Evening star. [volume], December 05, 1951, Image 41

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

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
j WASHINGTON AND VICINITY
GENERAL NEWS
u______ 4
~_* WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1951
Urban Counties
In Virginia Seek
Annexing Power
Arlington Delegation
Prepares Bill for
Assembly Action
By Alex. R. Preston
Urban counties would be
granted the power to annex ad
joining territory for the first time
by terms of a bill being prepared
by the Arlington delegation to
the Virginia General Assembly.
The admittedly revolutionary
move was announced today fol
lowing disclosure yesterday of a
legislative program for the As
sembly which convenes January 9.
State Senator Charles R. Fen
wick and Delegates J. Maynard
Magruder and George Damm said
their program would be expanded
before the Assembly adjourns in
March.
Delegation Statement.
"Heretofore, only cities and in
corporated towns have enjoyed
privilege of annexing additional
territory,” the delegation declared
in a statement.
Fundamentally, there Is no
reason why a county that can
provide improved facilities to
people in an adjacent county
should not have the privilege of
going before an annexation court
and making this showing to the
same extent that a ctiy or town
can.”
Fairfax would be the obvious
target of the move inasmuch as
it is the only county that ad
joins Arlington.
A special commission of the
General Assembly studying an
nexation problems recently recom
mended changes in the law, one of
which would permit counties to
institute annexation proceedings
requiring a city or town to annex
a portion of the county.
“Goes One Step Further."
“Our proposal goes one step fur
ther,” the Arlington delegation
said. “It would not only give the
ecunty the right to initiate the
proceedings but give it the right
to acquire additional territory.”
In the program outlined at a
press conference yesterday, the
delegation said it would seek a law
giving Arlington the same power
to issue public utility franchises
that only cities in Virginia now
posses.
If the annexation bill and fran
chise law were passed, Arlington
—through the operation of nu
merous other special acts—would
have all of the powers now granted
cities, except one. Virginia cities
may issue bonds without holding
referendums while counties can
not.
Other Proposals Outlined.
Among other legislative pro
posals outlined are the following:
Calling for a 30-day “short ses
sion” of the Assembly in odd
years falling between the present
60-day session in even years, simi
lar to the plan in Maryland.
Ban the use of Shirley highway
from Woodbridge to Route 7 to
heavy through-truck traffic.
“Insist on and support" a rec
ommendation of a special Redis
tricting Commission calling for a
new 10th Congressional District
in the Washington suburban area.
The delegation will seek two ad
ditional representatives in the
House of Delegates, one of whom
would be elected jointly with
Falls Church. The commission
recommended only one additional
House member to be elected with
Falls Church. The delegation will
seek a second State Senator
elected with Alexandria. The
commission left Arlington’s Sen
ate representation at one, but
recommended a State Senator
for Alexandria alone.
Milk Price Fixing Powers.
Eliminate retail price fixing
powers of the State Milk Com
mission and increase membership
of that commission from three
to four. At present one member
is a producer, another is a dis
tributor and the third is one who
falls in neither classification. Ar
lington’s proposal would require
that the third member plus the
proposed new member be "con
sumer” representatives.
Introduce enabling acts to per
mit Arlington voters to determine
(1) whether to change the method
of appointing a county manager
and if so, whether he shall serve
at the pleasure of the county
board on either a fiscal or calen
dar year basis; (2) whether to
create the post of county attor
ney; (3) whether the county
manager or County Board should
appoint department heads.
Amend law on inheritances so
that surviving spouse may get
a 50 per cent exemption on the
estate for tax purposes. At pres
ent, widows may be taxed for the
full value of the estate.
Teacher Tenure Provised
Provide for teacher tenure—se
curity—for those who hold certi
ficates of instruction.
Enact an “anti-bribery” law to
make it a felony to offer or accept
a bribe for any athletic contest
for which admission is charged.
Mr. Magruder said previous efforts
in this direction were killed, but
the more recent basketball fix
cases and other sports scandals
elsewhere probably would lead to
support of the measure now.
Establish a new division of rec
reation within the Department of
Conservation to aid rural locali
ties in planning.
Require flouridation of water
for municipal plants approved by
the State Department of Health.
Increase penalties for violation
of narcotics laws, particularly in
cases Involving sales to children.
Amend medical scholarships law
to permit students receiving bene
fits to serve as interns in State
mental hospitals as repayment of
loan.
k
Alexandria Child
Hanged by Cord
On Venetian Blind
A 14-month-old Alexandria girl
was hanged accidentally last night
by a Venetian blind cord dangling
beside her crib.
Alexandria police said the body
of Rebecca Anne Walter was
found by her mother, Mrs. Flora
M. Walter, about 7:10 p.m. The
cord was entwined around the
baby’s neck and police said she
apparently had fallen forward in
the crib while playing with the
cord.
Mrs. Walter told police she had
put her daughter in the crib 10
minutes earlier and had gone into
an adjoining room but heard no
outcry.
The Alexandria Rescue Squad
tried to revive Rebecca Anne with
oxygen, but was pronounced dead
on arrival at Alexandria Hospital.
Rebecca Anne’s father, Oakley
S. Walter, is employed at the Navy
Department. The Walters live at
1720 Prince street, Alexandria.
Rebecca Anne was their only
child.
Montgomery Council
Clears Zoning Ruling
For Aud Rifle Range
It looks as if Dr. William D.
Aud, Silver Spring physician and
hunting enthusiast, may be able
to use his new underground firing
range after all.
The Montgomery County Coun
cil yesterday stepped in where the
Board of Zoning Appeals feared
to tread and approved an amend
ment to the county zoning ordi
nance, which clears the way for
such projects in a residential area.
The amendment authorizes the
zoning appeals group to permit a
noncommercial underground or
Indoor rifle range in any residen
tial district, provided that:
1. Such a range is incidental
to a use permitted in the area.
2. The applicant complies with
the ordinance regulating the dis
charge of firearms in the subur
ban area.
Ranges Subject to Scrutiny.
According to the council, the
residential character of adjacent
properties would be safeguarded,
since each rifle range would be
subject to the scrutiny of the
Board of Zoning Appeals before
it could be built.
The council also quoted the
opinion of its Range Approval
Committee to the effect that such
ranges are inherently safe and
offer no hazard to surrounding
residents.
Dr. Aud, who lives at 9008 Coles
ville road, had nearly completed
the 143-foot underground firing
range on his property, when he
was forced to stop work nearly six
months ago on orders of a county
building inspector.
The inspector told the physician
such a project could not be built
in a residential district. Dr. Aud
then asked tlfe Board of Zoning
Appeals to grant him an exception
from the zoning ordinance. But
the board turned him down on the
ground it lacked authority to act.
Rural Area Delegation.
In other business, the council
received a resolution from a group
of rural residents opposing the
proposed subdivision regulations
for their area.
A discussion of the proposals
between the residents and council
members started off calmly, with
R. Edwin Brown, Rockville at
torney, presenting the formers’
side of the controversy.
Then William L. Thompson,
Comus farmer, rose to point out
there had been almost unanimous
opposition to the proposals at a
public hearing several weeks ago.
Suddenly, Lathrop Smith, coun
cil president, rapped loudly with
his gavel. He told Mr, Thompson
the council was willing to discuss
the matter in a "friendly manner”
but that he felt enough time had
been consumed.
Delegation Leaves In Huff.
The delegation left in a huff.
Included in the group, besides Mr.
Brown and Mr. Thompson, were
former County Commissioner
Charles H. Jamison, Poolesville,
and Paul E. Tembaugh, Dicker
son.
The council approved an appli
cation by John A. Brickley, Inc.,
for the reclassification from resi
dential A to commercial D of land
at Seminary and Forest Glen
roads. Denial of the petition had
been recommended by the Mary
land-National Capital Park and
Planning Commission.
Added to the county payroll
were William J. Sullivan, Silver
Spring, senior building inspector
at $4,200 a year; Miss Alice M.
Wagner, Lebanon, Pa., public
health nurse at $3,060 a year, and
Mrs. Rita B. Marshall, Poolesville,
driver-messenger with the De
partment of Public Libraries at
$2,180 a year.
Cottage City Fire Company
Elects Haley as President
Alfred Haley has been elected
president of the Cottage City Fire
Company, and T. Weston Scott,
jr., was named chief.
Others elected were George A.
E. Rheinbold, vice president; Leon
Beck, secretary; Melvin A. Howes,
financial secretary; Nels P. Ras
mussen, treasurer; George Du Vail,
assistant chief ; Carl Hartman,
captain; Alden Berger, lieutenant;
Albert A. Butler, fire marshal,
and John Gibson, Vincent A. Sim
mel, William Bobb, Wilbert Yoho
and T. Weston Scott, sr., trustees.
Mecklenburg Defeats Bonds
BOYDTON, Va., Dec. 5 (IP).—
Voters defeated Mecklenburg
County’s proposed $2,500,000
school bond issue yesterday by a
vote of 1,592 to 322.
■
Sothoron Seeks
Sasscer's Seat
In Congress
Democrat Formerly
Served as Maryland
Delegate and Senator
By J. L. Michael
Former State Senator L. Harold
Sothoron, Representative Sasscer’s
long-time lieutenant, will file for
the office in which his chief is
serving his seventh two-year term.
“This is the chance I have been
waiting for,” said Mr. Sothoron,
who served 16 years in the Mary
land General Assembly as a Demo
cratic Delegate and Senator. He is
a former Senate president and
majority floor leader.
Representative Sasscer an
nounced Saturday that he will
vacate the 5th district House
seat to try for the post held by
Senator O’Conor, a fellow Demo
crat who is expected to run again.
Another potential democratic
Senate contender appeared yester
day when the name of Fred W. C.
Webb was suggested by the
Wicomico County Central Com
mittee. Mr. Webb, a Salisbury at
torney, said he is considering the
matter.
Two Potential Candidates.
Potential candidates in what
promises to be a heavy field in
the Democratic primary race for
the congressional post include
State Senator Louis L. Goldstein
of Calvert County and Louis N.
Phipps of Anne Arundel County.
A third State Senator. James B.
Monroe of Charles County, is
studying his chances of winning
under the Republican banner.
“Mr. Sasscer Just made his
statement and I have not had
time to think it over,” Senator
Goldstein said. “But don’t count!
me out. I will have something to;
say within a few days.”
In holding himself out for con
sideration. Senator Phipps made
it clear that he would not run
against Senator Goldstein because j
of his “high regard for him and
his great contribution to the peo
ple of Southern Maryland.”
Three other Democrats are
definitely in the House contest.
One is Philip H. Dorsey, jr., of
St. Marys County, former peo
ple’s counsel to the State Public
Service Commission, who has filed
for the post.
Two Have Not Filed.
The others, both of Anne Arun
del County, are Wilbur L. Dulin,
former State Senator and Rac
ing Commission member, and Z.
Garner Jones, who once was
county police commissioner. They
have announced, but have not
filed.
Senator Monroe said he felt
the changing situation made it
unwise to commit himself at this
point, but indicated that he is
giving his possible candidacy
“sertous thought.” He is a vet
eran of 12 years in the State Leg
islature, chairman of the GOP
Steering Committee and a mem
ber of the Legislative Council.
Already in the pod on the Re
publican side are Joe Mulleri, An
napolis newspaperman, who has
put up his $100 filing fee, and
Dr. Ralph L. Morrison, a Prince
Georges County dentist. He has
announced but has not filed.
In the background on the
Democratic list is Delegate Leroy
Pumphrey of Prince Georges, a
former floor leader of the Mary
land House. Mr. Pumphrey said
he has been asked to run “by
hundreds of people.” He would
not discuss the matter further “at
this time.”
None of the avowed or possible
Democratic entrants would hint
as to who will get their support
in the senatorial struggle which
appears in the offing between
Senator O’Conor and Representa
tive Sasscer.
No Beall, Gore Comments.
Neither would Republicans com
ment on the senatorial candida
cies of Representative Beall and
H. Grady Gore of Montgomery
County.
Former State Senator Sothoron,
defeated last year after he pushed
through a bill revamping the
county government, believes he
can make peace with dissident
groups who helped bring about a
Republican landslide.
Recalling that the bill he spon
sored was repealed and replaced
by a new act, Mr. Sothoron said
“mine must have been good legis
lation—the new bill was almost
identical.”
Observers in the State capital
spoke of other potential candi
dates in both parties. Democrats
mentioned Senator Sybert, Demo
crat, of Howard; who was Speaker
of the House of Delegates before
his election to the Senate last fall.
Senator Fletcher, Republican,
of Prince Georges also figured in
the guesswork. He hasn’t com
mitted himself. Senator Fletcher
led a Republican revolt which last
year unseated all but two Demo
crats in the county’s seven-mem
ber legislative delegation.
X
Falls Church Players
To Give 'Wizard of Oz'
The Falls Church Community
Theater players will stage the
“Wizard of Oz” at 7:30 pm. to
morrow and Friday in the Rock
Spring Congregational Church
community house, Arlington.
The performances will be spon
sored by the Chesterbrook School
Parent Teacher Association, with
proceeds to be used for the school’s
playground equipment.
PTA Program Tonight
The Walter Reed School Parent
Teacher Association, 1644 North
McKinley road, Arlington, will hold
its Christmas program at 8 o’clock
tonight in the school.
- f .
Alcoholic Clinic Tries Hard, but Problem Grows Daily
By George Kennedy
All the Icing’s horses and all the
king’s men who are trying to do
something about the alcoholic
problem are not getting very far
in putting Humpty Dumpty to
gether again.
That is the only conclusion that
can be drawn from a survey of
(This is the second of two
articles on the problem of al
coholism in Washington. Yes
terday’s article dealt with the
size of the problem as indicated
by the increase in arrests for
intoxication.)
the problem and of the work that
is being done to solve it.
Public drunkenness must be in
creasing much faster than the
population rate, if we are to ac
cept the number of arrests for
that offense as an index.
The number of arrests has risen
from 26,000 during the last year
cf the war to 39,000 in the last
fiscal year—an increase of 60 per
cent.
In the summer of 1947, some
citizens of the District interested
in the problem persuaded the
proper committees of Congress to
enact Public Law 347. Section 1.
entitled “Purpose,” is a cou
rageous. and probably optimistic,
statement of intent.
It reads in part:
“The purpose of this act is to
establish a program for the re
habilitation of alcoholics, promote
temperance and provide for the
medical, psychiatric, and other
scientific treatment of chronic
alcoholics.”
Treatment as Alternative.
It further says that the purpose
of the act is:
“To substitute for jail sentences j
for drunkenness medical and oth
er scientific methods of treatment!
which will benefit the individual:
involved and more fully protect
the public.”
For a number of reasons, the
alcoholic clinic authorized by the
act was not set up until February,
1950, so it would be unfair to ex
pect sue ha baby to make a show
ing of licking a problem that has
had so many years of growth. But
the experience of the clinic in
dealing with this primary pur
pose of the law has been dis
couraging to the clinicians and to
the interested citizens who brought
about passage of the act.
About 400 prisoners have been
referred to the clinic by Munici
pal Court. According to Dr. An
thony Zappala. administrator of
the clinic under Dr. Leopold Wex
berg, head of the Bureau of Men
tal Hygiene in the District Health
Department, those referred to the
clinic by the courts come in once;
or twice and then return no mordl
By not showing up, they risk being
Psychotherapy is a light that only the fairly well informed
seem to be able to take advantage of in trying to get out of the
miasma of alcoholism. —Drawing by Newman Sudduth.
i
Muled back into court and given
a jail sentence as a substitute for
psychiatry—but that is what they
lo.
The staff at the clinic would
much rather talk about the 1,200
patients who came there volun-:
tarily. Public Law 347 provides
that "any resident of the Dis-i
trict of Columbia who is a chronic
alcoholic within the meaning of
this act may voluntarily submit
himself for . . . treatment in
the clinic.’
Better Response.
They seem to respond much bet
ter to psychotherapy than those
referred by the court. The term,
’psychotherapy," can be defined
simply as a method of reasoning
the patient out of his difficulties.
Those people who understand
what a psychologist means by
"security” or “defense mechanism”
or “motivation,” are much better
patients.
While undergoing psychother
apy, in which each patient must
have the individual attention of a
psychiatrist or a psychologist for
at least an hour a week, these
patients can be brought together
to help one another in groups.
The difficulty psychiatry has in
keeping up with the courts is
sugested by the hour a week (and
that's a minimum) which must
be given each patient, compared
with the efficiency of the court,
which sentences drunks at a rate
of more than one a minute.
Favorite group therapy at the
clinic is psychodrama—something
that started in New York and has
flourished at St. Elizabeths, where
Dr. Zappala worked with alco
holics for a number of years. This
reporter watched a group enacting
psychodramas the other evening,
and it seemed to be nothing more
than charades in reverse—every
one was informed beforehand
what was to be enacted.
“Harry,” said Mrs. Verna H.
Minear, a psychologist who was
:onducting the session, “last week
you fired Fred and he wanted to
know why you discharged him.
Now suppose you make out you
are Fred and Fred will suppose;
he is Harry. He will fire you.”
But when I heard Mrs. Minear'
talk about her patients later, I
realized that they had problems
—very real to them—which they
were trying to help one another
overcome
Norbert’s Case.
There was Norbert, a blond,
bouncy man of 31. Norbert had a
good job. He was an electronic
technician. He not only had a
background of alcoholism, he had
terrific phobias. A product of a
broken family, he lived with two
uncles, and the greatest of his
many fears was that he might be
arrested for drinking. It has never
happened to him.
When Norbert would have a
bad hangover, he’d be afraid to go
to work. Sometimes this would
last for a week or 10 days. But
his last spell shook what little
confidence he had in himself—it
lasted seven months.
Norbert’s chief phobia was due
to Uncle Roderick. Uncle Rod
erick had no fears. He would
sally out. get drunk and land in
Occoquan. No one worried when
Uncle Rod was missing for a
month. They knew where he was.
Norbert had to leave the house
once in a while during the ex
tended period of fear. He would
brace himself with two double
bourbons, slide out the door, do
the necessary shopping at the cor
ner store and hustle back slam
ming the door behind him with
relief. Finally Uncle Emery, the
other ' uncle, told Norbert he
would have to leave. He was
getting more and more in debt
to the household.
Norbert called a taxicab and
Fairfax Court Asked
If County Board Can
Swap School Land
The Fairfax Circuit Court has
been asked to decide if the County
School Board can swap some land
at the Vienna elementary school.
A hearing on the School Board’s
petition for court approval of the
land transfer is scheduled for
Tuesday.
The petition asks if the School
Board may deed about a half
acre of thfe Vienna school site
fronting on Maple avenue to
Northern Virginia Properties. In
return Northern Virginia Proper
ties would give the School Board
rights of way of the old Vienna
trolley system that trisects the
Vienna school site. The rights of
way are about 40 feet wide, and
total about 1.9 acres.
Court approval of the trans
action is necessary, school officials
said, because part of the school
site was donated on condition
that it would revert to the heirs if
it ever was used for anything but
a school.
Mrs. Katrina Hine Echols, sister
of the late Col. Charles Delano
Hine who made the donation,
stands to regain the property if
the reversion clause is upheld in
court.
Mrs. Echols, however, said she
opposes the land transfer because
her brother donated the property
so the school could have front
age on Maple avenue. She said
she is in sympathy with Warner
Ray Cockerville, Vienna town
councilman, who has entered the
case as an lntervenor in opposi
tion to the swap.
Inflation Meetings Set
By Arlington Women
The Arlington League of Women
Voters will hold a series of unit
meetings next week to discuss anti
inflation measures.
Leaders of the meetings have
completed a series of three work
shops on the subject of inflation
in preparation for the unit dis
cussions.
Morning, afternoon and evening
discussion groups will be held and
Information as to time and place
may be obtained through Mrs.
George C. Vietheer, league presi
dent.
Today Is Deadline
For Payment of 7950
Virginia State Taxes
Today is the deadline for
payment of Virginia State
taxes for 1950.
After today a penalty of 5
per cent will be added to tax
bills. This will be increased
by a charge of 6 per cent in
terest per year beginning
June 30 if the taxes remain
unpaid.
Tax payments in the mail
by midnight tonight will not
be assessed the 5 per cent
penalty.
Montgomery County G.O.P. Poll
To Pick Candidate for Congress
•y rtw Aiiocio)<d Prtii
ANNAPOLIS, Md.. Dec. 5.—
Montgomery County Republicans
may know within a week the re
sults of a party poll to choose a
candidate for Congress in Mary
land's Sixth District.
John R. Reeves, Secretary of
State and one of the contenders,
said poll takers have been assigned
areas and are out sounding senti
ment.
State Senator Dewitt S. Hyde
is the other possibility.
In his office here Mr. Reeves ex
plained he and Mr. Hyde—old
chums anyway — worked it out
amicably. Elected Republican of
ficials and precinct chairmen will
simply note on a piece of paper
which of the two they favor.
After the 50-to-75 informal bal
lots are counted, either Mr. Hyde
or Mr. Reeves will enter the race.
The winner already has op
position. Senator D. Kenneth Mc
Laughlin of Hagerstown has de
clared he will go after the Sixth
District seat long occupied by Re
publican J. Glenn Beall*
Mr. Beall has removed him
self from the Congressional race.
He plans to run instead for the
Senate desk now held by Herbert
R. O’Connor, a Democrat.
In the Western Maryland dis
trict, D. John Markey of Walkers
ville is another potential Repub
lican candidate. Senator O’Conor
beat Mr. Markey by a slender
margin in 1946.
Mr. Markey tried for the Sen
ate nomination again last year
and received the largest popular
vote in the GOP primary. He lost
the nomination to John Marshall
Butler by Maryland’s unit-vote
system. Mr. Butler proceeded to
defeat former Senator Millard E.
Ty dings.
New Woman Saloon Inspector
Vows Tactto'ThosePoor Devils'
•y m« Associated Press
BALTIMORE, Dec. 5.—Mary
land’s first woman saloon inspec
tor was ready today to take on
the job.
“With these poor devils,” said
Mrs. Calvin Gabriel, “I shall try
to be very sympathetic and tact
ful.”
t
Gov. McKeldin last night an
nounced he would appoint Mrs.
Gabriel a part-time inspector for
the Baltimore Liquor Board. The
board has about 10 such jobs—in
spectors it calls on infrequently
to do some looking around in
night spots whera the regular ln
specors are too well known.
Mrs. Gabriel once was Repub
lican national committeewoman
for Maryland.
At the 1936 Republican Na
tional Convention she pirated all
the admission tickets alloted to
the Maryland delegation and hid
them under her bed in order to
keep them out of the hands of
a rival faction from the State.
“I think if I can do that I
can handle this job,” Mrs. Gab
riel said.
“I’m not a prude. I can take
half a jigger. But I stop at half
a jigger. I believe in being a
good sport.
“I’m not afraid. I’ll go wher
ever they send me and if I get
unpleasant treatment I shall take
it like a man.”
Mrs. Gabriel said she is un
familiar with Baltimore night
clubs but she’s heard a lot about
them.
Seat Pleasant's Check for $100
To Be Framed by Civil Defense
The much-publicized $100 check
which Seat Pleasant tried to give
the Civil Defense Administration
won’t be returned to the town
Mfer all.
Instead, the Defense Admin
istration will frame it.
James J. Wadsworth, deputy
civil defense administrator,
changed his mind as he was about
to return the check at a Seat
Pleasant civil defense rally last
night.
He told the citizens he would
Frame the check as a memorial to
their civic spirit.
Mr. Wadswroth was one of sev
eral speakers at the Seat Pleas
ant Elementary School as more
than 50 persons turned out for
last night’s rally.
Other speakers were Col. David
I. McIntosh, director of the
Maryland Civil Defense organiza
tion, and P. E. Clark, director of
the Prince Georges County unit.
It was announced that the Seat
Pleasant unit will prepare a pho
tostated leaflet of news stories
about the $100 check and mail
it to all members of Congress.
Maryland U. Song Fete
University of Maryland fratern
ities will stage their second annual
sarbershop quartet competition at
J pm. tomorrow in Ritchie Coli
seum. Geue Klavan. Washington
iisc jockey, will present a cup to
the winning group.
d
Band, Glee Club Perform
A program of Christmas music
by the school band and glee club
will be presented tonight at a
meeting of the newly organized
Parent-Teacher Association of
Northwestern High School, on
Colesville road in Hyattsville.
A
told the driver to take him to ot.
Elizabeths. There Norbert was
told he was not legally insane and
was sent to the alcoholic clinic.
Not All Alcoholics.
Norbert, whose social life had
been limited, was obviously hav
ing fun in the psychodrama
group. Two of the young women
in the group have family back
grounds that would encourage a
social climber to Join. All are
taking individual psychotherapy.
They are not all alcoholics. Some
are from the mental hygiene
clinic, where they went for help
;on other problems.
As to those who go through the
courts, the clinic has had more
success in recruiting patients from
among those finishing their sen
tences at the workhouse. A mem
ber of the clinic staff goes there
every week and interviews them.
Exhibit A is a house painter
who had 116 arrests. He got into
a schizmatic, if not heretical, po
sition with Alcoholics Anonymous,
and while a patient at the clinic
founded FAFA—First Aid For
Alcoholics. He went back to work,
saved his money, bought a new
car and enjoys driving it past
the AA headquarters to show them
what FAFA can do for a man.
He has been arrested only once
in the past year.
a new arug nas proved a useiuii
tool in the work of correcting
alcoholism—tetraethylthiuram di
sulfide, marketed (on prescription
only) as “Antabuse.”
In 1948, two Danish physicians,
working on sulfides for a worm
killer, found that this form of the
drug was effective in rabbits. As
to its effect on humans, both
decided to act as -the “guinea
pigs.” Both took a dose.
Terrific Reaction to Drinks.
Several days later, at separate
parties, each took a few drinks.
The reaction was terrific. They
became sick, had to say good-by
quickly and get out. When they
compared notes, they realized they
had an anti-alcohol drug effective
several days after dosage. Eme
tine hydrochloride, the drug for
merly used, was effective only at
the time it was swallowed. The
practice was to mix it with
whisky to build up an aversion
to the drink—a conditioned reflex.
Dr. Saul Zuckerman, jail physi
cian, has been giving the drug to
inmates of the workhouse who are
recommended for the treatment
by’the alcoholic clinic. All volun
teer for the dosage.
They started the treatments on
April 17 of this year. Since then,
88 have been treated. Thirty-eight
have returned since, but the rate
of their return has been slowed
down considerably from the usual
performance. And 15 who took the
drug in the spring and summer—
who have had plenty of time to
return—have not come back.
The drug is not a cure for alco
holism. It enforces sobriety for a
time. It is considered an aid to
psychotherapy.
The staff of the clinic does not
like to think the agency’s function
is primarily the substitution of
medical and scientific treatment
for jail sentences, as outlined in
Section 1 of the act creating it.
They prefer to think of it as a
public health agency, ready to
help all who come to it volun
tarily.
Difficulty in Statistics.
They work hard, and they like
their work, but they do not like
the preparation of statistics to
justify the agency’s existence.
They are more likely to tell you
the story of a man who has been
helped and say, "How are you go
ing to make a statistic out of
him?”
The clinic has not done well in
the matter of public relations.
A citizens’ advisory board was
created by the act to help them
in this. Dr. Wexberg has been in
vited to attend their meetings,
but he has always had other en
gagements. The committee tried
to keep the clinic. out of the
Health Department and its Bu
reau of Mental Hygiene before it
was established, and Dr. Wexberg
was head of the bureau.
It’s a small matter, but as one
patient of the clinic pointed out.
in the telephone directory you
have to look under "District
Government,” then "Health De
partment,” then "Mental Hy
giene” to find the listing of the
alcoholic clinic. When you scan
the A columns of the telephone
book, you do not find the clinic
but several listings for Alcoholic
Anonymous groups. They find
them very helpful.
i ne clinic nas not been vers
successful in its relations with
Municipal Court. Only two of the
judges. Judge Walter Casey, who
has been ill of late, and Judge
Nadine Gallagher, are interested
in the clinic. All the judges are
interested in the AA. They have
been "sold” on the program. With
5,000 members in the area, all of
the alcoholics, all on the wagon
(with an occasional slip on the
fringe), and all of them willing
to help the alcoholic who wants
to quit drinking, the AA groups
seem to be the most effective force
brought to bear on the problem.
Liaison Misfires.
Liaison with the court is not
effective. An old Marine, who had
been taking as large a dosage of
psychotherapy as he was capable
of absorbing, was doing fine in
the opinion of his psychologist at
the clinic. He had a job as a
gardener. After six months, he
had a slip and was given 60 days,
rhe judge never asked the clinic
how he was doing. He just looked
it the old record.
"It took a lot of psychotherapy
to get him over that humiliation,”
»id the psychologists, “but he’s
jack at the same job again.”
The clinic is spending $100,000
i year—$75,000 from a 10 per
:ent increase on liquor licenses
md $25,000 from a backlog that
iccumulated before it was set up.
rhat’s a lot of money. But per
haps the work of the clinic should
lot be measured by budgets and
statistics but in the Good Shep
herd’s joy in whatever lost sheep
ire returned to the fold.
County Attorney
Offers to Resign
After Verbal Tilt
Commissioners to Ask
Fisher to Reconsider
Action Before Friday
Adrian P. Fisher has offered
his resignation as Prince Georges
County attorney, after a heated,
verbal battle with Commissioner
Edward J. "Ned” Waters.
Mr. Fisher’s letter of resigna
tion, however, has not been ac
cepted by the commissioners.
Board President Thomas E.
Latimer, who has the letter, said
he is going to try to get Mr.
Fisher to withdraw it before it
normally would be considered by
the full board at Friday’s meeting.
Stalks Out of Meeting.
Mr. Fisher stalked out of the
joard meeting in Upper Marlboro
yesterday, after Mr. Waters chal
enged a recent legal opinion in
which the attorney advised the
commissioners they have no legal
means of reopening the Berwyn
road crossing over the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad tracks.
•‘The county’s legal department
might just as well close up if the
board will not respect its opinion,"
Mr. Fisher said.
The commissioners, particularly
Mr. Waters, who lives in Berwyn,
have been trying for the past sev
eral months to get the grade
crossing reopened. It was closed
by the State Roads Commission
in 1942, thus cutting off direct
access between College Park and
Berwyn Heights.
Since Mr. Fisher returned hia
opinion, Mr. Waters has con
ferred with roads commission of
ficials in Baltimore. At that
conference, Mr. Waters said he
was led to believe that, when the
commission closed the crossing,
the land between the barricades
reverted to the county. It would
follow then, he said, that if the
crossing is county land, the county
could reopen it.
Would Check Land Records.
Yesterday’s fireworks started
when Mr. Waters moved that a
check of land records be made to
determine who owns the land be
tween the barricades.
Mr. Fisher said that, even if
he could determine who has title
to the land, it would make no dif
ference, since the railroad has
been using the land for longer
than 100 years and would have a
legal right to continue using it.
To Mr. Waters’ argument that
the courts should decide the is
sue, Mr. Fisher said:
*T am not going to file a spuri
ous and improper court suit. . . .
It’s ridiculous to go into court
.when we know we don’t have a
leg to stand on.
“Why haven’t the people of
that area filed a suit in all these
years? It’s not the county’s re
sponsibility to litigate private
grievances."
Raps “Campaign Pledge."
Then turning to Mr. Waters, the
attorney said:
“Of course, I know that you
made a campaign pledge to open
that crossing.”
"That’s not true,” Mr. Waters
shouted back. “That's mere hear
say.”
Then Commissioner IT. Wilson
Spicknall, who supported Mr.
Waters in the heated exchange,
dropped an implication that Mr.
Fisher was on the side of the rail
road in the crossing dispute.
"I have never gotten a dime
from the B. & O.," the attorney
replied. Earlier, Mr. Fisher had
said, “There is no question that
we would all like to see the cross
ing reopened.”
Mr. Fisher walked out of the
meeting after commenting: “If
you’ve got to pass an order to get
your counsel to do something, it’s
time for him to resign.”
“You’d think I was asking for
the moon,” Mr. Waters replied.
Then he withdrew his motion.
Returns With Resignation.
A few minutes later, after the
commissioners had adjourned for
the day, Mr. Fisher came back
into the meeting room and flipped
his letter of resignation onto the
table without a word. Mr. Lati
mer said he pocketed the letter
and none of the other commis
sioners have had a chance to
see it.
During the argument. Commis
sioner Daniel A. Abbott inter
jected an expression of support
for Mr. Fisher.
"The majority of the commis
sioners are still abiding by your
legal decisions,” he said.
In other business, the commis
sioners voted $1,500 to the new
College Park Library for basic
reference books and to pay the
salary for the rest of the fiscal
year of a part-time clerk. The
County Library Department has
agreed to pay the salary of a full
time librarian until the end of
the fiscal year, when the question
of how much the county will sup
port the library will be worked
out in the new budget.
Fairfax Woman Voters
Sponsor Forum Dec. 12 -
The Fairfax League of Women
Voters will sponsor a forum at
8:15 p.m., December 12. at the
Annandale School for discussion
of the new county executive form
of government.
The meeting was announced in
yesterday’s Star as scheduled for
tonight through an error in a
news release.
David Lawrence, Washington
news writer and chairman of a
research project that made ar
rangements for a University of
Virginia survey of the executive
form of government, will head the
panel of speakers.
The county executive form of
government takes effect in Fair
fax on January 1.