
town via Maryland avenue and
Constitution avenue to Twenty
third street NV.
In September the association
suggested running buses one way
suthwest on New York avenue in
the morning and one way north
east in the evenings between Bla-
densburg road and Florida ave-
nue..
Spurred on by lack of success
in its efforts, a message was cir
culated throughout the BladenS-
burg area at the close of 1889,
listing the efforts of the associa-
tion and calling mass meeting
in January. The meeting ap-
pointed a special bus committee.
In February of 1910 an associa-
ton committee conferred With
Evening star., 1941-01-19

ton of the Abbot showed that the
tract was more centrally located
for the boys than was Upshur
street. Transportation facilities
seemed superior to and from the
Brentwood area, which is only some
1900 feet from Sixth and Florida
avenue NE.
Points for Brentwood.
In addition they felt the site Of.
Tered splendid opportunities for ex-
panslon and not being affected by
academic surroundings, the school
would be better able to preserve
Its own identity and purpose. One
offlclal pointed out that the site
had good elevation, large opportun-
ity Tor recreation, would be more
satisfactory for driver training
courses being taught now in traffic
congested areas. 1t was also thought
1t would not have TO conform TO
architecture of other schools and
therefore could cost less.
George E. Keneipp, chairman OF
the Public Schools Committee of the
Board Of Trade, pointed out last
week that the planned construc-
ton of s500,000 viaduct over the
Washington terminal yards would
increase the accessibility of the site.
The viaduct will cross New York ave-
nue. from Ninth and Brentwood road
NE. and curve to connect with
Sixth street NE.
MrC na,,Iz
ident of the School Board, said on
learning that the Commissioners
had approved the Brentwood site
IN the 1912 budget, that she had
visited the site a number of times
and could "envision a very fine vo-
cational training plant there.
Despite the support of the inf1u-
entlal civic groups. however. efforts
for the new Abbot have failed
completely for the past two wears
this despite the interest of Senator
Overton.
Miss Selma Borchard a spokes-
man for the Teachers Union, an
A. F. of L. affiliate, last year urged
on the Senate Appropriations Sub
committee that the Abbot not be
placed in the Brentwood location.
She referred TO the undesirabilitv of
putting it across the railroad tracks
and next to a market. She favored
Upshur street
Stand of Mr.. Vol.
On March q, Matthew Woll. OF
the A. F. of LIS Committee on Edu-
cation, was reported to have sent a
telegram to the House Appropri-
ations Committee asking that the
Upshur street site be substituted
for the Brentwood location. The
telegram does not appear in the
printed record but is vouched for
by George M. Gooch, of the Six
teenth Street Highlands Association.
Whatever the reason. the Appro-
priations bill for the District went
from the subcommittee calling for
the Brentwood site and came out Of
the full committee the next day
calling for Upshur street.
But the forces for Brentwood were
not so easily stifled and after testi-
mony before Senator Overtons
group, the Brentwood site was not
restored but the bill became law
without any funds for the school.
The previous year a situation had
developed where effort was made to
get both the Teachers College and
the Abbot into the bill but in the
long controversy over the Federal
payment which delayed passage of
the supply bill until two weeks after
the new fiscal year began, the con-
ferees were in no mood to delay
things further and neither was pro-
vided.
Evening star., 1941-01-19
Trade Board Unit
Meetings Planned

The Midwinter Dinner Committee
of the Board of Trade will hold an
other meeting next Friday night to
map plans for this annual affair,
which is scheduled for Saturday.
February /, at the Mayf1ower Hotel.
The committee, headed by James A.
Cassidy, will meet at 7:30 pm. in
the board Offices in The Star Build
ing.
Other committee sessions slated
this week:
Membership, Tuesday at 1910 pm.
in board offices; Henry S. Owens,
chairman.
American Ideals. Thursday at
1890 pm. at the Harrington Hotel;
Charles A. Robinson, chairman.
Industrial and Commercial Inter-
estS, Thursday at pm. in board
offices; Bruce r. Allen, chairman.
Evening star., 1941-01-19
D. 6. Business
Three Groups Plan
Public Hearings

Public Utilities Commission.
Potomac Electric Power Co. slid
ing scale rate hearings, Friday at
10 am,
Board of ZOning Adjustment.
Considers 18 appeals from zoning
regulations, including one to eStab-
lish an educational institution at
1924 Sixteenth street NV; one by
Salvation Army to establish a
philanthropic institution at 1911 G
street Sc, and the appeal of the
Georgetown Progressive Citizens
Association from issuance of an
occupanty permit at 3213 @ street
NV. to so man workers of the
Self-Help Exchange.
Alcoholic Beverage Board.
Protest hearings: Henry Colodney,
transfer of an off-sale packaged
goods license, wednesday at 9 am;
application of Rubin Goodstein for
off sale packaged goods beer and
wine license at 1863 Twenty-eighth
street NV, Friday at am; re-
neWal of an on-Sale beer and wine
license to L. S. Coleman at o5 H
street NV, Saturday at 10 am.
Evening star., 1941-01-19
Two Conventions
Are Scheduled

Washington will play host to two
conventions this week, according to
an announcement by the Conven-
ton Bureau of the Greater National
Capital Committee.
The United Palestine Appeal will
hold a two-day meeting, beginning
Saturday. at the Willard Hotel. The
conclave is expected to attract some
1000 delegates.
About $50 State officials will at
tend the convention of the Council
of State Governments, which will be
held Tuesday through Friday at the
MAydower Hotel.
Evening star., 1941-01-19

of Education and the Commissioners
calling for the site IN Brentwood
Park, out New York avenue NE.
near the Columbia Institution for
the Deaf. On the other side he Is
apt to find the American Fedora
ton of Labor and the Midcity Citi-
zens' Association urging that the
school be built on the Upshur street
tract between Thirteenth and Four
teenth streets NV.
Site Is Difficulty.
There appears to be unanmity on
the desirability of new building,
only the question of the site being
controversial The present Abbot is
located at Seventh and o streets
NV. and was the old Central High
School until the high school moved
to its present quarters. At the pres
ent moment this ancient structure
is being kept in use "a hours a day
with the addition of the national
defense courses for which the equip
ment is in demand Last spring a
committee of Senators toured the
premises and were highly impressed
with both the caliber of the work
being done and the need for a new
building. The same group, led by
Senator John H. Overton of Louisi-
ana. inspected the Brentwood site.
The whole difficulty seems to have
arisen about three years ago when
the Board of Education decided to
make a determined effort to get a
replacement for Abbot At that time
the need for new Wilson Teachers
College was also pressing. Aban-
donment of the old tuberculosis
Hospital had left a fine site in a
fine locality which, with the five or
six other schools close by, would
give the community an educational
center running from kindergarten
straight through teachers college.
First Plans Drawn Up.
In their preliminary inspection of
the tract and enthusiasm over the
possibilities, school officials had
sample blueprints prepared in the
thought that both new schools could
be located there-the Teachers Col
lege facing south along Upshur street
between Thirteenth and Fourteenth.
and the Abbot facing Fourteenth
street at the corner of Fourteenth
and Upshur. But when the time
came to inspect the plans one thing
was perfectly obvious-there was not
enough room for both. The COM
munity, with the Petworth Ele-
mentary School, the new Dennison
Vocational School, the Roosevelt
High School and the Macfarland
Junior High School, as we'll as the
Health School now used for the Grip
pied children, had to have room for
recreation, and this was the site
designated for the recreation CEN
ter. Even one school there would
cut down the space, but the two
would leave virtually no play room
at all
In deciding to 60 elsewhere for
the Abbot. school officials took into
consideration the fact that there
was to be completed in the area
one vocational school-the new Den
niSon, and the fact that the teach
ers' college would complete the as
sembly of educational levels in the
area, thus providing a fine oppor-
tunity for the practice teachers with
the nearby schools as laboratories.
But their first statement that the
two schools could be located at Up
shur has been thrown back at them
by opponents of the Brentwood site.
When the Brentwood tract be-
came available, school officials ex-
amined 1t from every angle and were
unanimous that it would be a fine
location. A survey of the popula-
Evening star., 1941-01-19
S. A. R. to Hold Annual
Ladies' Nigh" Tuesday

The District Society, Sons of the
American Revolution. will hold its
annual ladies night" at the May
flower Hotel Tuesday, beginning
with reception at 7 pm, followed
by a banquet and dance.
Representative Randolph, chair
man of the House District Commit
tee, who Is member of the George
Rogers Clark Chapter, S. A. R., Of
Clarksburg, w. Va, will speak on
The Challenge of American Cit
izenship."
Evening star., 1941-01-19
Wage Boost Meetino CuIIed

A mass meeting to urge an in
crease OF $l,OOO,000 annually in the
wages of ''low-paiw" Federal workers
will be sponsored by the United
Government Employees at the Shiloh
Baptist Church. Ninth and p streets
N. W., at pm. today. Edgar q.
Brown, president Of the organiza-
ton, and others will speak.
Evening star., 1941-01-19
Brentwood Site for Abbot
To Get Strong Support
Civic Groups Seen Favoring Northeast
Location for Vocational School Instead
OF Upshur Street Tract
BY JOHN w. THOMPSON, Jr.

The 100000 item the 1912 school budget Abbot
tiona School
have the influential bodies called
But
building which
the budget entirely
If the lines of support form previously will
Evening star., 1941-01-19
Civic Problems, ,CivicBodies
Citizens Ponder Traffic Fatalities;
Action Sought on Summers Plan
BY JESSE c. SUTER.

The number of traffic fatalities during the current month has
cenered attention traffic safety Investiga
tons prospect Rigid enforcement
OF existing regulations and heavy
offered to relieve the dangerous subject
Wherever any civic or business
that something must be done about Immediately
senator OVeron Democrat of Louisiana
he added adoption plan division
of the financial responsibility
the taxpayers United States Many added burdens
he believes will have
cause of the large increase population
expansion of the the
program.
The Commissioners Thursday transmitted
report of Assessor Edward Dent on the nontaxabe
real estate in the District of Columbia This will printed
by the Senate and referred to the Committee the District of
Columbia taxexemp real estate in the District totals $685.
597699 Al Improvements
of the District OF this property by
government is only 35 per cent of the total valuation
careful study and analysis of these lists expected be help
ful in support OF the overton fiscal plan.
reFiehtns Preparedness Need for National Defense
In of the civic groups they overlooking the i'm
porant roll played by the femen under the rtfu conditions
OF modern warfare Some already taken action the
immediate equipment of the District Fire with the
required fires incenday bombs and
other fre-laden missiles dropped planes.
The question has also been raised whether the cost of
such precautionary should be borne by local the
Federal
preparations unnecessary
groups agitating fighting preparedness
prompted morbid fear CT impending DOOM They do
however recognize this important part of program OF
preparedness national They have been advised by
perts and extngusment that the District of
Department neither equipped trained for
fighting preventing these modern warfare fires.
visited English cities cannot
of these increased disastrous
explosions them.
That todays peacetme fires
District Fire Department has long had we-deserved
work and fire losses have been kept low. Wide
low buildings believed to have had part in the
have
the the department to fit them for their work.
schooling limited through the lack of available funds
elaborate other
communities
Original chemical research and the of the research of others
planning refghting methods the school,
protective such the District department has
always lacked funds Money has also not been available send
the national conventions which reghtng
methods equipment considered
at the time these advocates refghting
parednes special need training
the and equipment They hold that the
prepare supplemental
District emen the protection the valuable property the
Federal Government For this local citizens
only reasonable allotment defense funds
President for this purpose
The cost of introducing modern equipment and training and
expansion of the force considered the civic groups
waste extravaganza Nothing
would be equipped along
the District will have better equipment
regular These citizens believe that would simply
insurance against fire though
Is never invaded by foreign foe.
Evening star., 1941-01-19
CALENDAR NOTES,

David D. Sherman was elected
president of the Cleveland Park
Businessmen's Association to sue
ceed E. C. Meyer at the associa-
tions annual dinner held last Mon
day in the Wardman Park Hotel.
Other officers elected included Miss
Libby Myers, first vice president,
the first woman to hold such a
position in the group. Berneard
Elman was reelected secretary and
T. E. Norris, treasurer. Frank c.
Ford. Lawrence H. Richards, Roy
Sidel and Les Kohler were made
directors. The group pledged its
full support to obtaining a cross
town bus line to link "outposts" of
Northwest and Northeast. Repre-
sentatives will be sent to the hearing
on the proposed line in the Dis
trict Building February II.