Evening Star Newspaper, March 2, 1930, Page 17

- WASHINGTON §2.500,000 5 COST OF AIRPORT UNDER PLANOF U.5. LOAN Joint Commission Indicates Sum D. C. Would Borrow on Non-Interest Terms. REPORT MAY BE READY TOMORROW Outlines Taking Over of Two Fields—C. of C. Opposed to City Paying All. Following the announcement yester- day that the proposed District airport development near the south end of Highway Bridge is to be financed by a loan from the Federal Treasury that ‘would be paid back in full by the Dis- trict without interest, it was indicated last night that this cost would be ln‘ the neighborhood of $2.500,000. | Pending completion of the recom- mendations to be submitted to Congress at an early date, the joint congres- sional airport commission has not dis- closed the cost figures, but it was re- ported last night as likely that they would be near the foregoing amount. Senator Bingham of Connecticut, chairman, said the commission's de- talled report might be completed by tomorrow, outlining in detail the plan agreed upon by the commission to ob- tain an airport without delay by tak- ing the two existing flying fields at the Virginia end of the bridge, and adding to them a portion of the Agri- cultural Experimental Farm and a part of Columbia Island. Gravelly Point would be kept in mind for future de- velopment, when filled in by the Gov- ernment. Origin of Loan Plan. The plan the commission has de- cided to recommend for financing the airport development by advancing the funds from the Federal Treasury and having the District pay it back in an- naul instalments over a period of years, is copied from the Cramton bill for the proposed development of the park system. The airport commission re) is expected. to lose the peri of time within which the District would have to reimburse the Treasury. This plan of financing is a far- reaching change from the proposal that was before Congress last year. At that time the commission recommended a resolution under which the Federal Government would have appropriated $500,000 for the purchase of options on | airport sites. The understanding at that time was that whatever additional amount was required to develop and complete the airport would be met by the %mflct its annual appropriation bills. Senatér Bingham indicated yes- terday that it wae felt by the commis- sion that action could not be obtained at this time on that method of meeting | the cost. 1 Policy of Congress. | ‘The present policy of Congress in handling the District appropriation bill is to appropriate a lump sum of $9,000,~ 000 a year as the Federal share in main- tal the city, the remainder of the anni tion bill being met by the District. If the lump sum remains the same, the annual installments to- ward the cost of the airport would widen still further the ratio of expense between the Federal and District Gov- ernments. Interviews with representatives of ‘Washington's three leading trade bodies yesterday revealed that while none of the organizations is enthusiastic con- cerning the plan to place the entire cost | of the airport on the District, only the | Chamber of Commerce expressed ltul(] as unwilling to bear the burden in or- | der to obtain the flying field. Lieut. Walter Hinton, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce aviation committee, pointed out that the Federal Government would be benefited by the airport and should pay a portion of the cost. The amount required for the development, approximated at not less than $2,000,000, was said by the trans- atlantic fiyer to be an exorbitant price to pay for a temporary fleld. “Only Feasible Site.” Both the Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade have urged that even though a temporary airport be developed, Gravelly Point should be looked upon as the only feasible site for & permanent flying fleld. In a prepared statement, Hm;_ohn dec]lredli ok saeints “The proposal ncur a $2,500. indebtedness to be repaid from District funds for an airport for temporary use | only is one which will astonish every | Washington business man. Every | qualified expert who has studied the | problem admits that the Washingtcn Alrport, even with the addition of adjacent areas, cannot be adequate for the ultimaie airport requirements of the National Capital. To saddle all of this huge expense upon the District taxpayers is not only unfair to them— because the Federal Government would share in the benefits—but would post- pone indefinitely the securing of the Gravelly Point airport, which admitted- ly is the only final solution of Wash- ington’s airport problem. “It is my firm belief that no legisla- | tion to secure a temporary airport should be introduced at this time un- less it includes provision for the com- mencement at once of the necessary work to construct the Gravelly Point ! Airport. It is my further belief that| £2,500,000 would be an excessive in- Lieut. vestment for a temporary airport and | that any recommendation to this effect should be opposed unitedly by all Dis- ! trict citizens. A fairer proposal would | be to lease for a term of years at al Teasonable rental such land as may be ! required for temporary airport use and 1o save our money for the big expense which the Gravelly Point project will| entail.” | Opposition to Be Asked. Lieut. Hinton said he would call for immediate action by the chamber op- posing the recommendation. This may iake place at a special meeting of the aviation committee tomorrow, or dis- cussion of the matter may be delayed until the regular meeun“ of the board of directors Tuesday night. The proposed , site, _including the hington Airport, Hoover Field, a portion of the Department of Agri- culture’s experimental farm and Co- lumbia Island, was first advanced pub- licly by Lawrence E. Willlams, chair- man of the Board of Trade's aviation committee, in the course of a radio ad-; dress about the middle of last week. At | the time he made no reference to a plan | for financing the project. ‘The board may be in favor of the plan as outlined by Senator Hiram Bingham, Mr. Willlams declared yes- terday, provided the District is to be; iven a reasonable time to repay the loan. “The cost would be less than 25 cents per square foot,” he declared, “and WASHINGTON, B €, SUNDAY The Sundawy Stae ARCH 2, 1930. MORNING, SPRING'S IN AIR AT THE ZOO:. | N'GI MAKES HIMSELF A DRESS Baby Gorilla Shows Real Craftsmanship and Exhibits Vain Pride in Product Made From Shame of nakedness, it is sald, came to Father Adam and Mother Eve in the Garden of Eden through the machi- nations of the devil. u;lco Stiff collars, tight dshm. ;ng stockings, costly evening dresses an all the rest luy the work of Lucifer— curses on him. But what has induced the Prince of Dar] to start his dirty work alj over again in the National Zoological Park, where N'gi, the baby gorilla, has Just made himself a dress out of an old burlap bag and is wearing it? Apparently it was an original impulse, says Dr. Willlam M. Mann, Zoo direc- tor, and not just “apeing” on the part of the little gorilla, whose amusing child-like behavior has made him Washington's faverite pet. N'gi, con- sidering that he is an ape, is not much of an imitator and he certainly has no instinctive urge to cover his naked- ness, which for countless generations has been held perfectly proper in the best gorilla society. But the fact remains that he has made himself a dress with real crafts- Eulxahlp and takes a vain sort of pride Procedure Is Unmonkeylike. N'gi_procedure was quite unmonkey- like, Dr. Mann reports. For example, a young orang-utan at the Zoo, now dead, used to wrap a burlap bag about him, but never did anything to change the form of it into an article of cloth- ing. But the gorilla, poking his ‘head into the bag, proceeded, slowly and carefully, to make a hole at the other end for his hea Perhaps, says Dr. Mann, there was little hole anyway and he merely enlarged it. When this neck-hole was completed he had something which could be worn like a dress. It apparently was a real invention on N'gi’s part. But the gl‘flll was not satisfied. He wanted get the bag over his arms and tore it some more. The dress was spoiled. Now it slips down over his body. But he still is tinkering with it and likes to put it on every now and then, when he is playing before company As he grows older, Dr. Mann says, N'gi is becoming very much stronger and less awkward. He also is develop- ing a spoiled child attitude. When the or one of the keepers enters his cage he sometimes retires to a cor- ner and pretends to ignore them—ob- Burlap Bag. viously a pretense since he is inwardly delighted 1o have company. But when the visitor starts to leave without no- ticing him, he runs forward and holds out a hand pathetically, as if begging to be scratched or petted. Here's His Latest Trick. His latest stunt, Dr. Mann says, is to stick his head in an aluminum pan and push it across the floor. He does not seem to lose his fondness of per- forming for company and never seems thoroughly happy except when he has an_audience. Despite his childlike behavior, says Dr. Mann, N'gi does not seem to be de- | veloping any gestures with meaning or | any sounds with definite significance, such as are made sometimes by Soko, the big chimpanzee next door. Soko has something approaching & rudi- | mentary language, especially for talk- ing with Headkeeper William H. Black- burn. He will combine a “b-zz2z” with a gesture to summon Mr. Blackburn to his cage. This particular symbol ap- parently has no other meaning. |, Some of the higher animals, includ- ing Soko, Dr. Mann says, seem to have a curlous sense of the approach of Spring, although they have spent the | Winter in a steam-heated building with | no change in temperature and can ob- serve nothing outside. Yet they know | Spring is coming. Soko will call Mr. | Blackburn and then tap meaningly on the door leading to the outside. He is aware that it is about time for him to be let out. The same behavior has been observed with the female ele- phant. Contented inside during the Winter, she now will stand in front of the door opening on her outside pen and bellow repeatedly. Zoo Gets New Animal. The hide alone of the great female | hippopotamus which died at the Zoo | & few weeks ago weighted 1,347 pounds, Dr.. Mann said -yesterday. She was one of the largest animals in captivity. The meat stripped from the bones weighed 2,309 pounds. ‘The Zoo collection was increased this | week by a South American son, a | curious combination of a weasle and a polecat, which abounds over the south- | ern continent. ~ Originally purchased through a mistake in identity for a | bush 1:0[’, it probably‘will be allowetl ‘to ' remain. ADVERTISING CLUBS PREPARE PROGRAM Federation Leaders Expect Big Attendance at Wash- ington Session. Large delegations from 23 affiliated national organizations and 150 local clubs will attend the twenty-sixth an- | nual convention of the Advertising Fed- eration of America at the Willard Hotel here May 18, it was announced yesterday by Gilbert T. Hodges of the New York Sun, following a conference of prominent advertising men who are in Washington to make plans for the conclave. Besides Mr. Hodges, the men who attended yesterday's meeting included Walter A. Strong, publisher of the Chi- cago Daily News, and Earle Pearson, general manager of the Advertising Federation of America. Local adver- tisers who sat with the visitors in- cluded Ernest S. Johnston, president of the Washington Advertising Club; James Rotto, first vice president, and Charles J. Columbus, managing director. “Our present estimate of attendance far exceeds our earlier expectations,” Mr. Hodges, who is general chairman of the coming convention, said yester- day. “We find that our 23 affiliated national associations, which represent every branch of advertising and pub- lishing and our 150 local advertising clubs are making extensive plans to| send large delegations to Washington in Mexico City, which has a com- paratively new advertising club, reports a move on foot to bring the largest delegation that ever attended one of our conventions. The federation sent 1,500 American delegates to the interna- tional advertising convention in Berlin, Germany, last year, and had the largest registration at that convention, which included delegates from 15 continental countries and Great Britain.” Mr. Johnston assured the national officers that the Natlonal Capital is | prepared to entertain a record attend- ance and that facilities not only for entertainment but for research would be adequate. DR. SZE IS HONORED BY CAPITAL FRIENDS Former Classmates at Central High Pay Respects to Chinese Diplomat. Dr. Sao-ke Alfred Sze, China's Am- bassador to Great Britain, was hcnor guest at an informal luncheon tendered him at the Raleigh Hotel yesterday afternoon by his old friends and fel- low members of the Central High School alumni. Dr. Sze, who was graduated from Central in 1897, made a brief talk. Miss Mildred Dean, former classmate | of the Chinese diplomat and now a member of the Central faculty, pre- sided over yesterday's luncheon. Be- sides Dr. Sze, four or five members of his family attended the local high school in former years. At present Dr. Sze is enjoying a 10- day visit to the Capital before proceed- | ing to Great Britain. situated as the land is, between two | bridges and in a rapidly growing section of Virginia, it would be a good invest- ment under any circumstances. I only wish I could buy it at that price my- self. I don’t think there is any ques- tion the proposition will meet with the approval of the board.” President E. J. Murphy of the trade board suggested that the place “will save the District money in the long run,” since a site would cost much more if its purchase were delayed, and mean- while the lack of airport facilities would mean a serious loss to business. Senator Bingham's airport is contiguous to Gravelly Point, which is owned by the Government, and could thus be ex- fnnded without the acquisition of more land.” Mark Lansburgh, newly elected presi- dent of the Merchants & Manufac- turers’ Association, said that if it was imposible to obtain Gravelly Point "l‘; woul favor an adjacent site. As to the method of financing, he said, the board of direc- tors will meet March H.‘ consider this Merchants & Manufacturers question. |Secrecy Advised As Army Engineers Are Transferred ‘ SR |Maj.Gen. Brown Ends Old | Custom of Gossiping Over Assignments, Introducing & radical change in the system of noll{{in[ Army officers of | change of station, Maj. Gen. Lytle | Brown, the new chief of Army En- | gineers, has begun notifying officers of |their tentative selection with a solemn warning to keep it a tight secret within the confines of the family circle. As thousands in Washington know, & new assignment for an Army officer is something really worth talking about. It means new work, new residence, new | 2xperiences, new friends. | Letters informing officers of their ten- | tative selections carry the injunction | that the information is to be disclosed at this time “only to the members of your immediate family.” This means that the secret must be kept dark until official orders are pub- lished by the War Department. IMEETING ON PARK BILL | CALLED FOR MARCH 11 | | Public Hearing on Cramton Meas- | ure Appropriating $23,000,000 | Is Scheduled by Capper. |, Chairman Capper of the Senate Dis- trict committee decided yesterday to hold a public hearing on the night of March 11 on the Cramton park de- velopment bill, passed by the House, authorizing $23,000,000 for extension of the park system in Washington and in the surrounding territory of Maryland and Virginia. Of that amount, $16,000,000 would be spent within the District, the money to be advanced from the Federal ‘Treasury to permit early development, and reimbursed by the District without interest in annual installments. The remainder would be used to de- velop the George Washington Memorial Parkway along both banks of the Po- tomac from Mount Vernon and Fort ‘Washington to Great Falls, and to ex- tend the Rock Creek and Anacostia parks into Maryland. The Federal Government would be reimbursed for part of the cost of these projects in Maryland and Virginia. BULLETIN LI.STS EVENTS. Library Publication Is Index to Entertainment and Instruction. _Several lectures, study courses, ex- { hibits and dramatic and musical recitals are listed for the month of March in fthe Public Library’s Bulletin No. 3 on | “Informal Educational Opportunities in | Washington.” This bulletin, initiated in October as a bi-monthly publication, has become 80 popular that it has been enlarged to cover a wider range of events, and is issued now every month. Contrary to | Popular belief that lectures and musical events decrease here after February, the ) current issue of the bulletin indicates | there still are many opportunities . for | educational and recreational enjoyment. i = e ARKANSAS CITIZENS MEET. lsma Society Elects Representative Fuller as President. Representative Claude Fuller was elected president of the Arkansas State Soclety which met last night at the Lafayette Hotel. Representative Fuller succeeds Mrs. T. H. Caraway, wife of the Arkansas Senator. Other officers chosen last night were Mrs. J. L. Horner and Maj. Brehon B. Somervell, vice president; Maj. Robert W. Brown, secretary, and Hugh Brew- ster, treasurer. Representative W. J. Driver of the same State spoke briefly, and the meet- ing was completed by dancing and re- freshments. Play to Be Given at Bowie. BOWIE, Md., March 1 (Special).— The program committee of the Bowie P.-T. A. has decided the play “Mary'’s Other Husband” will be March 7, at St. James Hall, Bowle. Rehearsals have | been going on for some time under the direction of Mra Carolyn Bischoff. i CHESTS BUDGET INREASES CJ1 10 NEET SHORTAGE Only 55 Per Cent of Added Sums to Be Allowed Members. EMERGENCY NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF Agencies Which Asked Only 1929 Fund Totals for 1930 Will Not Be Decreased. Due to the shortage of $180,000 in the Community Chest campaign for 1930, Corcoran Thom, chairman of the Chest’s budget committee, yesterday announced necessary changes in the budgeting plan for the 75 aMliated organizations. Full budgets will be maintained, if necessary, for family welfare and relief organizations pressed by unemployment. For those agencies which were granted increases in their original budgets, only 55 per cent of the increases for 1930 will be allowed. There will be no changes, it was announced, in the bud- gets of organizations which are no larger for 1930 than during the previous year. “‘We are sorry we cannot make ap- propriations on the basis of the full budgets of member agencies as approved for 1930 after very careful scrutiny of community needs by the budget com- mittee,” said Mr. Thom. “The present shortage of $180,000 makes necessary the postponement of many extensions and improvements in service which should have been financed and which ultimately must be financed.” Other Appropriations Possible.” “With the $120,000 additional sub- scribed over last year's amount and with a surplus of approximately $90,000 from the subscriptions ‘of 1929, the bud- get committee is doing its best to meet emergency needs. If more funds are made available during the year, addi- tional appropriations may be made in view of the unprecedented severity of the unemployment situation.” Mr. Thom said appropriations now recommended total $1,551,225.20, plus $60,000 for a contingent fund to meet emergency needs of relief-giving activi- ties which probably will have to have at least the full amounts of their 1930 budgets. This makes a total of $1,611,~ 225.20 for expenditure. “This total appropriation is $5000 more than our subscriptions for the year 1930, but we estimate that this additional $5,000 will come from the surplus of last year,” he said. “The rest of the m{gl\u of 1929 will, we be- lieve, cover the usual shrinkage on pledges due to death, removal, duplica- tion, etc., amounting to 5 per cent of the amount subscribed for 1930. Expense Put at 6 Per Cent. “Community Chest expense for the year 1930, based upon this successful experience of 1929, is figured at only 6 per cent of the amount subscribed, covering campaign, administration and all other expenses, as compared with from 15 per cent to 20 per cent under the old system of separate appeals. “Detailed budgets of member agen- cies will not be finally settled until the agencies have had a chance to act on the recommendations of the budget committee. All budgets revised on the basis of these recommendations must be in the Community Chest office ready for final and detailed consideration of the budget committee by April 1. Prop- er advances will be made to organiza- tions up to that time.” Based on the present situation, the budget committee, with the approval of the executive committee, forwarded its recommendations to member organiza- tions. Among other things, the com- mittee recommended: ““The budget committee shall confirm all ‘appropriations to member agencies for the vear 1930 as tentatively made, where the 1930 approved budget does not exceed the 1929 budget together with the cash on hand on January 1 1929 (when the amount of that cash on hand was not included as part of the 1929 Chest budget). This guaran- tees all budgets of agencies which are no_greater in their requirements for 1930 than they were for 1929.” Members Asked to Help. Member organizations whose budgets are thus confirmed are requested to effect whatever savings possible without undue sacrifice to their work or to se- cure certain increases in income, if pos- sible, so that further funds may be made available to agencies whose full budgets cannot be granted in spite of the need which exists. Any savings which thus can be reported will be put in the contingent fund for emergency use. The recommendations further state: ‘‘To all agencies whose appropriations for the year 1930 as tentatively made by the budget committee are in excess of the Chest appropriation for 1929 and the cash on hand on January 1, 1929, the budget committee at the present time appropriates the 1929 amount, in- cluding cash on hand on January 1, 1929, plus 55 per cent of the additional amount tentatively budgeted for 1930. “Member agencies may make up this necessary reduction in the Community Chest appropriation either by increased income from patients or clients or by reduction of expenses to bring the nec- essary amount from the Community Chest within the amount appropriated; provided that after the budget of ex- pense originally approved for 1930 has been met by such additional income, any excess income shall reduce the amount required of the Chest. “The budget committee requests, for the reasons already stated, that all member agencies in considering the necessary revision of their budgets on this 55 per cent of increase basis, con- sider also whether or not a less amount than this 55 per cent increase over 1929 may be sufficient to meet their needs.” WOMAN REPORTED HI WHILE BOARDING CAR Auto Driver Is Arrested Pending Probe of Accident to Mrs. Mary Griffith. Struck by an automobile while she is sald to have been in the act of boarding a street car in the 4900 block of Wis- consin avenue about 10 o'clock last night, Mrs. Mary Griffith, 63, of the Kew Gardens Apartment, Twenty-sev- enth and Q streets, was reported to have been seriously injured. The driver of the car, John Wiseman, colored, 30, of 1508 Tenth street northeast, was ar- rested by fourteenth precinct police and is being held pending an investigation of the accident. Mrs. Griffith was taken to Georgetown Hospital by Robert Thompson, 1620 M street. Hospital of 1s say she has a fractured skull and severe body bruises. PENSION PROPOSAL 1S SCORED BY PRATT AS DISCRIMINATORY Police Superintendent Says There Can Be No Distinction Over Death Causes. FIRE CHIEF INDORSES i McLEOD’S MEASURE Bill Would Give $5,000 to Widows of Men Killed or Injured Fa- tally in Line of Duty. Vigorous opposition was registered yes- terday by Maj. Henry G. Pratt, superin- | tendent of police, against the McLeod bill providing for the payment of u,ooo‘ to the widows of policemen and firemen i killed in line of duty or who die as the | result of injuries received in line of | duty. | Maj. Pratt made known his objection ! to the bill in a report tc the District | Commissioners. A report on the same | bill also was received by the Commis- sioners from Fire Chief George S. Wat- | son, who only indorsed it because he | belleves - it would materially assist | widows of policemen and firemen. Both | Watson and Pratt, however, agreed that the bill is discriminatory on the theory | that there can be no distinction be- | tween the distress of a widow of a mem- | ber of either department who loses his | life as a result of violence in the dis- charge of a duty and one whose death has been caused by illness or disease | contracted in the line of duty. All Accept Hatzards. “When men join the Police or Pire Department,” 'Maj. Pratt declared, “they accept the hazard of the service and their families know and realize that they may be called upon to give their lives in the performance of their duties at any time, the only concern of the policeman or fireman being that his wife and dependents be given ad- equate pension when death does occur. “Therefore, the enactment of such leTulnwn as that contemplated in the bill would cause feeling on the part of the widows who are not to be benefited. However, if Congress believes that the widows of the two departments are in- adequately provided for, such remedy as they desire to make should be in the form of additional pension to all, and while I have no desire to discourage Congress from bestowing benefits on any particular class, yet I cannot rec- ommend the enactment of the bill re- ferred to in its present form, but do recommend that the Commissioners in reporting upon this bill advise Con- gress of the necessity of increasing the amount of relief afforded all widows of policemen and firemen, regardless of the manner in which their husbands met death, if it is deemed that the present $60 per month is insufficient 3 provide a comfortable living for em.” Fire Chief Watson said he did not | believe “that in providing relief for | widows of policemen and firemen, any | distinction should be made in favor of certain class, but that all should be eated alike and be given relief in an amount sufficient to at least provide for their care without hardship.” Watson Accepts Substitute. | Watson said that since the House ! District committee apparently feels that it is not practical at the present | time to afford relief to all widows by means of increased monthly allowances, and since the pre bill will ma- terially assist the widows of policemen and firemen who were killed in the actual discharge of duty, he favors its enactment. gl s MASS MEETING CALLED TO DICUSS CONVENTION Members of Christian Church Con- gregations Will Make Plans Tomorrow Night. To discuss the international conven- tions of the Disciples of Christ, or Christian Church, which will be heid in Washi next October, coincident with dedication the National Chris- tlon Church, now being erected at Thomas Circle, a mass meeting of mem- bers of the denomination in this eity and vicinity has been called for tomor- row night at 8 o'clock at the Ninth Street Christlan Church, northeast, Rev. H. C. Armstrong and Rev. H. G. Holloway, national executives of the church from Indianapolis, will address the meeting. Maj. W. W. Kirby is chairman of the local general committee for the con- ventions. DR. HICKS TO LECTURE. Junjor League to Present Psychol- ogist Tomorrow Afternoon. “Discipline of the Child” will be the topic of a lecture to be delivered to- morrow afterncon at 4:30 o'clock by Dr. J. Allan Hicks, psychologist, at the Willard Hotel. The talk will be the third of a series under the auspices of the Junior League of Washington. On March 10 Alice Van Lee Carrick will lecture on her book, “Next to Nothing House,” dealing with early American furniture, glass, pewter and other collections. L STAGE DINNER DANCE. Civil Service Commission Employes Honor Leaders at Mayflower. ‘The fifth annual dinner-dance of the employes of the United States Civil Service Commission was held last night at the Mayflower Hotel. A reception was held for George R. Wales and Jes- sie Dell, civil service commissioners; Chief Examiner Howard A. Edson, and Secretary John T. Doyle. First prize in a poster contest held in connection with the dinner-dance was wor by James S. Crawford. Awards were also made to Edwy Reeves, Carlton Gloyd and Wesley Rudd. BRIDGE TO AID ORPHANS. Good Hope Home Happiness Club Sponsors Party for Tuesday. The Happiness Club of the Good Hope Orphans’ Home is sponsoring a bridge party for the benefit of the home Tues- day at the Thomas Circle Club, 1326 Massachusetts avenue. Mrs. Edmund O, Carl and Mrs. A. Lee Schrader are in charge of arrangements. ‘The club was host to the children of 3 the home a week ago, the event being a George Washington birthday party. PARK RECREATION EXPANSION IS PLAN Canoe Regatta and Opening of Two Swimming Pools on Program. Recreational facilities of the park system of Washington are to be ex- PAGE B-—1 D.C. ALLEY CENSUS ORDERED T0 MAKE CLEAN-UP POSSIBLE Park and Planning Body Pre- pares to Abolish Worst Dwellings. HIDDEN COMMUNITIES HELD CRIME CENTERS | panded in preparation for the Spring | and Summer seasons, according plans announced yesterday by the Wel- fare and Recreational Association of Public Buildings and Grounds, Inc, of which Lieut. Col. U, §. Grant, 3d, is the head. fodl At the same time it was announced | that a canoe regatta is to be held on the Tidal Basin during June. It is ex- pected a cup will be donated for this event in memory of Charles J. Bell, the late civic leader, banker and philan- thropist. The McKinley swimming pool at Lincoln road and R street northeast and the Francis swimming pools at Twenty-fifth and N streets are to be opened about May 30. Contracts have now been let for the installation of two miniature golf putt- ing courses, one to be located at Sev- enteenth and B streets, adjoining the tennis courts, and the other at Twenty- fifth and N streets, adjoining the Francis swimming pools. Both are to be lighted for night playing and work on these is to be started before the middle of the month and they are ex- pected to be ready for use on or before April 1. Work has now been started on the tennis courts. Some of these are to be given an entirely new surfacing and F. W. Hoover, the association’s general manager, promises that “all will be in excellent shape by the time the season opens,” which is expected to be about the middle of April. “In addition to the usual tournament held on the public parks courts, the courts will be the scene this year of the national public parks tournament,” Col. Grant explained. ‘The Tidal Basin boat house, which has been operated by a private conces- sionaire, has been taken over by the association and “an attempt will be made by the association to arouse greater interest in the people of Wash- ington in the Tidal Basin,” the an- nouncement said. Col. Grant pointed out that night lighting equipment was installed in the McKinley pool late last season, but not in time to be of service for night swim- ming. A suitable lighting system is to be installed before the season opens at the Francis pools so that night swim- ming will be available there, also. The colonel explained that the swimming meets which were successfully staged at both pools last vear will be repeated this year, but will be run off earlier in | the season. With reference to the two miniature golf putting courses, Col. Grant pointed out that this type of course, with artifi- cial greens, while new to Washington, has proved very popular in the South and is rapidly extending its popularity to the North. Col. Grant offered this explanation of just how the system will be worked: “‘A putter and ball is supplied with each ticket, to be used for the round and turned in upon the completion of play. In addition, damage done to the arti- ficial green by high heels can be quickly repaired, so that it is not necessary to require any particular type of shoe.” BOY HIT BY AUTO. Six-year-old Frank Cantrell of 127 West, Brndle! lane, Chevy Chase, Md., was knocked down by an automobile late yesterday as he was crossing Con- necticut avenue 3 Chevy Chase, Md., driver of the car, took the child to a nearby physican who treated him for lacerations to his head and bruised knees, lhakml hands, was an interested spec- tator. Lower: Raymond Sparks, new assist- ant corporation counsel, succeeding Keech. —Star Staff Photos. BANK ;RESIDENT BALKS ATTEMPTED HOLD-UP Opens Fire on Bandits, Who Escape After Wounding Three Policemen. By the Associated Press. HUMBOLT, I, March 1—Two would-be bank robbers found more than their r# tch today in John W. Poorman, president of the Pirst National Bank. He not only prevented them from rob- bing the bank, but sounded an alarm that brought police from Mattoon, who engaged them in a pistol fight in which | three policemen were wounded. The | bandits finally escaped, but posses were | still looking for them tonight. | When the pair entered the bank and | started to herd employes in a cage, | Poorman dropped to the floor, wrig- | gled to a conference room in the rear, | got & pistol and opened fire, After ex- | changing several shots he escaped from the bank, unnoticed by the bandits, and | summoned aid. The bandits dropped | their loot, fled from the bank, jumped | into an automobile and sped toward Mattoon, only to encounter police, RIOTERS DENY GUILT. |Alleged Ring Leaders Pelead Not | Guilty When Arraigned in Court. LOS ANGELES, March 1 (®)— | Eleven alleged ring leaders of last Wed- | nesday's march on the City Hall, which precipitated a battle between several thousand rioters and hundreds of po- lice, pleaded not guilty to charges of unlawful assembly today. Their trial was set for March 28. Four leaders, who also were charged wim resisting the police, pleaded not guilty. MAN MISSING FOUR DAYS. Wife Asks Police Assistance in Solving Disappearance. ‘The aid of police in locating George Brammer, 55 years old, of 1901 Fif- teenth street, was sought yesterday by his wife, who told police of the eighth precinct station that her husband has l;een missing from home the past four ays. Brammer is described as being 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing about 165 pounds, with white hair and smooth face. When last seen by Mrs, Bram- mer he was wearing a tan suit, Yy hat, blue overcoat, tan tie and bfi:l oxford shoes. STREET CAR AMAZES WANDERING AUTOISTS FROM UP IN THE HILLS Brothers Learn Also of Police Wagons After 100-Mile *“Voyage” to Capital in Car. ‘The Smoot brothers, Buster and Stu- art, never learned all there was to kno about locomotion from the automobile they own. Although the Smoots had just com- pleted a 100-mile course in motor trans- | ning portation, begun deep in the Virginia mountains, they saw something new in the conveyance line when they wheezed into M street off Key Bridge. “What's that?” Buster asked Stuart. In their consternation, the Smoots let their engine choke, “Now T’ll ask you," replied Stuart, alighting to have a closer look at the treet of the colored the surface car coul pected to" start off. s knew d be ex- Meanwhile a policeman, who had seen the Smoot brothers’ automobile scattering ‘patrons waiting to board a Capital Traction Co. car, came run- g up. He xgovzd the Smoots something else in the way of transportation—one of the District’s new patrol wagons. In Police Court yesterday morning, the Smoots assured " Jug Given that, being unacquainted with street cars, they had use they were afraid of “hitting something.” $3,000,000 Revolving Fund Pro- posed to Cover 10-Year Elim- ination of City's “Rot Spots.” The District Commissioners yesterday ordered the Police Department to make & census of the present population of the District’s alleys. The order was issued on request of the National Cap- ital Park and Planning Commission, which has been investigating the alley situaticn here for some time with a view to abolishing alley dwellings in the Na- tional Capital. As far as is known, the number of alley dwellings in the District is 1,70 The alley population is .estimated about 13,000. According to one report of the plan- ning commission, the alleys “are rot spots in every part of the old city. They are centers of crime, immorality and disease. It does not matter whether they breed criminals and persons dis- eased morally, mentally or physically, or Whether they attract such persons. Probably they do both. The fact is that they contain an undue proportion of these human liabilities, and that be- cause of their hidden communities they increase the difficulties of dealing with these human liabilities constructively.” planning commission’s survey has been conducted in conjunction with the Federal Council of Social Service Soci- eties, and the census will be made in ration with William B. Mahoney t organization, Bill Being Prepared. The planning commission is at work on a bill to eliminate alley dwellings from the city and to restore to it the spaciousness intended by its founders. The tentative draft of the bill calls for elimination of all alleys less than 30 | feet wide at any point or those which do not open into a strezt at one end at least 40 feet wide. The bill pro- vides & 10-year period in which the property in the alleys to be eliminated will be bought, and sets up a revolving fund of $3.000,000 for this purpose. The land bought in the alleys to be elimi- nated is to be used in various ways, af cording to the present plans, such widening the alieys into minor streets, using the land for extensions to public parks or playgrounds or school grounds, setting up small, new, public parks and sell! the land in alleys to be closed to private homes as additions to their funds, according to the present ghabalminy ni tion. After the 10-year period allowed for working out the provisions of the act, all alley dwellings are to be vacated as dwellings, the owners having recourse wdthe F;m i dl-nujfledmwfl.h the orders of the housing co; n. A penalty of $500 or W:mmths im- prisonment is imposed for vlnllfin& the rules set up under the proposed bill. Past Attempts Failed. Several efforts have been made to ad- minister regulations in the past, none of them successtully. The last bill on the subject was to have become effective in 1918. That found Washington in the midst of its acute housing shortage during the war, and the effective date was postponed until 1923. Shortly after 1923, a case was taken to court, and the court pmmruy declared the law unconstitu- tional. Since that time there has been no alley closing legislation. BUSSES WILL SUPPLANT ANACOSTIA TROLLEYS Construction Work on Bridge Lead- ing to Congress Heights Causes Temporary Change. Busses will supplant street cars on th: Anacostia line of the Washington Rail- way & c Co. beginning tomor- row for temporary period, it was an- nounced by the traction company yes- terday. _Construction work inaugurated by the District on the Anacostia River Bridge, leading from the Navy Yard to Anacostia and Congress Heights, re- | quiring entire removal of existing street railway tracks, necessitates the cessa- tion of street car trafic over this bri e. e busses will operate from Eleventh and O streets southeast to Anacostia and Congress Heights, following the route of the street car line. Schedul- ing and fare rates will be on the same basis and transfers will not be affected by the temporary change, the company announced. |Capt. H. A. C. Jenison, Reserve Corps, Expires in New York. Capt. Hilbert A. C. Jenison, U. 8. A, Reserve Corps, who was a resident of ‘Washington until 1925, died in New York City Friday at the age of 41 years, He had been i1l for some time. Capt. Jenison was connected with the Geodetic Survey here from 1919 to 1924, During his last year here he was con- sulting engineer for the Senate inves- tigating committee on gold and silver. Senator Oddie was chairman of the com- mittee at that time. At the time of his death Capt. Jenison was connected with the Guaranty Trust Co., New York. He is survived by his widow, Mrs, Loree Jenison. Interment will be in Arlis Ma. pm. tional Cemetery wm:rmw at SCARES AWAY BANDIT. ! Screams of Store Proprietor Drive Oft Colored Robber. A oolored man who attempted to rob & store at 313 Second street. south~ west at the point of a pistol about 10 o'clock last night, was htened away by the mmmm of Mrs. a Shuken, the pro) 3 She told Headquarters Detectives John W. Wise and James Collins that the man entered the store and made a small purchase and then turned as if to leave. Apparently changing his mind, he returned and asked for a cigar. As Mrs. Shuken leaned over to 2.k Sou, § id the ““Thal you, ju K. Smoot s, “and w:‘ree home to- night, if we have to “I'm going to take your personal bond case.” take the cigar box from the showcase, he drew a pistol. The woman screamed and the would-be robber turned and u]e.d. There were no customers in the place.