Evening star., 1952-02-03
Federation Urges
4O9b Minimum
Federal Share
Citizens Group Asks
Probe Of Milk Prices;
School Bourd Attacked


School Board Attacked
The Federation Of Citizens AS
last night by resolution
reiterated its stand that the Fed
eral Government should pay its
fair share in the cost and upkeep
Of the District "and in any event
a minimum of 40 per cent"
In another action, the federa-
tion defeated a move to recommlt
to its Law and Legislation Com
mittee the thorny question Of milk
importation and then reiterated
last years stand favoring the
United States Public Health Serv-
ice Uniform Milk Code. BY vote
of 36 to 20, the body urged the
Commissioners to adopt this code.
Under this, importation of milk
from other parts Of the United
States into the District would be
permitted, its sponsors said. The
federation urged the Agriculture
Department to conduct an impair
tial investigation of the price OF
milk and it's supply here. Dis
cussion entered on the chemical
method of sterilization of milk, as
provided by the code, as opposed
to the steam method.
Called "Autocratic."
The Board of Education came
under attack from several dele
gates during floor discussion and
was pictured as autocratic and
ignoring District citizens wishes.
The transfer of white schools to
the use of colored pupils brought
the discussion to the fore.
Ralph w. Donnelly said the
Board of Education can be as ar
bitrary as any organization. He
said citizens appear at the boards
hearings at its pleasure, and that
citizens desiring to appear before
the board must notify the board
secretary in writing "a hours be-
fore its meeting. He declared the
board does not have to give the
citizens any advance notice.
Harry N. Stull, federation treas
urer, supported Mr.. Donnelly's
stand and pointed to difficulty in
securing a board audience. He
said some effort should be made
to change the boards rules so
citizens can have an opportunity
to be heard.
Mrs. Bartlett Agrees.
Mrs. Henry A. Bartlett, fedora
ton first vice president, accused
the board of making "snap deci-
sions without weighing the testi-
mony, while oratory is still fresh
in mind" DR.. j. Ross Veal, presi-
dent, added: II hope we can find
some way to get better co-opera-
tion from the School Board"
The federation pledged sup
port to the Palisades Citizens
Association, which has been sued
for damages because of opposi-
ton to a retail liquor license.
Thomas B. Scott. delegate from
the Glover Park Citizens Asso-
citation, said citizens would be
afraid to vote their conviction
at association meetings, if they
feared a lawsuit for doing so.
Mr.. Stull seconded his resolution.
unanimously carried, which put
the Federation on record con-
graduating the Palisades group,
giving it moral aid and saying
that citizens should be able to
express their opinion on neigh
borhood problems.
Thanks Federation.
Col. Frank H. Collins, Palisades
delegate, thanked the federation
for its action. He declared this
is the first time any citizens asso-
citation has been sued for any
cause in the District and said it
is important, in view of the cur
rent membership drive.
In other actions. the federation:
Sent to its Highway Committee
for study a proposal from its Fiscal
Relations and Taxation Committee
recommending that a proposed
new bridge across the Potomac
River to Alexandria should be con-
south of the District. In
this way the bridge for through
north-south traffic should not en-
tail any additional gasoline or
other tax on District residents.
but its cost shared by the Fed
eral Government and the States
concerned, delegates said.
Went on record as believing the
Department of Vehicles and Traf-
fic is making installations as
rapidly as possible with funds
available and in the order of i'm
portance.
No Real Estate Tax Rise.
Recommended there be no in
crease in real estate taxes and
urged abolition of the personal
property tax on household goods
and personal effects.
Opposed special legislation by
Congress overriding District zon-
ing authorities to permit improve
ments to existing gasoline sta
tions. These are at Massachusetts,
and Wisconsin avenues NV. and
near Sixteenth and Taylor streets
NV, Karl K. Cover of the
Brightwood Citizens Association
said it is "high time that the
regulatory bodies here, including
the Zoning Commission, pay at
tention to the wishes of the
majority Of the citizens"
Voted to set up special com.
mittee Of five to establish a feder-
alton seal, colors, flower and
motto.
The Rev. Arthur A. Azline.