Evening star., 1942-12-13
Civic Problems, ,CivicBodies
Fire Tragedy Lesson and D. c.;
Real Problem Not Tax Exemption
BY JESSE C. SUTER.

Real Problem Not Tax Exemption
By JESSE c. sUTER
An attempt is being made complete the pending
District legislation but there little
getting through before the final adjournment the
seventh Congress-
The House last increasing
municipal control sm dwellings and another giving the
superintendent power
ing companies which write liability
need exists particularly for the legislation which provides
for strict sanitary building
regulations, with substantial penalty compliance.
On Monday evening the Association Of the Oldest
celebrated its 77th birthday anniversary with dinner
Twentour Hundred AS usual these annual occasions there
present District Commissioners the official
porant civic organizations The attendance this birthday
exceeded that of the past several years.
The December meeting the Washington
Wednesday evening the Willard Hotel Can't
Leland Lovette director relations Navy
will be the speaker addition
reports there will be special entertainment features followed
by buffet supper Admission meetings
the presentation of the membership for the
Another street safety traffic campaign is under
deavor to cut down the alarming number of fatal
dents Present plans of the Department Vehicles
include the placing bumpers of axs buses and eetcars Of
warnings pedestrians safety regulations
dd cab drivers are being enrolled as safety wardens to promote
in traffic
The Community War Fund drive continues for the attainment
OF revised goal The original objective the
s4l4l 900 which has pared down
raised in the contributions pledges
cent OF the new goal This leaves amount s2 still to be
raised
The d-workng committee is looking persons
may have overlooked and for others who have
underestimate giver An
revision
persons average increase of less
than 81 per person would meet the requirement.
Fire Hazards and Fire Fighting Facilities
The lesson OF the Boston fire will completely
on Washington unless something practical done guard against
such disaster here The Commissioners passage
OF socad fire law which broader provisions
than its title would indicate Such legislation would
mssoners with greater regulation along protective lines
While the Commissioners have pointed the for
thus modenzng the repotecon law and regulations they have
also called attention to the nsufcieny
fighting equipment When they called attention their efforts
along such lines they have been the buck
is we'll that in this wartime community
the hazards increased Consequently the
on the Fire Department has grown accordingly.
most important the problem Of protection
hauve inspections particularly OF places public assembly and
far possible public and establishments Inspections
Of structural conditions of existing buildings those OF
inadequacy inspection
lightly years addition limited per-
sonnet inspectors sufficient
facilities making frequent Inspections This condition obtains
not only building safety fire protection other
branches of municipal service in which inspectors required
Washington duty perform seeking
to have the lessons the Boston fire tragedy applied here for the
improvement local conditions be recognized unda
mental that danger and that members
Congress- public families the
citizen, may be prospective victims.
problem far important to be laid aside but needs
to be pushed vigorously until the best possible safeguards
vded for protection well for the extngushng OF nes
One More Civic Publication Discovered
The Kngman Park Civic Association News Volume No Of
March the civic affairs files 1t
printed paper with pages 812 by IL inches.
Kingman section road
territory. The matter contained in the March issue
indicates that the association active.
gives considerable space the civilian defense
neighborhood Boy Scouts Girl
community organization discussed Personal
obituary poetry find this enterpris
ing publication
While complete file Of this should be in the civic
affairs files the only Volume " No.
Tax Exemption Bill Solves Problem Only in Part
both House and Senate the
the
District Committee the bill.
brought the Of the Municipal Finance Com
ntee the Board of Trade which by the directors
December discussion Of the latter
elsewhere this