Evening Star Newspaper, December 31, 1923, Page 14

14 orrow and Joy Mark City THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1923. CAPITAL, GAY IN JUNE, - IN WOE 2 MONTHS LATER| Temporary Reciprocity With Maryland Out- standing in Closing dents Continue Unabated. The year 1923 will long be remem- bered by Washingtonians because of two momentous events that marked its span of life. In June. when the natural beauties of the Capital were at their height, the city entertained 200,000 visitors to th Shrine convention, the biggest concla that ever gathered at the seat of government. Two months later the city that had been s0 g in June was plunged ll’l(:‘l grief vl President Warren G. Harding died. In June historic Pennsylvania ave- nue was lined with a merry throng of count thousands, to watch the Shriners march to Mecea in their daz- ling uniforms of fraternalism. Lined by Sorrowful Thousands. In August that same Avenue of fame ain was lined by thousands, but this time they were sad as ther stood in reverent silence and watched the funeral cortege of their President g0 by. h year le: happening, some by which it is time. But few lestones ear 1923 the outstanding event of r a purely municipal the achieving of obile reciprocity n ves in its wake some ot of Providence remembered for a of them leave two for memory as the Maryland overnment's working force in with The THE DISTRICT IN CONGRESS Practically portance C an no legislation of im- affecting the District of lumbia, with the exception of the ual appropriation bill, was enact- ed by Congress during the year 1923. The old Congress was in session only until March 4, and the new Congress did not meet until December 3. The new Congress, it was hoped, would put through the gasolne tax reciprocity bill before the Christmas holidavs, but this measure struck a snag and was forced to go over un- til after the rece; The jo led b which in nal committee, hipps of Colo- 3 stigated the surplus revenues of the trict, reported Guring the session which closed Jarch 441923, that the District was entitled Yo the use of approximately 000,000 of surplus revenues now federal Treasury. Efforts were » to have the Congress authorize use of these surplus revenues for benefit of the District, but the » left before adjournment of Con- ss was too brief to obtain action. the Senate and House District tees, however, reported favor- on the proposal to make these lus revenues available. A bill or this purpose has been introduced the ate in the new Congress Senator Phipps and every effort will be made to have it enacted when Congress resumes its sessions. Trafic Survey Made. The Senate District committee, un- der a resolution adopted by the Sen- ate. has made a thorough survey of trafic conditions in Washington. Its report and recommendations will be he T Days—Street Acci= Washington was reduced by only 1.500 employes during the year. On January 1 there were 67.320 on Uncle Sam’'s payroll. On November 1 the total was 65,851 When the armistice was signed in 1918 the federal government had 117,000 employes in this city. Fo several years following 191§ heav: reductions were made, but the ad-| justments of the past year were comparatively light. Street Accidents Continue. a heavy toll of deaths and finjuries and the Commissioners, ag well as members of Congress, concentrated thoir efforts on steps to promote safety. The police department, strongly supported by Commissioner Oyster, worked hard for the enforcement of the prohibition law, In co-operation with the federal authorities. Bullding operations were heavy throughout the year, with the result that Washington continued to grow tcward the District line In every direction, As the Commissioners pointed out In a proclamation yesterday, the year, taken generally, was a_pros- perous and fortunate one for Wash- ington. No serious epidemics or catastrophies marred its pass'ng, in 0 far a8 Washington was concerned THE PRESIDENT’S YEAR The year 1923 at the White House was marked by the sudden and un- timely death of Warren G. Harding. Whereupon Vice President Calvin Coolidge became the Executive head of the nation. President Harding, after an illness of only a few days, died in & hotel in San Francisco during the early part of the night of August 2, following a trip to Alaska, and Calvin Coolidge, | who with Mrs. Coolidge was visiting | his old home at Plymouth, Vt., was sworn In as President of the United States by his father, who is a justice of the peace in that community. It was a simple and humble picture as this episode in American history transpired. The oath was taken in the parlor of the New England farm- house, lighted by an oil lamp and with only the President’s mother and wife as witness, Offices at Willard. The new President hurried to Wash- ington the next day and as the executive office was torn up because of repair work he set up a temporary White House on the third floor of the New Willard Hotel. For more than three weeks the execcutive busi- ness of the nation was directed from these quarters and the President and 3irs. Coolidge made their home there. Besides the business of his office, the new President immediately busied himself in directing the arrange- ments for the funeral of his prede- cessor. For solemn and inspiring magnifi- | submitted to the Senate within a few weck A joint committee of the Senate and House, following an exhaustive Burvey of the public school needs, led its report. There was no time, owever, to tr: its recommen- nto_ | , and the new will be called on to deal them, inclu g more buildings, ter pay for the school teachers and blic school cent e proposal to al repre ection of pr ; ential electors and members of | Senate and House, has been re- | submitted to the Senate and to ouse in resolutions to amend Constitution of the United . similar resolution was reported vorably to the last Congress by enate District committee. nt to the Dis- ntation, through sidential and vice fa- the | cence nothing has ever been held in the Capital to compare with tha state funeral accorded Warren G. Harding by the nation. After a journey across the continent, ‘accompanied by Mrs, | Harding, several members of the | Cabinet and a small group of friends, | the body arrived on the night of | August 9. "It was escorted directly to the White House, where it remain- ed In the east room until the nex: morning, when it was taken to the | rotunda’ of the Capitol and lald In | state severzl hours before being taken to Marion for burial. Street accidents continued to take! 3 | i Hendley, in charge of trafic Donovan, District Sad disappointments and a few promising conditions marked the year of 1923 for the District public school system. It was one of the years of little progress. The teachers' salary bill, the com- pulsory school attendance and school census bills and the bills prepared by the joint congressional committee looking toward a reorganization of the school system—all depended on to mark a year of real progress—failed of enactment into law by Congress. On_the other hand, the developments within_the school system were en- couraging. The constructive program for school betterment developed sev- eral years ago was carried out as far as possible, conditioned only by lim- ited financial resources and leglsla- I'tive restrictions. Civic Bodies Co-operate. Rules and regulations were promul- gated by the school administration to integrate the school organization and Follows Out Policlex. The first public announcement made | the ' by Mr. Coolidge after becoming Presi- | teacher the dent was to the effect that he would more helpfully with the board of ‘ed- A 'do all in his power to carry on the ; ucation in its efforts toward the ad- policies of administration adopted by , his predecessor and to bring into re- ! alization the plans for the future of the latter. He first requested each member of the Harding cabinet to re main in office. In fact, he asked all to articulate its several departments. At no period have the many citizens’ assoclations, civic bodles and parent- organizations _co-operated vancement of the schools than in 1923. The continued addition of school- house accommodations to alleviate the congestion that has existed since the war period was one of the grati- fying results of the year. Notable jothers holding the higher executive!among them was the magnificent new | positions to continue to serve. George i Eastern mmissioner Bell_succeeded Col. ! s Kellar, who resigned April 4 pt private employment with glneering firm in the west. During the_interim preceding the selection of Maj. Bell the office of Enginee foner was filled by Maj son, who had been an assistant Engineer Commissioner for several years. When Commissioner Bell took office a transferred by the from the District | t to the Army School at Fort Leavenworth. Maj. Besson's place was filled by the appointment of Maj. W. H. Hol- combe, a Washington bo: who took over supervision of the highway di- Jision ‘formerly controlied by Maj. Besson. Another change in personnel dur- ing the year was the departure from Washington of Maj. Max C. Tyler, who for a number of years dirccted the operation of the Washington agueduct and who began construc- tion of the new conduit from Great Falls, Maj, Tyler's place was taken by, Maj. J. A. O'Connor, who is continu- i]’“i(u’ push ahead work on the con- it. Seek Larger Appropriation. The early part of the year was marked at the District Building by a_campaign to obtain larger appro- priations for the building inspector office to make possible most careful rvision of new structures. to improve traflic conditions probably consumed more of the time of the District Commissioners than any other one problem during 1923. In this connection one-way streets were established in the heart of the city during the Shrine convention in June. Commissioner Oyster was 8o im- pressed by the results obtained while thousands of visitors were here that he succeeded in having most of them made permanent The task of preparing to handle the vast throng that descended on Wash- ington from all parts of the country for the Shrine convention fell heavily on the shoulders of municipal officials, especially the police department. It was necessary to enact an entire set of special police regulations for the period of the conclave, covering a score of subjects besides traffic. ‘When the big event was over and the last of the visiting delegations had left the police department was generously congratulated on all sides upon the suc- cessful carrying out of its plans. ‘Washington welcomed a new commis- sloner during 1923, Maj. J. Franklin Bell of the Engineer Corps of the Army. Maj. Bell was assigned to help_rule the National Capitol by the late President Harding on June 12 In February the Commissioners appointed the newly created board of accountancy to pass on certified public accountants. The census bureau announced that it found the present center of popu- lation of the District to be located in a church building at 1215 bth street northwest. Edward W. Thomas was appointed an assistant corporation counsel, suc- ceeding Gillespie Walsh, resigned. Toward the end of the year Com- missioner Rudolph, co-operating with the Child Welfare Code Commission, arranged to have W. W. Hodson of the Russell Sage Foundation, come ‘to. Washington to assist in drafting a new child welfare code for the District, . | Kellogg of Minnesota, former senator, B. Christian, jr., a personal friend of the Hardings, who had served as secretary to President Harding, re- signed and was succeeded by C. Bas- | com Slemp, for many years a repub- lican representative in Congress from Virginia and one of the leaders in ! the party's natlonal organization Since then the President, while he | has made several thousand minor | appolntments, for the most part post- masters, has made very few appoint- | ments of any real importance. Among | the latter were those of Frank B, as ambassador to Great Britain, succeed Col. George Harvey, and ol ert J. Grant of Colorado of the mint. Between January 1 until his death, President Harding appointed Edward | T. Sanford of Tennessee to be an as- | sociate justice of the United States Supreme Court, and Pierce Butler of Minnesota, appointed by him to the same high bench, took his oath of office January 2 last. Shortly before his death A. D. Lasker, chairman of the Shipping Board, resigned and President Harding appointed Edward P. Farley, who two days ago re- signed, effective at the pleasure of | the President. £ as director | i Message to Congress, Probably the outstanding feature of President Coolidge’s administra- tion thus far was his message to the joint session of Congress when it as- Sembled last month. He treated a wide variety of subjects in a manner | that caused much favorable comment throughout the country because of his clear, brief and courageous state- ments. On the heels of the reading of important document the Brestienty candidacy for the republican nomina- tion for President in 1924 was an- nounced. At the same time Willlam Butler, republican national commit- teeman from Massachusetts, was se- | lected to personally direct the Bres- ident's pre-convention campaign. Since then quite a few states have in- dicated their preference for Mr. Coolidge, and those managing his political | fortunes are satisfied he | il be the party's choice on the first | allot. . In the matter of legislatio; e | most notable lnclden(lgof then y:‘:r were the veto by President Harding of the soldiers’ bonus bill and the fall- ure of Congress to pass the adminis- tration’s merchant and marine bill, He signed the act extending the life of the District Rent Commission. | During the summer the President’s coal commission was instrumental in bringing about & settlement of the strike of the bituminous coal miners, and during the year collected mueh valuable data relating to the coal industry. Session of, Governors. President Coolidge held a confer- ence of governors in October to dis. cuss means for better co-operation | between the federal and state author- ities in the enforcement of federal | laws—Immigration, narcotics and| prohibition. Mrs. Harding remained a resident of the White House for three weeks following the burial of her husband, and, after visiting friends in’ the sub. urbs of the city for several weeks, returned to Marion, Ohio. President and Mrs. Coolidge have planned a social season that com- s;.r-l favorably with any ever held occupants of the White House, ‘ #rallway companies. | continued . high cost of laying car|the rails, there is a growing tendency to |drinking, handling, transporting, driv- operative. High School, opened on March 1. Four new junior high | schools also were opened—a big step | toward the complete transformation of the school system from the 8. DISTRICT FINANCES A proposal to float a large bond {ssue to meet the accumulated needs ¢ the District was given considera- tion by the Commissioners during the year 1923, but, after deliberating at length, the city fathers ‘decided mot to lay the question before Congress at this time. » During the summer months the city heads drafted a budget of expenses for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1924, calling for a total of $32,600,000. Although they believed that figure represented only the imperative re- quirements for school bulldings, new streets, sewers and water mains, the budget bureau found it could not ap- prove that amount, because of the demand for economy in government expenditures. The budget authorities at first di- rected that the total be reduced to ap- proximately 25,000,000. attentively, however, finally transmitted to Congress esti- to the progressive 6-3-3 plan of edu- cation, As the junior high school system extended, a definite plan of or- nization was developed. Studies, subjects and classes of appropriate length to bridge the passage of the child from the elementary to the high schools was a feature of the organiza- tion plan. Changes in Curricula. Chlef among the curricula features introduced during the year were the psychological tests in educational measuement and visual education, which supplemants the geography and history courses. Other important changes made within the system in- cluded the redistricting of the first nine divisions geographlically and nu- merically, which carried with it sev- eral shifts in the administrative and supervisory forces and the creation of a court of appeals on all school athletic matters. The creation of the court of appeals marked the begin- ning of a period of vigorous control of all school athletics and was the direct result of the abandonment of the proposed two-year halt in all in- terhigh school athletic contests. Interest in school affairs was en- livened during the year by two dis- putes between the Commissioners and the school board. One case concerned the naming of schools and the other an appropriation of several hundred dollars for blackhead removers, fa- clal creams and other accessoriés of a beauty parlor at the O Street Vo- cational Schools. Commissioners Upheld. The gfirst controversy was adjusted through a compromise. In the latter case, however, the corporation coun. rect transportation, the commission empowered the Capital Traction Com- pany to establish a bus line from 11th and M streets southeast to 4% and P streets southwest. The Washington Railway and Eleo- tric Company established a bus serv- ice from 17th and H streets to 19th and Virginia avenue. A Toward the end of the' year the commission granted applications of the Washington Rallway and Electric and the Washington Rapid Transit companies to run separate motor busses to the Lincoln Memorial. In November the commission an- nounced a reduction in the price of illuminating gas from $1.05 to $1 per 1,000 cubic feet. Light Rate Cut Delayed. reduction In electric current rates in April, but it was not possible to put 11t into effect because of the court {fight now in progress over the di puted valuation of the company’'s property, which valuation is the basis for rate’ fixing. Rapid The Washington ‘T-ansit The Federation of Citizens’ Asso- assistant engineer commissioner, in |sel ruled against the school board holding that the Commissioners have the right to pass upon all expendi- tures of the board. The Commission- ers contended that the expenditure of the money for equipping the beauty parlor was not a proper expenditure of public funds. The Muzzey American History case, a thorn in the side of the school board for more than two years, was finally disposed of during the year. The board gave the text book a clean bill of health and recommended its continued use in the Washington high schools. The year witnessed the continued average expansion of the school en- rollment. Schools opened on Septem- ber 17 for the new term with an en rollment of 57.800. It climbed to 62, 967 in four days, and on October 8§, when the last statistics were com- piled, there were 65,124 puplls on the school rolls. Another mew school organization city-wide in Its scope and known as the District Public School Associa- tion, was born during the year. It was an outgrowth of the central citizens' committee on school appro- priations and was organized for the purpose of co-operating in the insti- tution and development of a compre- hensive, unified and city-wide plan of school expansion. Cadets Have Good Year, The High Schoo! Cadet Corps, un- der the command of Lieut. Col. Wal- lace M. Craigie, U. S. A., had one of the most successful years in its long history. The salient event of the student military body, the annual company competitive drill, was won by Company D of Eastern High Seizures of alcoholic stimulants made during the year were recorded as follows: Whisky, 8,874 gallon isln. 449 gallons; alcohol, 1,066 gal- Ions; cider, 3,661 gallons; wine, 3,784 | allons; beer, 10,354 bottles; extracts, 952 bottles; mash, 1,848 gallons. The | records also show the seizure of 119 automobiles and 31 stills. | Automobile thieves and joyriders kept the automobile squad busy, many cars being recovered in various parts of the country. Reports show a total of 1,084 cars being taken and 1,011 | recovered. Included in the list re- ported taken were a number of cars taken by dealers because purchasers failed to make prompt payments. Two Policemen Killed. Two policemen were killed and The commission ordered a slight |three died natural deaths during the 'store at 3342 year. Policeman John Purcell, color- ed, was shot to death October 17, | While assisting in the arrest of a party of colored men, five alleged members of the party being under {indictment and awaiting trial. | .. The other policeman killed was Director of the|Company sought a 10-cent face on |Frederick G. Stange, also a member Budget Lord and his assistants listened |its motor busses, but the commission | of the fourth precinct. to the earnest|rejected the application and directed |0 death by pleadings of the Commissioners and |that the 8-cent fare remain in effect: | brother officer, He was shot Thomas O'Donnell, a while being pursued iin the iInvestigation of the alleged mates amounting to 26,879,812, which |clations sought to have the street car |theft of a bumper from an auto- was approximately 3800000 more than|companies sell tokens three for 20 mobile. O'Donnell was tried on a the current apprepriations. In July the Commissioners cut the |The commission told the companies erated. tax rate on real estate and tangible personal propert; per $100 of assessed value. This was partly oftset, however, by increases in valuation made by the assessor in his new biennial appraisal of real estate. The annual tax sale in March of property on which the taxes had not Been paid netied the Diatrice $400,000 in delinguent payments. Maj. Danlel J. Donovan, auditor, told the Commissioners in his annual report that the District government will be able_to wipe out its old bond- ed debt in 1924 if Congress makes & final appropriation of $300,000 for the sinking fund. PUBLIC UTILITIES The year 1923 marked the estab- cents as well as six for 40 cents. they could sell three tokens at a time from $1.30 to $1.20 |at barns and company offices, but not natural deaths on_the cars. - In December the commission re- jvised its bill Gesigned to bring about & merger of the two car companies and the electric light company and transmitted the measure to Congress for enactment. During the year Col. Charles Keller ed as Engineer Commissioner and chalrman of the Utilitles Commis. fon. He was succeeded on the com mission by Maj. J. Franklin Bell. POLICE DEPARTMENT Sixty-seven thousand four hundred and forty-five arrests were made by the police last year, strict enforce. ment of the trafic laws and regul tlons causing most of them. Agsests for speeding totaled 8,814, while those charge of manslaughter and exon- The three were James T. New- 1 kirk, Roy R. Tayman and Washing- ton Sanford. FIRE DEPARTMENT Fire losses the past vear totaled approximately $2,000,000, three serious blazes doing about 50 per cent of the damage. Chlef George S. Watson succeeded in further increasing the efficiency of the force with an increase of twenty-eight men and a pumping engine, hose wagon, aerial truck and city service truck. He also obtained 116 gas masks and ten oxygen masks. Four members of the department dled during the year. They were Privates D. J. Bradley, S. C. Hill, M. H. Hageman and J. G. Kinsinger. Fifty-two retired members of the de- ' \ lishment of a number of new motor |for alleged violations of the traffic|partment and forty-two widows re- bus lines as adjuncts of the street Because of the use the motor bus to furnish trans- portation to new communities. The Washington Railway and Elec- tric_Company was given permission to abandon its tracks Bladensburg road and install a bus service. The Capital Traction Company was L authorized to extend two of car lines with motor One route was_from 14th and Kmnng streetg to Fern street by wav of 16 street and Alaska avenue. The other ‘bus extension was from 17th street and Pennsylvania avenue southeast into Randle Highlands. In order to link the southeast and southwest sections of the city by di- 1 regulations numbered 21,382. Another factor in the large number of arrests was strict enforcement of rohibition laws, arrests for ing automobiles while intoxicated and manufacturing liquor totaling 11,372. Liquor arrests were divided as fol- lows: Possession, 1,620; selling, 1,341, 248; intoxication, 8 icles while intoxicated, drinking in publie, 202; violations of other sec- tions of the dry enforcement act, 61. Other Arrests for Year. Other arrests included the follow- ing: Murder, 29; manslaughter, 35 s Teabbery. 163 m.umf“ ra) . {58 grand larceny, 334; oyriding: 161, tting 8. EEmu oR Taces, 38 {celved substantial increases in pen- sions under the provisione of tn act of Congress giving ratings to thuse who are retired under the law now i, There was not a single life lost In line of duty during the year, aithough 111 firemen sustained injuries or we: affected by smoke. Numerous occ! 03; | pants of bulldings in which fires oc- curred were burned to death, suffo- cated and injured. Loswes by Months, Losees by monthe ag follows: January—Number of alarms, 25 false alarms, 2 outside the Dis- trict, loss, $82,681; largest loss, 47,700, Norfolk apartments, 24 and Strests northeast, Y arehouse of | Wi policemen who _died aj. W. H. Holcombe, assistant engineer commisaioner, in charge of streets and highways; No. 2, George S. Wilson, secretary of the board of charitiex; No. 3, Commissioner J. Franklin Bell; No. 4, Commissioner Cuno H. Rudolph; No. 5, Charles A. Associations; No. 6, Maj. Raymond Wheeler, ansistant engineer commissioner, in charge of zoning: No. 7. George S. Watnon, fire chief; No. 5, Danlel E. Gargen, secretary to the board of Commissioners; No. 9, Capt. John E. Wood, lighting; No. 10, Dr. Frank W. Ballo ureau; No. 13, Maj. Daniel charge of water, sewers and street superintendent of schools; No. 11, James T. Lloyd, prexident of the board of education; No. 12, Inspector Albert J. livan, superintendent of police; No. 14, Commisaioner Jumes F. Oyster, nd No. 15, Daniel Schools Record Losses and Gains in 1923; Bills in Congress Fail, But Reforms Made School, headed by Capt. L. H. Cheek. The competitive drill of the 24th Regiment (colored) was captured by Company B of Dunbar High School, in command of Capt. Lowell C. Worm- ley. The war map games, another important event of the e: dets, were won by a team representing Com- pnay G of Central High School, led by Capt. Donald Wheeler. Probably the most noteworthy ac- tion of the school board during the year was the re-election of Dr. Frank W. Ballou as superintendent of schools for another term of three vears. Dr. Ballou's first_term expired June 30. Many changes occurred during the year in the personnel of both the school administrative force and the school board. ~Stephen E. Kramer, for nine years assistant superintend- ent of schools, was transferred to the principalship of Central High School at his own request. He succeeded Robert A. Maurer, who resigned to take a full-time ' professorship at Georgetown University Law School. Haycock In Promoted. Robert L. Haycock, super: principal of the third’ aivicion was promoted to fill the vacancy in the assistant superintendent’s office. As @ result a number of shifts were made in the supervisory staff. Changes in thé personnel of the school board included the appointe ment of Ernest Greenwood s stc. cessor to Dr. Abram Simon, and Capt. Julius I Peyser to succeed Daniel I Callahan. Jzmes T. Lloyd and Mrs. Coralie F. 'Cook were both reap. pointed for another term of three years each. Mr. Lloyd is president of the board, having been elected to ihf oMfice recently, to il the position eft vacant by the' resi lete vac ignation of M Py z eoples Drug Company, 60-70 Decatur treet, $382.894; total loss, $446,136. ! _March—Number of alll!ml, u;'lfl: i false alarms, 14; largest loss, air- |plane hangar and p hotographic build- |ing, Bolling Field, $750,000; total {loss, $826,473; fires outside the Dis- i trict, 14, April—Numbe: T of alarms, 379; fal: alarms, 17; largest loss, W. A Pler:: Lumber Company, Rhode = Island avenue northeast, $108,690; total loss, $304.541; fires outside the District, 12. May—Number of alarms, 181; faise alarms, 11; fires outside the District, i largest loss, Chestnut Farms Dairy, 1116-22 Connecticut avenue north- West, $25.200; total loss, $50,658. {_ June—Number of alarms, 169: false {alarms, 16; fires outside the District, 16; total loss, 531;1.00: largest loss, feed store. s street northwest, July—Number of alarms, 167; false alarms, 17; fires outside the District, 3; total loss, $32.300; largest loss, 917 street and two' ad. - i joining struc ugust—Number of alarms, 13 fafse alarma, 16. fres outside the Dis. trict, total loss, $33,000; largest loss, dwelling and_store, 3213-15 P street northwest, $6,150. September—Number of alarms, 14 false arams, 11; fires dutside the Dis trict, 1; total 'loss, $26.411; largest loss, Bureau of Standards, $10,000, October—Number of alarms, 22 H false alarms, 16; fires outside the Dis- trict, 5: total loss, §78,913; largest i 1‘%9601030111“ Fleld Army Afr Station, ‘ November—Number of alarms, 236; | false alarms, 28; fires outside the Dis- trict, 3; total loss, $203,710; loss, Wilking' grocery piant, | Island avenue northeast, $118.075, December—Number of alarms, 212; false alarms, 26; fires outside the Dis- {trict, 3¢ total loss, $28,000; largest loss, Truxton apartments, $14,965. | FEDERATION OF CITI- ZENS’ ASSOCIATIONS The Federation of Citizens' As: clations, representing two score of | neighborhood organizations, was ac- itive throughout the year {n 2dvocat. {ing movements for the upbuilding of the National Capital, . The federation supported the Com- missioners the budget bureau approve liberal estimates for the next fiscal year. The committees on education of all afliliated bodies were called into con- ference by the educational committee of the federation to get concerted action .In fighting for more bchool bulldings before Congress this winter. Willlam McK. Clayton, chairman of the utilities committee, began a fight before the Public Utilities Comm sion for half fare for Mho?ll children riding on the street cars, but has not yet succeeded. The delegates indorsed the move instituted by the Commissioners to bring about automobile ciprocity with Maryland. Charles A. Baker was re-elected in November for 3 third t« president of the f lon. largest | Rhode | gponsibllity for the collapse of the ity attached to th Iroof of the Knickerbocker Theater in thelr efforts to have! Baker, president of the Federation of Citizens’|the Potomac at the Lincoln Memorial. | i i | MUCH WORK BY TRADE B Board of Trade, Cham s Big 1923 Events—President Dies and Shriners Meel COMPLETEH] ODIES HERH ber of Commerce and Merchants’ Body Have Unprece- : dented Unprecedented activity has marked the year 1923 for the three local trade oranizations—the Washington Board of Trade, the Chamber of Com- merce and the Merchants and Manu- facturers' Association. At times co- operating under a joint committee, but for the most part pushing sepa- rately and vigorously desirable legis- lation and projects for the National Capital, these bodies have set a high mark for civic work. Under the capable leadership of Edward F. Colladay, who directed the policles of the organization in its thirty-fourth vear of existence, the Board of Trade has taken part in practically every important project in the affairs of the District of Colum- bia. In bringing these projects to a successful conclusion the board has been a prominent factor. Its officers and committees have worked untir- ingly with only one thought in mind, making Washington the greatest Cap- ital in the world. Projects Completed. Fifteen important projects in which the board took an important place have been completed during the year. They are: Establishment of surplus in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the District of Columbia. Completion of the Francis Scott Key bridge. Change of location of the proposed Home for Feeble Minded. The Shrine convention. A new police station house, No. 12| police precinct. | Additional aqueduct and water sup- ply. Framing of a model insurance law. Authority for construction of a new building for the recorder of deeds. Plans for a memorial bridge across | | Opening of a branch library in the southeast section of the city. Revision of the new building code for the District. Trafic Body Work. Appointment of a special traffic committee, the members of which | have only recently appeared before the Senate traffic committee and out- lined the views of the Board of Trade | on the betterment of traffic condition: Establishment of a separate traffic bureau in the police department. New headquarters for the harbor police precinct. The Sterling-Lehlbach bill for clas- sification of all federa empoyes. Eight meetings of the full Board of Trade, nine meetings of the board of directors and twenty-three meetings of the executive committee were held. The twenty-elght standing and special com- mittees of the board met when the oc- casion demanded, and gave proper con- sideration to matters of interest to the District. At the meetings of the full organization there were present as guests, cabinet officers and members of the Senate and the House, in addi- tion to men of national and interna- tional reputation not connected with the government. From time to time conferences of the | i | CORONER’S OFFICE Approximatey 1500 death certifi- cates were issued or approved by Dr.| J. Ramsay Nevitt, District coroner, | during the past twelve month | the numerous homicides, suicide | cidental and sudden deaths made his | service a little short of a twenty- four-hour one. Violent deaths during the v taled 329, divided as follow: ders, 29; manslaughters, 2§ deaths, 90; suicides, 69, and accidental deaths, other than traffic fatalitie 113. TRAFFIC BUREAU Issuance of 105,681 licenses for mo- tor vehicles the past’ year meant the | placing of so many such vehicles on the street that members of Inspector | Albert J. Headley's traffic squad were | kept busy. Wade H. Combs, in charge of the license bureau, explained that the number of licenses issued did | not mean that that number of ma- | chines were owned by residents of this city, new licenses having heen required in every instance of a car| changing hands. He estimated that Washingtonians owned approximate- 1y 65,000 of the cars. Numerous changes were made in trafic regulations during the year| and new devices calculated to im- prove street conditions were provid- ed. Despite all the precautions fak- en, however, traffic deaths numbered { 90, the total number of accidents re. | eorded being 8,325. Less than 100 persons were seriously injured, inde- | DPendent of the deaths. Arrests for violations of the nu- merous traffic_regulations numbersd more than 30,000, the number of speeders arrested being a fnw short of 9,000, while nearly 600 persons were arrested for driving cirs while intoxicated. Other charges agal alleged violators included collidin colliding and failing to stop, dazzling lights, dead tags, failure to exhibit permits, loaning permits to others, falling to procure operator's permit, obstructing fire hydrant, sing street cars and reckless drivin Inspector Headley's office force was kept busy investigating applicants for driving permits and having ap- plicants glve practical demonst tions of their ability to driv: number of applications approved was 20,864, while the number disapproved was 6,748 ' DISTRICT COURTS. The decision that no criminal re- ts on the architect, builder, gov- e nment Inapector and other artisans connected with the construction of the building was probably the out- standing opinion of the year from the public’s viewpoint of the work of the Court of Appeals of the District Columbia. “Among the volume of opinions dur- ing the past twelve months were two affecting domestic relations which are of general interest. The court ruled that a corespondent, male or female, cannot be required to pay an attorney’s fee in addition to the regular court costs in a divorce suit. | It was declared that where a di- vorced woman flaunts the District Yaw prohibiting the guilty party to marry again the court will not listen to her plea to require the second hus- ort her. D ring the year 245 cases were en- tered on the general and patent dock- ets of the court and 130 cases on the original docket. Writs of error to the number of 71 were applied for from the Municipal Court, of these 17 were granted and 54 denied. The court disposed of 222 cases during the year. A total of 138 cases is pending at the beginning of the new year, many of which are not ready for ar- gument, as the time allotted for fil- ing briefs has not elapsed. In addition to the cases decided, the court heard and passed on 452 'mo- tions and petitions, and admitted to erm as practice 358 lawyers. In the Supreme Court of the Dis- |the hous: | marked by the elimination of | cases pre | course to the | Th | Manufacturers’ Year. chairman and vice chairman q " s were held, in which tH work of the committers was discuss. 1d plans of activity laid to secu vorable legislation. = All committed the board have functioned, many o them upon matters of vital importanci 10 the city, and all have filed report before the full board. These report have b bresented in meeting assem. bled and the organization as a whold 18 expressed its approval or disappro val thereon or has modified them when e views, in thelr final ransmitte n- d the local authorities., o er of Commerce has like- in civic affairs and ading part in advocating beneficial legislation. To the chamber must be given the credit for the Griffith Ball Park Claging of the “ommittees were ed from that body, which took entire charge of the its arrange- ollowing it. uence of the chamber 1bers wounded soldiers from 1 adjacent to Washington ed to View the contest. Ac- ty of this kind has done much to place the National Capital at the front when national sport affairs are to be considered Work for Armory. Among its ot vities the cham-’ ber has tly advocated th¥l establishm Dproper facilities for ional Guard and llowing events: ion for nd firemen. ideration of all referendums from mber of Commerce of the United gher ealaries for An active and leading _factor in bringing to V¥ hington the follow- ing convention: hrine, postmasters, photographers, World Dairy Congress and in influencing the National Edu- cational Association and the Lee Highway Assoclation to hold- their meetings in this city. The auditorium or conventfon hall project, to which the chamber has Just subscribed an additional $2,000. State nights at its monthly meet- ings. Public utilities. An outing at Chesapeake Beach, the ?fff held by the organization since Donation of prizes to schools and ges for athletic or drill suprem- Persistent propaganda for a high water pressure system. tertainment of the Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce. Collection of approximately $2,000 at the time of the Japanese disaster. On record as approving new quar- ters for the recorder of deeds office. ction of President Coolidge to honorary membership. The state night meetings of the organization have been an innova- tion, aryland night, with Gov, Ritchie in "attendance, at the time that the reciprocity fight was in its first stages, Is believed to have done much to promote good fellowship and feeling between the two common- wealths. It was at this meeting that ~(Continued on Nineteenth Page) trict of Columbia the year 1923 was dead riminal docket Attor Gordon _de- 1l cases where ther: e of a conviction due tc the lapse of time, the death of im portant witnesses' or the scattering of such witne throughout th. country. These cases with those con victed and the pieas of guilty re celved throughout 1923 totaled 2,399 The grand jury orted 1,117 new indictments last y nd ignored 10 "nted t A total of disposed ere now rema pending in the ates Attorney Gor- from homicide during the y about 1,500 cas fice of United don. The office also heard from 600 wives during the their husbands were not them ranged complaints ar that upporting Many of these cases were ar- satisfactorily without re nd jury. As a re gements the pro- d $45,000 for the t wives and chi sult of these a support of depen ren. The criminal docket was not thi only one depleted in 1923. The [nw% sistence by the justices In the law and equity branches of the court on trials disposition of case dec olume of lith pens with 2 smallest dockety in the history of the court. ‘The outstanding feature of a re~ view of the year's work in the Dis- trict Supreme Court was the trial of Charles W. Morse, his three sons and four others on a charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States through war contracts for ships. The case was the first of the so-called war frauds and established a record for this dis- trict by occupying (L3 attention of the court and a jury for fifteen week The y declared the ac- cused not guilty. Pepeo Case Continued. The attempt of Pepco to get posses- sfon of the $4,000,000 {mpounded fund and to prevent a revaluation of its property by the court was frustrated Dby the action of Chief Justice McCoy court directed t a revaluation ! be made and pending final disposition of that matter the impounding be con- tinued. _Justice Stafford has set Feb- ruary 15 for a hearing on the revalua- tion. Among the many suits filed during the year were two of particular inter- est. James V. Martin of New York is seeking to secure $51.500,000 from the Alrcraft Association and a number of persons prominent in aeroplane -circles for alleged con- nd, a local attorney can Express Company for $5y 240,400, which he claims is the valy 0.000 Germar® marks for whi¢ ought money orders from t) company. While the Court of Appeals declas ed there was no criminal r Knickerbock: ‘Theater disaster, civil actions wg brought early in January by t gal representatives of more thany of the victims against the Kni bocker Theater Company and others connected with the const] tion of ‘the building. The com demurred to several of the dec tion: and the court held that happening of the event placed | company on the defensive and it m ans: Others sued jointly with} comps also demurred and wi overruled noted appeals, which still pending. i Three of the cases in which company only was made defend} went to trial before a jury and dicts were returned in all cxunerai‘ 1 the company. Other suits wi heard early next year. New grist continued to pour the court mills. On the equity sik} the clerk’s office there were filed new cases, of which probably, related to marital infelicites.d the law side a total of 1,126 cases was entered. The clerk received 225 mechanics’ liens,. bankruptcy petitions, 47 condem tion cases, In addition to a lary number of applications for citizen ship. While not shattering any records Dan Cupld reported a good year marriage licenses and a slight ad vance over the business of 1922, Dur- ing 1923 a total of 5860 licenses were issued, with June the buseiest momth, with 725 liceness, and December next with 575,