Evening Star Newspaper, January 31, 1929, Page 10

10 e -— LEVIN ROAD PROBE PLAN IS DEFEATED Committee at» Annapolis Votes 15 to 1 for Dual Investigation. By a Staff Correspondent of The STATE HOUSE, ANNAPOLIS, Md., January 31.—Efforts of’ Republicans to block the investigation of State road contracts by the governor's special com- mission were successfully thwarted late yesterday, when the grand inquest re- fused to adopt a resolution offered by Senator Harry O. Levin, Republican, of Baltimore, which would have prevented |- that committee from proceeding. - On the other hand, the committee will be asked to sit with the Iegislative com- mittee this afternoon, and tell it what has been done, and just what power it needs to carry on its investigation thor- oughly. Counsel for the grand inquest, who appeared yesterday and accepted the request to serve, were asked to draw up resolutions which would give the Nelligan committee, named after John | J. Nelligan, chairman of the governor’s commission, power to subpoena Wit~ nesses and to put them under oath. The grand inquest will hold another #ession in 3:30 o'clock this afternoon. Senator Levin said that while he yielded to no man in his admiration of the governor's commission, the gov- ernor should ask his commission to | cease its investigation until the grand inquest had completed its work. He be- lieved, he said, that the Legislature is the only power to probe the affairs of the State Roads Commission, and that it could not delegate its authority to an unofficial body. His resolution provid- ed that the members be relieved, that they report the results of their investi- gation so far to the grand inquest, after which they would be invited to attend the sessions. Denied Authority Divided. aker E. Brooke Lee of Silver Spring, administration spokesman, in- sisted that there was no division of authority. He said the committee was ‘well regarded by the people. He sald it was a committee whose integrity had never been challenged, and urged its continuance as an agency that has not been reflected upon in any way. He said the legislative committee had been called a packed committee and its pro- posed efforts to investigate the roads matter had been called a joke. He said the grand inquest could go into every phase of the investigation, and its work would not interfere with that of the Nelligan committee. “We are the Grand inquest of Maryland,” continued the speaker, “and we are going to have a com- plete investigation. We can endow the Nelligan committee with power to summon witneses and punish for perjury. At the conclusion of their investigation we can accept their report or make our own. We are not bound by it. “It is clear that some newspaper editors should be brought before the grand inquest. They have made charges in connection with the scandals, and they must have the information, or else they would not print the charges, and we propose to get it from them under oath. Some members of both houses of the Legislature who have made charges should be called upon for proof. Probe May Take Year. Senator S. Scott Beck of Kent Coun- @, chairman, said that if the grand inquest undertakes to go into the rec- ord of the State roads office in a com- JONES OFFERSNEW SUBURBAN NEWS,” d¢ i ' | man; Joseph cratic floor leader, and Delegate J. Mil lton Patterson of Allegany C Sitting, left to right: Senator Harry O. Levin, fifth Baltimore district; Delegate Fendall Marbury, second Balti- more district; Delegate Henry L. Morris of Prince Georges County, Delegate Marshall T. Heaps of Harford County,! Delegate Francis P. Curtis, second Baltimore district, vice chairman; Senator § Scott Beck of Kent County, chair- France, Charles McHenry Howard of Baltimore and Alexander.Armstrong of Cumberland, counsel for the committee, and Senator Lansdale G. Sasscer of Prince Georges County. Standing: Second, E. Brooke Lee of Montgomery County, Speaker of the House; Senator John Parran of Calvert County, Delegate Paul Berman of the fourth Baltimore district, Delegate James J. Lindsay of Baltimore County, Demo- t: (Two members unidentified.) COURTHOLS PLAN Montgomery Senator to Con- | tinue Fight Against Big Bond Issue. BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY. By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. 1 ANNAPOLIS, Md., January 31.—Fol- | lowing up his announced opposition to the proposed $300,000 bond issues to add to the present funds for erection of a modern courthouse and jail in Montgomery County, Senator Eugene Jones of Kensington tomorrow will sub- mit to the courthouse committee and to the Montgomery County delegation in the House concrete plans for the construction of a buflding at a total cost for land and improvements of $315,- 816. Senator Jones says that he not only has had the plans prepared, but has secured a responsible contractor who has done much public work in the county who stands ready to carry out the %roject. While the plans were not quite ready today, it was explained, they in general provide for the structure on the present courthouse square, with a slight move- ment of Court street, the highway be- tween the square and the square which it is proposed to purc®ase with one of the proposed bond issues. It would cut out much of the expensive interior trim, such as marble stairways, and substi- tute therefore reinforced concrete. Meeting the suggestion that the square which it is proposed to pur- chase, is needed for widening the, bad traffic lane on the Frederick road, Sen- ator Jones says that he has found out | that the Federal .Government pays for | improvement of such road difficulties on national highways running through towns of less than 2,500 population. He argues that if the Federal Govern- ment pays for such improvements, why should the expense be saddled on the county taxpayers. For Tax +Rate Reduction. In the light of the information he has gathered, Senator Jones says he will continue to oppose the two pro- fi:{‘m and thorough manner, it will e a year to 1each the end. It would be physically impossible to do the work. The Nelligan committee is doing it either personally or by agents. It would be a very bad move, he continued, for the grand inquest to attempt to that work. The grand inquest, he in- sisted, will have other angles to investi- gate, and its work will not interfere with that of the committee. He said he didn’ see how the mechanics of the investigation are. going to be carried out if the grand inquest undertakes to examine the records. Following Senator Beck’s talk, the Levin resolution was lost by a vote of 15 to 1, when Speaker Lee moved that all members of the Nelligan com- mittee be required to meet with the committee today. The grand inquest also adopted a resolution requiring the Governor to furnish each member of the inquest with a copy of the report of Haskins & Sells, the private account- ants who audited the road commission books, following the exposure of the speculations. Counsel were induced to prepare a sesolution which would give the inquest authority to hold sessions anywhere in the State. The matter of continuing at the conclusion of the current legis- lative session, it was said, would be taken up later, when it was found out Just how much time it might take. DRUG _SAFEGEJARD ASKED. Senator Jones Offers Bill for Warn- ing Labels and Stamps. By & Staff Correspondent of The Star. ANNAPOLIS, Md., January 31.—The labeling and stamping with warning signs of all acids, alkalles and caustic minerals for retail sale is required in a bill introduced in the Senate Tuesday by Senator Eugene Jones of Kensing- ton, Montgomery County. He said that the measure was introduced at the in- stance of the State department of health, adding that the proposed law would aid in preventing housewives and others from suffering burns and injuries through careless or negligent use of such substances. ‘The Montgomery County Senator also introduced a bill which would void all claims against real property of an es- tate left by death after the lapse of four years. e CONDUCTOR IS RETIRED. John P. Engle of Gaithersburg Was in B. & 0. Service 47 Years. Special Dispatch to The Star. GAITHERSBURG, Md., January 31. —Capt. John P. Engle of Gaithersburg has been placed on the retired list of the Baltimore & Ohio Rallroad Co. after : service of 47 years in various capaci- ies For a long time and at the time of his retirement a few days ago Capt. Engle was a conductor on the Metro- ! politan branch, Gaithersburg-Washing- ton run, and was well known to many commuters and other patrons of the Baltimore & Ohio system. Capt. Engle is 68 years old. . *AVIATION INSURES PEACE’ Aviation development on a large scale insures peace, Capt. Elmer Adler, Army Air Corps, told the Lions Club luncheon sm’tuu in the Hotel Mayflower yester- ay. Intimations in certain quarters that Japan has made excessive warfare air preparations are without foundation, he said. Adler spoke of his experiences in making an air survey of Japan. Edward Arnold, member of the Na- tlopal Theater stock troupe, entertained th#glub with humorous stories. Several hd solos were su by Olga Dallas L. McKeever, phesident presided, | bonds were very liberal a few years posed bond issues, in an effort to re- duce the present county tax rate of $1.30 a hundred dollars. In a formal statement to The Star Senator Jones said: “Mych has been said relative to bond | issues in Montgomery County in the | past two months and the proper | amount of indebtedness the county can safely stand with its present taxable basis of $76,000,000. ‘The present county tax rate is on each $100, wh‘:{:‘:. Itgeuetve, is too hlzk; In my opiriion, the two paramount purposes for which bonds should be issued are schools and roads. The proceeds from the sale of said bonds should be ap- plied to the present urgent needs in both instances rather than for the fu- ture development for which. there is no immediate necessity. | “I stand ready to support legislation | to liquidate all obligations relative to | the county’s indebtedness as agreed | upon by the members of the House of Delegates and myself on April 7, 1928, but as to the issue of bonds for the fu- ture I shall give such proposals very careful consideration before lending my support, and if it is possible to lessen the number of bonds which will result in a lower tax rate and not materially interfere with the progress of the county, I shall consider it my duty to do so. View of Taxpayers. “This conclusion has been confirmed after consultation with a very large number of taxpayers, both large and | small, in every section of the county. Some of those who oppose my proposi- tion to reduce the number of county ago in their praise of my vote in the 1914 session of the General Assembly, when by a vote of 14 to 13 a State- wide bond issue for $6,200,000 advo- | cated by the State Roads Commission | was adopted, instead of the $7,000,000 bond issue backed by the political lead- ers of the State and City of Baltimore, which resulted in a saving of $800,000 of the taxpayers’ money, and did not in the least retard the extension of Mary- land’s splendid road system. Why should I not make every effort to save our county several hundred thousand dollars when the opportunity presents itself? “One item is the courthouse proposi- tion, where there can be a probable sav- ing of more than $200,000. There is available $257,000 from the sale of court- house bonds, $40,000 jail bond funds, making a total of $297,000, plus a $10,000 jail lot and the old jail property. “It is now proposed to issue $150,000 of bonds for an extension of the new wings with jail on top, and a further issue of $175,000 of bonds to purchase the square morth of the courthouse, which would' cause the removal of the Presbyterian Church and the Farmers’ Banking & Trust Co., which has signed a contract for the erection of a new banking house at a cost of $125,000. Sees $625,000 Expenditure. “The new bond issues, together with those authorized at the last Legisuature, would make a proposed expenditure of $625,000. I have been informed by Mr. A. C. Warthen of A. C. Warthen'’s Sons, contractors of Kensington, Md., that| with a very few changes in the last proposed plans and with practically no curtailment of floor space, with some change of the interior as to the kind of material used, but without altering the durability and in keeping with the architecture, the courthouse and jail can be erected for the sum of $3153816. “Mr. Warthen's plan proposes the ac- quiring a small strip of land on the north side of Court street, which will enlarge the courthouse square, giving sufficient -space between the new wing and the new relocated Court street. An investigation of Mr. Warthen’s plans by the county commissioners and the courthouse building committee, in my opinion, would be most advisable. “I have not mentioned the widening SENATOR EUGENE JONES Of Montgomery County, who proposes to submit plans for a $315816 court- house and jail at Rockville, is opposing an increased bond issue for this pur- pose. the proposition to acquire the whole square, as I regard that as a question for the Federal authorities and the State Road Commission to look after, as it is the practice of the Federal au- thorities to pay for part of the im- provement of national highways run- ning through towns of less than 2,500 nhabitants. I shall lend by efforts to interest the above named agencies in bringing about this much needed im- provement.” The public roads office of the De- partment of Agriculture will not allow any money for the purchase of land in connection with the improvement of a national highway in a State, nor will it allow any of the Federal funds to be used for the payment of dam- ages to land in connection with im- provement of a highway. The funds of the Federal Government can be used, it was said, only for the payment of 50 per cent of the cost of labor and materials. It was also explained that while in towns of less than 2,500 popu- lation the Federal Government will pay 50 per cent of the cost of laying the | highway all the way through the town, it must be actual improvement, and it | will not be allowed for widening and improvement, such as has been sug-‘ gested at Rockville in connection with the courthouse project. FAIRFAX MAY RAISE $10,000 BOOST FUND Districts Allotted Quotas at Com- | mittee Meeting and Big Over- subscription Is Sought. Special Dispatch to The Star. | FAIRFAX, Va, January 31.—The Fairfax County Chamber of Com- merce will go over the top with an advertising fund of $10,000, if the prom- ises and prophecies of the 20 members of the finance committee, who gathered last night in the Annandale school- house, are fulfilled. The minimum set is $5,000, and quotas were assigned the different districts on that basis, many workers expressing confidence at doubling the amounts allotted to their section. The final allotment of the minimum required was Dranesville and Mount Vernon dsitricts, $800 each; Providence, $1,500; Falls Church, $1,000; Centerville, $500; Lee, $400. It was decided to start active solicita~ tion for funds on February 18, preceded by a publicity campaign’ in the local newspapers. One or more letters will also be sent to each prospective con- tributor. It is planned to close the cam- paign in 10 days. Three of the district committees have been announced so far. Carroll Shreve, chairman of Falls Church district, has selected as his assistants M. E. Church, Horace Brown, Capt. Thurlow White, C. H. Powell, Wesley Carter, Will Cleve- land, Willie Sipes, J. W. Brookfield, C. H. Oliver, H. H. Wakefield, R. T. Creel, Mr. and Mrs. B. A. Johnson, Leroy Woods, Vernon Lynch, Mason Hirst and Charles Cockrill. George Harrison, chairman of Dranesville district, will be assisted by Mark Turner, A. H. Buell, J. A. Wheeler and Warren McNair. E. C. Gibbs, chairman for Mount Vernon district, will be aided by J. W. Cox, G. C. Glllingham, E. H. Allen, G. K. Pickett, C. K. Wilkinson, G. C. Smith and H. C. Clapp. D. A R. Regent Elected. Special Dispatch to The Star. FREDERICK, Md., January 31.—Mrs, | J. P. Feiser of Woodshoro was elected | regent of the Frederick Chapter, Daugh- ters of the American Revolution, at the annual election. Other officers were chosen as follows: Mrs. R. S. J. Dutrown, | vice regent; Mrs. Edgar McCardell, | Braddock Heights, recording secretary; | Mrs. Sadie Darby Anders, treasurer; | Mrs. George Edward Smith, registrar; | Mrs. James Cosmo Jones, historian, i Mrs. Feiser, Mrs. Dutrow and Mrs. Eleanor Tull, delegates to the National | Congr;s_s, to be held in Washington | 5. | Three Trees Die of Age. Special Dispatch to The Star. LYNCHBURG, Va., January 31.— Three large red oak trees have Jjust been cut down in Miller Park, ali of them having died from their great age. A count of marks on the butt of the trees showed that one was 97 years old, one 112 and the other 103 years old. . Betting Pool Causes Fine. Special Dispatch to The Star. CUMBERLAND, Md., January 31.— W. L. Reinhart, 26 Baltimore gtreet, of Montgomery avenue from Court street to Washingtan street (Frederick road), which has been hooked up with was fined $250 in People’s Court 'yes terday by Judge Frank A. Perdew'for operating a race betling pook SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAN REDGED Prince Georges Delegations and Officials Agree on Bill to Be Offered. By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. ANNAPOLIS, Md, January 31.— | Prince Georges County’s school building program was pared down more than one-third at a conference yesterday be- tween the county delegations in the House and Senate and the members of the county school board. At the con- clusion of the conference, Senator Lans- dale G. Sasscer of Upper Marlboro said that the school board had been request- ed to draw up the bill for the necessary bond issue and submit it, when it will be introduced by the Prince Georges delegation in the House. As finally ap- proved, the bond issue for school build- ing for this year and next will be $194,- 000, as against $329,000 as requested, a reduction of $135,000. Mount Rainier asked $60,000. This was reduced to $50,000, with the expla- nation that the town now had $40,000 school funds on hand, together with the necessary land. Decatur Heights asked $60,000 for a high and elementary school, but this was reduced to $35,000. This section was sald to have the land and $15,000 now. Bradbury Heights asked $60,000 and is to get $50,000. Riverdale sought $40,000 and was awarded $33,000 for a building, and for the purchase of ground for playgrounds adjacent to the building. The $18,000 asked for an addition to the elementary school at Hyattsville was_approved. ‘The request of Cheverly and Tuxedo for $13,000 for a building was cut out, with the explanation that it was near Decatur Heights, which will get a new sch % 0ql. . ‘The $25,000 for District Heights also was cut out, with a recommendation to the school board that the children be | sent to Bradbury Heights proposed new building. The citizens there, it was ex- | plained, are furnishing a bus. ‘The conference approved a request of $4,000 for a new colored school at Holly Grove. Mitchellville asked $4,000 and is to receive that amount. Provision was made for a colored high school at T B, at a cost of $10,000, the amount asked for. ‘The request for a colored school at Fairmont Heights, at a cost of $35,000, was eliminated. —_— IMPROVEMENT PLANS LAID AT FREDERICK Lions, Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs Represented at Meeting Ad- dressed by Mayor. Speclal Dispatch to The Star. FREDERICK, Md., January 31.— Plans for carrying out the municipal im- provement program, proposed by Mayor Lloyd C. Culler, were outlined at a meet- ing of the Board of Aldermen last night. Committees from the local Lions, Ki- wanis and Rotary Clubs, and other or- ganizations, appeared before the board and voiced their approval of the pro- gram. ‘Work of improving the water system is already under way. The mayor’s plans for street and sewer improvements and for reforestation of the city water sheds were indorsed and preliminary proposals ‘were made to have the work completed this Summer. SPECIAL Squibb proc- esses have removed the impurities usually found in ordinary ep- somsalt. Consequemly,' . you will find Squibb’s more palatable than any other. Ask your druggist for Squibb’s Epsom Salt, a product of the highest efficacy and purity. At all drug stores lEASY totake| because f ItS pure | | | | 1929, ZONING DATA ASKED OF ARLINGTON BODY | County Supervisors Increase Salary of Sanitary Inspector $200 by Unanimous Vote. Special Dispatch to The Star. ARLINGTON COUNTY COURT " HOUSE, January 31.—County Clerk | William H. Duncon was instructed yes- terday by Supervisor B. M. Hedrick to | write the chairman of the Arlington | County Zoning Commission for a report on the number of meetings held by | the commission during the past year, the names of those present and the action taken. Duncan was instructed | to state that the data must be had be- | ;‘ore the next board meeting, two weeks ence. The Board of Supervisors unanimous- 1y voted to increase the salary of Nor- bert Melnick, county sanitary inspector, $200 a year. By a viote of 2 to 1 the board refused to pay $180 interest due on the Clarendon Community Hall. It was claimed that they had no author- | ity to pay this interest. | Charles R. Taylor, a member of thei board of trustees of the Clarendon Fire | Department, requested that the county | pay the interest because of its interest | in the fire apparatus housed there. Su- | pervisors Duncan and Turnburke voted | against payment of the interest, and Supervisor Hedrick for it. | Traffic Marks Proposed. By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. | ANNAPOLIS, Md., January 31.—A requirement that the State Road Com- mission paint a 6-inch-wide white: line along the center of all State highways in the vicinity of severe grades, crests of hills and wherever there is not a clear view for at least 200 feet was intro- duced yesterday in the House of Dele- gates. JANUARY 31 B Shoes forMen them out lined. Special ‘45 Overcoats $1 9.75 State to Plant $5,000 in Seed as Feed for Birds By the Associated Press RICHMOND, Va., January 31.— The Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries has appropriated $5,000 to purchase seeds, such as Kafir corn, buckwheat, sorghum, cow peas, millet and similar va- rieties, to be planted as food for game birds this Spring. The commission will furnish these seeds as long as they last to farmers who will agree to sow them where the crop will be left as a food supply for the birds the following Winter. Requests should be sent to the commissioner of game and fish at Richmond. $50,000 BALM SUIT C. H. Robertson, Jr., Blames Col. and Mrs. Duke and B. S. Forbes for Loss of Wife's Affections. Dy the Associated Press. RICHMOND, Va., January 31.---C. H. Robertson, jr., of Richmond has filed in Hustings Court here notice of a suit for 850,000 against Col. Thomas T. Duke, Mrs, Duke and Blanchard S. Forbes, in which he charges alienation of his wife's affections. The notice entered yesterday was made returnable April 15. ‘The notice of the motion charges that the defendants conspired to deprive Mr. Robertson of the companionship of his wife “by divers means and devices, such as wild parties, gifts and such influ- ences.” The defendants, all of Richmond, are socially prominent here. e Xoimmgems Yo SUBURBAN FIREMAN IS INJURED. Paul C. Shefell, Arlington County | Volunteer, Struck by Coupling. | Special Dispatch to The Star. 1 CLARENDON, Va, January 31— Paul C. Shefell, volunteer fireman con- | nected with the Arlington department, | was painfully injured when struck by a hose coupling while helping to fight a blaze in the home of E. Ball, at Pen- rose, yesterday. He was taken to his home, where he was treated by Dr. Stacy T. Noland. The fire, which was of undetermined ‘nflgln, caused damage estimated at $2,000. | department, engines from Ballston and Clarendon also responded. The nearest fire plug was 3,000 feet from the scene of the fire, making necessary a relay of hose of the three engines. Restoration Work Resumed. | Special Dispatch to The Star. WILLIAMSBURG, January 31.—Work |on the restoration of the Wren Building at William and Mary College has been resumed, there having been considerable delay resulting from the lack of plans. A large section of the west wall adjoin- ing the northern wing on the west side has been removed. This is at the weak- est part of the building, the northwest | time by a brace of very heavy timbers. —e Two Hurt in Collision. | Special Dispatch to The Star. WINCHESTER, Va., January 31.— Andrew Bell, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, and A. C. Oates, a lum- | ber dealer, were recovering today from | Injuries sustained Tuesday 20 miles from | Lynchburg when their automobile was run into, they claim, by a machine bearing a District of Columbia license. L. F. Sutton, manager of the Reymann Memorial Farms, at Wardensville, W. Va., another occupant of the Winchos- to- car, escaped injury. 1319-1321 F Strest STETSON HATS OSTONIANS Slashing the Overcoat Prices Just because the winter season is nearing its close. regardless of loss. In addition to the Arlington ' corner having been supported for some | Hours: 8 A. M. to 6 P. M. NEWS," WILMER REITERATES RAP AT MITCHELL ‘Chnlel County Senator ‘Protected Son in Roads Matter, Says Delegate. By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. ANNAPOLIS, Md. January 31— Reiterating his charges that Senator Walter J. Mitchell of La Plata, Charles County, Democratic floor leader in the Senate, was involved in the State road contract extensions, Delegate Joseph A. Wilmer of Faulkner, Charles County, Republican floor leader in the lawer house, made further charges that the senator, in answering him on the floor | of the Senate, did so to invoke the | sympathy of the Senate and did it for | the purpose of “laying down a smoke | screen in roder to protect his own son, | who engaged in a subsidy of the State | Roads Commission that is throwing thousands of dollars into his pockets which should be in the funds of the Roads Commission.” | Senator Mitchell, he said, was hurt, but honestly hurt. He said that he did not propose to get up on the floor and malign any one for political reasons. He continued that there was no greater master mind, none who had accom- plished more, no man who knows more | about the technique of politics than the | “gentleman who represents Charles | County in the Senate, but when he un- | dertook to answer my charges he under- took to draw fire away from his | immediate family.” | D. C. Cadet Made Captain. | Special Dispatch to The Star. BLACKSBURG, Va., January 31— H. R. Stephan, son of Maj. Anton Stephan, was among 15 cadets of Vir- ginia Polytechnic Institute named cap- tains for the remainder of the college year. Don’t want to carry over a single heavy coat, so we close These are the dark blues and oxfords—many of them silk $45 Overcoats $2 5 $50 Overcoats $3 0 $60 Overcoats $3 5 These were specially designed for young men and the larger boys. - They’re the smartest models in Washington—but in light colors only. Materials are fine imported woolens—heavy weights and California weights. Sizes 33 to 40. A wonderful bargain among them for your boy. $45 Two-Pants Suits Hundreds of the popular blues in cheviots and unfinished worsteds. Many new patterns in the smart light shades of weights that will be com- £ortable till really warm weather.