Evening Star Newspaper, October 30, 1929, Page 17

The Toening Star OCTOBER 30, PAGE AING INMPHERSON CASE 1S FOUND BY WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, 1929. 17 .Y " : TOBE DESIGNED BY PROPOSED ZONING CHANGES PLAGED WITH COMMISSION Legation Car Gives Chase| Through Crowded Theater District Saturday Night. ‘ 0 i . Builders’ Group Seeks Re- moval of Rule Restricting Apartment Garages. PROPERTY OWNERS TELL OPPOSITION TO FACTORY Five Petitions for Alterations in Code Heard at Executive Session of Body. The Zoning Commission in execu- tive session this afterncon, following a hearing of five proposed changes in zoning classifications, was to consider granting & public heariflg on the pro- posal of the Operative Builders' As- sociation that garages for tenants only may be permitted in apartment houses without the present necessity of obtain- ing consents from adjoining Pproperty owners. It was learned today that the execu- tive office of the commission has pre- pared a tentative draft of such an amendment to the zoning code, which may be given out for public considera- tion. If the hearing is decided upon, it is likely it will be held in the near future. | Two Formal Petitions. The Operative Builders' Association twice during the past year has formally petitioned for a hearing on the subject, claiming that such storage garages would be a benefit to the city by re- moving cars now parked all night in| the streets. 1 The zoning code now requires that| permission for such apartment garages | be obtained from a majority of nearby property owners. No opposition developed at the hear- ing to the amendment to the zoning code proposed by the commission which ‘would permit the remodeling of a “non- conforming” dwelling in residential areas, now possible only by a change in the zoning map. Herbert n, speaking as chairman of the zoning committee of the Manor Park Citizens’ Association, objected to | Youth Admits Theft of Three Other Automobiles, Ac- cording to Police. Prince Mozaffar Firouz of the Per- sian_legation _and_Senatof _David_T. Walsh of Massachusetts assisted police in_the capture o_{ a xoulh‘l_l_lir‘l_ccuse_d as an_automobile thief. after an exciting chase through the crowded theater dis- trict in the embassy car late Sunday night, it was disclosed today. The youth is Edward A. Christman, 18 years old, 3800 New Hampshire ave- nue, who later was caught in a revolv- ing door at police headquarters when .| he made an unsuccessful effort to es- cape. 4 r';‘hc prince and the Senator were re- turning from the theater and were pro- ceeding north on Eleventh street at Pennsylvania avenue when a speeding automobile passed. A man was cling- ing to the side of the car and beckoned them to give chase. Prince Summons Officers. The prince summoned Officer James E. Kenney of the tenth precinct and Officer J. W. Shimon of the Traffic Bu- reau and sped after the rapidly disap- pearing_automobile. Into traffic-con- gested F street at Eleventh they went and continued out F street. The oper- ator of the pursued car slid from under the wheel while the vehicle was still in motion and continued his effort to es- cape on foot. The policeman sped after him, while the prince and the Senator attempted to head off the man's escape with the embassy machine. After a chase of 10 minutes the policeman captured the man and he was taken to headquarters. They returned to find tfe autoist who had leaped on the running board, but he' had disappeared. That left the cause of the chase rather up in the air, but when Christ- man was taken to police headquarters he admitted that he was trying to steal the automobile when detected by the owner who gave chase, and also ad- mitted the theft of three other cars, according to police. He is booked at the tenth precinct on these charges. Minister Is Pleased. Minister Meftah declared he was particularly grateful that a member of his legation had been able to assist in the chase. The minister received from Prince Pirouz the full report of the cap- the mechanics of the proposed amend- ament, though not to its purpose. Maj. Donald A. Davison, executive officer of the: Zoning Commission, pointed out that the amendment would be a good thing for zoning by making ‘the code flexible enough to permit rea- sonable alterations to a house not now possible under the regulations. Recent Refusal. ‘The commission recently declined to lower the zoning classification of a resi- dential section to permit a property owner of a semi-detached house, a non- conforming structure in an A restricted area. to incldse ' Year porch. If the present amendment is adopted such an alteration could be made without changing the zoning. R The proposed amendment reads: “Structural alterations made wholly within the outside walls of a non- conformi dwelling, or an addition to such dwelling of a porch, or the in- closing of a porch, may be permitted; provided that such dwelling be used ex- clusively for residential purposes, that the permitted percentage of lot oc- cupany be not exceeded thereby, and that such alterations or adgditions be approved by the Commissioners of the District of Columbia.” ‘Walter Herman, representing the Pennsylvania_Railroad, owner of a lot on the southeast corner of Ivy and Canal streets, southeast, petitioned for a change of zoning there from first to second commercial classification to per- mit the American Instrument Co. to erect a light manufacturing plant there. A number of property owners in the section protested. Church Plans Heard. Rev. Samuel E. Rose, pastor of the Petworth Methodist Episcopal Church, and Harry A. Beck, chairman of the building committee of the church, ap- peared to support a petition that zoning of the property on Grant Circle and New Hampshire avenue, back of the church building, be changed to per- mit construction of a Sunday school building of size.not now permitted. No opposition was voiced. An issue developed over the proposal of the Willlam H. Sanders Co. for a change in the zoning of the square between Twelfth and Thirteenth streets, Rittenhouse and Sheridan streets, from residential A restricted to residential B restricted, which would permit con- struction there of group houses. The titioner was represented by Joseph cGarraghy, W. W. Trew, vice presi- dent of the Saunders Co., and Gilbert L. Rodier, architect. Opposition came from L. F. Randolph, chairman of the zoning committee of the Brightwood Citizens' Association; Willlam McK. Clayton and 40 owners of homes in the section. The commission also heard arguments asking a change of the zoning on the rear part of property on the east side of Connecticut avenue between Ordway and Porter streets from residential A restricted area to first commercial 60- foot area, where a commercial develop- ment is planned, and for a change from residential A restricted area to resi- dential A area of the property on the east side of Connecticut avenue be- tween Quebec and Rodman streets, where it is proposed to erect an addi- tion to an apartment house. STEELE IS ORDERED HELD FOR GRAND JURY guspended Policeman Is Under $3,000 Bond for Alleged Assault Upon Woman. . Fred Steele, suspended policeman of the eighth precinct, yesterday was held for the action of the grand jury under $3,000 bond by Judge John P. McMahon for an alleged assawjt upon Miss Ruth Sherman, 26, of the Shelburn Apart- ments on October 8. Steele, through his lawyer, James A. O'Shea, entered a plea of not guilty. Miss Sherman testified that Steele entered a malt and hops shop in_the 2200 block of Eighteenth street, where she was making a purchase. She said that he was drunk and that he pushed her into a rear room and demanded that she take a drink. When she re- fused he threw his arms about her and a struggle ensued, she said. The pro- prietor of the store broke down tie door and Steele left, it was testified Capt. Maurice Collins of the seventh precinet told Judge McMahon that he gave the defendant an opportunity to go with him and face the woman be- ture. Christman was held for the action of SENATOR DAVID 1. WALSH. o' PRINCE MOZAFFAR FIROUZ. the grand jury in Police Court yester- ay. Christman precipitated another chase after he was booked at police head- quarters. He leaped over a 3-foot rail- ing and “hot-footed” it for the Four- teenth street entrance of the District Building with Detective Larry O'Dea on his heels. Unfortunately the revolving doors at the entrance happen to revolve and Christman virtually met himself com- ing back into the building. He met De- tective O'Dea also. Other detectives extricated them from the forced em- brace and Christman was handcuffed | to a chair. NEGRO LIFE GROUP WIDENED BUILDING 10 NAME OFFICERS Kansas City Branch Worker Stresses Value to Race of Study of History. The Association for the Study of Negro Life and History was prepared to elect officers this afternoon, following a series of mddresses urging the study of colored history, and others designed to show the relation between the color- ed and the poorer classes of white peo- ple in the South before and after the Civil War. The meetings are being held in the Garnet-Patterson School. ‘W. E. Griffin, secretary of the Kansas City branch of the association, in an address earlier in the day stressed the importance to the colored people of a thorough study of iheir history, and predicted that in a thousand years hence the colored rweh Lr':n America will be forgotten except in ry. In E!?B connection he indicated that the race will become so absorbed in the American melting pot, together with a mental attitude toward achievement without thought of race, that the Ne- groes, as a race, will not be thought of separately. Speakers Tell of Value. The following speakers told of steps made toward the furtherance of study of racial history and stressed its value to the members of the colored race: Mrs. H. R. Evans of the Washington High School of Atlanta, Miss Anna Payne of this city, L. S. James of the Maryland Normal School, L. P. Jackson, professor of history, Virginia State Col- lege; Dr. Thomas 1. Brown of Morgan College, Maryland, and others. An address on “Poor Whites and Negroes in the Ante-bellum South,” was delivered by Prof. A. O. Craven of the University of Chicago. Prof Craven's address was designed to show the re- lation of the colored slaves to the so- called “poor whites,” or the white people of the lowest strata in Southern soclety. Another address, “Poor Whites and Negroes in the South Since the Civil War,” was delivered by W. M. Brewer of the department of history of the high schools of Washington. Dr. Carter G. Woodson, director of the association, spoke at’ a session last night on “The Varying Attitude of the White Man Toward the Negro.” In his address he stated that the attitude had changed from time to time, and asserted that this change in_ attitude first was responsible for making the Negroes slaves and later in freeing them. Prof, Donald Young of the University of Pennsylvania spoke last night on “The Attitude of the White Youth of To- day Toward the Negro,” describing the general attitude of the white youth to- ward the colored race as pessimistic. Musical Selections Are Given. Musical selections were rendered last night by Miss V. Josephine Muse and the Howard University Glee Club. A reception was given the visiting dele- gates by the Musolit Club at 1327 R street. An_address was delivered by Prof. S. F. Bemis of George Washington Uni- versity at a session of the association yesterday afterncon in which he told how detailed history of the Negro race may be obtained at the Library of Co various archives of Europe may be seen at the Library. An address also was delivered at the afternoon session yesterday by Dr. C. H. Wesley of Howard University, whose subject was “History and the Negro.” Musical selections were rendered at this meeling by the Dunbar High School Glee Club. Sessions will be held through this afternoon and evening, the topic late this afternoon being “The Culture of Negroes” while tonight the _general topic_ will be the “Negro as a Business fore he arrested him, but that Steele had refused. He reported that Mix Sherman's face was Scratched imme: diately after the alleged assault took sase. American companies have been arded contracts to drain the swamp near Saloniki and the Struma Valley, both in Greece, * PROEETPROPOSE West Isfde of Lafayette Square Urged as Part of D. C. Development. Federal development of the west side of Lafayette Square to provide offices for the President and offer facilities for the holding of international con- ferences and the adequate entertain- ment of distinguished visitors, was urged yesterday by Charles Moore, chairman of the Fine Arts Commission, at a luncheon meeting of the public and private buildings committee of the ‘Washington Board of Trade. At the same meeting, Mr. Moore said | that the future of the north side of Pennsylvania avenue depends on the de- velopment of the section between Sev- enth and Ninth streets. The committee went on record as reaffirming its prev- jous indorserthent of the Shipstead bill which provides for Government regula- tion of the bulldings fronting on Fed- eral developments. One Side Neglected. The east side of Lafayette Square is already cared for with the proposed erection there of an_ annex to the Treasury Department, Mr. Moore said. | To the mnorth of the area are large buildings including the United States Chamber of Commerce, while only to*the west, he pointed out, do the structures mlkm provide a fitting setting for the park. Mr. Moore said that the old Pension Office Building, rather than the Wash- ington Auditorium, should be given to the District National Guard for an armory, since the section of the city from the Auditorium to lower Seven- teenth street should be restricted to bulldings devoted to the amenities. Thus, he declared, an exquisite setting would be provided for the Lincoln Me- morial. New Purchase Urged. ‘The north side of Pennsylvania ave- nue from Peace Monument to Third street is cared for by a park, he de- clared, while the municipal center will extend from Third street to Sixth street. He advocated the purchase of the block between Sixth and Seventh streets by the Government as an addition to the municipal center ground. Then, Mr. Moore indicated, the area between Seventh and Ninth streets would be the key to the development of the whole, w}gih must be done by private enter- prise. PROTEST SUGAR DUTY. Clubs Oppose Any In- crease Over Present Tariff. Protests against any raising in the tariffs on sugar or any other foodstuffs ‘Women's and household commodities were voted | pt Monday at a meeting of the District of Columbia Federation of Women's Clubs at the Roosevelt Hotel. Copies of resolutions passed by the federation were ordered sent to the ap- propriate committees of both Houses of Congress. - FOUR ARCHITECTS Retention of Consultants Re- | sults from Controller’s Rul- ing Against Corporation. APPROPRIATION READY FOR TENTATIVE PLANS Survey to Be Made of Present and Needed Space for District’s Business. Refusal of the Controller General's Office yesterday to approve a proposed contract between the District govern- ment and the Allied Architects, Inc., for professional services in connection with designing the new municipal center will result in employment of four members of that corporation personally and with- out reference to their corporate connec- tions as consulting _architects in designing the center. The four archi- tects who will be employed are Edward C. Downs, Nathan C. Wyeth, Fred V. Murphy and George Burnep. Municipal Architect Albert L. Harris sought authority to employ the Allied Architects, a corporation whose mem- bership includes leading Capital archi- tects. An appropriation of $10,000 be- came available for drawing tentative plans of the new center last July 1, but District Auditor Daniel J. Donovan de- murred to the plan to employ the cor- poration, which, he said, could not be done without competitive bidding. The matter was referred to the controller general for decision, and the latter de- cided late yesterday that Mr. Donovan's position was correct. Accordingly the four architects will be employed indi- vidually as consulting experts. Mr. Harris sald today that he will send forward his recommendations to the Commisioners for thg employment within a few days, and® that at the same time he will begin a survey of the building needs of the District govern- ment. Each department will be asked what its needs as to housing space now are, and what they are likely to be in the future. The answers will be col- lected and summarized, and with this as a basis, the architects will draw up plans for the group of buildings to house all local municipal activities which will eventually be erected in the area now being acquired by the city, bounded by Pennsylvania avenue, Judiclary square, Third and Sixth streets. An appropriation of $3,000,000 fis available for purchase or condemnation of property in this area, and already the city has made 17 purchases of par- cels of land there. The last two, au- thorized to be bought by the Board of Commissioners yesterday, are 313 and 315 Sixth street, comprising 3,679 square feet, to be bought from James Watts Young and Charles Miller Young at a price of $45,652.50, and 481 and 483 Pennsylvania avenue, comprising 4,115 square feet, to be bought from Dora Goldblatt at a price of $45,000. NEW BOYS’ DIRECTOR JOINS Y. M. C. A. STAFF John F. Bergner Assumes Duties and Plans for Active Work in Local Organization. John F. Bergner, for three years di- rector of the boys’ department of the Young Men's Christian Association in Berwick, Pa., has been appointed asso- clate director of the boys' division of the Washington Y.B':d. C. A. rgner alrea has established rfi{ home here and en- tered upon his new duties. One of his chief responsibili- ties will be organi- zation work among ?’hfi bwés, 2 under ames C. Ingram, director of the boys’ division. This work includes ex- tension of Hi-Y clubs in local high schools and foster- ing of clubs in archery, hiking, wood-working, boat building, first aid and model airplane construction and flying. Prior_to entering the service of the Y. M. C. A. Bergner was active in Boy Scout work for 10 years. A.A. A RECE;PT TO SERVE AS RENEWAL OF PERMIT Ruling Is Made by Harland to Aid Trafic Bureau in Present Rush Period. Members of the District of Columbia division of the American Automobile Association may continue to operate their machines even though their per- mits have expired if they attach to the expired permit the receipt given when they apply for and pay for their renewal through A. A. A. headquarters, according to an interpretation issued to- day.of a recent ruling by W. H. Har- land, director of traffic. Members who belong to the A. A. A. and who send their renewal applica- tions through the American Automobile Assoclation headquarters receive a re- ceipt which can be attached to their old ermit. “This receipt,” Harland said, “will validate it until we are able to forward the new permit to the driver.” ‘The present rush is due to the ex- piration of three-year permits and the Traffic Bureau estimates that it will be at least a month before renewals can be secured. Mr. Bergmer. o= gress, “and deserived how photesiatic| Do oin ot Officers Defend Policeman They Suspended for Drinking on Duty Capt. F. S. W. Burke and Lieut. J. F. Beckett, both of the first precinct, today appeared before the police trial board in behalf of a private policeman whose suspension they caused after they caught the young officer on his beat Sunday night with liquor on his breath. Both of them characterized the ac- cused, Bicycle Policeman Willlam R. Ellery of their precinct, as an able and exceptionally conscientious officer. Ellery previously had pleaded gyilty to the charge of drinking while' on duty and placed himself at the mercy | in of the board, explaining that he had been in a highly nervous state due to the arrival of a child in his family and the consequent illness of his wife and had taken the liquor to steady his nerves. Both Ci'&t. Burke and Lieut. Beckett declared ey were astonished when they discovered that EIMry had been drinking while on duty. They said they had never known of his taking a drink before it occasion. ‘The board took the plea for consid- eration and will announce its finding the case hmomg. Representatives of the Fire and Police Departments a thered at the District Building last night to receive the pro- ceeds from the annual police-firemen’s base ball game of Lab or day, which goes to the relief fund: Left to right: Isaac Gans, George S. Watson, fire chief; Com missioner Dougherty; Maj. Henry of police; Odell Smith and Maj. Edwin B. Hesse, former pol ice head. s of the two departments. | G. Pratt, superintendent | —Star Stafl Photo. | W.C.T.U. RE-ELECTS ALL OF ITS OFFICERS Fifty-fifth Annual Convention Closes at Calvary Bap- tist Church. ‘The election of officers this morning at the Calvary Baptist Church featured the final day of the fifty-fifth annual convention of the local Women'’s Chris- tion Temperance Union. All officers were re-elected. ‘They are Mrs. N. M. Pollock, president; Dr. Lauretta Kress, first vice president; Mrs. James M. Doran, second vice presi- dent; Mrs. H. E. Rogers, correspond- ing secretary; Mrs. Oleo U. Gester, as- sistant corresponding secretary; Mrs. Charles H. Montgomery, recording secre- tary; Mrs. William J. Peters, assistant | recording secretary, and Mrs. George A. Ross, treasurer. In a special address, Mrs. Mary R. Halsut, State presid of Maryland, | W. C. T. U., discussed possible methods of prohibition enforcement. Personal observation of existing prohibition prob- lems, reliable education relating to the solution of these problems, the doctrine of Christ as a precept for remedial ac- tion and individual courage in promot- ing the remedy, Mrs. Halsut declared, are the essential requirements in vancing the cause of American tem- perance. The reading of various com- mittee reports concluded the business of the morning session. Java Tourist Speaks. The feature of the afternoon meeting was a short address by Mrs. A. B. Mc- Manus, a recent tourist in Java, who discused her personal experiences and the progress of temperance in that country. A special number on the song serv- ice, which opened the meeting. was a solo, rendered by Miss Sue Weeks. Following the address by Mrs. A. B. ‘McManus, the reading of remaining committee reports brought the 1930 con- vention of the local W. C. T. U. to a close. In a report before the meeting, which preceded the luncheon intermission, Mrs, N. M. Pollock, president, reviewed the events of the annual convention of the National W. C. T. U. held at In- dianapolis, Indg, in September. Five hungred and eleven delegates were sent to the national convention, which was attended by 2,000 members from all sections of the United States. The feature event of the convention pro- gram was presented by Dr. H. E. Bar- | nard, director of the White House con- ference on child welfare, who outlined a proposed series of White House con- ferences relating to problems of child diseases and education. The national convention will assemble again at Hous- ton, Tex., in November, 1930. Publicity Prejudicial. In an address before the afternoon session of the organization yesterday O. G. Christgau, publicity secretary of the Anti-Saloon “League, declared that the spectacular publicity given by news- papers to liquor violations was preju- dicial to prohibition enforcement. Mr. Christgau asserted that the attitude of the American press on the question of dry enforcement was definitely unsym- pathetic, Referring to what he terms the prom- inent presentation of liquor habits and indulgence in the motion picture busi- ness, Mr. Christgau said that the youth of America invariably construed these lawless examples as a fashionable prac- tice. The O'Donnell strangulation case here may have been a development from just such a source, he said. Following the address of Mr. Christ- gau, a motion addressing a complaint to local theater managers against the showing of any pictures involving the presentation or suggestion of liquor was defeated on the floor. The motion was submitted by the resolutions committee for consideration. A one-act play, “Paying the Fiddler,” directed by Mrs. Margaret Schultz, was presented at the session last night. ROLL CALL IS SET Women’s Guild Program Will Be Held in Rust Hall Friday Night. The annual roll call of memberships ! and donations for the Woman’s Guild of Sibley Memorial Hospital will be held Friday night in Rust Hall. The program will be opened by a general song, led ' by William Studdiford, with Miss Mabel ! Sands accompanying at the piano. Rev. Mark Depp, pastor of the Cavalry | M. E. Church, will deliver the invoca- { tion, while the principal address, on | the subject of “The Old Order Changeth,” will be made by Dr. Harry E Woolever, editor of the Methodist Press. . Woolever will be introduced by D Dr. Charles S. Cole, president of the Lucy Webb Hayes National Training School. The Technical High School Glee Club, under direction of Mrs. Bella B. ‘Thompson, will give several numbers, Mrs. Joy Elmer Morgan, president of the guild, will préside. One of the most important objec- | tives now before the guild is furnish- ing, at a cost of $6,000, the two-story addition to the hospital, planned to en- able enlargement of the operating rooms and to make several more rooms avail- able for patients. GRADING CONTRACTS. The District Commissioners yesterday | awarded to Latimer & Maloney a con- | tract for grading the following streets: Forty-ninth place, Fiftieth place and Fiftieth street northeast, from Lee street to Nash street, Meade street | northeast from Forty-eighth place to| Fifty-first place and Lee street north- | east from Fiftieth to Fifty-first streets. The price bid by the contractors was 27 cents a cubic yard. Independent Dads Found Own P.-T. A, | | Without Women I Male Parents at Bancroft School Form Exclusive Organization. Originating as an offshoot of the regular Parent-Teacher Association of the Bancroft School in Mount Pleasant, the “Dad's Club,” composed of fathers | of children in that school, came into being at a meeting at the school last night and adopted informally what amounted to a declaration of inde- pendence. ‘The fathers, all of whom are eligible, with_the mothers, for membership in the Parent-Teacher body, cut loose the ties that bound them to the mothers and voted to restrict membership in their own organization strictly to the parents who wear trousers. The move, which was considered significant of the times, was prompted by an impassioned add from one “dad” who spoke in opposition to a resolution which would have made the “Dad's Club” an auxil- iary of the Parent-Teacher body. This member, rising to oratorical heights, contrasted the meetings of the old Mount Pleasant Citizens’ Association, before ladies were admitted to mem- bership, with the meetings today, when the ladies take part. He shook a finger of warning at the assembled daddies and asked them to assert and maintain their individuality and their independence. The motion to affillate with the Parent- Teacher body was voted down and the substitute motion to maintain inde- pendence was adopted with thunderous applause, recalling the days of 1776. ‘The assembled fathers were addressed on the various aspects of the local school system by Rev. Dr. Moses R. Lovell, pastor of the Mount Pleasant Congregagional Church; Maj. L. E. At- kins, AssiStant Engineer Commissioner in charge of purchase of school sites, and@ by Dr. Frank W. Ballou, super- intendent of schools. Maj. Donald A. Davison, Assistant Engineer Commis- sioner, presided and was elected chair- man of the group; F. L. Dawson of the . M. C. A. educational department, as- sistant chalrman, and L. A. Brophy of the Associated Press, secretary. MEMBERS IN DRIVE Campaign for Enlarged Organiza- tion Will Continue Until Next Monday. Gains bringing the of new mem- bers enrolled in the . C. A. :1“19:‘ bership drive to 100 were reported last night by teams atiending the second of a series of membership dinners being held this week at the Central Y. M. C. A. Building, 1736 G street. Results reported by captains of the various teams showed that the division under John W. Hardell is leading the forces with' a total of 40 new members signed up. Divisions led by Charles W. Pimper and W. C. Hanson are tied for second place, with 30 members. Team honors are held by a group captained by H. I. Gilbert. R. W. Dunlap, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, urged the workers to re- double their efforts with a view to going “over the top” by Monday, when the campaign closes. Mr. Duniap is direct- ing the drive. Dr. E. M. Ellison, vice chairman of the membership commit- t/ce.kund C. E. Fleming, secretary, also spoke. Another dinner will be held this eve- ning at 6 o'cloek. total Y. M | sel to Prepare Case Against BAS SALE SUIT DELAVED BY WEST Assistant Corporation Coun- New York Interests. Filing of a suit in District Supreme Court to set aside the recent sale of a majority of the stock in the Washing- ton Gas Light Co. to New York finan- cial interests, authorized yesterday by the District Commissioners, will be de- layed until the return to his desk of Vernon E. West, principal assistant to the corporation counsel. Mr. West underwent an operation earlier this month and has not re- turned to work. He is expscted back early next week. Corporation Counsel ‘Willlam W. Bride said that Mr. West had had experience in this kind of law and that he would intrust the pres- entation of the case to him. The suit will be based on an alleged violation of the terms of the La Fol- lette anti-merger law, the purchase by foreign holding or utdlity corporations of more than 20 per cent of the stock of Washington utilities. The gas light stock is now held by the Seaboard Investment Trust for the beneficial interest of five large New York securities and utility holding concerns, who claim that by this method of holding they remain within the letter of the law. ‘The form of the action to be brought has not yet been settled, but th2 matter will be decided shortly aft- er Mr. West's return, Mr. Bride stated. DISTRICT ZIONISTS TO ELECT OFFICERS | Choice of Leaders to Be First Step in Intensive Program of Activities. With the election of officers of the District Zionist Organization next Tues- day night at the Jewish Community Center, Washington Zionist leaders will take the initial step in a program of intensive activity in behalf of the Jew- ish homeland movement, it was an- nounced téday. On November 10 there will be a meet- ing of the executive committees of the Seaboard Zionist Region and the Hadas- |sah Regional Unit, which will be at- | tended by Louis Lipsky, president of the American Zionist Organization, and other leaders of the movement. The recent crisis in Palestine and steps to raise additional funds for the relief of Jews in the Holy Land, made destitute by the trouble with the Arabs, will be the chief topic of discussion. A period of 10 days has been set aside, beginning November 19, for participa- tion of the local Zionist district in the National Zionist roll call. In connec- tion with this campaign there will be held a drive to increase the member- ::llp of the Washington Zionist Dis- iet. Louis E. Spiegler, chairman of the last united Palestine appeal campaign, has accepted the chairmanship of the local roll call. Others who will serve on the committee are: John M. Safer, Charles J. Stein, Bernard Danzansk; Dr. Charles Basseches, William Mazo, Max Rhaode, Arthur Gottlieb, Rabbi Julius T. Loeb, Rabbi Louis J. Schwefel and Louis Fenik. SEEK HONORS FELINE WORLD which forbids | * FEDERAL PROBERS "izwelry, Reported Missing, Discovered by Agents in “Logical Place.” INVESTIGATORS CONTINUE TO SIFT MYSTERY FACTS “Strange” Elements in Case Con- sidered by Operatives of Little Consequence. Whether Government agents have solved the mystery of the death of Virginia McPherson, it is known they have solved the collateral mystery of the diamond ring that wasn't missing. That is, the diamond ring was sup- posed to be mysteriously missing from the finger of Mrs. MtPherson when her body was found, strangled by a pajama belt, in the Park Lane apartments September 12. The only mystery regarding this phase now puzzling agents of the De- partment of Justice is how such an ;lln!ounded report ever gained circula- on. Removed by Authorities. The Star has learned that the ring, a beautiful platinum band with ex- pensive stone, and a wrist watch be- longing to the dead girl, now are in possession of the Bureau of Investiga- tion. Both articles of jewelry are ‘understood to have been on the hand of the nurse when her body was found and to have been removed by “the proper authorities.” Clearing up of this angle of the case was important in view of intimations made in some published reports that someon= had removed the jewelry from the body without authority. i~ The report' that the ring was miss- | ing is believed to have resulted from an inquiry by parents of Mrs. McPher-~ son as to its whereabouts after they failed to see it on her finger while the body was the casket. The inquiry precipitated a flurry of excitement. Apparently the ring mystery was not cleared up until the Department of Justice entered the investigation. When agents were advised of the presumably vanished ring, they began an inquiry that ended almost as soon as it was begun. They found the ring and also the watch “in the logical place,” it is said. The jewelry, it is understood, had been removed by officials in whose care the body had been placed and was not missing at all. Shown in Photographs. In fact, police photographs taken of the body in the bedroom at the Park | Lane immediately after discovery of the | tragedy are said to show the ring and | the watch on the nurse’s finger. . It is known that a number of other so-called “strange” angles of the Mc- Pherson case have proved to contain no element of mystery whatever. Injection of the alleged “mysteries” into the case has provided the investigators with hours and even days of useless work. ‘The Justice officials now are mulling over all the testimony with a view to eliminating unimportant and unrelated matters prior to presenting a summary of the facts to John E. Laskey, special prosecutor of the casc. Whether these facts will prove sufficient to support the charge of murder preferred against the husband, Robert A. McPherson, jr., by a grand jury is a matter that should be known within a few days. |GROCERS’ CONVENTION | TO CONSIDER CREDIT Elimination of Losses as Distribu- tion Cost Will Be Studied at Meeting Here. A conference between the Associated Grocery Manufacturers of America and a committee from the National Associ- ation of Credit Men aiming at the elimination of credit losses as a major factor in distribution costs will be held here Wednesday, November 5, during the annual convention of the grocery manufacturers which will open Tues- day for a three-day session at the Hotel Mayflower. It is the belief of H. R. Dackett, president of the grocery manufacturers, that the conferencs will result in the development of a system of credit inter- change adapted to meet the needs of the industry by bringing out the views and experiences of the manufacturers, their credit managers and the credit association men. “The present situation in the grocery industry,” says Dackett, “with the changes now constantly taking place, is creating many factors which operate to affect the credit structure of the in- dustry other than those which would normally affect credit in a uniform and routine business situation. Existing conditions make proper extension of credit increasingly difficult because credit responsibility of firms changes so rapidly.” FRAZIER WILL SUCCEED BALLENGER AT BUREAU Investigator Will Be Assistant Di- rector of Better Business Or- ganization. Announcement was made today of the appointment of Dean Frazier to succeed J. Frank Ballenger as assistant director of the local Better Busines Bureau. Mr. Ballenger is to leave Washington November 15 to accept a post as director of a Pennsylvania bureau. Mr. Frazier at present is employed by the bureau as an investigator. In his new role he will take over all the merchandising work. YORK SPEéCH BILLED World War Hero to Tell of Ex- periences With A. E. F. Sergt. Alvin C. York, World War hero, will speak at the Central Auditorium November 9, under the auspices of the Community Institute and in connection with Washington’s Armstice day cele- bration. = Sergt. York's speech will be elivered Saturday night to encourage attendance of school children. In addition to relating his experiences with the A. E. P. in France, Sergt York will tell of his activities since the Armistice in the education of mountain | naviens pelonging to Mrs. John W. Tiffany, 1223 Harvard street, which have | children. Sergt. York has founded and been entered in the cat show to be held he » ere next month. —Star Stafl Photo. mnnmgd & school in Tennesses.