Evening star., 1946-05-15
Bill Might Bar
TeIeviision Here,
West Warns
Corporation Counsel
Opposes Ban on
Home Area Towers

Congressional approval sof the
pending bill to outlaw television
towers in residential areas of the
District might result in denial of
teleyision to Washington entirely,
Corporation Counsel Vernon E. West
warned a House District subcom-
mittee today.
Mr.. West said the bill was too
sweeping in denying the Commits
Sioners any discretion in the erection
Of these facilities.
."If television towers should be
prohibited In the District" he added,
lit is quite possible that Maryland
and Virginia would retaliate by re-
fusing to allow them in their areas,
with the result that there would be
no television for the District"
Tower Approved Despite Protest.
, The legislation followed approval
by the Commissioners and the .Zon-
ing Board of an application by the
Bamberger Broadcasting System to
put up a 300-foot tower at Fortieth
and Brandywine streets NV. Prop
erty owners in the area and repre-
sentatives of citizens associations
contended the tower would be a
menace to safety and would lower
property values.
James E. Schwab, a real estate
man OF 5522 Connecticut avenue
NV, who said he was thoroughly
familiar with the Chevy Chase
area, told the subcommittee he did
not feel that the tower would affect
adversely property values in the
neighborhood. -
think it would tend to stabilize
values. It would settle the uncer-
tainty surrounding vacant lots at
present"
Mr.. Schwab said he investigated
the question when he acted as
broker for the Bamberger Corp. in
purchasing property.
Sleep Angle Argued.
do you think if you lived in one
Of the houses nearby?" asked Rep
resentative OHara, Republican, OF
Minnesota, you would sleep better
for the tower?"
Mr.. Schwab said he did not think
he would sleep any worse.
Eric Greenleaf, plant extension
manager for the Chesapeake d Po-
tomac Telephone Co., objected to
any legislation removing all discre-
ton from the Commissioners in al
lowing radio towers.
Several property owners, appear
ing in rebuttal to arguments made
by opponents of the legislation
urged the subcommittee to report
the bill favorably. They contended
the tower would hurt their property
and would be a menace to their
homes.
G. E. Mclaughlin, representing
the Connecticut Avenue Citizens
Association, said the tower would be
dangerous and was fot appropriate
for a residential area. He con-
tended that it should be located
outside the city.
Hears Three Towers Fell.
Mrs. Ida Rossi, who said her prop
erty was SO feet from the proposed
site Of the tower, said she did not
think property owners should be
subjected to such a hazard. She
added that she had learned from
oflcial sources that two television
towers in Florida and one in South
Carolina fell.
John H. Connaughton, delegate
from the Petworth Citizens Asso-
citation to the Federation of Citi-
zens' Associations. protested the
tower on grounds that it was dam
gerous, unsightly and a departure
from the District building code re-
stricting the height of all structures
Other towers might follow, CIV
ing the section the appearance of an
oil development, Charles A. Saun-
ders of 4414 Davenport street NV