Evening star. [volume], March 06, 1937, Page A-14, Image 14

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

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NEPOTISM PROBE
Menus
Employes of District Water
Department Listed in
Investigation.
OFFICIALS DISCLAIM
ANY IRREGULARITIES
Deny “Clique” Controls Job Ap
pointments—State Related
Workers Long in Service.
Instigation of nepotism in the
District service, which started today
at the order of Chairman Collins of
the House Subcommittee on District
Appropriations, brought an immediate
disclosure that six families are repre
sented by 19 persons employed in the
District Water Department.
Water Department officials frankly
made public the identities of related
persons on their pay roll after learn
ing the investigation had been ordered.
Just as promptly, they denied there
Was any ••clique” which was con
trolling job appointments in that de
partment, and from Maj. J. B. Gordon,
District sanitary engineer, came the
statement that, so far as he knew,
their statement was correct. Gordon
is the head of the Sewer Department,
but under reorganization of the Engi
neer Department some years ago was
given supervision over the Water De
partment.
Officials of the Water Department
said nearly all of the related persons
In the department had been in the
service for many years. They made
the point that in all cases which they
could list, the individuals had started
at the lowest grade and some had
worked their way up the ladder
through merit.
Few Named in Recent Years.
In less than half a dozen cases, ac
cording to the list made public by D.
W. Holton, superintendent of the
Water Department, have any relatives
been appointed in recent years. Both
Holton and his principal assistant.
Humphrey Beckett. Water Department
engineer, explained that since about
1930 all persons appointed, other than
per diem workers, had to be drawn
from the eligible list of the Civil Serv
ice Commission.
Holton has been superintendent of
the department only since 1930.
Judging from talk at the District
Building, the nepotism inquiry appar
ently is directed primarily at the
Water Department.
Robertson is the name most fre
quently appearing on the list given
out by Holton. There is Norman B.
Robertson, who entered the service
In 1911 and who is chief clerk of the
department. His brother. William V.,
entered the service in 1908 and now
is in charge of transportation serv
ices and assigned at the Bryan street
station.
William Robertson has two sons,
John F., who entered the service four
years ago as a per diem worker, and
William F.. a clerk who entered the
service about six years ago.
Humphrey Beckett started in the
District service 42 years ago as a
driver at $1.50 a day. His brother,
Charles C., entered the service in
1902 and now is an assistant engi
neer, and a second brother, Walter H.,
retired about a year ago after about
30 years of District service. Part of
the time Walter served as a police
man. In the Water Department he
Was an inspector.
Brother-in-Law Employed.
Another employe is Thomas L. Wil
eon, an assistant engineer, whose
brother-in-law, Augustus S. Lay, is
an assistant engineer. Lay's brother
in-law, Edward B Marks, was a
draftsman in the department until a
few days ago, when he took a non
District job.
Daniel B. Lyons, a foreman, who
entered the District service 42 years
ago. has a son, Daniel, jr., who has
been in the service 14 years, who also
is a foreman. Department officials
said John D. Lyons, a skilled laborer
In the department, also was related
to Lyons, sr.
Ralph L. Hebbard, an engineer in
the meter division, is said to have
one son in the Water Department,
Russell E., a laborer. A second son,
Lester W., formerly a clerk in the
Water Department, was transferred
recently to the Sewer Department.
The last family case listed today
■was that of Arthur Ball, an assis
tant to William V. Robertson, who
has been in the service 20 years. His
brother. Harry Ball, an assistant at
the Bryant street station, has been
In the service 18 years. Harry Ball’s
•on, Gordon W., has a per diem job.
May Publish Report.
The results of the investigation, it
Is reported, are to be placed before
the House subcommittee and may be
•pread on its printed report, including
names and salaries.
Just what provoked the inquiry, Dis
trict officials declared they do not
know. Commissioners Hazen and
Allen said they had not known the
•urvey had been ordered and like
wise said they did not have any idea
how many District workers had rela
tives on the District pay roll.
District Auditor Donovan declined to
make any statement, except that what
ever information Collins may have
asked for would be supplied to him,
He said he could not release informa
tion sought by a congressional com
mittee.
This probe constitutes the second
•urvey of the District pay roll, which
Is being conducted at the request ol
Collins or the committee he heads.
About a week ago Maj. Donovan was
directed to list all municipal em
ployes who hold jobs outside the Dis
trict government.
Extra Job Data Sought.
Several days ago Collins disclosed
the motive of that inquiry was to
reduce the number of taxicabs in the
District. He said he had been given
Information that 1,000 of the more
than 4,000 cabs licensed by the Dis
trict were being operated by Federal
and municipal workers after Gov
ernment working hours. He argued
this deprived full-time taxi drivers ol
an opportunity to make a “decent
living.”
There was a suggestion the com
mittee might write into the appro
priation measure a provision to for
bid the Public Utilities Commission to
issue a taxi license to any Federal
or District employe.
Commissioners Hazen and Allen
Congress Wives Sturt Teucup Revolt
New Members of 75th Club to Insist on Recreational Activity
at Least Once a Week.
Bored with sofa socials, wives of the new members of Congress have organized themselves into
the "75th Club” and dedicated their spare time to tours, hikes and sports. Here are three of the
tea haters swimming. Left to right, Mrs. Edward V. Izac of San Diego, Calif.; Mrs. Harold Clark
of Arizona and Mrs. John R. Murdock of Arizona. —Underwood & Underwood Photo.
LED by a woman from the golden
West, the wives of the new
members of Congress were
agreed today that at least once
a week they will reach for an arrow
instead of a teacup.
Archery, or perhaps horseback or
swimming or hiking or studying old
houses around Washington—any of,
these is an improvement on devoting j
j the afternoon to small talk over the
j orange pekoe, the insurgent mem*
I bers of the Seventy-fifth Club de
| cided.
The president of the Seventy-fifth |
Club is Mrs. John R. Murdock, wife j
of Representative Murdock, who has
lived the past 22 years in Arizona.
She and 34 other congressional wives
| make up the organization.
‘•I’m going to devote an afternoon
to just the things I want to do,” Mrs.
Murdock told her fellow-members yes
terday. “Today I’m going to ride
| horseback. If any of you want to
! go with me, fine."
The stand of Mrs. Murdock, an \
' archer of note, inspired Mrs. Ed V.
Izak of San Diego, Calif., to remark:
"I’ve made all my first calls very
properly. I’ll be glad to teach any one
to swim.”
“I would be delighted to have you
j all swim as my guests here at the
! hotel.” Mrs. Harold G. Mosier of Ohio
j chimed in. She lives at the Shore
J ham.
Even Mrs. Murdock, however, will
; hot carry the assault against the so
| cial customs of the effete East so far
as to eliminate the tea-table from her
life altogether. The club is for the
outdoor life and the pursuit of hob
bies. but the club meets formally only
on the first Wednesday of each month
and informally once a week.
"Everybody enjoys that once in a
while," Mrs. Murdock said of the
afternoon tea party.
Here four of the women walk out on drawing room calis
thenics. These vigorous congressional wives are, left to right:
Mrs. John Sparkman of Alabama, Mrs. Albert Thomas of Texas,
Mrs. Jerry O’Connell of Montana and Mrs. Richard M. Atkinson
of Tennessee. —A. P. Photo.
I
Numbers of Possible New
Cases Referred by Allen
for Investigation.
Indications that the cost of old
| age assistance in the District may be
! greatly increased in the next fiscal
i year were seen today when the Public
Assistance Division began an investi
gation to determine if 1,728 cases now
on the local W. P. A. were eligible for
the social security program.
That number of possible new cases
have been referred to the division for
investigation by Commissioner George
E. Allen, administrator of the District
W. P. A.
There is no present estimate of how
many of the 1,726 cases, now up for
review, may be found eligible for the
old-age assistance program or other
elements of the social security pro
gram as applied in the District. The
fact that so large a number "be
lieved to be eligible” for one of the
security programs here, however, is
regarded as further evidence of the
past failure of District officials to
make their estimates high enough as
to the prospective load to be carried
on the old-age assistance program.
Eligibles Underestimated.
That the number of eligibles for the
old-age assistance program had been
under-estimated in the past was re
vealed in a statistical analysis com
| piled recently by The Star. This
showed that there were 1,787 persons
receiving old-age assistance payments
at the end of January, or 27 per cent
more than the estimates on which
officials predicated the appropriation
for the current fiscal year.
For the next fiscal year, beginning
July 1, the Commissioners have esti
mated that the average number of
persons on the old-age list woul> aver
age 2.200 for the year, but more re
cently welfare officials have admitted
that estimate was too low and fig
ured the number would run as high
as 3,000. The appropriation request
for the next year, however, already
has left the hands of the Commis
sioners and now is in Congress.
124 Dropped From Rolls.
In explaining the investigation,
; Commissioner Allen said: "If the
needs of these cases can be met by
the Public Assistance Division, in the
form of old-age pensions, aid to de
pendent children, etc., the local W. P. A.
officials will be enabled to give Jobs
to an equal number of persons now
awaiting assignment.”
At the same time, he announced
that 124 persons had been dropped
from the W. P. A., because they were
' found to be no longer in need o aid.
The 1,726 cases on W. P. A. which are
now believed eligible for the social
; security program, were revealed in a
review of 7,575 of the 13,000 local re
lief cases, Allen said. The review was
ordered several months ago.
Case workers now are reviewing the
cases of W. P. A. workers assigned to
the Interior, Labor, War, Agriculture,
Justice and Commerce Departments,
the Internal Revenue Bureau, the Navy
Yard and the Resettlement Adminis
tration project at Berwyn, Md.
said they were Inclined to believe
there was not a great number of
cases of relatives in the District
service. At least, if there is an ex
tensive number, they do not know
of It, they said.
The fact that Commissioner Hazen
has a "niece” in the District service
has been published several times. She
is Miss Margaret Davis, confidential
secretary to the Alcoholic Beverage
Control Board. Miss Davis, Hazen
explains, is a cousin of his wife.
A
Easter Egg Rolling
At White House
To Be March 29
Roosevelt Notifies Park
Authorities of Consent
to Use Grounds.
President Roosevelt today notified
park authorities he has granted per
mission for the annual Easter egg
rolling on the south lawn of the
White House, to be held this year
Easter Monday, March 29.
The Chief Executive directed the
communication to Secretary Ickes.
who has supervision over the National
Park Service, which oversees Wash
ington's parks and the grounds of
the executive mansion.
Accordingly, Albert Clyde-Burtan,
in charge of recreation in the National
Capital Parks, is sending out letters
immediately to Secretary Swanson, to
request the use of the Marine Band:
to the broadcasting companies, so that
arrangements can be made to put the
event on the air. and to Miss Sybil
Baker, superintendent of the District’s
playgrounds, to secure Girl Scouts
and other groups as a guard of honor
for Mrs. Roosevelt.
The White House grounds will open
at 9 a.m. on Easter Monday with
children and their guardians only
being admitted. The general public
will be admitted from 3:30 to 5 o'clock
in the afternoon, when the ceremonies
will be brought to a close.
BEAM JOINS STUDY
OF REORGANIZING
Regrouping to Avoid Duplication
Will Be Weighed Next
Week.
BY WILL P. KENNEDY.
The Joint Committee on Govern
ment Organization has its member
ship completed again by the drafting
of Representative Harry P. Beam,
Democrat, or Illi
nois, by Speaker
Bankhead to fill
the vacancy
caused by the
death of Chair
man Buchanan of
the House group.
During the com
ing week the
question of re
grouping to re
duce duplication
and overlapping
in the interests of
economy and effi
ciency is to be
given major con
Barry P. Beam.
sideration in executive session, mu
is a phase of reorganisation in which
Representative Beam expresses a spe
cial interest.
Representative Beam is one of the
regional assistants to the Democratic
“whip” of the House and is consid
ered one of the valued administration
“bellwethers.” He said, after his ap
pointment, that he intends to devote
his reorganization .Sorts particularly
to the field of duplication and over
lapping and to cutting Government
“red tape.”
The President’s bill to carry into
effect the recommendations of the re
port of the Brownlow advisory com
mittee on administrative management
seeks blanket authority t._ cover into
12 executive establishments, where
there are now 12, all operating ad
ministrative agencies and to fix upon
the Executive continuing responsibil
ity and power for,the maintenance of
the effective division of dutie- among
the 1 apartments.
Chairman Collins Asks Those
on D. C. Committee to At
tend Hearings Next Week.
All members of the District Legisla
tive Committee of the House were
invited today by Chairman Collins of
the Subcommittee on Appropriations
in charge of the 1938 District supply
bill to attend the executive hearings
next week at which J. L. Jacobs,
Chicago efficiency engineer, is to ex
plain the puzzling features of his
complicated three-point fiscal rela
tions formula.
The initial hearing will be held
Monday at 10 a.m. When Jacobs
completes his testimony. George Lord,
Detroit tax expert, who aided the
special, Mapes Committee of the
House make a fiscal relations survey
about five years ago will be called on
to tell what he thinks of the Jacobs
plan.
yjI Igllld . ■vuiiiiu' pinmicu uu ua*c
only the two special Subcommittees
of the District Legislative Committee
appointed to study the Jacobs report
sit with his subcommittee during the
examination of Jacobs and Lord. He
broadened the invitation to include
the entire committee, however, when
informed that some of the members
not assigned to the study of the
Jacobs plan were interested in the
explanation of the Chicago efficiency
engineer.
Collins declined to predict how long
his subcommittee would devote to its
investigation of the Jacobs plan. He
hopes to have it completed, however,
in time to report the 1938 District
appropriation bill to the House
March 15. Whether the subcommittee
will approve the three-point formula
or cling to the present lump sum Fed
eral contribution to District expenses,
is a matter of conjecture. Collins,
who was a member of the Mapes Com
mittee. already has disclosed he is not
in sympathy with the Jacobs plan.
His subcommittee, however, must
make a decision on the plan before
the appropriation bill is reported, be
cause the 1038 budget estimates were
predicated on adoption of the Jacobs
formula.
Four Manhole Tops Stolen.
PHILADELPHIA, March 6 14>>.—
The police have arrested two brothers
for stealing manhole covers. Officers
said four of the heavy covers were
taken, apparently to be sold as scrap
iron.
ENLARGED POWERS
FOR DISTRICT RULE
SLATED FOR STUDY
Civic Group to Weigh Plan to
Increase Authority of
Commissioners.
PRETTYMAN SELECTED
TO HEAD COMMITTEE
Next Formal Meeting on Munici
pal Government Investigation
to Be Held March 18.
Enlargement of the power* of the
District Commissioners will be one of
the first subjects to be dealt with by
the Civic Committee appointed to In
vestigate the efficiency of the munici
pal government.
The purpose is to have the commit
tee study matter* on which legislation
may be proposed, as a first step, so
that bills may be presented to Con
gress at this session for consideration
If there la agreement on Important
Items.
The committee held its initial meet
ing late yesterday and selected as its
chairman E. Barrett Prettyman, for
mer corporation counsel now In pri
vate law practice here.
Meet Again March 18.
Prettyman was authorised to name
subcommittees of the group of 18
business and civic leaders for an in
tensive study of various subjects of the
Inquiry. The next formal meeting of
the group was set for March 18 at
8 p.m.
Prettyman. as a District official, two
years ago drafted 8 bill proposing
large expansion of the powers of the
Commissioners. Among other things
it would have given the city heads
powers of direction and veto over the
Board of Education, the Board of
Library Trustees and the Board of
Public Welfare, as well as powers to
deal with many of the details of city
government which now harass mem
bers of Congress.
Na Action by Congress.
The bill later was revised to take
out some controversial features, but
there has been no congressional action.
Arthur J. Sundlun has been ap
pointed to the investigating body in
the place of Ford E. Young, president
of the Merchants and Manufacturers’
Association, who asked to be excused
on account of his health. Otherwise
there is no change in the membership.
Mrs. Ethel Letbsohn of the staff of the
secretary to the Board of Commission
ers, was named secretary to the group.
Members of the committee, in addi
tion to Prettyman and Sundlun. are
Mrs. Lloyd W. Biddle. L. A. Carruth
ers, former Judge James A. Cobb,
Harold E. Doyle, Robert V. Fleming,
Theodore S. Grape, Thomas J. Groom,
Frank R. JellefI, Mark Lansburgh,
John Locher, Thomas E. Lodge. Dr.
William McClellan, Edgar Morris,
Henry I. Quinn. Dr. William M. Sprigg
and Lloyd B. Wilson.
. ■ ■— -8 • —
TEST CASE SLATED
ON ARCHERY BINGO
Restraining Order Halts Threat
of Seiiure by Garnett’s •
Office.
A court hearing to determine
whether "archery bingo” is in viola
tion of the gambling laws appeared
likely today following the filing of an
injunction suit late yesterday against
Urn ed States Attorney-Leslie C. Gar
nett and Supt. of Police Ernest W.
Brown by the Archery Co., Inc., locat
ed in the Arcade Market Building.
Representing the concern. Attorneys
Michael P. Keogh and P G. Chaconas
told the court that Garnett has warned
it to cease or change its mode of oper
ation within 10 days or run the risk
of police seizure.
They contended that a District
grand jury ignored a case based on
archery bingo three years ago giving
rise to the belief that the sport was
legal. Garnett, however, ruled two
days ago that it violated the law.
Justice F. Dickinson Letts issued a
10-day temporary restraining order to
prevent police action before the suit
is tried.
Various forms of bingo have been
prohibited here for some time, but
archery bingo heretofore has gone un
molested on the theory that the use of
a dart, which is thrown by the player,
makes it a game of skill.
Garnett said, however, he felt the
fact that the number struck by any
player could count on the cards of all
other players introduced an element
of chance so great as to make the
sport a gambling game.
EMMERICH, FARM CREDIT
OFFICER, IS PROMOTED
Herbert Emmerich, executive offi
cer of the Farm Credit Administra
tion and an authority on oo-operative
financing and housing, yesterday was
appointed deputy governor of the ad
ministration.
Frior to coming to the administra
tion in 1933, Mr. Emmerich for 10
years was connected with the City
Housing Corp. of New York, a limited
dividend company organized to build
better homes and communities for
people of moderate means.
Emmerich, a World War veteran, is
a contributor to technical magazines
on subjects of housing, financing,
business administration and personnel.
Athletic Senator Reynolds
Voted Favorite of Pase Boys
By the Associated Press.
The Senate page boys, who leap
to the finger snapping of the 96 mem
bers. like North Carolina’s athletic
Senator, Robert Reynolds, best.
The lithe legislator, whose office
walls are lined with boxing gloves
and foot balls, received their vote
today in an informal poll.
"And he can make a speech about
imigratlon!” one page beamed.
The boys, who have a cloak room
insight into Senators’ whims and tem
pers behind the scenes, reported
"senators are very polite.”
Besides Reynolds, other Senators
rating high with the pages were:
Ashurst of Arizona—He always says
1 “thank you” and snaps a loud finger j
‘ * P
so that the boys on the rostrum can
hear him.
Bewhiskered J. Hamilton Lewis of
Illinois—His vocabulary excites ad
miration and his tips are liberal.
Young Henry Cabot Lodge of Mas
sachusetts—“Because he is such a
nice fellow,” always says hello, “isn’t
stuck up.”
King of Utah—Who "is always
pulling your nose and messing up
your hair.” He calls all the boys
“Jimmy.”
The page boys initiate newcomers
by sending them for striped ink and
bill stretchers, avoid boredom on a
quiet day by jerking each others shoes
untied, carry on "vendettas” in their
locker room, and have a base ball
team that rarely beats the House page
team.
High Court Aide Pens Holmes
Tribute on Death Anniversary
Doorkeeper Writes in
Memoriam** to Man
He Served Long.
Tor the second successive year Ar
thur A. Thomas found time today in
the midst of his duties as chief door
man of the Supreme Court to com
pose what he regarded as "a humble
tribute” to the memory of the late
Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, whom
he served as personal messenger for
more than two decades.
Explaining that he was “always
powerful fond” of Mr. Justice Holmes,
who died two years ago today, the
colored doorkeeper declared:
“I wrote an Tn Memoriam’ for Mr.
Justice Holmes last March 6. and
I'm going to do the same thing on
the anniversary of his death as long
as I live. I believe he was as fond
of me as I was of him, and 111
never forget him.”
Thomas, who lives with his invalid
wife at 1436 Q street, does not know
his exact age, but court attaches said
he must be “well over 70.” Of Justice
Holmes, for whom he worked until
1932, when the jurist resigned at the
age of 91. he wrote In a brief notice
inserted in today’s "In Memoriam”
column of The Star:
"Clearness, repose and depth char
acterized his intellect; purity, impar
tiality, love of Justice and respect for
public and private rights were marked
elements of his greatness.”
Asked if he had composed the lines
himself, Thomas said:
“Yes, but they aren’t as nice as I’d
like them to be. No words could do
right by Mr. Justice Holmes. I did
the best I know how, but—well, it's
just an humble tribute.”
At that, Thomas felt that the latest
ARTHUR A. THOMAS.
"In Memonam was an improvement
over the one he wrote last year—
"Death Is the gate to endless joy, but
we dread to enter there”—probably
for the reason that he has had more
time to think about his old friend.
“I’ll make up an even better one next
year,” he promised.
Thomas has been associated with
Supreme Court Justices since he was
about 18—first as valet to Justices
Field and Brewer, then as personal
messenger for Justices Peckham,
Lurton and Holmes.
After Justice Holmes' resignation,
Thomas was placed in charge of the
door. By special permission of Su
preme Court Marshal Frank Green,
however, he visted Mr. Holmes twice
daily until the retired jurist’s death.
FAMILIES TO OPEN
Finnan Announces 12-Acre
Lake Will Be Created
at Virginia Site.
C Marshall Finnan, superintendent
of the National Capitol Parks, today
announced that another camp will
be commissioned soon at the Chopa
wamsic Virginia Recreational Area
near Quantico, Va. This will be for
the use of underprivileged families
from Washington and will accommo
date about 100 persons, Finnan ex
plained.
In addition a 12-acre lake is being
created there by damming up one of
the streams on the property. Thus,
swimming and boating will be avail
able for the campers.
The Civilian Conservation Corps al
ready has constructed two camps at
Chopawamsic. one ffw the use of un
der privileged boys and the other for
poor girls. The triple C organization
also is building the family camp, which
will afford cabins for the various
groups.
The Family Service Association for
a number of years has been operating
Camp Good Will in Rock Creek Park,
and whether this will be maintained
! this Summer has not yet been decided.
Finnan asserted that the agencies had
will operate the three camps at Chop
awamsic have not been determined.
The Community Chest is assisting in
plans for the camp, so that Washing*
tern's poor may get an outing during
good weather.
NEW HEALTH CAMP INSPECTED.
Completion in June to Raise Facilities
for Tuberculosis Victims.
Far away from the city’s traffic on
a spot where there's lots of fresh air
and sunshine and plenty of room for
youngsters to play, the new Child
Health Camp of the District Tuber
culosis Association is nearing comple
tion.
It is located at Bald Eagle Hill,
property of the National Capital Parks,
east of Blue Plains at the District line,
in Southeast Washington. The Works
Progress Administration, which is con
structing the new $79,000 camp, ex
pects to have it completed by June 15.
The camp will be operated for three
months each Summer, and will replace
the health camp heretofore maintained
at Thirteenth and Upshur streets.
Construction on the new site was
started about a year ago.
For 125 Youngsters.
One hundred and Uenty-five young
sters who are in the early stages of
tuberculosis will be given treatment at
the new health camp for three months
this oummer. This is more than twice
as many as can be cared for at the
present camp, which has a capacity of
only 60. Both white and colored chil
dren will use the camp.
Officers and directors o. the Tuber
culosis Association(made an official in
spection yesterday and founC the three
dormitories completed. These long
structures are situated along one side
of the large area. The administra
tion building, which will house the
superintendent, the counselors and do
mestics, is located on the opposite side.
The framework of this building has
been put up. and is to be completed
soon.
Infirmary Begun.
The only other building at the camp
—the infirmary—has not yet been
started, but the foundation is laid.
This is where isolation cases will be
placed. The dormitories have screens,
rather than windows and wooden
shutters for use during inclement
weather.
Only one other big problem faces
tht association in getting the camp
ready for the children, according to
Mrs. Ernest R. Grant, managing direc
tor. That is finding funds to furnish
tht buildings with beds, refrigerators,
a atove, furniture, etc. ThL> will cost
about $10,000 or $12,000, she said.
Mrs. Grant was among those who
inspected the camp yesterday. Others
in the group were Dr. James G. Town
send, president of the association:
Walter S. Pratt, Jr., treasurer: Willard
C. Smith, second vice president: Dr.
William Charles White of the Execu
tive Committee: Dr. Numa P. G.
Adams, dean of Howard University
: .edical School, and D’. Joseph A.
Murphy, chief medical inspector of the
District.
To Introduce Realty Bill.
Chairman Norton of the House Dis
trict Committee announced today she
would introduce a bill Monday to li
cense real estate brokers and sales
men. A similar measure was Intro
duced this week in the Senate.
$
CITY HEADS D. K.
LIQUOR CONTROL
Tell House Committee They
Want No Change in
Existing Act.
In three different reports the Com
missioners today told the House Dis
trict Committee they are well satisfied
with the existing liquor control act and
do not want it tampered with.
Hirst, the Commissioners reported
adversely on the Guyer bill to return
prohibition to the District, pointing
out that administration of the liquor
control act "is sane and that a re
turn to the prohibition status would
be a step backward."
Next, they registered vigorous dis
approval of the Dirksen bill to permit
the sale of hard liquor by the drink
at bona fide lunch counters, declaring
this would constitute "a further step
in the return of the saloon."
"The present system is working
satisfactorily and should not be dis
turbed,” the report said
Reporting on the Palmisano bill,
which would require all beer sold in
Washington to be bottled at the
brewery-, the Commissioners declared
such a plan "would result in great
damage to bona-fide manufacturers
of beer in the District.”
This bill, however, has been pigeon
holed and virtually killed by the Dis
trict Committee.
I Another report from the Commis
sioners opposed a bill to abolish cap
ital punishment in the District.
-.
VISITOR TO MUSEUM
ROBBED OF LUGGAGE
Thief Breaks Window of Parked
Car and Takes Four
Suit Cases.
A New Yorker visited the Smith
sonian Institution yesterday afternoon
and paid for the visit with his luggage.
Myer Coleman of Brooklyn, N. Y.,
reported that while he was in the
institution some one broke a window
in his car parked outside and made
away with four black suit cases con
taining clothing and accessories valued
at $150.
Samuel Feldman, proprietor of a
liquor store at 2200 Fourteenth street,
reported that he was held up last
night by a nattily dressed white man,
who brandished a blue steel revolver
and robbed him of $100.
Theft of 5.168 copper shingles from
a Barber & Ross Hardware Co. ware
house some time between February
24 and March 2 was reported yester- j
day by M. H. Johnson, company man- j
agcr. The shingles are valued at $425.
FUNERAL SERVICES HELD
FOR MISS ALICE HERCUS
Heart Ailment Fatal to Retired
Clerk of Weather
Bureau.
Miss Alice T. Hercus, 74, retired
clerk of the Weather Bureau, where
she was employed more than 30 years,
died Thursday of a heart ailment at j
the home of her cousin. Edward M.
Hall. 1407 Kennedy street,
Funeral services are being held this
afternoon • in the Sixth Presbyterian
Church, with Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Gar
ner. pastor, officiating. Burial will be
in Rock Creek Cemetery.
Church officers, D. H. Lum. H K.
Muir, G. E. Muth. H. A. Disney. M. A
Skinner and J. W. Baker are pall
bearers.
A native of this city. Miss Hercus
was the daughter of the late Mr. and
Mrs. George C. Hercus. She retired
from the Weather Bureau about seven
years ago.
Besides Mr. Hall. Miss Hercus leaves ,
two other first cousins, J. M. Hall and
Mrs. Edgar Monroe, both of this city.
HOTEL SCHOOL STUDENT
ENDS LIFE WITH RIFLE
Elzie C. White, 35, student at a
hotel training school, took his life yes
terday by firing a 22-caliber rifle bul
yet through his head in his room, at
926 Twenty-third street. A certificate
of suicide was issued by Coroner A.
Magruder MacDonald.
Police said White left a note ad
dressed to his wife Anna, in which
he said he was going to take his life.
The couple had been living apart for
some time. They had no children.
White's body, the gun beside it, was
1 found by a colored maid about 3 p.m.
i
i
BAR ASSOCIATION
WILL ASSIST NEEDY
COURT LITIGANTS
—
Committee of 25 to Serve
Without Compensation in
Municipal Chamber.
LAWYER TO BE PRESENT
FROM 9 A.M. TO 2 P.M.
Representation Gets Boost When
"Adequate Suffrage'’ Bill Is
Ordered Drafted.
Creation of a committee of 25 law
yers to aid needy Municipal Court
litigants was the District Bar Asso
:iation's answer last night to critic:
>f its opposition to a small claims
:ourt.
All members of the committee will
serve without compensation and th*
Bar Association will foot the bill:
President Henry I. Quinn said he
would name the committee today and
:hat no time will be lost in putting
:he plan into effect.
Designed to assure every man his
lay in court if he has a just claim.
:he committee was represented to
nave the support of the Legal Aid Bu
-eau. which is a Community Chest
affiliate, and the Municipal Court
ludges.
The scheme was explained to the
association, at its meeting in the
Mayflower Hotel, by Leo McGuire, a
member of a special committee named
to study the problem.
Although only indigents will be
aided, the term will be given a Ub
:ral instruction and applied to any
nan who, although having sufficient
runds to support himself and his
family, still is without the surplus
needed to finance litigation.
Claims which would just'fy an
attorney talcing the case on a con
tingent fee basis will not be handled
by the committee.
Lawyer to Be on Hand.
The intention is to have an ex
perienced lawyer at the Municipal
Court daily between 9 a m and 2 p.m
to represent needy claimants. The 1
court already has agreed to provide
space for him and the Legal Aid Bu
reau will supervise the work of the
committee, seeing to it that some one
always is on hand. Supervision by
the bureau will continue foi from
three to six months, or until the
routine is well established.
McGuire said it was the intention
to approach as closely as possible the
free clinics offered by the other pro
fessions. He emphasized that the com-w
mittee is only an experiment.
The association adopted the plan
without a dissenting vote.
Representation Gets Boost.
National representation for the Dis
trict recened a boost from the law
yers, who instructed their Commute
on Legislation to draft a bill providing
"adequate suffrage.”
This action was taken after Jame
R. Kirkland had recommended, on
behal* of the Legislator Committee,
that .he association take no action on
a House bill which failed to provide
for District representation In the
Senate.
Although the Bar Association has
doggedly refused to admit women, it
decided last night to permit members
of the Women's Bar Association to use
its library at the District Court for
an annual fee of $10 apiece.
The matter was brought before the
meeti by Austin Canfield, who said
the feminine organization had re
quested the privilege, and i. had been
agreed that $5 should be a fair fee.
He said the rumor had reached him
that ‘‘two or three” of the judges had
insisted the women be allowed to use
the library, since it is on Federal prop
erty. i
George C. Gertman wanted to ad
mit any white woman member of the
bar in good standing, but the asso
ciation voted to confine the privilege 1
to the Women's Bar Association. The
$5 fee met little favor and was
doubled.
Bills Acted 1/pon.
Numerous bills pending in Congress
were acted upon. At the request of
Senator King of Utah, chairman of
the District Committee, the bill Intro
duced by Senator McKellar of Ten
nessee to divest the inferior Federal
courts of power to enjoin enforcement
of a Federal statute, was submitted to
the association for consideration, but
promptly was referred to committee.
The lawyers opposed the House bill
to extend the hour for sale of liquor
from midnight Saturday to 2 a.m.
Sunday, approved the House bill whicn
would set up machinery for election
of District committeemen to political
conventions, approved a House bill to
prohibit bottling in the District of
beer from a State, recommended
passage of the Senate bill embodying
a uniform sales act. voted in favor of
the House bill which would extend the
benefits of civil service to clerics of
the District Court, and the United
States Court of Appeals and recom
mended that It also include messen
gers and marshals, rejected the House
bill which would abolish capital pun- i
ishment in the District for murder
and rape, and approved a House bill
to prohibit more than 5 per cent pre
mium on the resale of theater tickets.
It was decided to ask the Senate
District Committee to withold action
on the Juvenile Court bill until the
Bar Association can make a further
study.
NAVY YARD EMPLOYE
34 YEARS RETIRED
Farewell Given Edson B. Baldwin,
Quarterman Machinist—Com
mended by Superiors.
Edson B. Baldwin, quartermm ma
chinist at the Washington Navy Yard,
retired at noon yesterday, after somr
34 years’ service, and his colleagues
gave him a brief farewell ceremony™
In a supervisory capacity since 1920,
Baldwin was commended by his su
periors for his development of aircraft
plotters in 1931. Latterly, he has been
in the fuse and assembly shop. He
was born September 3,1875, at Albion,
N. Y., and lived for some time in
Rochester.
Baldwin became associated with the
Washington Navy Yard in October,
1903, officials said, and he has dene
outstanding work as a machinist. He
was a leadingman machinist for some
time, prior to bping advanced to quar*
terman machinist.
[ ‘