Evening Star Newspaper, January 23, 1929, Page 2

9 &~ THE EVENING STAR. WASHINGTON, D. C, WEDNESDAY, -'_TANI"'\RY THO SO0 BT PLEDGED TOGHEST Countess Szechenyi and Eu- gene Meyer Promise Special Donations to Fund. Promises of two gifts of $10,000 each. one from Countess Szechenyi, wife of | Count Laszlo Szechenyi, Hungarian t Minister to the United States, and one | from Eugene Meyer, managing director | of the War Finance Corporation, were | announced at a meeting of the special | committce of the Washington | in the Willard Hotel | Fwriner reports at the meeting | indicated the committee has about | $300,000 already promised. Other gifts today were: Joseph H Himes, $6,000; Kann Sons Co., $5.000; B. F. Saul, $5.000: Christlan Heurich, $5,000; Sanitary ‘Grocery Co., $5.000; Duncen Phillips, $5.000: Mrs.} bert T. Lincoln, $5.000; Princess Mar-| P. Boncompagni, mfo.' 000, and Scorge Hewitt, Myers, $3, e campaign, wich s to be for ,348.43, will open Monday. Churches to Co-operate. Sunday has been designated as “Community Chest Sund; and churches of every denomination in the city are to co-operate in bringing the needs of the chest before their con- regations. EFhe drive will employ between 2.500 and 3,000 captains and workers, Chest officials state, and every worker is ex- pected to be present at the opening dinner at the Mayflower Hotel Monday evening at 6:30 o'clock Employes of the Capital Traction Co., meeting last night at the Cosmos Club. issued a challenge to_employes of the| Washington Railway & Electric Co. to match the results in the campaign.| Rufus Lusk was speaker at this meeting. Degast Is Speaker. 1. W. Degast, secretary of the Metro- politan unit, was the speaker at a meet- ing of Division No. 10 at McKinley Manual Training School last night. iyl John Poole, campaign chairman, was | e chief speaker at a meeting of the an\'fl:\nd Park Club last night. | J. Leo Kolb will be the chief speaker at'a banquet tonight at the Mayflower in honor of Archbishop Michael J. ley. CuCrn!‘rhm\ml(_\' Chest work will be dl:s-! ecussed at & meeting of the Georgetown Social Service conference at the Farmers | and Mechanics Bank, Wisconsin avenue | and M strect, today at 4 o'clock. £ J. D. Kaufman will be the 5])P?LN‘{ at a meeting of Division No. 13 at the | Northeast Savings Bank tonight. garet 81 POLICEMAN IS HURT IN TRAFFIC MISHAP| B. R. Campbell's Motor Cycle in Collision—Several Persons In- jured by Passing Autos. Motor Cycle Policeman B. R. Camp- ell of the eleventh precinct was in- fured last night when his motor cycle collided with an automobile at Seven- teenth street southeast and Pennsyl- vania avenue. At Providence Hospital De was said to be suffering from Lruises and lacerations. The automobile was driven by Willlam Harrison of 1438 ennedy street. ‘Whlle playing in the street in front of his home at 2531 Q street yesterday afternoon, 5-year-old Charles Hilden- dran was struck by an automobile oper- ated by John Davison of 3217 Connec- ticut avenue. The child was taken to Georgetown Hospital. His condition is not thought to be serious, it was said at the hospital. Davison went to the seventh precinct and reported the ac- cident. Mrs. Gesine Owens, 74 years old, of 728 Thirteenth street northeast, sus- tained minor injuries when she was knocked down by an automobile while crossing H street at Thirteenth street northeast last evening. John Willlam Hargroves, colored, 27 years old, of 611 S street, who was driving the car, took her to @asualty Hospital Mrs. Julia Williams, 42 years old, of 532 Fourth street northeast, was struck by an automobile driven by Edward L. Hudgins, 20 years old, of Colmar Manor, Md., last night on Maryland avenue between Third and Fourth streets north- east. She sustained & possible fracture of her knee. She was treated at Cas- ualty Hospital. Knocked down by an automobile in front of P07 Pennsylvania avenue last night, Robert Culin, 63 years old, of 943 Virginia avenue southwest, escaped serfous injury. Archie Dixon of 3625 ‘Thirteenth street, driver of the ma- chine, took Culin to Emergency Hos- pital. He was treated for bruises. 303 REMAIN IN CELLS. Chicago Police Expect to Dispose of Rest in Round-Up Today. CHICAGO, January 23 (#).—Of the more than 4,000 prisoners taken in Chicago’s greatest hoodlum round-up last week end, only 303 remained in cells today. Police promised these would be re- leased by formal court discharge, penal- zed or identified and booked on a spe- cific charge before nightfall. The Jargest number were in the De- fective Burcau, a check of the cells showing 282. Two hundred of these were to be Arraigned in the South State Street Court on a disorderly conduct charge, and 41 others were to be sent LAST-MINUTE ESSAY OF 1 | | | | | | | ENTRIES POURING IN Midnight Is Contest Dead- line, With Winners to Be Announced Monday. Midnight tonight is the deadline for entering essays in The Star-sponsored contest for essays on the advantages of the Community Chest in Washing- ton, for which prizes totaling $175 have been offered. Today a flood of elev- enth-hour entries was being received | by the contest editor, which will nearly double the work of the board of editors of The Star, who will read the articles and choose the winners. There still remains time, however, for more entries. All essays in the mails before midnight tonight will be given attention by the judges. Due to the large number of essays received and the consequent piling up of work for the editors, the names of the winners of the contest will not be announced until Monday. Prizes of $100 for first choice and $50 and $25 for second and third choices will be awarded Monday night at the dinner at the Mayflower, at which the funds campaign of the Community Chest will be launched. Winners to Be Guests of Honor. Contest winners will be guests of honor of the Community Chest at this dinner, which will be attended by every team captain and every worker assign- ed to a team in the chest campaign. Frederic A. Delano, president of the chest, today declared that the essay contest has’ stirred up considerable en- thusiasm in many walks of life in the National Capital in the Community Chest and has brought many hitherto unaccounted-for friends of the chest into the work of raising the money nec- essary for the proper conduct of the 57 charity, social and welfare agencies which form the chest. “The interest shown by Washing- tonians in the essay contest, as is evi- denced by the number of essays sub- mitted and the number of persons who have applied at Community Chest headquarters for complete information about the workings, aims and principles of the chest is highly gratifying to us, who have watched the growing tide of favor of the chest, in these weeks of preparation for going to the public with our appeal for funds for the year's work,” he said. “The writers of essays have taken a genuine and helpful in- terest in the work we are contemplat- ing, and they, in most cases, have made a most careful and illuminating study of the chest idea with the consequent result of clearing -away any misun- derstandings they might have had about it.” Street Is Enthusiastic. Elwood Street, director of the chest campaign, was equally enthusiastic to- day about the contest's results. “The stanch friends of the chest discovered in this way have been a great omen of success for the coming campaign,” he sald. “We have found that most of the essay writers have entered the contest, as their letters submitting their articles have said, not to win the prizes but because they recognize the worth of the chest idea for Washington and because they want to do their bit in the work preliminary to the collection of the funds for the chest’s operation.” MAN, HOPELESSLY ILL, " DIES BY ASPHYXIATION A T4-year-old man was found dead in bed early this morning, with gas flowing from open jet. He was Maurice A. Bowden, 814 G street north- east, who had been ill for nearly & year and was informed recently by physicians that his case was hopeless. He was discovered by his stepson, Rudolph Hornback, who was sleeping on the same floor. Hornback broke in the door and notified the fire rescue squad and Casuaity Hospital. Bowden was pronounced dead by Dr. J. F. Col- lins of Casualty Hospital staff, and Cor- oner J. Ramsey Nevitt issued a cer- tificate of suicide. Bowden was well known in Wash- ington, having served as a city guide for 25 years. He also had been a guide at the Capitol. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Amelia Bowden; one son. Edward Bowden: two step- sons, William and Rudolph Hornback, and three daughters, Mrs. Lena Bur- to the Boys' the Morals or the Rack- eteers’ Courts. Prizes of $175 cAre Offered for Community Chest Essays Washingt ‘Through co-ordinated. Greater good is expected effort. 's Community Citizens everywhere are uniting for the great fund-raising effort. These funds are to be distr of the District during the course of the coming year. To further interest in the Star today is offering prizes totaling $175 for the best essays to be written by Washingtonians on the advantages of the Community Chest in the Nati These essays must be u length. All persons in Washil Star, are eligible to awards. Manuscripts must be submitted to the Community Chest Essays Contest Editor of The Star before Wednesday, Jan- uary 23. Their merits will be judged by a board of editors of The Btar. That essay deemed best will be awarded a prize of $100. Second best, $50, and third best, $25. Be sure and enter your essay early. n ?L the city’s giving to charitable projects will be gess, Mrs. Lula Dougherty and Mrs. Grace Coldenstroth, all of this city. Chest drive is near. to be achieved with organized ributed to 57 organized charities coming campaign The Evening fonal Capital. nder three hundred words in ngton, except employes of The NICARAGUAN OUTLAWS Upper, left to right: Everett A. Rector, Des Moines, and George T. Oswill, Miami. Lower: Rastus Collins, Lyons, Ga. —Assoclated Press Photos. TRAIN-BUS WRECK TOLL MOUNTS TO 1 Two Injured Succurnb as Four Probes Into Crash Are Launched. By the Associated Pre: BELLEVUE, Ohio, January 23.—The death toll of yesterday's crash between a bus and a Lake Shore electric inter- urban car mounted to 19 today, with the death of Richard Freeman, 30, of Cleveland. Teddy O'Brawski of Brookyn, fatally injured, who died early this morning, was the eighteenth victim. Four investigations have been started to determine responsibility for the crash, which killed 17 of the 32 passengers outright and injured the others. Coroner Starts Action. The investigations began with action by Dr. C. L. Bell, Huron County coroner, assisted by Edward Martin, county prosecutor. County officials pointed out that seemingly the bus driver and the motor~ man of the interurban had observed the usual safety precautfons. A blinding snow storm was streaking across the northern part of the State at the time of the wreck. Edward Butler, Cleveland, driver of the bus, who is in a hospital with severe cuts, said he stopped the bus at the crossing, looked in both directions for approaching trains, and then pro- ceeded when the way appeared clear. He wiped the snow from his windshield before walking to the crossing, he said. Motorman Threw on Brakes. The interurban motorman, Fred Schuyler, saigy he blew two whistles, threw on his émergency brakes and re- versed the current when he saw the bus on the crossing. Schuyler escaped in- jury by running into the passenger compartment of the car just before the crash. None of his passengers was hurt beyond minor bruises and shock. The 50-ton car, traveling at a speed variously estimated at from 30 to 50 miles an hour, struck the bus in the middle, knifing the top from the body and flinging it 50 feet down the road- way. The electric car. hurtled the chassis and rammed into a ditch, light- ing atop the splintered wreckage with two passengers pinned beneath the trucks and the others trapped in their seats. List of Dead and Injured. Following is the list of dead and in- Jjured: Dead: Louis Flynn, Pittsburgh. Elmer Almond, 41, South Forest ave- nue, Youngstown, Ohio. Bela Theisz, 318 Lightner avenue, Detroit. D. Coughauour, 3819 Parkdale avenue, Cleveland. R. Rawney, Chicago. Peter Kingsley, Wakeman, Ohio. William J. Cook, 50, Cleveland. Mrs. W. J. Cook, Cleveland. Harry Detroit. J. S. Davenport, Cleveland. Mrs, J. H. Harmon, 73 North Forge street, Akron, Ohio. Teddy O'Browski, 251 Nassam street, Brooklyn. Richard Freeman, 1227 East Boule- vard, Cleveland. Mrs. Ollie Green, 27, Detroit. Unidentified dead: Man about 35, initial “M" on belt. Man about 40, 160 pounds. Man about 30, tall and slender. Man about 25, fair complexion, dark suit. . Colored woman about 30. \ Injured: Mrs. Thelma Mether, 135 Bowery street, Akron, believed internally hurt. Miss Lillian Lapalla, 567 Broad street, Conneaut, Ohio. Edward Willlams, 5233 street, Pittsburgh, internal contusions. Martin Loranger, 134 Olo street, ‘Woonsocket, R. 1., broken arm. Mrs. Walter Magaw, Detroit. Russel Mack, Albion, Mich. Merrill Long, 18 Gillespie avenue, Portage, Pa., internal injuries. Edward Butler, 3715 Prospect avenue, Cleveland, driver of bus, suffering from bruises and shock. Harold SchaefTer, Pittsburgh, bruised. James Watreb, 2100 East Twenty- second street, Cleveland, internal in- juries. *A. W. Van Walkenberg, Springs, Ohio, minor injuries. Mrs. Elnora Houghtby, 233 East Willis street, Detroit. One man unidentified, unconscious, serfously injured, about 65 years of age, 5 feet 8 inches tall, WOMAN FOUND SLAIN. CINCINNATI, January 23 (#).—Mrs, Ivy Pearl Denman, 39, of California, near here, who separated from her 83- 1446 Roosevelt road, 3721 Woodland, Gertrude injuries, Lorenzo avenue, Green Do not delay. year-old husband four years ago, died in a hospital today, several hours after she. found beaten and unconscious in her home. = [ENPLOYES REMIND Glickman, 616 Ferry street.* HOUSE OF PAY BILL |Each Member Written Letter About Promise to Bring Salaries Up to Grades. In a lefter addressed today to each member of the House, Luther C. Stew- | ard, president of the National Federa- tion of Federal Employes, called at- tention to the need of carrying out a promise made a year ago to District employes to hring their average salary up to the average of their respective grades. An investigation conducted by the | subcommittee in charge of the District | appropriation bill, as made public by | Chatrman Simmons, resulted in the | committee agreeing on a two-year pro- gram of expenditure in order to correct this situation, the Iletter pointed out. Half the amount necessary was appro- priated last year and the other half, approximately $170,000, was promised | for this year's appropriation bill. The explanation now given is that | the item has been eliminated, due to the passage of the Welch act, which was not foreseen last year, it s point- ed out. As the Welch act was a general in- crease measure, Steward points out, “the employes of the District of Colum- bia stand in no better relation to the average salary plan than they did prior to its passage.” A proviso of the Welch act, he re- minded the House members, declares that nothing in it shall operate to de- | crease the pay of any employe, nor de- prive any employe of any advancement authorized, and for which funds are available. BREAK IN ICE PACK DRIVES BYRD'S SHIP " T0 NEW MOORINGS (Continued From First Page.) seems o be some discrepancy between the outlines of the Bay of Whales at present and the outline given on the charts. The problem apparently re- volves around the position of West Cape, which on the map is shown as the outer cape of the western side of the bay. Observations show a difference of several miles between the positions of that cape as recorded on maps and as determined by numerous observations taken while we have been lying along- side the bay ice, which would indicate that the entire bay was several miles further out than in Amundsen’s time. Comdr. Byrd does not believe that this is the case, however, and thinks the explanation lies in the fact that Amundsen’s West Cape is farther South than is shown on the chart. It must be believed that the ice would certainly be out of the bay by this time, but this has been an ususual season in many ways. Although Amundsen recorded only two storms while he was here and very little bad weather in the Summer, we have had three storms already. In every way this unloading problem is turning out to be one of the things which make expedition leaders grow gray hair. There are a number of ways in which it can be done, however, and it will be done. Whale Encounter Continued. Yesterday's dispatch, depicting the encounter of Comdr. Byrd's small boat with a school of whales, terminated with the description of the close ap- proach to the monsters which went under the water just as the boat reached them. A Continuing, the dispatch was as fol- ows Then they broke water again just in back of us and not more than 20 feet away. They had changed their course and were coming after us, head- ing directly toward the boat. liberate in that slow roll forward, con- veying a feeling that they were in no hurry, that they knew they could get | us_if they wanted us badly. If they-bumped the boat they could | have overturned it in a moment, and | it is doubtful if Comdr. Byrd and Strom both could have killed more | than one of the three, for it is hard | to hit the things in a vital spot. H All this must have been passing quickly through Comdr. Byrd's mind, mingled with the feeling of responsi- bility for his men. And he also showed | the keen interest of a man intent on watching the progress of a fascinating hunt. As the whales rolled toward us he | stood with his body half twisted | around so that he could see them, | holding the tiller in one hand and | the revolver, which he had pulled from its holster, in the other. It was then that he outguessed the killers, for as they went under again he shifted the | course of the boat once more and headed directly toward the ice. “Get ready to get on the ice,” he yelled. As we came alongside, one of us scrambled ashore with a rope and held the boat while the others tumbled out, Byrd leaving last and still looking seaward, with his revolver ready to take a shot at one of the ugly snouts if it should be lifted up in anticipation of a meal. “I am a fairly good shot, but I don't know how good I would be with a whale coming at me,” he said with a laugh. Wait for Move Under the Ice. The killers must have dived under the boat and gone under the ice, thinking we were a seal or some other water animal, and if so they must have been greatly disappointed.” As far remained under there forever. We waited for a time to see if they would reappear and we recalled Pont- ing’s experience and wondered if there would be a bump under our feet that ;\'ould shatter the comparatively thin ce. “Well, if they do smash it we can always .get back in the boat,” said Comdr. Byrd, which was not so much of a comfort. Men Stick With Commander. “It is easy walking to the ship, and if you fellows want to you can walk back and Strom and I will bring the boat back,” said the commander. But there was a chorus of “No!” So after a few minutes, during which the whales did not reappear, the motor was started again and we pushed off. A good deal depended on that motor just then and it chose that moment to splutter and quit. We did not know where the Kkillers were, and Comdr. Byrd addressed the motor in vigorous and forceful terms, which apparently shamed it into ac- tion, for it started again. Very carefully, with one of us on lookout in the bow keeping a close watch for our tigerish friends, we kept on to the ship and arrived there safely. A few minutes before we arrived the lookout had seen the three killers pass the ship, probably still looking for us. As we climbed up the side your cor- respondent remarked to the commander that although he would not have missed the experience for the world, he had been quite close enough to killer whales, a feeling which even the stolid Strom also shared, One cannot go anywhere down here, apparently, without finding something interesting and excitin (Copyright. 1029, by the New York Times Co.”and the St. Louls Post-Dispatch. Al {the man wanted for questioning was | There was something enormously de-| as we were concerned, they could have [ rights for ‘publication reserved throughout the world.) Skins of wild animals, such as jaguar, ocelot, otter and alligator, from Hon- duras are’to be offered in this country, INCENDIARY PROBE BEGUNBY MARSHAL Man Seen at Two Apartment Fires Sought—Church Damaged. An investigation- into three fires within the past three days, which are suspected to have been of incendiary origin, has been launched by the Fire Department and Fire Marshal Seib has requested police tg bring in for question- ing a man who was reported seen at the scene of two of the blazes. The three fires under investigation are the $20,000 conflagration yesterday afternoon in the Holy Name Catholic Church, 918 Eleventh street northeast, | and the blazes at 922 Fourteenth street | Sunday morning and at 21 Sixth street | northeast Monday. In the Fourteenth | street fire several persons were rescued | and in the apartment house blaze on | Sixth street, a 24-year-old woman was | burned to death after her warning had saved the other tenants. Organ Pipes Melted. It was at the two latter blazes that | reported seen. The fire yesterday destroyed the main altar, behind which it started, and badly damaged the roof and interior of the church, The pipes of the organ were melted, and Rev. John W. Dowl- ing, rector, said today they could not be replaced for $15,000. A young man was seen to run from the church and down Eleventh street while smoke was pouring from the front windows a few minutes before the alarm was sounded. Mrs. John Daly of 929 Eleventh street northeast, who turned in the call for fire apparatus, told police that he was tall, slender and wore a light overcoat and hat. Just & week ago yesterday the church ‘was ransacked, sacramental wine stolen and an attempt made to break into the collection boxes for the poor. A wine bottle later was found under a pew and several keys which were taken from a cabinet in the sacistry had been drop- ped into the collection boxes when the marauder discovered they would not fit the locks. Father Dowling is sure the fire was started by an intruder and he thinks it probable, he declared today, that the wine thief of a week ago started the fire yesterday. Three Alarms Sounded. Three alarms were sounded yesterday and 12 pleces of apparatus responded before the blaze was brought under con- trol. Fire Chief George S. Watson re- sponded on the second call, accompanied by Deputy Chief James Keliher. Act- ing Députy Chief Groves answered the third. Deputy Chief J. H. Virnstein was slightly injured when plaster fell in his eyes. He was taken to Casualty Hos- pital and first aid administered. Only $10,000 insurance was carried on the edifice, but Father Dowling said this morning that repair work will start immediately. Until the church is again fit for use services will be held in the basement. The church was decorated for a wedding at the time of the fire. The marriage ceremony was to have been performed at 5 o'clock. Not hearing of the fire, they arrived at the proper time and the ceremony was performed in the rectory by Father Dowling. The groom was John K. Kearnes and the bride Miss Julia M. Brosnahan of 618 K street northeast. GROUP IN SENATE FAVORS REWRITTEN MERGER PROGRAM (Continued From First Page.) company and (2) for the electric power furnished to other transportation com- panies under existing contract and re- newals thereof shall be determined in sald power contract in accordance with the terms and conditions of the present arrangement between the Potomac Electric Power Co. and the Washington Railway Co. for the supply of electric | power;the price to be paid for 37 per ent of the electric power used for the maintenance and operatian of the transit properties of the new company shall be determined as prescribed in sald new power contract; said price of sald 37 per cent shall always be just and reasonable and subject to review and determination by the Public Util- ities Commission as provided by law, and said new power contract shall run for 15 years and until changed by the Public Utilities Commission; and the new company shall take over all ex- isting contracts of the Washington com- pany for the sale of power to other railway companies.” Contains New Provision. The rewritten merger plan, after striking out reference to any fixed valu- ation and providing for the revaluing of the properties, contains this new pro- vision: “Any and all rights with regard to valuation and rate bases now possessed by any of the parties to this agreement shall not be prejudiced thereby and shall be enjoyed by the new company until a valuation of the properties of the company shall be fixed as now or hereafter provided by law; provided The old Hickey Mansion on Bladensburg road, one of the oldest residences in Northeast Washington, which was virtually destroyed by fire early today. Firemen laid 4.000 feet of hose to reach the fire. that nothing contained herein shall deprive the new company of any rights under the Constitution of the United States, except that the present rates of fare (except with respect to trans- fers) shall remain in force for a period of two years after the date of closing as hereinbefore defined, but upon the initiative of the Public Utilities Com- mission or upon complaint or applica- tion, proceeding for changes in rates of fare may be begun prior to the end of such two-year period.” After stipulating that free transfers would be issued immediately following the merger between street car lines, the new merger plan contains the following reference to bus transfers: “In addition, transfers between street cars and buses and between bus lines shall be granted under reasonable terms and conditions. The rules, regulations, terms and conditions upon which trans- | fers shall be issued shall be prescribed or approved by the Public Utilities Commission. Reduces Paving Costs. 1t contains a clause providing that no competitive company shall be started without obtalning from the commission a certificate of public convenience and necessity. Another section provided that ap- proval of this agreement giving the companies authority to issue stocks and bonds shall not be taken as approval .of the considerations mentioned, or as a factor in determining the value of the property for rate-making purposes. It contains the provision in the orig- inal plan relieving the companies of the expense of paying the salaries of cross- ing policemen and reducing the com- pany’'s expense for paving between the track spaces to one-fourth of the cost of such work to a distance of two feet outside the rail. It also contains the provision author- izing the commission to establish re- duced rates of fare for school children. ‘The amendment merger plan allows the companies two years in which to consolidate under this legislation if ratified by the stockholders. Covers Service Charges. It also contains a clause relating to | service charges which may be paid by the new company, as follows: - “Any and all charges to a utilities company made by any corporation or person holding a mafority of the capital stock thereof for any services shall be proved to be fair and reasonable, and only such part of the charges as the Public Utilities Commission, subject to the right of appeal to the courts, may decide to be | fair and reasonable, shall be considered in the determination of rates.” Just prior to the-meeting of the sub- committee today John J. Noonan, a minority stockholder in the Washington Railway & Electric Co., sent a telegram to the Senators calling attention to what he regarded as deficiencies still existing in the section of the new merg- er plan relating to service charges. He said the amendment made no mention of charges for material, and asked for further changes in the resolution in this regard. AIMEE TO FACE PROBERS. LOS ANGELES, January 23 (#).— Subpoenas for Aimee Semple McPher- son and Superior Judge Carlos S. Hardy were issued here today at the order of Chairman Walter Little of the State legislative investigating commit- tee, which has undertaken an exam- ination of Judge Hardy's acceptance of a $2,500 check from the evangelist for “legal advice.” HICKEY MANSION Historic Place in Northeast Prominent in Early Washington. Shorn of its former splendor, the cen- | tury-olé Hickey Mansion caught fire from a defective flue early today and was virtually destroyed while firemen struggled to carry 4,000 feet of hose | from the nearest fire plug through tangled underbrush to the blazing house. | Located on Mount Hamilton, nearly a | mile east of Bladensburg road and just | inside the District line, the old mansion | was one of the brightest spots in Wash- | ington’s social life in the years pre- ceding the Civil War. Surrounded by trees which were cld before the first foundation stone of the house was placed, the Hickey Man- sion, or, as it was formerly called, Greenvale, has furnished material for many fireside tales of ghosts and eerie midnight happenings. Built Over 100 Years Ago. It was built shortly after 1800 by Col. William Hickey, secretary of the Senate in President Tyler's administra- tion. Col. Hickey was descended from an old Maryland family, which came to this country from England in 1634. It was the show place of Northeast Washington in the early part of the | century and was frequently visited by such dignitaries as Henry Clay, Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun. Some years after the Civil War the house was vacated and stood empty for A long time. For no apparent reason, it became \nown as a haunted house and weird tales of ghostly happenings within its stately walls were manufactured by colored residents in the vicinity. Rumors of Channels. Rumors also were circulated to the effect that the earth beneath the man- sion was honeycombed with subter~ ranean channels, and that there was a mysterious secret room just beneath the basement. Six years ago the place was pur- chased by the Hudson Brick Co., and the basement boarded over. Five or six colored families were induced to move in. These are its present day occupants. ‘The house is situated so far from a fire plug that engine companies 26 and 10 were forced to “line in” to secure the 4,000 feet of hose necessary to reach the fire. The interior was gutted, the damage approximating $4.000. Poincare Again Honored. PARIS, January 23 (#).—For the second time in a fortnight Premier Raymond Poincare yesterday won a vote of confidence in the French Chamber. The deputies voted 327 to 262 to support the government. The confidence expressed was particularly welcome to the premier at this time because of the approaching reparations negotiations and the questlon of rati- fication of the Briand-Kellogg pact for renunciation of war. CHURCH WRECKED BY MYSTERIOUS FIRE Ruined interior of B‘dy Name Church, where $20,000 loss was sustained in blaze late yesterday. Inset: Rev. John Dowling, ufl,l‘clu. ) —Star Staff Photo, | ciary | sentative “Underhill | contended for DAMAGED BY FIRE| OVCSTEBLL GIVEN APPROVAL House Committee 0. K.'s Measure for Immediate Ac- quisition of Four Blocks. The House District committee today reported the Simmons bill, amended. ko as to provide for acquiring immediatel all four of the city blocks includea fr the proposed new municipal ¢ ite north of Pennsylvania avenue to Judi- Square and between Third and Sixth str ‘This action was taken following a vigorous controversy, in which Repre of Ma chusetts e immediate purchase of the entire property and Commissioasr Dougherty opposed it on that the District cannot afford such a large purchase, as there are other municipal improvements he con- siders more urgent. Fears Price Boost. The Simmons bill provides for au- thorization to acquire the two square north of C street and east and west of John Marshall place, with the entire cost to be borne by District taxpayers. No attempt was made at the meeting today to alter the provision putting the entire cost upon the District. It is un- derstood the proposal to acquire all four squares at once is agreeable to Mr. Simmons and that if the House and Senate act promptly upon this measure, the-appropriation will be in- cluded in the deficiency appropriation bill. Mr. Underhill expressed the fear that if the two squares facing Pennsylvania avenue are not ecquired at once the price on this property will be boosted He said that in other instances when the Government sought to acquire prop- erty here, the valuation was put up 115 to 700 per cent. Commissioner Dougherty told the Dis- trict committee that even with the ac cumulated surplus there are other Dis- trict improvement projects which should take precedence over the acquisition of the two southern squares of the pro- posed municipal site, because the two northern square will meet all of the District’s need for some years to come. Condemns “Miserable System.” Mr. Underhill condemned the “miser- able system” of taking property for Government uses by advertising that the Government intended to acquire such property, and then having the owners make extensive improvements which were figured in during condem- nation proceedings. He referred to the fact that preperty in the Mall Triangle could have been bought for only a frac- tion of the price now being paid, if it had been acquired when the Govern- ment first announced its intention of eventually using that property. ‘The District committee also ordered a favorable report on the joint resolution authorizing an appropriation of $25,000 for additional police protection during the inauguration period. Commissioner Dougherty said this would provide for 200 additional uniformed police and 75 detectives. ‘The committee also ordered favorable reports on the Fish bill, providing for registration of trained nurses, and on the Senate bill to regulate the sale of property for non-payment of taxes. ROVER RENEWS O0ATH AS U. S. ATTORNEY Qualifies Under Appointment for Four Years—Previously Served Under Temporary Commission. nter s Leo A. Rover today took oath of office for a second time as United States attorney for the District of Co- lumbia. Rover was appointed to the position last April by justices of the District Supreme Court when Ma;. Peyton Gordon was elevated to the bench. The new oath was required by the ngpmntment for a term of four years by President Coolidge, which was unanimously confirmed by the Senate. ‘The ceremony was held in the general term courtroom, which was crowded to the doors by relatives, lawyers and other friends of the United States at- torney. Among them were his wi! and three children: his mother, Mrs, Thomas A. Rover, and his sister:. Judge John P. McMahon, Judge Ralph Given of Police Court, United States Marshal Edgar C. Synder, Maj. Julius 1. Peyser, president of the Bar Associa- tion: and all the assistants to the United States attorney were in the as- sembly. When the justices had been seated, Chief Justice McCoy arose and advised Mr. Rover that the court had examined his commission from President Coolidge and found it to be in due form. He then asked the candidate to repeat after him the oath of office. When Mr. Rover had attached his signature to the oath, thé Chief Justice remarked: “The court congratulates you and wishes you every success. We also cor- gratulate the District of Columbia.” To_this, Mr. Rover replied: “I thank you, Mr. Chief Justice.” Leaving the bench, the justices were the first to felicitate the new appointee after which they shook hands with Mr. Rover's mother and his wife. The throng that had been present followed Rover to his office on the second floor of the courthouse, where he held a re- ception. The office was banked with flowers which had been sent to Rover by his many friends. COMMERCE BUILDING BIDS ADVERTISED The Government today advertised for bids, to be opened March 27, for con- struction of the most gigantic building on the Federal housing program, the Department of Commerce, for which foundations now are being laid. The building, which will occupy the site bounded by Thirteenth and Fif- teenth, B and E streets, would, under the specifications of the Government, be completed in the Spring of 1932, ‘The Commerce Building will be more than 1,000 feet long and seven stories high. Congress has authorized a total limit of cost of $17,500,000 for this project., BAND CONCERT. By the United States Marine Band Orchestra at 8 o'clock tonight at the auditorium of the Marine Barracks; Taylor Branson, leader; Arthur S, Witcomb, second leader. Program (re- peated by special request) : “March of the Toys,” from “Babes in Toyland" «......Herbert Overture, “Merry Wives of Windsor," N Cornet solo, “The Lost Chord.” ot Sullivan Second Leader Arthur S. Witcomb Prelude to “Lohengrin” Way Excerpts from “The Three Musketee: Fi Vibraphone solo, “Song of the Brook,” Lack Musician Wilbur D. Kieffer Valse de concert, “The Beautiful Blue Danube” .. Strauss Sextett from “Lucia’ Donizettl A. Witcomb, N. Cicchese, R. Clark, = Clark, P. Hazes and W. Santelmann “Proeession of the Sidar,” from “Cau- casian Sketches™ Marines’ Hymn, “The Halls of Montezuma™ “The Star Spangled Banner”