Evening Star Newspaper, December 18, 1928, Page 4

WITNESS IS KILLED; JUDGE RAPS POLICE Rariieri Kidnaping Case “Star” Is Victim of Gang Builets. —_— By the Associated Press. CEICAGO, December 18.—Drastic action, following the slaying of a wit- ness and severe beating of several others, was urged today by Judge Robert E. Gentzel at the opening of the trfal of three men charged with kid- naping 10-year-old Billy Ranieri. The judge promptly ordered the crowded courtroom cleared and ad- dressed himself to police officers: “Kidnapings, extortion and the slay- 1ing of State's witnesses could not hap- pen in Europe or in Italy. It is time for the police to take drastic action. Such things as have occurred in con- nection with this case are a terrible indictment of the police department. The crowd, driven from the court- room, quickly formed in line outside and pressed toward the doors, anxious to gain admittance to hear the testimony of Billy himself, expected to be the first as well as the State’s star. They were forced to submit to ques- tioning and search for weapons before being re-admitted. , Ole Scully was the witness who was %illed. He received two bullets through ‘the head, another in the body as he ran the gantlet of guns in a West Taylor Btreet restaurant last yesterday. * The State had been six weeks in pick- {ng a jury to try three men for the ab- duction of the 10-year-old boy. It had thosen carefully, for. it wanted 12 men who would not hesitate to impose the {Qleath sentence it is asking for the men on_trial—Angelo Petitti, Andrew Cap- llano and Tony Cappellano. It got eath—Ole Scully’s. . H WMessage Received. 3 Assistant State's Attorney Samuel Hoffman had just completed his open- ing statement to the jury when ‘this message was received in Judge Gentzel’s urtroom: « “Ole Scully was hot dead and the eads or arms of five of his companions ere broken with base ball bats by five en who followed them into a restau- nt on West Taylor street.” i The message created a sensation. 1 “None of our lives is safe,” exclaimed e prosecutor, “ours or the witnesses.” 3 “This is a challenge to all law en- Yorcement,” said State’s Attorney Swan- son, “and it will be answered as such.” * Those who were beaten severely while Scully was being killed were: Narceno di Limonico, restaurant owner; Joe Ma- ne, sewer contractor (as was Scully); ack Devito, Joe Sabello, and Frank talone. Devito is a brother of Mike vito, another State witness in the Ranieri 'trial, H Armed Men Enter. ‘The men had come to the restaurant from a funeral, riding in Scully’s car, which they parked outside. - Suddenly the door flew open and four men en- tered. Three carried pistols, the fourth ‘was armed with a base ball bat. * “Who owns that ‘car in front?” they demanded to know. Scully and his companions denied knowledge of the car, whereupon the man with the bat, cursing, began beat- ing them. Scully, defying the guns, ran for the front door. Triggers were pressed as he reached it, and he fell dead. / ‘The man with the base ball bat stood mr Scully’s body and struck it several es. Even with a dead man on the floor, and the sound of their revolvers echo- ing down the street, the men did nok run, They set upon the others, using the bat and the butts of their pistols as clubs. Gunmen Drive Away. Pantalone edm'f)! re‘t‘ch the street, screaming: “Help! urder One of the gunmen jabbed a pistol against him and told him to “shut his trap.” The other gunmen came run- ning out, got into their car and drove away. Last Friday Scully counseled with jAssistant State’s Attorney Hoffman. “I've got plenty of money,” Hoffman | iquoted Scully as saying, “and I'll spend it all to keep Petitti in jail the rest of his life. My life won't be worth a nickel 4f Petitti gets out.” _ The extent of alarm felt in official circles over the Scully slaying was evi- denced today by the elaborate precau- ‘tions taken to safeguard the lives of all persons involved in the trial. Assistant. State’s Attorney Hoffman ann that he would take immediate steps to send his children out of the city, and that he and Mrs. Hoffman will move to # hotel until the trial is over. Guards Are Doubled. Double guards were pl at the Ranieri home, protecting every ap- ch. Almost at the time was ing shot down a special delivery letter ‘was received by Ranieri threatening his life if he persisted in the prosecution. Police guards were given Judge Gent- wel, -all State witnesses and members of the prosecuting staff. The precautions 2gainst harm were described as the most elaborate ever taken by Chicago police. The Ranieri case is down in the po- Hce Tecords as the climax to years of Mafian extortion which has kept many Chicagoans of Sicilian birth in constant fear of their lives. Ten-year-old Billy was snatched into an automobile on his way home from school last September, taken to the country and kept prisoner 10 days. He was released shortly after Petitti had been arrested. TWO PLEAS IN DIVORCE DISMISSED BY COURT Frank N. Justice and Wife Are Awarded Decrees Providing for Adjustment of Property Rights. The two divorce suits pending between Frank N. Justice, automobile dealer, and Mrs. Helene E. Justice, his wife, were both dismissed today in the District Supreme Court by decrees providing for the adjustment of property rights of the parties. Mrs. Justice, who lives at 806 G street northeast, filed suit for absolute divorce on May 12 last, naming & co- Tespondent. A previous suit for limited divorce on grounds of cruelty and neglect was filed by the wife on January 3, 1927, and since that time the two actions have occupied considerable of the court’s time in the equity divisions wf District Supreme Court. ' The decrees entered today provided for outright dismissal of the absolute divorce suits and that Justice make cer- tain payments of accrued alimony to his wife in lieu of dower. Attorney Raymond Neudecker presented the de- crees on behalf of Mrs. Justice, and Attorney P. H. Marshall appeared for the husba CHILD IS SCALDED. Boy Falls Into Tub of Hot ' Water, The 2-year-old son of Milton Oliver, tolored, of 427 H_street, was glothes about noon today. i Another colored child died at Emer- gency Hospital today as a result of burns sustalned in 8 similar. manner Sunday. The second child was Norman right, 3 years old, whose parents xlboi Ninth street. r badly scalded when he fell into a tub of hot ywater in which his mother was washing ve | The string sections were particularly '’ admirable, p-4 THREE QUEENS By the Assoclated Press. LONDON, December 18—Notwith- standing the King’s illness, Queen Mary has shopped extensively for Christmas. She did it early, before her husband's condition became serious. Up to the day of the King's illness the Queen could be seen almost daily in the West End shops. She also has patronized many charity bazaars in search of presents for her family and friends. She loves to visit toy shops, to choose gifts for her three little grandchildren, and has collected a number of delightful toys for their Christmas stockings this year. The Queen of Spain and the Queen of Norway also have shopped here rubbing elbows with crowds of other women. Two Queens Meet. Queen Mary and the Queen of Spain chanced to meet in the silk depart- ment of a large store, After greeting each other affectionately, they con- tinued their tour together, Queen Mary always prefixing each purchase with the query, “Is this empire-made?” Queen Mary has bought many ar- ticles made of lace. She is particu- larly fond of real lace, and always makes a point of selecting for her friends what she would be pleased to Duchess of York a Honitan lace bed- spread, and as the Queen’s taste in household furnishings is usually fol- THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON D. ©. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1928. : BUY MANY GIFTS ON CHRISTMAS SHOPPING TOURS Mary, Who Does Purchasing Before King’s HIDCSS, Includes Toys. LQ.CCS., China 3.11(1 éonflicting Theories Puzzle Books in Her Purchases. Queen Mary herself possesses some of the finest specimen, pieces of lace in the world. Also Buys China and Books. China and hooks also are favored by the Queen for her presents this year. Among her purchases are a breakfast set in blue and gold, with tray and accompanying muffin dish, and some Worcester china in blue and pink col- orings. Old books, choicely bound, and a number of books on travel are on her list, and other gifts she, has chosen are an enameled boudoir clock in the shape of an open umbrella, and a number of handbags, among them some lovely evening bags in fancy brocades and ‘in brilliants, which will doubtless find their way to her young nieces and to the daughters of her friends. . The Queen of Norway is giving many music records to friends. She pald three visits in a fortnight to a shop that sells records, and chose all sorts, from jazz to classical pieces. She also has been buying some dainty chil- dren’s frocks, some of which are prob- ably destined for Princess Elizabeth, Lest she should forget what he want- ed, her favorite little dog, which ac- companies her on many shopping tours, chose his own gift by curling up in a comfortable dog-basket displayed in a department tArough which his mistress lowed by smart British women, this may revive a charming feminine fash- fon now almost extinct. REDISTRICT BILL REPORT DELAYED Five Committee Members lIl, Adjournment Taken Until After Christmas. Reapportionment legislation, which was set for action in the House on Jan- uary 8, ran into a snag today when the census committee met with the expecta- tion that it would report out this bill There are five members of the com- mittee in the hospital or at home sick, which made a tie in the committee and the bill could not be pital with influenza; Johnson of Wash- ington, Jacobstein of New York, Swick of Pennsylvania and Peavey of Wis- consin. Representative McLeod, Republican, of , who ol and is leading the reapportionment bloc in the House, stated that the steering commit- tee had agreed to allow consideration of the reapportionment bill on the floor on January 8. The action of the cen- sus committee today in adjourning until aftet the Christmas holidays will allow only four days in which this bill could be put through the committee and on the calendar for consideration in the House. mittee promised wotut‘pe ting ; a meef o the committee on the first day after the Christmas holidays. TR BABE GULPS LIQUOR. bt} LI Said by police to have drunk at least a half pint of whisky in his home yes- terday, Bernard , colored, 2 years old, 402 Aikens ‘:‘h-eet southwest, is ‘r:]- covering ‘today L Bernard was taken to the hospital yesterday by his father. A stomach pump was used to save his life. MUSIC “THE MESSIAH” IS PERFORMED. “The Messiah,” that Christmas ora- torio which doubtless will survive for all time as the dominant: n of George Frederick Handel, nat- uralized Britisher, whose body rests in Westminster Abbey, London, was given its most recent performance in Wash- ington last night by the National Capi- tal Oratorio Association at Central High School. Albert W. Harned, director, conducted. For some reason or other Washing- topians did not come out in as large numbers as might have heen expected for this performance. The rain may have had something to do with this; the nearness to Christmas may have been an reason. Possibly the many previous performances, some of which might have been much more in- spiring, had lessened interest. Then, again, it is not impossible that the long- winded florid passages, so foreign to the guid artificialities, so foregn to the hustling twentieth century spirit of the Unted States, and even the world at large, today, may have not had the strongest possible ap] to the general public. Those who did not attend missed ex- cellent choral work and a fine orches- tral accompaniment by 50 musicians, some of them well known soloists here, with Herman Rakemann as the able concertmeister. The 250 voices in the chorus showed thorough, intelligent tralning and remarkably good command of diction, as well as nicely blended tone color. It is the 'best chorus that has been heard in Washington for a long time and deserves the heartiest sup- port of the citizens of Washington. Also’ many young people are in it, giv- ing that element of fresh voices, show- ing enthusiastic buoyancy in the sing- ing that is most valuable. The parts were well balanced and the rhythms marked with clean-cut phrasing. This gave & smoothness of general effect. This is the kind of chorus that well can be built in time into festival pro- portions. The soloists all were well known singers who have appeared here fre- quently in oratorio and other perform- ances. Charles Trowbridge Tittmann's rich, melodious bass, with rounded vel- vet on the lower notes in particuiar, was the dominant solo voice. Ethel Holtzclaw Gawler, soprano, was at marked disadvantage, as she was called upon at the last moment. Jessie Master’s singing of the con- tralto role showed authority, with the excellent command of diction for which she has become especially noted and also real sense of the intrinsic values of the words she sings. Miss Masters knew her role completely and rarely referred to her book. She, too, was substituting, as Dr. Harned announced, for Hazel Arth, the young Washington contralto who gave up her role in this production to participate in the Atwater Kent au- dition finals, in which she won the first award for a girl. Eugene Dahl, tenor, showed good training in the role to which he had been assigned. Mabel Prost, organist, and Dana Garrett, trum- peter, were quite equal to their tasks. The performance was very late start- ing, beginning at about 10 minutes be- fore 9, and, with the traditional tempo observed, which is quite slow, only the whas passing, and refusing to budge until the Queen laughingly brought him the basket. Fossil and Sewer, Combined, Puzzle Town in Illinois MOLINE, Ill. (#).—Prophetstown, near here, is perplexed with a city construction ploblem. A sewer pipe has been run through the eye of a prehistoric monster, and the builders will not permit its removal for fear the action might nullify the contract. After the job is turned over to the city the council will have the knot to untangle. Prof. F. M. Fryxtell of Augustana College here established the identity of the mammal through bone frag- ments, chipped off by the sewer lay- ers. Gemnmdh. mayor, has given perm for removal of the mam- mal, but declines to assume liability for damage to the pipe. NEW YEAR RECEPTION MAY BE PREVENTED BY COOLIDGE’S TRIP (Continued From First Page.) Coffin, retired automobile engineer and magnate, who has erected a magnificent residence on Sapeloe Island and who. has created what is conceded to be one of the best game preserves that sec- tion of the country. The island is about 14 miles in length and for the most_part not more than a mile or two in width, It is located about six miles from the Georgia shore line and figured prominently as a rendezvous for pirates and questionable sea characters and slave smugglers in the younger days of the Republic. Near Popular Resort;. ‘The island is a ‘close ‘neighbor to Jaekyl Island, better @"fi? hecaunsexol its being a popular r resort for families of great wealth and industrial prominence. 1t is known that President Coolidge, in tentatively accepting Mr. Coffin’s i vitation, contemplated leaving Wash- next Sunday, but has since de- cided that he would prefer to be here Christmas ev;. and Christmas ;‘dy 'I‘;lheis clange may have been prompted some- what by his desire to participate in the ceremonies to mark the lighting of the community Christmas tree on Christmas eve, in the reservation to the east of the rear grounds of the White House and tely south of the Treasury. The President and Mrs. Coolidge were in- strumental in starting the community tree custom in Washington, and have never failed to take part in the impres- sive ceremonies. ‘The President’s participation has been to the extent of pressing the button {lluminating the ghousands of vari- colored electric lights adorning the tree. Moreover, the President and Mrs. Coolidge have taken a keen interest in the carol singing on the front portico of the White House, which Christmas eve feature was established by them several years ago. It is understood that the President and Mrs. will be accompanied ‘on their trip to Sapeloe Island by the customary retinue of naval and military aldes and secret service men, newspaper ‘men and photographers. Because of the remoteness of this island,retreat, it will be necessary to send a company of Marines to do guard duty in conjunc- tion with the secret service operatives. The President has indicated that he is looking forward to some enjoyable hunting during his stay on the island, and his personal luggage will include several of the shotguns and rifles that have been presented to him since he took up shooting, while in Wisconsin last Summer. Mrs, Coolidge Going North. Mrs. Coolidge will leave very shortly for Northampton, Mass., to visit for a day or so with her mother, Mrs. Le- mira Goodhue, who is seriously ill at a hospital in that city. It is expected that she will be back at the White House by Next Sunday. Mrs. Coolidge, who personally does all the Christmas shopping for the family, has been busily engaged in this pleasant undertaking during the past few weeks. She also will personally supervise the decorating of the interior of the White House with wreaths and greens suggestive of the Yuletide season. ‘The President and Mrs. Coolidge already are recelving reminders of the rapidly approaching Christmas season. Greeting cards are commencing to pack the White House mail sacks, these cards having been sent by personal friends and admirers from all parts of the country, Last year their greeting cards num- bered in the thousands, and it is ex- | pected that there will be no diminishing in the amounts this season. " KENT HEADS ALUMNI. William P. Kent, retired from the United States foreign service, was chosen to succeed Rear Admiral Cary 'T. Grayson as president of the William {and Mary Alumni Club of Washington at a meeting held last night at the University Club. Other officers elected were Maj. Fran- cis Scott Key-Smith, Representatives S. Otis Bland of Newport News, Va., and R. Walton Moore of Virginia, vice presidents; F. S. MgCandlish, treasurer, and Chase H. Bush, secretary. A commiftee was appointed to in- vite John D. Rockefeller, jr., to attend the January meeting of the club, to speak on the subject of restoring Wil- liamsburg to its Colonial appearance, which is now being accomplished under first third had been completed by 10 o'clock. The playing of the “Pastoral Symphony” during this first section of \the oratory deserves special mention. the direction of the Rockefellers at an estimated cost of $5,000,000. A committee on membership, includ- ing . Edson L. Whitney, Carroll Plerce and Charles P. Pollard, was appointed. Maj. Key-Smith “eslded. s . Alb, Mi Bost Chi o 1, Ohil De P K Lo: le jiami, Fl W Y N or] hoen Raleigh 8 Sa 1 WASH. Gib: H SEARCH FOR GIRL PROVES FRUTLESS A=<= 2 ¥ Officials Hunting for Viola Quinn, 16. Special Dispatch to The Star. MARLBORO, Md,, December 18.—A maze of conflicting theories confounds searchers for Viola Quinn, 16-year-old Marlboro High School student, today as county officials widen the far-flung net that has been spread to find the girl. since 2 o'clock last Friday afternoon, when she. left her room in the Marl- boro High School, no sign of the girl has been found. Sheriff Charles S. Early of Prince Georges County this afternoon was to make another search of the ice pond, which is less than 30 yards from the school, where Miss Quin was in her junior year, and where she was known as a model student. ‘The mother of the girl, Mrs. John E. Quinn of Croome, Md., about six miles from Marlboro, said it was the theory of the parents that the girl has gone either to Washington or Baltimore to work. Relatives of the Quinn family in Baltimore to whom she had paid fre- quent visits have seen nothing of her. According to R. F. Cromwell, prin- cipal of the school, the girl had hinted for several weeks of running away from home, mentioning that she might run away to get married. Her friends at the sthool, however, knew nothing of any young man with whom she had kept company and had never heard her mention the name of any. Both her mother and the school.principal said as far as they knew she had never kept company with any of the boys in the neighborhood. A" thorough check of all the vehicles which left Marlboro on the afternoon of her disappearance has been made without result. She simply went to the dressing room, where she put on her coat and hat, walked down the steps toward the Marlboro Bank a block away and disappeared. Police of Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis have been notified and a check is being made of the marriage license bureaus in all the surround- ing towns. MRS. CORNETT EXPIRES. Widow of Nicholas Cornett Sur- vived by Two Sons. Mrs. Rose M. Cornett died at Holy Cross Academy, Connecticut avenue and Upton street, early this morning. She was the widow of Nicholas Cornett of Lawrenceville, Ind., chairman the United States and Panama joint land committee. Mrs. Cornett is survived by two sons, Dr. Louis A. Cornett of this city and John Leo Cornett of Fort Worth, Tex.; three sisters, Misses Margaret and Mollie Steinmetz of Versailles, Ind., and Mrs. Elizabeth Oeral of Cleveland, Ohio, and two brothers, Hendrick and Jacob Steinmetz of Versailles. The body is now at William H. Sardo’s Chapel awaiting removal to St. Magdaline, Ind., for burial Friday morning at 10 o'clock. 22_Honel Lost in Fire. ERLANGER, Ky., December 18 (#).— The large barn on Polk Laffon’s stock farm here was destroyed by fire today with 7 yearlings and 15 brood mares, Total loss was estimated at $140,000. THE WEATHER District of Columbia—Fair and some- what colder tonight, with lowest tem- perature near freezing; tomorrow in- creasing cloudiness and ‘slightly warm- er; moderate west and southwest winds. Maryland—Fair tonight, with some- what colder 'in east portion; tomorrow increasing cloudiness, possibly showers in extreme north portion; moderate west and southwest winds. Virginia—Fair and somewhat colder in east and central portions tonight; tomorrow increasing cloudiness and slightly warmer; moderate northwest, shifting to southwest winds. ‘West Virginia—Partly cloudy tonight; tomorrow cloudy, with snow flurries in north portion; not much change in temperature. Records for 24 Hours. ‘Thermometer—4 p.m.,;’ 58; 8 p.m., 61; 12 midnight, 60; 4 a.m.,, 47; 8 a.m,, 42; noon, 42. Barometer—4 pm. 29.61; 8 pm, 29.51; 12 midnight, ad.aa; 4 am, 29.54; 8 a.m,, 29.72; noon, 29.85. Highest teniperature, 62, occurred at 10:30 p.m. yesterday. Lowest temperature, 42, occurred at noon today. e Température same date last year— Highest, 37; lowest, 28. Tide Tables. (Furnished by United States Coast and Geodetic Survey.) Today—Low tide, 6:48 am. and 6:59 p.m.; high tide, 12:27 p.m. Tomorrow—Low tide, 7:32 am. and 7:55 p;m.; high tide, 0:37 a.m. and 1:16 p.m. The Sun and Moon. Today—Sun rose 7:22 am.; sun sets 4:48 p.m. ‘Tomorrow—Sun rises 7:22 am.; sun sets 4:48 p.m. Moon rises 11:53 a.m.; sets 10:54 p.m. Automobile lamps to be lighted one- half hour after sunset. Condition of the Water. Great Falls—Muddy. ‘Weather in Various Cities. Statlons. ** z0j0moreg e+ £ODINSD. Abilene, Te; ! N. 332282 ston, Mi Buflalo, N. - Gharlesto Clear Pt.cloudy Snowing Jacksonville, ansas City, s Angel Loutsville, Gloudy M Pt.cloudy Pt.cloudy 0.34 g\oudy lear Pt.cloudy cl Clear 0.06 Cloudy Cloudy Cloudy Pt.cloudy FOREIGN. : 1 am., Greenwich time, today.) Temperature. Weather. Gloud; rance.. Vienna, Austria Berlin,” Germany . Copenhagen, Denm: Stockholm, " Sweden. Coloa, Spend on Selves Until 40, Youths ,Advised by Ford ays to ow How to Spend Is Qualification for Business Man. By the Assoclated Press. . DETROIT, December 18.—Declaring that nobody will develop leadership by “putting money in the bank,” Henry Ford today reiterated his advice to boys to “spend for leadership.” The state- ment was an amplification of the one made in Washington recently and which occasioned rconsiderable com- ment. “A boy's job is not to accumulate dollars, but to use them to prepare himself with the training, knowledge and experience which every leader needs. If a boy saves, it should be with some such expenditure in view,” Mr. Ford said. “The last thing a boy needs is this idea of hoarding money. The one great thing he does need is to learn how to spend money—all the money he can get—for self-improvement. “To know how to spend money is one of the qualifications of any busi- ness man. I don’t see how any one can learn how to spend money wisely ex- cept by spending it. No man ever built a productive institution of any kind by saving money. That is done by knowing how to spend money wisely. Invest in yourself until you are 40. It is time enough to save when you can earn more than you can spend wisely. But you will never get to that point by saving.” The statement was copyrighted by the Detroit News and the North Amer- ican Newspaper Alliance. TOTAL OF 2,400,000 HEALTH SEALS SOLD Tuberculosis Association Hopes 4, 000,000 Goal Will Be Reached Before the Week Ends. Receipts from all sources yesterday brought the total sale of Christias Health Seals to 2,- 400,000. Workers for the Tubercu- losis _Assoclation, 1022 Eleventh street, which is sponsoring the sale, pointed out that 1,600,000 seals must be disposed of this week if the move- ment is to attain its goal of 4,000,000 seals. It is estimated that 4,000,000 seals must be sold at 1 cent each to finance next year’s pro- gram for the prevention and cure of tuberculosis in the District. Numerous self-serve booths have been stationed to aid .in distributing the stamps over the city, while they also can be had by sending in contributions to 1022 Eleventh street. Wins Verdict Against Town. Special Dispatch to The Star. UPPER MARLBORO, Md., December 18.—Damages of $200 have been award- ed Mrs. Fay C. Miller by Judge J. Chew Sheriff of the County Police Court against the mayor and Town Council of Alount Rainier. Mrs. Miller had sued the mayor and council for damages done to property stored in her cellar by the heavy rains of last August. Mrs. Miller contended that the town was negligent in that it had nos prop- erly protected -her home while reprm- ing a storm sewer. The case was heard a week ago, but Judge Sheriff reserved his decision until yesterday, when it was given at the session of the court in Hyattsville, e Church Elects Deacons. Special Dispatch to The Star. LYNCHBURG, Va., December 18.— Rivermont Baptist Church has elected the ‘following new deacons: W. A. Ambrose, C. O. Thornhill, P. R. Massie, P. R. Monroe, J. R. Markham and Dr. W. H. Johnson. 1325 2 Gift Specials Two best sellers every Christmas—and here they are at Special Prices. NEW and of real fine quality. New Flannel ROBES In Plain Shades 51350 PLAIN SHADES ARE NEW—in pleasing shades of Copenhagen, Blue, Tan, Dark Blue, All sizes. Wine and Green. Regular $2.50 and $3 SHIRTS ND & END MADRAS & CHAMBRAY (including whites ) Plain .pastel shades, with long-point collar attached. In attractive Gift Boxes. CROSNER'S '1325.F. CHARGE ACCOUNTS INVITED GRANT HITS RATING METHODS OF U. 3. System of Classifying Em- ploye’s Efficiency Attacked in Annual Report. The methods now used for marking the efficiency ratings of Government employes came in for criticism by Lieut. Col. U. 8. Grant, 3d, director of the Office of Public Buildings and Public Grounds, in his annual report, made public today. ‘He said the prescribed method is “intricate enough to be very troublesome for even those fully ac- quainted with it, and necessitates an expenditure of time and labor out of all proportion to the value of the results attained.” Col. Grant adds that as the marks arrived at are the basis of fixing salaries within each grade, the rating is a matter of greatest importance to the individual worker, and his inability to understand why he was so marked is a source of real trouble and sometimes injurious to the morale of the office force in general. Eliminations Tried. Elimination of employes has been re- sorted to, according to the director, in order to provide higher salaries for other employes and to effect a saving of 2 per cent in appropriation desired by the President. The eliminations, he continues, have resulted in placing heavier labors on the employes who have been retained. The renewal of underpinning on the wartime-constructed temporary build- ings cost the Government $37,220, Col. Grant said. He also disclosed that tests made of boilers in Government buildings by in- spectors of the Steamboat Inspection Service resulted in the condemnation of four of the six boilers in the State, War and Navy Building. The inspections ‘showed that these boilers have a thickness of a quarter of an inch, as compared with one-half inch when they were new. Park Police Paid Tribute. Tribute is paid in the report to the park police. Col. Grant pointed out that the efficiency of each officer is measured by conditions on his beat and not by ‘the number of arrests. He adds that an indication of the success with which this policy is carried out is given by the fact that 1,244 arrests during the year only 19 cases were disx;flssed.—a loss of only 1 5-10 per cent. Col. Grant said that a very large saving had resulted the Govern- ment in the Arlington Memorial Bridge by letting out a number of con- tracts, instead of putting it under one whole contract. This has resulted in saving the general contractor’s over- head cost and his profit and has re- mltid in obtaining a higher grade of work. GEORGE IMPROVED DESPITE FAILURE TO SLEEP COMFORTABLY (Continued From First Page.) made big Improvement in the last few days and one must expect something of this sort. It is simply one of those downs that may be expected in the ups and downs of an illness of this kind. Nevertheless, it does rather in- crease anxiety.” Prince Cheers People. Before the bulletin was issued the Prince of Wales, through the lord mayor, broadcast a cheerful message and expressed pleasure in the better- ment of his father and in his enjoy- ment of natural sleep. The Queen dis- played her more hopeful attitude by taking an afternoon ride. The ce and the Duke and Duchess of York g}ned with the Queen and Princess ary. Premier Baldwin, who excused him- self Friday from announcing when Parliament would reassemble after the holidays, announced to the House of Commons that it would reconvene on January 22 if all went well. o ‘Thirty million motor cars are now in the world, or one for every 64 people. STR F EET Decidedly I 75 Three for STREET Burning Sensation Under Cast on Leg Proves to Be Ants Army Officer’s Complaints at Walter Reed Result in Unusual Discovery. A “burning sensation” that Capt. Rene E. Fraile, on duty in the Adju- tant General’s office, complained of in his left ankle, which had been placed in a cast, because of a recent injury, was found by Walter Reed Hospital authorities to be ants that had crawled | up the legs of his bed and found a warm spot beneath the plaster of paris. Capt. Fraile was admitted to the hos- pital two weeks ago, after he fell into an areaway in an alley near Park road and Fourteenth street, when an auto- mobile suddenly swung into view and the blinding lights obscured the Army officer’s view, as he tried to get out of | the path of the machine. Hospital authorities found both major bones of his left ankle broken. His right ankle v“u sprained. A cast was placed on the’left ankle to aid the heal- | ing process. | As time passed, Capt. Fraile com-| plained increasingly of a “terrible burn- ing sensation” in his left ankle, but the authorities thought he was merely ner- vous and sought to quiet him. He per- sisted in his complaint and after re- peated insistence had the cast removed, revealing the ants, A new cast was put on and the legs of the patient's bed were placed in liquid to prevent more ants from climbing up on the bed. GRAHAM COMPLETES LAND TESTIMONY Alexandrian Cross-Examined in’ Annexation Case at Arling- ton Courthouse. Special Dispatch to The Star. ARLINGTON COUNTY COURT- HOUSE, Va. December 18.—Cross-ex- amination of John G. Graham, Alex- andria realtor, by Col. Charles T. Jesse of the counsel for Arlington County was completed today in the annexation suit which Alexandria has instituted against Arlington County. Virtually the entire morning session was devoted to cross-examination on vacant and occupied business proper- ties on King street in Alexandria and the vacant and occupied lots in the sub- divisions in the northwest section of the city. The only admission gained in the cross-examination' came when Graham said that several business houses on King street which he had testified o | dustry. RACIAL PROBLENS CONFERENCE TOPIC Relations With Whites on Farms and in Factories Are Discussed. The problems confronting the Ameri- can negro in agriculture and industry as they affect his relations to the white race were discussed today by speakers before the National Interracial Con- ference, meeting in the auditorfum of the Interior Building. Monroe W. Work, editor of the Tuskegee Institute year book, had pre= pared an address on the agricultural activities of the negro, and Niles Carpenter, of the University of Buffalo, a report on the negro's position in in- The conference program pro- vided for a round table discussion of these topics. Message From Coolidge. The following message from Presi~ dent Coolidge to Miss Mary van Kleeck, chairman of the conference, was read at the session last night: “Will you be good enough to present my greetings and best wishes at_some appropriate time to the National Inter- racial Conference being held in Wash- ington this week. Express for me the earnest hope that its deliberations will be most successful in promoting the aurposes and aims of your organiza- ion.” More Rugged Than Whites. Raymond Pearl of Johns Hopkins University told the conference last night that in six out of nine organic divisions the negro is better fitted to resist disease than‘'the white man. He also stated that, despite theories to the contrary, several distinet biological dif« ferences are apparent between the black and. white races. “Negro education is being taken se- riously for the first time since the ear- liest days of reconstruction,” W. -A. Robinson, principal of the Austin High School, Knoxville, Tenn., asserted last night. In discussing the value of ed- ucation, Mr. Robinson said that where there is the greatest amount of educa- tion there is a corresponding decrease in the number of lynchings and similar racial disturbances. BAR TO MEET FARNUM. Special Meeting of Federal Associa- tion to Be Held Tonight. A meeting of the Federal Bar Asso- ciation will be held tonight at 8 o'clock in the auditorium of the Interior De- partment Building to afford attorneys in the service of the Government an opportunity to meet Assistant Attorney General George R. Farnum, who will be as beltng l?uc:npiefl were nofiblffiually o or business purposes, but were rmd and consequently bringing in revenue to their owners. At the afternoon session yesterday counsel for the county strenuously ob- jected to the statement of Mr. Graham that the Emerson Valve & Pump Co. and the Express Spark Plug Co., both Alexandria firms, were ing money. The objection was made on the grounds that the testimony was only hearsay. The court sustained. the objection and ordered that of the timony stricken from the record. . W. Sindow, assistant engineer of the State Health Department, called |to the stand yesterday afternoon as a witness for Alexandria, stated that he had inspected Hooffs Run sewer at Stone Bridge, in this city, and found it badly polluted and considered it a health menace. ‘When asked on cross-examination by State Senator Frank L. Ball if he considered it necessary that the sewer be constructed and maintained under one system, he said that the city could co-operate and construct the sewer jointly and it could be made satisfactory. The only thing needed, he said, is that it be constructed just as soon as possible. QIR BT, Ship’s Cargo Afire. BREMERHAVEN. Germany, December 17 (#).—The steamer Galtymore, from Houston with 15,000 bales of cotton, ar- rived today with fire in her cargo be- county and the tween decks. The city fire brigade is trying to quench the flames. 2,300 Sq. Ft. @he Foming Ftar B arell trons THE ABOVE SIGN 1s DISPLAYED BY T AUTHORIZED STAR BRANCH OFFICES SR ok “Around the day ton Leave your Classified Ad at any of these Branch Offices and it will ap- pear in the first available issue. No fees are durged for Branch only regular the guest of honor. Mr. Farnum is to speak on “The Human Element in Organization,” lay- ing emphasis on the relation of the Federal Government toward the per- sonnel in the civil service. 0il Hearing Postponed. Resumption of hearings by the Sen- ate lands committee on the renewal and subsequent cancellation of the Sinclair contract for the Salt Creek royalty oil was postponed today until tomorrow when the committee learned that sev- eral members were unable to attend. R R Approximately 70,000 children are en- rolled now in schools of Hawaii. Greater Accuracy At Less Cost To produce cars of genuine MARMON quality and pre- cision workmanship, in real volume and moderate price, it was necessary to adopt many practices which are absolutely new in the industry—combining QUALITY WITH EFFI- CIENCY. For Lease— In First Commercial Zone Each Floor and Basement Large Show Window Vicinity 11th & N. Y. Ave. FULL INFORMATION Phone Main 10291 ..flfl e MVERTSENER Receivep HERE Reiskin’s Pharmacy—Fla. Ave. & 1st St. N.W. Is a Star Branch Office These Branch Offices are lo- in practically every neigh- borhood in and around Wash- “ington and are prepared to furnish prompt service to pa- of the Star Classified Section. copy for a Star Office servic he Star prints Such.an over- whelmingly greater volume of Classified Advertising every than any other Washing- paper that there can be no question as to which will give* the best results. Corner” is a Star Branch Office