davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1947-02-16
District Vote Wouldn't Impoir
Congress Rule, Copper Says

A national vote for residenst of
the District would in no way i'm
pair the exclusive control of Con-
gress over the city, Senator Capper
declared yesterday.
He spoke before more than 100
members of the Political Study Club
of Washington at the Washington
Club, 1701 K street NV.
Senator Capper said the object of
the trainers of the Constitution in
including exclusive control of Con-
gress over the Capital was unity of
government powers, not negation of
political rights"
The speaker. for % years a men,
Der of the Senate District Commit
tee, outlined two of his measures to
improve the political status of
Washingtonians.
One of them, Senate Joint Reso-
luton 6, he explained, would grant
representation In the Congress and
Evening star., 1947-02-16
Spaatz Awards Citations
At Boiling Field Review

Gen. Carl A. Spaatz, commanding
general of the Army Air Forces.
yesterday presented the Legion Of
Merit to former 1t. Col. Claude H.
Smith of 4100 Chesterbrook road,
Falls Church, Va, and the Merito-
rious Service Unit Plaque to Col.
William ]. Bohnaker of 2944 Second
street Sc, for the 35th AAF Base
Unit, which he commands.
The ceremony took place at a
formal review of more than 1000
troops at Boiling Field. Mr.. Smith
received the Legion of Merit for
services in the development of staff
studies in major policy matters and
overall planning of high priority
projects with AAF headquarters
from May, 1941, to June, 1916.
The award to the 35th AAF Base
Unit was for outstanding devotion
to duty" in exceptionally hazardous
tasks from January, 1946, to Sep
tember, 1916, providing transporta-
ton and crews. for emergency air
missions.
Evening star., 1947-02-16

among the electors of President and
Vice President to the people of the
District of Columbia-make them
voters" The other, Senate Bill Ills,
would govern the election of dele
gates representing the District at
national political conventions.
During a discussion after the ad-
dress, Mrs. John T. Kennedy, presi-
dent of the club, called for show
ing of those members who do not
have vote in some other state
and would be eligible to vote here
If it were permitted. Nearly half
the group arose.
The people of Washington, Sem
ator Capper said, "obey the same
laws of Congress, pay the same
taxes, fight in the same wars, bleed
and die, just as do constituents of
the various states"
Mrs. Theophilous Morgan. pro-
gram chairman, introduced the
speaker.
Evening star., 1947-02-16
National Gallery
Gets Art Seized
From Germans

The three German paintings, In
Guiding the self-portrait by Rem
brandt, which We're seized by the
Alien Property Office in Dayton
soon will be placed in the National
Gallery of Art here; Attorney Gen.
eral Clark has announced.
The paintings were seized by the
Government under authority of the
Trading With the Enemy Act as
property in the United States owned
by nationals of an enemy country
The Attorney General said that
while he does not now have au-
thority to transfer title to the paint
ings to a national museum for the
benefit of the public, he plans to seek
legislation permitting him to do so.
In addition to the Rembrandt, the
other paintings are a half length
portrait of man by Ter Borch and
a portarit of young girl by ]. H
.Tischbein.
Evening star., 1947-02-16
Reckless Walking Is Blamed
For RISING D. G. Traffic Toll

people persist In needlessly and
thoughtlessly exposing themselves to
such dangers as walking between
parked vehicles, running into the
street, crossing between intersec-
tions, covering their faces with heavy
coat collars or umbrellas, walking
or running into crosswalks, crossing
against red traffic signals and walk
ing diagonally across intersections.
Describing how the IL victims this
year met their deaths, Mr.. Keneipp
said five were fatally injured cross
ing streets not at crosswalks. one ran
into the side of a streetcar, two ran
into the street at the cfosswalk, two
fell from moving vehicles, one
stepped into the street between two
parked cars and one case indicated
speeding.
Evening star., 1947-02-16

Reckless walking is seriously in
juring Washington's chances in the
1s47 National Traffic Safety Con-
test, according to George e. Keneipp,
director of the Department of Ve-
hicles and Traffic. He pointed out
that there have been IL traffic
deaths in the District thus far this
year, as against five during the cor
responding period last year.
"Of the IL traffic deaths" he said,
"all but three unquestionably were
due to carelessness by the victims. !"
He emphasized that both the po-
lice and the Department Of Vehicles
and Traffic now are engaged in a
breakdown on bad driving, but this
effort will help but little in reducing
Washington's traffic fatalities II
Evening star., 1947-02-16

The Federation OF Citizens Asso-
Citations last night was warned
against the inf1ltration into men,
ber bodies of special-interest groups.
Clifford H. Newell, president of
the Federation, told nearly 100 dele
gates in the District Building board
room there has been marked ef-
fort" recently in some sections OF
the city on the part of persons mot
interested in Washington" to join
member bodies.
"We do not want the type not
interested in the District" he de-
clared.
Mr.. Newell did not elaborate on
his statement to the meeting, but
later told newsmen he had received
complaints from three presidents Of
member bodies of 'infiltration" by
certain groups who tried ito take
over" the association. He indi-
Gated the incidents had occurred
since the Federation took its posi-
ton against a report on race rela-
tions by a committee of the Wash
ington Social Survey.
At the same time Mr.. Newell
named a three-member committee
to represent the Federation in d
study of the Community Chest. The
committee includes John H. Con-
naughton of Petworth Citizens As
ISOLATION, George L. Gregg of Randle
Highlands Citizens Association and
Mrs. Ernest w. Howard of Columbia
Heights Citizens Association. Alter
mates are William J. Bartle OF
Stanton Park Citizens Association
and Eugene Ditto of Georgetown
Citizens Association.
Other action by the delegates
included:
/. Authorizing contract between
the Federation and Paul P. Walsh
under which Mr.. Walsh is to publish
a monthly tabloid called "The Dis
trict of Columbia Citizen" on d
prof1t-sharing basis and as the off,
cial organ. of the Federation.
2. Approved the plan of the Com
missioners to increase automobile
inspection fees from so cents to 81
3. opposed granting a permit for
a 310-foot radio tower at First place
and Riggs road NE.
4. Refused to admit to member
ship in the Federation the District
Optometric Society.
S. Urged member bodies to invite
students of the Americanization
School to attend association meet
Evening star., 1947-02-16
27st Century federal City
Planned to Adioin District

American people have abandoned
their earlier belief that Government
is best which governs least. For
this, reason, 1t looked as though the
Federal Government probably would
extend the social and economic gains
of the last 10 years and explore new
fields in response to popular demand.
Then they looked at the tortured
efforts of the city to expand the
seams of the pair of pants tailored
for it by the founding fathers. Con-
centration of office space in the
central area of the District has
brought serious traffic congestion
and great loss in tax revenues.
Esthetic and social values also have
been lost. With congestion and
loss of these values has come rise
in juvenile delinquency, crime, pow
erty, wife desertion, divorce, aban-
doned infants, vice and other typical
modern city scourges.
To them this spelled only one
thing decentralization of Federal
enjoyment in the metropolitan area
must be undertaken to avoid still
greater losses, to reduce travel time
for Federal workers, to make them
more prosperous, healthier, more
contented and more efficient.
What to do? The experts studied
the land surrounding the District.
They found that the Virginia sec
ton of the Capital had 108,00 per-
sons in 1910, the Bethesda Chevy
Chase area had $4,000, the Silver
Spring area 10000, the Hyattsyille-
College Park area $4,000. But when
they came to the SuitMnd area, they
found it only had $4,000. of which
nearly two-thirds lived in an area
of one square mile near Capitol
Heights. Some parts of the area
had only 200 to 800 persons per
squase mile, yet most of 1t was
within 10 miles of the Capitol
building.
City's Growth Lopsided.
The city was is lopsided, in other
words, and the place to expand
would be the side away from the
"lop."
The fact that the same line of
reasoning had led them to locate
Federal buildings which didn't have
to be downtown in the Suitland
area, and the fact that the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission is attempting to combat the
city's lopsidedness by pressing for
the development of East Capitol
street, made the area an even bet
ter bet for the treatment they were
to recommend.
Out of this line of reasoning,
their report shows, grew the idea
for the new city. They decided that
nothing less than the boldest sort
of project would start the National
Capital off on its cure.
First step in the program, ac-
cording to the plan, would be crea-
ton of the Federal City Land and
Planning Commission with power
to prepare, adopt and execute a
master plan for the new city. In
cooperation with other planning
agencies, it would coordinate the
Evening star., 1947-02-16
Purse-Grabber Gets $50,
Breaks Victims Arm

A 56-year-old woman suffered a
broken arm when an unidentified
colored man grabbed her on the
street near her home shortly after
7:30 pm. and escaped with her
pocketbook containing about $50.
The woman, Miss Anna Croker of
415 Sixth street S.W., who was taken
to Providence Hospital, said the
thief threw her to the ground in the
struggle for her pocketbook.
A young bandit got away with 81
at II pm, police reported, when he
held up two girl clerks at the Highs
Ice Cream Store, 1923 Pennsylvania
avenue Sc. The clerks, Shirley
Taylor and Ruth Doherty, both o.
told police the youth fled on foot.
Evening star., 1947-02-16
Senate Unit May Act
-.ia5 s1H a..,- H.. os ss5
Tomorrow on Bill for
D. {. Representation

Chairman Wiley Of the Senate
Judiciary Committee hopes to bring
up the Capper resolution on District
national representation for action
by the committee tomorrow, but
could make no prediction as to its
fate.
I'VE have a heavy docket of busi-
ness" he explained, land we might
aot get 10 the Capper resolution.
Whether we will reach a determina-
ton on it is a question. That de-
bends on, the judgment Of COM
mittee members. And" he added,
this is a committee of individuals. u
Senator Wiley indicated last Mon
day, after the unit had considered
the Capper measure, that it would
be made special order of business
for tomorrow. The committee will
meet in executive session at 10 am.
The committee has two bills be-
fore it on national representation
for the District. One, by Senator
Capper, Republican, of Kansas, pro-
vides for a constitutional amend
ment to authorize Congress to grant
residents of this city a vote for
President and Vice President of the
United States and for their own
representatives in both the Senate
and House. A second measure, by
Senator Magnuson, Democrat, of
Washington, would also provide ma
tional representation for the Dis
trict, but would extend the same
rights to the territories of Hawaii
and Alaska, which are asking for
statehood.
Meantime, on the House side o1
the Capitol, the public welfare SUBJ
committe of the House District
Committee will meet in executive
session tomorrow morning to con-
slider several bills before it. Among
them are measures to establish q
Veterans Department in the Dis.
trict, to prohibit mixed boxing bouts
to ban viv1section and to rehabili-
tate alcoholics.
Chairman of the unit Is Repre-
sentative Miller, Republican, o1
| Nebraska.
Evening star., 1947-02-16
tContinued From First Page.)

+. Continued From First Page.)s
amazingly small. For instance, only
about 81 per cent of the land would
be built up.
There would be II per cent of the
land devoted to major streets and
protective strips, for example, and
9 per cent devoted to parks and
recreation. r>-. SIS >
Whole Country Studied. ~.
Before starting to plan their 221,-
000-population design for a city,
Federal Works technicians secured
the entire country to learn exactly
what is wrong with present cities.
They concentrated particularly on
large section of Baltimore, which
is slowly decaying from city blight
just as are some areas OF Washing
ton today.
Then they turned to Washington
itself.
They took all their findings into
the laboratory and carefully dis
sected them like a research physi-
clan seeking the cause and cure of
a dread malady. Washington's own
particular brand of city cancer was
the disease they were trying to pin
down and the first injection of the
serum they ended up by prescrib-
ing would be the new Federal City.
Washington's Congestion Growing.
Paraphrasing the words of their
own report, here's what they found:
They found that Washington's
congestion is growing worse and
worse at an alarming rate. They
found also that it is the country's
fastest growing large city. They
looked at the census figures and
found its population has quadrupled
since 1900.
Then they turned back the pages
of history. Paris, they found, was
a city of only 100000 and London
a community of 100000 when Wash
ington was planned century and
half ago. They found 'The original
plan of Washington, once thought
to be too extensive and pretentious,
has proved to be pathetically made
quate," to use their own words.
+ They also found by applying the
past to the future that if the city
were to decrease in population now
that the war is over, it would be
contrary to past experience. They
compared the normal ratio of Fedl
eral employees to non-Federal en-
ployes in Washington to the ratio
in wartime this comparison showed
that even if the number of Federal
employees falls off considerably, the
population will keep on growing.
The normal ratio is one to six,
whereas the wartime rati } was one
to four.
They projected the drop in the
Government payroll after World
War I percentage-wise to the post
World War II period and found that
the payroll can be expected to hit
a rock bottom in 1850 of 10000.
Political Trends Examined.
Then they examined political
trends. These indicated that the
Evening star., 1947-02-16
Senote Unit Approves
Lusseter for FHA Post
BY the Assoeiofed Press

Confirmation of the nomination
of Dillard B. Lasseter to be admins
traitor of the Farmers Home Ad-
ministration was recommended yes
terday oy the Senate Agriculture
committee.
The Farmers Home Administra-
ton is new farm loan agency Gre
ated by Congress to combine activi-
ties of several agencies. Mr.. Las
setter, a native of Atlanta, has been
Federal Farm Security Administra-
tor,
Evening star., 1947-02-16
plan for the city with plans fol-
adjoining areas.
1t would be set up as follows:

IL WoulQ De SET up as 1OlOlWS.
/. It would have three members
appointed by the President.
Z, 2. It would be empowered to buy
condemn, hold, improve, lease, rent.
plat, replat, set aside or dedicate for
public use and sell land bought for
the city and within two miles OF
the boundary thereof. In other
words, it would operate something
like the Districts new redevelop-
ment agency, only on grand scale
3. 1t would receive grants and
loans from the United States In
sufficient amounts to carry out Its
purpose.
4. It would be empowered to issue
bonds on security held by it, bor-
row funds and accept gifts for use
in the performance of its duties.
S. 1t would have private enter
prise undertake development, but
would have power to do otherwise
if private business failed to abide
by the city plan.
6. The city would be incorporated
under special charter providing
large measure of self-government.
Whole Area to Be Affected.
When the new Federal City, was
going concern, this commission
would be expanded into a National
Capital Land and Planning Com
mission to extend the benefits of the
new community to the whole Wash
ington area.
This super commission would
cover the whole area lying within
20 miles of the White House.
1t would have five members, ac-
cording to the plan, three ap-
pointed by the President and one
each by. the Governors of Maryland
and Virginia.
This commission would prepare
and adopt a master plan similar to
the plan for the new city but, of
course, far more complicated. This
plan would supersede all conflicting
plans and would also be backed by
power to buy, condemn, plat, replat,
lease, sell, etc. 1t would be supported
by Federal grants and loans and
could make grants and loans in its
turn to local communities provided
they followed the plan.
If a local community refused to
abide by the plan, this super-com-
mission would have the power to
execute the plan anyway and assess
the whole or a reasonable portion
of the cost against the local political
unit.
1t, too, would turn to private en-
terprise for actual development
work.
The report makes no recon-
mendations on how taxes would be
levied against residents, but one
of the men who drafted it told The
Star yesterday that since the real
estate tax would be the only one
affected, taxes might be levied on
improvements only except where
land was actually sold. Land rents
would serve instead Of land taxes
where land was only leased and
some method could be worked out
for reimbursing Maryland Cor later
Virginia, toO for the land tax losses
they would suffer.
This would put In effect some
what the same principle set forth in
the Overton- O,Mahoney proposal
for reimbursing the District for
tax-exempt land. Both Gen. Flem-
ing and Mr.. Reynolds already are
on record in favor Of some formula
for the District.
Evening star., 1947-02-16
National Groups Join
10 Beautify D. {. for
|Sesquicentennial

GROUNDWORK OF plans 10 make
Washington the most beautiful cap
ital in the world will be laid here
Friday, when representatives Of 10
national organizations meet with
city government and planning Of
f1cials.
This was announced yesterday by
Horace w. Peaslee, vice chairman OF
the Joint Committee on the Ma
tional Capital, comprised of MEM
bers of the 10 organizations. The
committee Is one of several formed
for the purpose Of planning for the
Districts Sesquicentennial celebra-
tion.
The joint committee will make a
special effort to approach District
problems from the municipal view
point, Mr.. Peaslee said, pointing out
that heretofore there has been too
much tendency to consider the city
a Federal problem child.
He said his group expected to get
valuable information from the day
long session for use in connection
with the 150th anniversary observ-
ance In 1850. The committee hopes
to focus National attention on the
need for identification of the Capt.
tai by means of the celebration.
Forum Scheduled.
Following brief meeting with
the Commissioners at 10 am, heads
of the various organizations will
undertake a round-table discussion
with District department heads with
a view to familiarizing the National
groups with local stumbling blocks
in the path of an improvement plan
for the Capital.
Budget Officer Walter Fowler and
Tax Assessor Edward A. Dent are
among those scheduled to take part
in the morning discussion.
The National organizations to be-
represented are the American FEEDER
alton of Arts, the American Institute
of Architects, the American Institute
of Planners, the American Society
of Landscape Architects, the Amer
lean Society of Civil Engineers, the
Garden Club of America, the Ma
tional Association of Real Estate
Boards, the National Sculpture So
ciety, the National Society of Mural
Painters and the American Planning
and Civic Association.
At 1890 pm. the committees will
go into closed session for discus
sion of information furnished by the
city officials. Starting at pm,
there will be other meetings with
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission and the National
Commission of Fine Arts.
1900 Moves Recalled.
The planning and fine arts group,
Mr.. Peaslee recalled, were out
growths of steps taken at the time
of the Districts centennial observ-
ance in 1900 to insure the city an
orderly, long-range development
plan.
Commissioner Guy Mason and Mr..
Fowler will be principal speakers at
a reception and dinner starting at
$50 pm. at the Lars Anderson
House, 2118 Massachusetts avenue
NV, when the discussion Of Dis
trict affairs will be resumed.
Guests viii include representatives
of the local government, the plan
ming and arts groups, the Army En-
gineer Corps and the Committee Of
100 on the Federal City, formed to
arrange the sesquicentennial OBJ
servance.
During the day the committee will
elect a new chairman to succeed C.
G. Zantzinger, appointed to succeed
william A. Delano as member Of
the Park and Planning Commission.
Evening star., 1947-02-16
K. of 6. Smoker Tuesday

A smoker will be held at $3.50 pm.
Tuesday at st. Michaels School,
824 Wayne avenue, Silver Spring,
by Father Rosensteel unciI
Knights Of Columbus.
Evening star., 1947-02-16

map at left shows how the Federal City, would hook
District and linked with the regional highway
also shows how it would combat the present lopded
Capital development At right the ground plan for
Evening star., 1947-02-16

the city showing ceike communities would be nsu-
lated dual superroads Story
Page AID
Evening star., 1947-02-16

FEDERAL OFFICE DISTRICT
CIVIC CENTER AREA
MUNICIPAL SERVICE AREA
HEALTH OR HOSPITAL CENTER
CEMETERY texlsTlNe)
RECREATION AREA
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SITE (5-AcRE MlNlMUM)
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL SITE to-AcRE MNMUM)
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL SITE t2o-AcRE MINIMUM
VOCATIONAL SCHOOL SITE t2o-AcRe MlhlMUM)
Evening star., 1947-01-29

son q ''weakling." ss Mr.. Morgen.
|thau has self-exaltingly written ir
his strange diary" how can he ex-
plain the fact that President Roose-
velt made Dean Acheson Undersec-
Itary Of State, a higher ranking off,
Ger, at one of the most critical peri
DDS in our whole history?
The language quoted from Mr.
Morgenthau's diary" simply does
not square with a logical interpreta-
ton of the facts. Words can be ap-
|parently accurate and at the same
time give an entirely erroneous i'm
preston of what lies behind them
The alleged disparagement of Mr.
Acheson may be discounted with an
outbursting laugh, in which Presi-
dent Roosevelt would have been the
first to Join, since, from the same
diary" it further appears that
President Roosevelt wanted a
strong" man as Undersecretary OF
the Treasury. And so when va
cancy did occur. whom did he select
but Mr.. Morgenthau himself.
Again is proved the wisdom of the
adage that while man may be able
to defend himself against his enc
mics, God alone can protect him
from his friends.
(Copyright, 1947)
Evening star., 1947-01-29

words concerning President Roose-
velt that would have afforded no
basis for criticism, it cannot be
doubted that these tollers of the
bell would have passed the whole
thing up with curl Of the upper
lip.
According to Mr.. Morgenthau, as
reported in the press, President
Roosevelt one day raised the price
of gold 81 cents. We are asked
to believe that Mr.. Roosevelt just
picked this figure out of the air "as
a lucky one, because three times
seven make 81" Mr.. Roosevelt may
have made such an observation,
but no one hearing it who knew Mr..
Roosevelt would have failed to OBJ
serve the twinkle in his eye-that
is, no one except Mr.. Morgenthau-
and the digging columnists.
Keen Sense Of Humor
On more than one occasion I
heard President Roosevelt chuckle
over having taken in the solemn Mr..
Mcrgenthau by some similar alb
surdity. Unlike the Secretary Of
the Treasury. President Roosevelt
had q keen sense of humor, sense
of humor that sparkled and with
which it delighted him to get under
the guard of others. That 1t was