Evening star. [volume], February 14, 1937, Page B-1, Image 19

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General News ~j P)t r ~ . i b
WASHINGTON, D. C.t SUNDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 14, 1937. ♦ PAGE B—I
GEN OUTLINES
MINT PROGRAM
F0RU.S. WORKERS
A. F. of L. Prepared to Cam
paign for Plan, Leader
Says.
RAMSPECK SPEAKS
TO FEDERAL GROUP
Record Legislation on Civil Serv
ice at This Session Is
Suggested.
—
The American Federation of Labor
1* prepared to campaign for a four
point program in the interest of
Federal workers. William Green,
president, told the American Federa
tion of Government Employes last
night.
Addressing a dinner which the
District department of the federation
held at the Hamilton Hotel in honor
of the Executive Council, now in
session here, and attended by a num
ber of officials. Green listed the fed
eration objectives as: Shorter work
week, higher wages, "more tolerable”
conditions of employment and better
Civil service regulation.
"It is our purpose to appeal to
Congress for enactment of legislation
to advance and promote the economic
and social interests of those in Gov
ernment service,” Green emphasized.
"We want to make our Govern
ment the ideal employer of labor In
the United States.”
Discusses Ouster.
Earlier in the day Green had inter
ested himself in the case of five Dis
trict lodges ousted by the A. F. G. E.
last September in the "radical” purge,
with the result that representatives
who are seeking return of charters
will get a hearing by the council to
day.
A committee from the five—Social
Security, Railroad Retirement. Se
curities. and Exchange. Farm Credit
and Public Assistance Division of the
District—saw the A. F. of L. head
yesterday afternoon after the execu
tive council had rejected a re
instatement plea, and it was an
nounced afterward that the hearing
had been arranged for 2 p.m. today.
A prediction that the present Con
gress will establish a record for Civil
Service legislation was made by
Chairman Ramspeck of the House
Civil Service Commission, another
dinner speaker.
Ramspeck, whose committee is hold
ing hearings on a bill to bring all non
eivil service groups under the merit
system, declared “there are plans un
der consideration, not only on Capitol
Hill, but in the executive branch of \
the Government, that will give to the
United States the finest personnel
system in the world."
He stressed the interest President
Roosevelt has in this, declaring it “the
desire and purpose" of the President
to bring it about.
Ramspeck said the form the civil
•ervice extension legislation eventu
ally will take is uncertain, but that
from "grapevine sources” he under
stands the measure to be sponsored
by the Joint Committee on Reorgani
sation would bring in all positions
except cabinet portfolios, with the
proviso that such exemptions as the
President desired could be made oy
executive order.
A. F. of L. Praised.
Chairman Bulow of the Senate Civil
Service Committee praised the Amer
ican Federation of Labor for giving
the working class an audible voice,
and brought appreciative applause
from his audience with the suggestion
that the proposed “blanketing-ln" of
Federal employes be extended to mem
bers of Senate and House.
“Further, I’m against any 70-year
age limit, and I think that the House
members ought to have to come in by
competitive examination,” Bulow said.
Other members of Congress who
apoke were Representatives Jenckes
and Griswold of Indiana and Vinson
Of Kentucky, all Democrats.
Harry B. Mitchell, president of the
Civil Service Committee, deplored in
dustrial strife, and said he had found
In his own experience in private life
In dealing with labor difficulties that
“employes are more reasonable than
employers.” Commissioners Lucille
Foster McMillan and Leonard D.
White spoke briefly.
The guests were welcomed by
Charier I. Stengle, national president
of the federation. James G. Yaden,
District president, was toastmaster.
DONALD M. M’NEALE
EXPIRES IN FLORIDA
Official of Local Firm Dies Sud
denly While on Visit in
Miami.
Donald M. McNeale, 1823 Biltmore
•treet. for a number of years secretary
treasurer of the Smoot Sand & Gravel
Corp., died suddenly yesterday at
Miami, Fla., according to word re
ceived here.
Mr. McNeale went to Florida a few
days ago. Among his survivors are
his widow, his mother, Mrs. Mary
M. Smoot, the latter of 2007 Wyoming
avenue, and several daughters.
TWO BILLS INTRODUCED
FOR POTOMAC BRIDGE
Smith of Virginia and Lewi* of
Maryland Offer Measures for
Point of Bocks Span.
Identical bills granting the State
Roads Commission of Maryland and
the State Highway Department of
Virginia permission to construct and
operate a free highway bridge across
the Potomac River in the vicinity of
the Point of Rocks, Md., were intro
duced yesterday by Representatives
Smith, Democrat of Virginia and
Lewis, Democrat of Maryland.
The proposed bridge would-replace
the one swept away by the Potomac
flood waters last Spring.
The bills give the Maryland and
Virginia Highway Departments au
thority to condemn land In each State
, for the proposed bridge. .
A Human Valentine
Manna Jean Dugan distributes flowers from a Valentine
box during a tea dance at the Wardman Park yesterday. Martha,
4. was carried into the metronome room of the hotel and leaped
from it to dance and distribute flowers to all girls present,
—Star Staff Photo.
Senate Committee Also May
Start Hearings on Art
Gallery Acceptance.
The Senate Public Buildings and
Grounds Committee probably will ren
der a verdict before the end of this
week on the proposed extension of the
east front of the Capitol, and then
start hearings on the bill for accept
ance by the Government of the Mel
lon art collection.
Sponsored by Senator Connally of
Texas, committee chairman, the pro
posed completion of the Capitol was
backed at recent hearings by Archi
tect of the Capitol Lynn, Chairman
Charles Moore of the Fine Arts Com
mission and a number of other archi
tects. There was another group of
witnesses, however, including several
] architects, opposing the plan.
The proposal is to bring the front of
i the old original section of the build
[ ing forward to remove the appearance
of the dome overhanging the present
east front. The sandstone would be
refaced with marble to match the
wings, and in one plan an additional
corridor of office space would be pro
vided for the House and Senate.
Opponents of the bill contend the
historic appearance of the original
section should be left undisturbed
and that the loss in historic value
would outweigh the advantages. Sup
porters of the bill have emphasized
that when the wings and present dome
were added more than 70 years ago
it was intended that at some time
the east front of the original section
shoulcf be extended. The Senate passed
the extension bill in the last Con
gress, but it died in the House.
The Mellon art bill is the proposed
enabling act which Congress must ap
prove to clear the way for carrying
out the offer former Secretary of the
Treasury Andrew W. Mellon made to
President Roosevelt in December to
give the Nation his valuable art col
lection. His offer included the build
ing of a $9,000,000 National Gallery
of Art in Washington. The bill may
be taken up in the Senate committee
Thursday or Friday, the exact date to
be announced later.
QUICK LOANS PROMISED
TO VICTIMS OF FLOOD
- I
R F. C. Will Disburse $20,000,000
of Newly Created Disaster
Aid Organization.
Br the Associated Press.
R. F. C. officials, who will disburse
the $20,000,000 of the newly created
Disaster Loan Corp. promised today
they would advance money to flood
sufferers quickly.
The R. F. C. was busy drawing up
regulations for applicants.
"We expect to have the regulations
ready by next Monday, or Tuesday at
the latest,” said an assistant to R. F. C.
Chairman Jesse H. Jones. “When this
task is completed 'there will be no
time lost in making the loans.”
The new corporation was set up by
an act of Congreas which President
Roosevelt signed Thursday night.
ENTERTAIN PARENTS
Boy Scouts Stage Program in
Hyattsville Church.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
HYATTSVILLE, Md„ February IS.
Boy Scouts of Hyattsville entertained,
their parents on parents' night tonight
at the First Methodist Episcopal
Church South here. Frank S. Taylor,
Scout commissioner for Prince Oeorges
County, spoke. The 8couts presented
a program. Arthur E. Winn, Scout
master of the troop, was in charge.
Michigan Democrats to Meet.
The Michigan State Democratic
Club will hold its first monthly meet
ing of the year at S o'clock tomorrow
night at the Washington Hotel.
Xjouis Levine of the Speaker’s Bureau
of the Social Security Board will
speak on “the Social Security Aet
and It’s Administration.” _
SCHOOLS BUDGET
TO BE TAIN UP
House Subcommittee to
Hear Testimony of Dr.
Ballou Tomorrow.
The public school budget for the
coming fiscal year will be considered
by the House Subcommittee on Ap
propriations in charge of the District
supply bill when it resumes hearings
tomorrow at 2 p.m.
Dr. Frank W. Ballou, superintendent
of schools, is to be the principal wit
ness. The subcommittee also expects
to call other school officials and mem
bers of the Board of Education. *—
Although the school estimates are
expected to take two days to review,
the hearings will be interrupted Tues
day to give prominent Washington
business and professional men an op
portunity to outline their views as to
the needs of the District. The con
ference with the business and profes
sional men will be held behind closed
doors without the presence of an of
ficial stenographer.
Chairman Collins of the subcommit
tee expects to complete the budget
hearings before the close of the week
and begin drafting the 1938 appropri
ation bill. The final day of the hear
ings will be a "civic field day.” At
that session representatives of various
citizens’ associations will be given an
opportunity to present arguments for
projects in which they are particularly
interested.
NYE WILL ADDRESS
“PEACE DAY” GROUP
Mrs. Roosevelt Also to Speak
Tomorrow at Meeting; of
Women's Organizations.
Senator Nye of North Dakota, chair
man of the special Senate Munitions
Committee, and Mrs. Franklin D.
Roosevelt will be the principal speakers
tomorrow at the Washington Hotel,
where "Peace day” will be observed by
the Woman’s Council of the Washing
ton Federation of Churches, in co
operation with other women's groups
of the city.
The first session, in the rose room,
to start at 10:45 a.m.,'will be addressed
by Senator Nye, and will be presided
over by Mrs. William L. Darby, gen
eral chairman for the day.
At the luncheon, at 1 p.m., to be
held In the Hall of Nations of the hotel,
the speakers will be Mrs. Roosevelt
and Miss Josephine Schaln, chairman
of the National Conference on the
Cause and Cure of War. Mrs. Eugene
V. Pugh, president of the Woman's
Council, will preside.
Sponsors for the peace day observ
ance include Mrs. Darmy, Mrs. Pugh,
Mrs. Harper 8ibley, vice president of
the National Council of Federated
Church Women; Mrs. F. E. Edgington,
Mrs. Joy Elmer Morgan, Mrs. H. M.
Kendrick, Mrs. W. O. Tufts, Mrs.
George A. Ross, Mrs. H. C. Briscoe,
Mrs. J. Claude Keiper, Mrs. Wallace
Streeter, Mrs. Arthur Briscoe, Mrs. T.
J. Howerton and Mrs. Wilbur La Roe.
CONFERENCE ON PHYSICS
WILL OPEN TOMORROW
“Problems of Elementary Parti
cles” Will Be Topic—Dr. Niela
Bohr Will Aid Discussions.
The third Washington conference
on theoretical physics, held under Joint
auspices of the Carnegie Institution of
Washington and George Washington
University, opens tomorrow and will
continue through Saturday. “The
Problems of Elementary Particles’’
will be its topic.
Dr. Niels Bohr, famous Danish
physicist, who is the creator of the
quantum theory of atomic structure,
will take part in the conference on
Wednesday and Thursday.
Two formal sessions will be held
during the week, one on Monday at
the university and the other on Wed
nesday at the institution. The re
mainder of the time Will' be spent in
formal gatherings ef mall groups of
scientist* .
IMRAN SEEKS
NEW WHITE HOUSE
TALK ON PAY BILL
Senator's Hopes for In
crease Raised by Plans
for Wide Survey.
RETAINS ORIGINAL IDEA
OF HOLDING HEARINGS
Nevadan May Make Statement
Tomorrow on Change* Pro
posed in Draft.
BY J .A. O'LEARY.
Indicating a desire to co-operate
with the administration in the survey
of Government personnel problems.
Senator McCarran. Democrat, of Ne
vada. author of the pending Federal
pay-increase bill, hopes to hold, an
other conference with President
Roosevelt tomorrow or Tuesday.
Definite word that the executive arm
of the Government is having a study
made of classification, compensation
and retirement conditions in the Fed
eral service was contained in Budget
Director Bell's letter to the Senate
Civil Service Committee Friday.
The letter stated the survey wax
being made with a view to submitting
recommendations during this session,
and suggested that action on the
McCarran pay bill and other measures
of like import be deferred until the
President makes a report.
McCarran Encouraged.
Senator McCarran does not look
upon the Budget Bureau letter as a
setback to his bill. On the contrary,
it is understood he feels encouraged
by the knowledge that an independent
study is being made not only of the
pay question, but of the classification
and retirement laws.
At the same time he does not be
lieve any harm would result from go
ing ahead with hearings on his bill,
which, in it spresent form, seeks pri
marily to improve the lowest salary
brackets by making *1,500 the mini
mum wage for full-time employment,
ft also would increase the other
brackets that do not exceed *3.600 a
year and improve the method of
making promotions.
Silent on Proposed Change.
The Nevadan was not ready yes
terday to elaborate on the indications
he gave Friday night of an intention
to make some change* in his bill, but
said he would have a definite state
ment to make some time tomorrow.
He gave no inkling of what the state
ment will contain, but it probably
will outline his plans for the immedi
.ate future in connection with Gov
ernment personnel legislation.
In addition to the McCarran bill
the Civil Service Committee has other
measures pending to extend the Civil
Service to agencies not now covered
and to apply Civil Service to first,
second and third class postmasters,
but departmental reports on these
measures have not yet been received.
FEDERAL COURTS
HERE CONGESTED
Dockets Show Average Delay of
Year Before Trial, Justice
Department Discloses.
The Federal District Courts here
are listed among those regarded by the
Department of Justice as presenting
a serious problem of congestion.
The dockets cause an average delay
of one year before cases are brought
to trial, a departmental study has
disclosed. The congestion is due to
greatly increased litigation, the report
indicates.
The number of civil cases filed in
the District Court during the past
fiscal year was more than 900 in ex
cess of the total filed during the pre
ceding fiscal year.
During the fiscal year ended June
30, 1934, 4,495 civil cases were filed.
During the next fiscal year the number
increased to 4,740 and last year the
total was 5,649.
Private civil cases pending in the
District courts rose from 4.083 on
July 1, 1933, to 4.267 on July 1, 1936,
the records show.
TAKOMA PARK MAN HELD
AFTER CLAIMING HOLD-UP
B. M. Bancroft Jailed After Re
porting He Was Bobbed of
f 70 at Hia Home.
hr ii Staff Correspondent ot The Star.
TAKOMA PARK, Md., February 13.
—Bernard M. Bancroft, 22, who re
ported being held up in front of his
home, 211 Allegheny avenue, Thursday
night and robbed of $70, was arrested
late tonight by Takoma Park police
and booked for investigation.
He was taken in custody at his home
by Officer Earl Thomas and later made
a statement, the contents of which
police declined to reveal, pending out
come of the investigation.
Bancroft, an employe of a wholesale
beer distributor in Washington, told
police Thursday that two white men,
one of them armed, were waiting for
him when he came home about 11
o'clock and parked his car in front
of his house. While one covered him
with the weapon, the other took his
wallet, containing about $70 in
he reported. The men then fled on
foot, he said.
SCHOOL PLANS CONCERT
AT C. U. GYMNASIUM
The band and choir of St. Mary’s
Industrial School of Baltimore will
give a concert at 2:15 p.m. today in
the gymnasium of Catholic Univer
sity.
The band consists of 85 members
and is directed by Brother Edward
Joseph, C. F. X. All members are
volunteers, and their ages range from
9 to 19 years. Outstanding members
of the band art Joseph Haulski, 14,
and Albert Shlmek, 15, cornet soloists.
Woodrow Leslie,' a baritone, is the
leading member of the ef*r.
INCREASING NEED
IN DISTRICT SEEN
More Federal Structures to
Be Required Under Reor
ganization Program.
TWO NEW DEPARTMENTS
MAY HAVE TO BE HOUSED
Rating Place for Documents Con
sidered as “Secondary Papers"
Urgently Needed.
This is the third and last of a
series of articles, <n which The
Star presents a survey of Govern
ment space requirements, present
and prospective.
BY WILLIAM A. MILLIN'.
On the walls of the office of City J.
Guthridge, head of the division of
Government space control. National
Park Service, Interior Department,
hangs a large map. giving In graphic
detail the status of Government-owned
and rented buildings in Washington.
Those owned are' In red, while the
rented ones are shown In blue. In
view of President Roosevelt's naming
of a special commission to study space
needs for 5 and 10 years here, un
der the chairmanship of Secretary
Ickes, that map li likely to show much
more red shortly, with a vanishing of
the blue.
But the picture is by no means clear
at this time. There are many ques
tions that need answering. What, for
instance, will President Roosevelt
really do about the General Account
ing Office? What will be the outcome
of the Government reorganization pro
gram? Will new departments be cre
ated? Uncle Sam’s future building
program hinges in a large measure on
the outcome of these deliberations.
Should President Roosevelt set up
a department of public works and a
department of public welfare, new
buildings would be required for these
groups. They might be constructed
in the Southwest, south of the Mali. or
along Pennsylvania avenue, between
the White House and Rock Creek.
After the supervising architect s office
of the Treasury Department, the Fine
Arts Commission and the National
Capital Park and Planning Commis
sion, if they survive reorganisation,
have had their say, the pouring of
concrete and the swinging of steel
beams would signalise the erection of
yet another new group here.
Documents Building Needed.
The new War Department, the So
cial Security Board Building, the Navy
Department. Naval Museum — this
seems to be the line-up at present.
, But there is another building that is
urgently needed here and has received
little public attention. That is the
construction of a building to store
documents of the Government. The
gilt-edged papers have found • resting
place in the Archives Building. But
room must be found lor the other
paper*.
There are innumerable documents
that have become Uncle Sam's herit
age from the wars he has fought.
There are countless photographs of
the World War alone, for which there
is a daily demand, and space must
be found for them. There are Gov
ernment officials who believe that the
Government departments should not
be cluttered up with these "secondary
papers” and that a special building
should be erected forthwith for their
accommodation.
It is surprising the amount of pub
lic building that is now going on in
Washington. The Procurement Divi
sion of the Treasury Department is
constructing the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing Annex, on lower Four
teenth street. A new building for the
Bureau of Agricultural Economics of
the Department of Agriculture is sow
being erected, also in Southwest. A
warehouse for the Government Print
ing Office is under way at North Capi
tol and G place, and soon a new annex
to the O.'P. O. will be constructed at
the southwest corner of North Capi
tol and H streets.
Apex Building Under Way. •
The Apex Building, at the tip of
the Triangle, is now under way and
is scheduled to be the home of the
Federal Trade Commission. Several
buildings have been constructed re
cently at the National Zoological Park
of the Smithsonian Institution.
Under the supervision of David
Ljrnn, architect of the Capitol, the
Annex to the Library of Congress is
being completed, just eastward of that
structure.
The Interior Department, at Eight
eenth and E street*. Is nearly ready
for occupancy. This new home of
Secretary Ickes, the space-control
generalissimo, is rated to cast $13,
000,000, about half of that projected
for the new War Department.
The Federal Reserve Board Build
ing Is nearing completion at Twen
tieth street and Constitution avenue.
But all this building activity is only
a part of what Is required, if the
Ickes committee listens to demands
of the officials, who want space and
plenty of It. . , .
Coast Guard Asks Structure.
For a long time the Cout Guard
has been asking for a hew building.
The District of Columbia National
Guard for many years has been urg
ing a new home—and this Is pro
grammed as part of the stadium-audi
torium development at the end of
Bast Capitol street. The Headquar
ters Company fit the Washington Fro
vlonal Brigade. "The President's Own,’
wants its permanent quarters. It has
been located for many years in the
war-built shack at the south of Ickes’
new Interior Department; will shortly
be shifted to the Mayfair, 3113 C street,
to remain there only long enotiigh tar
the War Department plans to be com
pleted and have the contractors send
In their steam shovels and rasing
equipment. A future home is projected
In the vicinity of the Naval Hospital
for the Headquarters Company.
The Treasury Department wants to
extend the Cass Gilbert plan and
build north of its annex to take in
the Belasco Theater and the Cosmos
Club. Plans have long been dis
cussed for remodeling the old State.
War and Navy Building, so that it
will conform to the architecture of
the Treasury, on the east side of the
nt.Mka.ifuo>
Fight Revenue Building Fire
Guards Thomas Q. Adams (left) and Thomas G. Moore,
who were almost overcome by smoke while fighting a fire in the
annex basement of the Internal Revenue Building
—Star Staff Photd.
■ A.
TRAFFIC BYPASS
DRAWS SUPPORT (
Sultan Favors Development
to Relieve Motor Pressure
in Georgetown.
Plans for development of a traffic
by-pass for Georgetown yesterday won
the support of Engineer Commissioner J
Dan I. Sultan, but he declared he
was convinced the project could not
be started In the next fiscal year be
cause of shortage of District funds
for capital improvements.
He predicted the District's financial |
straits probably also would preclude j
early adoption of other Items in the
long list of traffic, highway and
bridge improvement programs sug
gested last year by a subcommittee of
the House District Committee.
Estimates of the cost of the whole
suggested program, drawn recently by
<Vpt. H. C. Whitehurst, director of j
highways, showed the total would be '
in excess of <10,000,000. Some of the
programs would be performed over a
period of years, if adopted. The Com
miasionera expect soon to report estl
mates for the various plans to Chair
man Mary T. Norton of the House
District Committee.
Circle Underpass Included.
Revamping of Scott and Thomas
Circles, construction of a street car
underpass for Dupont Circle and a |
long list of street widening projects
were Included in the suggested pro
grams.
The Public Utilities Commission yes
terday was asked to make a study of
the Dupont Circle subway plan, the
coat of which has been estimated at
<285.000. One question to be studied
is a division of the cost between the
District and the Capital Transit Co.
District officials anticipate there
will be protests against the plans for
the three circles from property own
ers. or from civic groups. The Thom
as Circle plan proposes laying street
ear tracks through what is now the
circular park in the circle. The pur
pose is to segregate vehicular and
street car traffic there.
To Relieve M Street.
. There are two plans for the pro
posed Georgetown by-pass, which is
Intended to reduce greatly the conges
tion on M street. One Is for con
struction of a traffic artery over the
old Chesapeake St Ohio Canal and the
other for construction of a high-level
artery over K street, by erection of a
traffic viaduct. Col. Sultan favors
this plan over that for the canal be
cause of possible delays and difficulties
In obtaining ownership of the prop
erty needed for the canal route. The
coat of the canal plan is estimated at
<825,000 but this does not Include the
cast of acquisition of the right of way.
The cost of. the K street viaduct is
estimated at <1,430,000.
PEACE RATIFICATION
PROGRAM IS PUSHED
Miss Vernon of Mandate Com
mittee Addresses Barnard
College Club.
8peedy ratification of the agree
ments reached at the Inter-Ameri
can Peace Conference, held recently
at Buenos Aires, will be sought by the
People’s Mandate Committee, Miss
Mabel Vernon, director, declared yes
terday in a speech before the Barnard
College Club.
Miss Vernon returned recently from
South America, where she flew with
a delegation of 10 women to present
the peace mandate with 1,900,000
signatures to the conference.
“Our committee is now working,”
she said, “to secure' speedy ratifica
tion of these treaties by the United
States Senate and the Latin-American
Parliaments. For this work we shall
use the mandate, which has proved an
excellent means of arousing and ex
pressing public opinion.”
Mrs. Cecil Ira McReynolds, one of
the delegates to the conference, also
spoke on the progress made.
mission has suggested that the United
States Government have an official
residence where guests of the Nation
might be suitably housed, patterned
after the custcm of some foreign gov
ernments.
The remodeling of the General Ac
counting Office Building in Judiciary
Park has long been discussed. But
this program has been, on the shelf,
latterly. President Roosevelt di pro
pose that a new General Accounting
Office be constructed at Independence
avenue. Third and Fourth streets
southwest, in January, 1936, but the
projected $6,600,000 was knocked out
by the House Appropriations Com
MttMs on May Tg
Adams and Moore Nearly
Overcome by Smoke.
Damage Is Slight.
Dense clouds of smoke that dark
ened the corridors almost overcame
two guards at the Internal Revenue
Building late yesterday as they at- I
tempted to extinguish a fire in the
basement storeroom of the new an
nex at Tenth street and Pennsylvania
avenue.
Unable to see what he was doing,
one of the guards. Thomas Q. Adams,
229 G street, fought the blaze alone
for some time before he was found
near exhaustion by Thomas G. Moore
of Brentwood, Md.
Discovered by Adams.
Old Income tax records, which soon
were to be destroyed by congressional
order, were feeding the flames when
Adams, attracted by smoke while
patroling an upper floor, discovered
the fire.
After turning- In an alarm. Adams
uncoiled the building fire hose and
poured water Into the storeroom as
the smoke became so thick he couldn't
see.
Moore, also smelling smoke, found
the whole basement filled with fumes.
In order to breathe he crawled 150
feet on hia hands and knees, finally
bumping into Adams Moore had sent
Adams out for air and was combat
ing the flame* himself when firemen
arrived. They made short work of
the fire.
Damage Negligible.
Besides the records, which, accord
ing to J. O. Burnham, chief of the
Income Tax Records Division, were
worthless, the damage caused by the
Are was negligible, although some new
office equipment, stored in rooms
adjoining the records storeroom, was
sprayed by the fire hose. The cause
of the fire had not been determined
late last night.
EX-CONVICT CONFESSES
SHOOTING OF CAB DRIVER
Man Pleads Guilty and Is Held
Under $5,000 for Grand Jury.
Victim's Condition Serious.
Willie J. McClendon, colored, former
convict, pleaded guilty before Judge
Walter J. Casey yesterday to the
shooting February 5 of Roscoe W.
Kirke. 52, of 500 L street northeast,
a taxicab driver. McClendon was
held under <5,000 bond for the grand
jury.
Detective W. V. Christian said Mc
Clendon hired Kirke at Fifteenth and
H streets northeast and told him to
drive to Eighteenth and A streets
southeast. At tlut point, Kirke be
came suspicious and refused to obey
the direction demand by McClendon. |
who shot the driver twice in the
back.
Kirke is still in a serious condi
tion in Providence Hospital. Police
records show McClendon recently
finished serving a penitentiary sen
tence from two to three years for
robbery.
BOARD WILL CONSIDER
SCHOOL ABANDONMENT
—
Four-Room Frame Building Hay
Be Used as Storehouse
if Classes Leave.
! A proposal to abandon the Reservoir
School. Elliot place and Potomac ave
nue, will be considered by the Board
of Education Wednesday, it was
learned yesterday. -
The school, a four-room frame
building, now accommodates two
classes and has an enrollment of from
40 to 50 students. If the school is
abandoned, these pupils probably will
be transferred to the Hardy School,
Foxhall road and Volta place.
If evacuated, the Reservoir School
building probably will be used as a
storehouse, according to Dr. Robert L
Haycock, first assistant superintendent
in charge of elementary schools.
Two Examinations Listed.
The Civil Service Commission yes
terday announced two examinations.
National Capital Parks wgnts a tree
surgeon at pay ranging from $5.04
to $8.80 a day, for which applica
tions will be received until February
18. The other test will be for main
tenance mechanic, radio communi
cations equipment, War Department,
at $1,880 yearly. It will be open until
March 3. Details are available at
tte eommiastoiL 8evanth»and P streets.
ID RIDER REPEAL
VOIE TOMORROW
STARTED IN SENATE
'V ■> \ ———
Conference With House Will
Be Next Step if Mo
tion Passes.
D. C. TEACHERS PRAISE
KENNEDY FOR FIGHT
Express Appreciation to Mary
land Representative for Spon
soring Bill to End Ban.
The Senate is slated to act tomor
row on the motion of Senator Wheeler,
Democrat, of Montana, fdr outright
repeal of the “red rider," as a substi
tute for the House plan to modify the
ban on discussion of communism in
District public schools.
If the motion is adopted the whole
subject then will go to conference be
tween the two branches for final de
termination. The Senate has already
voted for outright repeal, but further
action is necessary before the question
can go to conference, because the
House passed a separate measure in
stead of amending the Senate bill.
The House plan would permit the
teaching of communism, but would
continue to provide that no salary
could be paid any one who advocated
communism or other un-American
doctrine, or who presented such doc
trines in a favorable light. The House
bill also would do away with the pres
ent requirement that teachers file
statements every pay day that they
have not transgressed the rule.
Wheeler Fears Complications.
In continuing to fight for outright
repeal. Senator Wheeler fears that
under the House amendment teaching
might be misinterpreted and miscon
strued as advocacy. He regards the
rider as an unnecessary reflection on
the teaching force.
Representative Kennedy. Democrat,
of Maryland, who sponsored the "red
rider" repeal bill which was defeated
in the House, received a letter of
appreciation yesterday from the
Teachers’ Union of Washington.
"The Teachers' Union of Washing
ton. D. C.,” said the letter, "wishes to
thank you for your support of true
American principles.
“The Teachers’ Union, however. Is
much disappointed by the action taken
by the House of Representatives in
approving the amendment of the re
peal bill.
| "What is meant by treating ‘an?
j such doctrine (as communism) with
1 favor or supfftrt'?” .
The letter was signed by Mary C.
Dent, president of the union.
Repeal Urged in Record.
An echo of the "red rider" battli
' in the House also found its way into
! the latest issue of the Congressional
I Record which contained, under “ex
j tension of remarks." statements advo
cating its outright repeal by Repre
sentatives Lewis, Democrat, of Mary
land, and Honeyman, Democrat, of
Oregon.
Mrs. Honeyman particularly criti
cized the McCormack amendment at
tached to Kennedy's bill by the House.
“There are members here who feel,
as I do,” she said, "that this (the
j red rider), is unfair and blundering
| legislation, but who are willing to
accept, half a loaf by supporting the
amendment of the gentleman from
Massachusetts (McCormack) to strike
out the word ‘teaching’ from the
clause and leaving its application to
those ‘advocating’ un-American doc
trines. I do not agree that this is
a question of compromise, but one for
outright repeal.
“As the amendment reads, it ob
viously brings up the question of
what definition will be applied to
the term 'advocate,’ and who is to
apply the definition. In other words,
it is very possible that a teacher
might be commenting on Russia,
that these comments might be re
layed by a child to his parents with
the child’s interpretation and ampli
fications. and, as a result, the teacher
would stand unjustly accused of ad
vocating communism.
Says Amendment Ambiguous.
“Merely eliminating the word
‘teaching' does not clarify the situa
tion. and I will not vote for this au-.
biguous amendment. I agree with
the gentleman from New York (Rep
resentative O'Connor) that the ‘only
way to end it is to wipe it off the
statute books.'
“I expect and hope to be found on
the side of progressive education,
whether it is in the District of Co
lumbia or elsewhere.”
Lewis' “extension of remarks” con
sisted of his testimony before the
Education Subcommittee of the House
District. Committee at the last session
of Congress during hearings on the
former Sisson bill for outright repeal
of the rider.
“We have here in Washington a
very excellent high school system,”
he said, “and since no evils have
developed in the administration of
that system under the existing laws
and regulations, it does seem to me
that unless this committee were to
find a very definite abuse that It
ought not to lend its approval to one
sentence of statutory regulation that
related simply to one phase. I know
of only one wise law that can be
stated in a single sentence, and that
was by the Master of the world Him
self: ‘Love ye one another.’ This
‘red rider’ is taken from another kind
of book.”
To Speak at Conference.
John E. Bentley, professor of educa
tion and psychology at American Uni
versity, and Dr. Winifred Richmond,
psychologist at St. Elizabeth's Hos
pital, will be speakers at 2:30 p m.
Saturday, February 27, at the May
flower Hotel in the opening conference
of a series under the auspices of the
Child Research Clinic of the Woods
Schools.
-—-•
Goldenberg Officer Leaves.
Bert J. Rosenberg. 4511 Seventeenth
street, has resigned as general mer
chandise manager of the Goldenberg
Co. to accept a position as general
sales manager of Gutman's in Balti
more March