Evening Star Newspaper, January 3, 1930, Page 17

MOTHER AND FOUR ARE STRICKEN ILL BY HOLIDAY FOOD Health Officers Probe Sub- stances Eaten by Mrs. Ker- nahan and Children. HUSBAND, METHODIST MINISTER, ABSENT Neighbors Discover Condition of Family in Apartment at 801 Butternut Street. District health officials were called upon this afterncon to investigate a new case of holiday food poisoning when a report was received that M A. Earl Kernahan, 801 Butternut stre and her four children, ranging in age from 16 to 4 years, are ill as a result of |, something they ate New Year day or ples of food in the Kernahan apart- ment and analyses are being e of them at the Heglth Department tory. Mrs. Kernahan is the wife of a x&t{n- odist minister, who is on evan, ic duty. He is reported to be a personal friend of former President and Mrs. Coolidge. Dr. Kernahan Absent. The whole family, except Dr. Kerna- han, became ill about midnight last | night. Dr. Kernahan left Washingtqn yesterday morning on evangelist] saying that he did not feel well. The family has not him. i ccording to Mrs. William S. Neff,; resident manager of the apartment, who has been attending the mother and her four children, no doctor has been called, although directly across the hall from the Kernahan apartment lives Lawrence work, icularly d from A. Matterness, an interne at Walter|, Reed Hospital. Mrs. Matternes said he was unl!'l:re that the family was sick. ‘William Spencer, 13 years old, son of a neighbor in the same apartment, was the first to discover the illness of Mrs. Kernahan and her children. Puplil ‘Calls Father. He arrived at the Kernahan apart- ment shortly before school time this morning to take Mildred Kernahan, 12 years old, to school, and was told of her illness. He immediately went back to his home, in the same apartment house, and brought over his father, who is also a Methodist minister, who visited the; Kernahans and called for the Health Department to make an investigation. ‘The children are Earl, jr., 16; Gaylal, 4: Mildred, 12, and Susanna, WATSON REFUTES QUITTING RUMOR Republican Leader's Regarding Employment Were Misconstrued. Statements Benator James E. Watson of Indiana. Republican leader of the Senate, came back to Washington today and denied | | | | ’ The noble experiment of Clifford Lanham, out the top branches of a tree on Pennsylvania avenue to deprive the starling of his natural habitat during the hours of darkness, bore fruit last night. The tree, trimmed by the workers in the photo, is now regarded as starling-proof. Avenue Pest Birds The smile of victory rested today on the countenance of Clifford Lanham, superintendent of trees and parkings. For he is the only man known to his- ;fnl’! who has outwitted the pesky start- gs. Mr. Lanham's scheme, which worked to perfection last night, is ur&ghcny itself. He had noticed that the starlings cling to the topmost branches of their favorite trees, the oriental planes in Pulaski Square. He decided that to cut out the topmost twigs was to deprive the starlings of a roosting place. He tried the experiment on a single tree yesterday. The night before it had been black with starlings. Last night not a starling perched there. Small Branches Go. The great work is going forward to- day, with the birds' second favorite tree, in front of the District Building, having its topmost twigs cut off. The scisnce of the matter, according to Mr. Lanham, is that the birds will not roost on flatly that he had any intention of re- tiring from the Senate before 1932, ‘when he must come up for re-election, or that he had said he would not be a candidate to succeed himself. While Senator Watson was in the' Middle West during the Christmas re-! cess a report was widely published to the effect he would not run for the Senate again, but would retire from the Upper House upon the expiration of his present term. He said today that what he had said was: “I will not reti from the Senate before March 4, 1933," the date of the expiration of his term. | ‘This, he said, had been interpreted to mean that he would not be a candidate for re-election in 1932. While Senator Watson did not an- nounce today his candidacy for the Senate in 1932, it is underswod that he will be a candidate when the time rolls around for him to cast his hat in the ring. For several months there have been rumors that he would retire from the Senate before long to accept em- ployment with some big industrial con- cern. He was denying these reports when he said in Indiana recently he ! would not retire from the Senate be- | fore the close of his present term. | PRISONER TELLS MURDER DETAILS Minnesota Letter Says Hollywood Slayer Prefers Hanging to Worry. By the Assoclated Press. SACRAMENTO, Calif., January 3.— Details of the alleged murder of a young woman near Hollywood were bared yesterday in a letter to District Attorney Neil McAllister from J. H. Steele, inmate of the Minnesota State prison at Stillwater. Steel, who asserted he was ‘wanted here for theft of an automobile, claim- ed he murdered a young woman on December 3, 1927, and he “would rather be hanged than worried to death.” The letter said he purchased an au- tomobile in Fresno. using a bad check, and started for Los Angeles with a ‘woman friend. “A murder took place between Bak- ersfield and Hollywood,” the letter said, “and the body of the murdered woman 1 placed at a lonely place just seven blocks from Hollywood. “If the woman is found you will find that her body is wrapped in fashionable clothing. The right pocket of her silk coat will contain a small coin purse of brocaded satin and on the inside will be a sllver monogram with a letter D, and a photograph of a woman about 60 or 65 years of 9 branches unless the twigs are so small they can get their claws entirely around them. Furthermore they will have no branches but the top ones. Cut out the top small twigs, and presto! the star- lings leave the trees. An auxiliary scheme, that of hanging stink pots in other trees, did not work s0 well. In one tree, where three of @he Foening Star Society and General WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1930. NARY A STARLING ROOSTED HERE uperintendent of trees, to trim —=Star Staff Photo. STARLINGS DEFEATED AS SAW DESTROYS ROOST IN TREETOP Turn to Eaves of Buildings in Rout From One Stronghold. the pots were hung, giving off the noxious odors of burning fuel ofl, old rags and rubber, the scheme worked. Other trees, festooned with but a single pot, harbored as many starlings as ever. The breeze wafted the odors away from the topmost’ branches, and the warmih of the burning only added to the star- lings’ nocturnal comfort. 2 Buildings Offer Refuge. Of course, when the birds leave the trees. they must go somewhere. Their favorite alternatives are the eaves and projecting ledges of nearby butldings. The ledge outside Mr. Lanham’s office, on the top floor of the District Build- ing, has come in for more than its share of attention. When asked about this, Mr. Lanham said he intended to suggest that the smudge pots be hung around the ledges of the buildings at night. How the city heads will take this idea is a matter of speculation. It is thought they are des- perate enough to do anything. Merchants on F street recently com- plained that the birds are bestowing on them of late the attentions formerly confined to Pennsylvania avenue. This problem remains officially unsolved. But if the tree problem can be solved, per- ;’mps the bullding problem is not hope- less. PLANS AIR SYSTEM FOR WHITE HOUSE Col. Grant Says Items Are Being Checked in $74,880 Bid for Repairs. Coincident with the indications today that the Charles H. Tompkins Co. of Washington, which has offered to re- pair the White House executive offices in 90 days for $74,880, will be awarded the contract tomorrow, it was disclosed that Lieut. Col. U. 8. Grant, 3d, director of public bulldings and public parks, is considering an air reconditioning system for the White House proper. Col. Grant, who returned to his desk today following & brief vacation in Clin- ton, N. Y., said officials of his office de- sire to check over the figures with the ‘Tompkins firm to make sure that all items are included. The contract, he indicated, will be signed tomorrow and work will start at once on the repair of the White House executive offices, burned in the Christmas eve fire. The program to install for the White House an air-reconditioning _system | similar to that now in use in the halls | of Congress is now in a tentative stage, Col. Grant said. While the director hesitated to name a figure for the cost of the work at the White House, m the absence of definite bids from con- tractors, he said that a tentative esti- mate would place the cost around $30,000. The system at the White House. he said, would have to be large enough to take care of the crowdea rooms in the Executive Mansion at night when a large social function is in pi ress. “This does not mean putting the system into the White House itself,” Col. Grant asserted. The air-recondi- tioning system for the White House would be calculated to improve the health and sanitary surroundings of its occupants, putting the proper amount of moisture into the air when it is lacking, and on the sultry, humid days, taking the surplus moisture out of the atmosphere. A copy of the letter will be forward- ed to Buron Pitts, Los Angeles district attorney. Fear for Hunters’ Safety. MEMPHIS, Tenn., January 3 (#).— Fears for the safety of three men who left here December 26 for a hunting trip were increased yesterday with re- rts that the wreckage of a motor boat Jdentified as theirs had been found near Helena, Ark. The hunters, Thomas Patterson, Leroy Giv“ich and Donald Hudson, had "= to return here last Sunday, but 50 \..1d has been received from them. GROUP TO PRESENT PLAY. Shakespearian Society Lists ‘Mer- chant of Venice” Feature. The Shakespeare Society of Washing- ton will present the trial scene from “The Merchant of Venice” Monday night, at 8 o'clock, in the Corcoran Art Gallery, with Dr. Earle Wilfley, pastor of _the Vermont Avenue Christian Church, playing the role of Shylock. Dr. Prancis J. Hemelt will address DISTRICT HEADS Bowman Measure Makes 3 1-2 Per Cent Interest Per Month Legal. The District Commissioners today sent to Congress a strong indorsement of the Bowman bill to regulate small loans in the District. Under the terms of the bill it would be possible for those desiring to set up in business for mak- ing loans up to $300 to collect 3, per cent interest per month on' secured or unsecured notes. This is the same rate of interest that prevails in Maryland, Virginia and 22 other States. “Experience has shown,” the report said, “that the present small loan law in the District is ineffective. This is largely due to the fact that the rate of interest which is permitted thereunder is so small as to prohibit persons from operating pursuant to its terms. This is best evidenced by the fact that not one license has been taken out under this law since it came into existence. Persons and organizations which have made an exhaustive study in the field of small loans unanimously conclude that the rate therein prescribed is such as to make it impracticable for any organ- ization to survive under its strict letter. “Philanthropic associations and or- ganizations which have gone into the field with a view to remedying the evil existing and with a view to oper- ating on a minimum cost basis and with only a slight profit have found that they cannot successfully operate without charging 2% per cent per month. In addition to this, in the ad- land there are small loan laws which permit organizations to charge 3'; per cent per month, hence another reason is presented making it infeasible for concerns to operate in this jurisdiction under the act of 1913. The result is that ‘loan sharks’ have sprung up in the field and function without regula- tion, and 1n such manner as to get per- sons who are caused by this or that necessity to borrow into such financial entanglements as never to be able to free themselves.” CHILDREN TO ORGANIZE. WADESBORO, N. C,, January 3 (#). —Plans for organizing school children the Nation over into a ‘“keeplaws league” to combat crime and disrespect for the law, were made here yesterday at a meeting of the first “Keeplaws” Chapter in the United States. The originator of the “keeplaws” “idea is n\ehmemben lot 1::,! wcérty tha ;:;ne night, us or his subject, e- speare m‘?uwflm." Mrs. Mary Bennett Little of Wades- boro, chairman of the committee on Mothers, pmouoimmem_:m'v i ar s LEADER BELIEVES COMMUNITY CHEST QUOTA WILL BE MET President 'Frederic Delano Has Faith in Generosity of Capital Folk. 118 NEW ORGANIZATIONS TO BE AIDED THIS YEAR Army of 4,000 Will Be Employed to Raise $1,750,000 Required by 1930 Budget. Approximately 200 reglonal and di- vision chairmen and team captains of the metropolitan unit of the Community Chest, in & get-together meeting last night at the Willard Hotel, heard Fred- eric A. Delano, president of the Chest, declare that there is a possibility that the Chest will have to raise about $1,750,000 this year, and that it can be done. Merritt O. Chance, chairman of the unit, presided at the meeting, which was held to acquaint the various of- ficials with their duties for the 1930 campalign, which is to be held January 28-February 6. The 200 present last night formed the nucleus of what will be developed into an army of approxi- mately 4,000 workers. Chairmen Introduced. Chairman Chance opened the meet- ing with a short talk, in which he em- phasized the importance of the task confronting the metropolitan unit, de- claring that he. expected it to raise at least 50 per cent of the fund required by the Chest this year. He then intro- duced his four regional chairmen, H. L. Rust, jr.; Simon Lyon, Radford Moses and James E. Colifiower, who, in turn, introduced their divisional chairmen, who presented team captains, Leonard W. De Gast, secretary of the unit, made a short report, explaining the progress of the various division sec- retaries in obtaining division and re- glonal headquarters, President Delano, introduced by Chairman Chance, invoked a spirit of optimism regardnig the coming cam- paign. “Before the first campaign” Mr. Delano said, “I was approached by peo- people who said that it couldn't be done; that Washington was a ‘different’ city. I told them that Washington was & ‘different’ city in that it was better than any other city, and all of you present know the result of that first campaign.” { | FAVOR LOANS BILL; joining States of Virginia and Mary- |in 18 New Chest Members. ‘The president then explained that the community faces a larger task this year, with 18 more organizations for which to provide, there being 75 af- filliated with the Chest this year, as compared with 57 last year., He men- tioned the &ooubmty of having to raise $1,750,000 year to provide for new organizations; for the increased needs of organizations already in the Chest, and for a larger service demanded by & growing city, and expressed the be- lief that it can be done. Justness of the cause, he said, combined with ‘Washington’s well known ability to “finish the job” would insure success of the drive. Workers Must “Sell” Idea. Elwood Street, director of the Chest, outlined the duties of the divisional chairmen and team captains, stressing the need of obtaining people who were more than mere “order takers.” The divisional chairmen and team captains, he said, face the task of “selling” the Chest idea to the public, and upon their salesmanship depends largely the success of the campaign. Mr. Street, too, stressed the need of greater gifts for the greater need, stat- ing that final figures would not be available until the budget committee completes its task, but indicating that figures mentioned by Mr. Delano would close to the required amount. COL. WILIAM BAIRD DIES AT AGE OF 78 Retired Cavalry Officer Served in Indian Wars and World War. Lieut. Col. William Baird, 78 years old, United States Army, retired, died at his home in the Westmoreland Apartments today after a short illness. Col. Baird, a cavalry officer, was a veteran of Indian wars. He was re- tired in 1897, but was recalled to ac- tive duty in the World War and served during a part of that conflict. He was graduated from the United States Mili- tary Academy in 1875. He had been a resident of this city for the past 15 years, and was active in several organizations. These includ- ed the Soclety of Colonial Wars, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Loyal Legion, the Society of Indian ‘Wal nd the Army and Navy Cluo. Surviving_him are his widow, Mrs. Minnie D. Baird; a son, Maj. John A. Baird of the Chemical Warfare Service, .stationed In this city, and a daughter, Mrs. W. W. Hicks, wife of Maj. Hicks, stationed at Fort Totten, N. Y. |WOMAN'S PARTY HONORS EARLY LEADER’S MEMORY ISp(mlorl Exercises Held Today on 1'7th Anniversary of Lucretia Mott's Birthday. The National Woman's Party spon- sored exercises this morning in memory of Lucretia Mott, one of three pioneers the equal-rights-for-women move- ment, on the occasion of the one hun- dred and thirty-seventh anniversary of her birth. A group of officers of the Woman's Party gathered before the statue of the leader and educator in the crypt of the Capitol while Peggy and Hope Anthony, members of Susan B. Anthony’s family, dzepto"ud & wreath at the base of the statue. PAY PENALTY FOR MURDER Two Men Electrocuted at Sing Sing for Slaying Patrolman. OSSINING, N. Y. January .- Arthur Brown, 34, and Frank Kowal- ski, 25, were electrocuted in Sing Sing Prison last night for the murder of Pa- trolman Harold Haltam after a robbery at_Buffalo, N. Y., on December 22, 1928. ‘The patrolman was slain while Brown and Kowalski and their accomplice, John Sch were fleeing the scene of a safe 3 | General view of the removal of the trees along the south side of B st teenth streets as the first step in the program to make B street the great c a fitting approach to Arlington Memorial Bridge. Natlonal Capital Park and Planning Commission. PAGE B—1 SUMMERALL SITE FOR NAVY BUILDING HIT BY LEADERS Location Suggested by Chief of Staff Not Taken Kind- ly by Naval Men. northwest between Fourteenth and Seven- onial avenue of the National Capital and B street is to be widened to a minimum of 72 feet under plans of the —Star Staff Photo. STANDARD DROPS GASOLINE PRICES Texas 0il Co. Agrees to Meet Whatever Competi- tion Arises. Your gasoline dollar will buy more motor fuel next Monday. Coincident with announcement by the Standard Oil Co. today of a reduction of 1.3 cents a gallon in both grades of gasoline sold by the company, officials of the Texas Co. announced that they would meet the price set by the Stand- ard Co. “when, as and if made.” Beginning next Monday, according to the Standard Co. of New Jersey, which controls the sale of products of the company in the Atlantic seaboard terri- tory, the price of straight gasoline in the consumers’ automobile tank will be 17.7 cents a gallon. A high-test o line sold by the Standard Co. under a trade name will cost 20.7 cents in the tank of the customer. The reduction is the largest made in the price of gaso- line in Washington in recent years, and also marks a change in the method of figuring gasoline prices. Split Even Cent. Heretofore gasoline prices have been figured on differentials of 1 cent, but the Standard Co. will sell gasoline to dealers on Monday at a price of 13.7 cents a gallon. If the dealers pass on the fractional difference to their cus- tomers, with the usual 2 cent profit, the price in consumers’ automoblile tanks will be 17.7 cents for straight “gas” and 20.7 cents for the high-test fuel, which includes the 2-cent gasoline tax in the District of Columbia. The Texas Co. made no announce- ment as to its price of gasoline, other than declaring that it would meet the reduced price of Standard “when, as, and if made.” Other companies had no announce- ment to make regarding a possible re- duction in the price of gasoline to meet the reduction announced by Standard. Standard sells today in Washington at 19 cents for the so-called straight “gas” and 22 cents for the blended product. Prices of other companies are about the same, although one company sells at & 1-cent premium over the top price for a Standard product. Baltimore Included. ‘The price reduction is effective in the ‘Washington-Baltimore territory and generally along the Atlantic seaboard. Some difference in the fractional prices for Standard “gas” will obtain from the Washington price in the communities immediately around the Capital. The price of Standard gasolines in Balti- more will be 15.2 cents and 18.2 cents, to which will be added the State tax of 4 cents. BLOOM PLANS BILL T0 CURB AD FRAUD Unauthorized Use of Federal Farm Loan Agency Denounced by Representative. To prevent promiscuous use of the name of any Federal farm loan agency in advertising, a bill will be introduced by Representative Sol Bloom, Democrat, of New York. Following promptly a statement by |the Federal Farm Board repudiating advertisements which inferred that the Federal board had agreed to absorb the stock of a California raisin concern, Representative Bloom emphasized that “‘unauthorized use of the name of any Federal farm loan agency in advertise- ments lends prestige to enterprises that are not always basically sound.” “There are so many ways of working unethically in the name of such eral agencies as the Farm Board,” Bloom said, “that I will submit a bill prohibiting that practice unléss the text of the vertisement is submitted to and approved by the Farm Board or whatever Federal loan agency is in- volved. ““With that legislation both the news- paper and the newspaper reader will be protected from fraudulent advertising,” Bloom concluded. SOCIETY TO CELEBRATE. Anniversary of Battle of New Or- leans to Be Commemorated. Addressed by Representative O'Con- nor of Louisiana, the local soclety of the United States Daughters of the War of 1812 will celebrate the anniversary of the battle of New Orleans next Wednes- day at the Jickson Statue in Lafayette Square. s Members of all local patriotic socle- ties are invited to attend the celebration. The Marine Band will render a pro- gam. “Early Bird” Denies He Gave Up Place {In Line to Women Declares One Was Passed byOfficer and Other Posed as Press Representative. J. W. Hunefeld, 225 C street north- east, White House “early bird,” did not give up his place in line to a lady at the President’s New Year reception, despite all statements to the contrary. He wouldn't do such a thing, he em- phatically declared today, because he allowed a young woman to shake the President’s hand before him in 1925 and she failed to thank him. Mr. Hunefeld came to The Star office today and explained the situation as it really happened. his story: He gets up every morning, rain or shine, holiday or week day, at 5:30 o'clock. New Year day he arose at his usual hour and went to ‘White House. He was the first to arrive and when the line started in to greet Presi- dent Hoover he was first. ‘The two women who shook the Presi- dent’s hand before him were not part of the line. One was allowed to slip in in front of the line by a policeman. ‘The othér posed as a newsg-per ‘woman interviewing him and in this character was able to get by the guard at the ‘White House gate. CAR FAREHEARING HALTED BY COURT Consideration of 10-Cent Rate on Street Lines Postponed. Justice Wheat in Equity Division 2 today continued until Wednesday, Jan- uary 15, the hearing of the applications of the Capital Traction Co. and the Washington Railway & Electric Co. for a 10-cent fare and the motion of the Public Utilities Commission to dismiss both appeals from the decision of the commission refusing the application for the fare increase on the theory that the companies had not shown the neces- sity for such increases. Attorney Dunlop's Views. Attorney G. Thomas Dunlop, repre- senting the Capital Traction Co., told the court that both applications should be heard together and asked that the court set a date for the hearing. He said Corporation Counsel Bride and Assist- ant Corporation Counsel West would not be ready for a hearing before the week beginning January 13. Attorney 8. R. Bowen, representing the Wash- ington Railway & Electric Co., con- curred in the request for a special date for the hearing. Dunlop pointed out to the court that the law gives precedence to appeals from the Public Utilitles Commission over the other business of the court, but Justice Wheat suggested that such precedence is also given by law to con- demnation proceedings. He set the case down for January 15, subject to business then pending Corporation Counsel Replies. In his motion to dismiss Corporation Counsel Bride pointed out that the companies had not exhausted their remedies before the commission, since the decision has left the way open for the introduction of further evidence to substantiate the claims for an increase. ‘The Capital Traction Co. in its ap- peal asks the court to fix the rate of fare pending hearing, so0 as to give temporary relief to the company from the ‘wnlawful, unreasonable and con- fiscatory condition to which it is now being subjected by the enforcement of the existing rates of fare.” ARTHUR ROBINSON 10 SUGGEED EDGE for Foreign Relations Committee Place. Senator Arthur R. Robinson of Indiana is slated to fill the vacancy in the Senate foreign relations committee | caused by the resignation of Walter Edge of New Jersey, now Ambassador to France, it was reported today. ‘The Indiana Senator belongs to the anti-World Court group in the Senate. He was one of 17 who voted against American adherence to the Court in 1926. His appointment to the forei relations committee may encourage the anti-Court group and is not likely to meet with the approval of those who favor American adherence to the Court under the so-called Root formula. ‘The question of adherence to the court is to come before the Senate again at a time which the President considers opportune, it has been ex- plained. Senator Goff of West Virginia is to have the Edge place on the Senate finance committee under the rule of senlority, it is understood. The pro- gressives have been demanding that this place go to Senator La Follette of Wisconsin. There will be another committee, however, caused by the resignation of Senator Sackett, who is to go to Ger- many as Aml T, t place may go to Senator La Follette. MINOR ROBBERIES NOTED BY POLICE DEPARTMENT Andrew Thonias Reports Theft of $174 While He Slept—Pocket- book Snatched; Motor Stolen. Several minor robberies, including the loss of $174 by Andrew Thomas, 1739 Seventh street, were reported to the police yesterday. Thomas said the money was taken from his pocket while he slept in his home. Mrs. Laura V. McLean, 319 D street northeast, reported that a young white man snatched her pocketbook contain- ing $4 as she was about to enter her home about 5:30 o'clock in the after- noon. The thief boarded an automobile and drove away. Loss of a motor valued at $200 was taken from a boat house near Benning Bridge was reported by James E. Scott, 1248 Ninth street. James P. Beach, 419 Eighteenth street southeast, reported his store had been entered by burglars since December 31. The store is located at 2306 L street. A quantity of cigarettes and candy was missing. WASHINGTON AERO CLUB T0 ELECT NEW OFFICERS Choice Will Be Mere Formality, Since Only One Person Is Named for Each Post. The annual meeting and election of officers of the Aero Club of Washington will be held following & luncheon in the New Willard Hotel at 12:30 p.m. Mon- day, January 13. lIndiana Senator Is Slated| WANT NEW BUILDING NEAR PRESENT AREA Map Prepared to Show Proximity of Employes’ Homes to Place of Employment. Navy Department officials fail to take kindly to a suggestion credited to Gen. Charles P. Summerall, chief of staff of the Army, that the War De- partment and the Navy Department be housed in new_structures in the area south of the Botanic Gardens. The naval officials favor the erection of a new Navy Department Building between Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets and New York avenue, near the Interior Department, on a location which fs near the present Navy Department Bullding at Seventeenth and B streets. One of the main reasons for this, the officials pointed out today, is that a great number of Navy and Marine Corps officers and civilian employes at the Navy Department live in the vicin- ity of the building, in the large apart- ment houses lying in the area between the Naval Hospital and the Pan-Amer- ican Building. As evidence of this, a large map is being prepared in the Bureau of Yards and Docks, with the home of each Navy and Marine Corps officer and civilian employe marked with a red dot. The red dots are thick in the vicinity of the Navy Department, and naval colonies are shown in Clarendon and Alexandria, Va., in Brookland and Chevy Chase and along Wisconsin ave- nue. The bulk of the personnel lives in the northwest section of the city, the naval officials explained, and to move the department elsewhere would create a serious traffic problem. Widening Is Begun. ‘The widening of B street, just east of the Navy Department, was started yes- terday, and this brings more to a focus the question of the proposed Navy i Building. The present temporary struc- ture, built during the World War, will have to be taken off the Mall, under the program of the National Capital Park and Planning Commission. The g of the presidential executive of- fices on Christmas eve, with the re- sultant agitation for a new War Depart- ment Building, has likewise brought the question into strong relief. Another argument used in favor of keeping the Navy Department some- Where near its present location is that quite frequently questions of interna- tlonal policy, in which the Marine Corps is involved, must be taken up with the State Department and the White House, and it is necessary that the Navy De- partment be located near these units of the executive branch of the Govern- ment. Further, the naval officials say, it 18 desirable to have all the cabinet officers quickly available. should an emergency arise. The present Navy Department Build- ing is considered by officials to be one of the best built’ of the temporary war-time structures and is designated as semi-permanent. The officials have given the present Navy Department Building a lifetime of 25 years, but in View of the fact that President Hoover ihas taken a keen interest in an ac- celerated public building program, the hopes of the Navy for a new head. quarters have been appreciably bright- ened. The officials recalled today that the present Veterans’ Bureau Building was origi designed as a new Navy Department, but former Secretary Wil- liam G. McAdoo took over the plans for the structure and the Navy De- partment has remained without rroper provision in the public buildings pro- gram. U. S. Owns Land. The Federal Government ovns much of the land in the New York avenuy and Eighteenth street area, the officials sald, whereas a move to the area south of the Botanic Garden would neces- sitate the purchase of entirely new land. Tentative plans are under consider- ation by the naval officials to provide underground automobile parking for the department employes when a new struc- ture is built. AUTO TAG BUYERS i GET READY FOR 1930 14,600 Applicants Served First Sale Day—Yesterday's Receipts Reach Total of $44,400.82. The lines that formed at the District Building automobile tag sale today were considerably smaller than those yester- day and appeared to be moving some- what faster. The first day's rush accounted for the sale of about 4,600 tags. The num- ber of tags which had been sold in De- cember and for which the price was credited yesterday brought the amount paid up to $16,205. The tags which were sold in December were those for There has been only one nomination for each office presented to the board of governors, and the election will be merely a formality. The new officers will be Adolf K. Barta, president; Dr. George K. Lewis, Admiral D. W. Tay- lor and Brig. Gen. William E. Gillmore, vice presidents; Lawrence E. Williams, secretary; Dr. W. G. Brombacher, treas- urer, and Lieut. Col. C. de F. Chandler, O. Squier and Dr. A. F. Zahm, trus- !:ec‘ Col. Chandler is retiring presi- lent. ‘Thomas H. Powers, 70-year-old Police g‘r“t::nm ruz emllnnamo his verse fore hz ‘was hurried off to jail for 30 in court within three days for bel drunk. l#n‘e man, who was exonerated on several occasions by Judge Robert E. !ln"ln"ly after he had impressed the court with such of his works as “Whisky Did It All” and “There Are No Bar- rooms in Heave: failed to obtain sympathy from Judge Isaac R. Hitt, t days, when he made a second appear- | j POEM WASTED ON JUDGE HITT, WHO GIVES MAN, 70, THIRTY DAYS “Greatest of My Works” Pocketed as Futile Third of Liberty-Winning Series. Powers pleaded that he be given a chance to read aloud the “greatest of my works.” But, Judge Hitt, evidently fearing that he might weaken as other Jue have done, said: “No,” with a Judicial wave of his hand in the di- rection of the lock-up. ‘The poet, seated on a familiar bench of the court “dock.,” refused to w even i t'h‘n.u ;‘rd:l ua lendjl‘eo'.z' of dn to and you jus and see how long I stay here.” Prof. C. F. Marvin, Ma). Gen. George |14 commercial vehicles only. . _The collector of taxes took in $44,- 400.82 in automobile taxes and tag fees yesterday. Of this, $16,205 was for tags :.nd $28,195.82 for personal property X The figures today will be much lower, since there will no accumulation of De- cember money to be put on the books. The total taken by the tax collectors’ omceoo}éesurdny from all sources was GOV. MOODY DECLINES TO REMOVE VALLS ‘Will Take No Action Until Charges Against District Attorney Are Investigated. By the Assoclated Press. AUSTIN, Tex., January 3.—Gov. Dan Moody will take no action on a petition of Laredo business men to remove Dis- trict Attorney John Valls from office until Attorney General R. L. Bobbitt ln'fifl"nul charges brought against Valls. ‘The governor late yesterday an- nounced his intention to withhold ac- tion, after his third conference with O. W. Killam and Hal Brennan of Laredo, who brought here petitions containing the signatures of 1,600 persons, request- ing that the prosecutor's appointment to the office be withdrawn.