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

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

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‘ WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1937. *»» PAGE B-l
MINIMI WAGE
•RETROACTIVE PLEA
HEARD BY COURT
Half Employers of Women
Would Be Made Bank
rupt, Is Claim.
« __
JUDGE RAEDY TAKES
" CASE IN ADVISEMENT
m -
Issue Is Presented in Appeals of
Two Employes of Local
Companies.
BACKGROUND—
Congress enacted minimum wage
law for women and children of Dis
trict in 1918. creating Minimum
Wage Board, which functioned un
til 1923. when Supreme Court, in
Adkins vs. Children’s Hospital case,
invalidated law. Board thereupon
disbanded and minimum wage or
ders tvere no longer enforced. Sev
eral weeks ago Supreme Court, up
holding Washington State mini
t mum wage law, also overruled its
* 1923 decision in Adkins case. At
torney General Cummings and Cor
poration Counsel Seal have held old
law is revived, but legal question of
whether it is retroactive is unde
cided.
Half of the employers of women
bi the lower salary brackets would be
sent into bankruptcy if the revived
minimum wage law for th^ District
were construed by the courts to be
retroactive, it was declared in Mu
nicipal Court today when counsel for
employers and employes went to battle
over the law.
Judge Ellen Raedy later took under
advisement two vital test cases in
volving claims of additional back com
pensation based on the contention the
Supreme Court’s recent reversal of the
Adkins case reinstated the 1918 mini
mum wage act and made it retroactive.
Counsel for the plaintiffs—one a
k Waitress and another a laundress—
’ argued that the employers do not
. come into court “with clean hands” I
* Because their em
ployment con
tracts after in
validation of the
Jaw in 1923 were
“unconscionable”
and in "defiance
of 1 e g i s 1 ative
policy” as ex
pressed in pas
sage of the act.
Only one of the
plaintiffs was in
court as the at
torneys made
Vigorous oral
r pleas to Judge
Raedy. She was
Mrs. Gertrude Perry.
mts. uertruae a. rerry, wno was em
ployed as a laundress by the Fairfax
Hotel, 2100 Massachusetts avenue,
from February, 1936, to March, 1937.
She was represented by Attorneys Ir
win Bolotin and Samuel B. Brown.
The other plaintiff, Miss Ruth Cor
nett, waitress, who is suing Dick's
Grill, was represented by Warren E.
Miller and C. L. Dawson.
Claims of Women.
Mrs. Perry claims $373 and Miss
Cornett $335 as additional amounts
f due them under the $16.50 weekly
minimum wage fixed by the old Mini
mum Wage Board in 1920. Their
lawyers argued that the old orders of
the board have been in effect since
disbanding of the board in 1923.
Judge Raedy, in reserving decision.
* asked counsel for'both sides to submit
written briefs covering their arguments
and citing in detail legal cases men
tioned In the oral arguments. The
small court room was crowded with
spectators, many of whom were rep
resentatives of hotel, restaurant and
laundry interests.
Joseph C. McGarraghy. attorney for
(he Washington Hotel Men's Associa
tion, represented the Fairfax Hotel,
and Samuel L. Boyd was attorney for
Dick’s Grill,
Opposing counsel agreed that the
chief point at issue is whether the
old minimum wage law has been con
tinuously in effect during the decade
m and a half intervening between the
Supreme Court’s invalidation of the
act and its recent reversal of the 1923
opinion, reviving the law. The pend
ing cases, it was pointed out, do not
Involve a question as to whether the
old law is “prospective" or whether a
new law must be nassed.
Fears "Economic Disaster.”
Boyd declared "economic disaster”
Would threaten many businesses if the
law were ruled retroactive. It was he
who made the assertion that half of
these businesses would be forced into
bankruptcy by such an interpretation.
He said hotels, restaurants and simi
lar employers of women in the lower
wage classes entered into contracts on
nthe basis of the 1923 invalidation of
the act and that these contracts,
“made in good faith,” would be im
paired if the law were made retro
active. The wages paid employes, he
'-'paid, were fixed in accordance with
Charges made customers.
McOarraghy stressed that thousands
of other employers in Washington will
be affected by the outcome of the
pending cases. Regardless of whether
the act is restored by the recent Su
preme Court ruling, he stated, the
bona Aide contracts entered into under
the previous ruling must be protected.
He cited several court decisions in
Support of his argument.
Insist Law Was In Effect.
Attorneys for the two women cited
Other cases In support of their con
tention that the court’s reversal of its
« original ruling reinstated the original
law as of the date of the first ruling.
They insisted the act and all orders
promulgated under it by the defunct
Minimum Wage Board remained in
force during the long period of in
activity resulting from the original
decision.
One of the orders of the board which
thus has a retroactive effect, they as
eerted, was the one fixing the mini
mum weekly wages for women in ho
tels and laundries at $16.50.
Attorneys for both sides indicated
the test cases are headed for higher
courts, regardless of the ruling to be
•made by Judge Raedy. The issues
Involved are “too far reaching” not to
be passed on by high tribunals, they
Pointed out.
Street Car Crews Learn Charm in New Drive for Politeness
"A Smile for Every Passenger” is
the new motto of the Capital Tran
sit Co. Motorman Walter Jones is
pictured carrying out edict of Vice
President J. H. Stephens as he
brings his car to stop before group
of waiting passengers on Wiscon
sin avenue.
Ordered by Vice President Stephens to
treat every passenger as he would like to be
treated if he were a stranger in a strange city,
Motorman Jones takes time out to offer
friendly sightseeing directions to Miss Rita
Dorr. Every conductor and motorman has
been instructed to radiate pleasing personality
in Stephens’ new campaign to end complaints
of discourtesy.
No service is too small to perform in the cause of
courtesy, Capital Transit train crews have been told. Mo
torman Jones hastens to aid Miss Dorr after her purse
spills while she searched for a token. Vice President
Stephens has laid down 10 rules of politeness to be followed
by train crews. “Take a real interest in every passenger”
is one of Stephens’ edicts.
—Star Staff Photos.
Like a true Chesterfieldian, Motorman Jones
hastens to extend a helping hand to Marion and
Joyce MacGregor, twin 2-year-old daughters of Mr.
and Mrs. Harold MacGregor, 5205 Wisconsin avenue,
as they board his car with Miss Dorr. “Practice
politeness on every passenger every day," Vice Presi
dent Stephens has directed. “Try to be just a little
different with each passenger, for no two people are
alike," the transit official advised street car crews.
IN STOCK LARCENY
Salesman Charged in Losses
of $12,179 by Mrs. J. G.
Reilly of D. C.
Max Strahl, 34-year-old New York
stock salesman, was indicted today
on a charge of larceny of stocks valued
at $12,179.50 from Mrs. Helen J. G.
Reilly, 1747 Q street, widow of the
late Gen. James Reilly.
He was arrested in her home April
13, while he allegedly was attempting
to persuade her to accept a $10,000
check in settlement of her claim.
Police said he had been arrested a
number of times in cases involving
fraudulent stock schemes, and at one
time was indicted in New York after
a police investigation instigated by
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt. He al
legedly had swindled a friend of Mrs.
Roosevelt.
The indictment charges the larceny
from Mrs. Reilly took place last No
vember 13, when Strahl is accused of
persuading her to turn over to him the
stocks to cover an investment he had
made for her, which involved Okla
homa oil wells.
RogofT Also Named.
Arrainged in Police Court April 14, |
he pleaded not guilty and his bail was
set at $20,000. Preliminary hearing
was continued.
Also named in the indictment was
Harry RogofT of New York, allegedly
an associate of Strahl, who has not
been arrested. Police say RogofT was
present during a conversation Strahl
had with Mrs. Reilly, posing as a
wealthy oil man.
Five aliases for Strahl were given in
the indictment. RogofT was indicted
under one alias.
Said by police to have pawned 14
typewriters belonging to the Wood
stock Typewriter Co., Lois Geddes,
37, was charged with embezzlement
and larceny after trust. The ma
chines were valued at $20 each. Offi
cials of the company said the woman
told them she wanted a number of
machines for typing work during the
presidential campaign. Accordingly,
they rented her more than 20 type
writers and lent her six others. The
offense is said to have occurred last
June.
Postal Clerk Indicted.
Alvin O'Nevin, 57-year-old postal
clerk, was indicted on a charge of
interfering with the mails. Postal
authorities stated he admitted tak
ing some $250 from letters during the
last 16 months.
Otis Moneyhan, 21, and Douglas O.
Phillips, 22, were charged by the
giand jury with housebreaking and
larceny' in connection with theft of
$376 worth of rings and watches from
the Castleberg Jewelry Oo., 1004 P
street. They are alleged to have
smashed the show window and scooped
up the jewelry on May 2.
A total of 42 indictments were re
turned.
Others Are Charged.
Others indicted were:
Alfred Walker, William Brown, Rus
sell Beale, Harry Gross, William P.
Cullen, Julius Aikens, William John
son, Edward Dewey and Fred
P. Hockett, housebreaking and
larceny: John J. Simpson and Con
stantine Janes, receiving stolen prop
erty; Henry J. McCrea, John
C. White, William F. Vincent and
Ernest C. Harris, Joyriding; James F.
O’Dea, Carroll V. Henkell, Earl W.
Ferguson, Franklin T. Mills, Julius
Aikens, Ozle J. Linder, William H.
Roles, waiter E. Leake and Norman
Hansford, robbery; Albert Johnson,
Franklin Clark, India Lunsford,
Charles F. Dalzell, Joseph W. win,
Jack R. Bailey and Herman Cannon,
grand larceny; Maggie Malvin, Arthur
Malvin and Henry B. Scott, assault
with a dangerous weapon; Ancel
Louise Doye, Thomas Alfred Brewer,
jr„ and Mary F. Sawyer, forgery and
uttering; Marion J. Smith, forgery;
Edward Rowse, false pretenses, and
William H. H. Brocks, forging a postal
savings certificate.
Chemist Will Speak.
George W. Morey, physical chemist
with the Geophysical Laboratory here,
will be principal speaker at a meeting
of the University of Virginia Chapter
of Alpha Chi Sigma in the university
chemical building tonight.
*
Lunch Box Found
Provided With Teeth
As Well as Food
Sergt. V. O. Deus of the Capitol
police force, has found a lot of
strange things in his daily tour
about the Capitol grounds, but *
today he picked up what he de
scribed as the "prize.”
It was a lunch box. Inside was
a sandwich, a slice of cake, a gum
drop, and a pair of false teeth.
SEVERAL FEDERAL
Social Security Board Now
Taking Over Potomac
Park Apartments.
The Social Security Board is taking
over the Potomac Park Apartments.
Twenty-first and C streets, which is
being vacated by the Housing Division
of the Public Works Administration, it
was announced today by Clay J. Guth
ridge, chief of the Division of Gov
ernment Space Control of the Na
tional Park Service.
The Bureau of Federal Old-Age
Benefits Is moving into the erstwhile
apartment house from 1724 F street.
The Bureau of Business Management
of the Social Security Board is shift
ing from 1712 G street to 1724 F street.
Officials said other units are remaining
as they are.
ine ooara win continue to occupy
quarters in the National Theater
Building and in the old Southern
Railway Building at 1300 E street, it
was said.
Power Commission to Move.
In the next few days, Guthridge
said, the Federal Power Commission
will begin moving into the Hurley
Wright Building, Eighteenth street
and Pennsylvania avenue. That build
ing has now been vacated by the In
dian Office and the Office of Education
of the Interior Department, which
moved into the new building.
The Power Commission will move
from the Printcraft Building, S30 H
street; from the Carpenters’ Building,
Tenth and K streets, and from the
Machinists' Building, Ninth street and
Mount Vernon place. Tentatively,
the Machinists’ and Carpenters' Build
ings are being given up, although offi
cials made it clear that other agencies
may occupy the vacated space.
Alcohol Administration to Shift.
The space in the Washington Loan
St Trust Co. Building, given up by
the Bureau of Mines, will be occupied
by the Federal Alcohol Administration,
which goes out of the Justice Depart
ment Building, which is expanding
activities there.
The Division of Accounts and De
posits, Treasury Department, will oc
cupy the vacated space in the Print
craft Building.
The old Interior Department Build
ing, Eighteenth and F streets, is now
being occupied by the Geological Sur
vey, the entire Public Works Admin
istration organization, the National
Resources Committee and the Puerto
Rican Reconstruction Administration.
While there are incidental shifts to
these major moves in the rearrange
ment of the Government offices in
Washington, no new shifts of magni
tude are in prospect, officials said.
The Government is not giving up any
material space, they said, as a num
ber of agencies are Interested in se
curing additional areas, if they can be
obtained here.
CONTEST CONTINUED
Ten Days More for “Lincoln at
Prayer” Poetry Entries.
Continuation until May 38 of the
“Lincoln at Prayer” poetry contest
has been announced by Miss Anita
Brown, founder of poetry week, who
offered a prize for the best verse in
spired by the statue in the Washing
ton Cathedral. The contest was to
have closed yesterday.
The name of the prize winner will
be broadcast at a date to be an
nounced later. Contributions are to
be turned in to the Lincoln Prise Con
test Editor, National Poetry Center,
Rockville Plaza, New Tork City.
f
I i •
Palmisano Subcommittee to
Resume Consideration
of Investigation.
The Palmisano Subcommittee of the
House District Committee will resume
its examination of Attorney John M.
Holzworth this afternoon in an effort
to determine whether law enforce
ment conditions in Washington war
rant a thorough congressional investi
gation.
The subcommittee is expected to
make its recommendations to the
whole committee late today or to
morrow.
Testimony Half Completed.
Holzworth, who formerly represent
ed Thomas Jordon, convicted slayer of
Mrs. Lizzie S. Jaynes in the Garden
T Shoppe hold-up, had about half
completed his testimony when the
subcommittee adjourned yesterday
Appearing voluntarily before the
House District Committee last week,
Holzworth made serious charges
against the United States attorney’s
office and the Police Department.
After listening to his statements.
Chairman Norton appointed the
Palmisano Subcommittee to study the
facts and ascertain whether the whole
committee should order an investi- •
gation.
The committee session yesterday
was closed, but Holzworth said he
repeated the charges he had made
previously.
Jury Member Other Witness.
Israel F. Good, a member of the
jury that convicted Jordon was the
only other witness yesterday. He re
fused to divulge the nature of his
testimony, but It was known he be
lieves Jordon should have been con
victed of second Instead of first degree
murder.
Good told reporters other members
of the jury believed the verdict had
to be first degree murder or not
guilty, apparently misunderstanding
the charge of the trial judge that sec
ond degree murder was a possible
verdict. He also said an obsolete
District code was brought into the
jury room to bolster the contention
that as a matter of law a second
degree verdict could not be returned.
--•
JAMES J. REIDY, 67,
DIES AT HOME HERE
Official of Realty Firm Was With
Moses & Sons Many
Years.
James J. Reidy, 67, heed of the home
sales department of the firm of John
P. Donohoe & Sons, realtors, died yes-:
terday after a Iona Illness at his home.
J. J. Bcidr.
170 North Caro
lina avenue south
east.
A native of
County Kerry,
Ireland, Mr. Reidy
came to this
country about 45
years ago. For
many years he
was employed by
W. B. Moses &
Sons, serving as
head of the pack
ing and shipping
department. Mr.
Reidy was a mem
ber of the Holy
name oociesy oi at. Peters Catholic
Church.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Han
nah A. Reldy; three sisters, Mrs. T. 8.
Ganges and Mrs. J. F. Aukard, both
of this city, and another sister living
in Ireland, and three brothers, also
of Ireland.
Funeral services will be held at 9
a.m. tomorrow, In St. Peter’s, following
brief services at the residence. Burial
will be In Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Heads Princeton Theater.
Richard A. Baer of Washington has
been elected president of the Princeton
University Theater Intime for 1937-38,
it was announced today. Baer is a
mentor of tt» Junior slaas.
i
4
Circus Indian, Bitten 6 Times
Defanging Rattlers, Carries On
n — ■ ■ , !
Behind the scenes of the circus, Lee Big Elk makes harmless
pets of poisonous snakes from, the Southwest desert.
—Star Staff Photo.
While thousands cheered the won
ders of the scheduled performances
beneath the main tent of the Ringling
Bros, show yesterday afternoon, Lee
Big Elk, Oklahoma Choctaw, gave an
unexpected exhibition of daring in the
lot behind the tent to a small group
of circus artists and roustabouts.
For two hours the Indian wrestled
with 50 rattle snakes fresh from
Brownsville, Tex., removing their'
fangs to render their bite harmless.
He is one of the 12 redskins who,
dressed in skins, smeared with
aboriginal paint and holding the
snakes, twice daily do a rain dance
similar to a ceremonial practiced for
countless generations by the Indians
of the Southwest.
Lee Big Elk was bitten six times by
poisoned fangs before his afternoon’s
work was over. But he appeared in
the dance last night and will be a
part of it this afternoon and tonight—
the last 1937 performances at the lot
at Florida avenue and Fifth street
northeast.
“I feel sicker than I have for a long
time,” he said when the 50 fangless
reptiles had been closed up in a large
box where their rattlers kept up an
incessant whirr. He swabs his wounds
with peroxide and smears them with
a black salve of his own making to
save himself from being more than
merely ill.
The snakes are shipped in wooden
boxes with screened tops. Lee Big Elk,
known as Roebuck to his colleague*,
rip6 open an end of the screening.
He seizes near the tail the snake due
for his surgery and strokes it gently
on the stomach while it darts its head.
When the snake stiffens under the
soothing caress the Indian grasps it
behind the heed, forcing open its
mouth.
A helper holds the writhing mid
portion of the 8-pound reptile. Big
in if hooks out the fangs with a cotton
swab and pincers, cleans the wound
with a handful of raw cotton and
tosses the snake into the box with its
fellows.
The 12 Indians last night used the
new snakes in their dance, holding
them stiffly in various poses to make
the magic that will bring rain. It
was showering briskly even before the
dance began. Iron Eyes, a Cherokee,
in charge of the Indians, said the
dance brought eight days of rain last
Summer In Hollywood, to the astonish
ment of the local populace, which
hadn’t seen even a drizzle in several
weeks.
The redskins are part of the Wild
West Show of Col. Tim McCoy. They
began the circus season with all the
makes they needed, but the sold, damp
8
atmosphere of Madison Square Gar
den, in New York City, where they
played a month, proved fatal for
many of the reptiles.
The surgery practiced by Lee Big
Elk yesterday will need repeating with
in 90 days. Daily, however, he must
examine the snakes’ mouths, for if
they develop sores the bite is as
dangerous as if the fangs were still
there. Four of the 50 reptiles received
yesterday had bad mouths, the Indian
said, and probably will be sent back
to Brownsville.
The snakes average 6 feet in length.
They cost $150 for two dozen. The
Southwest rain dancers are a new
attraction in Tim McCoy's show.
They expect an injunction to be
issued against them in Philadelphia
by a man who claims he has all rights
to exhibit the rain dance. Iron Eyes
doesn’t think the Philadelphian has
much of a case.
SULTAN APPROVES
PLANS FOR HARBOR
_
Sketches of Three Developments
Given Tentative 0. K.—Go
to War Department.
Engineer Commissioner Dan I. Sul
tan has given tentative approval to
preliminary sketches of three new mu
nicipal developments along the District
water front, as contemplated by Fed
eral plans for the area, it was an
nounced today.
They deal with the proposed new
harbor police station, a new water
front fire station and a new pier and
warehouse building as a distributing
point for produce sent to and from
the District work house and reforma
tory.
The plans carry out the Commis
sioners’ intention to find a new loca
tion, in future years, for the District
Morgue. The tentative sketches will
be sent to the district engineer of the
War Department. The authority for
planning improvements along Water
street was given by Congress some
years ago, and provision was made
last year for the drafting of plans.
The work will be performed as a
part of a 10-year program.
December 20 Fay Bill Passed.
A bill authorizing payment of the
December salaries of congressional
employes on December 20 hereafter—
five days before Christmas—has been
sent to the White House tot delator*.
POLICE WORK IRE
ONKEENEMYSTERY
Maryland Detectives in City
to Talk to Family, Con
fer With Hoover.
Declaring "we are In this case to
stay,” Detective Sergts. Marlin Bru
baker and J. J. Cassidy of the Mary
land State police arrived in Wash
ington today to investigate the mys
terious disappearance of Charles P.
Keene, 63. of 2100 Massachusetts ave
nue, from a blood-stained cabin
aboard the steamer District of Co
lumbia last Friday.
"We are proceeding on the theory
that we have jurisdiction in this case
and we will proceed on that theory
until the case is solved," said Sergt.
Brubaker.
The detectives came to Washington
on the District of Columbia after a
day spent in Norfolk, where police
are convinced Keene was murdered
and thrown overboard while the vessel
was near the mouth of the Potomac
River.
Brubaker and Cassidy said they
are working "with open minds" and
as yet have not adopted either a
murder or a suicide theory. Today
they planned to question members ol
the Keene family, police and the miss
ing man's business associates, they
said.
May Talk to Hoover.
"We may drop by the F. B. I. tc
talk to J. Edgar Hoover about the
question of our jurisdiction," Bru
baker said.
As the Maryland detectives worked
to gather tangled clues in the strange
case, the Bureau of Marine Inspec
tion and Navigation of the Depart
ment of Commerce arranged for a
board of inquiry to sit in Baltimore
Friday.
Meanwhile a Coast Guard patrol
boat cruised the lower Potomac,
searching for Keene’s body, and the
Bureau of Aeronautics asked airplane
pilots to fly low over the vicinity and
keep a sharp lookout for the body.
Brubaker said futile efforts were
made in Norfolk to locate the mysteri
ous “Mrs. R. L. Loper,’’ who occupied
the cabin adjoining Keene’s on the
night he vanished. After the boat
docked in Norfolk, a “Mrs. Loper’’
called offices of the Norfolk & Wash
ington Steamboat Co., asking to speak
to the general manager. He was not
in, and she hung up, declaring she
would talk to no one else, but prom
ising to call back later.
Unable to Locate Woman.
The detectives said they were un
able to find any steamship company
employe who remembered having re
ceived the call from Mrs. Loper. A
passenger by that name was registered
as occupying the cabin adjoining
Keene's on the night he disappeared,
and it is important that she be located,
the detectives said.
Outstanding clue in the case is a
bloody handprint found on the window
sill of Keene's cabin. There were
blood stains on the bed, which had
not been slept in: in the wash basin,
and on the railing of the aft deck,
10 feet back from Keene's cabin
window.
The missing man's suitcase was
open and his clothing scattered about
the room. His broken eyeglasses and
wrist-watch were found on the floor.
His wallet, containing about $40, was
missing.
A blanket was thrown over the upper
bunk in the cabin and the pillow was
Indented as though someone had lain
on it.
When Keene left Washington he
was in good spirits and said he had
every expectation of completing a
profitable business deal In Norfolk.
As yet police have been unable to
learn whom he intended to meet in
Norfolk, however.
BAND CONCERT.
By the Navy Band in the band
stand at the Navy Yard at 7:30 o'clock
tonight. Lieut. Charles Benter, leader;
Alexander Morris, assistant.
Because of other official duties, a
concert scheduled by the Marine Band
Symphony Orchestra for tonight will
i be played at 8 p.m. tomorrow in the
auditorium of the Marine Barracks.
A
CHAIN STORE TAX
REPORT IS ASKED
OF D. C. OFFICIALS
House Committee Acts After
Sponsor Cites Court
Decision.
BILL PROVIDES $1,000
MAXIMUM PER UNIT
Schulte Predicts Levies Would
Add Considerably to $6,000,
000 to Be Raised.
BY JAMES E. CHIXN.
The House District Committee to
day formally called on the Commis
sioners for an early report on tha
Schulte bill to license and tax chain
stores.
Action came a few hours after Rep
resentative Schulte, Democrat, of In
diana, sponsor of the measure, had
appealed to the special Tax Subcom
mittee working on a new taxation pro
gram for the District to give it serious
consideration in view of the Supreme
Court decision upholding a chain
store tax.
1 $1,000 Maximum Provided.
The bill was introduced March 11
and referred to the Tax Subcommit
tee, but in view of the many other
revenue-producing suggestions, it had
been forgotten by Chairman Kennedy.
Every store in the District would
be taxed under Schulte's measure,
but chain operations would bear the
heaviest burden. For instance, the
license fee for one store woul# be $10
a year. But in other cases the annual
license fee would be equivalent to the
number of stores multiplied by $10.
A chain of 10 stores would be
required to pay $300 for each store,
and a chain of 100 stores would be
required to pay $1,000 for each store.
But in no instance would the license
fee for any one store exceed $1,000,
txaci Revenue l naetermined.
Schulte has no estimate to show
how much the chain store tax would
yield. He predicted, however, it
would add a “considerable sum"
toward the $6,000,000 the subcom
mittee is endeavoring to raise to keep
the District out of the red in the new
fiscal year beginning July 1.
Kennedy promised to include
Schulte's bill in a general taxation
program he has been authorized tc»
draw up for consideration of the sub
committee at its next meeting Tuesday.
From this program a selection will be
made of the new forms of taxation it
will recommend for adoption.
In addition to the chain store tax,
the program will include a weight tax
on motor vehicles, an increase in the
gasoline tax, a general sales tax, a gross
receipts tax, a corporation tax, an in
| come tax. an inheritance and estates
tax and increased taxes on insurance
premiums and public utility corpora
tions.
Some Tentatively Approved.
The subcommittee already has ten
tatively approved an increase in the
insurance premiums tax, an inheri
tance and estate tax. and a weight tax
on motor vehicles. These taxes, how
ever, are estimated to produce only
$2,500,000 toward the present $6,000,
000 goal.
It is Kennedy's aim to have the sub
committee complete its tax program
by the middle of next week so it can
be rushed through the House before
June 1. He pointed out it is vitally
necessary that the program be enacted
into law by July 1, the beginning of the
i new fiscal year.
Kennedy said he did not anticipate
any serious delay of the program in
the Senate because Chairman King tf
the Senate District Committee had
promised to “go along" with the ta ;
increase proposals of the House.
NEW BUS SERVICE
STARTS TOMORROV;
East Washington Section to Have
Line—Transfer at Barney
Circle.
Beginning tomorrow, the Capital
Transit Co. will operate a new bus
line serving sections in East Wash
ington, which will require transfers
at Barney Circle for all passengers
making through trips, the company
announced today.
The change in service, the concern
said, was due to the fact the company
is not permitted any longer to operate
larger types of busses over Pennsyl
vania Avenue Bridge. The company
has placed in use for the in-town side
of the service busses of larger size than
are employed on the East Washington
lines.
Effective tomorrow, the busses of
the East Washington suburban and
the South Washington lines will be
turned around at Barney Circle, Sev
enteenth street and Pennsylvania ave
nue southeast. At the same time the
company will institute the new service,
to be known as the Pennsylvania Ave
nue Bridge Bus Line, which will oper
ate between Barney Circle and Ben
ning. Ely street. Hillcrest, Randle
Highlands and Anacostia.
Busses of the new line, as well as of
the East Washington and South
Washington lines, will leave their ter
minals when en route to Barney Circle
two minutes earlier than at present,
in order to allow time for necessary
transfers there. Busses will leave Bar
ney Circle at the same time as now
scheduled.
STORES WILL CURTAIL
HOURS THIS SUMMER
The Department Stores Division of
the Merchants and Manufacturers’ As
sociation has decided to curtail work
ing hours during the Summer, Ed
ward D. Shaw, secretary of the asso
ciation, announced today.
Beginning June 1, the stores will
close at 5:30 p.m. During July and
August, the stores will be closed all
day Saturday, with the exception of
the first Saturday in July, which im
mediately precedes Independence day.
Instead, the stores will close the fol
lowing Monday, July 5.
The association is polling its mem
bership to ascertain which stores will
follow the new schedule, Shaw said.
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