Evening star. [volume], June 08, 1948, Image 20

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

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SOCIETY AND GENERAL NEWS WASHINGTON NEWS
• WASHINGTON, D. C. JU-vIlilljJ ^ivll TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 1948
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Committee Fails
To Remove Ban
On Nevius Tract
Prospects of Using
Site for VA Hospital
Apparently Killed
By George Beveridge
The House Appropriations Com
mittee today failed to lift its con
troversial ban on use of the Nevius
tract in Arlington for a proposed
veterans’ hospital—apparently kill
ing the prospects of using the site
for the carefully planned 750-bed
institution.
Attempts to lift the ban are ex
pected to come through amendments
when the House takes up the Vet
erans’ Administration appropriation
bill tomorrow, but committee mem
bers said they plan no further ac
tion. If the amendments fail, a last
ditch fight may be carried to the
Senate.
If the ban holds the Government
will have a $1,600,000 white elephant
on its hands, and no immediate pros
pect for its use.
Title Already Acquired.
The House slapped the ban on th^
25*acre property last June after
Representative Smith, Democrat, of
Virginia protested that it was too ex
pensive. VA already had acquired
title to the land, depositing $851,000.
In February, however, a Federal
court in Alexandria awarded owners
of the property, headed by Avon
M. Nevius, retired vice president of
Riggs National Bank, $1,600,000 as
the purchase price.
VA use of the land then became
an "on again, off again" proposition,
with VA officials confidently expect
ing the appropriations group to lift
the barrier.
Withdrew Objections.
Records of committee hearings,
released today, disclosed that Mr.
Smith officially withdrew his objec
tions to use of the land for the hos
pital at a hearing May 26. He testi
fied that as long as the Government
has bought the Nevius land, “I do
not see any point in going some
where else and buying -another site.”
He also indorsed a letter from
Veterans’ Administrator Gray sug
gesting an amendment to allow VA
to go ahead with its plans. Rep
resentative Phillips, Republican, of
California, who headed the sub
committee which heard Mr. Smith,
said today the group “has had no
evidence to make us change the de
cisions we made last year!”
He charged that the Government
should never have bought the land
and that “it was Taken over by
Dr. Paul R. Hawley (former VA
medical chief) just to save doctors
a mile-and-a-half drive." He said
the piece of la*nd that adjoins Fort
Myer on Lee boulevard—one and a
half miles from the Nevius tract—
already is owned by the Govern
ment "and would make a better
place from the veterans’ stand
point.”
Suggests Other Vse.
The Government, meanwhile, Mr.
Phillips said, can use the Nevius
land, at Arlington Ridge road and
Lee boulevard, for other construc
tiop. He said no definite proposals
for'its use have been made but that
"the Government is always build
ing.”
Mr. Smith reversed his stand on
use of the tract unofficially last
November, after the Arlington
County Board removed its objec
tions. The board had hoped earlier,
county officials said, that the land
would be used commercially to
bring revenues to the county.
When the ban was imposed last
year. VA virtually had completed
plans for the proposed general med
ical hospital to cost an estimated
$1.1.000.000. The plans were com
pleted after lengthy discussion tfith
city and Federal planners to make
sure the buildings would not conflict
with beauty of the Lincoln Me
morial. in a direct line across the
Potomac. -.
License Warning Due
For Traffic Offenders
All police precinct station clerks
will be ordered by Supt. of Police
Robert J. Barreft to inform motorists
forfeiting collateral on more serious
traffic violations that they also may
lose their permits via revocation or
suspension, it was‘announced today.
Maj. Barrett told the Commis
sioners he plans to issue the order
because of confusion that has re
sulted from some violators assum
ing they have satisfied the law by
paying a fine or forfeiting collateral.
Some violators protest to the
Commissioners when told to sur
render their permits after having
paid a fine or forfeited collateral.
But even after forfeiture or payment
of fine on more serious violations,
the Board of Revocation and Resto
ration of Permits decides whether to
suspend or revoke the driver’s per
mit.
For the information of motorists,
the Commissioners reiterated today
the offenses which go before the
board despite forfeiture or court
action. They are:
Operating under the influence of
liquor or drugs, reckless driving,
leaving after colliding, speeding, any
offense causing or contributing to an
accident, offenses likely to cause an
accident, physical disability and an
accumulated traffic record.
Water Gate Concert Drive
Only $575 Short of Goal
The campaign to raise $15,000 lor
the 1948 Water Gate concerts by
the National Symphony Orchestra
is only $575 short of its goal, George
S, Titus announced today.
Mr. Titus, chairman of the Wash
ington Board of Trade’s Cultural
Development Committee, told a
group of Water Gate backers at a
luncheon at the Burlington Hotel
that $500 more had been pledged to
underwrite the series.
The present underwriting fund
now stands at $14,425.
Chicken Dinner at Church
A chicken dinner sponsored by the
Fellowship Forum of the Gorsueh
Methodist Church will be held at
the church, 1105 Fourth street S.W.,
from 4:30 to 7:30 pm. Thursday.
r
View of Comet
Here Tomorrow
Held Possible
Washington residents will be able
to see the Honda comet about 4 a.m.
tomorrow if the weather is clear
and if the comet is in the magni
tude scientists think it is.
The Rev. Roger Leclaire of the
Georgetown University Observatory
said the comet, first seen in Japan
by an astronomer named Honda, is
moving rapidly northward. It should
have been faintly visible last night,
but the skies were too cloudy. The
same was true night before last.
Father Leclaire said since the
weather has been bad here, ob
servers are not sure that the comet
is in a position to be seen by the
naked eye.
If visible here, and in the loca
tion observers believe it is, the comet
may be seen in the northeast sky
about 30 degrees above the horizon.
The comet's tail has been estimated
at more than eight times the moon's
diameter and many millions of miles
long.
Father Leclaire said he didn’t
know haw long the comet might be
visible from this area.
Fleming Asks Addition
To House All Facilities
Of State Department
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 j
building at Twenty-first street and
Virginia avenue N.W. to house all
facilities 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, ftr
activities in connection with the
1950 census.
Cites Shift in Use.
Explaining the need for the State
Department addition. Gen. Fleming
pointed out the present building on
Virginia avenue was constructed in
1939 for 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,” <5en.
Fleming dkplafhefi, "caused & 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.
Mrs. McMillin Honored
At College Exercises
By ths Associated Press
STAUNTON, Va.. June 8.—fars.
Lucille Foster 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. Frank Bell
Lewis, president of Mary Baldwin.
BAR ASSOCIATION VOTES—Some 1,200 members are expected
to vote today in the District Bar Association’s annual election.
Voting machines were set up in the library of District Court
. and results will be announced at tfie association’s meeting
! tonight at the Mayflower Hotel. Here, Mrs. Irene Kennedy
! (right), a candidate for second vice president, prepares to vote.
Miss Mary-Frances Glenn, president of the Women’s Bar Asso
ciation here, accompanies her. In the foreground is Joseph A.
Cantrel, chairman of the election board, who served as a poll
I watcher. —Star Staff Photo.
v
Dalsfrom Asks
City Heads to
Void Verdict
Attorney Files Appecrl
Seeking Reversal of
Driving Conviction
Attorney Paul E. Jamieson, rep
resenting Ivan J. Dalstrom, Fire De
partment superintendent of ma
chinery, appealed to the Commis
sioners today to reverse Mr. Dal
strom's Trial Board conviction for
improper driving and to remove
his nine-day suspension ^ind remit
the fine.
In his six-page appeal, taken un
der consideration by the Commis
sioners today, Mr. Jamieson made
these points:
That Henry E. Wixon, assistant
corporation counsel and chairman
of the Trial Board which convicted
Mr. Dalstrom on May 19, took the
wrong oath for service on the
board last October and, hence, was
not properly a member of the
board.
That the fine was illegal with re
spect to the suspension because,
under the regulations, the fireman
can be suspended only for a flag
rant violation. Mr. Jamieson point
ed out that Mr. Dalstrom originally
was suspended on charges of in
toxication, but that the charge later
was dropped by the board. The
board recommended that Mr. Dal
strom lose the $150 he would have
received in salary for the nine days
he was suspended.
Was Fined on Driving Charge.
The trial resulted from Mr. Dal
strom's arrest on drunken driving
charges April 11 in Colmar Manor.
Md., after the Fire Department car
he was driving collided with anoth
er automobile. He was acquitted
on the intoxication charge in
Hyattsville police court, but was
fined $50 for reckless driving.
The trial board found him guilty
on the improper driving charge by
a 2-to-l verdict and fined him a
total of $275, including the pay lost
through the suspension period.
After the trial, it was discovered—
and Mr. Wixon admitted it—that
Mr. Wixon had taken an oath other
than the one prescribed for trial
board members in the Fire Depart
ment manual.
Change in Verdict Charged.
Mr. Jamieson declared that the
other two members, Deputy Chief
Joseph A. Mayhew and Assistant
Auditor Robert L. Mudd, took the
proper oath.
Mr. Jamieson declared that Mr.
Wixon’s status changed the verdict
from two to one to a one-one. Chief
Mayhew had dissented, finding Mr.
Dalstrom not guilty.
A copy of the appeal also was sent
to Fire Chief Clement Murphy. The
Commissioners, after receiving Chief
Murphys recommendation, may
either uphold pr reverse the verdict.
.. .
Parking Price Probe
To Start Tomorrow
Complaints of high prices for
parking automobiles will be investi
gated by the Beall Subcommittee Of>
the House District Committee at a
public hearing at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
Representative Beall, Republican,
of Maryland said he hopes to “get
to the bottom of this thing.” Sev
eral complaints against the recent
increases for such services have
reached the House District Commit
tee.
Invited to testify tomorrow are
the District Commissioners, Traffic
Director George Keneipp, and other
officials.
The whole situation will be sur
veyed by the Beall Subcommittee
as it re-opens hearings on the long
pending bill designed to relieve the
congestion of parking in the down
town area.
Already passed by the Senate, the
measure would authorize the District
Commissioners to lease city property
to private enterprise for as long as
50 years, with the understanding
parking garages be erected. At the
end of the leases, both the land
and buildings would belong to the
city.
The measure came before the
House District Committee yesterday
for action, but because of the com
plaints against high prices for park
ing, it was sent back to the Beall
Subcommittee for another hearing.
BOMB-SHATTERED AUTOMOBILE—In this car William A. Denekas, neon sign electrician, was killed in front of his home in
Arlington yesterday. Experts say the bomb was rigged to the ignition of the car. (From yesterday’s late edition.)
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.
Father, Dying in Flames, Tells
Boy, 7, to 'Forget Me' and Flee
Paint Remover
Being Used on Car
Flares in Garage
Burns suffered in sight of his
7-year-old son, whom he warned
to “forget me and get the hell
out of here,” took the life early
today of Ward H. White, 34, of
1315 Peabody street N.W.
Mr. White was removing paint
from a car yesterday when a flash
fire engulfed him at the Monarch
Motors Garage, 6223 Blair road N.W.
He was manager of the garage.
He died at 4 a.m. today at Walter
Reed Hospital after relating that he
“guessed” he “forgot and lit a ciga
rette.”
Mr. White was working on a car
with paint remover and a sanding
machine when there was an ex
plosion and his clothing was in
stantly ablaze.
Playing nearby was his son, Robert
Malcolm, who rushed toward Mr.
White to help him.
“My father yelled at me to get me
to leave the repair shed,” 'Robert
later told his uncle, Benjamin Adel
man, who also lives at the Peabody
street address.
Robert had returned only Satur
day from Chicago, after visiting
with his mother, who was separated
from Mr. White.
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Appelman, 111
Rittenhouse street N.W., said they
were sitting down to dinner when
they heard an explosion and a boy
screaming.
“Saw Flaming Torch.”
“I looked out the window and
saw a flaming torch," Mrs. Appel
man said. “My husband rushed out
and told the man to roll on the
ground, and grabbed some old over
alls and ran to help. He beat out
the flames with the rags.
Later Mr. Appelman said that
Mr. White was fully conscious and
“kept trying to tell me to cal) rela
tives to take care of Bobby.”
John Walker, garage employe, said
Mr. White told Frederick Richmond,
company attorney, that a cigarette
might have caused the explosion.
Police held to the theory that a
spark from the sanding machine
set off the fire.
Clothing Burned Off.
When firemen of Rescue Squad
No. 2 arrived, all of Mr. White’s
clothing except his belt and shoes
had been burned off. They said
remnants of clothing were scattered
along the path taken by Mr. White
when he rushed from the garage.
He is survived by another son,
John Anderson, 5, and his parents
of Bluefield, W. Va., whom he and
Robert had visited over the week
end. Relatives said Mrs. White was
en route here from Chicago.
House District Committee
Pays Tribute to Dirksen
Memhers of the House District
Committee took time at yesterday’s
executive session of the group to
pay tribute to Chairman Dirksen
on his long service on the unit.
It probably was the last session of
the group to be conducted by Mr.
Dirksen, since he is not running for
re-election on the advice of doctors
to give his eyes a rest.
Representatives O’Hara. Republi
can, bf Minnesota, and Smith, of
Virginia and Harris, of Arkansas,
Democrats, praised him for his
ability, fairness and effectiveness.
The group then rose in a unanimous
vote of appreciation.
Thomas J. Lynch Confirmed
The Senate Finance Committee
yesterday approved the nomination
of Thomas J. Lynch of Ohio to be
general counsel of the Treasury.
WARD H. WHITE.
R'OBERT M. WHITE.
—Star Staff Photo.
Advisory Cancer Council
Opens Two-Day Meefing
The National Advisory Cancer
Council opened a two-day meeting
today at the National Cancer In
stitute to consider requests for
$6,100,000 in Federal grants to
finance cancer research and control
projects.
Of the 159 requests to be con
sidered, 10 applications for $3,800,000
are for construction of cancer re
search facilities and 109 requests
for $1,400,000 ara for research. An
other 18 requests for $392,000 are
from medical schools, and seven
for $33,000 are from dental schools
to improve teaching courses.
The other 15 requests are for
special control projects, such as
detection clinics. These already
have been reviewed by a special
cancer control committee, estab
lished last March to advise the in
stitute.
Since July 1, 1947, the council
has approved 338 requests for
$12,100,000 to assist organizations
with Federal funds in the fight
against cancer. Chairman of the
council is Dr. Leonard Scheele,
Surgeon General of the United
States Public Health Service.
Man, 26, Is Fined $200
On Morals Charges
Ernest P. Siegrist, 26, of the 1400
block of Chapin street N.W., was
fined $200 in Juvenile Court after
pleading nolo contendere to a
charge that he contributed to the
delinquency of a 12-year-old boy
here over a three-month period
this year.
Siegrist changed his original plea
of not guilty and withdrew his re
quest for a jury trial. Police said
he had no previous record for such
offenses.
Mrs. Myrtle Gray Ennis, a
divorcee, who had been having
dates with Mr. Denekas. said
today that she last saw him at
2:40 a.m. Monday when he
took her home.
Gaining 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
;o-operation with the local investi
gation.
He spent most of yesterday con
ferring with Assistant United
States Attorneys 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 33 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.
ABC Price-Cutting Charge
Against Store Dropped
Agreeing with defense arguments
that the Alcoholic Beverage Control
Board has no right to set liquor
prices, the board by a 2-to-l ruling
today dismissed its complaint
against the Calvert Liquor Shop,
2312 Wisconsin avenue NW.
Last month the store advertised
in two newspapers that one bottle
of whiskey would be sold for 13
cents to any customer buying 12
bottles of a standard brand at regu
lar prices.
As a result, the store was charged
with violating section 29 of the
ABC regulations forbidding induc
ing persons to buy liquor.
Manual Davis and David L.
Blanken. defense attorneys, main
tained the board had no authority
over prices and cited several in
stances in which the Commission
ers had turned down opportunities
to institute regulations prohibiting
advertising of liquor prices.
Robert D. Wise, assistant corpo
ration counsel, said the interpreta
tion was one for the board alone
to make and that every price cut
might be called a special Induce
ment. There is no regulation pro-*
hibiting a store from giving away
liquor, he said.
Voting to dismiss the complaint
were Mrs. Agnes K. Mason and
James O’D. Moran. Chairman Alan
W. Payne asked for more time to
study the defense arguments.
Bishop Dun Confirms 29
The Right Rev. Angus Dun,
Episcopal Bishop of Washington,
confirmed 29 person* Sunday at the
Church of Our Saviour, the Rev.
Alvin I* Wills, rector, announced
today. 1
WILLIAM A. DENEKAS.
Killed by blast.
(Story on Page A-l.)
Bethesda Court Tells
Psychologist to Curb
'Nuisance' Dog
A Washington psychologist, an
adviser on marriage relations and
personality adjustment, was ordered
yesterday to ease his neighbors’
minds by confining a German police
dog that had been attacking their
children.
At a hearing in Bethesda Police
Court the psychologist, Gilbert S.
Macvaugh, 4502 Stanford street.
Chevy Chase, was given two weeks
to discontinue a “public nuisance”
by restricting the dog to his own
property.
It was the second time the dog,
named Rex, had got his owner into
legal. difficulties. On the other
occasion the psychologist was con
victed in Ocean City, N. J.. of
knocking his father unconscious
after an argument over the animal.
Rex is the pet of Gilbert Mac
vaugh, jr., 10-year-old son of the
psychologist.
Comdr. Charles B. Harrington of
the Coast Guard, and Lt. Col. John
M. Virden told Judge Browning that
Rex repeatedly attacked and nipped
young children in the Sanford
street neighborhood. Col. Virden
said his son Mike fiad been bitten
by Rex half a dozen times.
Macvaugh testified that he tried
to keep the dog on a leash secured
to a wire strung up in his yard, but
that Rex had broken away. He
doubted that the pet would attack
any one unless teased.
The physchologist said his prin
cipal reason for wanting to keep
Rex was to provide his son com
panionship. He said the boy’s
mother had been a hospital patient
since he was a year old.
3 Hurt as Train Hits
Auto in Chevy Chase
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, whc
were admitted. Their condition
was reported to be good today.
Bethesda police said the 21-cai
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 tc
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.
3 Members Reappointed
To District Welfare Board
The Commissioners today reap
pointed three members of the Board
of Public Welfare for 6-year terms.
They are A. 3. Driscoll, Mrs. Rad
ford Moms and Mrs. Theodore O.
Wedel. The reappointments were
made on motion of Commissioner
Guy Mason at the weekly board
meeting.
This will be Mr. Driscoll s thirl
term and Mrs. Moser's second. Mrs.
Wedel, newest member of the board,
was appointed December 16, 1947,
to Mrve the unexplred term of A.
Harding Paul who resigned The
appointments become effective
July L
Deficit May Stall
Expansion Plan,
Pepco Declares
Official Tells Hearing
Rates Must Rise to
Attract New Capital
By J. A. O'Leary, Jr.
A Potomac Electric Power Co. of
ficial told the Public Utilities Com
mission today that the company will
be unable to finance its $86,500,000
five-year expansion program unless
the downward trend in earnings is
halted.
R. Roy Dunn, company vice presi
dent and treasurer, took the stand at
the second day of PUC hearings on
Pepco’s application for rate in
creases that would add 10 cents a
week to the average consumer's elec
tric bill.
Mr. Dunn declared that the com
pany is "definitely not" in a position
to attract new capital for financing
its expansion plan because of its
deficient earning power.
“The level of Pepco's earnings
must be such as will enable the
company to attain and maintain a
credit position which will attract
the required additional capital on
sound terms,” he said.
Operating Income Declined.
"Pepco cannot attain this addi
tional capital unless the downward
trend of its earnings is promptly
arrested and the trend reversed,"
Mr. Dunn added. He pointed out
the decline in the company's oper
ating income over the past five
years as compared to its increase
in utility plant investments.
“It is unfortunate that the in
creased demand for electric service
follows a period of continued down
ward trend in earning power," Mr.
Dunn said. This demand, he added,
necessitates obtaining substantial
amounts of additional capital if the
demand is to be met.
He said a substantial increase in
the company’s earning power is re
quired if its credit is to be im
proved and investors' risks kept at
a minimum.
Banker Cites “Disturbing Trend."
He said the company earned at
the rate of 3.57 per cent last year
as compared with the national util
ity average of 4.98 per cent.
The second witness today was Ed
ward Hopkinson, jr., a partner of
the Philadelphia investment bank
ing firm of Drexel & Co., who had
made a study of Pepco's financial
structure.
Mr. Hopkinson testified that he
found the downward trend of the
company's earnings “very disturb
ing" and added that “until the trend
: is reversed, I do not believe it could
do any equity financing which it
requires.”
He said the utility industry in gen
eral is being squeezed between ris
: ing costs of operation and its mora
or less fixed-rate structure. He
characterized Pepco's situation as
“much more serious” than that of
the electric industry as a whole.
Assistant Due to Testify.
| 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.
| James Francis Reilly, company at
’ tornev. described the company’s fi
nancial situation variously as "seri
ous" and “critical."
Rising Costs Cited.
Charles L. Carr, assistant con
troller of the company, yesterday
told the PUC that Pepco continued
to find itself adversely affected by
spiraling coats, 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 costa
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 5>,4 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.
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-vear-old Upper Marlboro girl
May 28.
Mr. Cubbage, a dealer for The
j 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
iington. She had been hit by the
side of the truck.
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.
G. T. W. Kern, Druggist,
Dies at 75 in Virginia
George Thomas Walker Kern, 75,
pharmacist, who had worked in
Washington and the surrounding
[ area for the last 12 years, died yes
terday in a hospital in Staunton,
i Va. He lived at 759 South Twenty
third street, Arlington.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs.
Margaret Ethel Kelley Kern, and a
daughter. Miss Margaret Eugenie
Kern. Private graveside services
will be held today at Hollywood
Cemetery, Richmond, Va.
t