Evening star. [volume], June 08, 1948, Image 19

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
Addition Asked
To House State
Department
$42,150,000 Request
Includes Census
Building at Suitland
Congress has been asked to au
thorize a $42,150,000 extension to
the present State Department
building and construction of a build
ing at Suitland, Md„ for the Census
Bureau.
A request for the structure came
from Maj. Gen. Philip B. Fleming.
Federal Works administrator. It
was referred, with a proposed bill
to the House Public Works Com
mittee for consideration.
In his letter Gen. Fleming said
the measure would authorize the
Federal Works Agency to extend
and remodel the State Department
building at Twenty-first street and
Virginia avenue N.W. to house all
faculties of that department.
The entire project would cover
four blocks, from Twenty-first to
Twenty-third, and from C to E
streets N.W.
The building at Suitland, Md.. to
be constructed on Government
owned land near other buildings al
ready used by the Census Bureau,
is needed. Gen. Fleming said, for
activities in connection with the
1950 census.
Cites Shift in lTse.
Explaining the need for-the State
Department addition, Gen. Fleming
pointed out the present building on
Virginia avenue was constructed in
1939 ior the War Department. Con
gress authorized and appropriated
not only for construction of the first
unit, now built, but also for acquisi
tion of all the land required for
the completed structure, including
existing buildings which were made
available for wartime use by the
Government.
‘‘Construction of the Pentagon
and the unification program,” Gen.
Fleming explained, “caused a change
in the designated use of the building.
It was then assigned as headquar
ters for the State Department and
as a nucleus for activities of that
Department which were assigned to
buildings in that immediate area.
Occupies 23 Buildings.
“In 1943 the State Department
occupied about 400.000 square feet
of space in 11 buildings; on May 1,
1946. by expansion and transfers, the
Department had increased to 1,190,
000 square feet in 44 buildings. The
Department now' is occupying ap
proximately 1,175.000 net square feet
in 23 buildings."
Construction of the building will
vacate for other use or release, about
325,000 square feet of leased build
ing and about 275,000 square feet in
Government-owned buildings.
The old State Department build
ing at Seventeenth street and Penn
sylvania avenue N.W. now houses
the Budget Bureau and executive
offices of the White House.
Maryland Park High Plans
Exercises Next Tuesday
Four students will address the
graduating class of the Maryland
Park High School at commence
ment exercises in the school build
ing at 8 p.m. next Tuesday.
Doris Benton, valedictorian, Ralph
Butler. Betty Karavangelos. and
Patricia Glass will speak on the
“Challenge of Destiny.”
The following is a tentative list
of graduates:
Academic.
Bowman. Harry Benton. Doris
Butler. Raiph Collins. Frances
Gainer. Giles Hartman. Norman
Hinlev. Robert Jenkins. Anne
Hud-on. Fred Karavangelos. E.
Karavangelos. Fred Kern. Phyllis
Miller. Arthur McCread.v. Shirlev
Rutherford. William McGuire. Patricia
Va.ida. John White. Rita
Widman. Richard
Commercial.
McKimmie. W. Houchen. Betty
Beltz. Betty McCormac. Edith
Briggs. Evelyn Ogle. Beverly
Burns. Marie Palmer. Angelina
Conte Marguerite Payne. Beatrice
Fioravanti. Yolanda Riley. Joan
Gartner. Shirley Smith. Charlotte
Girton. Mary Smith. Dolores
Glass. Patricia Suthard. Clara E.
Graham. Alberta Torvik. Elizabeth
Griffith. Delores Walker. Lois
Herbert. Roberta Wiedemann. Emilv
General.
Anthony. William A. Krahl. George R.
Alvey. Mary V. Motley. Ruth E.
Ball. Joseph E Lagarta. Frank
Birkett. Eleanor R. Myers. Gertrude D.
Beall. Charles R. • Lindsey. Hueston J.
Brown- Far M. Norfolk. Edna J.
Beall. George E Lutton. Clifford L.
Burroughs. M A Richardson. M. A.
Beckert. George M. Madel. Frank J
Cooper. Margarei L. Rippel. Shirlev J
Bcdnarik. Charles E. McAllister. Lenwood
Downs. Doris B Shaw. Lura J
Boswell. David S. McGhee. Carl W.
Elgin. Dolores V. Stowe. Marie O.
Brady. Albert W Milstead. Wayne L.
Ellsworth. Mary J Taylor. Selma M.
Brady, Frederick A. Mundie. David L.
Ford. Maryann Thompson. Agnes V.
Burroughs. E. J . jr. Neidenbach. Edward
Gromen. Dorothy J. Thompson. V. E.
Burroughs. G W. Pace. Lorenzo C.
Haltpap. Ethel L. Wright. Jean H.
Courtney. R. D Palmer- Revelle C.
Hancock, M K Rayle. Donald E
Dean. Stanley E Redding. Robert S.
Harpine. Leonie C. Simms David L.
Dove. William L Smith. Harry E
Hayden. Margaret K. Stanton. Thomas C.
Fowler. James E jr. Stevenson Chester A.
Hover. Blanche N. Stiles. William A.
Gordon. B. F jr. Stommel. Charles T.
Hunt. Doris M Strahorn. Lynn C.
Gottlied. Robert C. Sullivan. F. W.. II
Krotendofer. Marie Timms. William H.
Hunt. John J Weedon. John F
Mandley. Joyce M. • Whalen. Joseph E
Killinger. Paul L Winstead. George H.
McDonald. C W
21 Girls Get Diplomas
At St. Agnes School
Twenty-one girls were awarded
diplomas yesterday at St. Agnes
School, Alexandria.
The Rev. Alexander C. Zabriski,
dean of the Virginia Episcopal The
ological Seminary, was principal
speaker. Three of the graduates
were awarded scholarships to col
lege. They were Nancy Downes, to
Smith College; Betsy Kevin, to Bryn
Mawr. and Nancy Jane Thompson,
to Goucher. A postgraduate cer
tificate was received by L. Annette
Allbee.
Other graduates were:
Berding. Anne C. Maguire. Sue Darby
Carter. Jean Norman Naquin. Frances-L.
Cobb. Sarah Lee New. Elizabeth P.
Cooke. Helen Perry Newton. Neva Ann
Duncan. Dorothy V. Ribble. Mary *D.
Ennis, Sarah Brison Simmons, Ellen H.
Ervin. Suzanne H. Spaulding. K. S
Gowen, Faith W. Thomas. Nancy B.
Hickey. Patricia A Watt. Elizabeth D.
D. C. Man Forfeits $200
In County Numbers Case
James Williams. 50. of the 1000
block of New York avenue N.W..
forfeited $200 in Upper Marlboro
Police Court yesterday on two
charges, including one for possess
ing numbers slips.
Williams, who is colored, was ar
rested April 28 after a minor col
lision on Marlboro pike, near Upper
Marlboro. He forfeited $150 on the
numbers charge and $50 on a reck
less driving count.
A
<MRS. MILDRED B. HARMAS.
—Chase-Statler Photo.
Woman and Druggist Win
Kensington Council Race
Mrs. Mildred B. Harman, news
paperwoman, last night became the
i first woman elected to the Kensing
■ ton Town Council.
Mrs. Harman
polled 226 votes
and was first in
a field of four
candidates seek
ing the two
Council seats.
The other seat
went to James A.
I. Parker, drug
gist. w:ith 218
votes.
In a hard
fought race for
Mayor. Leonard
D a y mude,
plumbing con
tractor. who al
imp «
Mr. Daymude.
ready is a Council member, was
elected by seven votes over Howard
Bean, Bureau of Standards employe.
Mr. Daymude received 191 votes. A
special election will be held to choose
a successor to Mr. Daymude's
Council seat when he assumes the
office of Mayor July 1. Mrs. Harman
and Mrs. Parker also take office
July 1.
The two unsuccessful Council can
didates were Douglas Birchby, 161
votes, and Robert Caviness, 130
votes.
Mr. Daymude succeeds Col. C. V.
Sayer as Mayor. Col. Saver has
served four 2-year terms.
3 Hurt as Train Hits
Auto in Chevy Chase,
Shoves It 597 Feet
Three Maryland men were injured
yesterday when the car in which
they were riding was struck and
shoved 597 feet by a Baltimore &
Ohio freight train at Jones Bridge
road in Chevy Chase, Md.
Injured were Fred L. Smith, 28.
of Walkersville, the driver, who was
treated for scalp lacerations at Sub
urban Hospital and released, and
Clarence Huffer, 65, Frederick, and
Ralph Smith. 58, Walkersville. who
were admitted. Their condition
was reported to be good today.
Bethesda police said the 21-car
freight train was backing across the
intersection at a speed of about 8
to 10 miles an hour when the col
lision occurred. The caboose struck
the car as it was half-way over the
crossing. The rear coupling pierced
the car, which went 597 feet down
the track before the train came to
a halt. Damage to the caboose
was negligible.
There is only a sign at the inter
section.
The engineer of the train was R.
M. Carrell, 48, Branchville, Md. The
conductor was Franklin R. Lake. 61,
Arlington, who was conductor of a
B. & O. freight train which in May,
1947, struck a Congressional Country
Club bus. killing three club employes
and injuring five others. That acci
dent occurred on the same line at
the Dorset street crossing in Beth
esda, about four miles west of the
scene of yesterday’s collision. Mr.
Lake was one of four trainmen
acquitted of manslaughter.
No charges have been placed In
connection with yesterday’s accident.
Takoma Citizens' Picnic
Attended by Nearly 100
The Citizens' Association of Ta
koma, D. C. held their annual picnic
last night on the Takoma Park
Playgrounds Fifth and Van Buren
streets N.W., with nearly 100 per
sons participating.
Jesse C. Suter spoke on the limited
possibility of District legislation
passing before the adjournment of
Congress.
The association adopted a resolu
tion commending the accomplish
ments of Senator Capper, Republi
can. of Kansas during his almost
30 years as a member of the Senate
District Committee, in which he
served a number of years as chair
man. He has announced that he
will not run for re-election.
The work of Carl C. King, one of
the pioneer workers in the associa
tion. was praised by speakers and
he was elected an honorary life
member.
A resolution' was adopted calling
the attention of the director of traf- j
fic and 6th precinct officials to the!
excessive speeding of motorists over|
Piney Branch road, which extends;
into Maryland and was termed a j
"speedway.”
Community singing was conducted
by Miss Ruth Ivers and Miss Marie:
Whitbeck. The business session was i
conducted by Charles H. Whitbeck,!
president.
Hyattsville Pay Raises
Await Committee Report
The Hyattsville City Council last
night decided to await a report of
i its Civil Service Committee before
acting on proposed salary increases
for city employes.
Mayor Ceasar Aiello pointed out
if the pay increases are not acted
on until after the beginning of the
fiscal year July 1, they can be made
retroactive. Dr. V. R. Boswell is
chairman of the Council's Civil
Service Committee.
The council accepted a petition of
property owners for concrete side
walks on Jefferson street between
Thirty-sixth and Thrity-eighth ave
i nues. A hearing on the petition
will be held June 21.
It was voted to ban parking on
the south side of Decatur street
between Forty-first and Forty
second places.
•»
Fairfax Towns
And Alexandria
Voting Today
Five Council Seats
In Vienna Sought
By 10 Candidates
Voters in Alexandria and the
Fairfax County towns of Falls
Church. Vienna. Fairfax and Clif
ton go to the polls today to choose
municipal officials.
Four Democratic candidates for
City Council in Alexandria, Albert
A. Smoot, Leroy S. Bendheim,
Marshall S. Beverley and Roy C.
Bragg are unopposed for the four
Alexandria Council seats and there
has been no campaign for write-in
opposition.
In Vienna 10 candidates are seek
ing five Town Council seats. John
Nichols and Joseph Davies are
candidates for Mayor.
’ Falls Church voters will elect a
Mayor and three councilmen. Albert
Orme is unopposed for Mayor. Two
candidates are seeking election from
both the first and third wards, and
in the second ward J. H. McCarthy,
incumbent, is unopposed.
Fairfax Council Vacancies.
Six candidates are seeking the
six Town Council vacancies in the
town of Fairfax. No candidate has
announced for Mayor and the write
in votes will decide the winner.
A comparatively light vote was
expected today in municipal elections
in most localities elsewhere in the
State.
Voters in several cities and most
of the 185 incorporated towns were
going to the polls to cast their bal
lots for councilmen, Mayors, clerks
or recorders, treasurers, sergeants
and assessors or commissioners of
revenue.
The councilmanic elections were
of chief interest.
Interest High at Richmond.
Interest was probably at the high
est pitch in Richmond, where voters
were electing a nine-man Council
under the city's new charter. The
candidates include 20 independents
and a nine-man slate backed by the
Richmond Citizens’ Association.
In Lynchburg, four candidates are
running for the three seats to be
filled on City Council.
Danville’s ballot carries two can
didates for Mayor and eight for
City Council. Some 5,000 voters
there are expected to elect a Mayor
and four councilmen.
Takoma Park Mayor
And Council Sworn In
John C. Post was sworn In as
Mayor of Takoma Park by Retiring
Mayor Oliver W. Youngblood last
night at a special meeting of the
newly elected council. ” "'
In turn, he swore in the following
council members: Herman C. Heff
ner, J. H. Nies, Walter H. McClenon,
Sherwood Githens, jr.; John T.
Parkerson. Ross H. Beville and H.
Brooks Perring. All were elected
for two-year terms.
In turning over his office, former
Mayor Youngblood, who has served
eight years, extended congratula
tions to Mayor Post in a brief ad
dress. At the May election the
number of councilmen was in
creased from six to seven, due to
growth of the town.
The new council adopted an ordi
nance retaining the present $1.20
per $100 town tax rate for the com
ing fiscal year.
Permission was granted Our Lady
of Sorrows Catholic Church to hold
a carnical July 12-17 at Ethan Allen
and Jackson avenues.
Summer High School Opens
In Montgomery June 28
The seventh annual summer high
school for Montgomery County stu
dents is scheduled to open at the
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School
on June 28 for an eight-week term.
William G. Pyles, assistant principal,
will be director of the summer
| school.
Two classes will be held daily, one
from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and the other
from 12:30 to 3 p.m. High school
students thus may earn two credits
for the summer’s work. Tuition is
$15 per credit for residents of Mont
gomery County, with an additional
fee of $10 per credit for out-of
! county students.
Any high school course desired by
registrants will be given if a mini
mum of 15 pupils register for it. Mr.
Pyles requests that students register
at once, as the number of registra
tions will determine the courses to
be offered.
Virginia CIO Council Backs
Souther in House Race
Arthur Fuller Souther of Arling
ton, candidate for the 8th District
I Democratic nomination to the House
in opposition to Representative
Smith, has been indorsed by the
Virginia CIO Council,
i President Charles G. Webber said
CIO members were being urged to
work also for the primary nomina
tion of James P. Hart, jr., Roanoke
attorney who is opposing Senator
Robertson: State Senator James E.
Gardner of Richmond, opponent of
Representative Gary in the 3d Con
gressional District, and Robert W.
Menefee, Roanoke, one of three
candidates for the vacant House seat
in the 6th.
The CIO Council also Indorsed
several candidates in today’s mu
nicipal elections, including John
Flipp for the Fredericksburg City
Council
Mrs. McMillin Honored
At Mary Baldwin Exercises
By Associated Press
STAUNTON. Va., June 8.—Mrs.
Lucille Poster McMillin of Wash
ington. first woman member of the
Civil Service Commission, was pre
sented an Algernon Sydney Sullivan
award in recognition of a career of
distinction reflecting honor upon
her alma mater at Mary Baldwin
college’s graduation exercises yes
terday.
Fifty graduates received Bachelor
of Arts degrees from Dr. Prank Bell
Lewis, president of Mary Baldwin, I
WHERE BLAST BROUGHT DEATH.—In this shattered car,
William A. Denekas was killed yesterday by what police believe
was a dynamite bomb planted in the auto. This view, showing
the wrecked interior, was taken from the right side looking
toward the dashboard. A shoe torn from the motorist’s foot
by the blast is circled. The arrow points to the rear of the car,
where Mr. Denekas was furled by the explosion. (From yes
terday’s late editions.)
This exterior view of the death car shows the extent of the
wreckage. Police, shown here examining the blast-torn auto
mobile, believe a bomb was rigged to explode when the ignition
was switched on, (From yesterday’s late editions.)_'
Mrs. Helen V. Denekas, estranged wife of the blast victim,
is shown here with their two sons, Robert, 7, and William, jr.,
9, right —Star Staff Photos.
Arlington Girl, 14, Wins
Virginia UDC Essay Prize
Mary Meade Harnett. 14, Wash
ington-Lee Junior High School stu
dent, won the first Arlington County
prize and the third State prize in an
annual essay contest sponsored* by
the Virginia Division of the United
Daughters of the Confederacy, it
was announced yesterday.
Mary, who will receive a book and
a $5 cash award, won the prizes for
an essay on Mary Custis Lee.
Michael Mason, 13, of Washington
Lee, won second place in the county
contest for his essay on Gen. Robert
E. Lee's wife.
In another phase of the eontest—
an essay on Admiral Raphael
Semmes of the Confederate Navy,
Betty Patricia Rogers, 13, of Thomas
Jefferson Junior High School, won
first prize in the county. Raymond
Omdorff, 13, of Washington-Lee
placed second, and Caroline Hurst,
14, Thomas Jefferson, received
honorable mention.
Two D. C. Youths Held
In County Auto Thefts
Two Washington youths, arrested
FYiday in connection with a series
of larcenies from parked automo
biles in the Bladensburg area,
waived preliminary hearings in
Hyattsville Police Court yesterday
in favor of jury trials in the Prince
Georges County Circuit Court.
The youths, Leonard D. Yates, 19,
of the 1700 block of Capitol ave
nue N.E., and Edward D. Donald
son. 20, of the 1400 block of E
street NJE„ were released under
$600 bond each.
*
Truck Driver Acquitted
In Girl's Traffic Death
Walter Ray Cubbage, 31, of Plum
Point, Md., was acquitted on a man
slaughter charge yesterday, but was
fined *100 for reckless driving In
connection with the traffic death of
a 4-year-old Upper Marlboro girl
May 28.
Mr. Cubbage. a , dealer for The
Star, was driving a truck which
struck Carol Scarborough, daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Scarborough,
on Largo road, near her home at
Upper Marlboro. The child died of
a fractured skull, and other head in
juries in Providence Hospital, Wash
ington. She had been hit by the
side of the track.
In acquitting Mr. Cubbage, Trial
Magistrate Alan Bowie at Marlboro
ruled that no "gross negligence” was
involved, a necessity to convict on a
manslaughter count. The magis
trate in finding him guilty of reck
less driving, told Mr. Cubbage he
should have “slowed down” when
he saw the girl.
Mr. cubbage appealed the reck
less driving-conviction.
Officers Re-elected
At Study Guild Meeting
All officers of the Study Guild
Catholic Library last night were re
elected at the organization’s annual
meeting at the library, 1725 Rhode
Island avenue N.W.
The officers renamed are;
Miss Anne Fitzhugh, president;
Miss Virginia McCormick, vice pres
ident; Miss Mary McBride, secre
tary; Miss Genevieve Cushing,
treasurer, and Miss Clara Harring
ton, librarian. ^
WILLIAM A. DENEKAS.
Killed by blast.
(Story on Page A-l.)
Gaming Probe Slated
To Resume Today; Fay
Silent on Casino Raid
Resumption of the special grand
jury investigation of gambling here
was expected today, following a
week-end recess that extended
through yesterday.
There was speculation some of
the persons arrested in the raid
early Saturday on Rocway Towers,
a gambling casino near Laurel,
Md., might appear eventually as
witnesses in the inquiry because of
their Washington area connections.
United States Attorney George
Morris Fay, however, refused to
say whether the raid, conducted by
Maryland State police, was made in
co-operation with the local investi
gation.
He spent most of yesterday con
ferring with Assistant United
States Atto/neys John W. Fihelly
and Charles B. Murray, his chief
assistants in the inquiry.
Beyond a possible reappearance
of Police Supt. Robert J. Barrett,
who testified all day last Friday,
there was no indication as to fu
ture witnesses as the special grand
jury entered its fourth week.
The secret investigation has ap
peared to have consisted so far in
providing the 23 jurors with back
ground information on the status
of gambling operations here. Most
of the witnesses have been police
officials.
It has been expected known “big
shot” gamblers, including those
with headquarters in Maryland and
Virginia, will be subpoenaed before
the special grand jury completes its
study. __
Geddy to Head Alumni
Of William and Mary
qy the Associated Press
WILLIAMSBURG, Va.. June 8.—
Vernon M. Geddy of Williamsburg,
has been ne-elected President of the
Society of the Alumni, College of
William and Mary.
Carroll K. Quaintance, Cranford,
N. J„ was rp-elected vice president,
and Edward N. Islin, Newport News,
secretary-treasurer.
Teller in Alexandria
Indicted Alter Baring
$999 Embezzlement
A bank teller who, with his pastor,
informed the Alexandria First Na
tional Bank he had embezzled
$999.01 of its funds, was indicted by
a Federal grand jury at Alexandria
yesterday.
Earl Carl Mueller, 2600 block
South Nash street, was indicted on
a charge of embezzling the funds,
which the United States Attorney's
office said had not been missed until
the teller confessed the crime on
advice of his clergyman.
Oardner L. Boothe, bank official,
said the bank did not want to
prosecute Mr. Mueller because full
restitution had been made. He
said the matter, however, had to be
reported to the examiners. Mr.
Boothe explained the shortage had
not been discovered because it oc
curred between scheduled bank
examinations.
Teller Six Tears With Sana.
Mr. Mueller had worked for the
bank about six years, and the in
dictment charged embezzlement oc
curred between January, 1942, and
March, 1948. Mr. Mueller has left
the bank and is working elsewhere
in Alexandria. He was freed under
$500 bond.
He was not arraigned after his
indictment because Federal Judge
Albert V. Bryan disqualified him
self. The jurist served on the
bank's board of directors before
being appointed to the bench.
Last June $27,000 was stolen from
the bank’s night depository. David
Briggs, colored, a former janitor at
the bank, is serving eight years for
that crime. Mrs. Eulalia Matthews,
a Washington fortune teller known
as Madame Yvonne, and Briggs’ wife
are awaiting grand jury action for
receiving stolen property in the
theft. 1
Henry Spangler, 200 block East
Windsor avenue, Alexandria, was
another of the 24 persons indicted
yesterday. He was charged with
using the mails to defraud by selling
through the malls an alleged cure
for sinusitis and other nasal ail
ments. His business was known as
Bullock’s Laboratories, Inc., the
United States attorney’s office re
ported.
Other Indictments.
Others indicted were Emerson J.
Fling, former temporary mail car
rier in Arlington, charged with
destroying a number of postal cards
instead of delivering them; William
F. Walton, selling liquor at the
Pentagon: Noah T. Nelson and Ken
neth Dekker, theft on Government
reservation (Arlington Cemetery);
Joseph Chester Miazga, involuntary
manslaughter in the traffic death of
Marie Mabel Moyers on May 26,
1946, and auto theft; Robert Lee
Alexander, colored, carnal knowl-1
edge in a penal institution, and
Grady Morris, photographing United
States currency.
Oxon Hill PTA to Elect
The Oxon Hill PTA will elect of
ficers at a meeting in the Oxon Hill
High School at • o’clock tonight.
Pepcowitnesses
Stress Need of
Higher Income
PUC to Hear Expert;
Company Treasurer
Urges Rate Boost
By Jerry O'Leary, Jr.
The Potomac Electric Power Co.
today was to produce an out-of-town
expert to testify before the Public
Utilities Commission to back up the
company's contention that its “crit
ical” financial situation requires an
increase in electric rates.
The expert, Edward Hopkinson,
jr., a partner in Drexel & Co... Phil
adelphia, was scheduled to take the
stand in connection with Pepco’s re
quest for rate increases that would
add 43 cents a month to the average
customer’s electric bill.
Mr. Hopkinson, according to At
torney James Francis Reilly, has
made an independent study of
Pepco’s financial position. The
Pepco lawyer said, the witness will
demonstrate the need for an in
crease in the company’s earnings.
Treasurer Testifies.
R. Roy Dunn, vice president and
treasurer of the electric company,
testified today that Pepco needs in
creased earnings to attract capital
for a planned expansion program.
Another witness who may take the
stand today to testify for the higher
electric rates is Fischer S. Black,
assistant to the Pepco president. Mr.
Black is expected to limit his testi
mony to explaining the proposed
rate schedule.
Pepco seeks the increase on two
principal grounds: That it is los
ing money because of increased
fuel and other costs and that it is
not making enough money to finance
its required expansion.
Witnesses yesterday testified Pepco
will have to spend about $86,500,000
in the next five years to keep up
service to present patrons and pro
vide service for new customers. Mr.
Reilly described the company’s fl-'
nancial situation variously as “seri
ous” and “critical.”
Kising costs iitea.
Charles L. Carr, assistant con
troller of the company, yesterday
told the PUC that Pepco continued
to find itself adversely affected by
spiraling costs, the end of which, he
said, is not yet in sight.
“The cost of fuel has continued
to advance at an alarming rate,”
Mr. Carr testified, “and the costs
of labor, material and other ex
penses also continue to rise."
He pointed out the company
suffered a deficiency of more than
*400,000 below the basic rate of re
turn of SU per cent in 1947 and
that relief is necessary this year in
view of the continued rise in costs.
Pepco wants the 43-cents-a-month
average increase to become effec
tive July 1.
• Mr. Carr declared the results of
operation for the first four months
of 1948 demonstrate conclusively
that Pepco's concern with, respect
to the continued decline in its earn
ings is warranted.
Projects and Costs Listed.
Earlier, W. J. Lank, chief electrical
engineer, described the large num
ber of construction projects Pepoo
contemplates for the next five years.
He said Pepco must spend *1,363,400
on production plant, *3,567,450 on
transmission, *3,064,960 on general
plant and *43,704,400 on distribu
tion. Of the later figure, the engi
neer said, *12,00,000 will be spent
for customer extensions and cus
tomer services.
Mr. Carr testified the $86,500,000
for construction is two or three
times greater than the amount the
company ever spent in any similar
five-year period in its 52-year his
tory.
Residents of Alexandria and Ar
lington and Fairfax Counties would
not be affected by the proposed rate
increase. Residents of Prince
Georges and Montgomery Counties,
however, are watching the hearings
in the District Building with inter
est. Pepco filed similar rate increase
proposals with the Maryland Public
Service Commission on May 27.
Representatives of the PSC. attend
ing yesterday’s session, speculated'
they may not even require hearings
in Maryland, if sufficient testimony
is brought out in the District. In
any event, Maryland will not act on
the proposal until the District PUO
arrives at a decision, a PSC spokes
man said.
Fenwick Reappointed
To Boxing Commission
ly fh. Allocated Pr.ti
RICHMOND, Va., June 8—Gov.
Tuck yesterday reappointed State
Senator Charles R. Fenwick of Ar
lington to the State Boxing and
Wrestling Commission for a five
year term.
He also reappointed for four-year
terms two members of the State Dry
Cleaners’ Board—S. Ray Barrett of
Norfolk and Stewart H. Woody of
Richmond.
As members of the Virginia com
mission on the Washington and Dee
bicentennial celebration, he named
John Newton Thomas of Richmond.
[State Senator L. U. Noland of New
port News and State Senator Gar
| land Gray of Waverly.
Dance Recitals Planned
At Cheverly School
Dance recitals for benefit of the
Prince Georges County Boys’ Club
will be given Saturday and Sunday
at the Cheverly-Tuxedo Elementary
School.
The program, annual revue of
the Mercedes B. Frazier School of
Dance, will consist of 30 acts by
120 boys and girls. It is entitled,
“The Big Top.”
The Saturday show will start at
8 p.m. and the Sunday perform
ance at 2:30 pjn. Tickets will
cost 81.
Montgomery Players
Invited to Tryouts
Members of the Montgomery
Players have been invited to attend
tryouts for the Washington Theater
Alliance production, "Joan of Lor
raine.”
The tryouts will be held at the
Foundry Methodist Church dramatic
hall, Sixteenth and P streets N.W..
at 8 o’clock tonight and tomorrow
The production will be staged at
jthe Sylvan Theater ig July.