Evening star., 1945-10-25

dunn or circus the sun ever poured
down upon. 1t will seat 10000 per-
sons and it will cost $25, 5,000, 900. The
Senator, who is also mayor of Wash
ington under the funny system that
governs the voteless District of Co
lumbia, says that will be the cost,
but you know how those things are
and you mustn't be surprised If 1t
costs twice that much.
The Senator says his super-circus
will pay for itself out of earnings,
but you also know how those things
are. In any case, private enterprise
hasn't risen to demand that it be
allowed to do the job and take the
profits.
Bread and the circus! That was
the formula of the Roman emperors
when the populace needed pacifying
Bilbo hasn't got around to the bread
yet. He doesn't believe in pampering
the people exceedingly, certainly
not people who, as in Washington,
don't vote, or, as in Mississippi don't
vote very much. Schools, decent
housing and such? That's commu-
nism! Circuses-well, there's some
thing worth while. Give 'em the
biggest by-golly stadium that ever
was built on this here earth! Keep
'em happy.
The stadium is on its way. The
National Stadium c m m IS S o n,
created for that purpose, has ap-
proved the site, and Chairman Bilbo
reports that everything possible is
being done to expedite the building
plans so we will be in position to in
vite the 1852 Olympics to Washing
ton. 1--WE don't dare invite the
Olympics now" says Bilbo, because
we don't have house for Them"
Washington for more than half
a century has had a serious slum
problem, part of it peculiar to this
city because of the prevalence OF
alley dwelling. Tourists, unless they
happen to take wrong turning,
seldom see these slums; they usually
return home carrying in their minds
a picture of wholly beautiful city.
But the slumS are here and have
been rated among the country's
worst. They have furnished the same
excessive percentage of the citys
disease and crime-and births-tEat
they furnish in other slum-ridden
cities. They have their same high
percentage of houses without run
ming water or indoor toilet facilities.
Back in 1877 the Board of Health
in its annual report said: mo
meaner cabins for temporary or
permanent shelter can be found
than some our wretched poor are
born and exist and die in, here at
the Capital of the United States
And, strange as it may seem, none
so mean that they have not an
owner mean enough to charge rent
fer them. Down in the aHeys, below
grade, with combination roofs of
tar, felt, shingles, rags, tin, gravel,
boards and holes; floors damp and
broken; walls begrimed with
smoke and age; so domiciled are
families with all the dignity Of ten
ants having rent to pay"
A very great part OF that, ac-
cording to the National Capital
Housing Authority, is true today.
Much has been attempted by civic
minded citizens and something has
been done. The greatest progress
toward eliminating the conditions
described has been made in the past
ten years, but it has been made
against determined opposition On
the part of a limited group ard
against background of indifference
on the part of most congressman.
Some of the slums are gone end
some are going. In their places de-
cent low-cost housing is appearing
But the greater part of The job re-
mains to be done.
Congressional support for this
desperately needed work has been
little and reluctant: financially only
a few hundred thousand dollars. 1t
remains to be seen what the attitude
will be toward the $25,o00,000 sta
dium, although no opposition has