Evening Star Newspaper, March 19, 1930, Page 17

AUTO CRASH FATAL 10.D.C. MAN AND HYATTSVILLE GIRL Austin Snoots and Miss Sik- ken Die in Hospital—Miss Mahoney Injured. FOURTH MEMBER OF PARTY ESCAPES WITHOUT HURTS Friends, in Another Car, Hear, Smash and Summon Physi- cians to Scene. A Washington man and a Hyattsville | girl died last night and today in the | Montgomery County General Hospital at Sandy Spring, Md., of injuries suf- fered early yesterday in an automobile accident near Gaithersburg, Md. A fractured skull caused the death last night of Austin Snoots, 56 years old, a salesman, of 5919!2 Georgia avenue. Miss Marjorie Sikken, 20 years old, of Hyattsville, dled today of injuries to the abdomen. While ‘physicmns despaired of saving the life of Snoots yesterday, the death of Miss Sikken was unexpected. Meanwhile, doctors announced Miss Kathleen Mahoney, 22, of 831 Third street northeast, was in a grave con- dition. She was injured internally and badly cut about the face. The fourth occupant of the machine, Wilbur Hodges of Hyattsville, escaped unhurt. Friends Heard Crash. Snooks and his companions were re- turning from a dance at Brunswick, Md. when the car plunged down a 6-foot | embankment and struck a tree on the Middlebrooke hill of the Fredetick pike, three Friends of Snooks in another automobile heard the crash. They summoned Drs. Stanley W. Barber and Frank J. Bros- chart of Gaithersburg. The physicians administered first-aid treatment before undmmdn injured to the Sandy Spring miles north of Gaithersburg. MiSS MARJORIE SIKKEN. AUSTIN SNOOTS. CROSSING MENACE Rockville policemen were unable to find any eyewitnesses to the accident. told them he believed a “blow- out” caused Snooks to lose control of the machine. He explained no other automobile was in the vicinity at the Robert Peter, jr., State’s attorney, declared no criminal prosecutions would result, as Snoots was the driver, Funeral of Crash Vcitims. Meanwhile funeral services for the three persons killed in an automobile wreck on the Baltimore Boulevard near . 20 years old, of the 3100 block of M street was buried in Congressiona! Cemetery, following services at the home of her its, Mr. and Mrs, Harry E. Stark, 114 M street. nevrmtnwnm m" t store proprietor, ent st s ‘was interred in Ohev Sholom Cemetery this morning, the funeral service having been conducted in the chapel of Ber- nard Danzansky. The service for George Posey, third victim of the accident, was held in a Rockville funeral parlor at noon. He was buried at mKuPowmle Church 23 years old, Three Others in Hospitals. other persons who were in the ear—Howard O. Burnell, husband of Mrs. Burnell; Miss Gertrude Cephillie and Miss Ethel Randolph—are in Bal- timore itals suffes from severe injuries. casualties resulted when the automobile struck a culvert. JURY BREAKS WILL AFTER LENGTHY TRIAL Three Objections Made by Ex-/ cluded Relatives Sustained by Court. The will of Mrs. Anna Daly, who died July 4 last at_the age of 86 years, was broken today by a jury in Circuit Division 1 before Justice Siddons, after & trial lasting three weeks. The jury sustained all three objections against the will made by a number of nieces and nephews, who had been excluded from participation in the estate. ‘They charged that the will and two codicils were not executed in due form of law, that Mrs. Daly lacked capacity to make 8 valid will and that the execution of the paper writings were procured by undue influence. - ‘The will had named Joseph I. Weller and Dr. J. Franklin Hilton as execu- tors and gave Dr. Hilton, a nephew, about two-thirds of the estate, which ‘was valued at $100,000. ‘The nts of the will were repre- sented Attorneys E. Hilton Jackson and Godfrey L. Munter, while Attorneys Joseph A. Burkart, George O. Offutt, r, and Ross H. Snyder appeared for executors. g BICENTENNIAL PROGRAM OUTLINED TO OPTIMISTS ‘cpreunt-uvs McSwain Speaks to Luncheon Club Members at Session. ‘The projects of the Capital and the| country at large for honoring the mem- ory of George Washington in his bi- eentennial celebration of the birth of the “Father of His Country” in 1932 ‘were explained to the Optimist Club of Washington at its weekly luncheon meeting this afternoon in the Hamilton Hotel =y Representative John J. Mc- Bwain of South Carolina. ‘The South Carolinian explained the set-up of the city, State and national ‘bicentennial organizations charged with arations for the celebration and en- isted the Optimists in the work of the! District celebration, particularly to act | as hosts to the vast crowds that are ex- fi:ud to come to the Capital during long, celebration. The 1930 roster of the club, just off the presses, containi the pictures, usiness afliations, telephone numbers and other vital information about all of the members of the club, was dis- tributed at todsy’s meeting. ‘W. M. Hicks Dies at Lynchburg. Bpecial Dispatch to The Star. LYNCHBURG, Va., March 19.—W. M. Hicks of Abilene, Tex., son of Mrs. N. R. Hicks of Lynchburg, died Monday at his home here. He is survived by his widow and three children, his mother and the 1 brothe: The Foening Sfar WASHINGTON, D. C. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, William F. Scott Sustains Fracture of Skull and Jaw in Crash. Automobile Strikes Tree When Driver Swerve to Avoid Another Car. NAVY PARACHUTE CHAMPION CRITICALLY INJURED IN WRECK His skull and jaw fractured when an automobile he was driving skidded on | the wet street and crashed into a tree | last night Chief Machinist's Mate Wil- llam F. Scott, 38 years old, the Navy's champion parachute jumper, is in a critical condition today at Casualty 1 Hospital. A companion, George G. King, 22 years old, 1023 Fourth street northeast, es- caped with numerous minor lacerations | of the face and scalp. He was treated at Casualty Hospital and sent home. The accident occurred when Scott swerved sharply to avoid colliding with another automobile in the 900 block of Fourth street northeast. The two men were driving to King's home shortly after 10 o'clock, with Scott | at the wheel of the car, when the crash took place. Scott, police of No. 9 precinct said, jammed on his breakes and pulled his car sharply to one side to prevent a collision. The automobile skidded on the wet pavement and hurtled into the tree, where it was wrecked. Unconscious Half Hour. Scott and King were removed to Casualty Hospital by a passing motor- ist and were treated by Dr. Louls Jimal. The parachute jumper, who lives here with -his mother, Mrs. Mary Scott, at 529 Ninth street southeast, was knocked unconscious by the impact of the crash, and hospital physiclans worked over him for nearly half an hour before he regained consclousness. It was said at the hospital today that Scott passed a resiful night. Holds Navy Record. “Scotty,” as he is known to his friends, holds the Navy record for long parachute drops, having jumped from | 15,200 feet above the National Capitall _W. F. SCOTT. August 15, 1928. He landed on an apart- ment house at Third and E streets. He has made more than 275 official para- chute jumps, by far the greatest num- ber credited to any one man in the naval service. A native of this city, Scott has been in naval aviation since 1920 and has specialized in parachutes and jumping almost continuously during his 10 years of service. Though he has jumped un- der all sorts of circumstances, he was injured but once, when he sprained an ankle while landing in a strong wind at_Logan Field, Baltimore. Scott had a narrow escape from death by drowning as a result cf a parachute jump made at Hammondsport, N. Y., several years ago to test a new rubber suit designed to keep a jumper afloat after a landing in water. He made the jump from 4,000 feet from a Navy plane. ‘When the parachute snapped open the suit was ripped down the back. He landed safely in the water, but the torn suit filled immediately and dragged him under. Several times he rose, only to be dragged under again. He was on the | bottom when a rescue boat arrived and | only the fact that he had kept on his parachute harness and the light silk re- mained floating on the surface saved him. He had been in the water six minutes when pulled up. TWO IN TRAFFIC MISHAPS HIT BY 2 OTHERS William E. Rabenhorst and John F. Hillyard for Michi- gan Avenue Project. Insistent that the hazardous Michi- gan avenue grade crossing near the Catholic University of America, affect- ing the tracks of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Co., be eliminated, two addi- tional voices of civic leaders have been raised against this menace. ‘Willlam E. Rabenhorst, president of the Burroughs Citizens' Association, who lives at Eighteenth and Kearney streets northeast, was one of the lead- ers in the fight against closing Michigan avenue at the grade crossing, as had been proposed. The pending District appropriation bill provides that Michi- gan avenue shall remain as at present. Mr. Rabenhorst is anxious to have the grade-crossing hazard there eliminated at once. . His association is in favor of doing away with the Michigan avenue grade crossing, Mr. Rabenhorst insisted, but desires to keep Michigan avenue, with- out having to go over Monroe street. ‘The argument seems to be, he explained, just why spend so much money in straightening out ‘Michigan avenue in the vicinity of Soldiers’ Home and then put three more, kinks in it, as was proposed. Mr. Rabenhorst said that he is in favor of widening Monroe street, but in no way to take the place of Michigan avenue. There should be an overhead crossing at the avenue, wherever it would be best, after Michigan avenue has been straightened. If not at the present crossing, then wherever it is most suitable, he said. Question of Safety. With reference to the figures that the Michigan avenue project would cost $700,000, while the Monroe street pro- gram would cost only $135000, Mr. Rabenho-st asserted that this is a ques- tion of safety rather than of saving money. His organization does not want to see a loss of life at the Michigan avenup grade crossing, such as occurred at the Lamond and Chestnut street crossings, he said. “When you are counting on the risk of life and elimination of this hazard, expense is rather a secondary consid- eration,” Mr. Rabenhorst asserted, cit- ing the case of fire escapes for school children and employes in factorics, which might be represented as an ex- pense, but still are made part of the equipment. Mr, Rabenhorst said that he has lived in that region for 10 years, but has never seen the danger of a narrow bridge at Monroe street, although he is In favor of this project if really needed. Washington has been rather fortunate at the Michigan avenue grade crossing, Mr. Rabenhorst asserted, in not having loss of life, but “we do not want this to happen,” he added, with emphasis. Views of John F. Hillyard. While declining to express any opin- jon on the Monroe street overpass, les. friendly feeling be disturbed, John F. Hillyard, secretary of the Michigan Park Citizens’ Association, had no hesi- tancy in insisting that Michigan avenue be improved by straightening it across the Baltimore & Ohio railroad tracks and constructing a suitable overpass at that point, and that the work be done immediately. He wants to know why the government cannot go ahead and complete the Michigan avenue project, on which it has already started, a few blocks away from the grade crossing. The Michigan Park area is entitlcd to consideration in this matter, he says, for it is a rapidly growing section. Elimination of the Michigan avenue grade crossing is needed now, but when the area expands it will be needed more than ever. As an index of the rapidly growing area represented by his asso- clation, Mr. Hillyard, who lives at 4308 ‘Thirteenth place northeast, cites these points: A firm is putting up 150 homes on a subdivision that embraces some 20 acres, two new col- leges are under construction, a $150,000 home for children is being erected and in general the area is being rapidly ulated. The Franciscan Monastery ikewise has a development program under way. The Michigan Park Citizens’ Associa- tion is interested in pushing the Michi- n avenue viaduct and has taken the rs and siste: F. C ‘Hicks, lord Coun! R. M. Hicks -and J. A. Hicks, Love Beach, Calif, and M B D Mok, Lyachiotes, . B D , Lyn 8 904 E. P, Hicks of Abjiene, 3 te :u‘gmmau that are -h:m n:d the Dis- of Citizens’ Associations. Pedestrians Hit by Automobiles and Seriously Hurt. Conrad Peters, 74 years old, of 611 K street northeast, was reported seriously injured last night when an automobile, said to have been driven by Joseph Ka- n of 1928 Seventeenth street, struck fim as he was walking across the inter- SEWERASSESSMENT REDUCTION URGED section of Sixth and L streets northeast. Peters was removed to Casualty Hospi- tal. Judson King, 53-year-old author, of 23 Colorado avenue. Takoma Park, was the victim of a similar accident, accord- ing to police records, at Thirteen-and- one-half street and Pennsylvania ave- nue, when an automobile operated by Richard A. Harman, an attorney, struck him. He was admitted to Emergency Hospital. HOOVER MESSAGE # URGES TRAVEL Chief Executive’s Views Are Presented at Opening of A. A. A. Conference. ‘Travel as a means of promoting in- ternational peace and better under- standing was urged today by President Hoover in a message read at the open- ing of the four-day conference of the clubs of the American Automobile As- sociation at the New Willard. An- other feature of the initial meeting was the address of Alfred Reeves, general manager of the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce, in which he warned the organization against “don’t- mindedness.” Text of President’s Greeting. Mr. Hoover's message was as follows: “I send you my cordial greetings and my best wishes for an inspiring and fruitful conference. Travel promotes international understanding, a larger vision and peace, and in the expansion of travel the service of the automobile and of your association plays an im- portant part.” “Motor transportation,” Mr. Reeves stated, “is in danger of being strangled by the don't-mindedness which afficts too many public officials. Don’t-minded people have run amuck during the past several years in the desire to punish all innocent motorists for the sins of the guilty.” Reeves Hits Parking Laws. Pointing to the fact that individual transportation has given “every man a better control of his own destiny,” Mr. Reeves declared that “cities have taken away the wagon sheds and hitching ts of the horse-drawn age and then would cure parking by the device of no- parking.” He said that “special situations will, undoubiedly, make limited parking a necessity, but no motor club should mrmlt the dangerous principle of park- g_prohibition to be put into effect, Warning of another danger, that of diverting motor taxes for a score of purposes other than building roads, Mr. Reeves continued: 7 “Just as various forces are tending to rob the motorist of his privilege of stopping at the curb while in the course of his business erramds, so we find va- rious public officials eager to increase motorist taxes and divert them to sources other than highways.” Other speakers included E. St. Elmo Lewis of Detroit and F. Roger Miller, general sales manager of a hotel chai Vincent Massey, Canadian Minister to the United States, and Jose Miguel Bejarano, member of the Mexican Na- tional Tourists’ Commission, were speak- ers at a luncheon immediately after the morning session. Senor Don Luis Quin- tanilla of the Mexican embassy and Dr. L. 8. Rowe, director general of the Pan-American Union, were honor guests. Ernest N. Smith, executive vice president of the A. A. A, presided. GORST TALK NEXT WEEK Charles Crawford Gorst, naturalist and imitator of birds, will give an {llustrated lecture on bird life at a spe- cial matiic: for school children at the McKinley High School Wednesday, March 26, at 3:30 p.m. His talk, under the auspices of the Community In- stitute, will be on “The Musical Genius of Birds,” in which he will fllustrate his stories of field trips with bird songs and nature paintings. Operative Builders Advocate $1.60 Per Front Foot Instead of $3. A reduction in the assessment on sewer mains from $3 to $1.60 a front foot, was urged by a committee repre- senting the Operative Bullders’ Assocla- tion at a conference today with Col. William B. Ladue, Engineer Commis- sioner, and Capt. Hugh Oram, Assistant Engineer Commissioner. ‘The committee, pointed out that the present $3 assessment which has been in force for the last three years, con- stitutes a burden on prospective home owners, in view of the growing develop- ment of detached and semi-detached homes, which require larger lots. No objection was made, however, to a provision in the 1931 District appro- priation bill increasing the assessment (x)n 'wmr mains for $2 to $3 a front oot. Monroe Warren, president of the Builders’ Association, headed the com- mittee. Other members were Rufus 8. Lusk, executive secretary, Waverly ‘Taylor, L. T. Breuninger, Charles T. Sager. —_— Returned Flyer to Speak. Lieut. Arthur 1. Ennis, Army Air Corps, who has just returned to the will be the speaker at a dinner of 'the Aviation School of America at 7:30 p.m. today in the City Club. National Capital after a flight to every | Air Corps post in the United States, | GRANE T0 BE GIVE COMPLETE - SCHOOL PURCHASING POWER Ballou Yields to Simmons’ Demands for Change in Supervision. WILMARTH IS SCORED FOR USURPING DUTIES Ballou Insists “Drastic” Step Hur- ries Supervision He Had Sought to Accomplish More Generally. The Board of Education’s rules are being amended this afternoon to specify clearly that Jere J. Crane, first assist- ant superintendent in charge of build- | ing, grounds and equipment, will have full, complete and personal charge of supply purchases for the public schools. Dr. Frank W. Ballou, superintendent | of schools, said this morning that in view of the demands of Representative | Robert G. Simmons of Nebraska and ! the whole subcommittee of the House | appropriations committee, of which Simmons is chairman, he would recom- mend the school board rule changes this afternoon. Mr. Simmons’ committee condemned the school administration | during the recent hearings on the 1931 | 1930. BHP BURGLAR SUSPECT IS CAPTURED IN TRAP IN GIRL VICTIM'S ROOM school budget for not assigning Mr. Crane the full responsibility for the | school supply purchases when he first | was appointed to the position provided ! for by the subcommittee last year. At the same time Mr. Simmons leveled an | attack upon Maj. R. O. Wilmarth, as- sistant superintendent in charge of busi- ness affairs, who, Simmons contended, still retained control of supply pur- chases, even after the new first assistant | superintendency was created. Crane to Designate Duties, Dr. Ballou's recommendations this afternoon also included the revision of the school board rules to specify defi- nitely that Maj. Wilmarth shall have only the responsibilities in the matter of purchases, which Mr. Crane, as his superior officer in the school system, ac- | cords him. Dr. Ballou insisted during the hear- ings that Mr. Crane actually was in charge of school supply purchases from the moment of his induction into of- fice, even though his signature did not | actually appear on requisitions for- warded by the school officials to the District Government’s purchasing office. | Both he, Mr. Crane, and Maj. Wilmarth testified before the committee that Mr. Crane had “general supervision” over the purchases. Mr. Si ns, however, was unwilling to be convinced that this was true and insisted that Maj. Wil- marth be ‘released” from responsibil- ity in connection with the purchases. Kramer Deplores “Drastic” Step. The superintendent’s recommonda- tion to the board this afternoon merely makes a formal statement of what had been the understanding in school ad- ministration circles, Stephen E. Kramer. first assistant superintendent, asserted today. At the same time, Mr. Kramer said, the recommendation which the su- perintendent has been forced to make, | effects a “drastic” change in office op- | erations which the school people had hoped to effect gradually for the best interests of the school system as a whole. He said that to announce sud- denly and in formal language last year that Mr. Crane would have sole and complete charge of purchases would have injured school system morale and would have placed an undue burden on that new officer. s it was, Kramer explained, Crane was first given duties to perform in connection with school bullding super- vision, which, because of the insuffi- clent staff of officials, never had been performed by any one, and “general supervision” of the purchases of sup- plies. It was the plan, he added, gradually to place Mr. Crane in full charge of the preparation of requisi- tions after he had become familiar with the school system and its operation. Presenting themselves as unexpected funcheon guests ‘at the House of De- tention, 22 members of the District grand jury today were greeted with corned beef hash instead of the tender roasting chickens, julcy steaks or lus- cious bivalves listed as regular fare during the hearings on the District ap- n bill. pn_;_;gesn!l:‘nd jury decided to make-an inspection of the woman's institution after publication of criticism of the “extravagant” menus by Chairman Simmons and Representative Holaday of the House subcommittee on District appropriations. 50-Minute Warning Given. ly 50 minutes’ advance notice was give;\i %7( the jury’s desire to take lunch at the detention home, but Mrs. Mina C. Van Winkle, head of the home and of the Woman's Bureau, hustled her staff around and met the emergency in jood style. 7 It wz.u “pot luck” the members of the grand jury preferred, and it was “pot luck” ‘they got. 1f some of the epicures on the jury had hoped to- nul:- ple some of the tasty dishes so widely advertised since the hearings, tne;t' failed to display the disappointment their appetites must bave felt this after- noon. The hash which was the piece de resistance today was wholesome, steam- ing hot, and well-seasoned, but 1t cer- tainly was not in the same category with the fine fow], fresh sea food, and other dishes criticized by members of the House committee. Canned Peas on Menu. ‘There were peas on the menu today, also, but they were not right from the , as one of the requisitions read by Chairman Simmons declared. They were of the canned varlety. There was bread and butter to 80 with the hash and the peas. For dessert the jurors were served apple ple. - As a special favor for the guests of meal, although coffee is not ordinarily E.rfl’vmtd for lunch, Mrs. Van Winkle ‘That was ln—h*. peas, bread, pie B T e S v e yesterday that Mr. 8 at McKinley this afterncon, il were no fresh GRAND JURORS SERVED CORNED BEEF HASH AT DETENTION HOME Tidbits Which Roused Ire of House Dis-|: trict Appropriations Body Are Missing From Menu Offered in Emergency. honor, the cook served coffee with the | PO expensive tidbits complained of by members of the committee and re- sponsible for the remark by Representa- tive Holaday that the prisoners at the home could be “put up cheaper at the Willard Hotel.” Gave Notice of Visit. ‘The grand jury motified Mrs. Van ‘Winkle yesterday of its intention of visiting the House of Detention today, but nothing was said about having lunch. This morning she received word from Miss M. Pearl McCall, assistant United States attorney, of the desire of the jury to take lunch. They wanted to eat “the regular prison fare,” Mrs. Van Winkle was advised. As the population of the home at present is below average, the sudden in- crement of more than a score of visi- tors taxed the facilities of the kitchen to the limit. Mrs. Van Winkle did not seem greatly concerned over the “sur- prise_party,” however, remarking that the home always should be ready to take care of unexpected groups of prisoners. Representative Tinkham of Massa- chusetts, another member of the House District subcommittee, visited the insti- tution last night and was shown through the building. Mrs. Van Winkle said today she in- tends to use every effort in her power to have the $11,000 rent item for the House of Detention restored to the ap- propriation bill. It was stricken out by the committee, and Mrs. Van Winkle in an interview in The Star yesterda acped S Smme oL nal ou = malice” toward her. Scores Mrs. Van Winkle. Chairman Simmons today said: “Mrs. Van Winkle in her purported interview speaks as though she were the owner of the House of Detention, and not a mere employe of the Dis- trict of Columbia, where she is a minor official in the Police Department, sub- |Ject to the orders of the chief of e. ‘l‘"lc‘hlx committee has looked and will continue tc look to the chief of g:lux as the responsible head of the Police Department, both for information con- cerning the activities of the Police De- and coffee. no “out of .senson,’ noc any of -the rtment and for District policy.” out any B : Miss Edna Nikunen and Miss Mildred Nikunen, sisters, called to Up) ulenllfy’::me lingerie stolen from them, allegedly by George Emmett Hicks. : Miss Nina Owings, whose picture led to Hicks’ capture, and (right) Hicks. Accompanied by George Emmett Hicks, who is quoted as having con- fessed to 61 burglaries, headquarters de- tectives were visiting numerous house- holders today in an effort to solve a series of persistent daylight raids on apartments in the northwest sect during the past few weeks. mcL, against whom seven additional housebreaking charges were lodged to- day, was arrested last night because he made a “sentimental” error after enter- ing an apartment at 1636 Kenyon street. Instead of the usual jewelry and clothing, Hicks, on leaving, took only a single inexpensive object, the photo- graph of a girl, which he found on a dresser. Then Hicks began to telephone the voung woman, Miss Nina Owings, em- ploye of the Treasury Department. He telephoned several times, and Miss Owings, becoming suspicious, notified police, and a trap was set. Asked Her to Have Dinner. Yesterday, Hicks requested by tele- phone that’ Miss Owings have dinner with him. The engagement was ar- anged and when Hicks called. De- tectives Buck Jones and Aubrey Tolson of the tenth precinct were concealed in the kitchen of the apartment. For almost 30 minutes the cou- ple chatted pleasantly, if somewhat nervously on the part of Miss Owings. Meanwhile, the ~detectives, viewing Hicks through a crack in the doon thought they recognized him and joined the conversation. Hicks was taken to the precinct. There, police say, he admitted readily 54 burglaries, giving details and sug- gesting that much of the loot could be recovered at his rooms in the 300 block of C street. ‘The prisoner further admitted he had completed in November a five-year sen- tence from the District for housebreak- ing, part of which had been served at Leavenworth. Jewelry Found, Police Claim. A search of his rooms disclosed a quantity of miscellaneous jewelry, 54 fece§ of which have been identified owners, and a large amount of women'’s clothing, police said. Police say Hicks had operated almost entirely in the daylight, confining his activities during the last few weeks to the Northwest section. . His method, they say, was to collect addresses from apartment house lobbies, preferably 0se of women, and then ascertain, either by telephohe or by speaking tubes | e in.the apartments, if the residents were at_home. Hicks then admitted himself, police say, to such apartments as he found unoccupled by means of a small crow- bar or jimmie, ransacking them at his leisure. ‘The prisoner, who is 36 years old, was questioned at length at headquarters this morning, and detectives say a score additional charges of housebreak- may lodged against him before their investigation is complete. e e of jewelry an 3 wel"’e ery reports of the theft of money or valuable watches. today had booked 54 house- d against Hicks, with l s stores was made - Monday night breaking charges number of grand-larceny counts, 10 and 8 precinet stations and at head- uarters. The complainants included Miss Ow- Teresa Willlams, 2518 Seventeenth | street; Claudia Tompson, 1636 Kenyon | street; Grace Dellon, 1321 Kenyon street; Mesial Wright, 1450 Irving street; Elizabeth Foley, 1636 Kenyon street; Irene 8. Perry, 1450 Irving street; Louise | vert, streef Becker, Ethel West- 1 Fairmont %t; 1613 Harvard street; M rs. Margaret Kel- lam, 1430 Chapin street; Miss Shirley Kellam, same address; Mrs. Goldie Zulin, PAGE B-l1 TRACTION OFFICIALS DECLARE MERGER MIGHT RAISE FARE Hanna and Ham Have No Objection to Reduced Rate for School Children. COMMISSION ASSAILED AT COMMITTEE HEARING Executives Fight Present Plan of TUnification of Firms Pend- ing in House. | Higher fares rather than a reduction might result from a merger of Wash- | ington’s street railway companies, the | officials of these linl!‘\w]d the House | District committee last hight at a hear- ing on the joint resolution to authorize a unification. John H. Hanna, president of the Cap- ital Traction Co., and Willilam F. Ham, head of the Washington Railway & Electric Co., both declared that after a merger additional capital may be need- ed for expansion and equipment, which would carry the fare higher than the 10-cent rate the companies are now seeking in the courts. Officials of the Public Utilitles Commission had previ- ously contended that economies in op-. | eration, together with a reduction in overhead e‘fl)enm growing out of a merger, would lead to lower fares. i, Ham and Hanna also revealed that | they would offer no opposition to a re- duced fare for school children should the commission order it in the absence of a merger. made this disclosure , t the commission now lacks the authorit; lcforch y to order lower that the com) if either of these in the resolution. Assails Commission. Ham also bitterly assailed the com- mission for refusing to com- mnylhlzo{wr(m. e "c“ e " declared, “refuses 2535 Thirteenth street; William McErvin, | and will 1321 Belmont street; Mrs. Margarel Scott, 1827 Florida avenue; Mrs. Sophie tion | Butler, 1835 California street; Mrs. Bar- R. N Rudy Glenges, 1717 Seventeenth street; Teresa McLouden, 2100 M street; Mrs. Lilllan Foster, Edna Nekomen, Marie Johnson and Irene Wanovan; all of 1212 M street; Ethel Styford, 1604 Q street; Lelia Chittum, 2110 Nineteenth street; Pauline McGuire, same address; Margaret Nicholson, 1915 K _ street; Cashie Redmond, 3151 Mount Pleasant street: Orlan Byrd, Willlam P. Pyne and Dorothy Long, all of 909 Twentieth street; Barbara Houston and M 't Wildermuth of 2203 Fifteenth street. Hicks Is Charged With Visiting. In several of the apartments offensive notes were found by the residents on their return. A considerable quantity of the loot recovered remains to be identified. Police records show that a Geol Emmett Hicks was arrested in 1922 by Headquarters Detective Bill Messer, who was concealed in an apartment and trapped Hicks when he was alleged ;oh have attempted to burglarize the ce. A man of the same name was re- arrested in 1925 by police of No. 8 pre- cinct on a charge of housebreaking. Local authorities have been informed that Hicks has been charged with two f'lzyllllht burglaries in Dallas, Tex., in ALUMNI TO BALLOT FOR TWO TRUSTEES Preliminary ballots for the annual election of two alumni trustees of the George Washington University were is- sued today by the General Alumni Association of the university. The alumni is represented on the board of trustees by six members of its own nomination, two of whom are elected each year for a term of three years. ‘The candidates on today's ballots were Harry Cassell Davis, Mrs. Joshua , Jr.; Dr. John Howard Dellinger, Gt W. Littlehales, Calvin Tarking. ton Milans and Carl Joseph Mess. All members of the General Alumni Association in good standing who have held a degree years may vote. carrying the names of the four candi- dates who received the hest vote Hnlumu.ry ballot, be sent out April 15. ) RADIO SPEAKERS OPEN Station WJSV by John Brayshaw, dent of the un-mnqnn.“ FEae ‘Tomorrow night Representative David Hogg of Indiana will speak, while Fri- day night Senator Arthur Touls T McFadden of 8 March 28 Guazdia of New e they go into this merger and sacrifice lh:i’ hts . ;18 ?"?o higher fares still two The committee will resume hearin; on the merger resolution Bl'-u!‘dl.; morning at 10:30 o'clock. Clayton and lgdmmn;& :flhtxm people’s counsel e lon, are to be the prinet- TRANSPORT COMMAND GIVEN COL. MASON 84th Infantry Officer, Stationed at Fort Eustis, Assigned New Duties—Other Changes. Lieut. Col. Charles W. Infantry, at Fort Eustis, Vm . assigned to the commahd of the transport Chateau Thierry; Lieut. Willlam A. Alfonte, 4th Infantry, at Fort Lincoln, N. Dak., to the command of the transport Grant; Maj. Joseph J. Koch, Infantry, at St. Louis, to the command of the transpcrt Somme, and Maj. Robert E. Jones, Infantry, at San Antonio, 'i!!&. to the command of the transport St. Mihiel; Lieut. Col. Joseph R. Davis, Fleld Artillery, has been trans- ferred from Lewis, Wash., to_the ity; 505th PFleld Artillery, at Ne Maj. Robert R, Neyiand, Engineors, fop the University of Tennessee, at - ville, to Chattanooga, Tenn., Iorxex:'lo:‘l- neering duty; Maj. Hugo D. Seiton, In- fantry, has been assigued to additional duty with the 424th Infantry, Organized Reserves, in this city; Maj. William A, Stack, Infantry, from New Haven, Conn., to New York City; Maj. C. G. Helmick, Field Artillery, from Fort Sill, Okla., to Hawaill; Maj. W. P. Cherri , Coast Artillery, from Fort Leavenworth, Kans., to the Virginia Agricultural and Me- w. from the university for A final ballot, | Fort