Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-04-09
As FIeeson Sees D. c.
IN a recent teleYision inter-

In a recent television inter-
view. Doris Fleeson let fly at
Congress, and specifically at
the House District Committee,
for inattention to Washing
tons needs and problems.
Most Of her wrath descended
on the House District Com
mittee. which she seems to
hold directly responsible for
continuing bad conditions in
Washington.
She told viewers that she
was trembling for fear that
some crime might be COM
mitted against cherry bios
som visitors, and she asked
how many more people had
to be robbed before we did
anything about it,. At this
point, the House District
Committee was referred to as
the chief obstructionist to
remedial action.
I find 1t hard to believe
that Miss Fleeson does not
know about the very definite
activities Of the House Dis
trict Committee towards
curbing Washington's high
incidence Of crime. Indeed,
their concern has been mani
fest since the beginning Of
this Congress, and they have
already introduced three or
four bills designed to improve
law enforcement-and GER
tainly improved law enforce
ment is an important part Of
dealing with the crime situa-
ton. They have also met
jointly several times with the
Senate District Committee to
discuss needed legislation in
the area.
All in all, 1t was both mis-
leading and unfair, ! think
for Miss Fleeson to make the
House District Committee the
unmitigated villain Of the
piece. Robert C. DuckwOrth.
=
AS a liberal" 1t was to be
expected that Doris Fleeson
would align herself with that
group Of irresponsibles who
are blaming Southern con-
servatives in Congress for all
of the ills which beset WASH
ington. It matters not to
Miss Fleeson that Southern
conservatives constitute a
small minority in both Houses
Of Congress, as well as on
both House and Senate Dis
trict Committees.
Miss Fleeson has also con-
veniently overlooked the fact
that for a number of years
the District government has
been directed largely from
the White House. by District
officials who are not reluc-
tant to show their contempt
for the advice OF Congress.
II this Government has been
bad. II is not Congress that
is at fault. Even less is 1t the
fault Of Southern conserva-
tives.
Miss Fleeson speaks Of the
Transformation of Washing
ton from a small. Southern
style city" into a "metropoli-
tan area" From my observa-
ton over the years, 7 would
say that the transformation
has been from a community
OF progress and goodwill TO
a jungle Of lawleSsness where
fear stalks the streets.
What has happened TO our
Nations Capital has been
brought about not because Of
what Congress has or has
not done. but because Of the
incompetence OF District
officials appointed and sup
ported by the White House.
1t is TO the task Of cleaning
UP the mess that both House
and Senate District Commit
tees are now addressing
themselves. In this task these
committees are getting pre-
cious little help from the
Kennedy administration, the
District officials. the Glib
eral" press and networks,
and the pro-Negro pressure
groups. Harvey ii. Hewitt.
Legacy to Public
Washington owes an I'M
redeemable debt OF gratitude
TO the Phillips family for
converting their mansion on
Twenty-first street 10 an art
gallery and endowing con-
certs during the vinter san