Evening Star Newspaper, May 7, 1921, Page 3

"~ 7, bl Iy WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY, MAY 1921—PART 1. SENATE INQUIRY MAY TAKE UP Refggveofi?g:ges,iéil;:m TEN SCHOOLS IN 9TH DIVISION COST OF BUILDING D. C. SCHOOLS WITH 3850 PUPILS ENROLLED Children Crowded Into 94 Classrooms. Five Portable Buildings Utilized for Overflow Attendance. Although there are twelve rooms | B o : THE EVENING STAR, Abe Martin Says: Committee Lays Plans for Investigation to Determine if There Has Been Col- lusion to Force Up Prices. Did the Germans Learn Naval Secrets or Guess at Them? Daniels Gives Probable Solution. BY JOSEPHUS DANIELS, ¢ The Capper school {nvestigating)for the main library, had offered ing program. drafted by the Loard of the general board submits herewith 5 $350.000 for the construction of seven vacaut in the schools of the ninth | ¢ducation and supported by virtually | “Wormer Secretary of the Navy. |Problem and solution based upon the committee today is laying_its plans . ion o c all_civie organizations, trade hodi « general and special situations de- for & thorough investigatiol nto the| LEanch librarles, but that Congress division, it is almost as congested | Ally NI oTkanizations, trade hodies had authorized only one—that at costs of building in the District of Vhen Andrew Car- Columbia, to determine whether there | Negie’s will was opened, he said, it wa found that this offer had been wit Ekas been collusion among contractors| grawn as far as the six other branch- ¥ ARTICLE 23. ‘What became of the lost “black plan” 1s still a mystery. Made out by the scribed in the Navy Department’s in- structions. “CHARLES J. BADGER." Such care was taken to keep this as others in the system, emergency measures having been taken to pro- vide accommodations for the excess Labor U'nion and the gress of Mothers and ¥ Associations, ational Con- rent-Teacher provides for the con- struction of a sixteen-roow addition goneral board, guarded with the|document from any one excapt the or among building material men to|es wera concarncd. The <arnegie enrollment. The unoccupied rooms |to tne Buchanan School to releve greatest care, handled by the proper jSecretary and the office of naval oper. force high prices and maintain them. | Corporntion had said, however, that in the schools of this district are in | overcrowding in the ninth division A Suthorities it was carried Into effect | 3tiOnS that even the general board the $50,000 for the branch in the buildings located in outiying sections | strnetion of a sixtesn-room addition y8oon as possible, plans of co-opera- ‘Adlflllo commerce and for « definite statement as to the strategy rand general policy we should pursue declaration_of war. These Stadies are called ~problems,” and | cited enough about it a the time, for { February 10 1 addressed this letter to | he sent me two. cablegrams about in in | retained no duplicate of it. After be- The Engineer Commissioner of the goutheast section would be allowed if Such as Congress Heights and Randle | Bchool officials emphasize. will oniy +and !h‘;n it vanls:ed u"erl:~ ::\xw::\b:niuvg to m: t?; apfirt}valé District, Col. Kuts, was closely ques- | the site was forthcoming. Mr. Bow- hlands, too distant to force chil- | P l':,nfl]‘/_r-mm";‘d. lli;nn!'(‘ for r)én:m’, The discovery that one of our se- s turned over to the chief o erman said that if the southeast dren in the overcrowded schools in|now attending the Buchanan School. tioned by members of the committee an d ercrowde R e e, e IR, Sonov), cret naval plans was missing came when it was too late to have any ef- fect on the situation. None would ever have heard it was missing, nor would we have known it ‘was missing, had we not looked it up for the purpose of proving to certain clamorous ecritics that we had not gone to war without plans. Long ago it had served its purpose as a plan, and, as we supposed, had been filed away with thousands of other docu- ments for purposes of record. But there we were wrong. The plan had not been filled away, nor could any trace of it be found. To this day it has not been found. And it was an important plan—at the time it was used. It was a plan of vital importance. naval operations; all plans that had been approved were in their custody. They were familiar with their pro- visions and drafted the necessary orders for carrying them into effect. But plans were so carefully safe- guarded that only those directly con- cerned were allowed to see them. And yet, in spite of all our pre- cautions, the dociiment containing the general board's “Solution of Problem Black” was gone! The most thorough search failed to find any trace of it. How long had it been missing? No one could answer. Not Stolen by German Spy. The newspapers hinted that it had been stolen by some German spy. Such was the obvious suspicion. The suggestion that it might have been It's a wise clerk that knows who t’ go after an’ who t’ let alone. An onion breath makes dandy chaperon. Oopyright National Newspaper Service. a net, confiding in no one as to fits whereabouts. Took Secret to Grave. Theny in June, 1917, worn out with almost ceaseless work, he died—died at the hearing yesterday afternoen in the Senate District committes room regarding costs of construction -of school buildings here and In other cities and bids received for school construction. May Call Contractors. At the request of Senator King of Utah, Col. Kutz gave the names of several contractors whom the com- mittee might call to obtain further information, among them being C. D. Wire, W. Mooney and George E. Wine. The Engineer Commissioner said that he had found no evidence of collusion among_the contractors to keep up prices. He said that the bids submittted varied widely. But Sen- ator King insisted in otler citles it had been found that building material Corporat ““We ably soon he thought possible to obtain the funds for the five other branches from the Carnegle Geraldine Roe, branch library were erected reason- it might fon. need twenty-five or thi branch libraries in the schools, also,” coptinued that outside rooms shouid be pr vided in the schools for those branch- es, to which adults could go after school hours. Mr. Bowerman. —_— INJURED BY BICYCLE. Unidentified Colored Rider Knocks Down Young Woman. twenty years old, Ho sald be DANIEL J. GLEASON, rty bullding, New York city. the referee who in hearing the Still- man divorce case testimony in pri- vate messions in the Bar Association —_— ALL-WASHINGTON the city to attend. There are ten school buildings 1 the ninth division, which includes the southern portion of the District south of the Anacostia river, and that territory south of East Capitol street and west as far as Lincoln and Garfield parks. They are the Bryan, 13th and B streets southwest; Bu- chanan, I street between 13th and 14th streets southeast; Congress Heights, Nichols and Alabama avenues south- east; Cranch, 12th and G streets southeast; Ketcham, 15th street and Good Hope road southeast; Lenox, 5th street between G and I streets south. Randle Highlands, Pennsyl avenue and Q street south- east; Stanton, Alabama avenue and Bowen road southeast; Tyler, 1ith street between G and I streets south- east, end the Van Buren, W street prospective increases in registration ROOF PAINTING. Best Material avd Workmasehip. JAMFS STEVENS, 1523 Fla. ave. n.ow. N. 1833, HEATING By H -Water, Steam or Vapor- Presgure Systems 1ing submarines from the sea. stolen by some German spy was glven no credence in the depart- ment. Nothing is so carefully guard- ed as war plans, and so far as we know the Germans never got hold of any of ours. although early in the Wwar a number of things occurred which made us wonder how much they did know. For exampl Movements of vessels and orders relating thereto were known only to the few officials in the Navy Depart- ment who issued the orders and to the Navy’s “Black Plan.” The Navy, for many years, has had a sek of plans to cover possible situa- tions which might develop in the At- lartic, the Pacific, the Caribbean sea ‘or other open waters. These plans originated with the general board, of which Admiral Dewey was chairman wuatil his death in January, 1917, and were kept up-to-date by frequent re- Vision. The plan dealing with possible hos- gh ling w ihown as|Men on the vessels. Great pains e e e T N arunry, 1017, | Were taken to prevent the Germans e I Dl T ninute | rom learning about the first destro ers sent over. They sailed under sealed orders, and until he was fifty miles at sea and broke the seal, not even the commander of the flotilla knew its destination. Yet the day before the division ar- d, German submarines, for the first time in months, sowed mines all across the entrance to Queens- town, and the German papers print- ed the news of our destroyers’ ar- rival before it was published in Eng land or America. The latter is more easily accounted for, as it was sev- eral days before we announced that they had reached a British port, but the mine laying led many to believe that the ememy had, in some way, learned they were coming. ‘When our first troop convoys went to Europe they were attacked far out at sea, and Admiral Sims cabled that it was “practically certain that the enemy knew positions of the first rendezvous and accordingly sent a submarine to intercept before junction with destroyers.” Though Sims after- ward discounted the idea that the convoys were attacked, he was ex- form, it dealt, of course, with the probability of war with Germany. February 4, the day after Bernstorft was dismissed, the general board had recommended In detail the principal sieps to be taken in case of war with the central powers—mobilization of ‘ghe fleet, naval districts and_auxiliary Vessels; large increase of Navy and Marine Corps personnel; nets and mines to guard ports and home wat- ers against submarines, arming of i merchant ships, and other measures, and, *“most important, arrange, as tion with the naval forces ofithe al- lies for the joint protection trans- ‘ensive mnaval operations against the common ' enemy.” “Solution of Problem.” The general war plan was compre- hensive; special recommendations had ‘been made as to the various Steps we chould take. But I wanted also a three days. Germans “Doped It Out.” But whatever the Germans might have learned about our ship move- ments on the other side, I am confl- dent that they did not get any in- formation from this side of the At- lantic. The Navy had control of all radio, every cable message was scanned and even the destroyer and transport captains did not know their destination until they were well out at sea. My own opinion is that the Germans, who knew of Gen. Per- shing’s arrival in England, which occugred the day after our first con- voys sailed, inferred that troops were being dispatched and merely “doped out” the probable route. The mine laying at Queenstown was, as likely as not, simply a coincidence. d so I am satisfled in my own mind that the missing plan, the “Problem Solution, Black,” will yet be found carefully—too carefully—hid- den away in the Navy Department, I bave never believed it was stolen, or that it in any way fell into Ger- man hands. ‘The explanation of its vanishing, I fhink, will be found to be quite sim- ple, and will show that it was due to an overanxiety to preserve the plan in absolute secrecy. As I have said, but one copy was made of it. It was probably given into the care of Capt. Volney Chase, chief assistant to Admiral Benson, and a man to whom matters of the ut- most importance were frequently committed. Capt. Chase was an ex- the gemeral board: - “February 10, 1917. ral Board. “To: The Gene! “Subject: Solution of Problem. “l. The department desires the gen- eral board to consider the following problem and submit its solution as soon as practicable: “PROBLEM “General Situation—Conditions as at present except that war with Ger- “Special Situation—The allies do not desire our battleship force at pres- ent. bz val estimate of the situation: “iFrst, as to the grand strategy de- manded by the situations. “Second, as to disposition of battle. ship force. 1 . “Third, as to the method of assist- in maintalning communications Europe, including scheme for co-operation with allies. “Fourth, as to the methods of drtv- ‘Assume—Mobilization of all nawal wessels and possibility of mobilizing merchant vesels as required. ‘JOSEPHUS D. -~ ‘The board made a careful study of the whole situation, and a week later made a report covering all the mat- ters set forth, and sent it to with the following note of transmiti%l: Problem Is Solved. *General Board, Navy Department, “Washington, February 17, 1917. *To: Secretary of the Navy. “*Bubject: Solution of Problem, Black. Reference (a) Navy Department |ceedingly able and unsparingly de- Confidential Letter of February 10, | voted officer. It is mot unlikely that 1917, he put the “Black plan” pyroblem away in some secret drawer or cabi- accordance with reference (a) teas, lowest prices. t. i e e o T e yce . thase o 7 points. . This service. greatly . yeduces risks of loss and II?I”I bis !Ifl!t reduces the cost of lvig'. b cars every few 1140 . at 16th and V_sts. BTy RAGE COM- G D AND REBUILT. OLYDE L. BOW] p:3 W, GLIDS L. AR, rer €6 H ot nw. 1 WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY debts unless cootracted by me persomally. ¥ Y- DANSEE, Sih st whart, aw. Wasb- Your garage won’t be secure or asightly, either, :1‘!‘{”“( P doors, 2 GARAGE DOORS roper bave finest st. se. O 3 OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF PHILLIS Wheatley Household of Ruth, No. 2203, are to meet at Zion Wesley Charch, st bet. 204 and 3rd sts. s.w., Sunday eve ing, May 8, at 7:30, for thanksgiving eervices. By order of FLORENCE CUNNINGHAM, M. K. G. M. B J. MASON. W. B . CLQFMLI‘Y:I‘ g}:rE'CAL CO. 907 ¥ SBTREET. UMBRELI!.QQS. i M RELLAS, il T e —And Plombing. Dhigh-clase workmanship. 3207 14th ST. N.W. Phones Col. 165 and 1881 Will furnish and ln:ml}fe.;u:mur Double| | He ters F. B. MURTH % s x= Let Me Apply Live Ouk asbestos Toofing cement to your root: than coats of o Xind <! . tributor, a. ave. s.e. Linc. 4219. Product 0l fn bulk. The only and o;lltinll “Biggs" in the Heatlng um| and bing bu s s The Biggs ineeri 1310 14th st. n.w. Phooe Pranklin 317. G—PLUMBIN( Warren W. Biggs, W. K. Pace, Jas. Cunningham. Heatlng and Plumbing repairs and remodel- ing promptly attended to by expert mechanics. Begioning Monday, May 9, for ooe ‘week. + A bona fide reduction ena- bling you to secure best var- . nishes for spring furbishing-up, at 25% saving. Becker Paint and Glass Co., 1230 Wisconsin ave. Pbose West 67. 2 Finconain ave. FPhoge Weet & ENGLISHMEN ENGLISH DESCENDANTS anMuate. o “Hesting and Reofing Experts Printing the e Tule—oet THE SERVICE SHOP BYRON S. ADAMS, Faomes. YOUR ROOF —will be safe from ruincos leal amage if placed in our care. We a specialty of thorough repairs fer prompt, capable service. TRONCLAD Eostee 14167 st c.w. Company.Phone Main 14. TINNING ™ highest class or BY SHEDD tatrest charge. eraftamanship, with the 706 10th st PlaNO8 FOR RENT- pianos for reat at ressanable prices: reat on putchase price by agreement. Bondh.TT10'G: Victroms asd reco and ake of- % recoras. Printing Plant! Magasines, Catalogues Special Our The National Capital Press 12101212 D St. N.W. and Big Work 1ty 726 13th Btreet N.W. Don’t Wear Mended Shirts. Let Us Make Them New. 7¢ “Doctor of Roofs” ‘ Leaks repaired permamently. Pre-war . prices. R K. FERGUSON, Inc. S OURSE. Phone North 201223, " The Shade Shop ‘W. STOKES BAMMONS, 830 13th St. g Window Shade Prices Reduced. suddenly. So far as we know, the “Black plan” problem was never seen by any one after tho death of Capt. Chase. He probably took the secret hiding place with him. Cer- . no_enemy learned it as long as it was locked in his brain. One of our latest destrovers is named after him—the Chase. He merited the honor, and I was glad to pay that tribute to his memory. (Copyright, 1021, by John F. Dille. Copy- right by National Newspaper Service. Copy- right in Great Britain, Canada and throughout France. All rights reserved, including trans- lation into foreign languages, including the Scandinavian. Unauthorized reprinting for a purpose forbidden.) * ~ (Another artiele by.Former Secre- tary Daniels will be printed in The Star tomorrow.) TAX “EXEMPTION" FORNEW HOUSING City Club Group to Discuss Topic on Monday Night. Discussion of the proposal to exempt pew housing in the capital District from taxation for a period of years will be the subject of a special meeting of the City Club's housing group Monday evening at the clubhouse. All members of the club have been invited to attend. Much interest has been aroused in the Citq Club by Senator Calder's recent address before it, in which he urged the club to get behind such 2 measure as a means of stimulating home building and business generally. ‘The senator's suggestion, following closely on the Supreme Court’s de- cision upholding the Ball rent act, was greeted by many club members as unusually timely, in_view of the opinion that the Supreme Court de- cision was likely to hamper further a /gemeral resumption of building ere. Letter Prompts Action. The matter comes before the hous- ing group as the result of a letter to the club from Claude W. Owen, who had presented the same sugges- tion to several civic organizations previous to the senator's address. Mr. Owen's letter was ‘referred to the group by the board of governors of the club. - The suggestion, as embodied in Mr. Owen’s letter, already has been favor- ably discussed by the Chamber of Commerce, the directors having re- ferred the plan to their law and leg- islation committee for further study. This committee i8 expected to report back in a short time. Would Exempt for Five Years. Senator Calder advised the City Club to advocate an exemption for five years, instead of ten, as under the New York law. Only the buildings are exempted, he pointed out, the land being taxed the same as usual. In New York, he said, six weeks' ex- perienc under the measure had shown an increase of 71 f:r cent in the number of building permits taken out, with an increased velue on the projected buildings of more than $10,000,000. He also warned the club emphatic- ally that if some such measure were not taken to stimulate private initia- tive in building, the country would soon find the government in the house- building business, as in England and France, with the prospect of it rent- ing the houses at less than cost and making up the difference from taxes. Points Out Benefita. Mr. Owen has pointed out that scores of other industries would be benefited by a house building boom. “Every new house calls for new furniture, carpets, kitchen utensils, and dozens of other accessories rep- resenting businesses which are none too active at present,” he says. “Much additional labor would be employed, bringing additional buying power into activity. The principle is the same as that generally advocated for removal of the excess profits tax. There would be no loss of revenue, for the exemption would apply to property not now taxable, because non-exfstent.” Senator Calder has pledged his vote for such a bill if it is introduced in Congress. Commissioner Hudolph, chairman of the District board, also has promised to have the board con- sider the plan as soon as possible. —_— HEADS RACE CONGRESS. Rev. W. H. Jernagin Made Presi- dent by Negroes. Following election of officers and discussion of subjects vital to the negro, the sixth annual race congress of the United States of America ad- journed 'its threc-day convention at Zion Baptist Church last night. ‘Those to address the sessions yes- terday included Dr. W. J. Howard, pastor of the church; Dr. J. H. Hen- derson of Tennessee, Dr. P. Bryan of Atlanta, Ga.; J. W. Johnson, New York; Dr.'E. E. Ricke, New Jersey; Rev. Dr. Brown of South America. The following were elected officers of the national congress for the en- suing year: Rev. W. H. Jernagin, ‘Washington, president; Mrs. Ora B. Stokes, Virginia, vice president; Rev. W. G. Parks, Pennsylvania, treasurer; Rev. C. H. Stepteau, Maryland, sec- retary; Rev. D. 8. Klugh, Massachu- setts. chaplain; Prof. John R. Hawk- ins, Washington, treasurer of defense fund; Rev. J. J. Hickerson, Washing- ton. sergeant-at-arms, and.Rev. M. A. Talley, Alabama, executive secretary. Members of the local committee elected werd Rev. J. Milton Waldron, Rev. Walter H. Brooks, Rev. W. J. Howard and L. Louis Taylor. An executive committee composed of twenty members from all sections of the country was also elected. GEORGE W. HOBBS DEAD. George W. Hobbs, sixty-five years old, died Thursday at his home, 209 Sheridan street northwest. Funeral services are to be held tonight at 8 o'clock at the residence. Interment will be at Beltsville, Md., tomerrow afternoon at 2 o'clock. - e AR = F- men and contractors, had adopted tac- tics which divided the work among them and at the same time Kkept prices high, submitting widely differ- ent bids. The next meeting of the Capper committee probably’ will be Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Bids Drop 33 Per Cent. The fact was brought out at the bids for Waverly, N. Y., visiting at 136 E street southeast, was knocked down at Pennsylvania avenue and 19th street yesterday afternoon by a bley- cle ridden by an unidentified colored man. She was treated at Emergency Hospital for injuries to her arm and bead. While attempting to board an east- bound street car at 14th street and between 13th and 14th streets south- If you need a new System, a new Heater, or other Repairs, take it up with us now. Prices jood workmen are avail- COMPANY IN VIEW Organization to Be Formed for Rendition of High- Caliber Opera. Ninety-Four Classrooms Available. The schools the ninth division have nifnety-four classrooms, with a total enroliment of 3,850. According to statistics of school officials, this registration is larger than in some divisions having more buildings and in sections of the city more thickly hearing _ yesterday that " e _{populated than Congress Heights and schiool . building, - construction _have | New York avenue last night, Willlam | The famous “Bostonians" of a gen-|Randle Highiands, S PR R i dropped about 33 per cent from June | ., o) o3 His injury was dressed | €Tation ago are to have a counterpart| Four of the vacant rooms in the 2 Vioe P . Sear = e onincer " Commissioner 1 Georse Washington - University |for the present generation in & musl- | Jiih, (ielo gre, 0. (e, Jeghe : e 8ald that an estimate for an eight. I Gordon, colored; tweive cl.oresnissiion)of & hwj;;::’;f‘“: gress Heights School annex, three in 917 H St. N.W. room school building last June ha talent, to be known as “the ng- [the Stanton School and three in the PHONE MAIN 4888 years old, 3612 P street, was knocked down by an automobile in front of 1355 Wisconsin avenue yesterday aft- ernoon. She waa_treated at George- town University Hospital for concus- sion of the braln and minor injuries. —_— AWARDED FIRST HONORS. Gonzaga College Students Win in Exercises, ‘W. E. Ring, ‘22, was awarded first honors in the senfor division of the annual elocution contest of Gonzaga College at the exercises last night in the College Theater. Aloysius P. Kane, '24, took first honors in the junior division. Others who participated in the senior divi- sion were Thomas J. Brosnan, Fran- cis X. Foley, Vincent P. Downey and Harold C. Gardiner; in the junior di- vision were Leo A. Bond, Arthur L. Meegan, Neil P. Ellis, George E. Mur- ray and Raymond C. Kirchner, The judges were Dr. J. Chester Brady, Robert M. O'Lone and Thomas B. Pyne. Music was by the Gonzaga College Orchestra, under the direc- tion of Lawrence L McCarthy. $114,800 IN WILL. Mrs. Mitchell Asks Probate—Mrs. Bates’ Estate. The estate of Charles A. Mitchell, who died April 19, is estimated at $114,800, according to the petition of his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth W. Mitchell, for the probate of his will. Other next of kin are Henry H. Mitchell, a broth- er, of Baston, Pa., and Mrs. Anne M. Sohweinfurth’ of Cleveland, Ohio, a sister. Attorneys Hoehling, Peelle & | annual convention of the American Ogilby appear for the estate. Institute of Architects May 11, 12 rs. Mary J. Bates left an estate)and 13 at the National Museum were valued at $38,818.20, according to the |\iscussed at the weekly luncheon petition of the Washington Loan and | Thursday of the Washington chapter of Trust Company, her executor, for the |the institute. Percy G. Adams, presi- probate of her will. The sole heir to | dent of the chapter, presided. the property is her son, Capt. John S.| The Washington architects who will Bates. Attorneys Arthur Peter and |attend the sessions include Percy C. W. H. Baden appear for the executor. | Adams, L. P. Wheat, Jr., secretary of the e = chapter; Frank Upham, Appléton P. PROGRAM FOR WOMEN. Clark, Delos H. Smith, Waddy Wood, L. A. Simon and Victor Min- Reading and Singing Numbers for Mission Awuxiliary. deloff. Mr. Wheat is slated for election as An entertainment was given at Foundry M. E. Church. under the a director of the national body. auspices of the Woman's Foreign Mis- “PAY EARLY” EFFECTIVE. sionary Auxiliary of that church. Hundreds Settle Since May 1 in Re- Mrs. Mary Randolph Dickens gave - sponse to Slogan. been $218,000, and for a similar build- ing in February the bid had been about $150,000. “The profiteering of the builders must have been tremendous,” de- clared Senator King. “I am against appropriating a dollar for any of these buildings here until we get full information regarding the costs of building material, labor, ete. Senator King suggested that even now costs of building here are about double what they were before the war, and Col. Kutz admitted this was probably true. Will Figure Out Cost. The Engineer Commissioner prom- ised to have the municipal architect’s office figure out the cost of a school building in terms of material and labor, at the request of Senator Jones of Washington. In this way, it is believed, it will be possible to get a line of 'actual costs and determine profits to the contractor. Col. Kutz told the committee that he was confident, after investigation, that the District was getting school buildings constructed at less cost than a number of other cities and that the District has gotten its mon- ey's worth in the past. He said that if there had been any collusion, it may have been in the dealers in building materials, but that he knew of nome. Col. Kutz promised to furnish the committee with information regarding wages paid by the District to carpenters, bricklayers, plumbers and othe workers now and before the war, and the costs of materials purchased. Sees Smaller Profit Margin. Col. Kutz told the committee that he believed that the contractors in the District work on a smaller mar- gin of profits than they do in some other places. He said that building was quite active here now and that when bids were called this year for school buildings there were seven or eight bidders, as compared with only tkree submitting bids last year. Senator King asked whether the open shop or closed shop was the rule in the building trades here. Col. Kutz replied that the majority of the employers confine themselves to union labor, but that there are one or two large operators who do mot em- ploy union men. So far as the Dis- trict government is concerned, how- ever, it may maintain an open shop. May Cut Classroom Size. Col. Kutz was asked if there was any way the proposed school program could be cut. He said that he did not believe in doing away with fire- proof floors to reduce the cost or in making the halls smaller, as has been tried in other cities, He suggested, however, that a reduction might be Van Buren School. To meet the overcrowding in some of the schools in this district, five portable structures have been. pressed into use. Three of them are at the Buchanan School, one at the Bryan and one at the Lenox. In addition to the portable forty-six oversize classes have been created. In order to provide adequate ac- commodations for the children in the schools of the ninth division, school authoritles estimate that thirteen ad- ditional classrooms are vitally need- ed. Five of them are wanted to ac- commodate children now in the por- table and eight to reduce the over- size classes. tonians,” if the present plans and hopes of the supporters of the or- ganization are realized. The company, under the direction of Rollin_Bond, has already produced several light operas. It 1s now planned to put the organization in the rank of professionals, with a bid for local support that will make the Washing- ton company of singers uiltimately as famous as the Bostonians became by giving the same high caliber of opera as was shown by the older company. Will Present “Sweethearts.” As the initial offering under its new program Victor Herbert's opera, “Sweethearts,” will be presented by “the Washingtonians” at the Shubert- Garrick Theater the week of May 16, according to an announcement made today by the management. Mr. Bond will direct, and under his instruction rehearsals have been held for the past two weeks. The score requires a_chorus that sings high C, with principals having unusual range. Members of the Cast. The principal role will be sung by Estelle Murray, and others of the cast include Norma Eaton, Ruth Peter, Myra Johnson, Gladys Hunt, Gene- vieve Bond, Bernice evens, Brycie Bayles, Marguerite Wickersham, Ste- phen Fagan, Raymond G. Moore, Eddie Hines, Robert Dalgleish, oseph F. Bourne, John Pennybaker. esley Peckham, J. T. Pardee and the “Jenny Lina” chorus. —_— LOCAL ARCHITECTS MEET. Plan for Participation in National Convention Next Week. Plans for participation of the local’l delegates in the proceedings cf the e TIRES 30x3Y2 a1z Téth St- 4 Boors North of H S¢, e greatest point of congestion in this division is at the Buchanan School, where an elght-room addition is needed immediately to provide ade- quate accommodations for the chil- dren now enrolled there. There are eight classrooms in this school and thirteen classes, with a total enroll- ment of 540. As pointed out three portables are being used at this school to provide relief from over- crowding. Depend on Emergency Proviaio The $2,000,000 emergency building program now before Congress pro- vides for the erection of an eight- room addition to the Buchanan School, and some hope for relief in the ninth division is forecast by school officials providing the project is approved. The emergency pro- ram carries an appropriation of 40,000 for the purchase of a site ad- joining the Buchanan School, and $155,000 for the erection of an eight- room extensible addition to the school. The original $5,000,000 school build- We have cash cus- tomers. Act Quickly Gardiner & Dent 717 14th St. NW. Phone Main 4884 Secure Space in z i ° ° The New Star Building Those desirous of obtaining space in the new Star building should apply at once. Only three floors are available, and they will be ar- ranged to suit tenant before partitions are permanently placed. Also a limited number of single rooms or made in costs by reducing the size of g i clasnrooms 80 as to make thelr max-| Szt scenes from_ “The Sign of thel iThe "pay early. and avold the rush" i mum seating capacity forty-two in- i o E slogan of Chatham M. Towers, collec- “1d; = stead of forty-elght. This, he 581d, | Bratoarvaphers - Shy was foced to o | €or. of taxes, is having effect. Building ready for occupancy before Sep would be in conformity 'with the|gpond to a number of encores. Hyndreds of property owners have tember 1. ldeas of the board of education, which paid their real estate bills since May desires to keep the classes down to 1, and many have already paid their Mrs. Melville D. Lindsay, soprano, forty or less. Discussing the heating plants, Col. Kutz sald that he favored the indirect heating system, though they cost more than furnaces. Senator King obserwed that the men who install the heating plants must be making tre- mendous profits, judging from the costs. Col. Kutz told the committes that he had personally visited some of the schools and knew of the overcrowded conditions existing today and the need of new school buildings. Covers Preasing Need. "I am convinced,” said Col. Kuts, ‘that the needs are greater than can be covered by the two-million-dol- lar emergency program. But this program covers the most pressing needs." Senator King called attention to an item in the program of $10,000 for the purchase of a site for a branch of the free Public Library. Col Kutz said that if this site could be obtained, a branch library could be obtained, a branch library could be erected 'in the southeast section, where it is much needed, and that & gift of $50,000 to erect the branch library was available if the site were provided. He said he thought that this represented a real educational need. “We think that there should be six or seven branch libraries in- stead of only one, in Takoma Park— 80 the people won't have to travel four or five miles to get a book.” Col. Kutz told the committee that the two-million-dollar program cluded items which only partially for proposed school buildings: that, as a matter of fact, the projects au- thorized under the pregram would total $2,500,000, when all the money required was appropriated. Tabercular School Inadequate. In regard to the proposed new sohool for tubercular children, to cost $190,000, Col. Kutz said that it was proposed to have a school prac- tically with hospital facilities for sang se solos. nicipal of the Fed ations in the boa veral selections, Mrs. Willlam Fraser McDowell pre- sented the missionary cause. MRS. RHODES TO SPEAK. ‘Will Tell Citizens’ Associations of Playgrounds. Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes, director of playgrounds, will discuss the general playground situation at the meeting eration of Citizens’ Associ- m of the building tonight. with Mrs. Haupt at the plano. Miss Theresa Pyle gave some whistling selections and Miss Dorothy Manning, piano solos. Melville D. Lindsay gave two violin Inasmuch as the public is decidedly interested in this subject, a general invitation has been issued to residents of Wash- ington to attend. personal tax bills. ed to all bills not paid by May 31. Those who have not obtained their real estate bills are urged to call for them at the District building. A pen- alyt of 1 per cent a month will be add- PETWORTH 3d and TFAYLOR STS. 4 Bedrooms and Bath Large Porches e e e e e e R Y 22! If quiris you want better type. yours if listed with us. John W. Thompson & Co. I's a BOOK es for houses of the We can sell these children. The present achool Incorporated for tubercular children, he said, was \lIl gr poon o Mt ad entirely inadequate. i George F. Bowerman, librarian’ of the free Public Library, followed Col. Kutz on the stand, and made a strong plea for the establishment of branch libraries throughout the District. He said that the Public Library supple- mented the educational sy tem of the District. The adult education Is car- ried on through the Public Library, he said, and the schools are greatiy aided by the library. He told the committee that the ~libr: semi-weekly delivery of books to the nine high schools, that the library has 20,000 duplicate collection volumes which are loaned to teachers and pupils of the schools, and that it dis- tributes thousands of mounted pic- tures for use in the schools. In addi- tion to these activities, there is the children’s room in the iibrary, Where reference work is done. He said that children walked to the library now from Congress Helghts and George- town to obtain books, They should have branch libraries close at hand, be satd. Carnegie Once Offered $350,000. He told the committee that An-|. drew Carnegle, who gave the money t—new or used, current or out of print—it can be had at PEARLMAN’S 933 G St. BOOK SHOP Open Evenings WANTED HOUSES We are having many in- $1,000 Cash WE DEUVER ANY Slzle TO SPOT ANY TIME b L - * OLLOW TILE ASHER FIRE PROOFING COv SQUTHERN BUILDIN = = Take any gth street car marked Soldiers’ Home to 3rd and Upshur sts. D. J. 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