Evening star., 1946-01-27
Civic Planners
ASK Increased
Funds for DC.
Boord Says New
City Budget Will
Cut U. S. PERCENTAGE


American Planning and Civic AS.
sociation yesterday recommended tc
Congress that "the Federal contribu-
ton to the expenses of the National
Capital be more nearly commensu-
rate with Federal ownership ano
responsibilities"
The resolution, adopted at the
boards annual meeting yesterday
in the associations Washington
Offices in the Union Trust Building
said that If the Districts $81 000, ,OOC
budget for l947 is adopted, the Gus
tomary $4,000 1000 Federal contribu-
tion would fall to little over 7 per
cent.
Would Change Name.
In a series of resolutions yester-
day the board also:
l. Urged that legislation be in
troduced in Congress putting into
effect recommendations made in
the 1914 report on the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission proposed by the Budget Bu-
reau. The report, prepared at the
request of President Roosevelt. rec
ommends changing the commits
sion's name to National Capital
Planning Commission and giving it
far more responsibility and author
ity than 1t now enjoys.
8. Urged early passage OF urban
redevelopment and Slum clearance
legislation for the District now be-
fore Congress. The bill now being
considered would create an urban
redevelopment land purchase agen-
cy and $4,000 900 revolving fund.
Land bought would be. turned over
to either public housing agencies
or private enterprise business for
development.
3. Urged that public housing in
the District be provided for very
low income families who cannot be
housed by private enterprise.
Hits Treasury Billboard.
4, Petitioned the Treasury De-
partment Ito remove from the
Pennsylvania avenue yard of the
Treasury the conspicuous billboard
which defaces this dignified public
building"
5. Recommended resumption of
work to expand the National Ar
boretum to the fullest extent DOS
sible under present legislation"
The board also made a wide range
OF resolutions on national planning
housing and conservation.
In commenting on housing the
board:
j. Favored consolidation of ma
tiona1 housing agencies.
2. Urged that private industry be
given every proper encouragement
to provide needed housing units,
especially in the low brackets"
Urges Good Standards.
3. Commended use of local hous-
ing authorities to provide homes for
families who cannot pay the prices
asked by private enterprise.
4. Urged that all permanent
housing be constructed of good
minimum standards and in accord
ance with local comprehensive plans
and zoning regulations.
5. Asked that housing develop-
ments De placed near areas already
built up to avoid unnecessary and
costly extensions of utilities across
unused areas"
On conservation, the board:
/. Favored return of the National
Park and Fish and Wildlife Services
OF the Interior Department te
Washington "at the earliest practic-
able time
2. Re-affirmed its stand in favor
OF strong Federal legislation" to
help the States effect pollution con.
troll.
3. Urged that scenic bodies OF
water be protected from injury
caused by construction work.
Soil Conservation Praised.
4. Commended the work of the
Soil Conservation and the Forest
Services.
5. Favored participation of the
states IN revenues received from
national parks and monuments as
provided in a bill introduced by
Senator Hayden, Democrat, of Ari-
zona.
6. Deplored efforts to repeal parts
OF the Lacey National Antiquities
Act Of 1906, a conservation measure
Z. Reaffirmed its belief that choice
Iof sites for national parks shoulc
not be "unduly Influenced by loca
considerations"
8. Commended the National PARK
Service for protecting nationa
parks from unrelated commercial
development" and urged that Con.
gress provide money to purchase
all private land existing within ma.
tional parks and monuments.
The board announced that th,
association will hold a citizens
conference on planning in Dallas
April 21-24, 1916.