Evening star. [volume], January 03, 1930, Page PAGE B-1, Image 17

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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Washington News
I
■ MOTHER ANO FOUR
ARE STRICKEN ILL
BY HOLIDAY FOOD
Health Officers Probe Sub
stances Eaten by Mrs. Ker
nahan and Children.
HUSBAND, METHODIST
MINISTER, ABSENT
Neighbors Discover Condition of
Family in Apartment at
801 Butternut Street.
District health officials were called
upon this afternoon to investigate a
new case of holiday food poisoning,
when a report was received that Mrs.
A Earl Kemahan. 801 Butternut street,
and her four children, ranging in age
from 16 to 4 years, are ill as a result of
something they ate New Year day or
yesterday.
Two District health officers took sam
ples of food in the Kemahan apart
ment and analyses are being jnatfe of
them at the Health Department labora
tory.
Mrs. Kemahan is the wife of a Meth
odist minister, who is on evangelistic
duty. Ht is reported to be a personal
friend of former President and Mrs.
Coolidge.
Dr. Kemahan Absent.
The whole family, except Dr. Kerna
han. became ill about midnight last
night. Dr. Kemahan left Washington (1
yesterday morning on evangelistic work,
saying that he did not feel particularly
well. The family has not heard from |
him. . _ i
According to Mrs. William S. Neff,
resident manager of the apartment, who
has been attending the mother and her
four children, no doctor has been called,
although directly across the hall from
the Kemahan apartment lives Lawrence
A. Mattemess, an interne at Walter
Reed Hospital. Mrs. Mattemes said he
was unaware that the family was sick.
William Spencer, 13 years old, son of a
neighbor in the same apartment, was
the first to discover the illness of Mrs.
Kemahan and her chUdren.
Pupil Calls Father.
He arrived at the Kemahan apart
ment shortly before school time this
morning to take Mildred Kemahan. 12
years old, to school, and was told of her
illness. He immediately went back to
his home, in the same apartment house,
and brought over his father, who is also
a Methodist minister, who visited the
Kemahans and called for the Health
Department to make an Investigation.
The children are Earl, Jr., 16; Gaylal,
4; Mildred, 12, and Susanna, 9.
watsonlefutes
(
QUITTING RUMOR 1 :
_ ■. ■■ ■ -■ -1
Republican Leader's Statements
Regarding Employment Were
Misconstrued.
Senator James E. Watson of Indiana.
Republican leader of the Senate, came
back to Washington today and denied
flatly that he bad any intention of re
tiring from the Senate before 1932,
when he must come up for re-election,
or that he had said he would not be
a candidate to succeed himself.
While Senator Watson was in the
Middle West during the Christmas re
cess a report was widely published to
the effect he would not run for the
Senate again, but would retire from the
Upper House upon the expiration of his
present term. He said today that what
he had said was: “I will not retire
from the Senate before March 4, 1933,"
the date of the expiration of his term.
This, he said, had been interpreted to
mean that he would not be a candidate
for re-election in 1932.
While Senator Watson did not an
nounce today his candidacy for the
Senate in 1932, it Is understood that he
will be a candidate when the time rolls
around for him to cast his hat in the
ring. For several months there have
been rumors that he would retire from
the Senate before long to accept em
ployment with some big industrial con
cern. He was denying these reports
when he said in Indiana recently he
would not retire from the Senate be- I
fore the close of his present term.
PRISONER TELLS
MURDER DETAILS
Minnesota Letter Says Hollywood
Slayer Prefers Hanging
to Worry.
By the Associated Press.
SACRAMENTO. Calif.. January 3.
Details of the alleged murder of a
young woman near Hollywood were
bared yesterday in a letter to District
Attorney Neil McAllister from J. H. !
Steele, inmate of the Minnesota State
prison at Stillwater.
Steel, who asserted he was wanted j
here for theft of an automobile, claim
ed he murdered a young woman on
December 3. 1927, and he “would
rather be hanged than worried to
death.”
The letter said he purchased an au
tomobile In Fresno, using a bad check,
and started for Los Angeles with a
woman friend.
"A murder took place between Bak
ersfield and Hollywood," the letter said,
“and the body of the murdered woman
I placed at a lonely place just seven
blocks from Hollywood.
“If the woman is found you will find
that her body Is wrapped in fashionable
clothing. The right pocket of her silk
coat will contain a small coin purse of
brocaded satin and on the Inside will
be a silver monogram with a letter D,
and a photograph of a woman about 60
or 65 years of age.”
A copy of the letter will be forward
ed to Buron Fitts, Los Angeles district
attorney.
- ■■ ■ ■ ■— 6
Fear for Hunters’ Safety.
MEMPHIS, Tenn., January 3 {JP >. —
A Fears for the safety of three men who
left here December 26 for a hunting
trip were increased yesterday with re
ports that the wreckage of a motor boat
identified as theirs had been found near
Helena, Ark.
The hunters. Thomas Patterson, Leroy
Gi’"lch and Donald Hudson, had
pv -i-fi to return here last Sunday, but
no v .id has been received from them.
I
■■■
NARY A STARLING ROOSTED HERE
• at- * sifi I ,''; m 'i 'j%\ i, * ' ,>* nn ■
The noble experiment of Clifford I.anham. superintendent of trees, to trim
out the top branches of a tree on Pennsylvania avenue to deprive the starling
!«f his natural habitat during the hours of darkness, bore fruit last night. The
! tree, trimmed by the workers In the photo, is now regarded as starling-proof.
• • —Star Staff Photo.
STARLINGS DEFEATED AS SAW
DESTROYS ROOST IN TREETOP
Avenue Pest Birds Turn to Eaves of
Buildings in Rout From One
Stronghold.
The smile of victory rested today on
the countenance of Clifford Lanham,
superintendent of trees and parkings.
For he is the only man known to his
tory who has outwitted the pesky start
lings.
Mr. Lanham’s scheme, which worked
to perfection last night, is simplicity
itself. He had noticed that the sterlings
cling to the topmost branches of their
favorite trees, the oriental planes in
Pulaski Square. He decided that to cut
out the topmost twigs was to deprive
the starlings of a roosting place. He
tried the experiment on a single tree
yesterday. The night before it had
been black with starlings. Last night
not a starling perched there.
Small Branches Go.
The great work is going forward to
day, with the birds' second favorite tree,
in front of the District Building, having
its topmost twigs cut off. The science
of the matter, according to Mr. Lanham,
is that the birds will not roost on
branches unless the twigs are so small
they can get their claws entirely around
them. Furthermore they will have no
branches but the top ones. Cut out the
top small twigs, and presto! the star
lings leave the trees.
An auxiliary scheme, that of hanging
stink pota in other trees, did not work
so well. In one tree, where three of
PLANS AIR SYSTEM
FOR WRITE HOUSE
Col. Grant Says Items Are
Being Checked in $74,880
Bid for Repairs.
Coincident with the indications today
that the Charles H. Tompkins Co. of
Washington, which has offered to re
pair the White House executive offices
in 90 days for $74,880, will be awarded
the contract tomorrow, it was disclosed
that Lieut. Col. U. S. Grant, 3d, director
of public buildings and public parks, is
considering an air reconditioning system
for the White House proper.
Col. Grant, who returned to his desk
today following a brief vacation in Clin
ton, N. Y., said officials of his office de
sire to check over the figures with the
Tompkins firm to make sure that all
items are included. The contract, he
indicated, will be signed tomorrow and
work will start at once on the repair of
the White House executive offices,
burned in the Christmas eve fire.
The program to install for the White
House an air-reconditioning system
similar to that now in use in the halls
of Congress Is now in a tentative stage,
Col. Grant said. While the director
hesitated to name a figure for the cost
of the work at the White House, in
the absence of definite bids from con
tractors, he said that a tentative esti
mate would place the cost around
$30,000. The system at the White
House, he said, would have to be large
enough to take care of the crowded
rooms in the Executive Mansion at
night when a large social function
is in progress.
"This does not mean putting the
system into the White House itself."
Col. Grant asserted. The air-recondi
tioning system for the White House
would be calculated to improve the
health and sanitary surroundings of its
occupants, putting the proper amount
of moisture into the air when it is
lacking, and on the sultry, humid days,
taking the surplus moisture out of the
atmosphere.
GROUP TO PRESENT PLAY.
Shakespearian Society Lists “Mer
chant of Venice’’ Feature.
The Shakespeare Society of Washing
-1 ton will present the trial scene from
“The Merchant of Venice” Monday
night, at 8 o'clock, in the Corcoran Art
Gallery, with Dr. Earle Wilfley, pastor
of the Vermont Avenue Christian
Church, playing the role of Shylock.
Dr. Francis J. Hemelt will address
I the members of the society the same
, night, using for his subject, “Shake
epeare the Playwright.”
§fl)£ Jtoerang pkf
the pots were hung, giving off thi
noxious odors of burning fuel oil, old
rags and rubber, the scheme worked.
Other trees, festooned with but a singl?
pot, harbored as many starlings as ever.
The breeze wafted the odors away from
the topmost? branches, and the warmth
of the burning only added to the star
lings’ nocturnal comfort.
Buildings Offer Refuge.
Os course, when the birds leave the
trees they must go somewhere. Their
favorite alternatives are the eaves and
projecting ledges of nearby buildings.
The ledge outside Mr. Lanham’s office,
on the top floor of the District Build
ing, has come in for more than its
share of attention.
When asked about this, Mr. Lanham
said he intended to suggest that the
smudge pots be hung around the ledges
of the buildings at night. How the city
heads will take this idea is a matter of
speculation. It is thought they are des
perate enough to do anything.
Merchants on F street recently com
plained that the birds are bestowing on
them of late the attentions formerly
confined to Pennsylvania avenue. This
problem remains officially unsolved. But
If the tree problem can be solved, per
haps the building problem Is not hope
less.
DISTRICT HEADS
FAVOR LOANS BILL
Bowman Measure Makes
3 1-2 Per Cent Interest
Per Month Legal.
The District Commissioners today
sent to Congress a strong indorsement
of the Bowman bill to regulate small
loans In the District. Under the terms
of the bill It would be possible for those
desiring to set up in business for mak
ing loans up to S3OO to collect 3'/ 2 per
cent interest per month on- secured or
unsecured notes. This is the same rate
of interest that prevails in Maryland,
Virginia and 22 other States.
"Experience has shown," the report
said, "that the present small loan law
in the District is ineffective. This is
largely due to the fact that the rate of
interest which is permitted thereunder
is so small as to prohibit persons from
operating pursuant to its terms. This
is best evidenced by the fact that not
one license has been taken out under
this law since it came into existence.
Persons and organizations which have
made an exhaustive study in the field of
small loans unanimously conclude that
the rate therein prescribed is such as
to make it impracticable for any organ
ization to survive under its strict letter.
“Philanthropic associations and or
ganizations which have gone into the
field with a view to remedying the
evil existing and with a view to oper
ating on a minimum cost basis and
with only a slight profit have found
that they cannot successfully operate
without charging 2Vi per cent per
month. In addition to this, in the ad
joining States of Virginia and Mary
land there are small loan laws which
permit organizations to charge 3>i per
cent per month, hence another reason
is presented making it infeasible for
concerns to operate in this jurisdiction
under the act of 1913. The result is
that 'loan sharks’ have sprung up in
the field and function without regula
tion, and m such manner as to get per
sons who are caused by this or that
necessity to borrow into such financial
entanglements as never to be able to
free themselves.”
CHILDREN TO ORGANIZE.
WADESBORO. N. C , January 3 OP).
—Plans for organizing school children
the Nation over into a “keeplaws
league” to combat crime and disrespect
for the law, were made here yesterday
at a meeting of the first “Keeplaws”
Chapter in the United States. The
originator of the “keeplaws” idea Is
Mra. Mary Bennett Little of Wades
boro, chairman of the committee on
1 prisons of the American War Mothers.
-e - 'v. .ait
WASHINGTON. D. C., FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1930. ***
LEADER BELIEVES
COMMUNITY CHEST
QUOTA WILL BE MET
President Frederic Delano
Has Faith in Generosity
of Capital Folk.
18 NEW ORGANIZATIONS
TO BE AIDED THIS YEAR
Army of 4,000 Will Be Employed
to Raise $1,750,000 Required
by 1930 Budget.
Approximately 200 regional and di
vision chairmen and team captains of
the metropolitan unit of the Community
Chest, in a get-together meeting last
night at the Willard Hotel, heard Fred
eric A. Delano, president of the Chest,
declare that there is a possibility that
the Chest will have to raise about
$1,750,000 this year, and that it can be
done. Merritt O. Chance, chairman of
the unit, presided at the meeting, which
was held to acquaint the various of
ficials with their duties for the 1930
campaign, which is to be held January
28-February 6. The 200 present last
night formed the nucleus of what will
be developed into an army of approxi
mately 4,000 workers.
Chairmen Introduced.
Chairman Chance opened the meet
ing with a short talk, In which he em
phasized the importance of the task
confronting the metropolitan unit, de
claring that he- expected It to raise at
least 50 per cent of the fund required
by the Chest this year. He then Intro
duced his four regional chairmen, H. L.
Rust. Jr.; Simon Lyon, Radford Moses
and Janies E. Coliflower, who, in turn,
introduced their divisional chairmen,
who presented team captains.
Leonard W. De Oast, secretary of the
unit, made a short report, explaining
the progress of the various division sec
retaries In obtaining division and re
gional headquarters.
President Delano, introduced by
Chairman Chance, invoked a spirit of
optimism regardnig the coming cam
paign.
“Before the first campaign," Mr.
Delano said, “I was approached by peo
people who said that It couldn’t be
done; that Washington was a ‘different’
city. I told them that Washington was
a ‘different’ city in that it was better
than any other city, and all of you
present know the result of that first
campaign.”
18 New Chest Members.
The president then explained that
the community faces a larger task this
year, with 18 more organizations for
which to provide, there being 75 af
filiated with the Chest this year, as
compared with 57 last year. He men
tioned the possibility of having to raise
$1,750,000 this year to provide for new
organizations; for the increased needs
of organizations already In the Chest,
and for a larger service demanded by
a growing city, and expressed the be
lief that it can be done. Justness of
the cause, he said, combined with
Washington’s well known ability to
“finish the Job” would Insure success
of the drive.
Workers Must “Sell” Idea.
El wood Street, director of the Chest,
outlined the duties of the divisional
chairmen and team captains, stressing
the need of obtaining people who were
more than mere “order takers.” The
divisional chairmen and team captains,
he said, face the task of “selling” the
Chest idea to the public, and upon
their salesmanship depends largely the
success of the campaign.
Mr. Street, too, stressed the need of
greater gifts for the greater need, stat
ing that final figures would not be
available until the budget committee
completes its task, but indicating that
figures mentioned by Mr. Delano would
be close to the required amount.
COL. WILIAM BAIRD
DIES AT AGE OF 78
Retired Cavalry Officer Served in
Indian Wars and World
War.
Lieut. Col. William Baird, 78 years
old, United States Army, retired, died
at his home in the Westmoreland
Apartments today after a short illness.
Col. Baird, a cavalry officer, was a
veteran of Indian wars. He was re
tired in 1897. but was recalled to ac
tive duty in the World War and served
during a part of that conflict. He was
graduated from the United States Mili
tary Academy in 1875.
He had been a resident of this city
for the past 15 years, and was active
In several organizations. These Includ
ed the Society of Colonial Wars, the
Sons of the American Revolution, the
Loyal Legion, the Society of Indian
Wars and the Army and Navy Club.
Surviving him are his widow, Mrs.
Minnie D. Baird; a son. Maj. John A.
Baird of the Chemical Warfare Service,
stationed In this city, and a daughter,
Mrs. W. W. Hicks, wife of Maj. Hicks,
stationed at Fort Totten, N. Y.
WOMAN’S PARTY HONORS
EARLY LEADER’S MEMORY
I
Sponsor* Exercises Held Today on
l’7th Anniversary of Lucretia
Mott's Birthday.
The National Woman’s Party spon
sored exercises this morning in memory
of Lucretia Mott, one of three pioneers
in the equal-rights-for-women move
ment, on the occasion of the one hun
dred and thirty-seventh anniversary of
her birth.
A group of officers of the Woman’s
Party gathered before the statue of the
leader and educator in the crypt of the
Capitol while Peggy and Hope Anthony,
members of Susan B. Anthony’s family,
deposited a wreath at the base of the
statue.
PAY PENALTY’ FOR MURDER
Two Men Electrocuted at Sing Sing
for Slaying Patrolman.
OSSINING, N. Y., January 3 <*»).—
Arthur Brown, 34, and Frank Kowal
ski, 25, were electrocuted In Sing Sing
Prison last night for the murder of Pa
trolman Harold Haltam after a robbery
at Buffalo, N. Y„ on December 22,
1928.
The patrolman was slain while Brown
and Kowalski and their accomplice,
John Schlager. were fleeing the scene
of a safe robbery.
INAUGURATING THE B STREET WIDENING PROGRAM
General view of the removal of the tree* alone the south side of B street northwest between Fourteenth and Seven
teenth streets as the first step in the program to make B street the great cerrtnonial avenue of the National Capital and
a fitting approach to Arlington Memorial Bridge. B street Is to be widened to a minimum of 72 feet under plans of the
National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Star Staff Photo.
STANDARD DROPS
GASOLINE PRICES
Texas Oil Co. Agrees to Meet
Whatever Competi
tion Arises.
Your gasoline dollar will buy more
motor fuel next Monday.
Coincident with announcement by the
Standard Oil Co. today of a reduction
of 1.3 cents a gallon in both grades of
gasoline sold by the company, officials
of the Texas Co. announced that they
would meet the price set by the Stand
ard Co. "when, as and if made.”
Beginning next Monday, according to
the Standard Co. of New Jersey, which
controls the sale of products of the
company in the Atlantic seaboard terri
tory, the price of straight gasoline in
the consumers' automobile tank will be
17.7 cents a gallon. A high-test gaso
line sold by the Standard Co. under a
trade name will cost 20.7 cents in the
tank of the customer. The reduction is
the largest made In the price of gaso
line In Washington in recent years, and
also marks a change In the method of
figuring gasoline prices.
Split Even Cent.
Heretofore gasoline prices have been
figured on differentials of 1 cent, but
the Standard Co. will sell gasoline to
dealers on Monday at a price of 13.7
cents a gallon. If the dealers pass on
the fractional difference to their cus
tomers, with the usual 2 cent profit, the
price In consumers’ automobile tanks
will be 17.7 cents for straight “gas" and
20.7 cents for the high-test fuel, which
includes the 2-cent gasoline tax in the
District of Columbia.
The Texas Co. made n® announce
ment as to its price of gasoline, other
than declaring that it would meet the
reduced price of Standard “when, as,
and if made.”
Other companies had no announce
ment to make regarding a possible re
duction in the price of gasoline to meet
the reduction announced by Standard.
Standard sells today in Washington
at 19 cents for the so-called straight
“gas” and 22 cents for the blended
product. Prices of other companies are
about the same, although one company
sells at a 1-cent premium over the top
price for a Standard product.
Baltimore Included.
The price reduction is effective in the
Washington -Baltimore territory and
generally along the Atlantic seaboard.
Some difference in the fractional prices
for Standard “gas” will obtain from the
Washington price in the communities
immediately around the Capital. The
price of Standard gasolines in Balti
more will be 15.2 cents and 18.2 cents,
to which will be added the State tax of
4 cents.
BLOOM PLANS BILL
TO CURB AD FRAUD
Unauthorized Use of Federal Farm
Loan Agency Denounced by
Representative.
To prevent promiscuous use of the
name of any Federal farm loan agency
in advertising, a bill will be introduced
by Representative Sol Bloom, Democrat,
of New York.
Following promptly a statement by
the Federal Farm Board repudiating
advertisements which inferred that the
Federal board had agreed to absorb the
stock of a California raisin concern,
Representative Bloom emphasized that
"unauthorized use of the name of any
Federal farm loan agency in advertise
ments lends prestige to enterprises that
are not always basically sound.”
"There are so many ways of working
unethically in the name of such Fed
eral agencies as the Farm Board,”
Bloom said, "that I will submit a bill
prohibiting that practice unless the text
of the advertisement is submitted to
and approved by the Farm Board or
whatever Federal loan agency is in
volved.
“With that legislation both the news
paper and the newspaper reader will be
protected from fraudulent advertising,”
Bloom concluded.
SOCIETY TO CELEBRATE.
Anniversary of Battle of New Or
leans to Be Commemorated.
Addressed by Representative O’Con
nor of Louisiana, the local society of
the United States Daughters of the War
of 1812 will celebrate the anniversary of
the battle of New Orleans next Wednes
day at the Jtckson Statue In Lafayette
Square.
Members of all local patriotic socie
ties are invited to attend the celebration.
The Marine Band will render a pro
gram.
“Early Bird” Denies
He Gave Up Place
In Line to Women
-
Declares One Was Passed
byOfficer and Other Posed
as Press Representative.
J. W. Hunefeld, 225 C street north
east, White House ‘‘early bird,” did not
give up his place in line to a lady at
the President's New Year reception,
despite all statements to the contrary.
He wouldn't do such a thing, he em- I
phatically declared today, because he
allowed a young woman to shake the !
President’s hand before him in 1925
and she failed to thank him.
Mr. Hunefeld came to The Star office
today and explained the situation as it
really happened. This is his story:
He gets up every morning, rain or
shine, holiday or week day, at 5:30
o’clock. New Year day he arose at his
usual hour and went to the White
House. He was the first to arrive and
when the line started in to greet Presi
dent Hoover he was first.
The two women who shook the Presi
dent's hand before him were not part
of the line. One was allowed to slip
in in front of the line by a policeman.
The other posed as a newspaper woman
interviewing him and in this character
was able to get by the guard at the
White House gate.
CAR FARE'HEARING
HALTED BY COURT
Consideration of 10-Cent
Rate on Street Lines
Postponed.
Justice Wheat in Equity Division 2
today continued until Wednesday, Jan
uary 15, the hearing of the applications
of the Capital Traction Co. and the
Washington Railway & Electric Co. for
a 10-cent fare and the motion of the
Public Utilities Commission to dismiss
both appeals from the decision of the
commission refusing the application for
the fare increase on the theory that
the companies had not shown the neces
sity for such increases.
Attorney Dunlop’s Views.
Attorney G. Thomas Dunlop, repre
senting the Capital Traction Co., told
the court that both applications should
be heard together and asked that the
court set a date for the hearing. He said
Corporation Counsel Bride and Assist
ant Corporation Counsel West would
not be ready for a hearing before the
week beginning January 13. Attorney
8. R. Bowen, representing the Wash
ington Railway ic Electric Co., con
curred in the request for a special date
for the hearing.
Dunlop pointed out to the court that
the law gives precedence to appeals
from the Public Utilities Commission
over the other business of the court,
but Justice Wheat suggested that such
precedence is also given by law to con
demnation proceedings. He set the
case down for January 15, subject to
business then pending.
Corporation Counsel Replies.
In his motion to dismiss Corporation 1
Counsel Bride pointed out that the
companies had not exhausted their
remedies before the commission, since 1
the decision has left the way open for i
the introduction of further evidence to
substantiate the claims for an Increase. 1
The Capital Traction Co. in its ap- 1
peal asks the court to fix the rate of '
fare pending hearing, so as to give i
temporary relief to the company from i
the ‘‘(unlawful, unreasonable and con- 1
flscatory condition to which it is now (
being subjected by the enforcement of l
the existing rates of fare.” <
POEM WASTED ON JUDGE HITT,
WHO GIVES MAN, 70, THIRTY DAYS
"Greatest of My Works" Pocketed as Futile Third of
Liberty-Winning Series.
Thomas H. Powers, 70-year-old Police
Court poet, today did not get an op
portunity to read a line or his verse
before he was hurried oft to jail for 30
days, when he made a second appear
ance in court within three days for
being drunk.
The man, who was exonerated on
several occasions by Judge Robert E.
Mattingly after he had impressed the
court with such of his works as "Whisky
Did It All” and "There Are No Bar
rooms in Heaven." failed to obtain
sympathy from Judge Isaac R. Hitt.
1
Society and General
ARTHUR ROBINSON
TO SUCCEED EDGE
Indiana Senator Is Slated
for Foreign Relations
Committee Place.
Senator Arthur R. Robinson of Indiana
is slated to fill the vacancy In the
Senate foreign relations committee
caused by the resignation of Walter
Edge of New Jersey, now Ambassador
to France, it was reported today.
The Indiana Senator belongs to the
anti-World Court group in the Senate.
He was one of 17 who voted against
American adherence to the Court in
1926. His appointment to the foreign
relations committee may encourage the
antl-Court group and is not likely to
meet with the approval of those who
favor American adherence to the Court
under the so-called Root formula.
The question of adherence to the
court is to come before the Senate
again at a time which the President
considers opportune, it has been ex
plained.
Senator Goff of West Virginia is to
have the Edge place on the Senate
finance committee under the rule of
seniority, it is understood. The pro
gressives have been demanding that
this place go to Senator La Follette
of Wisconsin. There will be another
vacancy in the finance committee,
however, caused by the resignation of
Senator Sackett, who is to go to Ger
many as Ambassador. That place may
go to Senator La Fbllette.
MINOR ROBBERIES NOTED
BY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Andrew Thonths Report* Theft of
$174 While He Slept—Pocket
book Snatched; Motor Stolen.
Several minor robberies, including the
loss of $174 by Andrew Thomas, 1739
Seventh street, were reported to the
police yesterday. Thomas said the
money was taken from his pocket while
he slept In his home.
Mrs. Laura V. McLean. 319 D street
northeast, reported that a young white
man snatched her pocketbook contain
ing $4 as she was about to enter her
home about 5:30 o'clock in the after
noon. The thief boarded an automobile
and drove away.
Loss of a motor valued at S2OO was
taken from a boat house near Benning
Bridge was reported by James E. Scott.
1248 Ninth street. James P. Beach, 419
Eighteenth street southeast, reported his
store had been entered by burglars since
December 31. The store is located at
2306 L street. A quantity of cigarettes
and candy was missing.
WASHINGTON AERO CLUB
TO ELECT NEW OFFICERS
Choice Will Be Mere Formality,
Since Only One Person Is Named
for Each Post.
The annual meeting and election of
officers of the Aero Club of Washington
will be held following a luncheon in the
New Willard Hotel at 12:30 p.m. Mon
day, January 13.
There has been only one nomination
for each office presented to the board
of governors, and the election will be
merely a formality. The new officers
will be Adolf K. Barta. president; Dr.
George K. Lewis, Admiral D. W. Tay
lor and Brig. Gen. William E. Gillmore,
vice presidents: Lawrence E. Williams,
secretary; Dr. W. G. Brombacher, treas
urer. and Lieut. Col. C. de F. Chandler,
Prof. C. F. Marvin. MaJ. Gen. George
O. Squier and Dr. A. F. Zahm, trus
tees. Col. Chandler is retiring presi
dent.
Powers pleaded that he be given a
chance to read aloud the "greatest of
my works.” But, Judge Hitt, evidently
fearing that he might weaken as other
judges have done, said: “No," with a
judicial wave of his hand in the di
rection of the lock-up.
The poet, seated on a familiar bench
of the court "dock,” refused to show
reporters a copy of his new opus or
even make known its title. He said he
was "going to send a copy of it to
that judge and you just wait and see
how long I stay here."
PAGE B-1
SUMMERALL SITE
FOR NAVY BUILDING
HIT BY LEADERS
Location Suggested by Chief
of Staff Not Taken Kind
ly by Naval Men.
WANT NEW BUILDING
NEAR PRESENT AREA
Map Prepared to Show Proximity
of Employes’ Homes to Place
of Employment.
Navy Department officials fail to take
kindly to a suggestion credited to
Oen. Charles P. Summerall, chief of
staff of the Army, that the War De
partment and the Navy Department be
housed in new structures in the area
south of the Botanic Gardens. The
naval officials favor the erection of a
new Navy Department Building between
Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets and
New York avenue, near the Interior
Department, on a location which is
near the present Navy Department
Building at Seventeenth and B streets.
One of the main reasons for this, the
officials pointed out today, is that a
great number of Navy and Marine
Corps officers and civilian employes at
the Navy Department live in the vicin
ity of the building, in the large apart
ment houses lying in the area between
the Naval Hospital and the Pan-Amer
ican Building.
As evidence of this, a large map is
being prepared in the Bureau of Yards
and Docks, with the home of each
Navy and Marine Corps officer and
1 civilian employe marked with a red
apt. The red dots are thick in the
vicinity of the Navy Department, and
, naval colonies are shown in Clarendon
and Alexandria. Va„ in Brookland and
Chevy Chase and along Wisconsin ave
i ? ue :,_ The bullc of the personnel lives
| in the northwest section of the city,
the naval officials explained, and to
move the department elsewhere would
create a serious traffic problem.
Widening Is Begun.
The widening of B street, just east ot
the Navy Department, was started yes-
I !t rday ’ 411(1 this brin 8s more to a focus
1 the question of the proposed Navy
, Building. The present temporary struc
, tare, built during the World War, will
have to be taken off the Mall, under
• the program of the National Capital
■ Park and Planning Commission. The
burning of the presidential executive of
flees on Christmas eve, with the re
sultant agitation for a new War Depart
■ ment Building, has likewise brought the
■ question into strong relief.
i Another argument used in favor of
! keeping the Navy Department some
; where near its present location is that
quite frequently questions of interna
> tional policy, in which the Marine Corps
' i?. involved, must be taken up with the
State Department and the White House,
; and it is necessary that the Navy De
; partment be located near these units
' the executive branch of the Govern
ment. Further, the naval officials say.
it is desirable to have all the cabinet
I officers quickly available should an
; emergency arise.
The present Navy Department Build
; ing is considered by officials to be one
of the best built of the temporary
; war-time structures and is designated
as semi-permanent. The officials have
: given the present Navy Department
Building a lifetime of 25 years, but in
, view of the fact that President Hoover
has taken a keen Interest in an ac
celerated public building program, the
hopes of the Navy for a new head,
quarters have been appreciably bright
ened. The officials recalled today that
the present Veterans’ Bureau Building
was originally designed as a new Navy
Department, but former Secretary Wil
liam G. McAdoo took over the plans
for the structure and the Navy De
partment nas remained without proper
provision in the public buildings pro
gram.
U. S. Owns Land.
The Federal Government ovms much
of the land in the New York avenue
and Eighteenth street area, the officials
said, whereas a move to the area south
of the Botanic Garden would neces
sitate the purchase of entirely new land.
Tentative plans are under consider
ation by the naval officials to provide
underground automobile parking for the
department employes when a new struc
ture is built.
autolagbuyers
GET READY FOR 1930
4,600 Applicants Served First Sale
Day—Yesterday's Receipts Reach
Total of $44,400.82.
The lines that formed at the District
Building automobile tag sale today were
considerably smaller than those yester
day and appeared to be moving some
what faster.
The first day’s rush accounted for
the sale of about 4.600 tags. The num
ber of bags which had been sold in De
cember and for which the price was
credited yesterday brought the amount
paid up to $16,205. The tags which
were sold in December were those for
commercial vehicles only.
. The collector of taxes took in $44,-
400.82 in automobile taxes and tag fees
yesterday. Os this, $16,205 was for tags
and $28,195.82 for personal property
tax.
The figures today will be much lower,
since there will no accumulation of De
cember money to be put on the books.
The total taken by the tax collectors’
office yesterday from all sources was
$114,000.
GOV. MOODY DECLINES
TO REMOVE VALLS
Will Take No Action Until Charges
Against District Attorney
Are Investigated.
Br the Associated Press.
AUSTIN, Tex., January 3.—Gov. Dan
Moody will take no action on a petition
of Laredo business men to remove Dis
trict Attorney John Vails from office
until Attorney General R. L. Bobbitt
Investigates charges brought against
Vails.
The governor late yesterday an
nounced his intention to withhold ac
tion. after his third conference with O.
W. Klllam and Hal Brennan of Laredo,
who brought here petitions containing
the signatures of 1,600 persons, request
ing that the prosecutor's appointment
to the office be withdrawn.
m