Evening star. [volume], June 16, 1948, Image 29

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

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WCimLANP GENERAL NEWS r WASHINGTON AND VICINITY 0
L WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1948 **
—----1
Glenbrook Seen
Asking Tax Cut if
Area Is Rezoned
Apartment Houses
Opposed Adjacent
To Medical Center
The Montgomery County Com
missioners have been informed that
approval of a petition for commercial
use of about four acres op Wiscon
sin avenue adjacent to the Naval
Medical Center, Bethesda, would
result in demands by Glenbrook
Village residents for lower assess
ments on their homes.
The warning was voted yesterday
by Lt. Col. Carl H. Cuphaver, 8611
Birandt place, Bethesda, at a hear
ing on the petition, filed by Samuel
Kushner.
Mr. Kushner’s request was one
of six heard by the commissioners
in the Bethesda County Building.
All were taken under advisement.
J. Harry Welch, attorney for the
applicant, said a flye-story apart
ment hotel and two garden-type
apartment buildings with between
200 and 150 units are planed for
the site. He estimated the cost
at approximately $2,000,000. The
property extends from Jones Bridge
road to the Glenbrook Village sub
division.
Seen As Source of Revenue.
After Mr. Welch told the board
the county would get “much needed”
revenue from the project, Col. Cup
haver declared: ,
"The gain of which Mr. Welch
speaks would be offset by immedi
ate demands by residents of Glen
brook Village, if the petition is ap
proved. that the assessments on
their homes be reduced, since prop
erty values would be adversely af
fected by such a project.”
More than 70 residents of the
subdivision attended the hearing.
Earl G. Linhart, 4709 North Chel
sea lane, presented a petition signed
by about 260 homeowners in the
development opposing the rezoning
request.
Another petition, filed by the
Bannockburn Heights Improvement
Co., for apartment-house use of
about 57 acres between Massa
chusetts avenue extended, Golds
boro road and MacArthur boulevard,
also resulted in strong opposition by
about 50 residents of the area.
Citizens Groups Protest.
Petitions protesting the applica
tion on the ground it would reduce
property values and would consti
tute “spot” zoning were presented
by representatives of the Fairway
Hills, Bannockburn, Woodacies and
Mohican Hills citizens’ associations.
M. P. Canby, vice president of
Phillips, Canby & Fuller, agents
for the applicant, said construction
of about 700 apartment units is con
templated. Both he and Walter W.
Dawson, attorney for the petitioner,
refused to estimate the cost.
Other petitions to which opposi
tion w'as expressed were:
Vernon M. Dorsey, residential A
to C of three lots on the south
side of Chevy Chase drive between
Offutt lane and Bradley boulevard.
Thomas E. Hampton, residential
A to C of a lot adjacent to Mr.
Dorsey's property.
Medical Clinic Planned.
Leo I. and Dorothy M. Donovan,
residential A to commercial D of
property at Old Georgetown road
and Del Ray avenue, Bethesda.
R. Duncan Clark, attorney for
the Donovans, said it is planned to
build a $50,000 medical clinic on
the site.
Attorney Carey Quinn, represent
ing approximately 40 Battery Park
residents opposing the request, told
the commissioners legal action
would be taken to block the project.)
if the petition is approved, because,
of restrictive covenants which he
said prohibit commercialization of
the land.
Cabin John Park Fire Board
Re-elects Day President
Francis O. Day was re-elected
president of the Cabin John Park
Fire Board at the annual reorgani
zation meeting at the Cabin John
Park Fire House. Nelson M. Bortz
was re-elected secretary.
Members of the board elected for
two-year terms include C. E. Benson.
C. Stephen Duvall, jr„ and L. C.
Graybill.
Capt. John E. Bissett. was named
by the board to represent the upper
Potomac-MacArthur boulevard area
and L. L. Cohan, treasurer of the:
Cabin John Park Park Fire Depart
ment. was appointed as a member
at-large.
The board also accepted the resig
nation of Mr. W. H. Poole, Jr., who
Is moving from the area. A suc
cessor will be appointed later.
Man Sought in Alexandria
Holdup Arrested in Boston
Alexandria police were notified
today that Doren Edward Schank,
36, whom they have been seeking
since March for the holdup of the
Union Life Insurance Co,, is under
arrest in Boston.
Inspector Russel Hawes said a de
tainer for Schank had been issued.
He was arrested in Boston on a
charge of wearing a Navy uniform
Illegally.
A cashier of the insurance com
pany in the 800 block of King street
was held up and robbed of $588
shortly after noon March 1. Schank
was indicted in the robbery a week
later.
3 Maryland Projects Listed
In $97,983,000 Naval Bill
Three Maryland projects are in
cluded in the $97,983,200 Navy public
works construction bill approved j
yesterday by the House Appropria
tions Committee.
The committee granted $1,410,000
for installation of wind tunnels and
other facilities at the David Taylor
Model Basin at Carderock, and ap
proved $2,275,000 for completing
supersonic wind tunnels and aero
dynamics range, and explosives re
search facilities at the Naval Ord-„
nance Laboratory, White Oak.
The committee provided $309,000
for bombing target facilities at the
Naval Air Station, Patuxent.
It rejected a request for $205,000
to build a chapel at the Bethesdaj
Naval Medical Center. 1
Retired DipBmM,1??, Passes
Flight Tests for Pilot License
Ulysses Grant-Smith, a retired diplomat and 77 years old, at
the controls of the plane in which he qualified as a private
pilot. —Star Staff Photo.
At 77, the gray-haired and grati
fied pilot climbed out of the plane
he had just put through a required
two-turn spin to help pass his flight
test for a private license.
“I’m the grand-daddy of the whole
lot," he grinned. "I'm older than
anybody.” The comment answlred
his own query as to “what is unusual
about my flying an airplane?”
With the performance at the
Hybla Valley Airport yesterday,
Ulysses Grant-Smith, a retired
diplomat, of 1222 Sixteenth street
N.W., qualified to become one of the
oldest private pilots in the country.
Only barrier left before him is
the physical examination—and it
holds no more trepidation for him
than it did for Physical Culturist
Bernarr MacPadden, who at 79, also
holds a private license.
Feels Better After Flight.
Mr. Grant-Smith flies because he
likes it. He also considers it of some
therapeutic value, but he doesn’t
include the spins as a part of the
prescription.
“You know and I know that when
you go up and then come down
the pressure changes,” he said.
“When that happens your insides
are bound to expand and contract.
“It’s a good inside message, and
I always feel better after having
been up in a plane.”
But, he went on as he thumped
his head with the heel of his hand,
“Those spins always leave me a
little ill. I’ll never do another one
as long as I live."
He has served in United States
legations from Albania to Uruguay,
and was in Vienna when the United
States entry into World War I
chased diplomacy to Copenhagen.
He was one of the signers of the
American-Hungarian peace treaty
on August 29, 1921.
Began Flying In 1944.
He began flying, his log book
shows, in August. 1944. but has
never tried for his private license
because “I might have to take my
friends for a ride." Most of his
time has been logged with in
structors. “I like to have them along
to talk with—an0 let them keep a
watch on everything.’’
His check pilot yesterday was
Truman Brush of the Ashbum Fly
ing Service, who passed Mr. Grant
Smith’s aerial maneuvers with a
grin of wide approval and his sig
nature on the log book.
The new fledgling plans nothing
extensive with his aerial career.
“I dqn't plan to buy a plane; Ili
just hire them,-’ he said. "Flying’s
good for me and I like it.”
Gain in Serious Crime
In '47 Laid in Part to
New Reporting System
Although serious crime reports in
the District showed a 23 per cent
increase last year over those in 1946,
a new crime reporting method in
troduced last July obviously con
tributed to the higher- figure, the
Washington Crinimal Justice Asso
ciation said today.
The association’s 12th annual re
port said the 1947 figures, highest
since the first statistics gathered in
1936, probably presented a reason
ably complete picture for the first
time.
mere were b.uu3 serious crimes
last year—1,843 more than were re
ported in 1946, the association noted.
But the increase was due more
to a broader system of crime report
ing. suggested by the FIJI at the
Police Department's request, than
to an actual upswing in criminal
activity, it added. Although the
new system was not officially in
stalled until this year, its effect
was noted as early as last July.
Rise Sharply in Second Half.
During the first six months there
were 3,226 crimes reported—a mean
average of 538 a month—while dur
ing the second half there were 4.776
—a mean average of 796, the re
port said. %
The association also revealed that:
1. Police cleared 4.107 or 51.3 per
cent of the serious crimes last year,
as compared with 3.500 or 56.9 per
cent in 1946.
2. Police solved 68 out of 70 mur
ders—"results which might be ac
complished in all serious crime cate
gories with sufficient personnel of
the right caliber.”
3. Serious crimes solved by the
arrest of juveniles decreased from
863 cases in 1946 to 686 eases in 1947.
a drop of 20.5 per cent.
4. A Committee on Adult Penal
Institutions, composed of association
directors, has been given permission
lor informal, unannounced visits to
Institutions at any time of night
or day.
Robberies, Assaults Rise.
Housebreaking, grand larceny, rob
bery and aggravated assault led the
crimes reported last year. Increase
in housebreakings was from 2,826 to
3.631: grand larcenies, 1,455 to 1,726:
robberies. 886 to 1.247, and aggra
vated assault. 653 to 1,043.
Rape and carnal knowledge cases
increased from 45 to 94.
Juveniles arrested last year num
bered 1,114, a decrease of 337 from
the previous year. With the age of
15 predominating, about three
fourths of the juveniles arrested
were colored.
Reviewing work or the District
Court for the fiscal year ended last
June 30, the report noted that of
1,754 indictments returned by the
grand jury 1,508. or 86 per cent, were
disposed of during the year.
In 914 cases the accused pleaded
guilty, 219 were found guilty, 83
acquitted, 279 dismissed or nolle
prossed, 13 transferred to other
jurisdictions and 246 were pending
at the end of the year.
The Committee on Adult Penal
Institutions was suggested by Donald
Clemmer, director of the Depart
ment of Corrections, and encouraged
by him, the report said.
The committee is permitted free
access to any part of the institutions
and encouraged to discuss problems
and procedures with stall members
and inmates.
Panel to Discuss Taxes
On Autos and Business
fffects of pra|»oftd automobile
and business taxes in Arlington will
be jthe subject of a panel discussion
at jthe Lyon Park Community House,
at 8:15 p.m. tomorrow.
Participants in the program,
which was arranged by the Demo
cratic Club of Arlington, will be Mrs.
Florence Cannon, Basil De Lash
mutt and Alfred E. Frisbie. members
of the Arlington County Board: H.
B. Bloomer, editor of the Arling
ton Sun, and Councilman E. A. Hell
muth of Alexandria, which already
has automobile and business taxes.
Homemakers Council
Names New Officers
Mrs. KAtherine Bromley of Smith
burg, Washington County, was elect
ed president of the State Council of
Homemakers’ Clubs yesterday at a
session of the University of Mary
land’s short course for rural women.
Some 1,000 Maryland women are
studyingjicademic and homemaking
subjects during the week-long course.
Other new officers of the Home
makers’ Clubs Council:
Mrs. Elmer Ehrhart, Millersville,
secretary; Mrs. Mahlong Grim,
Sykesville; Mrs. Oscar Carpenter.
Plum Point, and Mrs. T. Roe Leaver
ton, Centreville, district directors.
Appointed project chairman were:
Mrs. Daniel Downey, Williams
port, clothing; Mrs. Arthur Dowell,
Prince Frederick, food and nutri
tion; Mrs. John Wright, Chester -
town, home furnishings; Mrs. Earl
Remsburg, Buckeystown, home man
agement; Mrs. Walter Pikey, Ellicott
City, membership; Mrs. Clifton
Crouse, Queen Anne, international
relations, and Mrs. Burton Twining,
Glen Arm, publicity.
Named representative of the State
council of 4-H clubs was Miss Joan
Giddings of Nutwell.
Representative Nixon, Republican,
of California, co-author of the
Mundt - Nixon Communist - control
bill, addressed an assembly yester
day, speaking in favor of the Euro
pean Recovery Program.
393 of 2,591 Students
Told to See Eye Doctor
Out of 2,591 students given eye
examinations by the Seat Pleasant
<Md.) Lions Club during the past
year, 393 have been urged to see eye
doctors.
Results show that at Lendon Hill
Junior High School 63 out of 421
tested were advised to see a doctor;
at Forestville School. 16 out of 200;
District Heights. 26 out of 238: Seat
Pleasant, 37 out of 377: Capitol
Heights, 56 out of 331; Bradbury
Heights, 78 out of 447; Fairmont
Heights, 109 out of 536, and Capitol
Heights, 8 out of 40.
Wives of the Lions Club members
did most of the testing.
Rockville Pike Merchants
Hold Anniversary Dinner
The Rockville Pike Business Asso
ciation celebrated its 15th anni
versary laht night with a dinner at
the William Penn House on the
Rockville pike.
Jo V. Morgan, former Mont
gomery County civil service com
missioner was guest speaker. Two
of the group’s charter members,
John P. Reiser and Mrs. Jesse W.
Nicholson, were among the 75 per
sons present.
Prince Georges
Will Enlarge
Police Force
$100 Monthly Pensions
For Widows Also Are
Provided by Board
With the recent slaying of Pvt
Charles F. Caldwell in mind, the
Prince Georges County Board ol
Commissioners today moved to en
large the police force and directed
that widows of men killed in the
line of duty receive $100-a-month
pensions.
At their meeting yesterday, the
commissioners ordered policemen’s
examinations to be given at 7:30
pm., July 15, in the county Service
Building, Hyattsville.
From those who pass the exam
inations will be selected replace
ments for Pvt. Caldwell and one
other vacancy as well as an un
determined number of additional
policemen.
Pvt. Caldwell, 36, of 3602 Forty
third avenue, Colmar Manor, was
shot to death last Saturday while
attempting to arrest, twp persons
following a neighborhood fracas in
the 5300 block of Nye road, Dean
wood Park. His funeral was to be
this afternoon.
Pvt. Baker Is Recovering.
Pvt. Wallace L. Baker, 24, of 6308
Kilmer road, Cheverly Manor, is
recovering at the Prince Georges
General Hospital from gunshot
wounds received in the same fight.
Two suspects are being held in
connection with the shooting. They
are Thomas Hall, 55, colored, of the
500 block of Nye street, and his
daughter Jane, 20. Both are charged
with murder and with assault with
intent to kill.
Meanwhile, the commissioners
made provisions for financial assist
ance to Pvt. Caldwell’s widow.
Amending the county's retirement
regulations, the commissioners voted
yesterday to pay $100 monthly to
Mrs. Caldwell unless she should re
marry.
From now on, full retirement
benefits will go to widows of police
men who are killed in line of duty
or die before reaching 70 years of
age.
Qualifications of Applicants.
Applications for the police depart
ment will be available at both the
Hyattsville and Upper Marlboro
police stations, Maj. Ralph W.
Brown, county police superintendent,
said. Applicants must be between
21 and 35, must have doctor’s certifi
cates showing them as physically
fit and must be residents and voters
within the county. Final physical
examination also will be given before
appointment.
Successful candidates in the writ
ten test will be picked on the merit;
system basis. Those passing the
July 15 examination will be placed
on an eligibility list from which
the new policemen will be selected.
Veterans will receive preference
over non veterans.
At present, the force has 36 men,
including Maj. Brown and Pvt.
Baker Prince Georges County,
with the larger population, has a
force of less than a third of the
neighboring Montgomery County.
The commissioners commended
three residents of the Deanwood
Park area who assisted police in
the shooting incident. They were
A. C. Bradley, the Rev. Robert G.
Golden and Roy A. Lipscomb, all
colored. Mr. Bradley was released
under $500 bond Monday in con
nection with the death of Hall’s
wife, which police later attributed
to self-defense on Mr. Bradley’s
part while attempting to help the
two troubled policemen.
Police announced that contribu
tions to the fund for Pvt. Caldwell’s
widow and two children no ^
amount to more than $1,000.
Capitol Heights Carnival
Approved After Hearing
Permission to hold an outdoor
carnival was granted the Capitol
Heights Volunteer Fire Department
yesterday in the first public hearing
conducted by the Prince Georges
County commissioners in connection
with carnival permits.
The fire group was given permis
sion to sponsor a benefit affair at
Sixty-first street and Central ave
nue, Capitol Heights, from July 16
to 24, exclusive of Sunday. July 18.
No opposition was voiced during the
session.
June 1 was the deadline set by the
commissioners for applying for car
nival permits without the necessity
of public hearings. From now on,
prospective sponsors of carnivals
and similar affairs will have to de
fray the cost of . advertising in
county papers for two weeks prior
to a public hearing, at which time
resident of areas where the carni
vals are to be located will be given
opportunity to state their views.
Previously, permits were awarded
at the discretion of the county
commissioners without hearings.
Numerous complaints received by
the county heads prompted the pro
posal to hold a public hearing on
each application.
Hawes Named Inspector
Of Alexandria Police
Russell A. Hawes. 43, a member of
the Alexandria Police Department
for 17 years, today became an in
spector on the force.
inspector Hawes, whcee former
rank was lieu
tenant, is chief
of detectives and
will continue in
that capacity,
Maj. Edgar Sims
announced. The
promotion does
not carry any
increase in pay
this year. In
spector Hawes is
the first member
of the Alexand
ria force to be
given that rank.
Inspector
Hawes, who lives
IniNcttr Ktvn.
at 715 South Washington street,
joined the force in 1961 as a pa
trolman. He has been chief of* de
tectives since 1941 and was gradu
ated in 1937 from the National
Academy of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation.
SPEAKERS AT MONTGOMERY BUDGET HEARING—H. Stanley Stine, president of the Mont
gomery County Board of Education, and Mrs. J. R. Hemingway, president of the County League
of Women Voters, shown at last night’s public hearing on the proposed county budget Mrs.
Hemingway used a huge dictionary to define the 1,000 persons at the hearing as “a disturbed
crowd of people aroused from a state of torpid indolence.” She predicted a charter victory at the
November election. —Star Staff Photo.
Lt. Barnes, 3 Others
Get Promotions on
Montgomery Force
Promotions of four Montgomery
County police officers and appoint
ment of one new policeman were
announced yesterday by County
Supervisor Irving G. McNayr at
a meeting of the county commis
sioners in Rockville. >
The actions become effective July
1. Those promoted were:
Lt. Charles T. Barnes to captain
to succeed the late Capt. Roy Bod
mer. Lt. Barnes, now stationed
in Bethesda, will be shifted to Rock
ville. He is 44. and has been on
the force about 21 years.
Sergt. Paul W. Watkins to lieu
tenant. He will be transferred from
Rockville to Bethesda.
Corpl. James Burdette to sergeant
and Pvt. Kenneth Miller to cor
poral. Both are stationed at Rock
i ville.
Three Permanent Ranks.
The new appointee is John L.
j Jones. Kensington, who recently
I passed a police examination.
! In addition, the temporary ranks
of Capt. Ernest L. Thompson, com
manding officer of the Bethesda
police station and of Lt. Marion
Dayhoff and Sergt. Wilson Payne,
both stationed at Rockville, were
made permanent.
The commissioners denied an ap
plication by Mrs. Jesse M. Joliffe for
a permit to operate a nursing home
on the old Commonwealth Farm
on Colesville road near Silver Spring.
In other business, the board set
II a.m. July 20 as the date for a
hearing on proposed amendments
to the county zoning ordinance. The
proposals deal with the preparation
of subdivision plats. The hearing
will be held In the Rockville Court
house. •
Hearing Set on Road Proposal.
Another hearing was set for 11
a.m. July 27 in the courthouse on a
proposal to improve Dahlonega road,
Glen Echo Heights, from the end of
the existing pavement to Wiscasset
road. Cost was estimated by County
Engineer Blanton S. Barnett at
about $12,000.
A request by the Maryland-Na
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission for the extension of
West Thomapple street to Leland
street, Chevy Chase, was referred to
Commissioner Wesley I. Sauter.
Complaints by a group of Glen
Echo Heights residents of a health
hazard from an open stream in the
area was referred to the Washing
ton Suburban Sanitary Commission.
Two on School Board
Reappointed in Fairfax
John Middleton and Clarence B.
Jett have been reappointed to the
Fairfax County School Board, it was
announced at yesterday's board
meeting.
The reappointments were made by
the School Trustee Electoral Board,
and become effective July 1 for
four-year terms.
The school board yesterday elected
two members to the Joint Commit
tee for Control of the Manassas Re
gional Colored High School. They
are Richard E. Shands, for a two
year term, and F. W. Robinson, for
a one-year term.
Supt. of Schools W. T. Woodson
announced that workshops in read
ing and eighth grade studies will be
held at the Fairfax High School
from July 6 to 31.
The board approved appointment
of Miss Ruby Duncan as principal
of the Franklin-Sherman Element
ary School at McLean, where she
has been teaching. Miss Duncan
succeeds Miss Virginia Benson, who
has been named elementary super
visor.
A committee from the Fairfax
Colored Elementary School Parent
Teacher Association requested a new
school building. It was informed
that the new school is included in
the board’s building program but
no funds are available.
A. B. & W. Union Notifies
Tuck of Strike on July 21
By Associated Press
RICHMOND. Va.. June 16.—Union
employes of the Alexandria, Bar
croft & Washington Transit Co. ad- ]
vised Gov. Tuck today they will goi
on strike at 2 a.m. July 21 unless
a contract is agreed upon in the
meantime.
Fred Dominy, president of Local!
1131, Amalgamated Association of
Street, Electric Railway & Motor:
Coach Employes of America (AFL),|
notified the Governor that second
conference negotiations with the
union had broken down.
The law requires three separate
steps before a strike notice may be
filed—an unsuccessful first confer
ence, an unsuccessful second con
ference at least 10 days later, and
a refusal by one or both parties of
a request from the Governor that
they arbitrate their dispute.
In this particular case, Gov. Tuck|
has not requested arbitration.
The Alexandria union asked ex
tensive changes in the current con
tract, including a raise from *1.25
to *1.75 per hour in the wages of
experienced bus operators.
Man Killed by Car of Policeman
In Probe of Earlier Auto Death
A Washington man was killed
early today when he ran into
the side of an automobile oper
ated by a Prince Georges County
policeman, who a few hours be
fore had aided in the investiga
tion of another traffic fatality.
Dead in the second accident was
Stuart J. Gay, 34, of' 141 Bates
street N.W. The driver of the car
was Corpl. Roland Sweitzer, 28, who
Mr. Gay.
was en route to
his home at
Laurel. The ac
cident occurred
about 12:20 a.m.
on the Baltimore
boulevard at
Muirkirk.
Victim of J.he
earlier accident
was Marion Jar
boe. jr., 3, of
l 3107 Lancer
drive, Queens
Chapel Manor,
Hyattsville, who
died in Leland
Memorial Hos
pital about 9:4& p.m. irom in
juries suffered five hours before
when he was struck in front of his
home by an automobile operated by
a man learning to drive.
Ran Into Side of Car.
According to other members of
the force who investigated, Mr. Gay
ran across the boulevard and into
the side of Corpl. Sweitzer's car.
They said Mr. Sweitzer swerved
when he saw the man coming but
was unable to avoid him.
Police quoted John H. Jackson,
operator of the Curfew Cabins in
front of which the accident occurred,
as saying that he had called State
police at 11:55 p.m. to investigate
Mr. Gay's actions at his cabins. He
told police, they said, that Mr. Gay
appeared to be drunk and was trying
to enter his establishment.
Mr. Gay was pronounced dead on
arrival at Leland Memorial Hos
pital, Riverdale. Dr. John T. Ma
loney. deputy medical examiner for
the northern section of Prince
Georges County, was to perform an
autopsy today.
Lived Here 11 Years.
Mr. Gay, a vfeteran of» Merchant
Marine service during the war, had
lived in Washington for the last 11
years. A native of Charlottesville.
Va, he worked as a carpenter there
before coming to Washington. Mr.
Gay is survived by his widow. Mrs.
Trosy Gay, and three daughters,
Frances, 14; Sylvia, 12, and Jac
queline, 5.
The driver of the automobile
which struck the Jarboe child was
listed by police as Howard Raymond
Martin, 22, a carpenter of Barbers
ville, Anne Arundel County. He was
charged with manslaughter, reckless
driving and operating a vehicle with
an instructor's permit while unac
companied by a licensed Maryland
driver. Bond was set at $2,300 and
a hearing was scheduled for June 24
in Hyattsville Police Court.
Clair Challenges
Pumphrey Refusal to
Certify Candidacy
Francis J. Clair, who seeks election
to the Arlington County Board as
a Republican, today challenged the
party's county chairman Cor ruling
him out.
He said Chairman Edgar W.
Pumphrey represented a political
"organization" of not more than 60
persons made up of five families.
Yesterday, Mr. Pumphrey said the
Republicans would not hold a
primary for the County Board nom
ination and he had been authorized
to state that Mr. Clair is “not the
nominee of the county organization,”
Mr. Clair earlier had filed as a can
didate for what he believed would
be a Republican primary in August.
In a letter to the county chair
man. Mr. Clair inquired “is it the
organization which elected you
chairman at a mass meeting which
had only 110 people present and at
which only approximately 60 votes
were cast for? * * *
Mr. Clair asked further if it is
the county organization “which met
last Monday night in the rear of the
frozen custard parlor and consti
tuted only 15 members of the Repub
lican County Committee out of at
least 48.”
“It is obvious that a quorem was
not present in order to transact
business,” he charged.
Following the Monday night meet
ing, Mr. Pumphrey said the com
mittee might indorse a Republican
or an Independent or remain silent.
FBI Is Testing Fragments
Ot Denekas Death Bomb
The FBI was assisting Arlington
police today in an effort to deter
mine the type of materials used in
a bomb that killed William A. De
nekas, 30, as he attempted to start
his automobile June 7.
Police Chief Harry Woodyard said
metal and wire fragments found in
and near the car were being tested
in FBI laboratories. The technicians
hope to determine whether dyna
mite or TNT was used in the charge,
what type of wire strung it up to
the car’s starter or ignition system
and what kind of detonator used.
Detectives are still working on the
case, but have turned up nothing
new. he said.
Mr. Denekas died of injuries suf
fered in an explosion soon after en
tering his car in front of 5836 North
Twenty - first street. Arlington,
where he was a roomer. ,
Children's Home Unit Elects
Claude O. Thomas, Arlington at
torney. has been re-elected chair
man of the Advisory Committee of
(he Northern District of the Chil
dren's Home Society. Other officers
are the Rev. Cliff Johnson, Alex
andria vice chairman, and Mrs. J.
V. Moran, Arlington, secretary and
treasurer. -
Wiley Heads U. of M. School
BALTIMORE, June 16 UP).—The
new dean of the University of
Maryland Medical School is Dr. H.
Boyd Wiley, who had been serving
as dean. He was appointed yester
day by the Board of Regents, a
move recommended by school
alumni. __
Night School to Open
The Washington-Lee night sum
mer school of Arlington will be open
for registration at 7 o’clock tonight?
Classes will' meet Monday through
Thursday nights.
Authorities Defend
Montgomery Schools
From Marxist Charge
( Charges that Communistic propa
ganda is being taught in the Mont
gomery County public schools were
I promptly denied yesterday by
| school authorities.
Assistant School Supt. E. M.
Douglas declared that Franklin T.
Miles, Chevy Chase attorney, was
“absolutely misinformed'' when he
told the county commissioners that
the schools are using books banned
elsewhere because of their “social
istic” content.
Mr. Miles -mentioned the Ruggs
books, the “Building America”
series and Bruner Smith books.
Mr. Douglas replied that Ruggs had
not been used in Montgomery for
many years and said the Smith
books, long out of print, formerly
were available only for reference.
California Ban Reported.
He said the "Building America"
series was published by the Na
tional Education Association and,
so far as he knew, had never been
banned anywhere. He added that
he once read of opposition to them
by a California post of the Amer
ican Legion.
Mr. Miles told the commissioners
that the series was banned by the
California Legislature.
He also criticized school author
ities for permitting the appearance
of Mrs. Alexandra Lewis at Mont
gomery Blair High School last year,
a few weeks after four students
walked out on her Western High
School talk, which he described as
'pro-Russian propaganda." Mr.
Douglas said he was not certain
whether Mrs..Lewis spoke at Mont
gomery Blair before or after the
Western episode but that he sub
ject was different and her appear
ance was approved by school au
thorities and members of the Par
ent-Teacher Association.
Calls Reply Unnecessary.
“The school program is so well
known to the people of Montgomery
County,” said Mr. Douglas, “that I
consider it unnecessary to reply to
Mr. Miles’ general charges. I doubt,
however, that he has any evidence
to indicate that any books on our
approved list are not the proper
types.'
F. Bernard Welsh, attorney to the
commissioners, said he thought the
charges should be investigated thor
oughly. President Brooke Johns
then said he would arrange for a
(discussion of the complaints at a
meeting between Mr. Miles and the
(Board of Education. ,to be attended
| by representatives of the commis
sioners.
O'Hara Heads K. of C.
Great Falls Council
Charles E. O'Hara will begin
duties July 1 as grand knight of
the Great Palls Council, No. 3022,
Knights of Columbus, succeeding
George McDonald, it was announced
today.
Other officers recently choeen to
take office July 1 include Leroy Mc
Kee, deputy grand knight, who was
re-elected; T. Walton Tiedeken,
chancellor; Alfred De Paolis, war
den; Richard Schumacher, recorder;
Robert Hickey, treasurer, and C. L.
Rivers, advocate. Inside guards are
Joseph Le Pire and Richard
O’Leary, and outside guard is Lo
renzo P. Tetoro.
Mr. McDonald was named three
year trustee and convention dele
gate. O. Bernard Ives is two-year
trustee, Mr. Hickey is alternate to
the grand knight, and Pat McKee
is alternate to the delegate.
Board Majority
Backs Slash for
County Schools
Montgomery Heads
Polled After 1,000
Hear Cut Protested
A majority of the five Montgomery
County commissioners still favors
County Supervisor Irving G. Mc
Nayr’s recommendation to give the
Board of Education $544,501 less
than it had requested, despite de
mands to the contrary at a public
hearing last night.
After the hearing, three commis
sioners told The Star in an informal
poll they would support Mr. McNayr
and would oppose any increase in
the tax rate.
The fourth commissioner said he
would be willing to compromise,
while the fifth left before he could
be questioned. The four board mem
bers polled said a decision probably
would not be made for about a week.
Under the law, the commissioners
have until Jurie 30 to sign the
budget.
1.000 Jam Gymnasium
Nearly 1,000 county residents
jammed the Richard Montgomery
High School gymnasium in Rock
ville for four hours last night to
hear more than a score of speakers
demand approval of the Board of
Education's record request for $3,
429,969 during the coming fiscal
year.
The hearing was shifted from the
Rochville Courthouse, but even so
about 200 persons were forced to
stand along the sides and rear of
the gymnasium and in the corridor.
Although the hearing was called
to obtain public opinion on all items
irk the proposed $6,251,633 budget,
which provides for a 5-cent increase
in the $1.88 county tax rate, it soon
became evident that practically all
I who attended had come to discuss
the school appropriation.
Clark Interrupted.
I After several speakers urged the
Commissioners to increase health
and police funds, cries of "What
| about teacher salaries?” interrupted
R. Duncan Clark, Bethesda. as he
was summing up the case for police
raises.
Spearheading the fight for the
full budget requested by the Board
of Education were four representa
tives of the County Council of
Parent-Teacher Associations.
Harlan Hadley, a member of the
council’s Executive Committee,
made clear the stand of School
Board supporters when he de
clared :
"The Board of Education budget
assumes that county citizens want
better than average schools.”
From Howard Johnson, also rep
senting the council, came the warn
ing that “if the school budget is
cut, guidance .work will be elimi
nated and little if any individual
work will be done with pupils."
McNayr Backs His Stand. ,
At this point. Mr. McNayr took
the floor to support his recommen
dation.
‘For three years.” he told the au
dience, “I have heard of low teacher
salaries. Most of you tonight hava
been presented with a list of teach
ers and their present salaries, show
ing the average teacher salary is
$3,569.44.
"The ridiculous talk about kinder
gartens, music, supervisory and oth
er school programs being cut if my
recommendation is approved is ab
solutely unnecessary. These pro
grams were put into practice when
salaries for teachers were far lower
than they are now and they were
kept when nothing was done about
teacher salaries.”
He expressed doubt whether those
present represented all county resi
dents and asked:
"Are the citizens capable of back
ing a program which would add 52
cents to the tax rate?”
Statement Brings Jeers.
He was greeted by jeers when
he said teachers “don't work eight
hours a day, six days a week like
policemen.”
Two other council representatives,
Nathan R. Gilbert, president, and
George Pryor of the Montgomery
Blair Parent-Teacher Association,
claimed teachers had been prom
ised they would be-placed on the
new salary schedule this year "and
we don't want to break faith with
them.”
Others backing the budget re
quest included H. Stanley Stine.
School Board president, and Mrs.
Durward V. Sandifer, a member
of the board: Mrs. Beale Bloomer,
County League of Women Voters;
John A. McIntyre, Westbrook Par
ent-Teacher Association; Mrs.
Elizabeth C. Macdonald, president
of the County Education Associa
tion, and Mrs. Elizabeth Oswald,
representing the three county chap
ters of the American Association of
University Women.
Some Oppose Request.
Brooke Johns, president of the
Board of County Commissioners,
told the crowd:
“We are willing to give you people
the things you want if you have the
intestinal fortitude to stand up and
tell us if you’re willing to pay higher
taxes.”
Most of the 1,000 persons there
stood up in response to Mr. John's
request. But when he asked all
teachers present to stand he en
countered a chorus of "noes.”
The hearing was not entirely one
sided. however. There was opposi
tion to the School Board's full re
quest from John R. Reeves, a mem
ber of the county's legislative dele
gation; W. Lawson King, Gaithers
burg, and Basil Mobley, Derwood,
both dairy farmers; James D. King,
president of the Farm Bureau, and
Percy L. Greaves, Bethesda.
Mr. Greaves said he wanted school
funds withheld pending an investi
gation of charges made yesterday
by Franklin T. Miles, Chevy Chase
attorney, that “Communistic propa
ganda” is being taught in county
schools. Mr. Miles made his charges
at a meeting of the county com
missioners.
Mr. King suggested that the com
missioners write each taxpayer and
“ask him how he feels about pay
ing more taxes.”
Club Aids Hospital Drive
The South Arlington Variety Club
has donated $50 to the Arlington
Hospital fund drive, Mrs. Ruth A.
Darne, club secretary, announced
today. \