Evening star. [volume], January 17, 1937, Page B-1, Image 15

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

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General News 1 £fje funtoj gte [ Sports—Pages 7 to 11 |
WASHINGTON, D. C., SUNDAY MORNING, JANUARY 17, 1937. * PAGE B—1
U. S. PAY INCREASE
AWAITS DECISION
OE COMMISSION
McCarron Measure Referred
to Civil Service Body
for Study.
LEGISLATION IS SEEN
ON MERIT EXTENSION
Robinson Holds Changes Should
Be Kept Independent of Re
organization Study.
Further developments on the Me
Carran Government pay increase bill
will await a report from the Civif
Service Commission, to which the
measure was referred for study, Chair
man Bulow of the Senate Civil Service
Committee, said yesterday.
Meanwhile, there were some indica
tions that the separate question of
extending the merit system of ap
pointment is more likely to develop
•s part of the Federal reorganization
program than as separate legislation.
Robinson Gives Views.
Senate Majority Leader Robinson of
Arkansas expressed the view' yester
day, however, that any discussion of
salary changes should be kept inde
pendent of the reorganization study.
Although the report of the President's
Reorganization Committee suggested
better salaries in key positions at the
top, Senator Robinson made known
several days ago his belief it would
be inopportune to couple salary. in
creases for officers of the Government
with reorganization. He also said at
that time that if salary increases are
to be made, he thought those who now
receive less than a living wage are en
titled to first consideration.
The McCarran pay bill proposes
• 1.500 as a minimum wage for full
time adult employes of the Govern
ment, thereby benefiting most of those
lr» the lowest brackets. It also would
provide increases for the various sal
ary grades up to $3,600 a year and
make other improvements in the
method of handling promotions,
Employes Visit Capitol.
A delegation of members of the
United Government Employes, Inc.,
composed of those in the lower brack
ets, visited the Capitol yesterday aft
ernoon to express their indorsement of
the McCarran bill to members of the
Senate Civil Service Committee.
They presented to Chairman Bulow
• nd other committee members copies
of resolutions adopted at a meeting
of the organization Friday night in
the Garnet-Patterson School.
Edgar G. Brown, president of the
organization, acted as spokesman of
the delegation. Senator Bulow re
iterated his previously expressed in
terest in helping those receiving the
lower salaries. The text of the reso
lutions commended Senator McCar
ran,* Democrat. of Nevada, for spon
soring pay adjustment in the lower
grades.
—-•
POLICE PROBE FAKE
ORPHAN FUND DRIVE
Man Arrested in New Racket of
Collecting Money for Relief
of Widows.
Police last night launched an in
vestigation into a new racket by which
citizens have been victimized in being
urged by unauthorized persons to con
tribute to a fund for widows and or
phans of policemen and firemen killed
In line of duty.
A survey to determine how many
persons have been fleeced in this
manner was begun after Precinct De
tectives H. H. Carper and M. B. Moore
arrested a man in a liquor store in the
1300 block of Wisconsin avenue.
The arrest was made through the
co-operation of Jack Killeen, pro
prietor of the store. He called the
detectives after he had received a
telephone call from a man represent
ing himself to be “Sergt. Callahan”
of the Police Department and asking
for a contribution, Killeen said. The
donation was promised.
When the man entered the store, he
reportedly was handed a marked $5
bill by Killeen, the money having been
furnished by police. Carper waited in
the store during the transaction, it
was said, and then arrested the man.
The prisoner, who is held for in
vestigation. was quoted by police as
•aying: ‘‘Wei!, boys, you've got me.”
Members of the Detective Bureau
eheck and fraud squad said they had
received several complaints recently
regarding the extortion of money in
the name of the Police and Fire De
partment widows.
—---*--—__
ATTENDANCE RECORD
SET BY BOYS’ CLUB
Membership and Service Figures
Also Surpassed, Fyfe's Re
port Discloses.
The Boys’ Club of Washington, Inc.,
eloeed 1936 with its highest member
ship registration and the largest at
tendance and service record since the
club was founded 17 years ago, accord
ing to the December report of Charles
M. Fyfe, managing director.
During that month of 1936 the club’s
various facilities were used 21,143
times, as compared with 18,648 times
for December in 1935, making a serv
ice increase of 2,495. The average
daily service figure of the club for
December, 1936, was 846, as compared
with 745 for the same month in 1935.
The total attendance during Decem
ber last was given as 5,934. In 1935
it was 4,704. .
The mo6t popular of the depart
ments for the month was that of the
games, which totaled a service figure
of 10,574.
The club’s Georgetown branch
showed an average of 125 boys used
the physical department daily, 246
bo.va the recreation department and
64 the reading room during the month.
There were 92 adult visitors at the
bftmch in December,
Secret Service Chief Honored
William H. Moran, retired chief of the Secret Service (right),
is shown with Agent Frank Burke, who acted as toastmaster at
a testimonial banquet given in the former Government official's
honor last night. —Star Staff Photo.
High Officials Honor Moran,
Retired Secret Service Chief
Testimonial Dinner Given in Recogni
tion of Veteran's 54 Years in
Government,
High Government officials and
Federal investigators from all over
the country paid tribute to William
H. Moran, retired chief of the Secret
: Service, at a testimonial dinner in
his honor last night at the Willard
Hotel.
In recognition of his 54 years In
the Government service, 18 of which
were spent as head of the Secret
Service, Moran was presented with
the keys to a new automobile and a
bound volume of letters written by
every man in the service, the first
letter from the pen of the President.
Text of Letter.
The latter follows:
"My Dear Chief:
"I cannot allow you to relinquish
active work without assuring you of
my sincere appreciation of the devoted
service which you have rendered to
the Government, latterly as chief of
the Secret Service Division of the
Treasury Department, and previously
through so many years as a faithful
member of that organization. And I
desire in a special way to acknowledge
the debt which I owe you personally
TO BEREQUESTEO
Rock Creek and Potomac
Parkway Span to Be Lee
Boulevard Link.
Bids are expected to be called for
shortly by the Bureau of Public Roads
of the Department of Agriculture for
construction of the new traffic bridge
in the Rock Creek and Potomac Park
way, near the Shoreham Hotel, across
Rock Creek, officials said yesterday.
Plans for the structure are prac
tically completed by the bureau, but
some alterations are necessary to meet
the requirements of the landscape ar
chitects of the National Park Service.
Drawings are expected to be ready
in the next 10 days for the new bridge
across Boundary Channel, leading
from Columbia Island to the Virginia
mainland, to hook up with the Lee
Boulevard.
The Bureau of Public Roads also
informed park authorities yesterday
that plans for an extra span in Key
Bridge, at Rosslyn, Va., are progress
ing satisfactorily. Preliminary studies
are under way actively and confer
ences with the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, the Fine
Arts Commission and the National
Capital Parks are being held period
ically to iron out the details.
This new arch will afford traffic
faculties in the George Washington
Memorial Parkway, which will feature
a riverside drive up to Great Falls,
passing under the Key Bridge, to avoid
grade crossings. The money is already
in hand for this, officials said, and as
soon as plans are completed construc
tion will proceed without delay. A
traffic connection with the Lee High
way at Rosslyn will likewise be made.
I
BAND CONCEIT.
By the Navy Band, in the sail loft
at the Navy Yard, at 2 p.m. tomorrow.
Lieut. Charles Benter, leader; Alex
ander Morris, assistant.
Program.
Des. concert march, “Skylines”..Alford
Overture to "An Irish Comedy”.Ansell
Solo for cornet, “La Mandolinata,”
Bells tedt
Oscar Short.
“Nocturne No. 1, in C Minor”..Chopin
March, “Franklin D. Roosevelt,”
Woodin
Song, “Silver Threads Among
the Gold”... Danks
Hymn, “In the Sweet Bye and
Bye”..Lotter
March, "Spirit of the Nation,”
Mrs. A. Gillett
Scotch air, "Loch Lamond.”
March, “N. C. 4”. Bigelow
Solo for trombone, “Autumn
Leaves”-Zimmermann
Clarence Edwards.
March, “That Old Home Town
of Mine”_Laurier
“A Manx Rhapsody"_ Wood
“Idyll” ..Coates
March, “Our Chief's Cair.Rlnkendorf
r "The Star Spangled Banner.”
a
for all you have done now through
nearly four years to Insure my own
personal safety and comfort.
"Yours has been a long career of
varied and valuable service, always
performed with single-minded devo
tion to the public good. I join with
your legion of friends in wishing you
continued good health and the full
enjoyment through long years to come
of the leisure which you have earned
by such faithful work.
"Very sincerely yours,
"(Signed)
"FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT."
Served Under 13 Presidents.
Speakers pointed out that Moran
had entered the Secret Service dur
ing President Arthur’s administration,
that he had served under 13 Presi
dents and that he had seen 19 treas
urers of the United States come
and go.
A high light of the testimonial was
a toast by Mrs. Marian Bannister,
assistant treasurer, who after ascer
taining no "G-men" were present,
lauded Moran with: “Chief Moran,
what-a-man, beat his record if you
can!”
Frank Burke, Secret Service agent
stationed at the Bureau of Engrav
ing and Printing, who presided as
toastmaster, introduced the follow
ing speakers:
Walter S. Bowen, chief cleric of the
Secret Service: Frank A. Birgfeld,
chief clerk of the Treasury; Police
Supt. Ernest W. Brown; Alvin W.
Hall, director of the Buerau of En
graving and Printing; Rear Admiral
H. G. Hamlet, retired chief of the
Coast Guard; Joseph E. Murphy, for
20 years assistant to Moran; Steven E.
Gibbons, Assistant Secertary of the
Treasury: William H. McReynolds,
administrative assistant to the Secre
tary of the Treasury; James Moyle,
commissioner of customs; Rev. John C.
Palmer, pastor of the Washington
Heights Presbyterian Church; Elmer
Irey, chief of the Intelligence Divi
sion. Internal Revenue Bureau; James
L. Wilmeth, former director of the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing;
Leslie C. Garnett, United States dis
trict attorney; Harry Anslinger, com
missioner of narcotics; Charles R.
Schoenman. and Thomas J. Callaghan.
Told that his gift automobile was
safely locked in the garage at his
home, Moran inquired, "Who's go
ing to drive it?”
His wife, who sat beside him, an
swered, “Nervous as I am about driv
ing, I will!”
WISDOM OF ZOO
CONTROL SHIFT
TO D. t DOUBTED
Fiscal Committee Proposal
Would Seriously Alter
Status of Collection.
SMITHSONIAN ASSISTS
IN ACQUIRING ANIMALS
Main Question at Issue Is Whether
Zoo Will Remain National
Institution.
The proposal to remove the National
Zoological Park from the administra
tion of the Smithsonian Institution to
that of the District Commissioners,
contained in the report of the Presi
dent's Advisory Committee on Fiscal
Relations, would seriously alter the
status of one of the finest wild animal
collections in the world, according to
Smithsonian officials.
The eventual result, they fear, would
be to reduce to an average small city
too what is now a scientific establish
ment of high standing throughout the
world. The Smithsonian administra
tion has given the Zoo certain extraor
dinary advantages. Because of the
association and its national status, it
has been the natural depository of
many rare animals and birds which
have come into the hands of Federal
agents throughout the world or have
been gathered by scientific expeditions.
The Smithsonian connection has
made possible securing permits from
foreign countries for the collection of
rare animals which otherwise seldom
would be granted. A notable case, it
was pointed out, was the Zoo's acqui
sition of a gorilla from the Belgian
Congo reserve a few years ago. The
animals are guarded so zealously that
one could be removed only through
negotiations between the Belgian gov
ernment and the government of the
country for which it is destined.
Smithsonian officials were loath to
discuss the matter yesterday until they
have given it further consideration.
They stressed, however, that the main
question at issue is as to whether
there shall be a national Zoo or a
District of Columbia Zoo. The latter
could not pretend to fulfill the func
tions of the former as a depository for
types and as a field for scientific
study.
The Zoo started, it was pointed out.
in the Smithsonian's "back yard.”
From time to time, the scientific
studies of the institution had required
the use of living animals. Rather than
kill these creatures after their imme
diate purpose was served former Sec
retary Samuel P. Langley directed that
they be kept in rages and pens behind
the building. The collection rapidly
grew far beyond the limits of the
‘available space and Secretary Langley
led the movement to secure the pres
ent park.
Ai that time the bison were near
extinction. Secretary Langley's work
initiated the movement which has pre
served these animals. He also was
concerned with the preservation of
the rapidly disappearing beaver and
some other North American mam
mals. The Zoo still is in a position
to serve this purpose. Today repre
sentatives of colleges and scientific
foundations throughout the United
States are constantly carrying on in
vestigations at the park which other
wise would be impossible.
The recreational facilities of the
Zoo, it is stressed, are entirely sec
ondary.
EDITOR TO SPEAK
“The New Germany’’ to Be Sub
ject of Shuster's Talk.
George N. Shuster, managing
editor of Commonweal, Catholic week
ly, will talk on “The New Germany’’
tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. in Humey
Memorial Hall, 711 N street.
The lecture is under the auspices of
the Washington Catholic Radio Hour,
which is supervised at the rectory of
the Church of the Immaculate Con
ception, 1315 Eighth street.
Fireworks and Gay Crowds
At Cleveland’s Inaugural
Inaugural parades were rough fun
back In 1885, when Grover Cleve
land rode up Pennsylvania avenue to
the cheers of the thousands who were
happy that the
Demociats were
back in power.
Marching in
line were 15.000
Pennsylvania Na
tional Guards
men, who halted
at Tenth street
and Pennsylvania
avenue to seize
Lieut. Dick Ar
nold, the most
dignified member
of the police
force, and toss
Rev. Mr. Bry»nt
nun several times
into the air.
In fact, these Pennsylvanians were
so rough, Richmond Lee Moran re
calls, that the District indemnified
the visitors who suffered from their
mischief.
Even so, Moran, who lives on the
top floor of a house at 803 Mount
Vernon place, remembers that first
Cleveland inaugural as one of the best
of the 15 he has seen. His record be
gins with Grant’s second, in 1873.
Moran was 7 when an older sister
steered him by the hand through the
crowd along Pennsylvania avenue to
watch -the great Union general with
the red beard ride in his carriage up
to the Capitol.
17 Seen by Bryant.
Rev. Arthur D. Bryant of 322 East
Capitol street remembers that the
March 4, 1873, was so cold that he
failed to see the Grant parade—the
only inauguration ceremony he has
missed since the second Lincoln in
augural, in 1865. He has seen IT
altogether and is ready to wateh an
other Wednesday. I
"Several of the west Point cadets
and Annapolis midshipmen were al
most frozen to death,” Rev. Mr. Bryant
said of Grant's parade.
Another who found the weather
cold that day is Mrs. Margaret Bradt,
81, or 3233 Twen
ty-eighth street.
She has a griev
ance against In
augurals because
she wasn’t al
lowed to march
in Grant's second
inauguration pa
rade with the
Union Civil War
veterans and
wear a dress
which once be
longed to Mrs.
Andrew Jackson,
Mrl. Brsdt
wue oi me ^resi
dent.
v. _ __ _ iu_i ••_
it was so coia. nowever, mat Mrs.
Bradt Isn’t so sorry about It after
all.
‘‘That was about the coldest day of
my life,” she said. “Besides, they
don’t have fireworks along the Avenue
like they used to. That was always
a grand sight.”
To Be on Hand Wednesday.
Mrs. Bradt says she hasn’t missed
an inauguration since Grant’s and
Intends to be present Wednesday.
Somewhat aside from the subject of
Inaugurations, Mrs. Bradt confided she
was the daughter of a Union veteran
and married the son of a Southern
slave owner. She also danced once
with Ulysses S. Grant, 3d.
Like Moran, Rev. Mr. Bryant puts
the first Cleveland inauguration at
the top.
“I well remember,” he said, “be
cause of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee's wonder
ful personal charm, bowing fight and
left along the Avenue.”
Handle D. C. Appropriation Bill in House
1—Representative Ross A. Collins, Democra-t, of Mississippi, new chairman of the House
Subcommittee on Appropriations, shown at his desk. Collins took the job yesterday with the
promise to give the Capital a “new deal’’ as far as financial affairs are concerned.
Other members of the subcommittee pictured are: (2) Representative Caldwell of Florida,
(3) Higgins of Massachusetts and (4> Starnes of Alabama, all Democrats, and (5) Engel of
Michigan, the only Republican on the committee.
(Story on Page A-l.)
I
. I
Police Report No Large In
flux, but Prepare for
Demonstration.
Although there were no signs last
night of an appreciable increase in
the number of striking seamen here,
police are keeping a wary eye on
| entrances to the city for new arrivals
I to get an idea of what they must cope
; with if a proposed demonstration
develops tomorrow.
So far, there has been nothing to
substantiate the prediction of leaders
| of the maritime strike that some
| 5.000 delegates will be massed in the
| Capital within the next 24 hours.
Except for about two-score picket -
ers at the Commerce Department yes
; terday, a check-up late last night
' failed to reveal the presence of addi
; tional members of seamen's unions.
Joseph Curran, head of the New
York Strike "Committee, announced
several days ago the seamen would
| move into Washington from all the
large seaports to protest against
“continuous discharge books." which
are provided for in a clause in sena
tor Copeland's maritime act.
The discharge books, the seamen be
lieve, would result in the Ultimate
"blacklisting” of those who participate
in union activities.
Patrick Whalen, chairman of the
Baltimore Strike Committee, said yes
terday several hundred of the demon
strators already had arrived. How
ever, the Public Relations Bureau of
the Police Department has been unable
| to verify Whalen’s statement.
The police did say. however, that
eight bus loads of seamen were re-*
ported to have left New York and
that smaller groups from other East
ern cities were understood on the way
here.
If the strength of the demonstrators
warrents it, Police Supt. Ernest W.
Browrt is expected to issue special
orders canceling leave to guard against
possible developments.
P. W. A. WILL SLASH
2,000 FROM PAY ROLL
About 300 Workers to Leave
‘‘Service Without Prejudice”
Are in Washington.
Approximately 2,000 P. W: A. ad
ministrative employes. mo6t of whom
are now on furlough without pay. will
be “separated from the service without
prejudice’’ next month, it was an
nounced last night by Secretary Ickes.
About 300 of these employes, it was
said, are stationed in Washington.
None has civil service status.
Officials said the reduction in per
sonnel was in line with P. W. A.’s
“continuing policy.” in force more than
a year, to reduce its staff as the com
pletion of projects permits.
During the last six months, the an
nouncement said, some 2,700 non
Federal projects, with a total con
struction cost of $300,000,000, have
been completed. New projects, it was
pointed out, are not being started as
rapidly as old ones are being com
pleted, making the staff reductions
possible.
Minnesotans to Dance.
Members of Congress from Minne
sota and Gov. Elmer A. Benson and
his party will be the guests of hon
or' at a dance given Jointly by the
Minnesota State Society and the Uni
versity of Minnesota Alumni Asso
ciation at Ward man Park Hotel Tues
day night. Don De Vol is chairman
of the Reception Committee and Gil
bert E. Hyatt heads the Floor Com
mittee.
Jewish Sisterhood Meeting.
A meeting of Beth El Talmud Torah
Sisterhood will be held at the Syna
gogue, 702 Jefferson street, Tuesday
at 8 p.m. It was also announced
that a card party would-be held'at
the same plice and hour February 8,
-
“Lost Convention”
Located by Visitor
In $3 Taxi Riding
A visitor from Chicago came
to The Star today to advertise:
"Lost, one convention.”
He was James T. Vesely, and
he had spent $3 on taxicabs try
ing to find the conference of the
Federation of Engineers, Archi
tects, Technicians and Chemists.
A friend in Chicago gave him
an address which turned out to
be a drug store. Vesely hurried
here by plane to save time, but it
was 1 o'clock before he located
his conference at 808 Seventeenth
street.
INFANT MORTALITY
Influenza and Pneumonia
Contribute to High Rate
in Capital.
Washington's infant mortality rate,
which during 1936 ranked as one of
the highest in the country, is contin
uing *far ahead of average, Census
Bureau reports for the first part of
January reveal. There has been a
general increase in deaths of all age
classes due to influenza and pneu
monia, it was reported.
Total infant deaths for the week
ending January 9 are far above the
average in Washington, according to
the figures, which show 25 deaths of
children under 1 year of age during
| the week, as compared with a three
i year average of only 14 for the same
] period. Of these deaths, 14 were of
I white and 11 of colored infants.
The Census Bureau report shows
that total ‘deaths of persons of all
ages in Washington were running
ahead -of the three-year average dur
ing the week ending January 9, the
total being 222 for the week as com
pared with the average of 194.
The figures, based on reports from
86 major cities, show a sharp increase
in deaths for the country generally
during the early part of January.
“Without question,’’ it was explained,
“this excessive mortality is the result
of widespread increase in influenza
and paeumonia. The effects of the
current influenza epidemic have been
Evident in the mortality reports for
this week, and also for the week end
ing January 2, 1937."
The Census Bureau reported yester
day that during 1936 Washington had
an infant mortality rate of 72 per 1.000
live births, as compared with a rate
of only 59 per 1.000 during 1935.
These were for children under 1 year
of age, excluding still births. The
1936 average for 86 cities is 51 infant
deaths per 1,000 live births.
The total Washington death late
during 1936 amounted to 18.7 per
1.000 population, as compared with
17.1 in 1935 and only Nashville, Tenn.,
with a total of 19.2, reported a higher
rate.
MAN IN HOSPITAL HELD
ON NARCOTIC CHARGES
Accused of Possession, Sale and
Transportation After Arrest
in Downtown Area.
William F. Copenhaver, 27, who
gave his address as 608 Somerset
place, was arrested yesterday and
charged with possession, sale and
transportation of narcotics.
Taken into custody at the comer of
Fifth and O streets, Copenhaver was
removed to Casualty Hospital and
treated for an infection on his right
arm and later was transferred to
Gallinger Hospital, where he was
placed under a police guard.
Copenhaver was arrested by De
tective Sergts. Daniel Jones and
Charles Mansfield > of the narcotic
squad.
SECOND DIVIDEND
BY BANK LIKELY
Federal-American Deposi
tors Learn Remaining As
sets Are $2,927,189.
With prospects for another divi
dend to depositors in a few weeks, the
Federal-American National Bank &
Trust Co., largest closed bank in
Washington, is shown by the latest
quarterly statement of the receiver,
Cary A. Hardee, to have remaining
assets of an estimated value of $2,
927,189.63.
No definite indication is forthcom
ing as to how soon the dividend can
be paid to the thousands of depositors
of this bank, nor how large a dividend
it will be. But the figures of the
report show that the receivership is
being shaped into condition for pay
ment of the second dividend.
First Dividend 50 Prt.
First dividend was paid out of this
bank in September. 1933, amounting
to 50 per cent. On this first dividend,
the conservator and receiver have paid
to depositors a total of $4,182,531.46,
of which 13,885,604 was paid by the
conservator.
The Reconstruction Finance Corp.
loan of $2,348,425.97 has been en
tirely repaid.
Collections of stock assessment are
shown to be high, with $1,200,824.96
paid by stockholders cut of a total
assessment of $2,000,000 on the cap
ital stock.
Unsecured Liabilities.
Unsecured liabilities, at the date of
suspension of the bank, March 3,
1933. stood at $9,332,245.87, repre
senting the money owed to general
depositors. Receiver's certificates have
been issued for the great majority of
this, but most of these certificates
are being held at the office of the
receiver for depositors. There are un
secured liabilities listed as neither
"paid or proved," amounting to $241,
244.34.
The cost of liquidation of the bank
is shown to be $530,950.90, which is
less than the income from the assets
listed as $704,157.49 collected from
interest, premium, rents and other
sources.
Cash in the hands of the receiver
and the controller of the currency is
$707,209.16.
~~ •
TRADE GROUP JOINS
ADDED GAS TAX WAR
Proposals to Increase Burden Car
ried by D. C. Motorists Will
Be Opposed.
The Washington Automotive Trade
Association has joined with the Key
stone Automobile Club in the latter's
fight against proposals which would
mean a greater tax burden on mo
torists, the club announced yester
day.
A special committee appointed by
Oscar Coolican, president of the au
tomobile dealers' organization, to
study the proposed tax increase,
committed the association to cam
paign actively to obtain signatures to
the petition circulated by the Key
stone Club.
Addressed to the District Commis
sioners, the petition asks them "to
reject any measure imposing addi
tional taxes upon motor vehicle own
ers or users, or diverting to general
purposes of the District government
any part of the tax contributions of
motorists, which should in all justice
be dedicated to the construction,
maintenance and policing of high
ways." •
The enlistment of the trade asso
ciation in the campaign was hastened
by the recent report on fiscal rela
tions between the Federel and Dis
trict governments which may result
in a $10,000,000 tax increase.
If proposed legislation succeeds, a
spokesman for the association de
clared, mort than $2,000,000 will be
exacted annuallv from Washington
automobile gsais.
NINE LOCAL BILLS
ACE GIVEN 10 KING
BY DISTRICT BEADS
Uniform Sales and Lunacy
Measures Are Among
Those Submitted.
SENATE COMMITTEE
TO MEET THIS WEEK
Primary Purpose Will Be to Act
on Nominations of Hazen
and Allen.
BY J. A. O’LEARY.
A batch of nine local bills, includ
ing the proposed uniform sales la..’
and a new method of handling lunacy
proceedings here, were submitted to
Chairman King of the Senate District
Committee by the Commissioners late
yesterday, as the chairman planned
to call the first meeting of the com
mittee during the coming week.
The primary purpose of the initial
meeting, however, will be to act on
the nominations of the two civilian
Commissioners, Melvin C. Hazen and
George E. Allen, who were reap
pointed by President Roosevelt last
week for another three-year term.
Confirmation of the appointment* by
the Senate is expected without delay
following action by the committee.
Meanwhile. Senator King, as chair
man of the District Airport Commis
sion, went before the House subcom
mittee handling the first deficiency
appropriation bill yesterday afternoon
to ask for inclusion of the $10,000
authorized by the last Congress to
cover the expenses of the commis
sion appointed to recommend an air
port site to this Congress.
King to Study Legislation.
The nine pieces of legislation sub
mitted by the Commissioners yester
day will be studied by King early this
week, before he introduces them in
the Senate. It is not certain, there
fore, whether all of these measures
will be ready for consideration at the
committee's first meeting, the date
for which has not been set.
In addition to the two previously
mentioned, the seven other bills
recommended by the city heads deal
with the following subjects:
To amend the police salary law by
I dividing the detective force into two
pay classes, but with all the plain
: clothes men brought under control of
1 the chief of detectives. Under ex
isting law all policemen assigned to
detective work must be given $600 a
year additional compensation. The
bill provides for class 1. detectives,
at $600 a year extra, and class 2, at
$240 a year extra.
A btll making-it a misdemeanor to
trespass on public school property,
subject to a penalty of $25 fine.
Weights and Measures.
An amendment to the weights and
measures law to fix standard size con
tainers for coal when it is sold in
packages.
An amendment to the optometry
law to allow any mercantile establish
ment to operate a department of opto
metry, provided it is supervised by a
licensed optometrist.
A change in the gasoline tax law to
require importers, from whom the city
collects the tax, to post a bond in an
amount three times the estimated
monthly tax due, to facilitate collec
tions.
A bill to aid in prevention of blind
ness in infants born in the District
by authorizing the Health Department
to provide certain preventive facilities.
Uniform Sales Bill.
A measure to clarify the authority
of the Public Utilities Commission and
other District agencies to fix penalties
for the enforcement of orders and
regulations affecting the routing, stop
ping, or loading and unloading of
common carrier vehicles.
The uniform sales bill is designed
to clarify the existing laws of tha
District relating to the sale of goods,
by defining the legal conditions and
questions relating to the subject. It is
similar to the uniform sales law adopt
ed in 42 of the States.' It passed the
Senate in the last Congress, but did
not reach final enactment.
The lunacy bill would set up a com
mission of experts to investigate and
report to the court the best disposition
to be made of mental observation cases.
At present such cases are tried by jury
in the District Court. The Commis
sioners said in transmitting the bill
that every effort has been made tc
preserve the right to trial by jury,
when it is asked for, or when the
court on its own Initiative proposes
that course.
BOY CHOKED WITH BELT
AS ROBBER TAKES $1.95
—
Newspaper Carrier Loses His Col
lection Money to Colored
Assailant
A 10-year-old colored newsboy was
the victim last night of a robber who
used his victim's belt with which iO
choke him and take the boy's collec
tions of $1.95.
The child, Robert Brooks, colored,
941 O street, said he was grabbed by
a colored man. dragged into Blagden's
court, and choked with the belt while
his assailant searched his pockets.
After taking his money, the youth
told police, the man tied the belt to a
parked automobile and fled. Brooks
said he effected his own release, since
his hands were left free.
“KEEP OFF THE GRASS”
IS PARK OFFICIAL’S PLEA
Damage to grass in the parks caused
by pedestrians taking short cuts has
become so serious that Frank T.
Gartslde, assistant superintendent of
National Capital Parks, yesterday is
sued a plea to the public to co-oper
ate in preserving Washington’s beauty.
"Play over an entire plot of grass
does not do as much damage as the
repeated beat of feet over a given
path," Gartside said, pointing out
that barren paths now stretch across
the Ellipse, the Mall and the Wash
ington Monument grounds.