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SOCIETY AND GENERAL NEWS p ' WASHINGTON NEWS WASHINGTON, D. C. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1947 Traffic School Awaifs Approval Of D. C. Heads Plan Indorsed by Judges Expected to Start October 10 Inauguration of the District Traffic School about October 10 appeared virtually assured today, as Chairman Arthur J. Sundlun of the .Commissioners’ Traffic Advisory Board prepared to offer the city heads a formal recommendation for approval of the plan. Traffic Director George E. Keneipp 1 said he believes the classes for pros pective drivers and violators of traffic regulations will meet a favor- j able reaction from the Commission ers. He pointed out the school was indorsed by the judges of Municipal i Court yesterday. Mr. Keneipp, Police Inspector Arthur E. Miller, in charge of traffic and other traffic officials met with the judges to study details of the plan, as drawn up by the Enforce ment Committee of the Advisory Board, headed by Washington I. Cleveland. Previously, the proposal had won approval from the full Advisory Board, Mr. Keneipp and Police Supt. Robert J. Barrett. Classes rnaay, aaiuraay. Plans are for classes In the Mu nicipal Center from 8 to 10 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to noon Satur days. The proposal calls for referral of violators to the school by judges hearing traffic cases in Municipal Court and by the Board of Revoca tion and Restoration of Operators’ Permits. Attendance at the school also would be recommended to applicants for drivers’ permits, particularly those 18 and younger, and to those failing to pass examination for per mits. The latter would be told to attend the course and then try again. The Advisory Board’s recom mendation also suggests police be authorized to accept promises to attend the school in lieu of deposits of collateral for minor violations. Further, it suggests attendance be recommended to students taking driving instruction in public and parochial schools, as well as to per sons involved in traffic accidents in which there is insufficient evidence to prosecute. . Graded in Examination. A course of three two-hour sessions is planned. Those attending would be permitted to choose the Friday night or Saturday morning period. Students completing the course would be given “graduation certifi cates” in the form of a card, and the agency referring them to the school would be notified of their grade on the final examination. Completion of the course would be noted on the students’ traffic rec ords at police headquarters. -. Instructors would include Mrs. Mary Silver, chairman and secretary of the Revocation Board; Assistant Corporation Counsel Clark King, *'Mr. Keneipp, Inspector Miller and others concerned with control of Capital traffic. Motion pictures provided by the American Automobile Association | and other organizations would be shown during the course. The proposed curriculum includes consideration of the purpose and in tent of individual traffic regulations, basic accident causes, sound driving practices, pedestrian problems and “the development of the proper atti tude in traffic.” Permanent Snow Signs. Mr. Keneipp said the judges as sured him yesterday they have no objection to his plan to place the winter snow parking ban regulation on signs intended to remain posted throughout the year. He explained this would eliminate the necessity of placing about 4,000 yellow snow ban signs each fall and removing them each spring, as had been done in the past. It also would fit into his master plan for reduction of the overall number of “no parking” signs, he added. Mr. Keneipp displayed samples of a new sign which would tell the motorist all he needs to know about a given location. The prohibitions are in red letter ing and include the wording, “No Parking 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. December 13-March 15.” The hours during which parking is permitted are shown in green. “At present, we can’t get all the required signs on one pole or tree in some locations, and the driver may miss the sign nearby which is in effect at that moment,” Mr. Keneipp said. Dean Kayser to Address Hospital School Graduates Dean Elmer L. Kayser of George Washington University will deliver the principal address to graduates of the Alexandria Hospital School of Nursing at commencement exer cises in Christ Church at 8 p.m. September 26. Dr. H. A. Latane will present diplomas and Mrs. Irene Roszel will award hospital pins. Others participating in the com mencement program will be Miss Grace Powell, Mrs. Elva Book, David C. Book, Robert G. Whitton, Donald C. Edmonds, Dr. C. E. Arnette, Dr. John T. Ashton, Dr. Floyd Hobbs, Dr. John A. Sims, the Rev. B. B. Comer Lile and the Rev. Thomas A. Fraser, jr. Candidates for graduation are Jean J. Baxter, Marjorie Bryant, Roslyn J. Colyer, Joyce B. Dickison, Ruth Van Doom, Dorothy L. Ed wards, Elaine Etter, Marcheta Har per, Joan I. Hyman. Anna E. Leigh, Mary W. McClenahan and Elizabeth A. Rogers. Boy Seriously Wounded; Second, 14, Being Held A 13-year-old colored boy was re-j ported to be in a serious condition in Emergency Hospital after being shot in the abdomen with a .32 caliber pistol last night. » Police said that the boy, Thomas ■ Riley, 1721% Seaton street N.W., j was playing cards with Arthur Per- i sons, 14, colored, in the latter’s i home, 1739 Seaton street N.W., when i the shooting occurred. Arthur is i being held at the Receiving Home ' pending outcome of the Riley boy’s I Injuries, police said. I< f k • Citizen Traffic Policeman Liked By Children of Somerset School Harry R. McCabe, retired Government employe, is shown helping a group of Somerset school children safely across Dorset avenue in Chevy Chase, Md. —Star Staff Photo. Youngsters who cross Wisconsin avenue on their way to and from the Somerset School in Montgomery County have a faithful “traffic policeman” in grandfatherly Harry R McCabe, 319 West Bradley lane. Mr. McCabe was retired nearly four years ago as an engraver for the United States Geological Sur vey after more than half a century’s service. Since then he has been standing guard at the Dorset avenue cross ing every morning from 8:30 to 9 o’clock and afternoons from 2:30 to 3:30 on school days. He is one of some 15 citizens employed by the County Board of Education for the purpose. Gets Thrill Out of Job. There is a traffic light at the inter section, but Mr. McCabe’s job is to make doubly sure the children get across safely. "I get a thrill out of it,” he says. “The children are very attentive and obey me perfectly. We’ve never had an accident since I’ve been here. “We came near it once, though. One little girl called another from across the street. The child ran out In the street and a car was coming. I caught her up and threw her back into the juniper. “She was more frightened at that than at the accident that might have happened.” Mr. McCabe is A gentle, kindly man who takes his job very seri ously. Last year he was absent from his post only five times—twice to go to weddings and three times to attend funerals. In bitter weath er, he wears a fur cap that comes down over his ears. Little Salary Helps Out. "I’m retired,” he says. I don’t really miss the time. And the little salary helps out with taxes and things.” ' Parents come to thank him or ask him to look out for their youngsters who are just starting school. Some times motorists who become curious at the sight of a well dressed, elder ly man out directing traffic stop to ask him about it. "It’s a very great help to us,” re ports Mrs. Kathryne Bricker, prin cipal of the school. “The children are very fond of him. That cross ing is too busy for our patrol boys.” Prompt Senate Action On Retirement Bill Promised by Taft By Joseph Young Senator Taft has promised “prompt action” by the Senate on the civil service retirement bill when Congress convenes in January, it was learned today. The Senate Republican leader made the promise in a form lettei which he is sending this week to hundreds of persons who have writ ten to him to ask that he expedite action on the measure. The bill has passed the House, but the Senate failed to take action on it during the closing days of Congress this year, owing to the pressure of last-minute business. Takes Slap at Colleague. In his letter, Senator Taft states: “I can assure you that prompt action will be taken en the civil service retirement bill after the return of Congress to Washington.” Senator Taft, who was criticized along with the other Republican leaders in the Senate by Chairman Langer of the Senate Civil Service Committee for failing to act on the measure before Congress adjourned, took occasion in the letter to take an indirect slap at his colleague. “A very substantial difference of opinion developed regarding the dif ferent provisions of this bill, and particularly over a number of pro posals contained in theVSenate bill which were not contained in the House bill,” the letter reads. ‘‘If the Senate bill had been care fully considered in the committee (the Senate Civil Service Com mittee). and these features elimi nated, there probably would have been little difficulty in passing it.” Coast Being Studied. The main objection to the measure in the Senate was the uncertainty of its cost. To meet these objec tions, Seantor Langer’s Committee is making new cost estimates which it will present to the Senate. Sena tor Langer and the bill’s other sup porters believe the measure will cost little, if anything. The bill provides for an average $200 annual increase in annuities to Government employes on retire ment; an annuity increase to Fed eral employes already retired of $300 or 25 per cent to whichever is smalled, and survivorship in surance benefits to the families of deceased Government workers. In return, Government employes would contribute 6 percent of their salaries to the Federal retirement fund, instead of the present 5 per cent. episcopal uuirch school Announces Split Schedule The church school of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Wisconsin avenue and Bradley lane, Chevy Chase, which w’ill open Sunday, will be administered this year in three dis tinct departments, it was announced yesterday. A split schedule has been adopted because of crowded conditions. Nursery and kindergarten chil dren. under the direction of Mrs. Frank Lyman, w'ill meet at 11 a.m. in the new parish house. The first three grades, comprising the primary group, will meet at 9:30 a.m. in the new parish house, while intermedi ate, junior and senior pupils will meet at the same time in the church and the old parish house. Logan Wilton will be superintendent of the" school and G. Beale Bloomer of the primary group. New Montgomery Pupils Warned on Vaccinations The Montgomery County Health Department today warned that chil dren entering school for the first time must have been vaccinated against diphtheria. The department said that at some county schools, parents are attempt ing to enroll their children without having them vaccinated first in ac cordance with the law. At the same time, department officials asserted that even though a child has had his diphtheria in oculation while a baby and again before entering school, a "booster” dose should be given just before enrollment. “The department feels," officials said, "that the booster dose is a wise precaution because the degree of immunity is not shown by the Schick test and it may be that the child will not oontinue to be immune to diphtheria until he reaches the age when he is less susceptible to the disease.” Gov. Lane to Speak Tonight In Bethesda Trade Drive Gov. Lane of Maryland will be the principal speaker tonight when a “Shop in Bethesda” program is launched in that community. Miss Peggy Wilson, “Miss Wash ington” in the recent Atlantic City beauty pageant, also will participate in the program which will feature Gordon Shaw, WMAL commentator, as master of ceremonies. Gov. Lane will be accompanied to Bethesda by one of his daughters, Miss Dorothy Lane, 23, a Vassar graduate. The program in the Bethesda Shopping penter will launch a clos ing hour schedule of 9 pjn. each Monday and Friday for business establishments of the community. Gov. Lane is scheduled to speak at about 10:30 p.m. m Election Board Urged To Extend Time for New Registrations Members of the Montgomery County Board of Election Super visors have been urged to reconsider their action in allowing only the week beginning October 27 for supplementary boards to register new county residents and accept their declarations of intention to vote. The telegrams were sent by Mrs. J. Rene Hemingway, president of the County League of Women Voters, to Richard H. Lansdale, chairman, and board members O. W. Robv and Willard King. Mrs. Hemingway asked Mr. Lans dale to call a special meeting of the board to expand the one-week period to the entire month of October and to appoint “roving” supplementary boards. Under the board’s original de cision two weeks ago, two supple mentary boards were appointed to sit only at the Silver Spring and Bethesda County Buildings. “People don’t realize,” Mrs. Hem ingway asserted, “that even though they register, they won’t be able to vote unless they declare their intention to vote at least one year prior to a general election.” She pointed out that in previous years, the Board of Election Super visors has named “roving” boards to meet at various places in the county for at least one month to accept declarations of intent from new residents and to register them. NoticesWeighed In Personal Tax Valuation Boost District Assessor Considers Change In Billing Routine -District tax officials are consider ing a procedural change which would end the present practice of increas ing the personal property tax assess ments of District residents without notifying them, it was learned today. Under the present setup, persons liable to the personal property tax estimate the value of their own be longings and file a return. District tax assessors then compare the re turn with other tax data on the individual and increase the assess ment, if the person appears to have underestimated his personal prop erty value. The first time a taxpayer becomes aware of the increased assessment under the present setup is when he receives his bill. Edward A. Dent, District tax as sessor, said he is considering a plan to send a form letter to persons whose assessments are thus in creased as soon as the adjustment is made. Typical Case. Here is a typical case of what is happening: A man owning a $25,000 home estimates his personal property furniture, tools, bedsheets, rugs and other furnishings—at a given figure, say, $1,200. The assessor checks the man’s real estate assessment and discovers his home is taxed at the $25,000 figure. A master schedule used by the assessor’s office shows, perhaps, that the average $25,000 home contains personal property worth $3,000. The man, therefore, is billed, with out prior notification, on the $3,000 figure. (The foregoing figures are mythical since the table of aver ages used was not made avail able.) Under the proposed system of notification, the man would be notified his assessment has been increased, Mr. Dent said, and would be given an opportunity to resurvey his property and decide whether the District’s figure was excessive. If, after his resurvey, the taxpayer con cluded the assessment was too high, Mr. Dent said, he could then request a personal appraisal by an assessor. $800 “Gap” Possible. Mr. Dent said, however, an on the-spot appraisal might bring forth a higher assessment than the fixed schedule which, he said, is generally lower than any personal appraisal. In any event, Mr. Dent said, his office never changes a person’s esti mate of his property value unless there is a difference of $800 be tween the person’s own valuation of what he owns and the schedule’s assessment, based on his real estate value. Last year, only 3,400 rejections were made by the assessor’s office out of about 50,000 personal prop erty returns. “People are honest,” Mr. Dent said, “but they just fill out their personal property returns hap hazardly. “You would be surprised how many people rate their property at just a few dollars short of $1,000— the first $1,000 being exempt.” The system of checking real estate tax returns, income tax returns and other taxes netted the District 13,000 new personal property tax accounts last year, Mr. Dent said. U . T III meai ituck upsets, Burns at Bladensburg A refrigerated trailer truck and its cargo of choice cuts of beef and pork was partially destroyed by fire last night at the Peace Cross, Bladensburg, after overturning to avoid hitting an automobile which had cut in front of it. The truck jack-knifed and over-! turned when the driver applied its brakes, according to Prince Georges County police. Gasoline escaping from the truck’s gas tank caught Are. The driver of the automobile, which turned off at Defense high way, continued on. apparently un aware of the damage left behind, police said. Bladensburg and Cotta, City firemen said the truck contained about 100 hind quarters of beef and a number of cases of pork and spareribs. The meat was destined for markets in Baltimore. Joseph Gauzza, 24, a member of the Bladensburg Fire Department, was treated at the Prince Georges General Hospital, Cheverly, for bruises suffered when he slipped from the fire truck as it approached the scene. Marvin L. Lancaster, 27, of Salem, j Va., the truck driver, was unhurt. CLEARING THE WAY FOR CONVERSION—District workmen tear out partitions and generally prepare the way for conversion of the old E. V. Brown School into a combined branch library and recreation center. Bids may be advertised for the job within a week or ten days. —Star Staff Photo. Bids to Be Advertised Shortly on Conversion Of E. V. Brown School District Director of Construction Archie G. Hutson said today he hopes to be able to ask the Com missioners to advertise bids for the conversion of the E. V. Brown School in a combined branch library and recreation center within a week to 10 days. Meanwhile, he said, District workmen have been cleaning the old school out, taking out old partitions and equipment and generally pre paring the premises so work can start without delay when a contract is awarded. The conversion job, the result of a campaign by Chevy Chase citi zens and The Star, will result in the south wing of the old school building being used for a branch library. The ground floor and part of the basement in the center of the school as well as in its north wing will be equipped for indoor recreation. A "town hall” will be made of the school auditorium, while elsewhere there will be rooms for small chil dren, a refreshment room and space for lounging, reading and working on hobbies. The combination is the first of its kind attempted here. The annual report of the Board of Library Trustees for the fiscal year 1946-7 predicted it would be watched closely by other communities for ideas. Man Held in $2,000 Bond In Forging of Prescription Julian Rex Burnham, 33, de scribed as a former employe of Emergency Hospital, today was held for the grand jury under $2,000 bond charged with forging a pre scription for a narcotic. The action was taken after a hearing before United States Com missioner Needham C. Tumage it which Burnham pleaded not guilty. Police testified they had traced "several” prescription forgeries to Burnham, who lives in the 5400 block of Mohican road, Glen Echo, Md. The man, police said, learned the signatures of several physicians while employed at the hospital. Seven American Warships Leave Turkey for Crefe By th® Associated Press Seven United States warships, in cluding the 27,000-ton carrier Leyte, left Izmir, Turkey, yesterday for 3uda Bay, Crete. The Navy announced the departure md said the Turkish people had ‘extended an enthusiastic welcome to the oflicers and men” of the ships luring a six-day visit. The Leyte is officially in the Mediterranean on a training cruise. Accompanying her is the light cruiser Dayton, four destroyers, the 3tonnes, the Massey, the Owens and the Henley, and a destroyer tender, the Yellowstone. Teen-Agers' Dance Tonight The first of a series of Friday night dances for teen-agers will be held at 8:30 o’clock tonight at the Christ Child Settlement, 608 Massa chusetts avenue N.E. Wiles of Mason's Grandchild Save Father a Parking Ticket Girl, 4, Persuades Traffic Policeman To Tear It Up Never underestimate the power of a woman, even when she's only 4. The 4-year-old in this story Is Commissioner Guy Mason's grand daughter, Ann Hamsberger, and there’s an unidentified traffic police man who knows her wiles only too well. For, she talked him out of giving her father a $5 parking ticket late yesterday. Mr. Mason told reporters about It with a prideful chuckle today. It seems Ann’s father, Humphrey P. Harnsberger, 4 Newport avenue, Westgate, Md., was parked where he shouldn't have been near the shopping center in the 4800 block of Massachusetts avenue N.W. Ann came out of a store and found a traffic policeman writing a ticket. ‘‘What are you doing?” she asked. “Writing,” he said. “You re a policeman, aren’t you?” she asked. “Yes,” he admitted. a ANN HARNSBERGER. She “fixed” a ticket. “Well, my mommy says that all policemen are nice to little girls.” When Mr. Hamsberger came out of the store he found the policeman tearing up the ticket. "She warmed my heart,” he told Ann’s father. t Greensfelder Wants Planning Individuality for Capital By Nelson M. Shepard Albert P. Greensfelder, the city planner who helped “lift” the face of St. Louis and now is the newest member of the National Capital Park and Planning Commission, believes Washington should develop its own “individuality.” No other city in the United States occupies the coveted position of Washington, he told reporters yes terday. “I would not want Washington to imitate any other city in its plan ning,” he protested. “Can’t we de velop its individuality as its greatest asset?” Mr. Greensfelder attended his first meeting of the Planning Commission yesterday, but he came here a week ahead of time to get an idea of what the Federal planners are doing in Washington and proposed to do in the near future. Praises Beautification Objective. He praised the Planning Commis sion for keeping the “beautification of Washington” as its main objective —realized by careful planning of projects well in advance. "I find it has instilled here a spirit for better development,” he emphasized. “That is the most im portant thing the commission has done to date. It tops the Wash ington Monument in importance.” Hr. Greensfelder laughed aside at tempts to pin him down to the “most important thing” Washington should do in the next few years of plan ning. But one thing he did recommend most strongly was the acquisition of sufficient land to provide a “green belt” around the entire city. A start in that direction has been made by the George Washington Memorial Parkway and the Fort Drive. Lon don is planning green belts at thi cost of extra millions, he said, be cause it had not acquired the lane in earlier years. Every large city should havi fringe areas for “off-street” parkin* as well as healthful recreation, hi said, and these areas should bi within reasonable distances. Thi planning commission saw that year: ago, he pointed out, and the valui to the city is inestimable. The wort should continue. On the whole, the former St Loui: city planning chairman thinki Washington has had the advantagi of excellent planning. People ari beginning to realize, he stressed, thai good planning and proper zoninf “stabilize a neighborhood and maki for all the elements of better living.’ Bring in More Taxes. It was the very need for zoninf in his own neighborhood when hi married, Mr. Greensfelder said, tha pointed his career along such line: as city and regional planning ii Missouri. Furthermore, he pointed out, goo< planning and zoning increase thi value of property, maintain it ove: the years and bring in more taxe: to the city. Even more important he suggested the “saving of chil dren’s lives” by unstinted develop ment of recreational areas for “off street” playing. He agreed with J. C. Nichols, notei consultant member from Kansa City, Mo., that Washington is “lack ing” in a real boulevard systerr Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, III. chair man of the commision, chimed ir however, with the suggestion tha the completion of the Fort Drivi encircling Washington on the Mary land side would partly remedy tha lack. Deaf Woman Vagrant Offered Three Homes Mrs. Elizabeth M. Hudlow, 51, who was committed to jail Monday by Judge Armand Scott after being ar rested for sleeping on a streetcar station bench, will be relased today and given a choice of three places to live, as well as receiving money due her from the Board of Public Welfare. Judge Scott said yesterday after noon she will be brought before him so that he can set aside his judg ment committing her to jail as the offer of a citizen to donate $100 to the institution to which she went. He said the $100 donor wishes to remain unidentified. Mrs. Virginia Bear, of the Public Assistance Division, Board of Public Welfare, said Mrs. Hudlow would be taken to the Blue Plains Home for the Aged and the checks which are due her will be turned over immedi ately. Judge Scott announced the Salva tion Army through Brigadier Wes ley L. Bouterse, and the Volunteers of America, through Lt. Col. W. O. Ulrey, also had offered Mrs. Hudlow a home. Mrs. Hudlow, who is almost totally deaf, was arrested in the waiting room at Georgia and Alaska avenues, N.W. Monday by Pvt. W. A. Schu bring. The officer said he did not want to arrest the woman but that she had been there for three weeks and he thought she would be better off in jail in view of approaching cold weather. In court Monday Mrs. Hudlow told Judge Scott her sister-in-law had put her out of her home and she had no place to go. Judge Scott scored Washington’s charitable agen cies for not having representatives in court to take care of such cases. 24,500 Pounds of Flour In Warehouse Condemned More than 24,500 pounds of flour stored in the Terminal Warehouse, 1031 First street N.E., has been condemned by the Health Depart ment as unfit for human consump tion and ordered destroyed. Dr. Reid R. Ashworth, director of the Bureau of Food Inspection announced today. Approximately 25,600 pounds of flour was not infested enough to warant condemnation but dusting and cleaning of the bags was or dered. After this is done it will be reinspected. According to Supervising Inspect or Richard J. Carroll, and Inspector Kenneth Roberts the flour had be come infested with worms, weevils and other contamination as a result of improper storage. The Health Department acted on complaints from bakers. As some of the flour was to be shipped out of town, the Health Department ob tained the asistance of Federal Food and Drug officials. * Washington Major Killed in Air Crash Maj. Andrew D. Turner, 37, son o: the Rev. Clarence W. Turner of 100< Westford place N.E., was killed ir a crash of two Air Force planes near Lancaster, Ohio, his familj has been notified. Maj. Turner, who was colored was a graduate of Howard Univer sity and Dunbar High School. He was born in Washington. For severa years he was a telephone operatoi here. He joined the Army Air Forces in 1942 and saw considerable over seas service as a fighter pilot. His most recent station was the Lockbourne Army Air Base neai Columbus, Ohio. The crash occurrec yesterday after the two planes hac left that field. Maj. Turner anc Lt. Milton T. Hall of Owensboro Ky., pilot of the other plane, were killed. Their parachutes were found strapped to their backs, Air Force officials reported. Maj. Turner leaves a wife and s son. Besides his parents, four brothers and a sister also survive They are John, Thomas F., Clarence W., jr., and Herbert H. Turner, anc Mrs. Alice Thomas, all of Washing ton. U. 5. Agrees to Exchange Ambassadors With Burma By ih* Associated Press The United States and Burmt have established formal diplomats relations for the first time in the history of the two countries. Their governments announcec simultaneously here and in Ran goon late yesterday that they hav< agreed to exchange Ambassadors. Britain, which formerly rulec Burma as a colony, has grantee self-government. The American Ambassador tc Burma has not yet been chosen. He must be named by President Tru man and confirmed by the Senate Until that is done, the State De partment said, E. L. Packer, present consul general at Rangoon, will serve as Charge d’Affaires. Burma has selected U. So Nyun as its Ambassador to the United States He will leave for Washington next month. Columbia Road Mabbing Sends Sailor to Hospital Paul C. Pinson, 31, Navy seaman of 1741 Lanier place N.W., is in Bethesda Naval Hospital today after being stabbed in the back by an unidentified assailant last night in the 1700 block of Columbia road N.W., police reported. Seaman Pinson was picked up by a motorist and taken to the Naval Medical Center. He was transferred to the Bethesda Naval Hospital, where his condition was said to be not serious. Seaman Pinson is as signed at the Pentagon. 3-Way Study Set On Parking tor U. S. Employes Commission Approves New Laboratory at Bureau of Standards The National Capital Park and Planning Commission today agreed on a three-way study to be made of off-street parking for Federal em ployes and approved plans for a new laboratory building on the Bu reau of Standards grounds. Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, III, chair man, said the time has not been set for construction of the labora tory, which will be a Public Build ings Administration project. Part of the building will be four stories. Conferring with Public Building Administration representatives, the commission agreed to take part in a study of the off-street parking problem in connection with the for mer agency and the District Motor Vehicle Parking Agency. Calls Solution "Not Easy” Gen. Grant remarked that "solu tions are not easy to find" and re minded that any drastic provisions for underground parking would necessarily entail much added ex pense to building costs. The zoning law authorizes garage or parking facilities for commercial buildings, but the building regula tions make no provisions. New apartment houses and hotels, how ever, are required under regulations to provide certain amounts of space for automobile parking. How far such provisions can be extended to commercial buildings will be one phase of the study. The Planning Commission is in terested in what other cities are doing to provide offstreet or fringe parking as a solution for increasing traffic. Gen. Grant pointed out, ' however, that it would be practically prohibitive for Washington to build a subterranean garage under any of the downtown parks because of 1 water seepage. Master Plan Publication Set. The commission expects to enter into a contract next week with a famous consultant to prepare for publication of a long awaited re vision of the "comprehensive plan” for the orderly development of Washington and its environs. An outline of the proposed master plan, which has been neglected for 15 years, was approved by the com 1 mission yesterday. Gen. Grant was 1 authorized to retain professional help next week. Congress'appropriated funds last ! judy for the use of the planners in ' preparing groundwork for carrying 1 out the $20,000,000 authorization • under the Urban Redevelopment Act ’ of 1946. It is expected $45,000 will 1 be used to ready the comprehensive ‘ plan for publication. j Advisory Unit Authorized. 3 At the same time, Gen. Grant . said the commission also expects to announce next week a list of 100 to ‘ 150 public-spirited citizens to serve as ar. advisory committee on future ? planning. Approval of the plan was , given yesterday. “Through these citizens, we hope ; to get the reaction to comprehensive planning, step by step,” Gen. Grant said. Business, professional, educa tional and civic groups are to be represented on the committee. Making slow progress on Its' agenda, the commission left many items for today’s session. It approved plans for the location of the new Braddock light and i power plant in Alexandria, north of the circle on the Mount Vernon Memorial parkway. Compromise Effected. The approved location, about 100 or 150 feet from the river bank, was a compromise worked out between the planning commission and the power company, a subsidiary of ; Pepco. The planning commission is maintaining a right-of-way along [the river bank at that point in the expectation the Mount Vernon road some day will by-pass the heart of Alexandria. If Alexandria traffic becomes too troublesome, the commission hopes to obtain approval for the construc tion of an elevated highway follow ing the river bank and connecting with the main Mount Vernon road outside the city limits. Gen. Grant referred to the compromise worked out with the power company as an “example of economy made possible by planning in advance of actual construction.” In exchange for moving the plant back from the river side, the plan ning commission got the United States Engineer’s Office to agree to make Potomac River water easily accessible to the plant. Thief Grabs 6 Purses In Less Than 4 Hours Six purse snatchings In less than four hours last night in the area between Sixth and Eighth and F and I streets N.E., apparently by tha same man, netted less than $30, police reported today. Mrs. Helen Lawson, 1016 Sixth street N.E., reported the first in stance to police at 8:45 p.m. She said a colored man 20 to 27 years old, about five feet seven inches tall, snatched her purse at Sixth and I and fled. The purse con | tained only 70 cents. A few minutes later Mrs. Mamie Bottomley, 646 I street N.E., reported a similar incident in front of her home by a man of the same de scription. Her purse contained $27 and a prayer book. Miss Peggy Dougan, 16, of 317 Seventh street N.E., who was walk ing in the 600 block of H street N.E., was the next victim. Her purse contained only personal papers. Walking near her was Miss Patricia Jones, 18, of 409 B street N.E., whose purse containing 50 cents was also i taken by the same man. i At 11:40 p.m. police said Mrs. Reta McGuire of 1109 Holbrook terrace was walking near Eighth ! and I streets N.E. when apparently the same man snatched her purse containing 45 cents. Half an hour later the same man grabbed a purse | from the arm of Miss Estelle Guy, I colored, of 654 Sixth street N.E. as i she was entering her home. Sha | told police the total value pM 'including the purse. M.