Evening star. [volume], May 18, 1948, Image 20

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

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SOCIETY AND GENERAL NEWS 7*Tlli> ffolMMlYlY Qsfm* WASHINGTON NEWS , B
WASHINGTON, D. C. ^DvlllTly TUESDAY, MAA 18, 1948 **
Joint Group Fails
To Agree on New
Taxes for D. C.
Subcommittee Plans
Session Tomorrow
To Break Deadlock
By Don S. Warren
Leaders of the joint House-Senate
Subcommittee on District Fiscal
Affairs debated for an hour and a
half today on whether the District
must have new taxes to balance the
1949 budget but reached no decision.
A spokesman for the joint group
said they would meet again at 9:30
a m. tomorrow when a determined
effort will be made to break the
stalemate which revolves around the
proposal for a District retail sales
tax.
The fight for the sales tax, on'
the argument that it is the only'
adequate means of meeting impend-1
ing city deficits for the fiscal year
beginning July 1, and in later years,
is continuing despite new proposals
for borrowing to finance the more
urgent school building projects.
Chairman Bates of the House
wing of the joint fiscal group, a
long time opponent of sales taxes,
said: “We reviewed all of the facts
and have come to no conclusion."
Dworshak Attends Session.
Chairman Cain of the Senate
group, who has introduced a sales
tax bill, said the group had sched
uled another meeting “for a deci
sion" tomorrow morning. He said
this would be on the question of
“what new' revenue, if any, will be
required to balance and maintain
fiscal solvency and stability for the
District."
The session also was attended by
Senator Dworshak, Republican, of
Idaho, a member of the fiscal group
and chairman of the Senate Appro
priations Subcommittee handling
the record $101,164,000 budget for
next fiscal year.
Attending also were District Bud
get Officer Walter L. P’owler, his
deputy, William G. Wilding; Cor
poiation Counsel Vernon E. West,
Thomas Henderson, assistant coun
sel of the Senate District Commit
tee, and Kimbell Sanborn of the
Senate Appropriations Committee
staff.
Senator Cain said that if new tax
proposals are set aside then sub
stantial cuts would have to be made
somewhere. i
Bates Outlines Position.
Mr. Bates announced last night
his calcula'ions indicate “there may
be no need” for any increase in
taxes—unless Congress orders a
Government pay raise. He agreed
that would change the picture by
about $8,000,000.
Otherwise, he found support for
his position in a call by the Board
of Trade Executive Committee for a
$12,500,000 school construction loan,
and he offered two other means of
slashing 1949 budget charges.
Doubts as to whether any or all
of such steps would avoid needs for
new taxes, however, came from
spokesmen for both the city gov
ernment and the Board of Trade.
One spokesman for the trade body
said it still maintained a 2 per
cent retail sales tax would be needed
to put city finances on a stable
basis. The school construction
loan plan its leaders now suggest
as a means of financing 18 of the
more urgent school building proj
ects. he said, did not affect the
broader attack propsoed for rev
enue solution.
Issue Would Be Delayed.
A spokesman for the city govern
ment took a similar view, except to
stress more emphatically that ma
neuvers to avoid extra taxes now
merely would postpone the issue and
step up prospective deficits in the
1950 fiscal year.
Mr. Bates, a determined opponent
of sales taxes, called a group of
budget and construction officials of
the District before him late yester
day and went over cash needs to
meet capital improvement projects
for which the House has approved
funds for the fiscal year beginning
July 1.
He said he had ascertained that
“well over $3,000,000" in appropri
ated funds could be put to other
uses. '
Much of this, he said, could be
“saved" by making available por
tions of construction funds that
would not have to be paid to con
tractors prior to June 30, 1949.
Project May Be Set Aside.
He also hinted that one large
project, already provided with ap
propriations, might be set aside
temporarily and its funds used to
shave 1949 deficits. In addition,
there were reports that the 1949
budget might be cut down further
by postponing construction of the
proposed $900,000 new central ga
rage to house the fleet of trucks of
the Sanitary Division.
Mr. Bates indicated he is hold
ing in reserve a proposal to boost
the city’s realty and personal prop
erty tax rate t<f some degree to
make sure the budget would bal
ance.
He told reporters: “I am deter
mined that there ought to be no
new tax program, if it can be found
that the city otherwise will have
adequate funds available for neces
sary obligations of the new fiscal
year without impairing school con
struction and other vital projects."
In this connection he is propos
ing the use now of all of the re
mainder of the public works invest
ment fund saved up during the war.
This amounts to about $4,294,000.
The District has proposed use m
1949 of about $2,466,000 of these
securities, leaving more than $1,800,
000 for later emergencies.
■
Phi Beta Kappa
Key and Jewelry
Stolen in Home
Police today were on the lookout
for a robbery suspect sporting evi
dence of higher education.
Clarence I. Blau, Commerce De
partment attorney of 5208 Thirty
ninth street N.W., told police some
one ransacked his home last night
and made away with his gold Phi
Beta Kappa key. inscribed "Colum
bia '26" and bearing his name.
Also taken were Mrs. Blau's wed
ding ring and two wrist watches,
he reported.
NEW ENVOY ARRIVES—Mauricio Nabuco, recently appointed
Brazilian Ambassador, is welcomed to his new post here by
Stanley Woodward, right, chief of the State Department's proto
col division, on his arrival at Union Station last night.
—Star Staff Photo.
D. C.-Virginia 'War'
Over Motor Vehicle
Tax Reciprocity Seen
The specter of a "cold war” in
motor vehicle tax reciprocity laws
between the District and Virginia
was raised last night at a meeting
Df the Commissioners’ Traffic Ad
visory Board.
The major issue involved in the
impending war was explained to the
Board by Traffic Director George E.
Keneipp. It is a tax on vehicles
carrying freight or passengers, en
gaged in interstate commerce which
ise the Virginia highways, he said.
The law, passed in the last session
Df the Virginia Legislature, to be
come effective January 1, would levy
i 2 per cent tax on gross receipts
earned by these companies in Vir
ginia.
II. t . steps tveignea.
Tlie traffic director pointed out
that the general public would feel
the effect of such a law in the rising
cost of bus transportation and
trucking. He said his department
was considering what steps the Dis
trict should take on the matter.
One possibility, on which Mr.
Keneipp has asked the Corporation
Counsel's office for an opinion, is'
that of requiring Virginia truckers j
and bus lines to register their
vehicles in the District.
The District, however, cannot j
legally adopt a tax law similar to
that passed by the Virginia Legis
lature, he said. The registration
plan under consideration should be
considered an attempt at reciprocity,
he said.
Other members of the Advisory
Board, notably former Municipal
Court Judge James E. Cobb, doubted
the Constitutionality of the Virgiia
tax.
In his monthly report to the board
Mr. Keneipp aiso revealed plans to
enlist the assistance of psychiatrists
in simplifying the questions asked
applications for driver's permits. j
Complaints Received.
He explained his office had re
ceived a number of complaints that
the questions being used were con-,
fusing.
A board of psychiatrists, drawn
from the membership of the District
Medical Society, will be asked to
study a revised set and reword them
if necessary to make them readily
understandable to all applicants, Mr.
Keneipp said.
The Advisory Board also heard a
report from Mr. Keneipp on new
parking meters for the District.
Mr. Keneipp said that, on the
basis of a survey just completed,
he expects about 3.000 new meters
would be installed after July 1.
Plans for the new safety cam
paign to prevent accidents among
children were discussed at the meet
ing by A. Julian Brylawski, chair
man of the Committee of Education
and Public Information.
Starting June 1, the committee
will launch the mast intensive cam
paign of its kind in the history of
the city, Mr. Brylawski said, in
cluding cartoon advertisements,
prize essay contests and the dis
tribution of literature to the public
on the subject of juvenile accident
prevention.
Self-Appointed Operator
Of Parking Lot Fined
A carwasher who thought he
would pick up a little extra change
bv operating a parking lot on the
owner's day off. yesterday picked
up a $25 fine instead. He was con
victed of false pretenses in Munici
pal Court.
The main trouble was that he
came across the wrong customer—
Pvt. James Faircloth of No. 5 Pre
cinct—last Sunday.
Pvt. Faircloth told Judge Walter
J. Casev he drove into the parking
let at 1606 K street N.W.. He said
he paid James Brown, 37, colored,
ol the 2100 block of L street N.W.,
35 cents for the privilege of parking i
his car. But he got suspicious when j
Brown told him to lock the car and
hang onto the keys, contraary to
weekday procedure at the lot.
The actual operator, Leroy Akers,
testified he had never employed
Brown and that he had told the
man to keep off the lot.
7 D. C. Area War Dead
To Be Buried Tomorrow
Seven World War II dead from
the Washington area wil be among
19 buried at 2 p.m. tomorrow at
Arlington Cemetery.
The men, and their next of kin,
are: T 5 Robert R. Birch, Mrs. Mar
garet S. Birch 2138 Thirtieth street
N.E.: Pvt. James E. Carnell. Mrs.
Elsie Mae Carnell, 7281 Tucker road
S.E.; Pvt. Samuel H. Fleming, jr.,
Mrs. Eva Mae Fleming. 336 Wes
siond drive. Alexandria: Pfc. Robert
E, GifTord, Walter H. Gifford, 5513
Thirtieth street N.W.: First Lt. Wil
liam Hume. Mrs. Ethel W, Hume,
2520 Fourteenth street N.W.: Pfc.
; Lawrence F. Mater, Lawrence P.
! Mater. 2007 Upshur street N.E.. and
Pfc. Thomas E. McArtor. Mrs. Helen
E. McArtor, 111 Roth street, Alex
j andria.
Report on House Bill
Urges Old Age Bureau
Building at Suitland
Construction of one or more Fed
eial buildings at Suitland, Md., to
house the Bureau of Old Age and
Survivors’ Insurance of the Fed
eral Security Agency, now in Balti
more, would be authorized by a bill
new before the House.
Should the project be carried
through, about 4.000 Federal jobs
would be brought back to the
Washington area.
The bill, reported by the House
Public Works Committee with ur
gent recommendations for passage,
calls for use of necessary funds
out of the Federal Old Age and
Survivors’ Insurance Trust Fund. A
limit of cost of $9,500,000 is fixed
for the construction.
Spokesmen lor the social secur
ity Administration and the Public
Buildings Administration strongly
urged passage of the bill, the com
mittee report shows. They crit
icized conditions in the old building
on the Baltimore water front, and
stressed the need for housing the
bureau in or near the National
Capital.
Move Would Pay Cost.
Chairman Dondero of the House;
Public Buildings Committee, in his'
report on the bill, declared that
because of the rent and extra costs
of operating the bureau at Balti
more the new building would pay'
for itself here in 16 years.
Costs in Baltimore now’, he
pointed out. include $500,000 a year
in mnt, *283.000 in extra pay to
night workers required by a two
shift base of operations, and *300
000 for additional supervisory work,
required because of the two shifts, j
The trust fund, which already1
meets the rent and cost of opera
tions in Baltimore, would pay for
the cost of new construction here
under the new’ bill.
The fund was reported as having
a surplus now of more than $8,000,
000.000.
Arthur J. Altmever. commissioner
of the Social Security Administra
tion, was quoted as saying the bu
reau ‘‘is the largest insurance in
stitution in the world, beyond ques
tion, several times over." He said
it now has about 90.000.000 indiv
ual accounts established for the
potential beneficiaries under the
Old Age and Survivors’ Insurance
System.
Building Here Too Small.
Originally intended to be housed
in the Social Security Building at
Fourth street and Independence
avenue N.W., the bureau, Mr. Alt
meyer said, is now too large to be
accommodated there. That struc
ture now contains the Federal Se
curity Agency. Social Security Ad
ministration. United States Public j
Health Service. Office of Education,
and ‘‘certain other Government ac- j
tivities.”
w. e. Keynota*. commissioner oi i
Public Buildings, was quoted as hav- j
ing told the committee: “The space
situation in Baltimore Is extremely
bad. I know of no worse case hardly
in the United States. It is extremely
difficult to understand how they can
get their work done.’’
Federal officials long have en
deavored to bring the bureau back
to Washington but so far have been
unable to find space. While the
pending legislation does not name
Suitland as the site for the pro
posed new structures, it is known
that the nearby Government-owned !
area in Prince Georges County,
purchased years ago. is intended to
be used. Already in operation out
there are Federal buildings for the
Census' Bureau and the Hydro- ;
graphic Office of the Navy. The
Government owns more than 500
acres in the area.
Conferees Will Discuss !
U. S. Pay Raise Tomorrow
Government pay raises will be the
subject of a joint conference of
Senate and House subcommittees of
the Civil Service Committees sched
uled for 11 a m. tomorrow in the
Senate committee room.
Before the meeting, officials said,
a meeting of the Senate and House
conferees will be held at 10 a m. to
consider legislation to provide salary
payments for Federal workers im
properly separated from the service.
The subcommittees will attempt to
speed action on Federal pay raise
legislation. The House group's ver
sion would give temporary raises of
$468 to Government workers and
$585 to postal workers annually. The
Senate subcommittee proposes an
average permanent pay increase of
$650 to Federal employes and $800 to
postal workers, as well as a revised
Classification Act and substantial
raises for Federal officials in the
upper brackets.
Bomb Contest Planned
The Washington Air Derby Asso
ciation will hold a spot-landing and
a bomb-dropping contest and a
•pants-off” Derby at Lee Airport.
Annapolis, at noon Sunday. At the
same time the Seneca Aviation
Club will hold a steals fry.
Dalstrom Takes
Stand .Today at
Board Trial
Witnesses Disagree
In Testimony on
Intoxication Charge
Ivan J. Dalstrom, Fire Depart
ment superintendent of machinery,
was to take the stand in his own
defense before a department trial
board at 1:30 p.m. today on charges
growing out of a collision on April
11 in prince Georges County, Md.
Mr. Dalstrom is charged with
having been intoxicated and with
speeding in a Fire Department
automobile which is assigned to him.
A third charge involving intoxica
tion while on duty was dismissed
by the board yesterday afternoon
when doubt arose as to whether or
not the fact he was in a department
automobile at the time constituted
proof he was “actually on duty.”
Two witnesses yesterday declared
that, in their opinion, he was under
the influence of intoxicating liquors
at tiie time of the accident. An
other witness said that Mr. Dal
strom had taken a drug for a cold
shortly before the accident.
Board Doctor Testifies.
Dr. George Louis Weller, jr., a
member of the Board of Police and
Fire Surgeons, testified he exam
ined Mr. Dalstrom within a verv
short time after the accident and
reached the conclusion he was “un
der the influence of alcohol” at the
time of the collision with an auto
mobile which had stopped for a
traffic light.
similar testimony was submitted
by Lt. E. H. Mulligan of the Colmar
Manor Police Department, who ar
rested the defendant shortly after
the accident. Lt. Mulligan said Mr.
Dalstrom had to be helped across
the street to his car and was “un
steady” and “incoherent.”
Bui Dr. Walter K. Angevine, a
former physician at the District
Jail, who examined Mr. Dalstrom
the day following the accident, said
the conditions from which Dr.
Weller drew’ his conclusions were
not proof of drunkenness. Mr. Dal
strom told him at the time he
examined him, he said, that he had
taken a medicinal compound just
before the accident.
Three Fire Department privates
testified they had seen Mr. Dal
strom several hours before the acci
dent at the Fire Department work
shop and that, at that time, he
showed *no signs of intoxication.
These witnesses were G. V. Bu
chanan, Stanley Moran and K. N.
Raynor.
Mr. Dalstrom was acquitted in
Hyatt sville police court on charges
of drunken driving but was fined
$50 oil charges of reckless driving.
Single PUC Requested
For Metropolitan Area
The Tnterfederation Council last
night called for action looking to
ward legislation that would pro
vide a single public Utilities Com
mission for the Metropolitan Area.
The council, which has repre
sentatives of civic associations from
the District and Fairfax, Montgom
ery, Arlington and Prince Georges
Counties, heard the resolution pre
sented by the public utilities com
mittee.
Obstacles to a unified commis
sion. it was said, exist in laws gov
erning the separate bodies of the
District, Maryland and Virginia.
But members of the council felt
these details could be overcome.
They pointed to the effective joint
action of the District's and Mary
land planning bodies as an example
of successful co-ordination.
H. A. Ward, president of the Fair
fax Federation of Citizens’ Associa
tions. outlined to the council the
need of funds for education in his
county. He said that conditions
warrant a congressional hearing to
determine if the Government has a
responsibility to the county, be
cause of Federal tax-free property.
The council's legislative commit
tee is studying Mr. Ward's request
for action.
William G. Watt, president, con
ducted the meeting at 503 D street
N.W.
Post Seeks fo Buy Confrol
Of WTOP and Drop WINX
Plans for the Washington Post
to acquire 55 per cent ownership
in Radio Station WTOP, with the
Columbia Broadcasting System
holding 45 per cent, were announced
last night.
The proposal, it was explained,
is contingent on approval by the
Federal Communications Commis
sion. Applications now are being
prepared for submission to the
FCC.
The Post announced that when
the transaction is completed, it will
dispose of Stations WINX and
WINX-FM, which it now owns.
Under the plan, a new corpora
tion controlled by the Post will op
erate Station WTOP and WTOP
FM, which is now under construc
tion. Authority also will be sought
for construction and operation of
a television station here on Tele
vision Channel No. 12, the Post and
CBS announced.
CBS said it will continue to main
tain a Washington office and news
staff for the service of the network
Ringling Circus Opens Outdoor Season Here;
Its 'All New' From Acts to Equipment
Children and Adults
Swarm Into Grounds
For First Show
By Wallace E. Clayton
Gay pennants fluttering above the
red and blue big top . . . sleek an
imals drowsing in their red and
silver cages . . . these plus the
shrill screams of delighted children,
the crys of balloon vendors and the
terse orders of section bosses ush
ered in the first outdoor show of the
season by Ringling Bros, and Barn
urn & Bailey Circus here today.
The initial performance of a
three-day stand was at 2:15 p.m.
The circus will perform at 8:15
o’clock tonight and twice daily to
morrow and Thursday at the same
times.
The animals and periormers ar
rived at the circus grounds on Ben
ning road N.E., this morning after a
slow trip from Boston which took
more than 24 hours. First to arrive
was the 23-car section carrying the
animals.
With the arrival of the train
originally scheduled for yesterday
i afternoon, many persons made a
futile trip to the siding for the
customary “circus preview.” Among
them were Mrs. Mary Reichers and
her three children of McLean, Va.
When told last night the circus
would not arrive until today, the
family went home but returned at
6 a m.
Railroad officials reported a crowd
of about 200 were on hand early
last night, but later went home when
told that the show would not arrive
until today.
Wide-eyed youngsters spent much
of the morning wandering about the
gigantic show. The customary “all
new—all different” tenor of the
: circus is not limited this year to
the acts.
For the first time, the largest cir
cus in the world—which celebrates
its 64th anniversary tomorrow—has
employed the use of walkie-talkies
to communicate between the ring
side and persons setting up the next
act. Communication by radio with
other circus vehicles and the lot
office also is now possible.
Another “first” is the introduction
of a laundry car. which will handle
all of the voluminous washing and
dry-cleaning of the circus. It Is
installed in a railroad car.
Replacing the traditional dressing
tent are new, private dressing rooms
The circus is really here. That, obviously, is the viewpoint of
these youngsters, who had to see the elephants to be sure. Peer
ing at the circus regulars are Michael Millard, 3; Howard Millard,
jr.. 5, and Cheryl Ann Phillips, 3, held up by Red Spellman for
a better view. —Star Staff Photo.
underneath the stands. Even those
stands are new—seats and their
supports are welded together and
fold out from 26 trailers parked un
der the Big Top.
Another innovation is emergency
exits leading from the rear of each
section. Except for the end seats,
all chairs now have cushions. Near
ly 2.000 of these new seats were com
pleted on the grounds here when.
trains bearing the canvas equip
ment were brought here a week ago
when a railroad strike was threat
ening.
Despite all the innovations, ob
servers noted one thing the circus
is doing in the same manner as
when it gave its first show with 18
people at Baraboo. Wis., in 1884—
domestic workers were seated be
hind the commissary—peeling pota
toes by hand.
Fire Capt. Werheim
Retired for Disability;
Darling Is Successor
The Commissioners today ap
proved the disability retirement of
Fire Battalion Chief John L. Wer
heim, 54, and authorized promotion
of Capt, George L. Darling to take
his place.
Capt. Werheim, one of the chief
opponents of Chief Clement Murphy
during the recent controversy in the
Fire Department, was appointed to
the department in 1914 and, with
the exception of a three-year gap
during World War I, had served
since. He retires on a salary of $6,
242 per year.
The retirement was recommended
by the Retiring and Relief Board
made up of Assistant Corporation
Counsel Chester H. Gray. Battalion
Chief Engineer R. B. Hanback and
Police Inspector Clarence Talley.
The retirement becomes effective
May 31. The retirement was au
thorized for 100 per cent disability
Chief Werheim acquired in line of
duty.
Capt. Darling, who is 52, has been
serving at engine company No. 2.
while Chief Werheim is commander
of the 6th Battalion. Capt. Werheim
has been a fireman since 1919 and
has acted intermittently as a
battalion chief since 1945. Chief
Murphy’s recommendation for Capt.
Darling’s promotion describes him
as the best qualified captain for the
position of battalion chief. The
promotion is effective June 1.
The Commissioners also approved
the recommended retirement of
Sergt. Johnson K. Pollard, 42, a
fireman for 16 years. Sergt. Pollard,
who also was retired for 100 per
cent disability, lives at 1126 Branch
avenue S.E. His testimony before
the Retiring and Relief Board
revealed that he was injured in
No. 3 Engine Co. and fractured his
left knee while climbing on a fire
truck.
G. 0. P. 'Insurgents' Here
To Appeal Suit Dismissal
"Counsel for ‘ insurgent” Republi
can Party members will appeal the
dismissal by Justice T. Alan Golds
borough of their District Court suit
which sought to halt a party con
vention here last Thursday.
Notice of the appeal was filed by
Attorney Marvin Willig, represent
ing the “insurgents.”
Justice Goldsborough. in dismiss
ing the suit last week, held that the
court had no jurisdiction in the
matter.
The Republican Party meeting
named three delegates and three
alternates to the national conven
tion of the party in Philadelphia
next month.
GSI Plans to Boost Some Items,
But Not Fixed-Price Lunches
Some of the items Government
workers buy for lunch at cafeterias
operated by Government Services.
Inc., will go up in price, but the
fixed-price luncheons will not be
increased, Maj. Gen. Philip B.
Fleming. Federal Works Adminis
trator, announced today.
The fixed-price luncheon is the
principal item bought by Govern
ment. workers in the cafeterias.
"Adjustments in the prices of
some a la carte items will be al
lowed, it W’as decided,” Gen. Flem
ing said after a conference with
GSI officials. The details of these
increases remain to be worked out
and are subject to Gen. Fleming s
approval.
With wage increases of 6’i cents
an hour granted the first of the
year, GSI anticipated increased
operating costs and applied for
relief in the form of higher prices.
A GSI spokesman said, however, it
was found costs did not go up as
much as expected.
Losses experienced from the be
ginning of the year showed a steady
decline and the four-week period
ending April 24 showed a profit,
Gen. Fleming's statement said.
"It is realized, however.” he said,
“that this recent period showed
abnormally high patronage and that
to compensate in periods of lower
patronage for high food prices and
the 612 cents per hour additional
cost of labor since January 1, it
would probably be necessary to
make some adjustments in the
! prices charged In the cafeterias.”
50 Men Save Worker Trapped
1 Vi Hours in Caved-in Ditch
Fifty men worked frantically foi
an hour and 15 minutes today tc
rescue a laborer trapped in a cave
in of a 15-foot sewer ditch at Forty
second and Nash streets N.E.
Sliding in from both sides of the
2-foot wide ditch, dirt buried Johr
Wheeler, 62, colored, of 464 L streel
S.W., from the waist down and 2x10
inch boards supporting the walls
clamped against his head.
Digging w'as precarious, for the
loose soil threatened to give waj
more at any minute and entomt
the man.
Charles P. Smith. 38, of 633 1
street N.W., and William Johnson.
43, 280 Fifteenth street S.E., co
foremen on the job, had returned to
the surface only a few minutes be
fore the landslide. Both w-ere
squatting in the ditch and probably
would have been completely covered.
The foremen, with the aid of Mr.
Wheeler’s son, Randolph, 1124 Third
street S.W., and Lemuel Woodfolk,
65, of 465 M street N.W., succeeded
in releasing the pinned man's head
j from between the planks.
I They were joined later by two
Fire Department truck companies
. and two rescue squads, under the
direction of Third Battalion Chief
A. F. Harding, other workers from
the city dump, and several neigh
bors.
With shovels, the workmen dug
down on each side of the ditch un
til they freed the imprisoned man
at 12:15 a.m.
He at first refused medical at
tention, but was removed to Cas
ualty Hospital and admitted in "un
determined” condition.
The sewer ditch was being dug to
a new house by the Lloyd Plumbing
& He’ating Co., 1740 North Capitol
street. The cave-in occurred near
the front of the house where the
ditch made a right-angle bend.
Barrett Pushing Plans
For July I Opening of
New 14th Precinct
Police Superintendent Robert J.
Barrett said today that if all goes
well, he will have the new Four
teenth Precinct protecting its share
of the old Eleventh Precinct about
July 1.
Operation of the new precinct de
pends on two things—how soon the
Senate approves the House-passed
budget item for 205 more policemen
and how fast the Civil Service
Commission sets up an eligibility
list of new policemen^
Maj. Barrett said he hoped to get
the additions to his force by July
1 and would get them on the street
as fast as possible.
The new precinct, he said, either
will operate from a substation or
share quarters with No. 11 until
its own building is constructed at
Forty-second street and Benning
road N.E.
Bids are due to be advertised
next week for the No. 14 station
house, for which an appropriation
was carried in the 1947 District
budget.
Maj. Barrett said the Civil Serv
ice Commission is making arrange
ments now to hold an examination
for prospective policemen. He said
he hoped to have the results before
July 1.
Although he has not yet located
a possible substation, Maj. Barrett
said he thought a temporary build
ing might be used as an adminis
trative office. Prisoners would be
held at No. 11.
The alternative is sharing No.
ll's stationhouse, a procedure which
has been followed previously. At
one time No. 4 and No. 5 shared
the same stationhouse, as did No.
2 and No. 13.
The new Fourteenth Precinct, ap
proved after years of agitation by
citizens’ groups to keep pace with
the growing population across the
An ac ostia River, will be carved from
No. 11.
The new precinct will be bordered
by the Anacostia River on the
northwest, Pennsylvania avenue on
the southwest and the District line
on the other sides. It will be staffed
with a captain, three lieutenants,
three sergeants, three corporals and
84 privates.
Lancaster Hailstorm
Brings Spring Sledding
•y the Associated Press
LANCASTER. Pa.. May 18
Winter took a curtain call in this
farming region yesterday.
A freak storm dumped tons of
hail stones, *ranging in size from
peas to small cherries, in several
sections of rural Lancaster County.
Dr. Corning Is Named
To Aid Loyalty Check
Of District Employes
The Commissoners today appointed
School Supt. Hobart M. Corning to
their seven-man committee con
sidering a loyalty check for District
employes.
They acted on recommendation of
the Loyalty Committee chairman,
Special Assistant Corporation Coun
sel Daniel B. Maher, three weeks
after referring to the committee a
Board of Education request that Dr.
Corning participate in any loyalty
deliberations.
The Commissioners failed to in
clude Dr. Corning among the seven
officials appointed to the committee
on April 27, referring the Board of
Education's nomination to the
Maher committee.
The committee, meantime, has de
cided there is no necessity for a
general loyalty check for all District
workers, but still is surveying all
District agencies to determine if
any positions or installations can be
considered “sensitive'' to national
security.
At their first meeting two weeks
ago the Maher Committee deferred
action on the request that Dr. Corn
ing join the committee. When the
committee was formed. Commis
sioner John Russell Young indicated
Dr. Corning was left off the loyalty
panel because ‘‘the Commissioners
have no authority to fire school em
ployes.” He decided at that time
to leave it to the Maher Committee
whether Dr. Corning should become
the eighth member.
Other members are Charles Stof
berg. special assistant to Commis
sioner John Russell Young: Geoffrey
M. Thornett, secretary to the Board
of Commissioners: Director of Cor
rections Donald Clemmer, Police In
spector Floyd A. Truscott, Assistant
Engineer Commissioner Keneth E.
Madsen, and Victor Howard, secre
tary of the District Personnel Board.
Adjusted Traffic Tickets
Total 115 During Week
A total of 115 traffic tickets were
adjusted last week, the Metropolitan
Police Department has announced
—a drop of 12 from the previous
week's total.
Police canceled seven tickets last
week and let off 108 motorists with
warnings.
Ticket adjustments by precincts
are as follows: No. 1 Precinct gave
14 warnings and no cancellations;
No. 2, 8 and 0; No. 3, 11 and 5: No.
4, 13 and 0; No. 5, 3 and 0: No. 6,
8 and 0: No. 7, 3 and 0; No. 8, 5
and 0; No- 9. 1 and 0: No. 10, 8 and
0; No. 11. 5 and 0: No. 12, 0 and 0,
and No. 13, 6 and 0, and the Traffic
Division, 23 and 2.
U.S. Loan for 18
Schools Urged
By Trade Board
Executive Committee
Asks Legislation for
$12,559,440 Plan
By Coit Hendley, Jr.
The Executive Committee of th*
Board of Trade has asked the Com
missioners to prepare legislation
which would authorise the District
to borrow $12,559,440 from the Fed
eral Treasury to get 18 school
building projects completed by 1950.
This change from the normal way
of financing the construction of
school houses here was recommend
ed after a meeting of the Executive
Committee yesterday. The 18 proj
ects were considered the most urgent
to meet the approaching crisis in
the school system here—a crisis de
veloping because of expected stag
gering increases in enrollment, par
ticularly in the elementary schools.
Nine of the projects recommended
are for new schools. The other nine
are either additions or improve
ments to existing buildings. All
have been recommended previously
by school officials and the Board of
Education.
Repayment in 15 Years.
The trade group recommended
that the loan be repaid in annual
installments over a maximum period
of 15 years, beginning with the fiscal
year 1950. It also asked that all
“frills,” nonessentials and costly fea
tures be eliminated from the build
ings. The loan would be made with
out interest.
The trade group decided to con
centrate on the elementary school
problem in light of estimates that
four years from now the enroll
ment in these schools would in
crease by some 27,000 pupils. Th#
necessity for financing needs of th#
junior and senior high schools will
be considered at “some future
time,” the committee said.
The action yesterday was a com
promise, growing out of separate
recommendations from the Trad#
Board's education committee and
its municipal finance committee.
The education committee, headed
by John M. Howard, originally pro
posed that loans totaling $44,452,
459 for a five-year school building
program be undertaken. This pro
gram would get everything built
which school officials felt is neces
sary to bring the school system up
to current needs.
Financial Status Cited.
The municipal finance commit
tee. headed by Maj. Gen. David
McCoach, jr„ said that it was not
"deemed wise or practical to un
dertake this complete program at
this time, because of the status of
District finnances.” It recommend
ed a loan totaling $10,418,790.
The executive committee agreed
yesterday that only the first—and
most urgent—needs should be met
at this time by such a loan.
Under normal procedure, with
Congress appropriating some money
each year for construction on a
“pay-as-you-go” basis, the trade
group estimated the 18 projects
would not be in full use before 1952
even if Congress appropriated all
the money necessary. But, by mak
ing the loan, the elementary schools
probably could be completed and in
full use by January, 1950, and all of
the 18 projects completed by Sep
tember, 1950.
The committee reports pointed
out that borrowing or debt financing
for capital expenditures is not a
new or revolutionary idea—even for
the District which normally runs
on a "pay-as-you-go" basis with
yearly appropriations. The Capper
Cramton Act, which provided for
the anticipated needs for park areas,
authorized an appropriation of
$16,000,000, which now is being paid
back by the District.
Recommended Projects.
The 18 projects recommended are:
A replacement for the Amidon,
Fairbrother and Greenleaf Elemen
tary Schools: a new elementary
school in the vicinity of Oxon Run
S.E.: a new elementary school for
River Terrace S.E.; an addition to
Elliott Junior High School: im
provements to Macfarland Junior
High School: additions to Rudolph
Elementary School; a replacement
for the Seaton Elementary School;
an addition to the Banneker Junior
High School.
Also, an addition to the Bruce
; Elementary School; improvements
to the Dunbar High School: a new
elementary school near Pomeroy
and Stanton roads S.E.: an addition
to the Payne Elementary School;
improments to Slowe Elementary
School; a replacement for Stevens
Elementary School: an addition to
Syphax Elementary' School; a re
placement for Terrell Junior High
Schood and a new junior high
school at Pomeroy and Stanton
roads S.E.
The trade group felt that the
, Board of Education and school offi
cials are not responsible for the
present situation and have shown
j "excellent management in planning”
school needs.
The circumstances which have
caused the crisis include a large
growth of population in Washington
the shifting of the population, par
i ticularly in the Southeast and
Northeast sections: lack of construc
■ tion during the war, and appropria
tions for capital outlay which have
been inadequate.
The two committee reports were
based on a survey of school condi
tions and needs made by a special
; group, headed by Louis F. Bohraus
; and Don P. McAdoo.
OpiumWorth$5,OOOSeized
In Raid on K Street House
Police and United States marshal*
today reported seizure of opium val
ued at *5,000 to *10.000 in a raid on
a house in the 1200 block of K street
N.W.
Arrested were three men. all
Chinese. At least two will be
charged with illegal possession of
narcotics, police said.
Seized with the opium were a
quantity of pipes and lamps, it was
reported. Part of tHe drug was de
scribed as in a "raw state,” requir
ing "cooking” before being usable.
Police in the raid included Lt. H.
H. Carper and Detective Sergt. Wil
liam Taylor.