Evening Star Newspaper, January 29, 1929, Page 17

) D. C., TUESDAY, JANUARY 29 1929, SR000 INCREASE I FEDERAL FUND FORD.C.IS RGED Bingham Cites Large Park Area and Non-Taxable Institutions. SUGGESTS U. S. PAY TAX ON TANGIBLE PROPERTY Believes Lump Sum Should Vary With Value of Govern- ment Holdings, Congress at this time should increase by $800,000 the $9.000,000 lump sum the Federal Government contributes toward the expenses of the National Capital, in the opinion of Chairman Bingham of the Senate subcommittee now holding hearings on the local ap- propriation bill for the next fiscal year. Senator Bingham announced last Right that he had reached this con- clusion after studying the fiscal rela- tions report of the Bureau of Efficiency | and he gave an outline of the factors ‘which led him to the belief the United Btates should increase its share in the pending bill. ‘The Senate chairman also announced that he believes the Federal Govern- ment's lump sum shouid vary as the | value of the Government's property varfes. Another conclusion he has reached is that the United States shouid make an effort to pay taxes on its tangible property in- the District. Stresses Large Park Outlay. Senator Bingham laid stress upon the large park purchase and maintenance tems necessary in Washington because this is the Capital of the Nation and to the unusual number of non-taxable in- stitutions located here because this is the seat of government. The Connecti- cut Senator arrived at the conclusion favoring an $800,000 increase in the lump sum by computing what he re- gards as fair allowances the Federal Government should make for the excep- tional park requirements and the un- usual number of tax-exempt institutions over and above what the Federal Gov- ermnment’s bill would be as a municipal taxpayer. The Senator called attention to the finding of the Efficiency Bureau that the Federal Government’s bill as a municipal taxpayer would be $7,440,939. ‘The difference between that sum and the present ,000,000 contribution leaves $1,559,061 to be applied to the items of park development and recov- ery of revenue lost to the District by reason of the excessive number of non- taxable institutions. 3 Expressing grave doubt ‘as to the justification for holding the Federal Government liable for an intangible tax, the Senator then adds to the $1,559,061 the item of $451,857, which {turned her back on him. GIRL STANDS IN On Foot, She Tries to Save Place for Mother’s Auto‘m'obile. Blocks Male Driver—Officer an Then Drives In. When she saw a man maneuvering Eleventh and F streets yesterday which her mother had planned to occupy, Miss Agnes Bass, attractive young daughter of Capt. Ivan E. Bass, U. S. empted the disputed space by the simple expedient of placing herself in front of the machine and staying there. Mrs. Bass, who lives at 3908 Jocelyn street, had driven past the parking space on Eleventh street just below F with the intention of backing up and out into the street in' order to park without undue effort. M. E. Simmons, an automobile sales- man, was also looking for a convenient place to park his car. He spied the open spot just after Mrs. Bass had passed it. He made a direct turn in and had entered about three feet into the space when the daughter saw him. Calls to Him to Stop. Jumping out of her mother's car, she called to him to stop. The astonished Mr. Simmons obeyed. After informing the motorist that her mother had prior claim to the space and intended to enforce it, Miss Bass walked around in front of Simmons’ car and took up a position directly in front of the radiator, facing the driver. Simmons tooted his horn. Miss Bass A few moments passed and she look- ed around again at the somewhat be- wildered Mr. Simmons. The latter de- cided to affect indifference. He rested his head on the steering wheel and pre- tended to go to sleep. Miss Bass folded her arms and shifted to a more comfortable position. The long distance waiting contest was on. Several minutes passed. Curious | pedestrians paused hesitatingly to stare at the unusual spectacle and then, with. out invitation, joined the contest. Policeman R. S. Bridges, of the Traf- fic Bureau, walked past and glanced at the growing crowd watching the tableau. He decided, apparently, that it was nqne of his business and re- sumed his post at the street inter- section. Crowd Increases. A few minutes later and the crowd a:d increased to astonishing propor- ns. The policeman came back and looked the situation over again. He asked someone to tell him what the trouble was. Immediately a chorus of voices started to explain. At least four dif- ferent versions of the affair were forth- coming. Mr. Simmons protested rather meekly that he had been called names. This was indignantly denied by the other side, but Miss Bass then did ex- press the belief that he was an “igne- ramous.” The whole thing was too confusing, Officer Bridges decided. He couldn’t tell what was what or which was which, By way of ending the controversy, he ordered both parties to drive.on.” - Another woman driver came down the street and deftly steered into the park- ing place. She looked inquiringly at the crowd, tested her door to make the Efficiency Bureau charges the United States as a tax on intangible property. This gives the United States $2,011,000 to cover the excess items mentioned. ‘The Senator expresses the belief that $1,100,000 would be a reasonable charge against the Federal Government under the heading of parks, leaving $900,000 to apply to the factor of revenue lost :y reason of the tax-exempt property ere. Figures Tax at $1,700,000. ‘The Senator shows that a fair aver- age of tax-exempt property for a city of this size would be $180,000,000, but that because it is the Capital an un- usual number of such institutions are located here, bringing the total to more than $100,000,000 above the average. He declares it would be fair for the United States to pay toward District expenses an amount equal to the normal tax on the $100,000,000 or of real property in excess of average exemptions. He computes this tax &s approximately $1,700,000, and figures that at present the Federal Government is payirz $900,000 toward this obliga- tion gt of the $9,000,000 Jump sum. 2ofitor Bingham's statement, in full, follows: .C'A study of this report leads to a feciing of .satisfaction that there has been prepared such a detailed inde- pendent study of the taxation and fiscal affalrs of all cities in the United States having an estimated population of be- tween 300,000 and 1,000,000. “It is obyious that the city of Wash- fogton, with a population of something more than half a million, has ves sirailar problems and that in attempting to judge the nature of the fiscal rela- tions between the Government of the United States and the District of Co- Jumbia such figures are of help. “As has been pointed out by Repre- sentative Simmons, the chairman of the subcommittee of the House committee on appropriations in charge of the Dis- trict of Columbia appropriation bill, some matters have been left out which should have been given consideration. I understand that in accordance with his suggestions a supplementary report is in progress of preparation and I shall read it with interest when it appears. Inclined to Agree With Bureau. “I am inclined to agree with the Bureau of Efficlency that the solution of the problem of fiscal relations lies in determining the Federal Govern- ment’s liability toward the cost of run- ning the District of Columbia along the lines of the tax lability of the Fed- eral Government as a municipal tax- payer in connection with the ordinary costs of government and also its liability on account of extraordinary expendi- tures occasioned by the fact that Wash- ington is the National Capital and that the District is not at liberty to tax Government_property. “Four interesting questions rise: (1) What is the liability of the Federal Government as a municipal taxpayer? (2) What is the loss of tax revenue to the Government of the District of Co- Jumbia on account of excessive exemp- tions of real property? (3) How much of the cost of excess park acquisition and maintenance should be met by the Federal Government? (4) How much of the liability of the Federal Govern- ment as a municipal taxpayer should be offset by reason of the very consid- erable economic benefits accruing to the District owing to the presence here of national monuments and great public buildings which make Washington the mecca of hundreds of thousands of tourists? Holds $7,440,239 Fair Charge, *“According to the report a fair charge on the Federal Government as a munic- ipal taxpayer would be $7,440939. As a matter of fact, the Federal Govern- ment makes a contribution of $9,000,000, which leaves & balance of $1,550,061 to TY | stitutions, embassies and legations and sure it was locked, and, with an air of indifference, disappeared into a depart- ment store on the corner. excessive exemptions of real property from taxation. “It appears to me that there might properly be added to that balance the $451,857 with which the report charges the Federal Government as a tax on intangible personal property. I have grave doubts as to the justification for such a liability on the part of the Fed- eral Government. If this were added to the balance, it would give us $2,011,000 to be applied to the excess items. “A study of the tables would seem to show that a fair charge in connection with the parks would be about $1,100,- 000, leaving about $900,000 to apply to | the loss of revenue due to excessive ex- emption. “A careful study of the schedules of exempt nroperty valuations shows that | the ratio of exempt to taxable real property is three times as high for ‘Washington as for other cities. At first sight it would appear that this would justify a very great increase in Federal aid to the District. However, when there is deducted from the exempt prop- erty United States property on which it may be assumed we are now paying taxes under cover of the $9,000,000 ap- propriation, there still remains a total of $283,991,600 of exempt property apart from that owned and used by the Federal Government. This item is made up of exemptions for educational and scientific institutions, religious purposes, hospitals, charitable and benevolent in- a very considerable amount of public property used for parks and for the benefit of the City of Washington. A study of the tables shows that this is larger than that of any other city in BARRING ENTRY OF AUTOIST Intervenes—Another Wom- | s automobile into a parking space at | N., pre- | PARKING SPACE, MISS AGNES BASS. —Harris-Ewing Photo. BILL ASKS LIBRARY WINGS ON SCHOOLS Gibson Proposes Outside Entrance Intended for Use of Adults. A proposal for a separate wing with an outside entrance for library purposes in new school buildings is emphasized in the new $20,000,000 bill for expansion | of library facilities in the National{ Capital which was introduced late yes- terday by Representative Gibson, Re- publican, of Vermont. In this respect and also in the idea | of a lump-sum appropriation to be; available “from time to time” for! acquisition of sites, for branch libraries, improvement of the central library and for erection of library wings on school buildings, this bill which Representa- tive Gibson substitutes for his earlier five-year library building program, con- forms with the .new policy advocated by Chairman Simmons of the subcom-{ mittee on District appropriations. I It is based on the same principle as the Simmons bill authorizing an appro- priation of $10,000,000 as needed for additional school sites and buildings. Conference Suggested. During the hearings on the District appropriation bill Chairman Simmons stressed the importance, as he has previously advocated for four years, of having definite provision made in school building plans for separate library wings with outside entrances of their own for adults of the community, He | directed Maj. Adkins, assistant to the Engineer Commissioner, to confer with Dr. George W. Bowerman, librarian, and with school authorities regarding such a program of expansion for both the schools and the library on & co- operative and co-ordinated basis. The one branch library authorized and established in a school building, ‘which has tested out the idea of turn- ing over a single classroom for library use is in the Eastern High School and has proved unsatisfactory, largely be- cause adults do not want to go back to | school and use the same entrance for the library that the children do for their classrooms. Chairman Simmons complained dur- ing the hearings that Washington in | this respect has been backward, be cause other large cities of the country, such as St. Louis and Kanass City, have | had eminent success with the scheme of putting separate library wings on school | buildings. Mr. Simmons insisted that by putting a library wing onr a new junior high school you place the library facili- ties at the very center of population, where it will serve the largest possible number of persons. Strong Support Expected. ‘The prospects are that the Gibson library expansion bill will have strong support in Congress and that it will carry the indorsement of Representative Simmons and Senator Bingham, chair- men, respectively, of the House and Senate committees on District appro- priations. , ‘The District appropriation bill for the fiscal year 1930 now awaiting action by the Senate carries provision for a new branch library in the northeast section. During the hearings, advocating the library wing scheme, Mr. Simmons said: “In the matter of economy in land purchases, on the matter of con- | honoring the men who refuse to betray CAPPER IS AMAZED AT BENEFIT SHOW Performance Rewards Four, in Jail Here, for Refusal to “Squeal.” FAMILIES TO RECEIVE “GATE” TOTALING $5,000 Motley Throng Attends Midnight Program—=Services Are Do- nated by Artists. Chairman Capper of the Senate Dis- trict committee declared today that he was “amazed” by the reports of a per- formance held at the Gayety Theater last night for the benefit of four men who had been sent to jail. Senator Capper said he would not have been surprised to learn of such an event in some cities, but thought it was a surprising situation in the Capital of the Nation. A motley throng poured under the entrance canopy at the theater to at- tend the midnight performance. Boasting inch-high “sparklers” and | flashing stickpins, racketeers, bootleg- gers, prize fighters and gamblers mingled with staid profes and socially prominent men and women and passed before the keen eyes of | headquarters detectives who loitered in the lobby. The gate receipts, amounting to| $5,000, perhaps the largest sum ever taken in by the burlesque house for a | single performance, will be donated to | the families of the four men who were | brought before Chief Justice McCoy, | December 1, on gambling charges and | sentenced to serve three years in jail. ‘The quartet, Albert Lowry, John Mahoney, Ralph Holland and Frank | Stephen, now are serving at the Dis- | trict Jail. Artists Donate Services. ‘The performance, one of the most colorful in burlesque history, began promptly at 12:30 o'clock with a group of artists donating their services and with the genial Jimmy Lake, former burlesque star, as master of ceremonies. Within that cosmopolitan audience, their colleagues, were many prominent Washingtonians. ~Attorneys who had defended and convicted some members of the' audience had front and chatted with their Physicians were greeted cordially when they entered. Bondsmen were conspicu- ous, police were plentiful and the news- papers were well represented. One woman, attired in evening dress, was taken back when a curious reporter addressed her. “What is your first name, Mrs.——2?" asked the reporter. “Oh—a—well—er'—a"” The reporter smilingly drifted away and heard her sigh with relief. | Joe Freeman, local sport promoter, | was one of the backers of the show and he stood before the canopy, shaking hands with the crowd. Called for Short Act. | Wesley Eddy and his cohorts from | the Palace Theater, scated prominently | in one of the boxes, were called down to give a short act. Joe Bonbrest, the | Mohawk Quartet with “Zu” Kenny, Rockelli and his orchestra, Les Colvin, | the crooning pfanist, and many others gave performances. The “Wine, Women and Son” company from the Strand gave a section of their show and stars from the burlesque world gave exhi- bitions. A trio of well known gamblers, rated high in the “racket,” bought 500 tickets and upon being informed that the house was packed destroyed them, to provide seats for those left out in the cold. Police headquarters was represented by Lieut. Ed Kelly and Detective | Sergts. John Fowler and Joe Waldron, | who took advantage of the opportunity o look over the leaders of the various rackets who filed in. | A crowd estimated at 2,000 attended | the performance which was never pub- licly announced. If it was advertised it was only verbally, as “dey were pure gold guys,” as one member of the audience explained. Agent A.J. Quinn, who received many side glances from the crowd, sat coolly through the show and apparently en- Jjoyed it. | Program Is Unusual. An unusual program was distributed to the crowd, mentioning not one of | the actors to appear. It contained only advertisements and a line stating that Jimmy Lake would announce the per- formers from the stage to avoid con- fusion. Some well known names appeared on the program, with Eddie Tipton’s lead- ing all the rest, on a full page contain- ing orly his name. Jimmy La Fontain venience of service to your school popu- the country of comparable size except the city of Boston, where there is an unusual amount of United States and Massachusetts State property. “A fair average amount of exempt taxable property for a city of this size is about $180,000,000. By reason of this being the Capital of the Nation there is located here an unusual number of non- taxable institutions and an unusual amount of non-taxable public proptrty, bringing the total to more than $100,- 000,000 in excess of that amount. It seems to me fair that the United States should pay toward the bia an amount of money equiva- lent to normal taxes on that $100,000,- 000 of real property that is in excess of ordinary average exemptions for a city of this size. That means something over $1,700,000. Of that amount it is, fair to say that the Federal Government - is at the present time paying $9800,000, or the balance of the lump-sum con- tribution, in My opinion. “A study of the report offers the further thought that the District tax- payers are not being taxed more heavily than other cities of this size. “Finally, the showing regarding the extraordinary amount of park area pro- vided here by reason of this being the Nation’s Capital and which makes our park area nearly twice as much as most cities of this approximate size, would Justify the Federal Government bearing the amount equivalent to the difference between the cost of parks in average cities of this size and that of the Nation's Capital, or, say, $1,100,000. “In conclusion, it would seem to me fair that the United States should con- tribute something over $800,000 more as its share of running the government of the District and I would suggest that the bill be amended by adding $800,000 to the $9,000,000 lump sum now in cluded in the bill. “My study of the report leads me to believe that the Federal Government ought to make an effort to pay taxes on its tangible property in the District of Columbia and the lump sum contributed expenses of the District of Colum- an illustrated lecture at George Wash- lation and through your school popula- tion to the parents, on the matter of upkeep, on the matter of maintenance it seems to me there could be a de- ided advantage in the plan I have suggested repeatedly.” MARNUS TO LECTURE. Danish Architect Will Speak at G. W. U. Thursday Night. L. Marnus, Danish architect, will give ington University Thursday night at 7:30 o'clock on “Hut and Castle ‘Through 1,000 Years in Hans Christian Andersen’s Homeland, Denmark.” The lecture, under auspices of the division of fine arts of George Washing- ton University, the Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the Institute of Musical Art, the Anne Tillery Renshaw School of Speech, the Story Tellers' League and Hans Chris- tian Andersen Circle, No. 1, is part of a program for the Nation-wide observ- ance by Scandinavian-Americans of the 125th anniversary, Hans Christian An- dersen Jubilee. Also_included on the program are Miss Virginia Cureton, violinist. and Miss Ellen Dashiell, who will tell An- dersen’s famous story, “The Ugly Duck- ling.” Maj. George Oakley Totten will preside. Mr. Marnus is making a lecture tour of the United States under the auspices of the American Institute of Architects. Tickets for the lecture may be obtained through the sponsoring organizations, Dulin & Martin Forfeit $20. Charged with having violated the District labor law, the firm of Dulin & Martin, 1214 G street, forfeited $20 yesterday through Harry S. Dulin, treasurer, when he failed to appear in Police Court. It was alleged that during the holiday by the Federal Government to the Dis- trict revenues ought, I believe, to vary be applied to the items of excess park fcquisition and maintenance and re-|as the value of the property of the'than eight hours. /arigs pamed sevely of revenue lost on account of Government Vi rush at Christmas time, women had been employed by the firm for more The information w0 employes displayed an advertisement for his stand at Center Market; Nathan Chesi- voir “monicker” led a page advertis- ing his bottle company, Lou Fisher of Baltimore contributed a page which said he “can be concerned with anything pertaining to sports.” Goldie Ahearn, local pugilist, had his name in the pro- gram and three pages were devoted to the “compliments” of Jimmie Windsor, Leo Cohn and Charlie O'Brien. Another page led off with “Patrick | O'Connor will go your bond,” and others advertised the wares of Bonds- men Jimmy Conroy and Milton Kron- | heim. WORKMEN LAYING PLANS FOR REVENUE BUILDING/ Preliminary work on the Internal Revenue Building supersiructure was started today by workmen from James Baird Co., Inc., the contractor. A small crew of men began work on the contractor's office and other activi- ties prior to the actual construction of the great building. Joseph B. Bolling, jr., who has been designated by the firm as superintendent on the job, took personal charge of the work on the site today. He will carry through until the contract is completed, in about two and a half years. ‘The building for which founda- tions already have been completed, will occupy the site bounded by B and C, Tenth and Twelfih streets. The Baird contract for the superstructure is for $5,799,000. It will be some time before the structural steel, which now is being fabricated, will begin to rise on the concrete foundation. Hegenberger Hops to Dayton. Lieut. Albert Hegenberger, navigator aboard the Army transport plane which flew from the United States to Hawail last Summer, today took off from Boll- GVEN GAVBLERS INAUGURAL PICTURE RECORD EXPECTED 300 Cameraman Will Come| Here—Talkies Will Be Made. More pictures will be taken of the inaugural celebration here than of any other event in the history of the coun- try, it was predicted today by Andrew May, president of the White House Photographers’ Association, who heads the committee, which will have charge of all matters pertaining to picture- taking during the inaugural. More than 300 camera men from all sections of the country will be on hand for ‘he cvent, May announced. May's committee is composed of Harry Van Tine of International News- reel; Albert Holland, Fox Film Corpora- tion, and Marvin H. McIntyre, Pathe News. Prepare to Speed Pictures. Facilities for transmission of still pic- tures to the metropolitan centers of the East and the Middle West by telephone is being arranged by the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Co., and planes will be on hand to rush moving picture and sound films to these same cities. Pictures of the high points of the in- augural ceremony will appear the same day in the newspapers of the East and Broadway will have silent and talking films of the event on the evening of in- augural day. The planes for carrying the movie films will be fitted up with film developing apparatus and thus fuc- ther speed their availability for projec- tion at theaters. It will be the first time in history that the words of the President, taking his oath of office, will be recorded on the sound film. Mr. Hoover's speech will be recorded likewise. committee also will have charge of the issuance of passes and credentials to the camera men, which will admit them to the stands at the Capitol and at the presidential reviewing post. The comera men also will be equipped with visible insignia to permit them to roam about inside the parade lines. Working newspaper correspondents will be given the same privileges as the camera men, it is announced by .the press relations committee, 500 in Texas Delegation. One group of 500 Texans, accom- panied by a brass band, has announced its intention of coming to the Capital for the inaugural celebration. The group, which is expected to be the largest from the Lone Star State, will arrive on a special train which will join several other inaugural specials from the West at New Orleans. Fred L. Haskett is managing the tour for the Texans. ° ‘Will Rogers is among the early book- ing Field for Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, in an 0-2 Army observation plane, piloted by Lieut. Whitehead of Wright Field. Lieut. Hegenberger came here for a brief visit to friends at the War Departmenty ers of grandstand reservations for the parade. His request for grandstand ac- commodations came in yesterday with those of Nicholas Schenck, moving pic- ture magnate, and Arthur Loew, son of the late Marcus Loow, | Airplane Is Used For Vacation Trip By Washington Man Leaving this city today in a Ryan monoplane, which he and i4is brother purchased last Sum- mer, Eugene A. Smith, vice pres- ident of the District Title Insur- ance Co. and of the Lawyers' Title Insurance Co. and the ‘Washington Title Co., expects to land at Pinehurst, N. C.. this afternoon on the beginning of a two weeks' vacation by air. The plane, piloted by Stuart Rei: left College Park, Md., aviation field at noon. After a few vays of golf at Pinehurst Mr. Smith and Pilot Reiss will fly to Augusta, Ga. and then to St. Augustine, Miami and Pensacola, Fla, making short stops at each placY. CITIZEN BODY 0. K.'S CRAMTON PARK BILL Expenditure of $16,000,000 on Playgrounds and Reservations In- dorsed by North Capitol Group. ‘The Crampton bill, proposing a com- prehensive park and riverside driveway development in Washington and its vieinity, and contemplating the ex- penditure of $16,000,000 for parks and playgrounds in the District of Columbia, received indorsement of the North Capi- tol Citizens’ Association, which met last night at the new McKinley High School. The measure was praised by Dr. George C. Havenner, president of the Federa- tion of Citizens’ Associations, who also made an appeal for support of the Community Chest movement. Maryland farmers will approve any site for a farmers’ market north of Pennsylvania avenue, Robert Bowers of FioToSIBY PNDERWOOD ~ Upper left: John A. Detweiler, who received the prize for the most beautiful costume. Upper right: Senora de Prieto, wife of the military attache of the Cuban embassy, whose costume was adjudged the most original. Below: Frau Lohmann, wife of the secretary of the German embassy. ARLINGTON BRIDGE DRAW T0 BE BEGUN Two of Last Major Links Soon Will Be Under Con- struction. Two of the last majo: links in the construction of Arlington Memorial Bridge will soon be started—the center span fashioned as a bascule draw span bridge to permit navigation, If neces- sary, and the bridge linking up Colum- bia Island and the Virginia shore. The bascule bridge, said to be the only one of its kind in this part of the country, will open up in the center, Jjack-knife like, while boats are passing. ‘The Phoenix Bridge Co. of Phoenix- ville, Pa., which has the contract for this bascule bridge, is now engaged in fabricating the material for this work, which will cost the Government nearly $1,000,000. Preparing for Construction. Preparations for constructing the bridge from Columbia Island westward 158 the VNsgimia sacre are going for- ward. The contractor, the N. P. Sev- erin Co. of Chicago, is moving equip- ment into position, erecting wore~ h&uses and - laying out the concrete plan. F. Berton Radenour, Washington representative of the Severin firm, said today that actual construction of the cofferdam on the Virginia side will be started the middle of next month. This contract will cost the Government about $380,000 and in addition, granite worth approximately $300,000 has been purchased to put into the bridge's con- struction. The bridge is scheduled to be completed about this time next year and will be on the axis of the main bridge. Will Span Channel. The bridge, being planned to stretch from Columbia Island to the Virginia shore, will span Boundary Channel, Mr. IJenour explained. It will be 408 feet long and 100 feet wide. There will be a 100-foot span. In addition, there will be two 50-foot underpass spans at ap- proaches to the span to be constructed. When the work is at its height, from i5¥% &9 204 men will be employed on the job. A secot® cofferdam will be built off Columbia Island. ‘The bridge will be of reinforced cagcrete frame with granite facings and will have two pylons on the Virginia shore, such as were originally contemplated on the District side of the main bridge but which have been superseded at the sug- gestion of the Fine Arts Commission with heroic sculgtum figures. the University of Maryland. informed the association, which opposed location of the city. The association expressed its desire to have V street, between North Capitol street and Lincoln road northeast widened and new lights installed. This wish will be transmitted to the District Commisioners. H. P. Gumprecht was named chair- man of the membership committee, suc- ceeding the late C. A. Stewart. Twenty new members were elected to the association. Henry Gilligan, the organi- zation's president, made the announce- ment that the next meeting will be held February 18 instead of Frebruary25. First Ice Skating of Year Promised Tomorrow if Weather Continues Cold ‘The Weather Bureau held out little encouragement today for any appre- ciably warmer weather this week. The most promised was that “the tempera- ture -might climb up to the freezing point by Thursday.” But, if the assurance of continued frigid weather was bad news to the cold- blooded, it thrilled the lovers of out- door Winter sports who were promised their first ice skating of the year to- moyrow if the weather continues cold. The Reflecting Pool of the Lincoln Memorial was covered with an inch and a quarter of ice this morning, and with continued freezing temperature, the Office of Public Buildings and Parks announced, the ice should be thick enough tomorrow to support the throngs of skaters. Officials at the bureau made it clear that those persons who have been com- plalning about the temperature should consider themselves “extremely fortu- nate” that the weather here is not colder. “The weather here for January has been three degrees above normal, while in the West and Middle West it has been so far below normal that I could not hazard a guess as to its severity,” one official announced. In some States, he said, notably Montana, the tempera- ture has gone down to 30 degrees below zero. Washington, it was said, has also been fortunate in escaping the blanket of ice and snow which has enveloped other sections of the country. Slightly warmer weather is expected to follow the abatement of the north- west winds, but no materially warmer | weather is anticipated. The lowest temperature registered last night was 20 degrees above zero, It will be just as oold tonights of the market in the southwest section | PAGE 17 X ARE INDITED BY GRAND U N MURDERCHARCE Opportunity to Test Legality | of “Abbreviated” Body Is Given by Reports. ROBBERY SLAYING LAID TO FOUR COLORED MEN Ten Counts Accuse Quartet of Kill- ing Filling Station Employe in Attempted Hold-Up. Ample opportunity to test the legality of its proceedings is contained in the first report of indictments by the “abbreviated” grand jury of 22 persons, which was filed today with Chief Jus- tice Walter I. McCoy. The grand jurors indicted six persons for murder in the first degree and one for manslaughter, Some of these cases are sure to reach the Court of Appeals, where final de- cision will be made of the validity of sessions by a grand jury of 22 instead of the old practice of maintaining 23 on its membership, which has obtained for 50 years in this jurisdiction. First-degree murder is charged in an indictment against Joseph Hardy, James E. Crawford, Carl M. Terry and Benja- min Branson, all colored, in connection with the killing of Philbert J. Bitner, an attendant at a gas-filling station at Sixth street and Rhode Island avenue, on last Thanksgiving night. The in. dictment is in 10 counts, 5 of which charge premeditated murder, the first 4 counts placing the pistol in the hand of each of the four defendants, the fifth count placing the weapon in the hand of one of the defendants, the identity of whom is unknown to the grand jurors. The last five counts charge a killing while engaged in an attempt to commit a robbery. The sixth to the ninth counts place the pistol as in the first four counts and the tenth count in the hand of an unknown one of the defendants. Bongers Is Indicted. George Bongers, 43, who shot his wife, Eva Iola Bongers, 33, in Judiciary Square October 5 last and then shot himself, was indicted for murder in the first degree, following the wife's death, which occurred three days after the shooting. Bongers was in the hospital for a long time, and his life was in the balance for many days. First degree murder also is alleged against Lawrence A. Gray, colored. Gray is said to have shot and killed Mary C. Brown, also colored, following an argument at 1745 Kalorama road September 16 last. ‘Two assaults to rob are charged against James Venney, colored, who is said to have attacked two white women November 3. The first alleged victim was Mrs. Lillian V. Punkhouser, 211 C street, who was struck on the head with a brick and her purse containing $25 taken. Later the same evening Venney is charged with nuckl:f Miss Catherine F. Downing near St. Aloysius Church as she was coming from the church, ‘Weiner Is Exonerated. Daniel Lambert, colored, was.indicted for manslaughter. said to ha caused the death of William Smith, also colored, December 5 last at 5718 Blaine street northeast. Grand jurors exonerated Hyman Weiner, a young white man, of a charge of homicide in connection with the death of Mrs. Annie Shea, who was struck by a truck driven by Weiner early in the morning of November 28 as she was on her way to early mass. There was misty rainfall and the streets were slippery. the grand jurors were told. Silas Carter, colored, was cleared in {the death of Ruth Lewis, also colored, who was shot August 1 at 31213 Virginia avenue southwest. The shoot- ing was declared accidental. Other charges ignored include: Wil- liam Wright, housebreaking; Pewee Paul, depredation on private property, and Lew Kekenes, larceny after trust. Other Indictments Listed. Others indicted and the charges against them include: Alphonso Hill (two cases) and John O. Macon, assault with dangerous weapon; Lew Kekenes, larceny after trust; Calvin Scott, Raleigh Vrannock, alias Raleigh Ban- nock, robbery; Delana B. Duff, alias Jack Perry, violating white slave traffic act; Karl Esper, forgery and uttering; Jerome W. Sulser, non-support; Melv J. Quinn, removing mortgaged propert; Wesley S. Smith and John Glenn, housebreaking a™$ larceny; William Richardson, Hazel Curtis, Marie Huff and George Young, grand larceny; Robert | J. Brooks, housebreaking and Jarceny; Robert J. Brooks, James Wallee & dall, Frank P. Thomas, Merrill % r iJohn F. Coltrene (2 cases), robbery Arthur B. Wilson, Lawrence Edwal Caylor and Thomas Ballard, non-su port; Stanley P. Sampson, Joseph % Fletcher, George Bell and Rooscvc'y Rogers, joy-riding; Philip N. McA’ grand larceny and joy-riding: Hez' Randolph, carnat knowledge; Thom % Simms, assaulting with dangs weapon; Frank M. Drake, false ™ tenses; Daniel E. Lee, housebres™ and larceny; Latimer Matthews, ho. breaking. . CAPT. CORNWELL DENIES RAIDING SQUAD ROUGH Home of Capitol Colored Messenger Searched, He Files Complaint With Senator Edge, Capt. Fred Cornwell of the g;e':lnctl. l'h': led a raid On’ou{;l}; e of a veteran colored messenger the Capitol Saturday, which brouzht.: complaint by the colored man to Sena- tor Edge of New Jersey, denied this morning that the place was raided through a mistake in address or that his squad was unnecessarily rough. Richard Blunt, the man whose home was raided, has been employed at the Capitol for 19 years and came to Wash- ington from New Jersey. According to Capt. Cornwell. numerous complaints have been received by police of liquor being sold at his home, 323 Third street A "ok Doe narging “Jol " warrant cl sale. of liquor was obtained, Capt. Cornwell declared. _Saturday, accompanied by Precinct Detectives R. J. Barrett and W. C. Curtis and Private F', A. Prescott, he visited Blunt's home, and after knocking and receiving no nse pushed in the door, he said. They found Blunt inside, but no- liquor. They did not arrest him. Capt. Cornwell admite ted he did not exhibit his warrant until shortly before leaving the hozasy