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Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, February 25, 1935, Image 17

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Society and General
WASHINGTON, D. C., MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1935.
PAGE B—1
HE QUIZ HEARS
OE GAMING RAIDS
ON U. S. WARRANTS
Police Prosecutor Claims
Expediency Rules in Ob
taining Authority.
. CITES 4 P.M. CLOSING
OF COURT BUILDING
Kindleberger Turns on Fitzpat
rick Under Steady Questioning
on Absence of Records.
Karl Kindleberger, assistant United
States attorney in charge of Police
Court prosecution, told the House \
Crime Investigating Committee today
that "expediency" was the only rea
■ son he knew for the police vice squad
procuring some of its warrants for
gambling raids from the United States
commissioner instead of at his office.
John R. Fitzpatrick, counsel for the
committee, who formerly was assigned
to the Police Court office when he was
nn assistant United States attorney,
questioned Kindleberger several times
about the gambling warrants. Each
time he declared he knew of no rea
son other than expediency, pointing
out that his office closed early in the
afternoon and that the Police Court
Building itself was usually locked up
about 4 o'clock.
Kindleberger was called to the wit
ness stand in place of Police Inspector
William G. Stott, who had previously
j been summoned. Chairman Randolph
said the police official would be ques
tioned later. The committee intends
to discuss with him various Police
Trial Board cases in the last several
years. Stott at present is chairman
it.. 1 3
Turns on Fitzpatrirk.
Fitzpatrick first questioned Kindle
berger about records of the issuance
of warrants and he admitted none had
been kept because about 99 per cent
N of those applied for are granted and
that he and his assistants could re
member the remaining ones.
Kindleberger insisted he had not
ordered the keeping of records because
It had never been done.
"You were there, you ought to
know." he said to Fitzpatrick.
"I'm asking the questions." Fitzpat
rick replied. "It always was done."
"Where are the records now?" in
quired Kindleberger.
"They're in the court house now. or
•hould be there." Fitzpatrick answered.
"There were no records in my office
* when I took it over," said Kindle
berger.
Says No Complaints Made.
Fitzpatrick next questioned Kindle
berger about the attitude of the Police
Court judges toward his office, and
he said he had never heard a com
plaint. Several judges, he explained,
had suggested changes in charges of
so-called "borderline" larceny and as
sault cases, and as a result they were
sent to the grand jury instead of being
prosecuted in Police Court on infor
mation.
In one month last year, however,
» Kindleberger pointed out, 22 of these
"borderline" cases sent to the grand
jury were ignored. He explained this
situation as the fault of witnesses
who "soften down" after making
charges.
"I have had cases in which wit
nesses are very anxious to prosecute,"
he said. "They testify before me very
positively, but when they go before
the grand jury several days later they
don't tell the same story. The soften
down."
Cites Case to Illustrate.
As an illustration, Kindleberger cited
the case of two Army officers as
signed to a C. C. C. camp, who were
arrested on complaint of two colored
women on cnarges 01 assaun, wnn a
dangerous weapon and carrying con
cealed weapons. The grand jury ig
nored the assault charge, he said, on
the theory that the officers were Hy
ing to "pick up" the women and had
no intention of robbing them, as at
* first believed. He said he nolle
prossed the concealed weapon charge
when it was shown the officers were
authorized to carry weapons.
"On the morning after the men
Were arrested," Kindleberger declared,
"the women were angry and wanted to
prosecute. Three or four days later,
when the case went before the grand
jury, there had been a cooling time."
Kindleberger said his basic salary is
$3,800 a year, and he said he engaged
in private practice to a limited extent,
as well as several other assistants in
his office. He pointed out that this
is permitted in the judicial code.
Peters Case Comes Up.
Just before the luncheon recess. Kin
dleberger was questioned about the
co-called Peters case involving him
* self, a Washington policeman and
Edward Buckley, a former Central
High School foot ball star, who is
row engaged in the practice of law.
Kindleberger said he would tell the
complete story just as he had to a Mr.
Hickey of the Department of Jus
tice and United States Attorney Leslie
C. Gamett The committee, however,
, recessed before he had an opportunity
to indicate the nature of the case.
The entire afternoon session will be
devoted to this case.
Kindleberger had proceeded to tell
how he met Buckley and had taken a
trip to Pittsburgh with him in the
automobile of a friend, Paul Mc
Hallum, whom he met in 'the French
Ambulance Corps, when the commit
tee recessed.
, SIX GO TO TRIAL TODAY
ON HANDBOOK CHARGE
^Prosecution Is Commenced Under
» Justice Proctor in District
Supreme Court.
Six men accused of operating a
handbook in a cigar store in the 1700
block of Pennsylvania avenue went on
trial before Justice Proctor in District
Supreme Court today.
- They are Thomas Ryan, Peter
Thomas Pape, Francis J. Smith. John
Middolo, Frank Pape and Joseph
„ 'Castell.
; The first four named were in court
awaiting trial October 8 last as a re
sult of a raid when the same officer
responsible for their arrest—Joseph D.
ioughrin—went back to the establish-*
^fcent and picked up the other two. *
Witness
KARL KINDLEBERGER.
—Star Stall Photo.
PERSONAL NOTICES
IN LEVIES URGED
Court Suggests City Heads
"Individualize" Assess
ment Methods.
Property owners should be notified
personally when it is proposed to im
prove or pave streets or alleys for
which they must bear the cost, even
though such procedure is not required
under the law, the Court of Appeals
of the District told the District Com
missioners today.
This admonition came in a decision
upholding an assessment for $480 for
alley paving, protested by Mrs. Marie
C. Carusi, widow of Charles F. Carusi,
former president of the Board of Edu
cation. Through Attorney Godfrey L.
Munter. Mrs. Carusi had argued that
the notice of the assessment was in
sufficient to give an opportunity to
contest it. and that the levy itself was
discriminatory.
The majority opinion said that the
notice, which it described as a "maze"
of verbige. complied with the law, and
denied the plea of discrimination. In
a sharply-worded dissent Justice Hitz
attacked the sufficiency of the notice,
which he called a "puzzle."
Issues Word of Caution.
In the opinion of the court, written
by Justice Van Orsdel, it was pointed
out that in levying assessments, the
District government relies on a notice
published twice a week for two weeks
to inform those affected. In the cur
rent instance, it was amplified, the as
sessment to which the Carusi property
would be subject was made known in
one sentence in a column and a half
notice.
However, sustaining this as within
the law, the opinion said: "We feel
justified in issuing a word of caution
to the Commissioners in issuing
notices of this kind in the future. The
notices should be so printed and the
properties so individualized as to
owners. Better still, though not re
quired by the statute, in addition to
the statutory notice, would be the
service of personal notice upon own
ers of property along which it Is
proposed to improve or pave streets
or alleys."
Justice Hitz Dissents.
To this Justice Hitz added:
"I am unable to agree with the
conclusion of the court in respect
to the sufficiency of the published
notice, which was a mere travesty of
a notice, theoretically complying with
the letter of the statute while wholly
diregarding its spirit.
"The property in question had stood
on the tax records in the same name
and ownership for many years, and
by a slight actual effort actual notice
could have been brought home to the
owner. If the Commissioners dis
regard their obvious opportnities to
give actual notice and rely wholly
on the statute, they should be held
to a reasonable and effective com
pliance therewith, and not to a merely
colorable and technical compliance by
the publication of a puzzle."
CONTEST HEARING SET
St. Marys Delegate Fight Before
Magistrate March 2.
Special Disjratch to The Star.
LEONARDTOWN, Md. February 25.
—The contest over the House of Dele
gates seat of Dr. Charles V. Hayden,
Democrat, and Capt. A. J. Lomax, Re
publican, from St. Marys County
launched by J Allen Cecil of Great
Mills, defeated Democratic candidate,
will be heard before Magistrate Rob
ert S. Burroughs of Mechanicsville,
March 2.
Dr. Hayden was elected by seven
votes over Cecil and Capt. Lomax was
elected by 12 votes.
Three Arraigned
For Providence
Hospital Thefts
! Much Loot Discovered
in Homes, Officer
Declares.
A series of thefts from Providence
Hospital over a period of several
months resulted in arraignment be
fore Judge John P. McMahon in
Police Court today, of Carrie Heath,
Laura Lattlmore and Dessie Heath, all
of the 400 block of Fifth street south
east.
The two women, employed as maids
at the hospital, entered pleas of not
guilty to five charges of- petty larceny
and demanded Jury trials. The man
was held for action of the grand jury,
on a charge of receiving stolen prop
erty.
Detective Sergt. A. T. Fihelly, who
arrested the trio, told the court that
in the homes of the defendants were
j found sugar, "by the barrel," a large
1 amount of coffee, 25 pounds of butter,
several chickens and a quantity of
towels, linens and glass and china
ware, all of which, he claims, were
identified at having been taken from
the hospital.
The detective said the women told
him they had purchased the goods.
sioaooo IS SOUGHT
10 REPLACE OLD
SCHOOlHjRNAGES
Supplemental Estimate Sent
Budget Bureau by D. C.
Commissioners.
ACTION IS HELD REAL
ECONOMY BY DONOVAN
Hove Is in Keeping With Pro
posal Made Last Year by
Hazen.
The Commissioners have sent to
the Budget Bureau a supplemental
estimate of $100,000 for replacement
of the antiquated furnaces in 16 of
the public schools.
The regular 1936 estimates, now
awaiting action in the Senate, con
tain an item for replacement of four
school heating plants.
Real Economy Seen.
A strong argument for approval of
the sum was made by Maj. Daniel J.
Donovan, District auditor, in a state
ment to the Budget Bureau justifying
the request. The old plants have been
t constant source of trouble aad critl
:ism, he said, explaining that the
purpose of real economy would be
served by approval of the program
for replacing the hot-air furnaces.
He asked that the requested sum be
ipproved and made Immediately
ivailable so that worlc can start
promptly.
The above Is in keeping with a pro
josal made last Fall by Commissioner
Melvln C. Hazen, who declared the
thing to do was to ask Congress for a
sum sufficient to make possible re
nlacement of all of the antiquated
heating plants at one time.
Parents at the Blair School last
Pall threatened to stage a strike,
taking their children out of the build
ing unless the heating plant there
was replaced. This was called off
when the Commissioners ordered im
mediate repairs.
There are 24 schools which do not
have modern steam-heating plants.
Of these, 23 have old-style hot-air
equipment and one Is heated by
stoves. This list does not include
old-style heating arrangements used
in the portable school buildings.
Needed Replacements.
The Commissioners listed the heat
ing plant* they wish to replace in the
order of their priority. First on the
list is the Van Ness School, built in
1909. which has a fumace of the
same "vintage." The others, in order,
are Amidon, built in 1882, with a
furnace dating back to 1895; Pierce,
built in 1894. with a furnace dated
1900; Webb, built in 1900, with a
furnace of the same age; Van Buren
Annex, built in 1881, and heated by
six stoves of unrecorded age; Gage.
1902, with a heating plant two years
older; Blow, built in 1906. with a
heating plant manufactured two years
earlier; Fairbrother, built in 1910 and
with a furnace built in 1908; Trues
dell. built in 1908 and having a
furnace made in 1906; Giddings, built
in 1887, with a furnace dating 1900;
Bunker Hill, 1911, with a furnace
manufactured three years earlier;
Berret, 1889, with one furnace dated
1908 and two others manufactured in
1887; Reservoir, built in 1887, with a
furnace that has no date; Rassell,
built in 1897, having a furnace built
two years earlier; Garfield, 1910, hav
ing a furnace six years older; B. B.
French. 1904. with a furnace four
years older; the old Adams. 1888, with
a furnace built in 1916; Blake, 1887,
with a furnace built in 1916; Stan
ton, 1903, with a furnace three years
olaer, and the Reno, built in 1903,
with a furnace dated 1900.
The four plants which would be re
placed under the regular 1936 esti
mates are those in the Blair School,
manufactured in 1895; the heating
plant in the Hayes School, built in
the same year; the Hubbard, built in
1898, and the Langston, built in 1900.
WORK IS DELAYED
ON SKYLINE DRIVE
Readvertising for Bide on First
Seven Mile* of Extension
Necessary.
Spec 1*1 Dispatch to The Star.
LURAY, Va., February 25.—Con
struction of the southern extension of
the Skyline drive in the Shenandoah
National Park will be delayed indef
initely as the result of the necessity of
readvertising for bids for the first
7-mile stretch. Bids were opened for
this stretch, which extends from the
original drive to Simmons Gap in the
direction of Waynesboro, on February
7. There were eight bidders, the lowest
being Keeley Construction Co. of West
Virginia, its bid being something over
$500,000.
According to information received
on gopd authority, the Government
considers the bid too high. It was said
here that not only is it higher than
for any other 10-mile stretch, but that
it is higher than the Government en
gineer's estimate.
Engineers at work on other projects,
who refused to be quoted, say, how
ever, that the cuts will of necessity be
much deeper and the yardage in earth
removal about twice as much as on
other stretches. However that may
be, construction of the first 7 miles
will be delayed and all stretches may
be advertised simultaneously, plans
having been ready for some time.
About 35 miles, or one-third of the
entire drive, remains to be con
structed. Work Is progressing rapidly
on the 30-mile northern extension to
Front Royal. The original drive was
about 38 miles.
TAX RATE REDUCED
By the Associated Press.
FARMVILLE, Va., February 25.—
Citizens of Farmville are entering the
new tax year with a reduced tax rate.
The rate has been lowered 10 cents
from $1.25 to $1.15 for the year.
The budget for the year has been
estimated by the Town Council at $88,
775. In this amount is provided a
sum of $5,000 to be set aside in the
linking fund, while a balance of $1,200
is to be left in the treasury. C
Approved Plans for New Adult Tuberculosis Hospital
TWO SENT TO JAIL
FORDRUNKDRIVING
$100 Fines Also Meted Out
to Drivers by Judge
Ralph Given.
Four persons faced Judge Ralph
Given in Traffic Court today on
charges of driving while drunk. Two
of them were convicted and stiff sen
tences imposed.
They were William Maharney, 1300
block of Thirteentn street, who was
sentenced to serve 60 days in jail and
pay a fine of $100 or serve an addi
tional 30 days, and Edgar K. Hodge,
a taxi driver, who was sentenced to
serve 30 days in jail and pay a fine of
*100 or serve another 30 days.
Maharney was also charged with
having no operator's permit, which
accounted for the heavier sentence.
Arrested After Collision.
John A. Johnson, first block of I
street, was charged with driving while
drunk and leaving after colliding. He
was arrested at Maryland avenue and
Third street southwest, following a
collision on Pennsylvania avenue.
Johnson demanded a jury trial.
A case of driving while drunk against
Samuel L. Watkins, 1900 block of I
street, waa eontfnued to March 13.
Watkins was arrested after his auto
mobile is claimed by police to have
struck a loading platform at Four
teenth and U streets. He was cap
tured a short distance away lay Police
man G. W. Patton.
A fine of $25 was imposed on Men
dal E. Smith, 100 block of Q street,
on a charge of driving on the wrong
side of the street. He was arrested by
Policeman S. F. Gravely of the fourth
precinct who claims he saw Srn/h's
car *igsagging on the street.
Reckless Driving Charged.
Russell Sonadey, 1400 block of Co
lumbia road, was arraigned on charges
of reckless driving,, leaving after col
liding and no permit after he is al
leged to have struck an automobile
operated by Francis B Myers, 5600
block of Thirty-second street.
Two second offense speeding cases
were heard. Glenn C. Benjamin, 1100
block of Abbey place northeast, was
fined $25. and Donald L. Carter. 2900
block of Ashby place, was fined $15.
FIVE PERSONS HURT
IN AUTO ACCIDENTS
Colored Woman Seriously Injured
Stepping From loading
Platform.
Five persons were Injured in traf
fic accidents in the Capital over the
week end, one of them seriously, ac
cording to police.
Mrs. Rosa Page, 60, colored, 2013
Q street, was badly injured when she
was struck by a car driven by George
C. Peacock, 63, 1304 S street, when
she stepped from a street car load
ing platform on Connecticut avenue
early last night. She was treated at
Emergency Hospital for a severe in
jury to her head, a fractured right
hand and internal injuries.
Harvey Fritter, 646 I street south
west, was also treated at Emergency
for a slight head cut received when
his car was in a collision with one
driven by James E. Murray, 334
Thirteenth street northeast, at Sev
Clltu BU CCb anu ITloi j laiiu nivuuv.
southwest yesterday afternoon.
Winfleld S. Dampier, 19, 2923 Yost
place northeast, was treated at Freed
men's Hospital for Injuries to his
head and right knee, after he was In
a collision at Second and T streets
with a car driven by William Mahar
ney, 19. Mahamey was arrested and
charged #wlth driving while Intoxi
cated and having no driver's permit.
William T. Finn, 60, 930 Twenty
third street, was slightly injured yes
terday when he lost control of his
machine in front of 1321 Foxhall
road and collided with a porch.
Mrs. Dellcla Buckingham. 3500
Fourteenth street, was Injured when
the taxicab in which she was a pas
senger turned over after a collision
with another cab at Ninth and R
(treats last night.
CAPT. WELLS IS NAMED
HOSPITAL BOARD HEAD
Capt. Chester Wells. U. S. N.. re
tired. was elected president of Colum
bia Hospital at a recent meeting of
the board, succeeding Joseph- M.
Hlmes, former Representative of Ohio,
who retired to devote more time to
his duties as president of the new
Group Hospitalization. Inc.
Capt. Wells is head of the Boy
Scouts in the District of Columbia, a
director of the Hamilton National
Bank and a leader in social welfare
work.
Mr. Himes had been president of
the hospital far the last two years
and, prior to that time, served as a
member of the board.
Other officers elected for a year's
term were George Hewitt Myers and
Attorney Paul E. Lesh, vice presidents,
and Wayne Kendrlck, treasurer.
Live Stock Perish in Fire.
FREDERICK. Md., February 25
(Special) .—Fire that destroyed a barn
on the farm of William H. McKlnney
had left six horses and 18 head of
cattle dead today. Damage was esti
mated at $10,000. Forty tons of hay,
50 bushels of wheat and machinery
were destroyed. ^
h———mmmmmmtmmmmmmmmmmrn* ■ 1
Architect's drawing of the new adult tuberculosis hospital, the plans for which were approved Saturday by
the Fine Arts Commission. The hospital and the addition to the nurses' home (shown in lowpr sketch) will be
erected at Glenn Dsle, Md., under a public works loan and grant of $1,500,000. The hospital will have a capacity
of 396 beds.
MONEY EXPANSION
uhmssion
Public Ownership and Con
trol of Banks Also Plea
of Utilities Speaker.
Extensive expansion of the currency
and public ownership and control of
all banking facilities were advocated
by speakers today at the Public
Ownership Conference being held at
the Willard Hotel.
Former Senator Robert L. Owen,
author of the Federal Reserve act of
1913, told the delegates there is only
one way to recovery from the depres
sion and that is to put more money
in the pockets of consumers through
expansion of the currency.
He took Dr. Edwin W. Kemmerer,
professor of international finance at
Princeton, who spoke at the Town
Hall last night, to task for his asser
tion that the depression was not
caused by a lack of money, and said
that any one "with common sense who
has the temerity to get up and tell
intelligent people that money did not
cause the depression must be the in
strument of those persons seeking to
keep the country on an unsound eco
nomic basis "
"Staple Price Level."
Owen said that in framing the Fed
eral Reserve act of 1913 he included
a provision "to promote a staple price
level," which he interpreted to mean
the Federal Reserve should issue
money in accordance with price fluc
tuation.
"If we ever expect to whip this de
pression, we must replace the money
destroyed as if by fire in this country,"
Owen said. "The stock market crash
of 1929. destroyed property values of
200 billion dollars, but a greater de
struction was that of confidence by
the American people."
Another plan for expansion of the
currency was submitted by C B.
Whltnall. secretary of the Public Land
Commission of Wisconsin, who ad
vocates a national municipal currency.
He said his plan would be comparable
to national bank currency, but that
the currency under his plan would
be issued by municipal governments,
backed by national credit.
He said although the Government
is the only body authorized to issue
currency, it never has Issued any to
Itself or to any of its subdivisions—
States, counties or cities. Under the
plan the bonded indebtedness of com
munities would be definitely limited
ana ail Dona issues wouia maiure
serially in 20 years, which would
mean that 5 per cent of the indebted
ness would be redeemed each year,
such maturing bond or bonds being
sent back to the city by he United
States Treasury each year, the credit
against the municipality being called
in and canceled.
Portland Official Speaks.
J. E. Bennett, city commissioner of
Portland, Oreg., discussed the depres
sion, its causes and remedies. He laid
the whole blame for the depression on
the withdrawal of appropriately $46.
000.000 in credits, limited money in
circulation and the tightening up by
banks of credit.
Bennett said we are really not in a
depression, but that the conditions are
a result of an unsound money and
banking system which will become per
manent unless proper remedies are
applied.
The conference, which opened last
Thursday, will be climaxed by a ban
quet at the Willard tonight, at which
Chairman Prank R. McNinch of the
Federal Tariff Commission; Rev. Msgr.
John A. Ryan and Carl D. Thompson
will be speakers. J. D. Ross of Seattle
will give a lecture illustrated by mov
ing pictures of what is being done by
public ownership in Washington. Ed
ward Keating will be the toastmaster.
Six Couples Obtain Licenses.
FAIRFAX, Va.. February 25 (Spe
cial) .—Marriage licenses have been is
sued in the offices of the clerk of the
Circuit Court as follows: Edwa-d Hare,
31, and Iva Axt, 29, both of Baltimore,
Md.; John H. Cline, 30, and Frances
E. Butterworth, 27, Falls Church, Va.;
Malcolm Matheson, jr., 21, R. F. D.
Alexandria, Va., and Emma Henry
Tompkins, 21, Washington; John
Ewell, Jr., 24, and Lillian Duncan, 15,
both R. F. D„ Manassas, Va.;,Wilbur
W. Kern, 21, Baltimore, Md., and
Frances W. Yinger, 23, Frederick, Md.,
and John F. Balenger. 26, Colvin
Run, Va., and Anita Sauveur, 15,
Vienna, Va.
Odd Fellows Dance Tomorrow.
CLARENDON, Va., February 25
(Special).—Arrangements are being
completed for a dance to be given for
benefit of Arlington Lodge of Odd
Fellows in Odd Fellows Hall here to
morrow night. *
Page Diogenes!
Man Hit by Auto
Confesses Fault
Absolves Motorist on
Removal From Under
Automobile.
Diogenes can throw a way his
lantern—for the honest man has
been found!
Yesterday while hundreds of cars
packed the area around the Wash
ington Airport, the screech of brakes,
the screams of women and the cries
"A man has been run over" filled the
air. Traffic was tied up for several
I minutes while motorists deserted their
cars where they stood to lift the front
end of the car and pull the man out.
As soon as the weight had been
removed from his chest, a w-ell-dressed
young man got up. dusted the road
grime from his clothes, shook hands
with the driver of the car, adjusted |
his glasses a little more firmly on hi?,
nose and walked away with the;
remark:
"No damage ftt all—it was all my
fault, anyhow. Just forget it."
When asked his name, he said it
did not matter. The driver of the
car. a man in sailor uniform, also
declined to give his name to ques
tioners. He told bystanders:,
i "Gee, he's a swell guy—not a
squawk out of him."
ruuIIbay
ON CHILD PIANIST
Appeal to Test Law Planned
Despite Decision by
Judge Bentley.
Aiier several aeiavs mat nave aepi
the case on the Juvenile Court docket
since January 22, Judge Fay Bentley
has set Thursday to deliver her deci
sion in the case against Mrs. Dorothy
H. Dorsey, concert manager, charged
with violating the District child labor
law by presenting Ruth Slenczynski,
10-year-old pianist, in concert here.
The case will be appealed regardless
of Judge Bentley's findings, it has
been agreed by counsel, in order to
test the District law. In fact, the last
postponement of the decision was
made at the request of the lawyers so
that proper papers for the appeal
could be completed.
Mrs. Dorsey, represented by Attor
ney Robert E. Lynch, pleaded not
guilty and contended that since she
made no profit on the concert, she
had not violated the law.
Thomas Gillespie Walsh, assistant
corporation counsel, in prosecuting
the case contended the child pianist
is being exploited in violation of the
law and cited that her earnings sup
port the members of her family.
When the case was heard Judge
Bentley took it under advisement for
a few days and then granted a second
continuance for the convenience of
lawyers.
FALSE ALARM ADMITTED
Arrested on the complaint of fire
men after they answered a false alarm
at Connecticut avenue and S street
early today, Howard K. Baker, 30,1700
block of Twentieth street, and Thomas
O'Malley, 2200 block of Massachusetts
avenue, pleaded guilty to turning in
a false fire alarm when arraigned be
fore Judge Isaac R. Hltt in Police
Court today.
In continuing the case until Sat
urday for the imposition of sentence
Judge Hitt told the defendants to re
turn on Saturday with "plenty of
money." They told the court that the
alleged offense occurred following a
party. *
Bill for $38,000,000 Projects. In
cluding Pearl Harbor Improve
ments. Approved.
By the Associated Press.
A measure to authorize the Navy
Department to proceed with strength
ing naval bases, chiefly on the West
Coast and in Hawaii and the Canal
Zone, was approved today by the
House Naval Committee.
The project would cost more than
$38,000,000. of which nearly $15,000.
000 would be expended at the navy
yard and submarine and air bases at
Pearl Harbor. Hawaii.
The largest single item is $10,000,
000 for a gigantic floating drydork at
Pearl Harbor, capable of handling
the Navy's largest fighting craft.
Substantial amounts also would be
used at Balboa and Coco Solo. Canal
Zone: the Pensocola, Fla.. air station,
and at Mare Island. Calif., and Pu
get Sount, Wash., navy yards.
The committee ordered the bill re
ported to the House, 14 to 1, with a
recommendation for passage.
RENT BILL APPROVED
Federal Employes Against Dirk
sen Resolution.
Approval of the Ellenbogen rent con
trol bill, which declares the existence
of an emergency and would provide
for establishment of a commission to
regulate rents in the District, today
was voiced by the District of Colum
bia Federation of Federal Employes'
Unions, through William S. Kinney,
chairman of the Committee on Rentals
and Home Ownership for the feder
ation.
In a statement Issued today, the fed
eration declared It did not favor (be
Dlrksen resolution for "freeslng" rents
at the January 1^1914, level.
mg ui me laguuii. »w.auu. sprt-aaiim
and rolling of the fill. $22,500: removal
of Military road and construction of
a substitute road connection to Co
lumbia pike, $12,000; construction of
1.800 feet of drainage culvert, $63,000:
water lines, fire lines and sewers.
$12,350; drainage installations, Includ
ing 14.000 feet of tile, $42,000, and
paving of five runways. $189,650.
Reed told the committee sufficient
filling material can be obtained from
the new Interior Department excava
tion to raise the level of the airport
to 10 feet, without cost to the Gov
ernment. He said if the jobs are car
tied on simultaneously, the contractor
will be willing to spread and roll the
fill at the airport if relieved of the
cost of finding a dumping place for
the material.
Needs Varied.
C. R. Smith, president of American
Airlines, told the committee that not
only is air transport business grow
ing rapidly in Washington, but that
different types of planes now being
used requires enlarged airport fa
cilities.
"It is quite apparent to every one
in the industry that Washington
needs a better airport." Smith said.
"The present airport is very well lo
cated and it should be possible to
make a good terminal there without
great loss of time."
Testimony in favor of the Gravelly
Point site was being given by John
Nolen of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission when the
committee adjourned. Nolen *aid
hazards existing around Washington
Airport and the impossibility of con
trolling construction of future hazards
had always influenced his commission
against the present airport.
Although the committee had hoped
to finish hearings today, a number of
last-minute witnesses applied for time
and two more days probably will be
required to complete the work of
hearing witnesses, which began three
weeks ago.
COMMITTEE FAVORS
STRONG NAVY BASES
U. S. MAIL OFFICIAL
URGES ENLARGED
AIRPORT FOR CIFY
Present Conditions Deplora
ble, Cisler Tells House
Subcommittee.
INCREASE IN PLANE
SCHEDULES ARE CITED
Present Site Can Be Made Accept*
able for $385,000, New York
Adviser Says.
Declaring that conditions at Wash
ington Airport are "deplorable."
Stephen A. Cisler, general superin
tendent of Railway and Airmail Serv
ice, Post Office Department, today told
a House subcommittee that increased
airport facilities here are urgently
needed.
The Post Office Department is con
stantly increasing its airmail schedules
and the local airport is not sufficiently
large and is without sufficient facili
ties to handle the growing traffic, Cis
ler testified.
"I feel it is most unfortunate Wash
ington has not a better airport," he
said.
J. M. Donaldson, Deputy Second As
sistant Postmaster General, told the
committee that the Post Office De
partment, although interested in bet
ter airport facilities here, does not in
tend to express any opinion as to a
definite site for the airport.
Adviser Offers Plan.
Washington Airport can be made
into a model air terminal at a cost
of only $385,000 for improvement of
the landing area itself, the subcom
mittee was told by Daniel H. Reed,
airport adviser to the City of New
York, who has taken part in planning
50 or more airports throughout the
country. Reed, who admitted he was
hired by Washington Airport officials
for the purpose, submitted detailed
estimates of cost for improvement of
the local field. He said the work could
be completed within six months with
out interruption to air transport oper
ation.
His estimate included hydraulic fill
town University School of Foreign
Service. Washington, said at a na
tional defense meeting here yesterday.
Regarding Mencken's assertion that
In Maryland, the school, whose teach
ings are under legislative fire, could
teach "spiritualism, vegetarianism.
Communism, Calvinism or cannibal
ism, or all of them together," Sardo
demanded:
"Are you going to allow freedom of
speech to tear away the very base
and foundation of our republic? Is
our State of Maryland to be an Incu
bator for Oommuawq?"
Br the Associated Press.
BALTIMORE, February 25.—H. L.
Mencken's freedom with the Free
State's free speech had been Indicted
as too free today.
The Baltimore writer last week in
vited little Commonwealth College of
Mena, Ark., to come to Maryland and
receive "an unconstitutional guaran
tee of free speech."
But this one of Maryland's "fore
most principles'' should be limited,
William H. Sardo, president of the
Senior Evening Cla* of the George
Mencken Too Generous, Speaker
Says, With Maryland Liberty
BOY, 15, ATTACKED
BY ROBBERS IN HOME
Fair Escape With $21 in Cash
After Finding Youth
Alone.
Finding young Robert Hans, 15,
alone in his home at 509 Third street
southeast late yesterday afternoon, two
unidentified men slugged him and
ransacked the house, escaping with
$21 in cash.
The boy, who lay unconscious In
the hallway of his home, when found
shortly afterward told his mother, Mrs.
Catherine Hans, and his sister. Mrs.
Catherine Jennings, that he answered
the door bell and when he told the
men there were no others at home he
was attacked.
Robert was treated by the family
physician and his Injuries are not re
garded as serious.
Police today are searching for two
colored men who forced Meyer S.
Cohen, 70 K street, into an alley near
First and Fenton streets Saturday
night in an attempt to rob him. Cohen
screamed for help and ran. The thugs
fired two shots at him as he fled.
Ollie Brown, 45, colored, 1527 Sev
ent street, was robbed of a $5 gold
piece and severely beaten by two col
ored men who held him up in an alley
near Seventh and T streets early yes
terday morning. Brown received sev
eral fractured ribs, a broken collar
bone. a dislocated shoulder and a pos
sibly broken nose.
Edward Fortune. 400 Ninth street
southeast, told police he was held up
and robbed of $7 early yesterday morn
ing by a young colored man who ap
proached him as he sat in his parked
automobile on Sixteenth street.
Round-Table Conference on
Recreation to Be Held
Under F. A. Delano.
A round-tatie conference, under
leadership of Frederic A. Delano,
chairman of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, is slated
for tomorrow afternoon at the Interior
Department to Iron out Washington's
wrinkled recreational problems. The
object of the meeting, to which spokes
men of the three major groups dealing
with recreation here have been invited,
is to reach a unified program.
Invited to the meeting are Commis
sioner George E. Allen, who will rep
resent the District government and
its Playground Department. Henry I.
Qulnn, prominent attorney and a
member of the Board of Education,
who will speak for the Community
Center Department, and C. Marshall
Finnan, superintendent of the Na- j
tional Capital parks.
Delano has been able to arrange his j
calendar so as to hold the session'
earlier than anticipated. Originally!
it was scheduled early in March.
The National Capital Park and;
Planning Commission is to hold its j
regular meeting late this week and Mr.!
Delano hopes to be able to tell his col
leagues a unified program has been
agreed upon. The District Commis
sioners have appointed a group of
prominent citizens as an advisory
council upon recreation and this or
ganization is expected to report
shortly. It has been hearing the views
of spokesmen for various recreational
agencies and will report its findings
to the Commissioners, with recom
mendations as to what should be done.
The Planning Commission sponsored
the study on recreation, which was
made by Lebert H. Weir of the Na
tional Recreation Association, and this
report was made public in November.
It suggested four plans to achieve
unity in recreation here.

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