Evening star. [volume], May 01, 1937, Page A-16, Image 16

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

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won ROUSED
BY OUSTING FROM
GREENBELT IOBS
Work Only Half Complete,
Democratic Meeting
Is Told.
HEARING ARRANGED
BY R. A. FOR MONDAY
Gathering Told of Discrimination
Against Non-Unionists and
Marylanders.
By a Staff Correspondent of The Star.
BRAN CHVXLLE, Md„ May 1.—
Despite recent heavy employe layoffs
from the nearby Greenbelt housing
project, the job is only half completed,
according to charges by workers at a
meeting of the Twenty-first District
Democratic Club here last night.
While it was learned the Resettle
ment Administration has agreed to a
hearing on labor disputes there, work
men declared the wholesale discharges
have been made in the face of only
50 per cent job completion.
Read at the stormy and sometimes
unruly gathering last night, a letter
from Representative Stephen Gam
brill of the fifth Maryland district
revealed the hearing would be held in
the project administration building at
1 p.m. Monday.
Complaints of discrimination against
non-unionists and Maryland workmen
in periodic layoffs were first made
some 10 days ago. Brought to Sena
tor Millard Tydings of Maryland, the
charges were subsequently taken to
the Labor Relations Division of Reset
tlement. After an investigation, R. A.
officials said the complaints were "un
substantiated." Disgruntled non
unionists had charged that Washing
ton labor groups were "trying to con
trol the job."
Hearing Is Arranged.
A committee from the local Demo
cratic organization then took the mat
ter to State Senator Lansdale G. Sas
scer, who contacted Gambrill, Tydings
and Senator Radcliffe of Maryland.
Monday's hearing was then arranged.
Grievances against labor conditions
on the project were freely aired last
night by outspoken workmen, many
of whom have been discharged.
Henry W. Cord, member of the
Prince Georges Caunty Domocratic
State Central Committee, who has
been working on the project, claimed
that “Maryland is not receiving its
fair representation in hiring or firing
of men there.” He said out-of-State
residents have received a dispropor
tionate share of jobs and predicted
that the employes remaining after
the lay-off would take a year and a
half to finish building the low-rent
housing community.
Another worker. Block Superinten
dent Joseph Vance, of Hyattsville, de
clared the “personnel is full of politi
cal appointees whose presence is
w-orthless." He said the unions had
tried to make him discharge workers
he “didn't want to fire.” Vance and
Cord both estimated that the job is
only half finished, with “a handful
of men left to finish it.”
Job Threats Charged.
Several men said the unions had
threatened them with loss of their
jobs unless they joined organized
labor groups. Pete Diben. Laurel
plumber, declared he would testify to
this at the hearing.
Robert Morris, head of the club’s
Investigating Committee, said he had
“a whole stack of affidavits from
Workers.” These, of w'hich at least a
half-dozen will be backed by workers’
presence at the hearing, charge dis
crimination and threats by Washing
ton unions, he stated.
About a third of the “project’s 3,000
employes” are now1 being terminated,
R A. officials have announced. Re
settlement claims the layoff is neces
sary “as the work nears completion."
JACKSON FACES SUIT
FOR $51,650 ON NOTE
Former Democrat Committee Sec
retary Named by Masachu
setts Bank Commissioner.
Robert Jackson, former secretary of
the Democratic National Committee,
who now maintains law offices in the
Shoreham Building, was sued in Dis
trict Court late yesterday on a promis
sory note for $51,650.09.
The plaintiff, William P. Husband,
Jr., commissioner of banks of Massa
chusetts, told the court through At
torney Wilbert Mclnerney that the
note has been in default since May 1,
1931. when it matured.
The note was executed October 31,
3930. payable to the Highland Trust
Co. of Boston. Mass., which since has
been taken over by the State bank
commissioner. It was in the amount
of $41,700.
Dividends and proceeds from the
sale of a small portion of some 16.000
Shares of miscellaneous stocks posted
as collateral by Jackson amounted to
$5,055 and were set off against in
terest on the principal. The plaintiff
computed, however, that additional in
terest has brought the total sum now
owing to $51,650. He also asked that
his attorney's fee be assessed against
Jackson.
RETURN OF COURT
TO CAPITOL URGED
Representative Rankin Would
Use New Building as Memo
rial to Jefferson.
A resolution urging that the Supreme
Court be returned to its old quarters
In the Capitol and that its present
building be rededicated as a memorial
to Thomas Jefferson was introduced
yesterday by Representative Rankin,
Democrat, of Mississippi.
He and Representative Treadway,
Republican, of Massachusetts, have
united in criticism of the Supreme
Court Building, as well as in opposi
tion to the proposal to build a me
morial to Jefferson in Potomac Park.
Rankin said he did not intend his
resolution to be construed as criticism
of the court itself, explaining he
understood a majority of the justices
would prefer to be returned to their
original quarters in the old Senate
chamber.
WOMEN’S LEAGUE
FIGHTS TO RAISE
LIVING STANDARDS
Seeks “Decent” Level as
Basis for Activities for
Peace Abroad.
ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES
OF PRESENT ATTACKED
Organization Deplores Violence in
Strike-Breaking—War Bill
Assailed.
Conedmning the “inequalities of the
present economic systefn” and use of
violent methods of breaking strikes
and preventing organization of work
ers, the Women's International League
for Peace and Freedom, at its annual
meeting today in the Washington Ho
tel. broadened its peace activities to
fight for decent standards of living in
the United States as a basis for peace
activities abroad.
“We recognize that there is a close
connection between peace and a decent
standard of living for the people of the
world. ’ Mrs. Eleanor Fowler, new labor
secretary to the league, said in her
annual report, unanimously adopted at
today's session.
The league approved a program re
questing the co-operation of labor in
its peace work in return for co-opera
tion by the league in the efforts of
labor organizations “to gain the eco
nomic and social conditions which we
recognize to be fundamental to peace."
1 i Committees Established.
During the last four months, the
league has established 17 labor com
mittees, which now are functioning in
various parts of the country, and is
undertaking creation of similar com
mittees in every State.
An attack on the pending War De
partment military appropriation bill
was made by Miss Dorothy Dctzer,
national secretary to the league, who
characterized it as "the dreadful Army
bill.” She asked that the league de
mand that Congress eliminate a $25,
000.000 increase in the Nation's mil
itary expenses.
At the opening session yesterday
afternoon the group heard Miss Ger
trude Baer, head of the international
headquarters of the League at Geneva,
denounce the Hitler and Mussolini
governments and call on the women
of the world to make "greater sacri
fices for peace than ever have been
made in history.”
Warning Given on Spain.
Miss Baer, a political refugee from
Germany, warned her listeners that
Spain "must not become a second
Ethiopia, for the fate of Spain is the
fate of Europe.”
Tonight, at a May day dinner, the
delegates will plunge into the domes
tic strike situation, with Gov. Frank
Murphy of Michigan, storm center in
the Detroit labor wars, speaking on
“Non-Violent Techniques in Labor
Disputes.” In announcing that this
dinner and part of the business ses
sions will be devoted to combating the
use of violence in labor disputes, offi- j
cers of the league condemned our
domestic economic system as being
"shot through with force, injustice
and actual violence.”
"The threat to peace in that field
is as much a concern of the W. I. L.
as the threats to peace in the inter
■ national arena,” it was explained.
To Attack Fascism.
The league, at its annual meeting,
which will continue through Monday,
plans to attack “all forms of fascism
and dictatorship, with their contempt I
for democracy, both as an aim and a :
method, and their naive and uncritical !
belief in violence.” it was announced, j
Miss Baer, who came to Washington |
to speak at yesterday’s opening session,
said there can be no hope of media- j
tion in the Spanish civil war so long
as German and Italian troops are sent
into that country-. The Spanish rebel j
forces would have been defeated “long j
ago,” she said, had it not been for [
this foreign support. Nor can there j
be peace so long as there exists in J
the heart of Europe a German Reich j
which "constitutes a standing military j
and economic menace,” she said.
“Our policy must be that the world !
is one unity which can exist only |
through mutual loyalty among peo
ples,” Miss Baer said. “There is no
international isolation against the
menace of war.”
She said that “it is understood per
fectly” in Europe that the United
States does not want to be drawn into
another European war, and assured
her hearers that public opinion in
this country- “has a very great weight
with war-mongers in Europe.”
Group to Gall on Hull.
A deputation of 12 officers of the i
league will call on Secretary of State
Hull today to request his support
of the body's international peace pro
gram. In the group will be Miss
Heloise Brainerd and Miss Sarah A.
Moore of Washington.
This afternoon the delegates will
be entertained by Mrs. James Roose
velt at a garden party in the White
House grounds.
Two other speakers at tonight’s
dinner will be Josephine Roche, as
sistant secretary- of the Treasury, who
won wide attention for her handling
of workers’ relations in her Colorado
coal mines, and A. J. Muste, labor
secretary- of the Fellowship of Recon
ciliation.
—-•
MORMON DRY DRIVE
Total Abstinence Aim of Church
in Campaign.
SALT LAKE CITY. May 1 (/Pi —
The Latter Day Saints (Mormon)
Church, in its first anti-liquor cam
paign since repeal, announced yester
day a drive for “total abstinence” to
"set an example for the world.” Ab
stinence from tobacco also will be
urged.
Sound pir ires, demonstrations and
literature will be used in the cam
paign.
ASTRONOMER HONORED
The Navy Department yesterday
announced that Dr. H. R. Morgan, j
principal astronomer at the Naval
Observatory, has been chosen a mem
ber of the Executive Committee of
the division of physical sciences of
the National Research Council.
During the last two years Dr. Mor
gan has been a representative to the
division from the American Astronom
ical Society. The National Research
Council is under the direction of the
National Academy of Sciences.
Note to That Dog of Yours—Muzzle Days Are Here Again
Just a sample of what happens to unmuzzled
dogs between May 1 and October 1 unless they
are kept on leash or in the yard.
No. sir! Mary Villari. 6, isn’t going to pay $2
to get her dog back from the pound. So Trixy
gets a muzzle.
This little rascal got caught and ended up on
the inside of the pound. Just waiting for some
one to bail him out. —Star Staff Photos.
Lutz and Sullivan Advanced.
Maj. Brown Announces
20 Transfers.
Announcement of two promotions,
to become effective May 1. and of 20
transfers of members of the Metro
politan Police Department were made
yesterday by Maj. Ernest W. Brown,
superintendent.
Acting Lieut. Clarence H. Lutz was
promoted ta lieutenant, remaining on
duty at the second precinct, while
Acting Sergt. Charles J. Sullivan was
made a sergeant, remaining in the
eighth precinct.
Detective John A. Caton. whose
bravery in the Knight-Thiebold shoot
ing earned him promotion to the rank
of detective sergeant, was transferred
from the tenth precinct to the De
tective Bureau.
Detective Sergt. A. D. Mansfield
was demoted to fourth precinct patrol
duty.
Pvt. James E. Ennis will be promot
ed to precinct detective, taking the
place vacated by Caton in the tenth
precinct.
Six transfers involving administra
tive headquarters were: Lieut. Lawr
rence R. Beall, headquarters to ninth
precinct; Sergt. John J. Agnew, whose
office was obviated by the change in
collateral posting, traffic division to
headquarters; Pvt. Thomas C. Kelle
her, headquarters to eighth precinct;
Pvt. William G. Shipman, headquar
ters to traffic division; Pvt. Richard A.
Burton, headquarters to fourth pre
cinct, and Pvt. B. R. Campbell, ninth
precinct to headquarters.
Pvts. Daniel C. Diehl and Garner
L. Norris were assigned to motor cycle
patrol duty.
Among the precincts eight trans
fers included: Lieut. John R. Jefferies,
ninth to twelfth; Lieut. John W. Mc
Ginness, twelfth to sixth: Pvt. Charles
A. Parker, first to harbor; Precinct
Detective Bernard F. Day, second to
fourth; Pvt. Irving Rosenberg, twelfth
to tenth; Pvt. Normayne M. Baker,
third to eighth: Pvt. George E. Clarke,
jr., third to eighth, and Pvt. R. T.
Conklin, traffic division to sixth pre
cinct.
--•
POLICEMAN ACCUSED
OF “TICKET FIXING”
Pvt. Welford E. Winfield Ordered
to Face Trial Board
May 11.
Pvt. Welford E. Winfield, formerly
attached to the traffic records di
vision, yesterday was ordered to face
a police trial board May 11 on 22
charges of "ticket fixing," it was an
nounced by Police Supt. Ernest W.
Brown.
The specific charge placed against
the officer was "conduct prejudicial
to the peace and good order of the
police force.”
Maj. Brown's announcement came
as the result of an investigation of
several weeks.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Hazen is
awaiting a report from Corporation
Counsel Elwood Seal on reports of
laxity in Police Court prosecutions of
traffic cases.
Winfield began service with the
Traffic Bureau on July 1, 1932. He
was transferred to the second precinct
on February 15, this year. Prior to
1932 he w-as attached to the ninth
precinct.
TAX CASE IS APPEALED
BY GINGER ALE FIRM
Board of Tax Appeals Asks Re
determination of Deficiency
Assessment of $12,129.
The Board of Tax Appeals has been
asked by the Rock Creek Ginger Ale
Co. of this city to redetermine a
deficiency assessed on 1925 income
and excess profits taxes amounting
to $12,129.
The company, in its appeal, said
the Bureau of Internal Revenue had
erroneously disallowed a $70,000 de
duction for $100,000 in salaries paid
four officers. It also charged the bu
reau had failed to find an overpay
ment of $843.
Ice Piled 18 Feet High.
Fololwing a sudden thaw the ice has
broken along the Baltic Coast and in
the rivers of Poland, and it has piled
in somet places in masses 3 miles wide
and 1£ feet high.
- i
i
TO Of CATHOLIC
Priest May Hear Confession
Before Date Set for
Electrocution.
Thomas Jordon, under sentence to
die in the electric chair for the six
year-old hold-up murder of Mrs. Eliza
beth S. Jaynes, Garden T Shoppe
cashier, is studying to become a mem
ber of the Roman Catholic Church, it
was learned today.
If the death sentence is carried
out on May 14, as scheduled, the
truth about Jordon's guilt or inno
cence will be known only to one per
son—Rev. R. P. Nutthall, Catholic
chaplain of District penal institu
tions.
Father Nutthall. who has been in
structing the condemned man in the
doctrines of the Catholic Church for
several weeks, will hear his confes
sion just before the electrocution.
Under the laws of both church and
State, however, what Jordon tells the
priest must be held "in sacred trust."
Although Father Nutthall declined
to discuss his relations with Jordon,
it was learned that the prisoner, who
was reared a Protestant, decided to
embrace Catholicism after he was sen
tenced to death.
Meanwhile, application for a stay
of execution was filed in District
Court today on behalf of Jordan.
The court was urged to grant the
stay because a petition is pending
in the United States Court of Ap
peals for an order directing the Dis
trict Court to entertain a motion for
a new trial on the ground of newly
discovered evidence.
Filed by Attorney John M. Holz
worth of New York, the stay applica
tion contained that statement that
the "newdy discovered evidence” was
suppressed by authorities. This sup
pression was “grossly improper and
a breach of duvy to the court and
to the defendant," the application
stated.
Holzworth asked that Trial Justice
F. Dickinson Letts hear him Monday
morning.
If the investigation being conducted
by the Justice Department results in
commutation of the death sentence
by President Roosevelt, or if Jordon's
pending request for a new trial is
granted, he will not be permitted to
become a Catholic until he has gone
through a long period of instruction.
The new trial move was made yes
terday when Defense Attorneys Harry
T. Whelan and Holzworth petitioned
the United States Court of Appeals.
The petition was accompanied by
statements from four persons—Mrs.
Frank J. Bell, 4031 Connecticut ave
nue, a new witness: Policemen F. J.
Haack and Thomas F. Heide and De
tective Sergt. M. J. Mahaney—all
tending to show that Mrs. Jaynes had
described the gunman who shot her as
being 6 feet tall, with gray eyes and
light hair. Jordon is 5 feet 6'i and
has black hair and brown eyes.
Hit by Auto
m !
PATRICIA DAVIS.
—Star Staff Photo.
CRASH OF BUILDING
KILLS 2, HURTS SIX
Workmen Buried Under Debris as
Walls Collapse at Mar
tinsville, Va.
By the Associated Press.
MARTINSVILLE. Va.. May 1 —Two
workmen were killed and six injured
here yesterday in the collapse of a
two-story brick building which was
being remodeled.
The bodies of Jesse James Mabes.
21, of near Martinsville, and Clement
Edwards of Henry County were found
'beneath heavy debris two and a half
hours after the walls of the structure
gave way.
J. A. Kennedy, another workman,
was removed to a hospital suffering
from a crushed chest and deep gashes
over the left eye. His condition was
regarded as serious.
D. M. Morgan, who suffered con
tusions of the face and a torn right
knee cap, also was a hospital patient,
but four others were discharged after
treatment.
E. E. Yonts, a member of Delk &
Yonts Construction Co. of High Point,
N. C. which was reconstructing the
building, suffered a slight cut on the
forehead and shock when he was
thrown to the ground from scaffolding.
Pete Bradford, John Brown and
James King, all colored, received cuts
and bruises. They were released after
being given first aid at the hospital.
Canton Approves Dancing.
CANTON, China (/Pi.—The song and
dance business is looking up in
Canton. The first city in China to
ban dancing, Canton has relaxed the
rules and Is allowing it in private
homes, schools and clubs, although
public dance halls are still frowned
upon.
Ends 40 Years’ Service
Milton L. Leffler, left, receives a watch from Chairman W. A.
Ayres of the Federal Trade Commission as he retires from that
organization, for which he worked from 1920 until yesterday as
special representative for the commission in matters involving
the printing of publications. Leffler, who lives at 1608 Allison
street, was born in Pottsville, Pa.. April 18, 1865, and has been
here since 1891. His service with the Government totals 40 years.
Before joining the Federal Trade Commission he was with, the
Government Printing Office, the Treasury and the Weather
Bureau. —Star Staff Photo.
SAFETY AID URGED
D. C. in Tenth Day Without
Car Death, Van Duzer
Aims at Year Low.
As the District entered its tenth
day without a fatal traffic accident,
Traffic Director William A. Van Duzer
today called on pedestrians to co
operate in a drive to reduce the traf
fic mortality rate below that of last
year.
Last month. Van Duzer pointed out,
only four persons were killed in traffic
accidents, as compared with 10 fata?!- ,
ties in April, 1936. But, he pointed 1
out, the city's fatality list stands at 40
this year, as compared with 32 for the
first four months of 1936,
Last month. Van Duzer said, marked 1
the first monthly period since last Oc- ,
tober in which traffic deaths dropped
below the fatality rate of the same
period in the preceding year.
National Fatalities Up 26 Per Cent.
On a national scale, traffic fatalities
increased 26 per cent during the first
quarter of 1937, as compared with the
same period last year, the National
Safety Council revealed.
In calling for increased safety co
operation for pedestrians. Van Duzer
pointed out that two of those killed
in traffic accidents last month were
pedestrians who shunned cross walks
in attempting to cross streets.
New regulations to govern rush-hour
traffic along Rock Creek and Potomac
Parkways were announced yesterday
by Van Duzer. Starting Wednesday
the parkways between New Hampshire
avenue and P street will be reserved
for southbound traffic between 8 and
9:30 am. and for northbound traffic
between 4 and 6 p m. On Saturdays,
northbound movement only will be
allowed between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m.
Mrs. Lillian Flannery, 60, of 2920
Upton street, received head cuts and
possibly internal injuries today when
struck by an automobile at Connecti
cut avenue and Upton street. She
was taken to Emergency Hospital.
Frank T. Francis. 42. of 3612 Thirty
fourth street, said by police to be the
driver of the car, was charged with
reckless driving.
Two Suffer Broken Legs.
Two children suffered fractured legs
when they were struck by automobiles
yesterday. They are Patricia Davis, 5,
of 125 E street, and Gloria Jackson,
9, colored, 100 block V street.
Patricia was struck at Fourth and
E streets by an automobile driven,
police said, by Ruth B. Pratt, of Ta
koma Park, Md. She was treated at,
Sibley Hospital.
Gloria was struck at Thirteenth and
U streets by an automobile driven, ac
cording to police, by Neil E. Hyatt,
1400 block of W street. She was
treated at Children's Hospital.
AUTOMOTIVE STORES
SHOW BIGGEST GAIN
Lead Nation in Increase in Busi
ness During 1935, Census
Figures Show.
Automotive stores led the Nation in
an increase in business during 1935,
with a gain of 27 per cent, as com
pared with an average rise of 11 per
cent for the United States as a whole,
according to William L. Austin, direc
tor of the Census Bureau. These fig
ures were part of the first study of
“identical stores” for two consecu
tive years, designated as the retail
trade survey.
The 11 per cent gain for the coun
try was based on reports from 1,099,
663 identical concerns, reporting sales
of $24,544,133,000 in 1934 and $27,
144.477,000 in 1935.
The automotive group showed in
creased sales from $2.8*4,139,000 in
1934 to $3,560,543,000 in 1935.
Second in gain were lumber and
building material dealers with 18 per
cent. Sales of identical stores in this
classification were $1,612,282,000 in
1935, and $1,367,416,000 in 1934.
Third in importance in terms of
percentage gain during 1935 were fur
niture and householdt stores, while
the gain by drug stores was 5 per cent.
-•
Contract Is Awarded.
Maj. Walter D. Luplow, district en
gineer for the War Department for
the Washington area, today an
nounced the award of a contract to
Joseph Smith of 3619 Benning road
northeast for the demolition of three
obsolete pumping stations, part of the
Washington Aqueduct. Smith is to
pay the Government *1,500 and have
i salvage privileges.
Thousands Declared Forced
to Pay Multiple Charges
in Repossessions.
Declaring that thousands of Wash
ington automobile owners are being
forced to pay multiple, fictitious
charges by the illegitimate use of con
dition sales contracts. Assistant Cor
poration Counsel Chester H. Gray to
day proposed the need of regulation
of repossession of cars.
He estimated roughly that car own
ers had been forced to pay some
$105,000 during a period of 15 months
ending in September. 1936. for the
privilege of regaining their cars from
agents for the creditor.
Gray found a ''repossession'* fee of
$15 is charged in many such cases,
plus other fees such as $1.50 a day
for parking of the car and for investi
gation and other services.
A test case will be tried in Police
Court soon, he said, to determine if the
person who takes possession of the car
to force a due payment may be legally
classed as a private detective.
If this is the ruling. Gray plans
to urge regulations which would re
quire all such agents to take out
private detective licenses and to re
quire financial responsibility on the
part of the agent. The license fee
for a private detective would be $100.
“This practice Is getting to be a
brutal racket,” said Gray. "I have no
way of calculating exactly how much
money is being taken from car owners
by this method of forcing payment
of bills on automobile radios, tires and
other car equipment, but my guess is
the figure is almost astronomical.
“Some of the charges made for re
possession, of course, are legal and
legitimate. We do not have trouble
j with responsible automobile sales agen
cies.”
GUILTY^’LEA MADE
IN LOAN ACT CASE
Jack Snider Placed on Probation
and Fine of $100 Is
Suspended.
Jack Snider, 32. with offices at 714
Fourth street southwest, pleaded guilty
to violation of the small loan act
before Police Judge Edward M. Cur
ran yesterday and was placed on
paobation after imposition of a sus
pened fine of $100.
Snider was one of the first persons
arrested in a series of investigations
conducted by Assistaant Corporation
Counsel Chester H. Gray into com
plaints against alleged violations of
the act. The investigation in Snider's
rase was instituted at the request of
the Washington Terminal Co., offi
cials of which said he had been loan
ing small amounts to employes, charg
ing excessive interest rates and then
attempting to collect through the em
ployer in the cases of those who did
not pay promptly. Snider was ar
rested by Pvt. Lester A. Howard.
When first arrested, Snider pleaded
not guilty and demaned a jury trial.
He withdrew the demand and changed
his plea yesterday.
“HALL OF FAME” HERE
PROPOSED BY TINKHAM
Bill Authorizes $50,000 Appro
priation for Studies and
Building Plans.
Proposal for a “Hall of Fame" In
the National Capital to house the
statues (two from each State) in the
old “Statuary Hall” in the Capitol
(the original House chamber), which
recently were distributed throughout
the corridors of the building because
the weight was too great for the one
chamber, was made to the House late
yesterday by Representative George
Holden Tinkham. Republican, of
Massachusetts, lineal descendant from
sevepd Mayflower passengers.
Mr. Tinkham, a veteran member of
the Appropriations and Foreign Af
fairs Committees, introduced a bill
authorizing an appropriation of $50,
000 to finance the studies and pay
the cost of plans for the proposed
Hall of Fame. This measure also
provides for appointment of a com
mission, to be composed of the director
of the public buildings and public
parks of the National Capital, the
architect of the Capitol, the chair
man of the Public Buildings Com
mission, the chairmen of the Senate
and House Library Committee and
the chairmen of the Committees on
Public Buildings and Grounds of both
the Senate and the House.
BILL ID BLANKET
IN U. S. EMPLOYES
Non-Competitive Examina
tions Would Extend Civil
Service Status.
ADHERENCE TO QUOTAS
WOULD BE INSISTED ON
Such an Agreement, if Reached,
Would Retrieve Measure
From Death.
BY WILL P. KENNEDY.
The pending bill to blanket into
the Civil Service all Government em
ployes not now included under the
Civil Service is expected to pass Con
gress before the close of the present
session.
It is expected that the Civil
Service thus will be "extended” with
non-competitive examinations rather
than competitive examinations, thus
far insisted upon Chairman Rams
peck of the House Civil Service Com
mittee, but that strict adherence to
the State quotas will be required.
, Throughout extensive hearings on
this measure Chairman Ramspeck has
insisted upon competitive examina
tions, and it has been rather generally
believed that the death warrant of
this measure had been signed. It is
now given a new lease of life.
onairman Ramspeck, while declin
ing to admit that an agreement has
been reached, said that he expects to
call his committee together during
the coming week and to report the
bill. In best-informed circles It is
expected that the bill will extend the
Civil Service by non-competitive ex
aminations, but will provide for ad
herence to the State quota system.
The pending bill, sponsored by
Chairman Ramspeck. authorizes the
President to extend the Civil Service
to all positions not now covered by
Civil Service. Those holding posi
tions may attain Civil Service status
by competitive examinations, with no
time limit. The effect would be to
have the jobs go under Civil Service
i without disturbing those now holding
the jobs. Then when a vacancy might
! occur it would be filled through com
J petition and it would be for the Presi
i dent to say when the examinations
would be held.
It has been generally considered
| that those who hold these positions
! would be immediately and ruthlessly
thrown out of their jobs unless they
passed an examination. This is not
. true. Chairman Ramspeck points out.
Unless it is affirmatively stated that
■ any individual or group of employes
must go, they would continue in
their present jobs until vacancies
occur. Then there would probably
be a non-competitive examination.
-•
HOEPPEL TO MAKE
NEW START IN LIFE
Freed From Occoquan, Former
Representative Heads for
Arcadia, Calif.
By the Associated Press.
Former Representative John H.
Hoeppel. freed on parole from Occo
quan Workhouse, headed for home in
Arcadia, Calif., today determined to
make a new start in life, he said—to
advocate good government and prison
reform and "fight the liquor business.”
Hoeppel, who served the minimum
of a 4-to-12 month sentence for con
spiring to sell a West Point appoint
ment, said he planned to engage in
publication of a veterans' newspaper
"and later on might even start a peri
odical of general circulation.”
He expects, too. he told reporters, to
be active in politics, but whether as a
candidate for office "depends on the
: future.”
Hoeppel was convicted last Decem
ber of conspiring with his son, Charles,
to sell a West Point appointment to
James W. Ives of Baltimore for $1,000.
The District Parole Board recently
agreed to parole the elder Hoeppel,
but refused to free the son.
MAJ. BROWN ABANDONS
WOMAN'S BUREAU PLAN
Step Follows Architect's Report
Court Building- Change
Would Cost $100,000.
A report from Municipal Architect
Nathan C. Wyeth setting a figure of
( nearly $100,000 for remodeling the
present Police Court Building into a
Woman's Bureau and House of De
tention resulted in announcement by
j Police Supt. Ernest W. Brown yester
j day that such plans have been aban
doned. The remodeling price makes
the change ‘-prohibitive," Maj. Brown
said.
Tentative plans called for the re
modeling on completion of the new
Court House. Inspector L. I. H. Ed
wards, executive officer of the Police
Department, recommended abandon
ment of the proposed project in a re
! port submitted to Maj. Brown with
I the estimate. Edwards headed a com
I mittee which has been investigating
the possibility of such a move for
some months.
Division of the second precinct into
two precincts became more remote
with the announcement. Under the
canceled plans, the present Woman's
Bureau was to have been made an
other station house.
-•
GROCERIES MAY CLOSE
Several Chain and Independent
Units Consider Half-Holidays.
The proposed closing of grocery
stores in the Washington area on
Wednesday afternoons throughout the
year was discussed by representatives
of several large chain and independent
| grocery stores at a meeting at the
Merchants’ and Manufacturers’ Asso
! ciation yesterday.
A majority of store managers pres
I ent favored the plan to give their em
i ployes a half holiday each week be^
' cause the arrangement had proved sat
isfactory in several other cities. Ed
! ward D. Shaw, secretary of the asso
| ciation. said.
Adoption of the proposal depends
I on a majority vote of store owners
j in the area. Another meeting will be
held Friday, when definite action Is
1 expected to be taken.