Evening star. [volume], July 07, 1940, Page C-6, Image 28

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

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Civic Problems,Civic Bodies
Scott Circle Underpass Controversy;
Problems of Keeping City Clean
By JESSE C. SUTER.
For the first week In July the past week was notable for the
number of District matters of civic interest reported in the press.
Municipal buildings took the lead among the various subjects.
The new Municipal Court Building was dedicated and the new
six-story ward building at Gallinger Ho .pital was inspected by Dis
trict officials. The new Municipal Court Building is a modern struc
ture occupying a site on Judiciary Square corresponding to that of
the Police Court. This is the first time in the 31 years of the court’s
existance that it has a home of its own. The new hospital building
Will relieve some of the overcrowding at Gallinger. The new build
ing was a part of the original hospital design of about 15 years ago.
It will contain 270 beds for treatment of internal diseases and will
be equipped with the latest appliances. ✓
The bill authorizing the erection of a building for the Recorder
of Deeds was passed by the House on Tuesday and is now before
the President. The bill authorizes an advance of $500,000 in P. W. A.
funds for the erection of this building on the site of the old Police
Court, at Eighth and D streets N.W. This grant will be on the same
basis as for the other P. W. A. allotments, 45 per cent will be an out
right grant by the United States and the remaining 55 per cent will
have to be repaid with interest.
Another bill just signed by the President authorizes the Com
missioners to negotiate with the Treasury Department for a reduc
tion of the interest rate to be paid by the District on the P. W. A.
advances for the several municipal projects. This bill is a modifica
tion of the plah advanced by Commissioner McCoach to permit
the repayment of advances by the Federal Government by borrow
ing the money from the local banks at a lower rate than that
charged by the United States. It is expected that the rate will be
cut from 4 per cent to 2 per cent under the authoriy granted by the
act. This, it is estimated, will save the District approximately
$3,000,000.
Other building news is the announcement, released on Wednes
day, that the design of the first unit of the Central Library Building
has been completed. The detailed working drawings will require
some months for completion. It is expected that advertisements for
bids will be made in November. The estimated cost of this unit
is $1,118,000 and there is now only $700,000 available.
The high light in the municipal building news is the rumor that
the United States is eager to buy the District Building for use by a
part of the Federal establishment. This would necessitate a change '
of plans as to the occupancy of the East Building of the new Munici
pal Center. The sale of the District Building would permit the early
erection of the proposed West Building and the establishment of the •
local govenment in convenient, modern quarters.
* * * *
How Shall Scott Circle Be Underpassed?
One of the mast intense civic battles to develop in a long time is
that over the proposed underpass under Scott Circle. Two groups of
citizens have formed, representing opposing views as to whether Six
teenth street or Massachusetts avenue shall be carried under. The
Sixteenth Street Citizens’ Committee insist that if the underpass
is constructed it be in the line of Massachusetts avenue and not
Sixteenth street. The Massachusetts avenue group are just as in
sistent that Sixteenth street be used according to the present ap
proved plans. Official approval of existing plans have been given by
the National Capital Park and Planning Commission, the District
Commissioners and the Secretary of the Interior.
There is a demand that the District Commissioners hold a public
hearing on this question before the work of destroying the trees
begins. Borings are being made at the circle to determine the
foundation requirements.
Whichever plan is followed there will be a number of fine old
shade trees sacrificed. This and the breaking of the uniformity of
the streets are the reasons for most objections.
A notable feature of this contest between groups of citizens is
that most, if not all, of them are not connected with any of the
citizens’ associations. What they lack in experience, available in the
citizens’ associations, they probably make up in influence through
personal acquaintance with those in power.
There are skeptical citizens who do not admit that underpasses,
that mar the beauty of the city, are necessary. Their contention
is that underpassing the circles simply induces increased traffic over
the highways, so treated, by those who have formed the habit of
avoiding the circles. They point to the fact that widening streets
has somewhat the same effect by inducing additional traffic which
otherwise would have been scattered over a number of other streets.
Just how the Scott Circle problen*is to be solved to the satisfac
tion of the opposing factions and the officials, as well, is difficult
to see. The funds are available for the construction of the under
pass as soon as the engineering survey is completed and the detailed
drawings are made.
* * * *
Potomac Valley Anti-Pqllution Plan
The many civic groups that for years ha\c Leen working for a
clean up of tye Potomac River throughout its length are much en
couraged by the present stage of the movement. There is pending
before the President for his approval a congressional resolution
granting consent for the establishment of the Potomac Valley
Conservancy District, to end pollution of the Potomac River.
Under the resolution there would be created an “interstate
commission on the Potomac River Basin” made up of three mem
bers from each State and three to be appointed by the President.
This would be a research organization.
A compact signed by Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania
and the District of Columbia for control of the Potomac and Its
tributaries is made effective by the resolution. The compact be
comes effective when three of the States have signed £nd approval
by Congress. Maryland, Virginia and the District have ratified th?
agreement and the other States are expected to follow at the next»
sessions of their Legislatures. The cost of this work will be divided
among the States. Tire District of Columbia for all purposes under
the resolution is treated as if a State.
Much credit for the success of this movement, particularly in
the early stages, is due to the Izaac Walton League, the Inter
Federation Conference, the Federation of Citizens’ Associations and
the Board of Trade. The National Resources Committee and the
Board of Trade have been especially active in the later stages of "j
W'ork.
The commission will, after careful research, recommend legis
lation to the States prepared in co-operation with State health and
sanitation officials.
* * * *
Bentley Nomination and New Legislation
Though the hearing on the nomination of Judge Fay L. Bentley
for reappointment as judge of the Juvenile Court was completed
more than a week ago the subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary
Committee has not reported to the full committee. Thfe chairman of
the subcommittee wants a social condition survey to precede action
on the nomination. He has suggested that there should be created
a court of domestic relations to relieve the Juvenile Court of its
too heavy burden of cases.
Among the citizens who are particularly interested in child wel
fare and delinquency cases there is a rather general approval of the
idea of giving the judge of the Juvenile Court such relief so that
more time may be devoted to the welfare of the children. However,
there is a very strong urge that Judge Bentley be confirmed.
District legislation for the creation of a court of domestic re
lations would come before the Committee on the District of Columbia
and not the Committee on the Judiciary. There appears nothing in
the testimony at the hearing to warrant deferring confirmation until
Congress may or may not create such a court.
There is a persistent rumor that the delayed action is due to
influence exerted in behalf of another candidate for the judgeship.
* * * *
Some Problems of the Clean-City Movement
How are the people to be reached and sold the idea of their per
sonal responsibility for helping make Washington a clean city? This
will require considerable agitation and education. In this work the
various civic associations and clubs must play a large and important
part.
Flagrant offenders should be reported so that appropriate action
may be taken. Particulars as to regular littering up of the high
ways, parks or parkings should be sent to the Outdoor Cleanliness
Association in order that the matter may be studied with .a view to
correction.
Considerable annoyance has been caused the District Refuse
Division by small merchants packing the trash receptacles with
refuse which they should pay to haul from their places of business.
It is frequently the case that such use of the receptacles leave no
space for the passer-by to deposit any litter which he wishes to dis
card. One downtown liquor store habitually packs the receptacle at
the curb full of corrugated paper cartons and then piles an overflow
beside the box.
Another cause of litter are men who open the trash boxes or
reach in the top for discarded newspapers, tinfoil or other things.
They usually leave a quantity of trash on the sidewalk.
Agitation, education, team-work and cultivation of pride in our
National Capital will go a long way to solving these many problems.
» 1
EDUCATION FOR SHUT-INS—Juliett Ingram, unable to attend
regular school, is shown getting instruction from a visiting
nurse. She shows her appreciation.
-—- — ^■■nnwnm„f«r" M il'i i i'i'i'i i~i jri'i'.Yi r i Wl
Education was.brought to the hospital bed of Frances Law
son by Miss Sherley Goldberg, a teacher. The project is now
under the District Welfare Department.
Individual Soldiers
Must Know Battle Problems
Organization and training of the
man power of the country for com
bat presents even a more difficult
problem than the production of mu
nitions, according to Lt. Gen. Hugh
A. Drum, commander of the First
Army, which is scheduled to have
three weeks of maneuvers in North
ern New York State next month.
The training will embrace the Reg
ular Army, National Guard and Re
serve Corps officers.
Flfcing this field service, which
will perhaps only include one week
of actual large-scale operations, the
Army observers will have an op
porunity to determine how much
more training the forces involved
need in order to make them equal
to modern-day combat conditions.
' It may indicate that the combined
forces may need considerable more
time in the field under actual sim
ilated war condtions, with large
forces working as a coherent whole.
There is a possibility that the mili
tary experts may point to the need
of additional field service for the
Guard forces, but this in point raises
the question as to how much of the
time of these civilian soldiers can
be taken, involving as it does re
lease from their civilian employ
ment.
After two weeks in the field last
year, which, up to that time, had
been the usual training period, the
War Department ordered the Gu^rd
into the field for another week of'
duty durirg the winter.
Gen. Drum pointed out that in
dividual efficiency of the soldier is
not enough in modern combat. Suc
cess in battle, he said, demands that
the training comprehend every ele
ment in a co-ordinated, well-bal
anced field force. He added that
the whole team from the single
rifleman, gunner and aviator
through the whole hierarchy of or
ganization to the high commander
should be trained as a unit and
have the same conceptions add
practice the same methods with
mutual understanding Aid co-oper
ation. He said that individual skill
must be joined to team efficiency.
The understanding gf the battle
problems of the day, he asserted,
must be extended on dowm to the
enlisted man. All ranks, he said,
require some general knowledge of
the conduct of battle and the forms
and methods followed.
Sons and Daughters
Of Liberty
- Washington Council met with
Councilor Don Morecco presiding.
The following officers wer» elected:
Councilor, Mrs. Elizabeth Deakins;
associate councilor, Mrs. Roberta
Howard Barnes; vice^eouncilor, Mrs!
Alees Anderson; associate vice
councilor. Lew Bernstein; recording
secretary, Mrs. Carrie R. Anderson;
associate recording secretary, Mrs.
Clarice M. Blankenship: financial
secretary, Mrs. Edythe Berg; treas
urer, Miss Edith Fillmen; inside
guard, Mrs. Hannah Stedehouder;
outside guard, Mrs. Grace Newland;
18-month trustee, A. Don Morecco.
Deputy State Councilor Mrs. Mary
Reed Smith spoke on "Progressive
America." The next meeting will be
tomorrow night at 935 G place N.W.,
when Mrs. Smith will install the
officers. Past State Councilor Mrs.
Elizabeth Shepherd will be the guest
of honor.
True Blue Council was visited by
State Councilor Ethel Fowler. Sue
Youngman, councilor, received Gert
rude Howes and Wade Gibbs by
re-instatement. Election of officers
was as follows: Councilor, Ella Wal
ton: associate councilor, Dora
Fletcher; vice councilor, Lillian Rey
nolds associate vice councilor, Ruth
Domdera; recording secretary, Floda
Reagan; assistant recording secre
tary, Ella Treynor; guide, Ida Hew
ett; financial secretary, Florence
Walton; treasurer, Russle Canfield:
inside guard. Ella Pellow'e: outside
guard, Gertrude Humphries; 18
months trustee, Madge Mills.
B. P. 0. Elks
Exalted Ruler L. Martin Young
will lead a delegation of Washington
Elks to the Grand Lodge Convention
at Houston. Tex., which opens next
Sunday. Washington Lodge will
support the candidal of Joseph G.
Buch of Trenton, N. J„ for the office
of grand exalted ruler. Robert S.
Barrett of Alexandria, Va.,' will also
receive their support for re-election
as grand treasurer.
Edwin S. Puller, chairman of the
Membership Committee, has arrang
ed a limerick contest for the mem
bers of. Washington Lodge. The
limericks should be written so as
to suggest entry of new members
into the order of Elks. A prize will
be presented the Elk who writes the
best limerick.
An interlodge softball game will
be played with Hagerstown Lodge
here on July _2l at 2 p.m. A subscrip
tion dinner will be served to the
visiting Elks and to the Washington
softball fans at the conclusion of
the game. The Elks Bbys’ Band will
furnish music at the game.
A business session will be held
July 24 instead of July 17 as formerly
scheduled. The regular August meet
ings have been changed to August
M and 2 k.
f
A
S. J. Prescott Long Interested
In Civic Affairs Here
Retired Builder <
Completed Many
Local Projects
- (Twenty-sixth in a series of
sketches of officers and directors
of the Board of Trade.)
By JOHN H. CASSADY, Jr.
Samuel J. Prescott, retired build
ing contractor and former president
of the Board of Trade, is another
member of the trade organization’s
Board of Directors who has been
closely identified with the civic af
fairs of Washington over a long
period.
Born 72 years ago on a large farm
in the Weirs, N. H., where he still
spends his summers, Mr. Prescott
has been a resident of the Dis
trict since 1886. As a youth he took
up carpentry with his father on
farm buildings and four years after
coming to M&shington he organized
his own building business. He re
tired from active business about
three years ago.
While rapidly making his way to
the forefront af the building con
tracting business here, Mr. Prescott
found time to take an active part
in the work of numerous organiza
tions. He served as first president
of tne Master Builders’ Association
in 1903.and two years later he or
ganized the Employers’ Association
and served as its first president.
He also organized the Builders and
Manufacturers’ Exchange in 1907
and was its first president.
A long-time member of the Board
of Trade, Mr* Prescott was elected
as its second vice president in 1922,
first vice president in 1923, and
the following year he was elevated
to the presidency.
As a building contractor Mr.
Prescott completed many important
building projects in downtown
Washington, including several large
SAMUEL J. PRESCOTT.
—Harris-Ewing Photo.
bank buildings and numerous struc
tures for the Chesapeake & Po
tomac Telephone Co., Potomac Elec
tric Power Co., Capital Transit Co.
and the Continental Hotel.
He also has had a great interest
in the hotel business. Some years
ago he owned and operated the
Alleghany Inn at Goshen, Va.. and
at present is a director of the Wash
ington Hotel Co. He was connected
with the Second National Bank for
many years,' serving as chairman of
the Board of Directors from 1921
to 1933.
A charter member of the Wash
ington Rotary Club, Mr. Prescott
also is a member of the University,
Columbia Country and Laconia
Country Clubs. His Masonic affilia
tions include St. John’s Lodge, No.
11, F. A. A. M„ Demolay Command
ery, K. T.; La Fayette Chapter,
No. 5, R..A. M., and Almas Temple.
* Out ofI|erI|eart
• bi| Blanche Roberts
The story thus far: Jane Delafleld
has U>r years been in love with fcasan
Martin's husband. Jimmy, but gives no
Tndication of the fact until she learns
Susan has gone to Reno to get a di
vorce. Then, when Jimmy asks her to
go ou.‘ with him. she goes and they
soon confess their love for each other.
They plan to be married as soon as the
divorce is obtained, but Susan suddenly
returns and announces that she has
changed her mind Jane's aunt Beth,
with whom she lives, advises her to
conceel her heartbreak, perhaps accept
«be attentions of Bill Merriweather.
son of Beth's close friend Jane goes
out with Bill several times, finds him
comforting protection against the
stinging words of Susan Martin.
Jane found she had little time to
thfnk of Jimmy when Bill was
around. He had a knack of keep
ing her in smiles and never allow
ing her to have some one else in her
thoughts. And she was putting
forth everything she had to keep
the world from guessing that she
carried a broken heart. At times,
she caught Bill looking at her
steadily as if trying to probe her
secret thoughts, but on such occas
ions he quickly • lapsed into gay
spirits and made some kind of teas
ing remark that she had to respond
to. They dined and danced and
were seen together constantlly. It
was really fun being with him.
Ten days later Jimmy and Susan
returned home but Jane did not
know of their return until she
looked up and saw Jimmy enter
ing the dining room of the hotel
where she and Bill were having
lunch. Her eyes widened and bared
her heart for Bill to see, and he
was a very observant person; not
only that, but he had heard bits
here and there.
“Is that Jimmy?” he asked, call
ing her back to him.
“Yes. that is Jimmy Martin,” she
answered, speaking just above a
whisper and her voice trembled
slightly.
He lay a warm hand over hers
on the table and his fingers closed
reassuringly ahput it.
“Keep your chin up, darling.” His
words had the desired effect and
she-smiled quite openly and when
Jimmy turned and saw her. she
lifted a hand in cheerful greeting.
Voice A Give-away.
Jinujjy stood perfectly still for a
moment, then he hastened atross
the room to their table, ey.es burn
ing with love and longing at the
sight of her. Jane’s heart sank. He
was not even trying to veil his feel
ing for her and if she needed as
surance of his love after the long
interval of absence, his look gave
it to her now. And when he spoke,
his voice was a dead give-away if
Bill had not already guessed the
right answers.
When. introductions were over,
Bill asked pleasantly:
"Join us Martin’”
Jimmy pulled in his breath quickly
and looked at Jane.
“I’m meeting Susan for lunch,”
he explained haltingly and Jane
felt the flow of her blood slow down
in her veins.
It was evident that Jimmy and
Susan had not come to the parting
of the ways as she had hoped. Susan
was forcing him Into her plans.
Jane's throat felt very dry. She
forced herself to speak as if every
thing was as it should be.
“Why not bring Susan over when
she comes?” she asked cheerfully.
“She might as well meet Bill now
as some other time.” The way she
said it implied most anything and
Bill looked down at her with gleam
ing lights of approval in his gray
eyes. Jimmy frowned.
“Is it all right?”
“Of course, Jimmy,” she assured
him.
Susan was openly pleased at the
prospect of joining them for lunch
eon. She greeted Jane in tones
that dripped wdth honey. But Jane
knew only too well that it would
not be many moments before Susan
said something that would be hard
to swallow; that was the beautiful
brunette's way of letting her subject
boil in oil. Instead of beginning
from the first, she kept the victim
in suspense and it was quite appar
ent to Jane that now she was Susan's
prey and would be on all occasions
when they met.
Susan Shows Claws.
Half-way through the meal, Su
san looked at Bill and smiled very
charmingly.
“You wouldn’t think to look at
Jane that she could be a scheming
woman, would you, Mr. Merri
weather?” Her words implied much
but her tone was bantering and
her eyes glowed with animation.
Jimmy's lips pressed together so
tightly that there was a fine
white streak around his mouth but
only Jane saw it; then she looked
at Bill. He gave her a side glance
of understanding before he an
swered and she saw the quizzical
light that lay deep in his eyes and
wondered what he was going to say
to Susan. Her short acquaintance
with him had proved him master of
all situations.
He grinned at Susan and said,
“I’ll bet you’re still burned up at
Jane's little flirtation with Mr
Martin.”
If Jane had not known that Bill
was doing it for her she would
have been terribly angry for her
love to be classed as a flirtation,
but she knew that he was standing
by. and, though it broke her heart
still further to see the awful hurt
In Jimmy’s eyes, she felt secretly
delighted that Susan was getting
the sharp end of the conversation.
“Oh!” ^ Her voice was slightly
amused as she arched her brows a
bit inquiringly, but she lost none of
her vivacity in the act. "Then
you consider flirting with some
other woman’s husband a harmless
pastime?”
Bill to the Rescue.
“Haven’t you ever flirted with a
man who might have had a wife in
the background, Mrs. Martin?” he
asked in surprise that appeared to
be genuine. “Surely some married
man has looked at you twice—a
beautiful woman like you. I un
derstand Reno is full of attractive
men.”
The jibe went home and Jane
feared Susan might blow up. How
ever, Bill Merriweather was a most
I
t
charming and handsome man and
Susan might consider it her duty
to take him from her. And if that
were true Susan would never show
her sharp teeth too plainly—not
until the Anal battle was on. Jane
smiled and spoke before Susan
could summon an answer to Bill's
remark.
"I think we had better go, Bill,
before you and Susan get on each
other's nerves.”
She could not help letting her
eyes fall on Jimmy as she rose to
go and all the aches and pain she
had ever felt come tumbling over
her again. Their gaze met and held
in dead silence. The little moment
was theirs until she heard Susan
saying:
"Well, Jane, try not to get in
volved again with married men.”
She turned abruptly and felt
Bill's hand on her arm, direct
ing her safely away from danger.
He did not speak as he whirled the
car through traffic and headed
from the crowded highways bv
turning oft on a little country road
that led to some unknown destina
tion. Then he spoke softly and with
a great deal of feeling in his voice.
"Go ahead and cry, darling. You
deserve that much for being so
brave. I was proud of you—awfully
proud.”
"Thanks
Jane Bursts into Tears.
She burst into tears and it seemed
right that she should put her head
against the shoulder so close to her.
She did not mind any more the
“darlings” spoken so easily by Bill,
nor the feeling that was in them
each time. As she cried, she felt
that life was at an end for her; that
without Jimmy, she did not want to
go on; that it was impossible to live
without seeing him, or hearing his
voice.
She did not know when Bill
stopped the car and took her in his
arms, holding her tight against his
body, possessively. But when he
kissed her gently on the brow, she
woke up to the present and straight
ened, freeing herself by that swift
movement. Before she could utter
the angry words that rose to her
lips, he silenced her with a gesture.
"Don’t say anything, darling. I
know it was very bad taste to kiss
you at a time like this. But I have
been wanting to do that for a long
time and now you looked unhappy
and—and well—after all, I can
stand Just so much. I love you.
Jane, and I mean to fight for you.”
His voice was low now and husky.
Jane stared at him in bewilder
ment, not quite believing the words
that fell from his lips.
“I know you love Martin,” he con
tinued. “The first time I saw you,
I knew' your heart was broken. I
knew too that I was going to try
and mend it. I still have the same
intention.”
“Oh, Bill—please . . .” Stark
tragedy was in her voice.
. Bill Is Frank.
“Wait,” he hastened to interrupt.
“This is a good time to say it all,
Jane.” There was determination in
his tone. “Susan will not let her
husband go. Not to you, at any
rate. She doesn’t love him—that is
easy to see. But she seems to hate
you a great deal. And when a
woman hates another woman and a
man is concerned, there is nothing
she won't do to bring pain and
misery to that woman. She is
beautiful and willful and men will
bend to her will rather than fight
with her. I mean men who have a
weakness for her sort. Martin mar
ried her because he fell in love with
her beauty and he is too much of a
gentleman to get the divorce him
self. He may hate and despise her
but she is still his wife and unless
she divorces him, he will never be
free. Am I right, Jane?”
She shut her eyes tight and
nodded, feeling that the world was
against her as Bill summed up the
situation in words that left no doubt
in her mind.
“Then marry me, Jane.”
Her eyes flew wide open and she
looked at him as if seeing him for
the first time. Then slowly, she
spoke.
"You mean—you want to marry
me when I love somebody else?”
“I do. darling,” he assured her.
“I am asking you to marry me. I
firmly believe that some day you
may love me Just as much as you
love him now,” and he actually
sounded to her as‘if he believed his
statement.
‘‘Never, Bill. I can never love
again.”
‘‘I’ll take the chance. Will you
marry me?” He was smiling and
persistent.
“Bill, I . . ." Her lips quivered
and she faltered before finishing the
sentence and he took her into his
strong arms. She felt peace creep
into her tired body. He was not
Jimmy but with her eyes closed, she
could almost pretend that he was.
Her lips moved but they were hid
against his coat and he could not
know that the word was ‘‘Jimmy”
which was spoken so close tp his
heart.
“I'll make you happy, darling,"
he promised softly, more to himself
than to her.
Copyright. 1040. The Chicago
Dally News. Inc.
Tomorrow: Jane sees Jimmy alone
for a tragic moment.
Charity Prize Backfires
Two prizes at a charity cabaret
in London were tickets for a free
flight to the Island of Jersey, and
they were won by a flight lieutenant
just returned from a reconnaissance
trip.
i
Long Struggle HasBeenMade
For Education of Shut-Ins
Only This Year Does Program
Become Part of D. G. Budget;
Further Steps Urged
By JOHN W. THOMPSON, Jr.
The story of the struggle for education oi the shut-in children of the
District—left by the District supply bill to the Board of Public Welfare
as of la* Monday—is a series of brief advances and set-backs enough to
discourage the hardiest champions of the cause.
For the past four or five years the Board of Education has been
aware of the problem and has sought in its budget funds for teachers to
carry the three R’s and a few simple handicrafts to the shut-ins. But in
nearly every instance the item was blocked by the Budget Bureau. Only
this year does it become a part of the District budget but under the Wel
fare Board instead of the School Board.
Prospects of ever getting the service started appeared remote until
a combination of circumstances contrived to place the matter before the
public. A fire marshal's report of*
the spring of 1937 condemned as a
flretrap the old Weightman School
in which the crippled children who
could get to school were taught.
School officials were forced to move
the classes to the Langdon School
out in the Northeast.
This move forced the rearrange
ment of bus routes by which the
children were transported to school,
and this, in turn, coupled with a cut
in the transportation appropriation
by Congress, resulted in seven chil
dren being unable to attend the
school. There was not enough
money to pay for their transporta
tion. This caused a public outcry
and raised the issue of other chil
dren who. for some reason, physical
of lack of transportation, might not
be able to get to school.
Hence, in the fall of 1938, as
officials looked about for some rem
edy to the situation, some one sug
gested the W. P. A. might help
out. W. P. A. said it had never
been done as a relief project before
but were willing to try, and in
early November President Roose
velt signed his approval of an
$18,000 project in co-operation with
the Board of Education and the
Health Department. The shut-ins
were to be taught by visiting teach
ers in the homes and in the clinics
of several hospitals.
In January the School Board’s
Advisory Committee on Handi
capped Children went to Balti
more to inspect that city's fa
mous Baer School for the handi
capped. The members learned that
Baltimore policemen on the beats
often escort the young cripples and
other handicapped children to
points where busses stopped.
The following month the project
again ran into difficulties with W.
P. A. curtailment. Two teachers
were dropped from the rolls because
they had children who were eligible
for social security aid to depend
ent children. Cries went up that
after all the training of these
teachers they were now going to
be dropped, thus injuring the proj
ect. The two teachers were rein
stated.
At the end of the school year,
however, the project ended, and
W. P. A. announced it could no
longer continue the emergency
program. It was a school job. of
ficials soldi. A, (group «l mothers
of shut-in children called on Mrs.
Henry Grattan Doyle, president of
the Board of Education, and plead
ed that something be done. A 12
year-old shut-in wrote the board
president telling how grateful she
was for the instruction of the
last year and added, “May God
take a liking to you.”
There was no appropriation, so
the schools could do nothing. It
>
looked like the end of $18,000 worth
of effort. The mothers refused to
be defeated. They organized In Sep
tember. 1939, Into the Association for
Education of Handicapped Chil
dren and began, under the lead
ership of Mrs. Odetta O'Hara, to
wage a vigorous campaign for pub
lic support. Delegations called • on
W. P. A. officials and finally, with
the co-operation of school officials,
another project was prepared. The
mothers watched it go from desk to
desk in the Government procedure
and sent a letter to President Roose
velt urging him to sign the authori
zation. It was approved—this time
a $29,000 project, because rates of
pay had risen.
The mothers knew this stop gap
would be the last and they banded
together to carry the fight to the
Capitol in the 1941 District budget
hearings last March. Mrs. O’Hara
and others appeared at the hearings
with a shut-in girl on a stretcher
who pleaded for educational facil
ities for her group.
When the bill was reported to the
House it contained a $15,000 item
for this work, but under the Board
of Public Welfare instead of the
Board of Education. Everybody was
surprised, including members of both
boards—the one that had asked and
not received and the other which
had received without asking the
project for benefit of handicapped
children.
The mothers, knowing that a
$29,000 project could not be taken
over for $15,000, went to the Senate
about it. The Senate increased the
amount to $22.400—a figure asked by
the Board of Education and placed
it under that board. But the bill
came out of conference arid was
signed by the President with Welfare
Board jurisdiction of $15,000 worth
of education for shut-ins.
Welfare Director Bondy said he
would try to do the best he could
with it. The school officials were
disappointed, but promised co
operation. The idea seemed to be
that it would be cheaper to get
teachers at $90 a month from the
relief rolls than to pay them $1,400
a year under the school teachers,
salary scales.
Mr. Bondy is seeking to arrange a
program for the shut-ins as soon as
possible. For the present the School
Board will provide for the Jiandi
capped children who can get to
school—the Allison School at Thir
teenth and Allison streets which is
to be remodeled—and the Board of
Public Welfare will provide teachers
for the shut-ins. Meanwhile, sup
porters for the education of crippled
children are still hoping that some
day the educational forces of the
District will be permitted to carry
on a program as is done in other
cities.
Daughters of America
Other officers recently elected
were:
Kenilworth Council: Councilor,
Virginia Adair; associate councilor.
Bessie Deloe; vice councilor. Janet
Keefe; associate vice councilor.
Peggy Garrison; conductor, Esther
T. Deavers; warden, William Deav
ers; treasurer. Naomi I. Gibson;
financial secretary. Sarah Dallman;
recording secretary, Ethel L. Keefe;
assistant recording secretary, Clara
Robbs; inside sentinel, Nellie Dunk
ley; outside sentinel, Mark Keefe,
and 18-month trustee, Bessie Garri
son. Representatives to the State
Council, Naomi J. Gibson, Bessie
Deloe and Madeline Paloe.
Mayflower Council: Councilor,
Jennie Driggers; associate councilor,
Sophia-Myerly; vice councilor, elec
tion left open for Mrs. Ethel Miles,
who was reported ill; associate vice
councilor, Ida Bell; recording secre
tary. Hattie Ruppart; assistant re
cording secretary, Emma Brooks;
treasurer, Margaret Hartman;
financial secretary, Eva Raba; con
ductor, Isabel Rothwell: warden,
Mrs. Grace Brannon; inside sentinel,
Eva Agrafiotis; outside sentinel,
Roberta Barnes, and 18-month
trustee, Isabel Rothwell. Repre
sentatives to the State Council con
vention, Mrs. Jennie Driggers and
Mrs. Sophia Myerly.
Anacostia Council: Councilor,
Nora Lee; associate councilor, Agnes
Frye; vice councilor, Helen Lashlee;
associate vice councilor, John James;
recording secretary, Mary P. James;
assistant recording secretary. Alice
Fowler; treasurer, Ella Smith;
financial secretary, Pearl Torney;
conductor. Lucille Torney; warden,
Sue Warren; inside sentinel, Nettie
Anderson; outside sentinel Frank
Smith, and 18-month trustee, Mary
Plumb. Representatives to the State
Council sessions, Hattie M. Beall,
Nora Lee and Nettie Anderson.
Friendship Council: Councilor,
Mildred Lavery; associate councilor,
Rebecca Wilson; vice councilor, Cora
Borey; associate vice councilor, Mr.
Miller; conductor, Mae Dalzel; war
den. Harry Hoover; outside sentinel,
William Lanham; inside sentinel,
Mary Miller; recording secretary,
Jessie Lowe; assistant recording sec
retary, Florence Courtney; treasurer,
Francis Willard; financial secretary,
Mabel Newman; 18-month trustee,
Mildred Stevens. Representatives
to the State Council, Cora Borey,
Mildred Stevens and Charlotte
Kauffman.
John L. Burnett Council: Coun
cilor, Mrs. Ethel Collins; associate
councilor, Mrs. Carrie Daniels; vice
councilor, Mayree Dailey; associate
vice councilor, Mary Myers; junior
past councilor, Helen White; asso
ciate junior past councilor, Agnes
Wash; recording secretary, Joseph
ine C. Herbert; assistant recording
secretary, Flora Youler; financial
secretary, Frances Davis; treasurer,
Mary Hansen; conductor, Verile
Oliff; warden, Rosa Earman; inside
sentinel, Lucille Armentrout; outside
sentinel, Ruth Miller, and 18-month
trustee, Nellie Skillman. Repre
sentatives to the State Council, Nel
j lie Skillman, Ethel Collins and Flora
1 Youler.
Eagle Council: Councilor, Mrs.
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I —
Business Groups
Four Meetings
Slated This Week
The following four businessmen's
associations are scheduled to hold
meetings this week:
Monday, July 8.
Southeast—Regular meeting, Don*
ohoe s real estate office. 314 Pennsyl
vania avenue S.E., 8:15 p.m.
Tuesday, July 9.
Columbia Heights—Regular meet
ing and luncheon, Scholl’s Cafe, 3027
Fourteenth street N.W., 12:15 p.m.
Connecticut Avenue — Regular
meeting, Mayflower Hotel. Connecti
cut avenue and De Sales street N.W,
6:30 p.m.
Georgetown — Regular meeting,
Birch's Sons’ funeral home, 3034 M
street N.W., 8:15 p.m.
Calendar Notes.
The Federation Board of Directors
will meet Wednesday at 8:15 p.m.,
Continental Hotel, North Capitol
street between D and E streets.
The Hardware Board of Directors
will meet Thursday at 8:30 p.m., R.
Robinson, Inc., 2301 Pennsylvania
avenue S.E.
Annabelle Kidwell; associate coun
cilor, Mrs. Ollie Norton; vice coun
cilor, Miss Stella Corbett: associate
vice councilor. Miss Marjorie Mc
Quary: junior past councilor. Miss
Ella May Walton; associate Junior
past councilor, Harry Kidwell; re
cording secretary, Mrs. Grace Easter,
re-elected: assistant recording sec
retary, Mrs. Georgia Johnson, re
elected; financial secretary, Mrs.
Deborah Streitberger, re-elected;
treasurer. Mrs. Margaret Prohaska,
re-elected; conductor, Miss Myrtle
Fielder; warden, Mrs. Blanche Tow
ney; inside sentinel, Mrs. Laura
Gifford; outside sentinel, Mrs. Eflle
Schlickler; 18-month trustee, Mrs.
Margaret Phohaska. Representatives
to State Council convention, Mrs.
Ella Wothington, Mrs. Florence
Walton and Mrs. E. Schlickler.
Mizpah Council will hold its an
nual excursion to Colonial Beach
on July io and will be sponsored
by the Sewing Circle. The steamship
Potomac will leave at 9 am. Tickets
can be obtained from Naomi E.
Swann, Ella L. Stone, Atlantic 0194;
or Mrs. Mary M. Rutherford, Lin
coln 7348.
Woodmen Circle
The Imps Club celebrated their
4th anniversary with a banquet on
June 26 at the Continental Hotel.
Miss Evelyn Hunter was mistress of
ceremonies. Mrs. Elsie Kenney
made the invocation. The follow
ing made short speeches: Mrs.
Aileen Dalkin, Mrs. Naomi Kidwell
and'Mrs. Virginia Clark. The presi
dent, Mrs. Alice Gibbons, read the
history of the club. The State
manager and guest of honor, Mrs.
Pauline Rohrs, spoke. The secre
tary Mrs. Caroline Gentner, and
the banker, Mlsa Roberta Baker,
also spoke.
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