Evening star. [volume], July 21, 1948, Image 21

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

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5 '
ERAL NEWS WASHINGTON AND VICINITY
_ Wtefljf w ^CDtttlTlg WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1948
Bond Sale Slated
By Montgomery
To Build Schools
Disposal at One Time
Of $3,000,000 Issue
Set by County Board
The Montgomery County Com
missioners have decided to advertise
for bids between August 15 and
September 1 for the sale of $3,000.
000 in bonds for school construction.
The action, announced at the
board's meeting yesterday in Rock
ville, was a reversal of the county
heads’ previous decision to sell the
bonds in installments. Such a move
has been strongly opposed by par
ent-teacher associations on the
ground it might delay the school
construction program.
County Supervisor Irving G. Mc
Nayr said bond attorneys had rec
ommended the entire issue be sold
at one time because they believed
the county might get a ' more favor
able" interest rate.
The $3,000,000 in bonds represents
the balance of a $5,000,000 bond au
thorization for schools approved at
the 1947 session of the General As
sembly. Mr. McNayr said that by
August 1 the Board of Education
will have spent all but $70 000 of
the $2,000,000 in bonds sold last fall.
School Site Purchase Put Off.
Richard E. Carpenter, assistant
superintendent of schools, said a
breakdown of the various projects to
be financed by the new bond issue
is expected to be completed by the
end of the week.
Earlier. Mr. Carpenter was asked
by Board President Brooke Johns to
delay a final agreement on the pur- j
chase of a 10-acre school site ad-'
jacent to the Viers Mill Village1
housing project until the commis
sioners "have a talk” writh officials
of the 1,400-home development.
Mr. Carpenter said the Board of
Education has a tentative agree
ment to buy the site for $20,000 from
Dr. J. Garrett Reilly.
Mr. Johns expressed the hope that
officials of the housing project
might be willing to donate a school
site at no cost to the Board of
Education.
"After all,” he declared, "they1
want a shopping center and maybe
we can work something out by a
little backscratching.”
The commissioners last week de
ferred action on a petition by Viers
Mill Village, Inc., to rezone prop
erty in the development to commer
cial D for a shopping center.
Hear Complaint on Sewage.
Mr. Carpenter predicted the area
eventually would require three new
elementary scnools as a result of
construction work between Rockville
and Wheaton.
In other business, the commis
sioners heard a complaint by Mrs.
Eleanor E. Howe of Olnev of a
health hazard which she said re
sults from the overflow of sewage
from the Montgomery County Gen
eral Hospital's septic tank into
a stream whicli passes her property.
Mrs. Howre expressed fear that the
stream would contaminate wells
from which she receives water.
The board instructed Dr. V. L.
Ellicott, county health officer, to
ask the State Health Department
to have a sanitary engineer investi
gate the condition and make recom
mendations for its elimination.
Dr. J. W. Bird, chairman of the
hospital's Executive Comrrvttee,
when called at his home for com
ment. contended there is no danger
of the stream contaminating wells
in the area.
nepavuig Approved.
He explained the hopital has
raised about $100,000 for improve
ments. including a proposed sewage
disposal plant, but is attempting to
obtain $50,000 in Federal matching
funds before proceeding with the
w ork. He emphasized, however, that
if Federal aid is not forthcoming,
the hospital "will go ahead anyway.”
The commissioners approved the
repaving of Dennis avenue. Silver
Spring, for a distance of 1.900 feet
east of Evans parkway at a cost of
about $16,000. Favorable action also
W'as taken on applications for per
mits to operate the Green Acres
School, 1275 Rockville pike, and the
Takoma Park Co-operative Nursery
School, 8 Columbia avenue.
Referred to County Engineer
Blanton S. Barnett were petitions
for a sidewalk along Harline lane
between Kentucky avenue and Pearl
street and for the improvement of
Bethesda avenue between Arlington
and Clarendon roads, both in Be
tbesda.
A contract for the purchase of
tires and tubes for county vehicles
at a cost of $32,508.34 was awarded
the G. D. Armstrong Co.. Laytons
ville. The firm's bid w-as the lowest
of 13 submitted to County Purchas
ing Agent Wilfred Nerlich.
Prince Georgians Urged
To Support Boys' Clubs
Representative Sasscer, Democrat,
of Maryland, today called on county
rr idents for increased contributions
to the ‘lagging'' Prince Georges
County Boys Club fund campaign.
- With only $10,000 collected toward
a $30,000 goal, the drive, headed
by Smith H. Purdum. clfib president,
and Louis W. Kutsch. campaign
chairman, has been extended to
July 31. The club now has over
3.000 boys enrolled in 33 units in
all sections of the county.
In a statement. Mr. Sasseer praised
efforts of Mr. Purdum, Mr. Kutsch
and other individuals and organiza
tions for their ‘•untiring efforts" in
the campaign, but warned that boys’
"natural exhuberance will be di
verted to mischief” if recreational
facilities cannot be provided. Con
tributions are being received at club
headquarters in the County Service
Building. Hyattsville.
Place Sunday Classified
Ads Early!
Classified ad customers de
siring to place ads in The
Sunday Star are urged to call
them in early in the week.
This will eliminate the last
minute rush to place ads and
will assure every one prompt
and efficient service. Your
eo-operation will be appre
ciated.
Remember The Star's new
telephone number is Sterling
5000.
Charles T. McDonaf^Named
Town Manager of Greenbelt
Charles T. McDonald, supervisory
official for the past 10 years of
various housing projects in this area
and in the Middle West, was named
Town Manager of Greenbelt last
night.
Mr. McDonald, a Greenbelt resi
dent. was appointed by the Town
Council ^o succeed James T. Gobbel.
who resigned Monday. The new
manager will assume his duties at
;the August 16 meeting of the coun
cil.
He formerly served in Greenbelt
for two years as maintenance engi
neer before taking over as manager
of the Middle River housing project
near Baltimore.
Previously he was community
manager of Greenbelt's "sister'’
projects at Greendale, Wise., and
Greenhills, Ohio.
Pointing to Mr. McDonald's 10
years’ experience as an engineer and
architect. Mayor Thomas Canning
declared he was confident the new
appointee would give the town "im
portant and expert" service.
Mr. McDonald was chosen from
27 candidates for the job. which
pays $6,500 a year. Until he takes
over, Police Chief George Pana
goulis is acting manager.
5 Baltimore Stations
To Reply by August 16
In Contempt Citation
Five Baltimore radio stations and
a commentator have until August
16 to show cause why they should
not be held in contempt of court for
broadcasts involving Eugene H.
James, confessed slayer of Carol
Bardwell of Washington and Marsha
Brill of Baltimore.
The citations, charging them with
violating rules of the supreme bench
of Baltimore, were issued yesterday
by Judges Emory H. Niles and John
T. Tucker through Criminal Court.
Those named were the Maryland
Broadcasting Co., operator of Sta
tion WITH, and James P. Connolly,
news editor of the station; Hears!
Radio. Inc., operator of Station
WBAL; the Baltimore Broadcast
ing Corp., operator of Station
WFBR; the Baltimore Radio Show,
Inc., operator of Station WFBR.
and Sidnev H. Tinley, ow'ner of Sta
tion WSID.
One station official, Charles A.
Roeder of WCBM, served notice he
was "going to fight" what he called
the "Baltimore gag.”
The court rules, established by the
supreme bench in 1939, forbid broad
cast or publication of statements an
accused makes after his arrest. It
is also improper to comment on a
prisoner’s conduct, to tell what evi
dence the police have discovered or
to discuss the accused's past crim
inal record. The prisoner’s picture,
taken w’hile he is in custody, may
not be printed without his consent.
The citations are of particular in
terest to the Washington area be
cause the case involves James. 31
year-old colored janitor, who, police
said, admitted the murder of the
Bardwell girl here June 27. and be
cause efforts are being made to im
pose similar "gag” rules in Prince
Georges, Montgomery and the other
counties.
A special committee of the Mary
land Court of Appeals has recom
mended that the rule be broadened
to Statewide application.
All the defendants in the Balti
more radio case were charged with
"embarrassing and obstructin? the
administration of justice” in broad
casting on July 8 or 9 accounts of
the Marsha Brill murder. No men
tion was made of the BardwTell case,
but it is believed that radio treat
ment of it also met with the judges'
disapproval.
Under conditions of the rule,
Baltimore newspapers could not
publish the statement of Washing
ton police that James had signed
a confession in the Bardwell case.
In a broadcast las.t night Mr.
Roeder called the rule ‘a quirk of
censorship which exists only in the
alleged Free State of Maryland.” He
said it was not a law. but a rule laid
down by the judiciary.
The fact that Station WSID is
located outside the city limits' may
provide a test of the court's jurisdic
tion.
First Sex Law Case
Ends in Commitment
The first prosecution by the
United States Attorney's office under
tire District's new sex law yesterday
folded up. when the defendant was
found of unsound mind by a Munici
pal Court jury.
Amide Landry, 63. a Soldiers'
Home resident, charged last month
with simple asasult on the complaint
of an 8-year-old girl, who reported
he had made improper advances,
was committed to St. Elizabeths
Hospital, after the verdict.
Prosecutor Andrew J Howard said
his office will drop the criminal
charge as soon as commitment
papers are received from the hospi
tal.
Landry was arrested June 17.
When the case came before his at
tention, Assistant United States At
torney Warren Wilson, chief prose
cutor for the Government in Munici
pal Court, said it was the first
prosecution under the new law which
provides a 10-vear jail maximum
for any one convicted of such sex
offenses involving children.
Landry was adjudged insane after
I the Government's only witness, Dr.
Amino Peretti, Gallenger Hospital
psychiatrist, had testified the man
is suffering from a persecution com
plex brought on by hardening of
brain arteries.
| Judge Ellen K. Raedy presided
over the hearing.
Zoning May Upset Plans
For Sandy Point Park
By th« Associated Press
BALTIMORE. July 21.—Joseph F.
Kaylor, director of the State De
partment of Forests and Parks, said
yesterday actions of the Anne Arun
del County Zoning Board may up
set plans to develop a State park at
Sandy Point.
The Zoning Board, he reported,
recently changed the zoning at the
intersection of Revell and Ritchie
highways to permit “heavy com
mercial” development. Thus would
allow filling stations, restaurants,
loadside stands and tourists courts.
Mr. Kaylor said the Zoning Board
also is considering similar action on
other tracts along Revell highway,
which connects Ritchie highway
with the Sandy Point slips of the
I Chesapeake Bay ferries. It also
| leads to the 750-acre tract which
! the State has under option for pos
sible development as a bayside park.
"Unless there are proper zoning
provisions, I feel we could not pro
ceed with the park planning,” Mr.
j Kaylor said.
| He said if the commercialization
| continues it may be necessary for
Ithe State to find another access to]
'the proposed park.
MISSING SKIPPER — Lt.
George W. Todd, jr„ U. S. N.,
55, is being sought by the Navy
and Coast Guard since his
20-loot sloop, fully rigged and
moving under a fair wind,
beached itself at Haven Beach,
near Mathews, Va., Monday
morning with no one aboard.
The officer left in the craft
from Cambridge, Md„ Sunday
en route to Charleston^ S. C.
—Navy Photo.
Sale of Woodlawn
For Use as School
Before Fairfax Court
Sale of Woodlawn, historic es
tate of the late Senator Oscar
Underwood of Alabama, which is
part of the original Mount Vernon
tract, today hinged on approval ol
the Fairfax County Circuit Court.
A boys' preparatory school would
be installed there by the Immacu
late Heart of Mary Mission So
ciety, which has offered $165,000
for the 127-acre estate.
The 20-room mansion, which Is
visible from route 1 just north of
Fort Bel voir, was built from plans
prepared by George Washington.
It was erected about 1805 by Law
rence Lewis, nephew of the First
President, who married Nellie Cus
tis, the granddaughter of Martha
Washington and adopted daughter
of Washington.
Furnishings, including antique
and modern furniture, paintings,
tableware and a library collection
of considerable size, are to be auc
tioned July 31. The items to be
sold may be inspected by the pub
lic bom 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
and July 30.
n. u. luipatncK oi Washington
and Gardner L. Boothe, Alexan
dria. are attorneys who were ap
pointed by the court as guardians
for Mrs. Bertha Woodward Under
wood, widow of the Senator. A
petition has been filed in Fa.rfax
County Circuit Court asking ap
proval of the sale by the guardians.
The widow has been ill and con
fined to a Philadelphia hospital
since 1943. Mrs. Underwood pur
chased the estate in 1925, Mr. Kil
patrick said.
John A. K. Donovan. Palls
Church attorney, represents the so
ciety, which has its United States
headquarters at North Twenty-fifth
street and Old Dominion drive,
Arlington, near the historic Rixey
Mansion which recently was ac
quired by Marymount-on-the-Hud
son of New York State as a Cath
olic girls' school.
The society seeking the Under
wood tract has headquarters in
Brussels, Belgium, and has estab
lished missions in Virginia and
Texas in this country and in China
and other countries of the Orient,
Mr. Donovan said.
Rockville Man Acquitted
In Woman's Auto Death
Willard P. Bishop. 48, Rockville,
was acquitted yesterday in Silver
Spring Police Court of a manslaugh
ter charge in the traffic death last
Saturday of Mrs. Florence Eva John
son. 38. of near Colesville.
Mr. Bishop, who is colored, testi
fied he was blinded by the light of
ail oncoming car when his auto
mobile struck Mrs. Johnson as she
was walking on the Colesville road
at Cloverly.
Takoma Park
Officials Favor
Manager Rule
Mayor Post Hails
Report on Survey of
Town Administration
A council-manager form of gov
ernment, which is the chief recom
mendation in a study of the admin
istration of Takoma Park, is gen
erally approved by members of the
Town Council, Mayor John C. Post
said today.
A report entitled. “Improving the
Government of Takoma Park" has
been presented to the council and
was made public today by its au
thor, Dr. Elwyn A. Mauck. consul
tant with the Department of Pub
lic Administration, University of
Maryland.
“I particularly like,”- Mayor Post
said, “the approach Dr. Mauck has
made to the problem. As you may
know, there are several types of
city manager plans and he has left
the way open for us to select one
that would meet our needs.”
Report to Be Analyzed.
The report will be analyzed at fu
ture council meetings and sections
referred to appropriate committees,
he said.
Dr. Mauck's report declared:
“The organization of administra
tion under the manager should not
vary greatly from the present struc
ture in Takoma Park.”
As the official who would relieve
the council—the policymaking body
—of administrative functions, he
would have the departments of po
lice. fire, finance and public works
answerable directly to him instead
of to the council, as at present.
The town council would have di
rect supervision of the manager, its
counsel, the clerk and aucytor.
The present clerk-treasurer's func
tions would.be divided so that he
would be directly responsible to the
council as clerk but to the manager
as finance officer.
Essence of Good Rule.
Dr. Mauck said the council-man
ager plan “embodies what is con
sidered the essence of good govern-;
ment, namely, an elective legislative
body to determine policy and an ap
pointive administrative branch oi
experts to it to carry out such pol
icies.”
Mayor Post also spoke favorably,
of another recommendation — a
merit system for appointment, pro
motion and compensation of all em
ployes, including the town manager.1
"We already have this system for
our police and firemen,” he said.
The manager should be appointed;
for indefinite tenure but should be
subject to removal at any time for
incompetence or other just cause,;
the report declared.
Retains Mayor’s Office.
The office of Mayor usually is re
tained in council-manager cities,
the Mauck report stated.
"His position in Takorna Park
would be very similar to the position
now existing,” Dr. Mauck asserted.
The manager would take over
many staff functions usually as
signed special agencies in largei
municipalities. He W'ould be his
own budget officer and make fiscal
estimates for approval by the coun
cil. If there were a* separate treas
urer of finance officer the duty of
alloting spending by agencies with
in the town could be delegated to
that office.
The manager would be his own
personnel officer, according to the
recommendations. The function of
centralized purchasing might be
handled either by the manager or
by a director of finance if such an
office is created.
Th police and fire department
would continue their present func
tions but a department of public
works might take over constuction.
repair, lighting and maintenance of
streets as well as garbage and trash
collection services.
Departments Adequate.
“Until such time as the functions
of Takoma Park may be greatly ex
panded,” the report declared, “these
departments seem fully adequate to
serve the city's needs.”
The town has adopted a thorough
building code and other ways of ex
ercising zoning powers but "in the
field of planning, however, it ap
pears to be considerably hampered
by the jurisdiction exercised by the
Maryland-National Capital Park
9nd Planning Commission.”
The recommendation for adoption
of a merit system. Dr. Mauck said,
"does not mean to imply that in
competent personnel has been se
lected or that partisan spoils has
been used as the basis of selection.
The administrationn of the city, in
fact, appears to be excellent.
RESTORATION OF RAMSAY HOUSE PLANNED—The Alexandria Historical Society, Inc., and
other histcrical and civic groups are seeking to raise $30,000 to restore the Ramsay House at
the corner of King and Fairfax streets, said to be the oldest building in Alexandria.
• —Star Staff Photo.
Fairfax to Continue
Religious Education
Despite Court Ruling
Religious education will be per
mitted in Fairfax County schools
again this fall despite doubt that
the type of instruction offered is
constitutional.
The County School Board at its
meeting yesterday decided not to
abandon its 18-> ear-old program
religious instruction.
The question of constitutionality |
was raised by letters 'rom the State
Attorney General and State school
officials. The letters were Drompted
by a Supreme Court decision in the
famed McCollum case, which he'd
that religious instruction in "be
public schools at Urbana, 111.,1
violated the Constitution.
Fairfax System Outlined.
Under the system in Fairfax, ele
mentary students can. at the re
quest of their parents, attend re
ligious classed conducted in the
public schools by the Council on
Weekly Religious Instruction. The
classes are. in most cases, conducted
in the classroom by one of the
council’s instructors with the regular
school teachers present. The school
teacher is responsible for the con
duct of the students.
I
An excerpt read from the Inter
pretation of the court ruling by At
torney General J. Lindsay Almond
declared:
"It appears that In the great ma
jority of cases the school authorities
are responsible for the failure of the;
child to report to the religious edu-i
cational class and are likewise re
sponsible for the discipline should
the child misbehave in class be
yond the authority o4 the religious
education teacher to control him. I
have grave doubts as to the consti
tutionality of any plan operating
in such a fashion.’’
Board Urged to "Sit Tight*
School Supt. W. T. Woodson said
he did not believe the religious
class could be conducted satisfac-l
torily unless the public school
teachers had some authority over
the children.
Board member Richard E. Shands
suggested the school board ‘ sit t'ght
and let some one challenge the
program in court."
In other business the board or
dered half-day classes at the Madi
son School, Falls Church, this fall
until the Oak Street Scnool is com
pleted and the pupil load at Madi
son relieved.
Richmond Driver Sought
In Hit-Run Injury Here
Police today were seeking a driver
from Richmond. Va.. for question
ing in connection with a hit-and
run accident here last night in
which a District carpenter was seri
louslv injured.
Witnesses who saw Walter John
son, 50, of 142 Eleventh street S.E.,
struck down in front of his home
gave police the license number of
a car which police said is registered
to a Richmond man. Other wit
nesses. police said, were reported
' to have seen the car in the 200
block of G street N.W. The car
was believed to have a broken side
view mirror and other damage on
the right side.
Mr. Johnson, w'ho rooms at the
Eleventh street address, was taken
| to Casualty Hospital with a frac
1 tured left leg and head injuries.
VIRGINIA LEADERS HONOR GREEN—Among those who attended a testimonial dinner for Ar
lington-Commissioner of Revenue Harry K. Green last night at the National Airport dining
room were ranking members of the Democratic Party in Virginia. In the picture tleft to right*
are Senator Byrd. Mrs. Green, Gov. Tuck, Mr. Green and Senator Robertson. Mr. Green is com
pleting his 29th year in office. - —-Star Staff photo.
200-Year-Old Ramsay House
In Alexandria to Be Restored
The oldest house in Alexandria is
due for a face-lifting as soon as
sufficient funds for its restoration
can be raised.
To the untrained eye, the 200
vear-old ramshackle Ramsay house
at the corner of King and Fairfax
streets appears to be in a hopeless
state of decay.
Daylight filters through its splint
ered fr?me walls and evidences of
a fire that damaged it five years
ago still can be seen
But according to Milton Grigg.
architect who has drawn plans for
the restoration, the Ramsay house
can be restored as a landmark for
about $30,000.
Link in City’s History.
Sponsors of the restoration hope
the project can be completed in
time for Alexandria's bi-centennial
celebration next year because the
house is so closely linked to the
history of the city.
It was built by William Ramsay,
wealthy Scotch merchant. Mr.
Ramsay was one of the 11 trustees
who, in 1749. carried out an order
of the Virginia House of Burgesses
to found a town where Alexandria
now stands by selling 66 half-acre
lots.
George Washington, a youth at
the time, assisted John West. jr..
surveyor and clerk of the Board
of Trustees, in laying out the new
town. if
Another member of the original
Board of Trustees was John Carlyle,
whose old Alexandria home is among
the city’s leading tourist attractions.
It is m the same block as the Ram
say house. Many historians believe
the Ramsay house predates the City
of Alexandria. They say it was
built at Jon** Point on the Potomac
' ---i—- ..it.'- .
and later moved to Its present site
when the city was founded..
The house was used as the resi
dence of the Ramsay family for
about 100 years. After it passed
out of the hands of the Ramsays it
was put to a variety of uses. It once
housed a cigar factory. At the time
of the fire in 1943 it was being used
as a tavern.
Group Prevents Raxing.
After the fire, the house appeared
destined to be torn down to make
way for an office building. A group
of historically - minded citizens
formed the Ramsay House Restora
tion Committee and managed to
prevent the razing. Through ef
forts of this committee, and other
historical groups, the Alexandria
City Council was persuaded to pur
chase the property for $9,000.
The Alexandria Historical Society,
Inc., an outgrowth of the earlier
committee, was organized to raise a
fund for the restoration and is still
in charge of the fund raising al
though other groups, including the
Alexandria Association, have as
sisted.
The Alexandria Association raised
$2,100 through an old-homes tour
this year. Alexandria City Council
man Everett A. Hellmuth is presi
dent of the historical society.
Plans call for the house to be re
stored to its original size. Research
has shown that a one-and-one-half*
story kitchen^ wing was added in
1787 and it twfc-story lean-to added
later.
After the house is restored, Mrs.
Robert M. Reese, a descendant of
the original owner, plans to turn
over some furniture that was used
there when occupied by the Ram
says. Mrs. Reese was Miss Rebecca
Ramsey before her marriage.
Gov. Lane Will Designate Tract
As Maryland's First Tree Farm
Special Dispatch to The Star
ANNAPOLIS. July 21. —A 1.28
acre. pine-covered tract near Wel
come. in Western Charles County,
1 will be designated the first tree
farm in Maryland, according to
Joseph F. Kaylor, director of the
State Department of Forests and
Parks.
In ceremonies at 10:30 a.m.. July
30, Mr. Kaylor said. Gov. Lane will
present to P. H. Gladfelder, owner
of the property, a certificate signi
fying that his 28-year record of for
estry management has earned that
designation.
Accompanying Gov. Lane will be
national forestry officials and ex
ecutives of parks and forestry de
partments of Maryland and neigh
boring States.
‘ Mr. Gladfelder of Spring Grove.
Pa„ is president of the pulpwood
company bearing his name. His
company since 1920 has cut pulp
wood from the tract, Mr. Kaylor
said, under such practices that the
area has become an example of
good forestry management.
The tract is near Old Durham
Church, one of the first Episcopal
parishes established in Maryland.
Mr. Kaylor said the State defines
a tree farm as "any tract of five
acres or more of natural or planted
farm land, the owner of which
agrees to abide by certain stipula
tions laid down by local forestry
boards.” Official certificates are
issued only when the owners are
actively engaged in forestry man
agement.
400 Attend Dinner
For Harry K. Green
More than 400 persons, including
Gov. Tuck and the Virginia delega
tion in Congress, honored Harry K
Green, for 29 years Arlington com
missioner of revenue, at a dinner
and reception last night.
Gov. Tuck said Mr. Green "repre
sents all that is best and finest.'
He presented Mr. Green with a
| watch, the gift of his friends. The
Governor also apologized for arriv
ing an hour late, but said he forgot
that he had signed the bill permit
ting Northern Virginia communi
ties to go on daylight time.
C. E. Webber, grand master oi
Virginia Masons, brought greetings
to Mr. Green from the 52.000 mem
bers of the fraternity who live in
Virginia. Mr. Green was grand
master in 1932.
Guests also included Senators
Byrd and Robertson and Represent
ative Smith, Democrats, of Virginia;
State Senator John S. Battle of
Charlottesville, a candidate for Gov
ernor; Mrs. Carter Glass, State
Auditor J. Gordon Bennett. State
Treasurer Jesse W. Dillon, Garrett
Ballard, Richmond commissioner of
revenue; Gordon Berryman, com
missioner of revenue of Surrey
County; Ira Harding, commissioner
of revenue of Halifax County;
Judge Walter T. McCarthy of
Arlington Circuit Court, and Rabbi
Ira Bud.
State Senator Charles R. Fen
wick of Arlington was toastmaster
of the affair which was held in the
National Airport dining room. The
Rev. Harry Craver, pastor of the:
Cherrydale Methodist Church, gave,
the invocation and the Rev. R. Dix
on Beattie, pastor' of St. Ann s
Catholic Church, Arlington, said
the benediction.
Legion Elects Wharton
HARRISONBtTtG, Va., July 21
i.*>>—William W. Wharton, Harrison
burg attorney, Is the new command
er of the Rockingham Poet of thei
American LegioH. He was elected
to succeed Frank C. 8witzer. Poet-,
master Biedler T. Heltzel was named;
first vice commander. |
I
jury Cases Speeded
In District Court
Civil jury cases in District Court
i now take three months less time tc
reach trial than they did in October
1947, and non-jury actions have
been accelerated one month since
] then, it was reported yesterday.
A yearly tabulation of civil court
cases noted that in October of last
year. 10 months would elapse be
tween the time a jury case went on
the calendar and the date it would
be reached for final trial. As of last
June 30. seven months would elapse.
Non-jury cases formerly took 12
months to reach trial and now take
11 months, according to the report.
The figures showed that 3.990
cases were disposed of during the
year ended June 30. while 4.093 were
handled during the previous year.
Differences included 175 fewer un
contested divorce cases disposed of,
and 72 more contested cases handled.
The uncontested divorces ac
counted for the largest number of
cases handled, totaling 2,058 during
the year.
Of the 7,038 cases on the civil cal
endar during the year, 3,048 were
awaiting trial as of June 30.
Wnere there were 1.379 cases a
year old or more In 1939, there are
now 588, the report said. Cases over
six .months old total 1,471. as com
pared to 2,292 in 1939. Of the 1,471
a total of 868 are divorces.
Indian Head Meeting
To Plan Fire Department
Special Dispatch ta Th« Star
INDIAN HEAD. Md.. July 21.—A
meeting to organize a volunteer fire
department for the Indian Head
area will be held at S p.m. Thursday.
The organization is sponsored by
the Indian Head Business Associa
tion in conjunction with the town
commissioners. Young men ' and
property owners from Potomac
Heights, Bryans Road. Marbury,
Pisgah and Fomonkey are urged to
attend the meeting. Joseph Mat
tingly is temporary chairman of the
Fire Committee of the Business
Association. j
*
County Weighs
Unit on Zoning
Compliance
Would Map Steps
For Enforcement
In Prince Georges
Appointment of a committee to
decide on steRs necessary to obtain
full public compliance with the son
ing ordinance in Prince Georges
County i* under consideration by
the Board of County Commission*
ers today.
A committee of repreeenUtivee
from various interested agencies,
such as was named in Montgomery
County to consider a similar situ
ation, was suggested by J. Bond
Smith, general counsel of the Mary
land-National Capital Park and
Planning Commission at a confer
ence yesterday.
The conference, held during the
regular weekly meeting of the
county commissioners, also*was at
tended by representatives of county
departments, incorporated towns
and county agencies concerned with
enforcement of the zoning ordi
nance.
Existing Violations Cited.
Mr. Smith, on behalf of the plan
ning commission, pointed out vio
lations of the zoning law still exist,
including conversion of one-family
dwellings to multi-family residences,
tolerated during the war because
of the need for living qdarters.
Yesterday’s conference was called
to “discuss the extent of the vio
i lations in Prince Georges County
j and what should be done about
! them.” Mr. Smith said.
William A. Carson, president of
the Board of Commissioners, de
clared he has not received any com
plaints on the zoning violations.
Regarding strict enforcement of ex
isting regulations, Mr. Carson said
he "hated to start something we
can't finish.
Mayor Harry A. L. Barker of
Riverdale. a member of the Rental
Advisory Board for Montgomery and
Prince Georges Counties, said he
had found many violations of the
ordinance in his investigations as a
member of the board.
Would Enforce Future Cases.
Mayor Barker declared his recom
mendation was to "wink" at viola
tions which have occurred to date
and enforce the ordinance in all
cases from now on.
Councilman Warren James of
Mount Rainier asserted the viola
tions were at least partly the result
of failure of the Planning Commis
sion to co-operate with town offlcer3
in the issuing of contruction permits.
“Lack of knowledge" is back of the
whole problem, Herman C. Heffner
of the Takoma Park Town Council
told the Conference He said also
lack of facilities on the part of the
Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission might have contributed
to the situation.
Others who discussed the problem
were Fred Tuemmler, director of
planning for the Prince Georges
office of the Planning Commission;
■Perce Wolfe, county building in
spector; Charles Wood, county san
itary engineer, and Hervey G.
Machen, assistant State's attorney. 1
Vance T. Vaughn, counsel Ter sev
eral incorporated towns in the
county, appealed for more help for
the county building inspector as an
aid to enforcement of the ordinance.
Observers at the conference were
John Briscoe, State's attorney for
St. Marys County and attorney to
the county commissioners there, and
Tell W. Nicolet, secretary and tech
nical adviser to the St. Marya
County Planning and Zoning Com
mission.
Sign Permit Authority Ashen.
Mr. Smith also requested the com
1 missioners to authorize the planning
commission to issue permits for the
erection of outdoor advertising
signs. This also was taken under
advisement.
j The commissioners agreed to name
the four district road foremen as
special county foresters to receive
instruction from the State in trim
ming trees along roads and high
ways. This was done at the re
quest of Dave Prince. State roadside
tree supervisor.
Mr. Prince also requested that the
commissioners order removal of
brush which has been cut along the
roads, and thereby reduce the
danger of fires.
j. A. J. Pickall, district forester for
Southern Maryland, also appeared
'before the commissioners with Mr.
Prince.
The commissioners agreed to com
jply with a request of the-State
i Roads Commission and draft a reso
lution barring parking on the north
side of the Tuxedo road near the
Cheverlv-Tuxedo Fire Department
for a distance of about 325 feet.
Waldo Burnside, attorney to the
commissioners, was instructed to
prepare the resolution.
4 New Polio Coses Bring
Virginia Total to 55
By the Associated Press
RICHMOND. Va.. July 21—Pour
new cases of infantile paralysis yes
terday pushed the State polio count
up to 55 for the year, the State
Health Department announced. Yes
terday’s victims included an 8-year
old Alexandria boy.
The gradual climb of the Virginia
cases supported the belief in the
Health Department that Virginia
may escape the severe outbreak that
is occurring in North Carolina.
Martinsburg Pastor Quits
MARTINSBURG, W. Va.. July 21
iSpecial).—The Rev. Dr. John Ward
Brown, pastor of Plrst Baptist
Church here for the past 18 years,
has resigned, effective September 1.
I Star Movies
Community movies, sponsored by
The Star in co-operation with the
Recreation Department and The
Film Center, are scheduled for 9
pm. today. Programs of comedy,
sports, cartoons and travel shorts
will be shown at the following play
grounds and recreation centers:
Anacostia. between Eleventh atreet and
Pennavlvania avenue S.E.
Jtdgewood. Third ora Evarta atreeta N.E.
Pahaades. Dana and Sherrier place* N W.
Sherwood. T*.n;o and G street* NE
Takoma. Fourth and Van Buren atreet*
Virginia Avenue. Ninth atreet and Vir
(inla avenue S.E.
Carver. Whlttiaiaam atreet and Lana
Ptaee N.E.
Sirrison. Twelfth and R *tre-t« N.W.
neoln. Sixth and L atreet-, S t
Rose Park. Twentr-aeventh and O
atreeta N.W,
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