Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-08
Citizen Group
Would Restore
etc Franchise

restoration of the Capital Tran
sit Co. franchise as a practical
means of meeting the transit
problem. but said the permit
should be limited to a five-year
period.
I'm the absence of any prac-
tical alternative" said the fed
eration's resolution, adopted by
a 20-to-12 vote, it would be in
the public interest to restore the
franchise.
But it said that such a re-
stored franchise should be SUBJ
ject to substantially the same
statutory and administrative
regulation and control which
were in effect prior to August Is,
1855. with the exception of the
terms of taxation, concerning
which some relief to the COM
pany appears to be justified"
In calling for the f1ve-year
limitation. the body said this
was to permit Congress and Dis
trict authorities to take into
consideration the results of the
area wide mass transportation
survey now in progress, before
any permanent commitments are
made.
Urgency Noted
/ The resolution declared that
some definite provision must be
made very soon" for continual
ton of transit here after next
August IA, when Capital Tran
sits franchise now is scheduled
to expire, and that no applicant
has appeared who seems fit,
willing and able" to succeed the
company.
/ The body did not indorse pres
emily pending legislation to re-
store the franchise.
Harry N. Stull of the Stanton
Park Association said he would
object TO any waiver Of taxes.
Edward c. Wilcox, chairman
of the public utilities committee,
who presented the resolution,
said in answer to objections to
the measure that 1T is a matter
of having mass transit after
August IA"
School Program Considered
In other action the body pre-
sented a siX-point school pro-
gram recommendation. including
opposition to any transfer Of
teacher salaries from junior and
senior high schools that would
curtail an already stringent sec
ondary educational program and
leopardize a drastically needed
remedial program
The other points suggested
were:
A homogeneous grouping" by
ability of the children, similar
to that practiced in junior high
schools, should begin at an ear
lier age and extend = through
high school.
= Boundaries should be more
flexible to make such grouping
possible, since not all groups
, would necessarily be housed in
each building"
Limitation of Glasses
There should be increased ef-
forts to have each child attain a
standard of proficiency appro-
pirate to his ability-including
more vigorous efforts towards a
greater mastery Of fundamental
sklils and the minimizing of dis
fractions and dissipations of the
children's time"
Immediate expansion of facili-
ties for taking care in separate
quarters of children with serious
/. behavior problems who consti-
. tute a distraction and deterrent
. to the educational program of
all the students The body said
that to eXpel these children
would not solve the community
problem.
Limitation of classes to 80
pupils in elementary schools.
The federation commended
Engineer Commissioner Thomas
A. Lane for his interest, forth
rgntneSs and courage in so fore
IDLY focusing the attention Of
this community upon the neces-
Sity of correcting deficiencies in
the District of Columbia educa-
tional system"
The SiX-polnt program was
recommended by Mrs. Henry A.
Bartlett. chairman of the edu-
cation committee.
The group commended DR..
Carl Hansen, associate superin-
tendent n charge Of senior high
schools here, for his proposed
four track reorganization of
the senior high school curricu-
lum But it urged that it not
be put III effect until "all prac-
teal details have been carefully
worked out, including the estab-
llShmcnt of flexible boundaries
for the schools, as it is not
feasible at every school to have
all four tracks.
Civil Defense Resolutions
In another resolution, the fed
GRAFTON recommended steps. in
Guiding establishment of
Standing Committee on Civil De-
Tense composed Of members of
the Board of Education, toward
a survival plan for schools Henry
Backenheimer chairman of the
Civil Defense Committee, also
presented a resolution with which
the federation went on record
in support of the civil defense
appropriation asked by the city.
The body recommended APP
'proval OF the restoration of Si38
million in the 1857 appropria-
ton bill for construction OF the
Jones Point Bridge. The motion
was made by Morris Kanfer, vice
chairman of the City Planning
Committee.