Evening star., 1953-04-05
Transit Fare
Raise Opposed
Federation
Citizens Association
lndorses Bill for
25% U. S. Payment

y
The Federation Of Citizens AS
sociations last night voted op-
position to the granting "any in
crease in fares to the Capital
Transit Co. at this time"
The resolution was carried
unanimously and without discus
sion at the federation's meeting
In the District Building.
The transit company is seek
ing to increase rates to 20 cents
cash, five tokens for 95 cents
and elimination of the weekly
pass.
Fire Pay Increases Urged.
In other actions last night. the
federation:
Recommended that United
Community Services exclude the
Washington Housing Association
from support.
Endorsed legislation in the
Senate for an annual Federal
payment of IS per cent toward
the expenses Of the District.
Urged Congress to pass legis-
lation for pay increases for men,
bers Of the Police and Fire De-
partments.
Commended and expressed
support of the efforts Of the Po-
lice Department to combat the
showing of lewd films.
Reiterated its stand calling for
repeal of the personal property
tax here.
The meeting heard Brig. Gen.
Louis w. Prentiss, District Engi-
neer Commissioner, describe the
$337 million District public works
program which the city heads
hope to submit to the Bureau of
the Budget in it's finally-recom-
mended form by April is.
Asks Flexible Program.
II am sure" he told the meet
ing, that any presentation that
is made before Congress will be
successful only if we present a
program that has the full sup
prot of the city" He added that
that meant the support not only
of the citizens associations, but
of the business and civic associa-
tionS as well.
He assured the federation that
the citizens would be given a
hearing on the specific projects
as presented. Since the program
covers several years, he expressed
the view that "it would be foolish
for us to establish a rigid pro-
gram-we've got to have a flex-
ible one"
Budget Officer Walter L. Fowl
er declared that unless some
thing is done about revenues, the
city is going to be in difficulty in
1855.
He said that the District this
year is receiving an unusually
receptive response from the
Capitol. He said that lit seems
to me the men up there are be-
coming more and more interested
in our problems. They are will
ing to sit down and talk about
them.
eff We can sell them, we can
put almost any program over
that is reasonable"
Controversial Problem.
In its resolution on the Wash
ington Housing Association, the
federation stated that its parti-
cipation in the Community Chest
Is controversial matter and that
Overlapping of its functions with
tax-Support agencies has de-
VelCped through the years."
Clifford Newell reported that
the federation had acted in 1947
requesting the association be
dropped from the Community
Chest and had never changed it's
position.
Mrs. Ernest Howard contended
that the association was for
propaganda" The money, she
said, Should be used for chill
dren, the poor and the blind"
Several delegates expressed the
view that while the Federal con-
tribution should be even higher
than IS per cent, the bill for that
amount would be a step in the
right direction.
Karl Cover reported that he
had hand in drafting the bill,
and had tried to get a 60-40 pay
ment schedule, and agreed that
rs per cent was too low, but felt
the bill was a positive step.