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I SOCIETY AND GENERAL NEWS WASHINGTON, D. C. ffomittg WASHINGTON NEWS FRIDAY, MAY 17, 1946. Hospital Center Hearing Slated Within 2 Weeks House Subcommittee Calls for Munger Report for Study Backers of the Tydings bill today were counting on early issuance of the so-called Munger report urging new hospital construction here to bolster support of the Tydings bill for a hospital center now pending in a House District subcommittee. The report prepared by Dr. Claude W. Munger of New York for the Council of Social Agencies was re garded by members of the McGehee subcommittee at a hearing yester day to provide a more factual basis for consideration of the bill. Only a preliminary analysis of the Mun ger report so far has been disclosed. The full text is to come soon. Chairman McGehee of the sub committee plans to call a meeting some time in the week of May 26 to consider the Tydings bill. He ex pressed belief that the committee would sponsor a measure favoring Federal aid for a hospital center, but did not indicate what amend ments might be made to the Senate Approved Tydings bill. Other Bid Undecided. What disposition will be made of pleas for Federal aid by six local hospitals not included in the pro posed three-unit hospital center re mains to be decided by the commit tee. Representative Bates, Republi can, of Massachusetts favored aid to the hospital center, but opposed extending aid to others “scattered all over the city." Meantime the Hill-Burton bill for a nation-wide program of hospital construction over a five-year period was favorably reported to the House Interstate Commerce Committee yesterday by the public health sub committee headed by Representative Priest, Democrat, of Tennessee. It already has passed the Senate, and provides $75,000,000 a year for Federal aid in hospital construction. The funds would be apportioned under a formula including popula tion and per capita income. The measure, amended in several relatively minor matters would pro vide Federal grants under its formula ranging from 33% per cent for the wealthier States up to 75 per cent Sot the poorer States. The Federal Government percentage for the District would be 38 per cent, since this city ranks eighth in per capita income. SI,370.000 for D. C. Under this plan the Federal Government, if projects are ap proved, would provide $274,000 a year to the District, or a total of $1,370,000 for the five years. Under the matching money plan as ap plied to the District, this community i would carry an annual cost of $447,000 or $2,235,000 over five years. The Federal and local payments together would amount to a hos pital program of $3,605,000 in five years for the District. After the Tydings bill hearing, Mr. Bates explained that he was not op posed to Federal aid for a hospital center here. “Something ought to be done by the Federal Govern ment,” he said. “It should par ticipate to a very substantial de gree. But the District of Columbia should take part, too.” he seriously questioned whether the House would approve appropriations for hospi tals “scattered all over the city.” Mr. Bates told the committee dur ing the hearing: "I’m not going to open up the coffers of Uncle Sam to every institution in the city.” He asked not only for the Mun ger report, but also for a report on hospital conditions here by the Federal Works Agency. He also asked Dr. George C. Ruhland, Dis trict health officer, who attended the hearing, to get all the hospital reports, “to analyze and dissect them,” and present to the commit tee his own conclusions. Denies Opposition to Center. Dr. Ruhland, who had told the committee he favored “decentrali zation of hospitalization here, so facilities could be regionally avail able to the people," was asked by The Star afterward if he was op posed to the hospital center pro posed to the Tydings bill. The center, as explained to the commit tee yesterday by spokesmen for the three participating hospitals, would include Emergency, Garfield and Episcopal Hospitals. Dr. Ruhland replied that he had no objection to these three hospitals getting together in a center, if it could be accomplished. “But, by and large,” he emphasized, “it is my opinion that hospital service should be regionally available throughout the city.” Spokesmen for the six hospitals outside the proposed center pre sented their claims for Federal aid and plans already under considera tion. They were Sister Lucille, as sistant superintendent of Providence Hospital; Psul B. Cromelin of Sib ley Hospital; R. B. Swope, chairman of the Children’s Hospital financial campaign to raise $1,300,000 from the public for a hew building; Capt. Chester Wells and Col. N. L. Diarmid of Columbia, S. H. Rogers and Miss Elizabeth M. Rogers of Casualty and Mrs. Francis X. Cal lahan of the Christ Child Fresh J^j^Farm for Convalescent Chil The case for the three hospitals planning to Join in the new hospital center was presented by J. G. Ca possela, superintendent of Emer gency Hospital; William R. Castle, president of Garfield Hospital, and Henry P. Blair of Episcopal Hos pital. C. P. Lukens Funeral Rites Set for Tomorrow Funeral services for Charles Pen nington Lukens, 75, who died Wed nesday at the home of his son, Charles P. Lukens, jr., 200 Cham berlain avenue. Kenwood, Chevy Chase, Md„ will be held at 10 am. tomorrow at Gawler’s chapel, 1756 Pennsylvania avenue N.W. Burial will be In the family plot at Pen ningtonville Church, Atglen, Pa. A native of Chester County, Pa., Mr. Lukens had been a resident of Washington the last 15 years. In addition to his son, he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Helen Lukens Snyder of Buffalo, N. Y., and a brother, Ralston R. Lukens of West chester, Pa. i ASK AID FOR HOSPITALS—Mrs. Frances X. Callahan, vice president of the board of the Christ Child Fresh Air Farm for Convalescing Children, and Paul B. Cfomelin, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sibley Hospital, were among hospital spokesmen who yesterday pleaded with Congress for Federal aid in improving their institutions. —Star Staff Photo. 15-Cenf Pay Increase For Dairy Workers Asked by Distributors Wage Stabilization Board approval of a 15-cent hourly wage increase for 1,682 dairy employes has been asked by 11 of the 12 dairy distribu tors of the Washington area. Filed jointly by the distributors yesterday as the result of extended negotiations between companies and the union, the pay raise application claimed 590 delivery and plant work ers needed the boost “to meet liv ing adjustments." The remaining number of employes would come under the incerase as “fringe” or “sub-standard” adjustment cases. It was cited that more than a third of the 1,682 employes involved have not received the 33 Va per cent boost over the January, 1941, wage level allowed by the Stabilization Board. The average straight time hourly earnings of dairy workers have been raised from 62 cents to 99 cents since January, 1941. Application to OPA for increased prices on dairy products is expected to be made shortly after the stabilization board decision on the wage request, expected within two weeks. Meanwhile prospects for a shorter supply of milk for the Metropolitan Area were heightened when B. B. Derrick, secretary-treasurer of the Maryland-Virginia Milk Producers’ Association, yesterday revealed be fore the Senate Agriculture Com mittee that he had been authorized to “divert our milk to other mar kets” if OPA price controls were not relaxed. Representing farmers supplying about 90 per cent of local milk, Mr. Derrick* said OPA ceilingsAm ittiilk; plus Government subsidies, failed to give producers a profit, despite the present insufficiency of nearby dairy products. He added that higher prices could be obtained in other markets. Trade Board Appeals For Housing Center The Washington Board of Trade today called for continued operation of the District Housing Center, which is threatened with abandon ment after June 30 because of lack of funds. In a statement, Joseph C. McGar raghy, the organization's president, said he believed the ‘'major portion” of the cost of operation should con tinue to be borne by the Federal Government, but that if the Gov ernment "is no longer willing to furnish all the funds necessary,” then the "amount to be subscribed by the local community should come from municipal funds.” The National Housing Agency, which is financing the center at a cost of $8,000 monthly, has indi cated it no longer wishes to con tinue this support after June 30. Meanwhile, the Veterans’ Emer gency Housing Committee said it hoped to work out a means for joint sponsorship of the center by the Federal and District governments through a conference of its own members with the District Com missioners and NHA officials. Mrs. Grace Isabel Keneipp To Be Buried Tomorrow Mrs. Grace Isabel Keneipp, 70, mother of George E. Keneipp of Sil ver Spring, director of motor vehicles and traffic for the District, died yes terday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. L. James Falk, 508 Ashford road, Silver Spring, after an illness of several months. A native of Florence, Mass., Mrs. Keneipp came to Washington about 42 years ago. She had been a resi dent of Silver Spring for the last 10 years and was a member of the Woodside Methodist Church. Besides Mrs. Falk and Mr. Keneipp other children who survive are Mrs. Howard N. Bissell, Chevy Chase, and Raymond D. Keneipp, Falls Church. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow from the Warner E. Pumphrey funeral home, 8434 Georgia avenue. Burial will be in Rock Creek Cemetery. Pepco Plan to Cut Bills Of Large Power Users During Dimout Studied Large .commercial users of electric power, whose bills are normally based on charges against a maximum “de mand” for power in addition to meter reading would receive an ad justment for their compliance with the current city dimout under a plan before the Public Utilities Commis sion today. The plan, presented by the Po tomac Electric Power Co., would not affect residential and small com mercial users since bills to these consumers are based on meter read ings alone, it was explained. One Per Cent Per Day. Pepco’s plan would allow each customer a reduction of 1 per cent per day of dimout in his demand fig ure used normally for billing pur poses. Thus for a month of dimout, a large customer would pay a bill computed against a normal demand reduced 30 per cent or 70 per cent of the normal demand. Pepco officials said the Federal Government, large department stores and office buildings would be the main beneficiaries under the plan. They said it did not take into con sideration reductions these consum ers mgy have imposed on themselves during the dimout but is based on an average. Thus the consumer who may have curtailed his usage more than 30 per cent per dimout day would receive the same adjustment as the consumer who cu.t down less. However, for those who pay the "demand” charges, any curtailment in use of power would be reflected in lower meter readings as well as through the application of the Pepco demand adjustment plan, it was said. May Act on Plan Today. The Utilities Commission is ex pected to act on the proposal today. Because of substantial voluntary re ductions in Maryland, Pepco is re questing approval of the Maryland Public Service Commission of a sim ilar plan. An additional feature of the Pepco plan would waive charges normally assessed against consumers operat ing their own power generating equipment, since such consumers were asked to put their equipment into operation during the dimout. These charges are known as "stand by” charges and are in the nature of a retainer fee, itrwas explained. The city dimout was ordered by the Commissioners May 4 to con serve the shrinking Pepco coal re serve during the strike of the soft coal miners. Month’s Supply in Sight. / With 11,000 or 12,000 tons of coal on hand or in the yeards, and 8,000 or 9,000 tons promised by Solid Fuels Administration, Pepco can operate with help of the dimout until the middle of June, J. p Ferry, vice president and general manager, said. The company now is negotiating with regular contractors for more coal within limitations fixed by SFA and possibly will be able to extend the maximum operating date under strike conditions beyond the middle of June, Mr. Perry said. As the District completed two weeks of dimout today, Mr. Perry said the power saving yesterday was 20 per cent, 10 per cent under the figure the company hoped to attain. VA to Reimburse Gis In School Before Release Veterans who entered schools at their own expense while on terminal leave or during hospitalization be fore discharge may apply for cash refunds for tuition and supplies, according to a Weterans’ Adminis tration rujjng announced today. Although no provision was made for reimbursement in such cases under the original GI bill, regional offices will make refunds up to amounts authorized for educational training. Veterans applying for the refund must have entered training at approved institutions. No sub sistence allowances will be granted in such cases. Weatherman Hits .800 Pace The Weatherman called for more uncomfortable weather today, hav ing scored another win for correctly predicting yesterday’s humid and wet weather. By continuing to be right, the Weatherman justly can be accused ao Mum. of undermining the thesis of a cer tain philosopher who went out on the limb by saying, "Oh, what a blamed uncertain thing this pesky weather is—" % "It's elementary,” the weather man boasted. “If you deal with pressure areas Instead of philosophy you are never wrong—well, hardly ever.” Whatever the system, the weath erman now holds a decisive lead in this 30-day series to discover if he can outwit the elements. He is judged each day for the prediction for the 24-hour period starting at 7 a.m. the day before. The Standings. Won. Lost. Pet. Weatherman_ 20 5 .800 • The Forecast. From 7 am. today until 7 am. tomorrow—partly cloudy, continued warm and humid today with some chance of brief showers in the aft ernoon and evening. Cloudy and cooler tomorrow. 'Diploma Mill' Charge Hurled At Southeastern Congress Hearing Told School Is Run For Benefit of 'Y' Southeastern University was charged today at a House District Subcommittee hearing with run ning a "diploma mill” for the benefit of its owner, the YMCA. This charge was made by O. Gor don Delk, jr„ chairman of the Alumni Association's Committee on University Management. It was protested by YMCA officials, but Representative Abernethy, Demo crat, of Mississippi, acting chairman, cut the discussion short, asking wit nesses not to Indulge in personali ties. Mr. Delk, Dr. James A. Bell, uni versity president, and others ap peared in behalf of a bill requiring the institution tq amend its charter by removing control from the YMCA and vesting it In a board of trustees of which two-thirds would be elected by the Alumni Association. * opposes Measure. The bin is opposed by directors of the YMCA. The issue Involves revival of the suspended law school. Alumni seek to have the school reopened and managed in such a way it will be accredited by the American Bar Association, which they declare im possible under the present system of operation. “This argument has been going on for five years,” Mr. Delk told the subcommittee. “This diploma mill is operated for the benefit of the YMCA and the trustees have been freezing out the alumni.” James R. Kirkland, general coun sel for the YMCA, denied emphat ically that it ran a “diploma mill.” Appearing in opposition to the bill, Francis G. Addison, Jr., president of the Savings & Commercial Bank and a director of the YMCA, said the law school had been stressed at the expense of other departments of the university, which were operating effectively. Night Classes Needed. He denied that changing the method of control by the trustees would assure accrediting of the law school by the American Bar Asso ciation. The law school must be conducted at night because most of its students have day time Jobs, he explained, and the bar associa tion no longer accredits night schools. Representative Dirksen, Repub lican, of Illinois, brought out the fact that if the law school were reopened its graduates could not take the District bar examination. This was true, Mr. Addison ad mitted, but it had been represented to the trustees that many Govern ment employes wanted to take the pallet M, ih« Diana. i ney ieej uwa '"«r Total educacMR will help them in their work,” h* added. “We cant him it into i day school at present. It’s not eco nomically possible.” Says “Y” Developed School. Mr. Addison said he did not see how Congress could take away con trol over Southeastern Universitj from the YMCA since the YMCA owned the institution and had de veloped it. "it seems to me,” Mr. Dirksen commented, ‘'that when a child gets so large he should be sent out to paddle his own canoe." Jacob Sandler, president of the Southeastern University Alumni As sociation, urged the legislation, which would allow the YMCA to name only one-third of the board of trustees, with the other two thirds* chosen by the alumni asso ciation. Mr. Sandler, a graduate of the law school, said he had tried through Chief Justice Bolitha J. Laws of District Court to get the Bar Asso ciation to accredit the school. The organization agreed to this, he said, if the trustees of the university were selected in the way provided in the bill. Management of the law school and other departments should be. vested in the university itself, he insisted. Can’t Control Funds. “At present,” Mr. Sandler said, “the school has no control over its own funds.” In 1942. he added, the YMCA trus tees rejected the Bar Association plan and that organization with drew the tentative approval it had given the law school. The YMCA board, Mr. Sandler said, acted in a “very selfish and ill-advised man ner.” Mr. Kirkland received permission to present more detailed arguments of the YMCA against the legislation at a later hearing. The bill was introduced by Repre sentative McGehee, Democrat, of Mississippi, who heads the subcom mittee considering it. Shelton Found Guilty Of Escape Charge J. Paul Shelton, 28, former Ar lington used-car dealer of the 1800 block of North Powhatan street, yesterday was found guilty of vio lating the Federal Escape Act last October 24 in United States District Court at Richmond, Va., the Asso ciated Press reported. Shelton was recaptured in New York City early in January after having walked out of a United States marshal's office in Rich mond, where he had been arrested on a Federal charge from the Dis trict of Columbia for violating the National Motor Vehicle Theft Act. He still faces two charges here for violating the theft act and for transporting a forged automobile title in interstate commerce. New York authorities have a charge of secWid - degree forgery pending against him. Shelton wan arrested by Arlington police in January, 1945, on charges of attempted robbery of the East Falls Church Bank and abducting 14-year-old Grace Wadlington to cover his escape. He was acquitted of these charges last September by a Federal District Court jury in Alexandria. The Federal Bureau of Investiga tion, which listed his name as Shel ton J. Wheeler, placed charges of Motor Vehicle Theft Act violation against him. QUAKERS MARK MEETING SITE—In the vestibule of Doctors' Hospital yesterday a bronze tablet was received by members of the staff from a group of Quakers. The tablet commemorates the site where Friends School and Meeting House stood from 1810 to 1938, when it was sold that the hospital might be constructed. In the picture are (left to right) Dr. William Earl Clark, vice president of the hospital; Albert Stabler, 83, and Dr. Oscar B. Hunter, hospital secretary who received the memorial from Mr. Stabler. —Star Staff Photo Special Highway Unit To Consider Alternate Freeway Routes An early meeting of a special re gional highway committee sponsored by the National Capital Park and Planning Commission will be held to consider alternate right-of-way proposals for the controversial northwest freeway in Montgomery County. This was announced by the com mission at the close of its monthly meeting yesterday. The highway committee is composed of repre sentatives of the Public Roads Ad ministration, the Virginia State Highway Commission, the Maryland Public Roads Commission, the Dis trict Government and the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission. MaJ. Gen. U. S. Grant, III, chairman of the Washington planning group, acts as chairman. Mission of the group in the case of the freeway will be to see if it fits in properly with the regional highway plan for nearby Maryland, Northern Virginia and the District. Proposals for three alternate rights-of-way were presented yes terday to the Washington planners by Col. E. Brooke Lee, Montgomery County Park Commissioner and vice chairman of the nearby Maryland planning agency. Col. Lee and Frew W. Tuemmler, director of planning of the Mary land-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, summarized the status of the freeway up to this time. They outlined the State’s preliminary survey as well as their own route which closely follows the Maryland Roads Commission plan, both of which have been objected explainer] the desirei ““'ges-sas - Cabin John anc extend up Thomas Branch Valley as expressed last month at a meet' ing in the Landon School for Boys The Maryland planners said earl] settlement is necessary because sev eral large real estate developments are being held in abeyance pendinj final decision as to location of th( route. John Nolen, jr„ the National Capital commission’s director of planning, and Thomas S. Settle, commission secretary, told report ers after the meeting that Col. Lee had agreed to setting up a joint zoning advisory committee of Mary land and District officials to pass on District line zoning disputes. The planners suggested forming such a committee after two zoning controversies, involving proposed shopping centers on Western avenue near Pinehurst Circle and cm East ern avenue at Michigan avenue NJ2. had brought the matter to a head. Mr. Nolen revealed that District Engineer Commissioner Gordon R. Young, a member ex-officio of the commission, has said the District may have to request additional park land for temporary veteran housing units if the type of build ing requested from the Federal Public Housing Authority is not received. The Commissioners have requested eight-family units. However, if smaller units are provided, they will take up more land area. During the meeting, the com mission was told the Maryland plan ners have not as yet completed advance data on civil airports in nearby Maryland. Mr. Nolen quoted Col. Lee as say ing there are two obvious possi bilities for nearby Maryland air ports, one where Congressional Air port now is, and the other in the College Park area to tie in with aeronautical research being carried on by Maryland University. The commission approved a pub lic roads administration plan for building a viaduct from U. S. Route 1 over the railroad tracks and the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway so that trucks may reach National Airport conveniently. The commission also recommended that the District Zoning Commis sion amend regulations concerning 110-foot buildings with 20-foot set backs so that along the alley side of such buildings no setback would be necessary where a courtyard separates the building from the alley. The recommendation was occasioned by a plea from the build er of the Reconstruction Finance Corp. building now underway at Connecticut avenue and H street N.W. Friendship House .Plans Art Exhibit on Sunday Friendship House, 610 D street S.E., a Community Chest agency, will hold its annual art exhibit of ceramics and paintings from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Directed by Mrs. Ollie Long, direc tor of the art department, the exhibit will feature some children s work, but mostly that by adults. Elsie Clark, 8, models animals in clay; Lary Silver, 12, models human heads, and Dick Oden, 12, specializes in Walt Disney animals, officials s«id. They will appear in the ex hibit. Miss Lois Gorton will sing at 4:30 p.m., accompanied by Mrs. Muriel Kestner, who will also render piano solos. Tea will be served following the musical program. K Young Sworn In For Third Term As Commissioner Commissioner John Russell Young today was sworn in for his third term as a member of the Board, of Disrtict Commissioners in a brief ceremony in his District Building; office. He took the oath in the presence of the other two Commissioners and Assistant Engineer Commissioner Joseph D. Arthur, Jr., and Mrs. Young. Immediately following the swear, ing in, Mr. Young was re-elected chairman of the Board of Commis sioners by the other two members, and it was announced that the dis tribution of District departments among the three city heads for ad ministrative purposes will remain unchanged. Principal departments supervised by Mr. Young are police and fire. District Will Receive $2,974,602 Federal Funds for Highways The District will receive $2,974, 602 in Federal highway aid grants for the second year, beginning July 1, of a three-year postwar highway construction program. The allocation was announced yesterday by the Federal Works Agency, which divided $500,000,000 among the 48 States, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and the District. The Na tion-wide three-year program au thorized by the-.Federal Aid High way Act of 1944 will eventually total $1,500,000,000. Under the terms of the act, the ■District must match its Federal share with an equal amount of Its own money, it was said. ®4fcfc*.'mThree <**«*ories< xhe Federal funds must be spent in three categories—$1,096,875 for the primary highway system, $731, 250 for secondary and feeder roads and $1,146,477 for urban roads and projects. Big construction items here under the second-year allocation Include completion of the K street ele vated, which was due to start this year; beginning of the Dupont Circle underpass and 'construction of a highway bridge across the Potomac. In the primary road network paving is planned for Alabama ave nue and Bowen street S.E. and along Alabama avenue from Twelfth to Twenty-first street S.E. In the secondary and feeder road group paving is scheduled for Riggs road N.E., Sheriff road N.E., Forty ninth street N.E., Weaver place N.W., Eastern avenue NZ and Porter street N.W. Virginia Gets $8,794,356. District highway • officials said these projects can now be “pro grammed” with the Federal Works Agency for approval of the specific items. In the nearby States, Virginia was allocated a total of $8,794,356 for the three categories and Mary land received $4,800,213. Neither the Virginia State High way Commission nor the Maryland State Roads Commission has pro grammed specific projects under this second “installment.” The Virginia agency does not ex pect to have the projects listed un-> til this fall. They will be included in the 1947-8 construction year. Maryland officials said its share will be integrated in its over-all roadbuilding program already an nounced. The third and final $50,000,000 is due to be distributed to become available July 1, 1947. Highway officials said the pro gram was developed with the idea that the highway industry, needing no particular retooling, could most easily absorb the flood of labor ex pected from demobilization of the military and reconversion of the country’s industrial forces. Glenmont PTA Plans Fair A spring fair will be held at Glenmont Elementary School start ing at 5 p.m. tomorrow under the auspices of the school’s Parent Teacher Association. Attractions include horsedrawn surrey rides, a magician show, movies and other features. Hospital Presented With Plaque to Mark Friends School Site Featuring the annual Founder’s day program, officers, trustees and students of Sidwell Friends School yesterday took part in the dedica tion of a bronze tablet at Doctors Hospital, marking the site formerly occupied by the school and Friends Meeting House. The dedication followed the an nual custom of tree-planting at the school by the senior class. May 16 is the birthday of Thomas W. Sid well, founder of the school. Brooks Walker, president of the senior class, presented the tree and the address was delivered by Nelson T. John son, former Ambassador to China and Minister to Australia and now secretary general of the State De partment’s Far Eastern Affairs divi sion. A graduate of the school, Mr. Johnson recently was made a trus tee and represented the school in that capacity at the hospital tablet dedication with J. Austin Stone, Mrs. T. Janney Brown, Mrs. Edward B. Meigs and Miss Helen L. Zart man, other trustees. The tablet commemorates estab lishment of the school and meeting house at 1815 I street N.W. in 1810 and sale of the property in 1938 so that the hospital might be erected there. The presentation was made by Al bert Stabler, who at 83 is the sec ond oldest surviving member of tht old meeting house. The hospita: i was represented by Dr. William Ear! Clark, vice president, and Dr. Oscai B. Hunter, secretary; the schoo faculty by Edwin C. Zavitz. head Harden of the lower School. ivere ArthUf^Arttiitfel, president .a the Student Council; Brooks Wal ker, Patricia Leadbetter, Jamei North and Martha HoUand. Mr Stabler and Mrs. Stabler representec the Alexandria Monthly Meeting o: Friends. Hie alumni associatioi was represented by Harrison W Straley in. Montgomery Orders New Beer Quota Cut Montgomery County residents face a further reduction in their beer consumption as a result of a cut in the beer quotas of the County Liquor Control Board. Beryl R. English, board secretary treasurer. said the latest reduction brings the curtailment of beer shipped into the county to approxi mately 60 per cent of the 1942 figure. Mr. English explained that the county quota now is 400 cases of beer for each 1,000 cases purchased in 1942. Declaring that the scarcity is caused by the grain shortage, Mr. English predicted additional curtail ments unless food conditions in Eu rope improve. Board officials could not say how much beer is shipped into the county at present. Dr. Freeman Takes Seat In Arts Academy Today By th« Associated Press NEW YORK, May 17.—Dr. Douglas Southall Freeman, editor of the Richmond, Va„ News-Leader, will take seat No. 26 today in the select Academy of Arts and Letters. The Virginia editor and Pulitzer prize-winning historian was elected to academy membership last autumn while he was in the Far East, but since there has been no ceremonial since then his seating in the Acade my Building was deferred until today. Dr. Freeman will be presented to Walter Damrosch by Chancellor James Truslow Adams and Secretary Van Wyck Brooks. Previous occu pants of the seat Dr. Freeman will take were Naturalist John Muir and Artist Charles Dana Gibson. Since the death of Novelist Ellen Glasgow, Dr. Freeman has been the only Southern member of the Acad emy. He and Walter Lippman are the onlv active newspapermen hold ing academy membership. Union Decrees Dollar Haircuts; Price of Shaves Unaffected Washingtons barber shops began charging $1 for a haircut today fol lowing announcement last night that the barber’s union had voted over whelmingly in favor of a 25-cent price increase. The vote, taken in a mail refer endum, was 403 in favor, 24 against, Charles P. Bovello, secretary-treas urer, announced at a mass meeting, of the Journeymen Barbers’ Inter national Union, Local 239, at Pythian Temple. The $1 haircut price applies to children on Fridays and Saturdays, but they can get haircuts for 75 cents on other weekdays. The 50 cent price of a shave is not affected. Mr. Bovello said the price increase goes into effect officially June 1, but told the barbers: “You have the right to go up to $1 tomorrow if you want to. Every shop, however, must raise the price * for a haircut to $1 by June 1. Those who violate the result of the refer endum will lose their (union) cards.” Wild cheering greeted announce ment of the result of the refer endum, which was started about two weeks ago. Results of the balloting were kept secret until last night. Barber shops in Union Station, at Bethesda, Md., and colored barber shops have already raised the price of haircuts to $1. Increasing rental costs to owner barbers, along with increased living costs for the average barber, were given as the main reason for the advance. No motions were allowed at last night’s meeting when several barbers attempted to speak on an Increase in the price of a shave. The union represents 90 per cent of the white barbers in Washington, Montgomery, Prince Georges and Arlington Counties. Hearings Endec) On Bill to Control Business Rent I Trade Board Joined By Landlords in Opposing Measure A House District subcommittee today ended hearings on the Barry. Bill to place commercial property here under rent control after a Board of Trade spokesman and in dividual landlords asserted that the proposed legislation might result in a black market in leases and would discourage new commercial building projects here. Chairman Healy of the subcom mittee said his group probably would meet within a week to act on the bill. William H. Pross, executive secre tary of the Board of Trade today recorded the organization’s disap proval of the Barry measure, Joining the stand taken yesterday by the Washington Real Estate Board and the Building Owners and Managers Association. complaints in Minority. Mr. Press told the committee: "I do not believe it is necessary for me to present statistics and figures to back up our position. The witnesses yesterday did a good job on that and I don’t want to repeat what they said." During yesterday’s session, the committee was told that complaints of commercial rent gouging received by them represented approximately one quarter of 1 per cent of the businessmen in the District. Mr. Press asserted "it would be administratively impossible to han dle the rent control bill.” Would Block Building. The witness added that if rents were frozen at 1942 levels, this would preclude the building of any new structures since builders would ; not take a chance on erecting prop ! erties that would bring but little profit. At this point, Representative Healy asked whether the Board of Trade would oppose a bill which would be directed solely at building owners and real estate dealers guilty of rent gouging. Mr. Press replied it would be more satisfactory to get a bill like that, j but stressed he was speaking for himself and not officially for the board. Black Market Feared. A letter from the Fidelity Plan Corp., engaged in the owning, op erating and financing various busi i nesses in the District, was read into ithe record and charged that freez ing of commercial rents might re sult in a black market in leases. I Signed by Louis T. Lohman, presi dent of the firm, the letter implied Ithat restricted rents,might fesuli in 'Competition among business men for ^choice locations if rent freezing was Ento effect. < e letter daid this Would mean new business opportunities d be closed to veterans and younger men who could not afford to pay high rent. Cites Increase in Value. ! Mr. Lohman contended there has been an average increase during the past four years in the gross value of a business of between 150 and 200 per cent. Another witness, Walter K. Bach rach, a building owner of 2950 Uni versity terrace N.W., developed this point further, declaring that some sections of the city have grown three or four times in population over :what they were when present leases were signed. Rent increases in these cases were entirely justified, he said. Mr. Bachrach said that enact ment of the Barry legislation would force many builders to create new commercial developments in nearby Virginia and Maryland where there is no such law. Would Hit Small Owners. Representing individual landlords. Mrs. Betty Schuman of 7329 Georgia avenue N.W., said the proposed bill would adversely affect “the small property owner.” Illustrating her own case, Mrs Schuman said one of the stores she rents has had a lease for the same rental for the past 10 years even though the business there had more than doubled. Enactment of the Barry law would make it im possible for her to determine a new equitable lease for the tenant. Another store owned by idrs Schuman is a liquor establishment which has rented for a number of years at $100 a month. Mrs. Schu man said the store’s business has flourished during the past few years and it would be unfair to her if she were denied the right to get a higher rent from the tenant Mm. Schuman said that when she sought to raise the rent a few years ago, the dealer told her he couldn’t afford to pay more because busi ness was bad. Arlington Republicans Will Elect Delegates Delegates to the Republican Dis trict Convention in Alexandria. May 29. will be elected at an Ar lington GOP mass meeting at ft o’clock tonight in the Lyon Park Community House, North Fillmore street and Pershing drive. A Republican candidate will be elected at the district meeting to oppose the Democratic nominee for the House of Representatives. Book Section In The Sunday Star The Book Section of The Sunday Star each week con tains timely and authoritative reviews of the newest books. And, in addition, there is printed for the guidance of readers a list of the best sellers based on a national survey of the country’s principal cities, as well as a matching list to show what books Washington is buying and reading. FOR BOOK REVIEWS AND BOOK NEWS KEEP UP WITH YOUR READING —in 311?* fcmtimg &tar