Evening star. [volume], January 22, 1942, Page B-1, Image 28

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

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Washington and Vicinity
Society and General
WASHINGTON, D. C., THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 1942.
*
B—1
Night Watches
For Women at
Schools Hit
Board Unanimously
Votes Disapproval
Of Practice
Unanimous disapproval of use of
woman teachers to watch school
buildings after 8:30 pm. was voted
yesterday by the Board of Educa
tion.
Action followed reports of an
alleged attempted assault on a
teacher on watch in a colored
school. At the present time 24-hour
vigil is being maintained in 18 se
lected school buildings on orders
from District civilian defense offi
cials.
At the same time Supt. Frank W.
Ballou told the members defense
officials had rejected his proposals
to abandon the watch in all schools
and study the situation, or to turn
the whole after-school watch over to
air-raid wardens. They accepted
instead, he said, the plan to man
strategically-located buildings.
Plans for manning some of the
schools with auxiliary police or
wardens went afoul. Dr. Ballou in
dicated, when numbers of both
groups indicated they hadn't signed
up to serve in schools.
Principals Advised.
School principals have already
been advised not to use woman
teachers after 8:30 p.nv. Dr. Ballou
said, but under questions from board
members, he added that he could
not promise that some were not be
ing used where man teachers
Weren't available.
Referring to the alleged attempted
assault. C. Melvin Sharpe observed,
“one little incident like that and
well all be sorry." His query as to
whether there was not some way in
which the vigil could be stopped,
brought from Dr. Ballou the opinion
that maintenance of the vigil should
not be placed on the teachers as a
professional group. Rather he said
it was the responsibility of the com
munity in which the school was
located.
In some instances, it was stated,
communities have already put up
money to hire watchmen to relieve
the teachers of the work.
Answering a criticism of the Girl
Reserve Mothers’ Council, the mem
bers declared activities and social,
functions in connection with mid
winter graduations shuld not be can
celled merely because the board had
decided earlier to move as many
graduations as possible into daylight
hours to avoid night gatherings.
Board Member Charles D. Drayton
said he thought the transfer of the
exercises to daytime was premature, j
The members Toted-to seek a $45,
BOO deficiency appfaspriation to com- !
plete six classrooms at the Lafayette
School and $3,500 for seven addi- ,
tional clerks from March 1 to June
30. the end of the fiscal year. The
completion of the classrooms at La
fayette was sought in Lanham Act
funds but disallowed. It will permit
abandonment of the old E. V. Brown
School, at least by next September,
it was stated.
Personnel Changes Approved.
A number of personnel changes
were approved by the board as was
abandonment for school purposes of
the Weightman, Hubbard and Blake
Schools.
Mrs. F. L. Toms, principal of the
Randall Night School, is resigning as
of February 2 when she will be suc
ceeded by Miss C. E. Lewis.
With the closing of Hubbard, the
teacher training program carried on
there and at the Powell School will
be transferred to the Truesdell
School as will Mrs. Ruth K. Webb,
former administrative principal at
Hubbard-Powell. Powell will be
combined with the Raymond School
under Miss Lou E. Ballenger.
Mrs. I. I. Ruediger was made
permanent supervising principal of
the seventh division.
Miss Nell F. Hiscox, principal of
Truesdell, will move to the prin
cipalship of the Janney School made
vacant by the death of Mrs. Eliza
beth K. Peeples.
Mrs. Frances S. Haas, principal of
the Addison-Curtis-Hyde combina
tion. will surrender Addison to Mrs.
Beulah D. Aldridge, teaching prin
cipal at Corcoran, and Corcoran will
be combined with Grant under Miss
Viola Offutt.
Monday Night Deadline
For Fairfax Candidates
By a 8taff Correspondent of The Star.
FAIRFAX, Va„ Jan. 22.—Monday
midnight is the deadline lor filing
as a candidate in the special elec
tion to name a Fairfax County
member of the House of Delegates,
it was announced today.
Thomas B. ’Stanley, speaker of
the House of Delegates, and former
Gov. Price have issued a writ calling
for a special election on February 3
to fill the house vacancy created
by the death of Col. R. R. Parr, Re
publican.
So far, G. Wallace Carper, Demo
cratic chairman of the Fairfax
County Board of Supervisors, is the
only person who has announced his
candidacy. Mrs. Viola M. Farr, wi
dow of the House member, is being
urged by friends to run for the office,
but she has declined to make her
intentions known.
When special elections are held
within 35 days after they are called,
only five days' notice for filing as
a candidate is required by State
law. Candidates are required to file
their notice, attested by two wit
nesses, with Clerk of the Circuit
Court John M. Whalen.
Bank Re-elects Officers
The Board of Directors of the
rban National Bank met yes
y and re-elected all officers.
They are T. Howard Duckett, chair
man; Bladen Jackson Darneille,
president; Fred L. Lutes, executive
vice president; James H. Cissel and
E. V. Crittenden, vice presidents;
George T. Day, cashier, and Ira C.
Whitaere, H. C. McCeney, Charles
J. Sincell, Edward C. Holmead and
Warren E. Lawson, assistant l
•ashlers.
i
SCATTERING TO PLACES OF SAFETY—Stu
dents at Leland Junior High, Chevy Chase, Md.,
are shown during an air-raid drill yesterday.
A neighborhood house which affords shelter to the boys and
girls during the period of an air-raid alarm. One hundred houses
have been alloted for the purpose.
This illustrates how the authorities at Leland keep check on the children
who are sent out on air-raid drills. Don Sullivan (right) is shown turning the
file check over to read “In” as the classes return to school.—Star Staff Photos.
A
Washington-Lee High
Reveals Names of 47
Diploma Candidates
67 Students to Receive
Promotion From Junior
High Also Announced
The names of 47 prospective sen
ior high school graduates and 67
students who are scheduled to be
promoted from junior high school
grades at the completion of the mid
year semester were announced to
day by the Washington-Lee High
School in Arlington County.
All classes are concluding final
examinations this week and gradu
ation and promotion exercises will
be held next Thursday at the school
auditorium. School Supt. Fletcher
Kemp will present certificates of
promotion to the junior high school
students in exercises at 10 a m. and
will issue diplomas to midyear grad
uates at 8 pm. the same day. _
The list of prospective high sdtttol
graduates follows:
Banigan. Elizabeth C. Hutchison. 9. L.
Bllncoe. Norman M. Jones. Levering K.
Bradshaw. N. A. Kirby. William A.
Bryant, Edith B. Lawson. John I
Cahn. Irwin Leadbettrr. Elsie M.
Canham. Burton L°izear. Francis S.
Dick. J. R . jr. Miller. Clayton C.
Dorsey. C. C. Milstead. John W
Duck son Maurice A. Mitchell. Robert W.
Duffln. Anna E. Muschlitz. Raich C.
Ese. Eleanor G Nicholson. Ruth
Evans. Edward P. Okranen. Jean. E.
Fatherree. D. A. Owens. Courtney E.
Foster, Anne C Pflieeer. Harry E.
Frank, Barbara E. Rhodes. Mary F.
Frick. Rameal W. Seifert. Helen L.
Fuss. Car! R.. jr. Sherman. G B.. jr.
Garland. Martha J. Simmons. M. A
Gunnell. A. M Slaton. Mildred P.
Harvell, Mary E Urbanskp. Ieo. jr
Haynes. Howard A. Wildman Evelyn B.
Henderson. V. L. Wilson. O^o.-kp L.
Hewitt. Harvey G. Yates. Helen K.
Hilliard. Dorothy I.
The junior high school graduates
who are scheduled to receive pro
motion certificates, pending outcome
of this week's examinations, are:
Burke. Russell Ruckert. James
Carter. Clifton Sterling. William
Clarke Robert Thompson. Marshal
Fletcher William Clarke. Doris
Johnston. Ralph Craig. Ethel
Lukens. Paul Geris. Mary E.
McCord. Harrison Guise. Dorothy
Mooney. Hugh Hastings. Eugenia
Nichols. Duane Jones. Alice
Owen. Frederick MacLean. Marjorie
Parker. Francis Mills. Evelyn
Quimby, Dustin Ruble. Anna P.
Tribby. Richard Thomas. Catherine
Wagner. Lowell Underdunk. Marian
Bradshaw, Kenneth Steger. Mildred
Wisenbaker Eugene Whistleman. Warren
Keiter. Billy Waddell. Mary
Brown. Rita Thompson. Robert
Farmer. Beverly Staats. Mary L.
Ford. June Shepherd. Robert
Rossell. Eugenia Bly. Ruby
Timberlake. Lucie Batchelor. Le Roy
Weitzel, Elizabeth Barley. Earl
Downs. Margaret Appleton. Eugene
Dedera. Francis Marsden. Arthur
Marshall. Richard Edmonds. Jean
Bracken. John McCann. Philip
Francis. John Ezekiel. Joseph
Prere. Francis T. Lutz. Everett
Hyett. Jack Burke. Marie
Jenrenaur;, Thomas Poston. Marilyn
Kinsman, Orland Camden. Elizabeth
Manville. Edgar Pearson, Hunter
Newland, Louis G.
P.-T. A. Plans Party
The Parent-Teacher Association
of the Annandale (Va.) High School
will hold a party tomorrow night in
the school.
Luckett Enters Race
For City Council
In Alexandria
Gives Up Position as
Democratic Chairman
To Seek Office
B> E Staff Correspondent of The Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va.. Jan. 22.—R.
Samuel Luckett, former chairman
of the Alexandria Democratic Com
mittee. has announced his candi
dacy for the City Council in the
Democratic primary of April 7.
Mr. Luckett has resigned as Dem
ocratic Committee chairman, a post
that has been filled by Frank R.
Monroe, it was announced today.
The deadline for filing for the
Democratic primary contests is Feb
ruary 6 and all of the six ward coun
cilmen are expected to seek re
election. Mr. Luckett has filed as a
candidate from the fourth ward to
oppose the incumbent. George K.
Bender, who has held office for sev
eral years.
Of the nine council members, six
are elected from the city's wards,
I while three are named at large. The
at-large members are not up for
; election this year, as their terms
do not expire until 1943.
Other present ward councilmen.
| whose two-year terms expire this
| year and who are expected to seek
re-election, are John D. Matter, first
' ward: Paul L. Delaney, second ward;
Ernest Mankin. third ward: James
! Armstrong, fifth ward, and Charles
L. Burgess, sixth ward.
Mr. Monroe said the Democratic
Committee will meet at 8 p.m.
Monday in the Corporation Court
room to fill vacancies. The mem
bers are allowed from each ward.
Existing vacancies include two from
the first ward and one each from the
1 second, fourth and fifth wards.
-————-—.
Edgemoor Association
To Name New Officers
The Edgemoor Citizens’ Associa
| tion will hold a "defense night"
: meeting at the Bethesda Elementary
School at 8 p.m. tomorrow.
Albert E. Brault, director of civil
ian defense for Montgomery Coun
ty, will talk. All residents of the
community are invited to attend.
This is the last meeting of the as
sociation’s fiscal year, and officers
for the coming year will be elected.
Will Hold Benefit Party
A party will be held at 8 p.m. to
morrow at St. Michael’s School
auditorium, Silver Spring, Md., for
| the benefit of the Academy of the
i Holy Names. Refreshments will be
1 served.
DARDEN MAKES INAUGURAL SPEECH—After taking the oath
as the new Governor of Virginia yesterday, Colgate W. Darden,
jr., urged in his inaugural address that all State projects in any
way interfering with the war effort be laid aside until victory
is won. —A. P. Photo.
School Emptied in 5 Minutes
In Air-Raid Alarm Test
Leland Junior High Students 'Melt'
Into Nearby Homes Offering Refuge
By CARTER BROOKE JONES.
It might have been the end of the
school day. The children were
streaming out of Leland Junior High
School in Chevy Chase. Md. Yet
there was something peculiar about
the way they left.
This was the strange part of it.
They walked in silence. It was an
extraordinary contrast to the laugh
ing. chattering groups that leave
school every afternoon.
But this, it developed, was an air
raid drill. And what to do in such
an event has been worked out with
precision at Leland. Silence is part
of the training, for the school au
thorities figure that talk might lead
to confusion or even panic if the
students were following the evacua
tion plan in an actual enemy attaofc.
The first complete raid rehearsal
was.. -to>ld yesterday and the plans
were carried out in every detail.
Uses “Home” System.
Unlike the District schools, which
follow the plan of the National Office
of Civilian Defense for students to
stay in their school buildings in an
air raid, Leland has devised a sys
| tern of* evacuating the children to
nearby houses, all within easy walk
! ing distance of the school.
If, however, a raid should occur
I without sufficient warning to permit
; the students to go to the designated
houses, an inner alarm system would
summon them to the first-floor cor
ridor, considered the safest place in
the building. This would happen in
the event the “red" signal from
Metropolitan Area communications
headquarters arrived before the an
ticipated interval of 20 to 30 minutes
after the first alert.
The school fire alarm bells sum
moned the 1,000 students from their
classes, and they filed out of the
building. The entire structure was
emptied in approximately five min
utes. except for the skeleton force
of teachers and other employes kept
to combat theoretical incendiary
bombs or to meet other potential
emergencies.
It was the first test of the system
which Mrs. Helen P. Bready, school
Takoma Will Be Pad
Of Ofher Defense Group
The town of Takoma Park, Md.,
will have no separate civilian de
fense organization of its own. but
will participate as part of the Prince
Georges and Montgomery Counties
and the District setups. Mayor
Oliver W. Youngblood announced
today.
Plans for co-operating with the
three governmental agencies were
discussed at a special meeting of
the council. Officials of the police
and fire departments submitted
suggestions for equipment needed
for the town’s protection. Town
Clerk J. Wilson Dodd was authorized
to confer with the three agencies
to get the closest co-operation pos
sible for a defense program.
Literature and printed matter will
be provided by the larger organiza
tions and arrangements for joining
in defense discussions will be made.
Mayor Youngblood said.
Fairfax Book Review
Special Dispatch to The Star.
FAIRFAX. Va., Jan. 22—The
Fairfax County Public Library will
sponsor a book review tomorrow
afternoon at the library. The pro
gram will include a review of a pop
ular book of fiction by Mrs. T. J.
Walsh of Falls Church and a non
fiction book by Mrs. Virginia
Bogusch, assistant librarian.
Dog Show May Be Canceled
By the Associated Press.
RICHMOND. Va., Jan. 22.—War
conditions may cause cancellation of
the Virginia Kennel Club’s annual
dog show, scheduled for April 24
here, club officials said yesterday.
A committee will report at a club
jneeting February 2.
Dance to Benefit Soldiers
The Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Cabin
John Fire Department will give an
entertainment and dance at 8 pm.
Friday in the Cabin John Fire House
for the soldiers’ coffee fund. Pro
ceeds will be used to supply coffee to
soldiers on night guard duty in that
area.
principal, and her staff have set up
in co-operation with the zone air
raid wardens.
One hundred residences nearest
the schools had been set aside for
the pupils. All these householders
had agreed gladly to take in stu
dents.
Ten children had been assigned to
each house, and these groups knew
exactly where they were to go. More
over. every dwelling was the home
of some pupiL The boy or girl living
there simply was taking in nine
schoolmates as temporary guests.
There's a teacher for every three
shelter homes.
There wasn't the slightest confu
sion and Mrs. Bready does not be
lieve there would be in an enemy
attack.
The adjacent streets was emptied
of children in a surprisingly short
time. They’d simply melted into
various homes. The front doors
were opened as they walked into the
yards. Where they would go in these
houses during a raid would be up to
each housewife. Presumably she
would pick what seemed the least
dangerous location. But no set raid
shelters have been devised.
Many Live Far Away.
It would be impracticable for the
Leland students all to go to their
own homes. Many of them live a
long distance from the school. Six
buses bring them in from Kensing
ton, Glen Echo and other more or
less remote points.
Mrs. Bready has in her office a
chart diagramming the allotted ref
uge houses. The area is bounded by
Wisconsin and Connecticut avenues,
Bradley lane and the railroad. It is
not necessary for the children to
cross any arterial highways to reach
their shelters.
Every home is within 15 minutes’
walk of the school.
A disc marking the departure of
| each class is placed beside the chart
and turned around when every
member has returned to school.
The school also is installing an
automatic sprinkler system, which
should be valuable in case of in
cendiary bombs.
Trial of $50,000 Libel Suit
Resumed in Arlington
Trial of a $50,000 libel suit brought
by Judge B. M. Hedrick of the Ar
lington County Trial Justice Court
against Crandall Mackey, attorney,
was resumed today in the County
Circuit Court.
A special jury was called yester
day when the trial was opened.
Judge Hedrick was the first wit
ness. He testified concerning a
front-page article in the Chronicle,
a weekly newspaper, October 4,1940.
He said Mr. Mackey was the author
of the article, which was described
to the court as an editorial. He
contended that Mr. Mackey was the
owner of the newspaper.
Mr. Mackey pleaded innocent and
denied he wrote the article or
caused its circulation in the paper.
Most of the hearing yesterday was
taken up with arguments as to
whether certain allegations made
by Mr. Mackey concerning Judge
Hedrick before the Eighth District
Council of the State Integrated Bar
could be introduced as evidence.
Cost of Public Relief
Increases in Maryland
By tbe Associated Press.
BALTIMORE, Jan. 22.—The indi
vidual costs of all forms of State
public relief for Marylanders is
being increased gradually to keep
up with rising costs of living.
'Director J. Milton Patterson of
the State Department of Welfare
said yesterday that payments for
all types of public assistance were
1.6 per cent higher last month than
in November. They totaled $718,906,
compared to $707,629, but were 5.8
per cent lower than December a
year ago, when payments aggregated
$736,217.
The directors’ monthly report
shows the average grant for old age
assistance was $15.58 last month,
compared to $17,76 a year ago.
Average aid to dependent children
rose from $31.78 at the end of 1940
to $32.84 at the end of 1941. Gen
eral public assistance ro6« from
$25.21 per case to $26.05.
Building Regulations
Urged in Fairfax; 100
Auxiliary Police Asked!
Judge McCarthy to Make
Appointments on Basis
Of McIntosh Suggestions
Special Dispatch to The Star.
FAIRFAX. Va.. Jan. 22—Recom
mendation that building inspection
regulations be adopted by the Fair
fax County Board of Supervisors
because of the expected increase in
defense construction work was made
to the board yesterday by Robert N.
Brumback. assistant defense housing
co-ordinator under the Federal
Housing Administration.
Mr. Brumback said a large number
of new homes have been approved
for the county and that, since pri
orities will be granted for houses
casting up to $6,000. the construction
will be better grade than many for
mer defense projects. At the same
time he urged that zoning regula
tions be relaxed to allow smaller
lots in sections available to public
sewer systems.
The board will consider the matter
at another meeting Friday.
Capt. Carl R. McIntosh, chief of
county police, who asked the board
for 100 auxiliary policemen, was di
rected to recommend suitable ap
pointees to Circuit Judge Walter T.
McCarthy, who will make the ap
pointments. Likewise, it was sug
gested that regulations in effect for
regular members of the force might
be made more elastic for the auxil
iary officers. The board also agreed
to pay the bond premium for the
additional men.
County Agricultural Agent J. E.
Beard was voted a leave of absence
after he advised the board he has
been called to active military serv
ice immediately. Mr. Beard holds a
commission as a Reserve officer.
The supervisors approved an item
of $964 in the proposed budget for
the coming fiscal year for Japanese
beetle control. To this will be added
$720 in State funds and $80 from the
Federal Government.
Maryland Tire Quota
For February Is 2,962
BT the Associated Press.
BALTIMORE, Jan. 22—Mary
land’s tire quota for February has
been set at 2.962 tires and 4.200
tubes, Louis C. Burr, State rationing
administrator, said today.
January quotas were 4,164 tires
and 3,482 tubes.
The Montgomery County quota
for February is 66 tires and 55 tubes
for passenger cars and motorcycles
and 75 tires and 129 tubes for trucks.
Prince Georges is allowed 52 tires
and 44 tubes for passenger cars and
motorcycles and 71 tires and 123
tubes for trucks.
Blackout Rehearsal
At Meade Tomorrow
BT the Associated Press.
FORT GEORGE G. MEADE. Md.,
Jan. 22.—A blackout rehearsal will
be held at this Army post between
7:10 and 7:30 pjn. tomorrow, the
public relations office announced
yesterday.
The blackout will apply to civilians
on the post at the time and no
civilians will be permitted to enter
the post during the test.
Fire sirens will sound an alarm of
five series of rising and falling wails
of 30 seconds each, with 10-second
intervals between series.
Maryland Contractor
Considers Training
Woman Carpenters
Special Dispatch to The Star.
LEONARDTOWN, Md., Jan.
22.—Meverell Dean, contractor
and builder jnd president of the
Dean Lumber & Supply Co. of
Hollywood, Md., said today he
was seriously considering hiring
women from 18 to 40 as
carpenters.
‘With a foreman and myself
to train and supervise a group
of about 30 women,” he said, "I
believe we can teach them, as
we have taught men, to build
the barns, cottages and homes
I have contracted for. The
women would learn the trade
in a short time, I am confident.”
Ban on U. S. Employes
Hits Maryland State
Guard and V. P. F.
|
Nearby Companies
Resume Recruiting
To Replace Departures
Three companies of the 7th Bat- 1
talion of the Maryland State Guard
in Montgomery County. Md„ will lose
more than 47 officers and men as a
result of an order to discharge all
Federal Government employes. Lt.
Col. E. Brooke Lee, battalion com
mander. announced today.
The Montgomery County com
panies will lose 6 of 11 officers, 9
sergeants, 7 corporals and more than
25 other enlisted men. They will be
discharged from Infantry Compan
ies C and D and the 2d Separate
Company of Engineers.
All of these companies had been
recruited to full authorized strength
of 60 men each. Col. Lee said. More
than 50 additional men had trans
ferred to the 7th Battalion Reserve.
The Reservists had been selected be
cause the requirements of their em
ployment or business made it prac
tical that they be called to active
duty only in the event of continued
local disturbances.
Recruiting to Resume.
By reason of the order to dis
charge Federal employes, all three
companies will resume active re
cruiting, Col. Lee declared. Com
pany C drills at the Silver Spring
Armory each Monday at 8 pm.;
Company D at the same hour Tues
day. and the engineers company at
the same hour Wednesday.
In nearby Virginia, the order has
| drawn 44 men from Company 112
i in Alexandria and Company 116 in
! Arlington County, of the 11th Bat
I talion of the Virginia Protective
Force, Maj. Everett A. Hellmuth an
i nounced. The Arlington company !
had never been mustered and will
| lose 21 of the 50 men it had enlisted
! to organize the unit.
In Alexandria the company known
as the Alexandria Rifles will be re
duced from its full strength of 60
men to 37. Maj. Hellmuth said re
placements since have been listed to
bring the Alexandria company up to
its minimum mustering strength of
40 men. Because the unit has been
active for about a year, however, it
would not be ordered inactive for
several weeks because of the tem
porary loss of men.
Relieved of Guard Duty.
The general membership of the
Maryland State Guard is relieved of
guard duty at the important bridges
and other vital areas designated by
the Governor, Col. Lee explained.
This is because the first separate
battalion of military police of the
State Guard has been organized
and the men of that unit have been
placed on active guard duty at the
vital areas at pay ranging from $5
to $6 daily for each man.
In asking for enlistments. Col.
Lee declared: “The only recruits de
sired are men who regard the se
riousness of the time as justifying
their offer for such service, which
would include drill one evening each
week and a probable tour of several
days' firing practice on the State
rifle range as soon as weather
permits.”
Howard W. Smith, Jr.,
To Start Army Duty
Howard W. Smith, jr„ of Alex
andria, attorney and son of Repre
sentative Smith, Democrat, of Vir
ginia, has received orders to report
for duty at Camp Wheeler, Ga., on
February 2 as a second lieutenant in
the Infantry Reserve.
Mr. Smith is a native of Alex
andria and has been prominent in
civic affairs since he entered the
private practice of law in September,
1937. On some occasions he has
served as an assistant common
wealth’s attorney.
Committee to* Discuss
Transportation Problem
Special Dispatch to The Star.
VIENNA, Va., Jan. 22.—A meeting
of the Committee for Emergency
Transportation of Northern Virginia
will be held at 8 o’clock tonight at
the home of C. Reed Thomas, sec
retary, on Hunter road.
The committee is working to have
the Washington & Old Dominion
Railroad resume the transportation
of passengers in view of the tire
shortage.
Darden Works
On Civil Defense
Reorganization
Municipal Officials
Called In to Discuss
'Streamlining' Setup
BJ tbe Associated Press.
RICHMOND, Jan. 22.—With char
acteristic directness. Gov. Colgata
W. Darden, jr„ began his first lull
day in office today by going straight
to the heart of his No. 1 inaugural
recommendation — speedy reorgan
ization of civilian defense, backed
by “full authority’’ of the Common
wealth.
The Governor called in Virginia’s
municipal officials for discussion of
his proposal to “streamline the setup
and concentrate authority in the
hands of those who must direct the
program.”
Except for routine functions, pres
ent civilian defense agencies in the
State marked time until the Gover
nor could mature his plans and pre
sent them to the General Assembly
for action. Mr. Darden asked prompt
consideration of the subject.
Combs Back in Power.
E. R, Combs, key figure in the
party machine headed by Senator
Byrd, was lifted back to the power
ful position he held before Gov
Price’s regime. Gov. Darden an
nounced he would appoint Mr.
Combs chairman of the State Com
pensation Commission.
Another organization stalwart.
Col. Peter Saunders, was back in
the Capitol as Gov. Darden's execu
jtlve secretary after four years spent
as a member of the State Motion
Picture Censorship Board.
Mr. Combs now has approximately
the same standing he had up to
1938. except that then he was State
controller as well, and now his sec
ond job is clerk of the Senate.
Gov. Darden yesterday appointed
Henry G. Gilmer of Wise State con
troller to succeed Col. Le Roy Hodges,
resigned. Ralph Wilkins of Ports
mouth was named secretary of the
I Commonwealth to succeed Raymond
L. Jackson of Charlottesville.
Legislature Gets to Work.
In the Legislature, joint public
hearings on the budget have been
called by the Senate Finance and
House Appropriations Committees
for 3 p.m tomorrow and Monday,
and both houses will be in session
Saturday to assure quorums for an
other joint meeting of the two com
mittees.
These committees are expected to
consider soon a suggestion by Tax
i Commissioner C. H. Morrissett for
some tax relief for automobile deal
ers, whose business is drastically
affected by emergency rationing.
The tax commissioner said the
problem could be solved "by enact
ment of a bill measuring the license
tax for 1942 by estimated sales in
1942, subject to cbrrection at the
end of the year on the basis of true
sales.
"But for those dealers who have
not already paid on their 1941 sales
by reason of the fact that their 1941
tax was measured by their 1940 sales,
it would be fair and proper to in
clude in the basis for 1942 the
amount by which the 1941 sales ex
ceeded the 1940 sales.
' “The above plan would seem to
be fair to all concerned, and if the
General Assembly should see fit to
give the relief, I am persuaded that
it would be the right thing to do.”
Two Divorce Suits
Filed in Rockville
Special Dispatch to The Star.
ROCKVILLE. Md.. Jan. 22.—Ron
ald H. Vine of Glen Echo has filed
suit in Circuit Court for an abso
lute dfyorce from Mrs. Margarite L.
Vine of Washington. The Vines were
married in Washington May 1, 1937,
and have no children.
In another suit filed here Mrs.
Cora Rodano of this county asked
for an absolute divorce from Augus
tus Samuel Rodano of Washington.
They were married January 19, 1937,
and have no children.
Patton and Russell
Wills Are Probated
Special Dispatch to The Star.
ROCKVILLE. Md.. Jan. 22.—Un
der the will of William A. Patton of
Takoma Park, which has been ad
mitted to probate in Orphans’ Court,
his entire estate, the value of which
is not revealed, goes to his widow.
Mrs. Nola Josephine Patton. Charles
T. Clayton is named executor.
The will of Lewis H. Russell of
Chevy Chase, also admitted to pro
bate here, bequeaths his entire estate
to his widow, Mrs. Ida Ladd Russell,
and names her executrix. The value
of the estate is not indicated.
Buyer Finds
Shortage of (/. S.
Flags in Stores
Trying to buy an American flag is
a big job in itself, H. R. Morris, 4918
Fourteenth street North. Arlington,
learned when he set forth to get one
in Washington for Cub Scout Pack
No. 102, St. Charles' Catholic
Church, of which he is the leader.
“X first visited several downtown
department stores and couldn’t find
a single flag," Mr. Morris related.
"Thinking in terms of parades and
of sporting events. I tried some
sporting goods stores, but here again
I failed. Neflt I went to a hardware
store or two. Still no luck. I finally
obtained a 3x5-foot cotton flag in a
novelty store. They had nothing in
wool left.”
Mr. Morris learned from his flag
buying experience that stores usu
ally stock up on flags before the
Fourth of July and other national
patriotic occasions and that ap
parently the war had not caused
stores to lay in a supply at this time
of the year.
The flag he was able to buy waa
presented to the Cub Pack by Tom
Crack.