Evening Star Newspaper, December 12, 1929, Page 17

Wash ington News CITY WATER BOARD SETS ASIDE PLANS FOR HIGH PRESSURE Declares Cost of Downtown Project Too Great to Be Undertaken at Present. OTHER IMPROVEMENTS CALLED MORE IMPORTANT Proposal Dropped Only After Prop- erty Owners Were Consulted. According to Capt. Oram. Plans of the Water Department to increase water pressure in the down- town business section have been tempo- rarily set aside to make way for more urgent and more important improve- ments in the distribution system, it was disclosed today by Capt. Hugh Oram, Assistant Engineer Commissioner. The department had under consider- ation a proposal to transfer the present gravity flow mains now serving the downtown section to the first high- pumping area, thus increasing the pres- sure from 35 to 86 pounds. An exhaus- tive survey, however, according to Capt. Oram, showed that the cost of the project would not be justified at this time in view of more essential require- ments. The survey was started in August - imarily as a result of a request by the supervising architect’s office of the Treasury for higher pressure in the area south of Pennsylvania avenue which would obviate the installation of water pumps in the new Government buildings in the triangle and minimize potential fire hazards. Property Owners Consulted. Questionnaires were sent to owners of all buildings in excess of five stories in height inquiring into the cost of oper- ation of the pumps used to provide sufficient pressure on the upper floors. The principal object was to determine whether increased pressure was desired and whether it would effect decided ‘economies.. ‘At the same time the Water Depart- aent Jearned that many of the old mains downtown would have to be re- placed, to prevent numerous leaks and Pprobable breaks. The cost of replacing the weak links in the system, together with the read- justment of the mains for connection with the first high area was estimated at $65,000. In addition, it was calculated that the cost of pumping the water into the downtown section, which sonsumes an estimated average of 10,000,000 gal- lons a day, would amount to $15,000 a year, thus placing further strain on the finances of the Water Department, which is now facing an inevitable deficit in five-year improvement program. The Water Department 1s the only self- supporting agency of the municipal gov- ernment. Other Work Needed More. Moreover, Capt. Oram pointed out, it | was estimated, on the basis of the re- plies to the questionnaires, that the gross saving to owners of the high build- ings through increased pressure would‘ amount to approximately $20,000 a year. i which would be offset by the additional pumping expense and the cost of read- Justment of the mains. The failure of a number of the own- ers of the large buildings to indicate in the questionnaires the annual cost to them of pumping water to the upper floors made it difficult for the depart- ment to estimate more accurately the probable economies if the District did the pumping. 4 “At any rate,” Capt. Oram said, “the | survey showed that the Water Depart- ment is not justified at this time in putting in a high-pressure service for the public buildings, hotels and other structures in the downtown section at the sacrifice of other more important improvements. ‘The present pressure on gravity flow appears to be satisfac- tory, there having been no complaints of inadequate pressure for fire or any othergservice.” Thit section of the gravity flow area in which it was planned to increase the pressure is bounded on the west by Twenty-second street, on the east by ‘Tenth street, on the south by B street and on the north by H street and New York avenue. GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY T0 HEAR DR. DICKEY Auditorium Lecturer Is Surgeon- Explorer—Spent 25 Years in South America, | ‘Herbert Spencer Dickey, surgeon and explorer, who has spent 25 years among | the remote areas of Colombia, Peru, Brazil and Ecuador, will Jecture tomor. row evening before the National Geo- graphic Soclety at the Washington Au- ditorium. When Dr. Dickey was fighting yellow fever, malaria and beri beri he came to know the natives well and his work took him into primeval jungles. Once he was captured, bound and left to be tortured by ants. Upon another occa- sion he was wounded by poison arrows in an ambush attack. Dr. Dickey has crossed the Andes five times, on foot and on mule, and has traversed the length of the Amazon nine times. ‘Within the last few years Dr. Dickey added to his role of surgeon that of explorer, and he took along camera- men, who have recorded scenes in the most remote areas of northern South America. LEGISLATORS ARE HEARD AT CHURCH BANQUET Robert Kline, Sr., Is Elected Presi- dent of Men's Class of Chevy Chase Presbyterian. Addresses and election of officers fea- tured a banquet of the men’s class of Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church in the church last night. Representative Clyde Kelly of Pennsylvania, who is leader of the class, acted as toastmaster He was introduced by J. Earl Fouts, re- tiring president of class. Speakers ircluded Representative Richard Yates of Pennsylvania, Repre- sentative John L. Cable of Ohio, Rep- resentative Samuel A. Kendall of Penn- sylvania and Rev. Dr. J. Hillman Hol- lister, pastor of the church. Robert Kline, sr., was elected presi- dent of the class for the ‘ensuing yea! Other officers elected were William K. Davles and Dr. C. E. Detmer, vice pre: idents; Elmer Pusey, secretary, and Wil- Vocal selec- tions were rendered at the meeting by Robert Kline, jr., and George F. Bay- liam G. Irwin, treasurer. Darkness Prevents Reading Lessons in Portable Schools Children Have to Use Hand Flashlights to Find Hats and Coats. They had to use flashlights to locate their hats and coats in one of the port- able schools at Thirty-seventh and Davenport sireets yesterday afternoon, and the prospects are that they'll have to do it again today. The portables are not equipped with electric lighting facilities, because they're just “temporary” buildings which were set up back in 1927. So on cloudy days, like yesterday and today, the pupils worry along as best they can in the semi-darkness. Of course, they |have to eliminate book lessons some- times, like they did yesterday, when Mrs. G. A. Mellman, teacher of 52 first- grade pupils in one of the portables, ordered her charges to quit trying to read at 11 o'clock in the morning. Miss M. Ronsaville, another teacher at the portable group, was in charge of the afternoon shift of youngsters yesterday. Her classes were dismissed at 4:30 o'clock and after having elim- inated all reading lessons for the after- noon. When dismissal time came and the youngsters went to their tiny cloak room to get their wraps, they voiced cries of dismay. It was so dark they couldn't pick out their own coats and hats! Miss Ronsaville, however, dipped into her desk and brought out two electric hand flashlights, which she handed to her little charges. They gradually found their clothes and just as the darkest shades were settling down over the little frame colony of one-room schoolhouses, the youngsters filed out of doors to pick their way homeward. It was slightly brighter out there at noon today when a reporter for The Star called at the suggestion of one of the mothers, who told of her son’s search for his coat. It looked as though the book lessons could continue for an- { other hour or two, but that flashlights would be necessary when the after- noon classes came in. Noting these things, the reporter sipped a drink of water from the ice-crusted out-of-door bubbling fountain upon which the chil- dren of the portables rely for their drinking water in all weather and went back to his office. 10Y STREETS FAL TOTIE UP TRAFFIC Several Cars Go Into Ditches Off Highways in Near- by Area. For the second time this month, Washington went to work today over pavement slippery with ice, although the present freeze is less troublesome and likely will give way tonight and to- morrow before slowly rising tempera- tures. Most_difficulty was encountered on highways of surrounding Maryland and Virginia, where icy deposits sent several cars into ditches. Three victims, none seriously injured, were brought to local hospitals. In some instances, skidding automo- biles delayed vehicular traffic in Wash- ington. Street cars maintained sched- ules, however, and bus operators profited by their experience of a fortnight past and had chains in readiness. 28 Minimum Is Predicted. Scattered deposits of ice over the District probably will disappear in the snow_and ¢ predicted for tonight and Friday, accompanied by moderating temperatures. The low extreme of 25 this morning combined with a_light drizzle to pro- duce the ice. The minimum of 28 degrees predicted tonight by the Weather Bureau hardly will be low enough to produce ice in troublesome | quantities. The ice storm that swept Washing- ton December 2 was largely the result of low ground temperatures following | the recent cold spell, and_forecasters see little prospect of another general freeze. Heavy motor vehicles had great diffi- culty in proceeding on the Washington- Baltimore Boulevard near Laurel, Md., this morning. Traffic was at a virtual standstill for several hours. The local division of the American Automobile Association received a num- ber of calls from motorists whose auto- mobiles had skidded from the high- ways of Virginia, particularly between Washington and Alexandria. On this stretch vehicular trafic was warned to clow down to 5 or 10 miles an hour. Several automobiles were pulled from | ditches near Fairfax. Chains Are Advised. The association advised ‘motorists to use chains in_the District, nearby Maryland and Virginia, although the icy condition was regarded as tempo- rary. Cinders were being spread this morning over the highway across the Cumberland Mountains in Maryland, while icy highways have been reported as_far West as Ohio and Michigan. Miss Helen Briscoe, clerk in the office of the Prince Georges County Circuit Court, was injured slightly when her automobile, occupied by several other employes of the Marlboro Court House, overturned on the Crain Highway early this morning. Kills Five Geese With Volley. While duck hunting yesterday in King George County, Va., J. M. Bar- rett of 1014 B street southwest brought down five wild geesa with a single dis- charge of a double-barreled shotgun, Barrett was concealed in a brush blind. His is thought to be a record single bag of the current season. Play at Cilnrch Saturday. CROOM, Md.,, December 12 (Special). —A play, “Maidens All Forlorn,” will be given Saturday night in the parish hall of St. Thomas' Church here at 7:30 o'clock. Dencing will follow. | The Zoening Star Society and General WA OF INDEPENDENCE “DRAFT” REPORTED Authorities on Historical Manuscripts Doubt “Orig- inal” Is Found. | DOCUMENT MIGHT BE BINNS’ PRINTED COPY Antique Dealer in Toronto Is Cred- ited in Dispatch With Having Priceless Paper. BY THOMAS R. HENRY. ‘The fate of the draft of the Declara- tion of Independence, which was ap- proved by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, and which would be one of the most valuable historical manu-~ scripts in the world, is unknown. This was revealed by authorities on historical manuscripts at the Library of Congress yesterday, following a news- paper dispatch from Toronto to the effect that “the original draft of the Declaration of Independence” had turned up in the hands of an antique dealer in the Canadian city, ‘The manuscript as described, however, could not be the priceless paper which would be worth many times its weight in gold to any one fortunate enough to discover it. The probability is that the Philadelphia printer to whom it was sent on the night of July 4 or morning of July 5 simply tore it up after setting the type. ‘What is considered as almost certainly the original draft, in the handwriting of Thomas Jefferson but with changes in the hand of Benjamin Franklin and others, was found among Jefferson’s papers after his death and is among the most cherished possessions of the national Library. Not the Copy Congress Adopted. But, according to Dr. John A. Fitz- patrick, editor of Washington's diaries and authority on the affairs of the Con- tinental Congress, this is almost cer- tainly not the copy which was sub- mitted to the Congress, adopted and ordered set up. The manuscript in Jefferson’s handwriting contains no signatures. The sheets which came from the printer bear the signatures of John Hancock, president of the Con- i NEW DECLARATION | SHINGTON, D. C, I C. C. Asked to Rule On Whether Gum Is Food or Merchandise By the Associated Press. ‘Whether chewing gum is a food, a drink or just plain merchandise has been brought before the In- terstate Commerce Commission for settlement. Under the commission's ruling, foods are entitled to second-class freight rates, while other mer- chandise is charged at first-class rates, and the present classifica- tion of gum as first-class matter was complained of by the Na- tional Association of Chewing Gum Manufacturers. STORAGE CARAGE TONERULE PUT OFF Permit to Store Automobiles in Apartment Houses Is Given Support. Final action on the proposed amend- ment to the District zoning code to permit stcrage garages in apartment houses without the existing require- ment that consent be obtained from a majority of adjoining property owners has been postponed by the Zoning Com- mission, pending a second hearing to be held next month. A change in the wording, but not the purpose of the amendment, -held essential by the cor- poration counsel, caused the postpone- ment, Overwhelming support developed at the hearing yesterday “for the amend- ment, which would encourage construc- tion of storage garages in apartments, but would provide that all such garages must have the approval of the District Commissioners, in addition to meeting | requirements of the building code. The amendment, urged as a means of reducing traffic hazards by providing housing for cars now parked all night in the streets, was supported by the Operative Builders' Association, the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the Real Estate Board, the Board of Trade and others. Adopts Amendments. The commission at its executive meeting late yesterday adopted a second amendment to the code, permitting storage garages in structures in first tinental Congress, and Charles Thom- son, clerk, None of the members of the Contine, ental Congress signed at this time. The parchment copy of the Declara- tion, which was signed by all the mem- bers of the Continental Congress, was made a month afterward by a special resolution of the body. It was the first to contain any signatures, other than those of Hancock and Thomson, and generally is regarded as the original Dcclaration. Sheet May Have Been Signed. There is, however, a bare possibility that one of the printed sheets issued on July 5 was signed by the members—but, says Dr. Fitzpatrick, the only support for this is the word of Thomas Jeffer- son almost 50 years later. Jefferson, he says, got into an argument in which he asserted that the signatures had been affixed on July 4. He was shown the actual records of the Continental Con- gress, showing that the resolution to sign it was not adopted until some weeks later. Jefferson then, it is asserted, said that he was not referring to the parchment copy, but to a paper copy which was signed. The circumstances of the con- versation, says Dr. Fitzpatrick, indicate either that Jefferson’s memory was faulty or that he misstated deliberately to back up his own argument. If he was telling the truth, however, the paper may still exist somewhere and would be priceless, since a single signa- ture of some of the signers now com- mmands fabulous prices. It would be even more valuable than the draft which the printer is supposed to have torn up. “Original” Is Found Often. Every now and then, says Mr. Fitz- patrick, the Library receives word that “the original Declaration of Independ- ence” has been found somewhere. This is due to the fact that an enterprising and patriotic printer, John Binns of Philadelphia, a few months after the | official signing of the parchment copy, made an exact facsimile of it, had it decorated elaborately by John Singleton commercial areas. without neighboring owner consents, but with approval of the District Commissioners; adopted a third amendment giving power to the District Commissioners to upon uses in second commercial districts which may prove obnoxious, but which now are not specifically excluded from such areas in the regulations; approved three changes in the classification of properties, rejected six other petitions and deferred action on two more. The amendment pertaining to ga- rages in first commercial areas, which was adopted, reads: “A public garage where no repair or servicing facilities are maintained may be established, er=cted or enlarged with- out consents in any building permitted in the first commercial district; pro- vided, that the floor area of such garage does not exceed one-fourth of the total floor area designed for or used by ten- ants in such buildings: and provided, further, that such garage be approved by the Commissioners of the District of Columbia.” ‘The other amendment adopted, which refers to uses not permitted in second commercial areas, reads: “And such uses as, in the opinion of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, are industrial, or may be- come so noxious or offensive as to jus- tify exclusion from the second commer- cial district Changes Approved. The commission approved the follow- ing changes: From residential 40-foot A area to first commercial 40-foot C area for the property at 600-602 Alabama avenue | southeast, where a “non-conforming” | store now is located, with the proviso | that the entrance to the store be changed to the Congress road side of the building. From residential 40-foot A restricted area to residential 40-foot C area for the property at 2635 Twelfth street northeast, whereas the petitioner had sought a 60-foot height. From residential 90-foot C area w Copley, the celebrated colonial painter, and engraved on it the signatures of John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. Washington was nxot. a signer of the parchment Declara- tion. Binns, an enterprising business man, then had a handsome steel engraving made of his copy and sold many repro- ductions. Some of these still are in ex- istence. ‘The work was so well done that whenever one appears the finder, ignorant of the real history of the Dec- laration, thinks the original manuscript has come into his hands. Some years ago the Library of Con- gress carried on a correspondence with an English lady, who claimed that the original manuscript was in her pos- session, inherited from one of her ancestors, an officer on the British ship Shannon, which captured the American frigate Chesapeake, com- manded by the celebrated Capt. James Lawrence, in Boston Harbor, in 1813. ‘The manuscript was found, she said, in Lawrence's cabin after the heroic cap- tain’s death, ‘The actual original draft, Dr. Fitz- patrick says, probably never passed ous of Jefferson’s possession and a clean copy was made for submission to the Continental Congress. Years later the s‘f’ of Monticello recognized the his- toric value of the paper in his desk and noted in the margin, in whose handwriting were the various changes. Pie Theft Brings Life Sentence. VICTORIA, Tex., December 12 (#).— ‘Thomas McGrew began a life sentence today because he stole 30 cents and & pie. McGrew, a Negro, was tried under the old Texas “repetition of offenses” law, which provides a life term for a third felony conviction, |Senate Pages Organiz | The pages of the Senate today began the organization of a new Boy Scout | troop in the District, announcing that | their purpose would be to emphasize the citizenship principles of the Scout movement and to render help to Boy Scouts throughout the country on this particular phase of the Scout program. The boys have requested Charles E. Jackson, secretary to Senator Smith of South Carolina, to be scoutmaster, Jackson has had a number of years’ experience in the Scout movement. Oco Thompson of the Senate disbursing of- fice will be assistant scoutmaster. It is customary for a Boy Scout troop to have an adult governing body and this iboard will be composed of the follow: To Emphasize Citizenship Principles e Boy Scout Troop ing: Rev. Dr. Z. B. Phillips, chaplain of the Senate, chairman; Senator Couz- ens, Republican, of Michigan; Senator Brock, Democrat, of Tennessee, and C. A. Loffler, Edwin A. Halsey, Howard C. Foster and Leslie Biffle, Senate officials. Senator Moses, Republican, of New residential 40-foot B restricted area for the property on the east side of Thirty- seventh street between N nad O streets. ‘The -commissioners deferred without prejudice a petition for changing from residential to first commercial classifi- cation of a site selected near the Dis- trict line between the projected Forty- first and Forty-second streets southeast for a commercial wireless station tower. ‘The commission also deferred action on a proposed change from residential 40-foot C area to residential 40-foot B area for the rear 40 feet of lots located east of Connecticut avenue from the south line of Ordway street and 380 feet south thereof, to await the final dedication of land for an alley adjoin- ing these lots. Reject Store Permit. A proposal to permit stores in a pro- posed apartment house on the corner of Connecticut avenue and Northampton street, nearby Chevy Chase Circle, was defeated. An apartment house now is permit- ted there under existing regulations, but a change from residential to first commercial classification was sought by Preston E. Wire, who has contracted to purchase the site, in order to per- mit stores. Protest against the store feature came from Edwin S. Hege, speaking for the Chevy Chase Citizens’ Association and several individuals. The commission also refused to ap- prove the petition by Fulton R. Gordon for lowering the A restricted classifica- tion of rear lots of a site on Connecti- cu avenue and Legation street, in order to permit construction of a larger building than now possible. All other petitions for changes were refused. PASTOR'S WIFE, 66, DIES; BURIAL TO BE TOMORROW Mrs. MacMurray, Resident Here 15 Years, Survived by Two Daughters. Mrs. Frances A. MacMurray, 66 years old, wife of Rev. Dr. John MacMurray, retired pastor of Union Methodist Episcopal Church of this city, died at her home, 2003 G street, yesterday Hampshire, has arranged to provide a room in the basement of the Senate Of- fice Building as troop headquarters. ‘The following boys have joined the troop: Charles E, Ahearn, Chester H. Clark, L. R. Porter, S8amuel Griffin, E. S. Mitchell, Thomas F. Brodigan, A, J. Davis, Frank J. Kearney, Walter S, Reid, C. E. LeCompte, Philip J. Bass- ford, Tom Seward, James F. Coleman and Philip Joachim, | after a long illness. Mrs. MacMurray was a native of Middletown, Conn., but had been a THURSDAY, resident of this city for the past 15 years. She is survived by her husband and two daughters, Miss Christella MeacMurray and Mrs, Walter G. Sil- cox of this city Funeral services will be conducted at DECEMBER NEW VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PLAN WILL BE SOUGHT Difference in Salaries Paid Tradesmen and Teachers Held Stumbling Block. CARUSI WILL APPOINT COMMITTEE FOR STUDY Labor Spokesman Says Unions Hope to Settle Question to Ad- vantage of All Instructors. The difficulty of obtaining $15-a-day artisans to Instruct Washington school children in the trades at the salaries now paid teachers is one of the major problems confronting the committee of 10 which the Board of Education late yesterday authorized Dr. Charles F. Carusi, its president, to appoint for the purpose of outlining a new program of vocational education for the Dis- trict. The school board, sitting as a com- mittee of the whole, was considering the criticisms and recommendations made last week by the Washington Cen- tral Labor Union, and Stephen E. Kramer, first assistant superintendent, presented a statement on the present status of vocational education. The question of pay for trade school instruc- tors was brought pointedly to issue when Dr. Carusi asked Mr. Kramer: “How are you going to get competent men to teach our boys bricklaying, for instance, when bricklayers get from $14 to $15 a day, and when our salary act doesn't_include such figures? Mr. Kramer observed that the school board president had reserved that ques- tion as a “coup de grace” and admitted frankly that he didn't know. Kramer Has Tackled Question. “That's'a question I've been wrestling with off and on now for 20 years,” Mr. Kramer said, “and I am afraid I don't know yet what the answer is. I'd say, though. that it is one of the matters the advisory committee should take up.” ‘The Washington Central Labor Union last week proposed that this problem might be met by giving the trade schools the status of a junior high school. It was pointed out yesterday, how- ever, that there was only $200 a year difference between the two ratings. The question was left for solution by the committee Dr. Carusi was authorized to appoint, but not before John B. Col- poys, spokesman for the Washington Central Labor Union, had declared briefly that the question of teachers’ salaries was one which the unions pro- posed to settle with advantage to every educator here. Teachers at $20,000 a Year. He declared that the teachers’ salary scale here should begin at $20,000 a year for the superintendent and scale down Eroponlom!ely. and he asserted that the labor unions were going “to help them get it.” In his statement on vocational edu- cation here, Mr, Kramer declared that {in setting up a public education pro- gram which shall be for “all of the children of all of the people,” voca- tional education must be considered as those educative opportunities which shall prepare each pupil so that his particular development shall enable him to “find his place and use that place to shape both himself and society to ever nobler ends.” Using vocational edu- cation to mean preparation which will enable the pupils to enter his field of occupation immediately upon leaving school, and that training which will make the pupil more nearly self-sup- porting when he leaves schodl, Mr. Kramer listed present vocational op- portunities here as follows: Collegiate grade—The Washington Teachers' College prepare students to enter the teaching profession either in the District or elsewhere upon gradua- tion. High school grade—Excellent com- mercial courses are offered in practi- cally all of the high schools, enabling pupils to enter the business world im- mediately upon leaving school. Tech- nical courses in some of the schools offer preparation looking not only toward collegiate engineering courses | but train pupils to enter the vocations having to do with work in wood, metal or brick. Electrical courses prepare pupils to enter electrical .trades with advanced standing as apprentices. Ex- cellent courses in mechanical and archi- tectural drawing fit students to earn satisfactory income as draftsmen im- mediately upon graduation. Printing courses prepare puplls to enter the trade as advanced apprentices. Contacts Are Provided. Junior high school grade—Every boy is given the opportunity to experience work in wood shops, print shops and metal-working shops, and every girl is enabled to have experience in the preparation of food, care of the home and in the designing and making of clothing. These “contacts” are provided to determine the pupil’s interest in vocational activities. The enlargement of these “contacts” and the provision of a “vocational course” leading to the preparation of the pupil to efficiently enter occupation immediately —upon leaving the junior high school is now being considered by a committee ap- pointed by the superintendent, the statement asserted. Vocational opportunities set up on a trade school basis—There are now four organized trade schools: Abbott Voca- tional School (for boys), Dennison Vo- cational School (for girls), the Phelps Vocational (boys) School and the Mar- garet Murray Washington (girls) Voca- tional School. Besides, the Lennox School has certain vocational courses on a trade basis. In the schools for boys Instruction is offered in woodwork- ing, sheet metal work, plumbing, paint- ing, plastering, bricklaying. automotive work, shoe repairing and electrical wir- ing. 1In the schools for girls instruc- tion is offered in cooking, cafeteria work, personal hygiene, including sham- pooing, manicuring and massaging; dressmaking and costume designing, making of fancy notions, laundry work, simple filing, typing and office manage- ment. All of these schools have collateral work in English, mathematics, mechan- ical drawing, history and shop science. Development of Trade Courses. Mr. Kramer's ‘statement concludes with the following summary: “Our work of collegiate and high school grade appears to be adequately equipped and supported. There is a need for the further development of courses of a real trade character in our high schools. It is probable that the work in the junior high schools ought to be in the near future extended and in some of the schools there should be of- fered a more intensive course in voca- tional instruction for puplls who ecn- template going into occupation at tha close of the junior high schcol cour the residence tomorrow morning at 11 |or who intend to toke udvanced ve o'clock. Lincoln Cemetery. Interment will be in Fort | ti high schools onal courses in . 7y S v.ws necd better hous- “The \ 12,1929, *¥ SONG IN Y™ LOBBY BEGINNING OF D. C. GIRL'S OPERATIC CAREER ]E mma Redell Gives First Hometown Concert in Na- tional Theater Today. Acclaimed in Many Old World Capitals and Has Toured in South America. An operatic career that had its in- ception 12 years ago this month at an informal concert in the lobby of the Washington ¥. M. C. A. will reach a story-book climax this afternoon, when Emma Redell, former Southwest Wash- ington schoolgirl and stenographer, sings before a distinguished audience at the National Theater. It will be the first formal concert given in her own hometown by the now internationally acclaimed soprano since she sang for the Y. M. C. A. and vari- | ous church organizations more than a decade ago. Seated in her room at the Willard Hotel today, Miss Redell recalled how a solo she sang with untrained voice be- fore a small group of men and women in the “Y” lobby one December night in 1917 started” her on the path to fame. “Always Loved to Sing.” “I always loved to sing,” Miss Redell explained, “and I readily accepted in- vitations to_ appear in church concerts and similar’ programs. About the only training I had was from the music teacher at the Jefferson School in Southwest Washington and from Mrs. Robert H. Dalgleish, a private teacher here. I was not thinking of opera then. “I had learned typing and shorthand at Business High School and was work- ing as a stenographer for a local drug concern. Neither my parents nor I could afford special training for my voice, but I cultivated it as much as I could by singing at every opportunity. “That night 12 years ago at the Y. M. C. A. was the turning point. In the audience was a foreign trade ex- pert of the Department of Commerce, Mr. Joseph Marcus, who was a great lover of music and an ardent follower of the opera. I had never heard of him before that night, nor he of me. But after the concert he sought me out and was lavish with his praise. He declared I had a voice of great promise and he offered to assist me in obtaining special training. Gives Miss Holt Credit. “Mr. Marcus introduced me to Mrs. Isabelle M. Hopkins, also an opera en- thusiast, and Mrs. Hopkins was suffi- clently impressed to bring me into con- | | EMMA REDELL. tact with Miss Annabelle Holt, a promi- nent New York voice culturist. Miss Holt has been my teacher and_close friend and adviser ever since. I give Miss Holt credit for any success I have u::!lflgd on the concert and operatic stage.” Miss Redell told of the struggles which preceded her achievements as a singer. She said she worked as a wait- ress in Massachusetts in order to pay for food and lodgings and meet the ex- pense of voice instruction. Determining to make her debut as a concert soloist in other climes, she went to Europe and, after a personal canvass of theatrical agents, finally landed an engagement in Germany. Emma Redeil's career as a star of grand opera became assured in Europe. She has been acclaimed in many of the capitals of the Old World and has made a tour as far as South Africa. First Hometown Concert. “This is my first concert before the hometown folks,” Miss Redell said, “and I must say I am rather excited about it. Before leaving Washington I expect to look up some of my old friends down Southwest and elsewherw. I came to Washington from Baltimore when I was just 2 years old, and 1o has always been home, sweet home tw m ‘What ever happened to Mr. Marcus, the Department of Commerce man?” the reporter asked. “Well,” Miss Redell replied, with = smile, “I am not supposed to let you in on that professional secret, but since it is of local interest, I'll tell you: Welwere married more than a year ago!” SHELBY AND KELLY CHARGES DELAYED Tomorrow Morning Dead Line for Proper Notice to Two Officers. Uncertainty prevailed today as to whether the charges of inefficiency on | which Inspector William S. Shelby and | Lieut. Edward J. Kelly are to be brought to trial before a special trial board would be served on the accused officers in time for the trial tentatively set for Monday. The prosecuting staff, consisting of Assistant Corporation Counsel Robert PAGE 17 2NEW WITNESSES ARESUMNONED SCRVENER PROGE Man Voluntarily Calls on Rover to Testify in De- tective’s Death. NATURE OF TESTIMONY IS HIDDEN IN SECRECY . Evidence Offered Grand Jury Not Divulged by Officials in Investigation. Continuing to hammer away at the .wall of mystery surrounding the shoot- ing to death of Detective Sergt. Arthur Scrivener, in a Georgetown alley thre® years ago, United States Attorney Leo A. Rover this afternoon announced ‘that two more witnesses whose names had just been obtained would be summoned before the inquisitors tomorrow. One of these is Orville Staples, for- mer policeman, who was removed from the force more than a year ago on charges of prejudicial’conduct. Staples, who had a turbulent career on the force, found a staunch defender in for- mer Representative Blanton of Texas. Another witness is Franklin Kendrick, brother of Miss Katherine Kendrick, who testified earlier at the probe. There was no information forthcom- ing as to tne nature or the testimony expected from either. Earlier today it became known that Mr. Rover had been looking for 24 hours, without success, for a so-called “mystery witness.” ‘Then Charles Mensnam, 3608 Twenty- fourth street northeast, voluntarily came to the District attorney with in- formation believed to be highly im- portant. Mensnam and the District attorney were in the grand jury room for more than an hour this morning. When the witness had finished testifying, 3 Rover sald he could not disclose the nature of the information furnished by him, but that he regarded it as so im- portant, that he would call three other witnesses whose names were given by Mensnam. The opening of this new angle of investigation may result in a deferment of tkhg grand jury’s report until next week. Mr. Rover presented testimony from TWO ASSISTANTS NAMED BY ROVER J. ). Richards and F. W. Adams Will Be Assigned to Police Court. United States Attorney Leo A. Rover today announced the appointment of two new assistants in_ his office. Julian L Richards and Prank William Adams, the latter colored, are the new ap- pointees. Both will be assigned to Police Court, Adams to take the place of Assistant United States Attorney Eugene Davis, who resigned recently, and Richards will assist _Assistant United States Attorneys Hart and Kirkland with liquor violations. Adams E. Lynch and Walter L. Fowler, were in- terviewing witnesses today in the library of the corporation counsel’s office be- hind locked doors, which were carefully guarded by clerks. Headquarters Detec- tive Dennis Cullinane was one of the witnesses interviewed. Unless the charges are served by 10 o'clock tomorrow morning the officers will be denied the 48 hours’ notice to which they are entitled. Since it is not believed that either will waive his no tice, the trial would have to be post- poned. After Lynch and Fowler draw up the charges to their satisfaction they must first be approved by Corporation Coun- sel Willam W. Bride before being served on the accused officers. ‘The charges are based on a report of the July grand jury accusing the men of bungling the police investigation into the death of Mrs. Virginia Hurley Mc- Pherson. ‘The Commissioners have appointed a special board to try the case. It con- sists of Assistant Engineer Commis- sioner Layson E. Atkins, chairman; J. B. Gordon, District sanitary engineer, and Capt. Herbert C. Whitehurst, co- ordinator and chief engineer of the District. The trial will be held at the sizth precinct station. ‘Won't Call New Probe. ‘The Commissioners refused a request of Mrs. V. C. Blackwelder of Greens- boro, N. C., sister of Mrs. Virginia Hur- ley McPherson, to reopen the investi- gation into Mrs. McPherson's death, it became known today. The Com- missioners on November 27 in reply to a letter containing the request wrote Mrs. Blackwelder: “As you well know, this case has been given careful consideration by a cononer’s jury and by two grand juries. The Commissioners of the District have no duties which would authorize them to require a rehearing of this case by the coroner's jury, nor by the grand jury, and therefore they are not in a position to assist you as requested.” ing, increased equipment and a setting which would more dignify their work and thereby attract more pupils from among the group who should be avail- ing themselves of this training.” In response to the question as to whether an improved vocational educa- tional program here would be set up in the junior high school buildings or in & separate structural unit with its own identity, Mr. Kramer declared that probably both would be necessary. Es- tablishment of the entire course in all the junior high school buildings would be unwise because it would necessitate duplication of much expensive equip- ment, and establishment of the entire course in only one building would work transportation hardships upon puplls living in scattered sections of the Dis- trict, he said. ‘Wants Whole System Embraced. Garnet C. Wilkinson, first assistant superintendent, in charge of colored schools, expressed the hope that the en- larged program of vocational education will not be confined strictly to junior high schools, but will embrace the whole system. At the close of the meeting Dr. Caruel said his committee would be appointed immediately. He declared he would in- vite the presidents of the Board of {12 Washington Chamber of t representatives to serve upon the vc ational body, and that he would try to keep the entire inembership within 8 or 10, *a will be in charge of gambling prose- cutions, including the numberg spnmu. After the New Year Rover expects to transfer Kirkland to the District Su- preme Court, Richards was born in Oxford, Md., September 21, 1894; attended the local public schools and graduated from Bus- iness High School in this city; received a bachelor of laws degree from the Law School of Georgetown University in 1923 and was admitted to the bar of this District the same yeas. Mr. Rich- ards served as a second lieutenant in the Maryland Field Artillery during the late war, is married and has three chil- eral practice of the law here since 1923. Mr. Richards is a Presbyterian, a mem- Elks and lives at 4 Black- Conn., 36 years ago, is married, gradu- ated from New Haven High School in 1912, attended Yale University from 1912 to 1913, attended Dartmouth Col- lege from 1913 to 1916, received the de- gree of bachelor of laws from the How- ard University Law School here in 1925 and was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the District and of the Court of Appeals October 11, 1925. He saw service in the World War and is at present treasurer of the Washing- ton bar assoclation of the colored law- yers of this city. He is secretary of Mu Lambda Chapter, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and member of Masonic lodges at New Haven. REAL ESTATE MEN FILE BANKRUPTCY PETITION F. D. Little and C. H. Marshall | Offer Schedules as Firm and Individuals. { F. Davis Little and C. Haywood Mar- | shall, co-partners, trading as Little & Marshall, real estate agents, 1206 Eight- eenth street, have filled a petition in voluntary bankruptcy in the District Supreme Court. Each of the partners also filed a separate individual schedule of assets and liabilities. According to the firm's schedule, it is indebted to the extent of $141,585.91, to offset which it claims assets of $52,- 743.11. Little says he has cash assets of $12.98 and Marshall has $25.57 in cash. Neither of the partners has any individual liabllities, the court is in- formed. dren and has been enggaed in the gen- | six witnesses to the grand jury yester- day. It was not believed, however, that any of them were able to give informa- tion benm‘fi materially on the case. ‘There is still a possibility that the un- known witness who was ex] to testify today will be brought before the jury if his identity could be learned. CONSIDER MERGER PLAN TOMORROW Senate District Committee to Hold First Meeting of Session. With the new street railway merger plan and several other measures likely to be considered, the Senate District committee will hold its first meeting of the session at 10:30 o'clock tomor- O Ctahmas Cepper made gements airman made arranj for the meeting immediately after he had introduced in the Senate yesterday the joint resolution gepared by the Utilities Commission authorize the street car consolidation along modifiea lines. It will be for the committee to determine tomorrow how it wishes to proceed in considering this latest mer- ger proposal. Senator Capper expressed the opinion yesterday that the action of the utih- ties board in leaving out of the resu- lution this year some of the questions which caused dispute last year woula expedite consideration of the legisla- tion in this session. It is likely that the committee will make a favorable report tomorrow on the bill to provide free text books in the senior and junior high schools. ACQUIT POLICEMEN ON NEGLECT CHARGE Case Grew Out of Detention of 16-Year-01d High School \ Student. A verdict of not guilty was reported to Maj. Henry G. Pratt, superintendent of police, today by the Police Trial Board, which heard a case yesterday in which L. E. Allen, a tenth precinct zollcemnn, was charged with neglect of uty. ‘The charges against Allen resulted from his alleged failure to check the records and cause the release of Mark Twain Reinhardt, a 16-year-old Central High School student. Reinhardt was under arrest on a disorderly conduct charge while his parents were searching for him. The boy was cleared. JUDGE SCOTT URGED FOR HAITI COMMISSION Emmett J. Scott, colored judge on the municipal bench of the District of Columbia and secretary and treasurer of Howard University, was suggested by Representative Hamilton Fish of New York to President Hoover today for ap- pointment to the commission proposed by the President to go to Haiti to make an inquiry into the affairs of that me- public. Representative Fish is a member of the foreign affairs committee of the | House and while indorsing the Presi- dent’s proposal to appoint a Haitian Aftorney Paul Sleman appears for the bankrupts. L WANTS STREET CLEARED. District Asks Injunction for Re- moval of W. T. Reynolds’ Engine. A mandatory injunction to require ‘William Reynolds, 3400 K all’:g‘. to remove an obstruction from the public highway of Thirty-fourth stre has n filed the District Supreme Court by the District of Columbia. ‘The municipality asserts that it is about to improve the street and Rey- nolds refusés to remove a marine en- gine and windlass which he had been llowed to gllfl in the street in 1899 on a revokable permit. Notice has been given him to clear the highway, but he has neglected to do so. Corporation Counsel Bride and Assistant Corpora- :_r}nt‘cuunscl Wahly appear for the Dis. ic! commission, of inquiry, told the Presi- dent that at least one well known col- ored American should be appointed to that body. - Besides Judge Scott, Rep- resentative Fish suggested the names of James Weldon Johnson, author and sec- retary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and Representative Oscar De Priest of Illinois. He assured the President that these three colored men are well quali fied to serve on such a commission and ‘would be helpful in assisting the adm=- istration in the salving of the difficult and delicate problem which the United States is now facing in Haiti. Ui 7 (e e 0N Coal Veins Found in Uruguay. By Cable to The Star. g MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, Decembe: 12.—Veins of high-quality coal have been discovered in the Department of Cerro Largo by Prof. Falconer, who has been making investigations in that dis- trict recently, .