Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-25
Citizens Back B Borrowing
For Works Program

tax increase. This view was
strongly Endorsed today by Mr..
Norris, who said the Board of
Trade feels that any tax in
creases would encourage re-
moval of citizens and business
activities" from Washington to
the suburbs.
Mr.. Norris testified that the
trade body lacks enthusiasm
for the borrowing proposal. But
he said the organization will
go along with the idea If it is
approved by the Commission
ers.
He also strongly urged an in
crease in the Federal payment.
asserting that Congress and
the Federal Government have
consistently failed to meet
their commitments" regarding
fiscal support to the District.
Asks Economy
While indorsing the Dunn
Committees plan, the Board of
Trade representative called for
"a thorough program of econ
omy" in the District govern
lment. He said the board OPP
poses THE constantly increas-
ing size Of the District budget. :"
Russell N. Shoemaker. legis-
lative chairman of the District
Congress of Parents and
Teachers, led the attack on the
Dunn Committees proposal to
gear school construction to a
32-to-1 pupil-teacher ratio.
THE authority to establish
school standards is vested by
law in a permanent citizens
committee of nine District resi-
dents known as the Board Of
Education" Mr.. Shoemaker
told the Commissioners.
"A temporary committee such
as the Public Works Review
Committee, which incidentally
had no one remotely connected
with the field of education in
its membership, cannot and
should not tamper with stand
ards forged on the anvil Of
public opinion over the years"
Mr.. Shoemaker accused the
Dunn Committee Of shocking
ignorance" of school standards
here and elsewhere and de-
manded that the school works
program be expanded to meet
school board proposals.
Attacks School Plan
Mrs, Milton Dunn. president
Of the League of Women
Voters. Endorsed the Dunn
Committees borrowing pro-
posal. but attacked the school
recommendations, as well as
those for libraries and the
Health Department.
She said the So million nec-
essary to enlarge the Dunn
Committees plan enough to
achieve a Stool ratio should
be added to the $141 million
program. by raising taxes If
necessary.
She also called for adding IS
million for the proposed health
centers and additional money
for branch libraries.
Another attack on the same
three sets of recommendations
in the Dunn report came from
Julius w. Hobson Of the Fed
Grafton of Civic Associations.
He said the federation was
making a strong protest"
against the 32-to-l plan.
He also urged more SPEND
ing than the committee pro-
posed for lighting recreation
areas.
Supports Program
Miss Gertrude Clary. execu-
tive secretary of the Washing
ton Building Congress, strongly
supported the Dunn program.
although she said the 32-to-1
feature Of the school recon-
mendations had been agreed
upon with great reluctance.
She said she was a member Of
the group that drafted the
school report.
Backing the borrowing plan.
Miss Clary asserted:
I'VE do not believe the people
of our city are willing or should
be asked to wait indefinitely
for adequate schools and other
needed construction"
Morris Kanfer, representing
the Federation of Citizens AS
sociations, testified that the
associations Fiscal Relations
and Taxation Committee had
approved the borrowing plan
and also strongly favored a
larger Federal payment.
He said a special committee
has been created to study de-
tails Of the Dunn Committees
recommendations, and that it
will not be able to report to
the federation until October
10. The federation plans to
submit further views after that
date, he said.
Hits Health Proposal
One Of the strongest criti-
cisms Of the Dunn veto on
health centers came from DR..
Paul v. Cornely, representing
the District Regional Commit
tee Of the Health and Welfare
Council Of Greater Metropoli-
tan Washington.
He labeled the section Of the
Dunn report dealing with the
proposed health centers as