Evening Star Newspaper, May 7, 1930, Page 17

Wa ALEXANDRIA TAKES DRIVE FOR FUNDS T0 shingtoh News NAIIUNAL__BAPITAL Remaining $5,000 of $25,000 | Goal to Be Sought in This City. OBJECT IS TO CREATE INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT| | Business Men Here Interested in Development of Factory Center in Virginia Municipality. With the drive for funds and mem- | bership In the foreward movement campaign of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce showing approximately $20,000 annually for three years sub- scribed in that city, the drive will be extended into Washington tomorrow in | an effort to raise the remainder of the ! $25.000 goal sought. The campaign Ject the development of the Vi, | territory just south of this city, and in- | cluding a portion of the City of Alex- | andria, into a “greater Washington in- dustrial district,” which was inaugu- rated a month ago by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, has gained such | impetus that it has been determined to extend the campaign t the business men of Washington who do business in | Alexandria. | Capital Men Interested. Already many Washington business men have expressed such interest in the | development of Alexandria ds an in- | dustrial center as voluntarily to sub- | scribe to the Chamber of Commerce by | mail. Tomorrow over 100 Alexandria | business men will bring the campaign to Washington and call on business h‘uuses here who do business in their city. Mayor Robert S. Jones of Alexandria in a statement yesterday stressed the fact that inasmuch as the whole Capi- tal area must be kept beautiful in re- | spect to landscape and adornment, the development of industry in this area is of vital necessity to take care of means of livelihood for young people. ‘The mayor pointed out that the de- velopment of industry in Alexandria is necessary to keep labor of this section from moving to other parts of the coun- try. It was also pointed out in the state- ment that figures had been prepared indicating that Washington gets 27 cents out of every retail-expended Alexandria_dollar. and that Washing- ton merchants beyond a natural neigh- borly good will have an actual dollars and cents stake in the growth of the city. Aim at Industrial Manager. An_important feature of the plan calls for the immediate employment of an industrial manager whose duty it will be to present the advantages of the locality to manufacturers who are seeking new locations. The duties of this manager will be to secure new in- dustries, co-operate with present manu- facturing plants and industries in every way possible; to set forth the manufac- turing and distribution advantages of Alexandria based_on recent industrial survey information, and the enlistment of transportation and power companies and the State Chamber of Commerce 1n the city's industrial development. The movement in Alexandria fol- lowed a complete reorganization of the Chamber of Commerce there. The-de- cision to carry on the drive followed an announcement by Mayor Jones that | & program of industrial 'development should be worked out. At the sugges- tion of John Barton Phillips, president | of the Chamber of Commerce, a com- mittee of 100 business men was appoint- ed to conduct the campaign, which is | Just being concluded here with the Taising of the $20,000. Teams Organized. Today the 100 business men met at Gadsby's Tavern in Alexandria and were organized into teams by Robert S. Barrett, general chairman of the campaign. In a talk to the men today, Chairman Barrett pointed out that in reality Alexandria and Washington are one community and that there were many types of manufactures which were needed in the Capital area, and which would in no way interfere with the plan of the Federal Government to beautify the whole section. On the other hand, Barrett stated, an industrial expansion to utilize the transportation and labor facilities of the Virginia city would in reality bene- fit Washington merchants inasmuch as it has been estimated that one-fourth of the retail trade of the Alexandria area now goes to Washington mer- Alexandria business men, he ed, are, on the other hand, confident ] a great volume of busin comes to them because of being In the Capital area. Many Washington business men, Barrett continued, have indicated that Alexandria pos: every facility for afi industrial terminel which would in no way detract from her historical setting. The bringing of large payrolls into the city of Alexandria, he added, will likewise bring prosperity to Wash- ngton business men. In Alexandria the foreward movement campaign has claimed the interest and . attention of business men in a united way more than any local movement in recent years, Believing that by show- ing a united front in this campaign they have broken down all dissatisfac- tion to the future of Alexandria, busi- ness men and financial leaders in that city are confident that a new growth 4s about to develop in Alexandria. GAMMELL IS SCHEDULED FOR “NIGHT ON THE AIR” President of Lincoln Park Associa- tion to Broadcast Address From Station WISV. Joseph L. Gammell, president of the Lincoln Park Citizens' Association, will deliver the principal address in & “night on the air” to be broadcast tonight from 9 until 9:30 o'clock from station WJSV. The program in addition to Mr Gammell's address will be as follows: Trumpet solo, Charles Kocher, accom- panied by Miss Ruth Lee: valse caprice (R. A. Newland), Miss Wilma E. Camp- | bell, who is the little daughter of the chairman of the associgtion's commit. tee on parks and playgrounds; ‘“Ah Sweet Mystery of Life” (Victor Her: bert), Mrs. Robert Johnson, accom "panied by Miss Amelia Vitiello; selec- don by the Misses Lieper: selections acrobatic star on the day of the Curtiss Williams, jr., Navy racing and acrobatic private speed plane development. Lieut money” for 1928, 4 WASHINGTON, D. C, WEDNESDAY, Foening Stad 7, MAY LIEUT. M. B. GARDNER, Operations officer at. the Anacostia Naval Air Station, who will be the solo ‘marine trophy races at the local station. He will fill the portion of the program formerly occupied by Lieut. Alford J. fiyer, who recently resigned to continue t. Gardner was a graduate of both the Army and Navy advanced flying schools and was operations officer of VF-5 squadron of the U. S. S. Lexinglon when the squadron won the ‘“gunnery —United States Navy Photo. GARFIELD CITIZENS . DENIED FARE CUT Public Utilities Group Rules Against Remedy for Odd Situation. Residents of Garfield, in the eastern section of the city, pay 16 2-3 cents to get to the navy yard, but they can get home for 9 2-3 cents over the same Jines. They tried to remedy this situ- ation by an appeal to the Public Util- ities Commission. Today the commis- sion denied the application, and the situation remains. This -is -the way it works: In order to get downtown the Garfield com- ers get into a Washington Rail- y Electric Co. bus and pay 10 cents cash. In return for this they are given transportation to (he W, R. & E Anacostia street car line, and a trans- fer which allows them to ride the street car line to Eighth and G streets south- re they take the Capital Trac- tion Co.’s navy yard line. Here they must pay at least a token, costing 6 2-3 cents. Total, 16 2-3 cents. Going home the commuter gets on the Navy Yard car and buys a token (62-3 cents) and a_transfer to the Anacostia line of the Washington Rail- way & Electric Co. (1 cent). At Eighth and G street southeast he tranships to the Anacostia line of the Washington Railway & Electric Co. and he gets a 2- cent transfer to the Washington Rail- wh)&& Electric bus line. Total, 92-3 sents. The Garfield citizens tried to get the commission to compel the Washington Railway & Electric Co. to sell a 1-cent transfer at Eighth and G on the in- bound trip. This would be sold to those who started their trip on the Anacostia car, but not to those who started on the bus and transferred to the car. This the commission declined to do. One of the strongest arguments used by the Washington Railway & Electric Co. in asking for an fhcrease that might be granted to the Capital Traction Co. in the recent carefare case was that it was essential to the well-being of the companies to keep all fares in the Dis- trict uniform. WHISKY CARGO SEIZED WITH MARYLAND AUTO Driver Escapes, but Police Liquor Squad Confiscates 84 Gallons in Car. A Maryland automobile containing 84 gallons of whisky was seized by Pvts. Leo Murray and George C. Deyoe of the police liquor squad early this morn- ing on the Queen’s Chapel road. The driver escaped. ‘The two police were cruising about in a squad car when they noticed a man jump from a machine about two blocks away, just inside the District line, and disappear through a nearby ficld. vestigating, they found 14 cascs whisky. of HOUSE GROUPO.K.S CAR LIABILITY BILL McLeod Measure Is Favored byTommittee, With Oppo- sition From Missourian. ‘The House Disirict committee today ordered a favorable report on two bills and instructed Acting Chairman Mc- Leod to confer with House Leader Til- son in an effort to get time in the House next Monday for consideration of District measures awaiting action on the calendar. On motion of Representative Bowman of West Virginia, the committee ordered a favorable report on the McLeod bill | requiring automobile drivers to give proof of financial responsibility to cover | damages This measure is sponsored by the American Automobile As:ociation and amendments have been made so that | it is also approved by the American otorists Assoclation. This legisla- tion was the subject of a special round table discussion at the recent annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, where is was emphasized that many States have al- ready adopted this legislation, where it has proven satisfactory. ‘The McLeod bill was the subject of lengthy hearings, during which no opposition was registered. Represent- ative Palmer of Missouri registered opposition to the bill in the committes today. The other bill ordered favorably re- ported is the Moore bill for the relief of J. W. Anderson, the District Com- missioners being authorized to pay $4,700 for personal injuries received March 19, 1912, while in the service of the District government as an employe of the District Work Hquse. Repre- sentative Moore of Virginia appeared before the committee, pointing out that this bill has passed the Senate and was recommended by the District Commis- sioners. It was reported on motion of Representative Palmer of Missouri, MOVIE PICTURg GVRBUP GREETED BY PRESIDENT | . Delegates to th: semi-annual conven- | tion_of e Society of Motion Picture Engincers, meeting in Wardman Park Hotel, were received by President Hoover at the White House this afternoon. A number of scientific papers were read at a session of the socety this morning. Outstanding among these were the one read by J. I. Crabtree of the Ives & F. Cuttle Kodak Research Lab- oratories, Rochester, N. Y., on a “Semi- automatic Motion Picture Sentsito- meter.” Will Hays, president of the Motion Picture ~ Producers’ Association, —gnd Representative W. P. Connery, jr. of Massachusetts will speak at a dinner | tonight. Addresses also are to be de In- | livered at the banquet by C. Francis, | Jenkins and John I. Crabtree, president | of the society. Whatever Else May or May and Others Did ‘There is at least this much reliable information of what happened on F | street last night in front of the Palace Theater. A snake was seen, | This obviously is true, becanse a whole rowd of theatergoer wit. Aside from that much, however, this snake tale has been tied in knots. A newspaper reporter said the snake was six feet lorg, one foot of which the city editor trimmed off, from ‘an Indian cantata, entitled “Mondahmin” (Paul Bliss). by & sex- tet of the Girls' Glee Club of the Eastern High School; the toreador song from the opera “Carmen.” Miss Sarah Casteel, plano; Miss Miriam Caateel, violin, and Chester Herbert, cornet. Bicycle Policeman Jess R. Birch said the snake was “at least three fect long,” (‘\’Aihk‘h seemed well within the regula- | tians. Incidentally. the policeman rode his wheel over the snake and ought to know. He sald he killed it.; DESPITE SHORTENED SNAKE'S TAIL, HIS TALE DESERVES TO BE LONGER Not Be True, Theater Crowd See—Something. On the other hand, Taxi Driver N. H. Shackleford declared _the snake was very much alive and wiggling when he picked it up by the tail and took it home in his cab for a pet. | “Not even Tramc Sergt. Milton D | Smith, who helped preserve law and order, knew what kind of a snake it gy tured a different opinion | . Every one ventured a 3 | h:cuadmg several hundred wild-eyed by- standers. There was conSiderable surmise, most- 1y of an audible nature, as to how the Bnlflke got. mtxrt‘ onl tl'm mr;nlrlwvm prome- nade under e electrics. Anyhow, it was a long snake—long enough, aimost, to justify a more ex- tended tals. | superintendent of police, complaining | PRATT ASKS RULING ON AUTHORITY OVER DIRECTOR HARLAND Seeks Opinion From Counsel Defining Jurisdiction of Each Official. TRAFFIC HEAD SHOULD BE UNDER HIM, CHIEF HOLDS Congress Intended Sych Course, Police Superintendent Writes in Complaint. As Traffic Director William H. Har- land today started his second term in | office, following reappointment for three | years yesterday, Maj. Henry G. Pratt, that the authority of the traffic director had been misinterpreted by the Distris Commissioners, asked that the corpora- fon counsel be called on to supply an opinion defining the jurisdiction of the major and superintendent of police and the director of traffic. Maj. Pratt points out that the act| creating the office of director of traffic, passed in March, 1925, states that the d'rector- of traffic shall perform the duties prescribed in the act “under the direction of the major and superin- tendent of pofice.” Contends He Is Superior. “It was clearly the intent of Con- gress,” Maj. Pratt wrote, “that the di- rector of traffic in carrying out the provisions of the traffic act would be subject to the direction of the major and superintendent.” As a matter of fact, Maj. Pratt points out, this has not been the case. An official order of the Board of Commis- sioners, passed in April, 1925, states that “all official communications from the director of traffic to the District Commissioners concerning the passage, repeal or modification of regulatwns shall be sent to the Commissioners and, simultaneously, a copy thereof sent to the major and superintendent of police. The latter shall make any suggestions he may deem advisable thereon as practicable to the Commis- This is all the control he has over the traffic director, Maj. Pratt states. “As a result of this order the duties pertaining to the office of the director of traffic have not been under the superintendent as set forth in the traf- fic act,” the report reads, “with the ex ception of receiving a copy of the rec- ommendation to the Commissioners of the director of trafic on changes or amendments to traffic regulations, all matters in reference to traffic coming to the office of the major and superin- tendent are submitted by the assistant superintendent of police, commanding the Traffic Bureau.” Hits at Efficiency Bureau. Maj. Pratt's report takes a polite slap at the Bureau of Efficiency, which recently .accused the Public Utilities Commission and the Commissioners of usurping authority of the Traffic Bureau. Pratt, specifically, goes into that section of the Efficiency Bureau's report which said the Commissioners had no power to order a hack stand on a street designated by the director of trafic as one on which no parking should be allowed at certain times of the day. The traffic regulations them- selves, promulgated by the director of traffic, take care of this situation. Maj. Pratt pointed out a paragraph in tion 15 which provides that the restric- tions as to parking shall not apply to licensed public vehicles occupying stands designated by the Commissioners for public vehicles, Mr. Harland said today that he was contemplating inaugurating some new policies in his second term, but that none of them would take effect until after July 1, and that he would be unable to discuss them until he learned the final action of Congress on the District’s 1931 supply bill. As soon as final action has been taken on this, he said, he will be ready to announce the changes in policy. ARCHITECTS TO MEET IN CAPITAL MAY 21 Three-Day Session Scheduled for American Institute—Important Topics Listed for Discussion. ! ‘The whole fleld of cotemporary archi- tecture will be discussed at tne opening day session of the sixty-third conven- tion of the American Institute of Archi- tects to be held here at the Mayflower Hotel May 21, 22 and 23, it was an- nounced today by C. Herrick Hammond of Chicago, president. “Modernism.” President Hammond | said here today, will be the theme of | a national symposium at this session which js to be attended by more than 600 architects representing institute chapters in all parts of the country. Charles Butler of New York is or- ganizing the symposium, over which Louis La Beaume of St. Louis will pre- side. Both modernists and conserva- tives will be heard. In the morning there will be a debate between George Howe of Philadelphia, whose views are modernistic, and C. Howard Walker of Boston, spokesman for the conservatives. A general discussion will follow. Dean Everett V. Meeks of the Yale School of Fine Arts, Earl H. Reed, Jr., of Chicago and Ralph T. Walker “of New York will speak during the after- noon. Al three are modernicts, PROTEST FILED AGAINST DISTRICT REPAIR SHOPS Objections Made by Bloomingdale Civic Association to Locating ‘Works Near Homes. A protest against establishing repair shops of the District Government on 1and east of Bryant street pumping st: tion was filed with the District sub- committee of the Senate appropriations committee today by the Bloomingdale Civic Association, speaking for colored residents of that neighborhood. The delegation cont:nded that the placing of this municipal activily near Second and Bryant streets would depreciate the value of residences nearby. It was explained by a member of the subcommittee that the delegation was promised a hearing in February, but, due to & clerical oversight, it was not held at that time. Among those who presented the objection were Edward F. Harris, Guy Tinner, William R. Fauntroy, George C. Scurlock and Mrs. J. A. Cuny. The current appropriation bill carries a 5 appropriation of $150,000 for this pbject; Large collection of bottles, kegs, flavoring extracts, malt extracts, brushes, siphons and containers seized by the Government in a recent raid and now under-lock and key in the Treasury Department warehouse. charges these things were for use in the manufacture of liquor and are forfeitable under the new ruling of the Supreme 1930. Court of the United States handed down this week. The Government —Star Staff Photo. 11 YOUNG ORATORS READY FOR FINALS Star National Winner to Get $200 and Expenses on Europe Trip. Eleven contestants are in readiness for the test tomorrow morning to decide | The Star’s champion in the National | Oratorical Contest. The winner will be awarded a prize of $200 and a trip to Europe this Summer in company with the six other national finalists. The itinerary which the judges will | follow has been arranged and plans for | the various assemblies at which the | contestants will speak have been made. Instead of all 11 orators delivering their speeches in one hall, the judges will visit each of the eight local high schools to hear the school representa- tive deliver his oration. The winners { in the private and parochial, the Mary- land and the Virginia districts will be heard in the auditorium of the Na- tional Museum. Home Audiences Assured. By allowing each orator, with the exception of the latter three, to speak before audiences with whom they are familiar, it is believed that much of the nervousness and tension natural to a final contest is removed. The private and parochial, Maryland and Virginia speakers are gathered into one hall because it would be physically im- possible for the judges to visit the schools they represent in one morning. | ‘The judges, Randolph Leigh, national director of the contest, and George Keneipp of the American Automobile Association, the timekeeper, will journey | from place to place hearing each con- testant in turn. Arrangements have been mede to have everything in readi- ness for them when they arrive at the high school and the museum. The only preliminary will be the an- nouncement by the school principal of the subject of the prepared speech. Following its delivery, brief applause will be permitted. The chairman will then announce & topic related to the prepared address, which the contestant will proceed to develop. The first ora- tion will be limited to 6 minutes, and the second to 4. Subjects for the extemporaneous ad- dress have been prepared by Mr. Leigh and will be given to the speaker 45 minutes before they begin their prepared speech. During this 45 minutes, the contestant will be left in a room alone, without books or references, with a pencil and paper to record his thoughts. He will be allowed to use meager notes during the 4-minute speech. It is obvi- ous, however, that too much reference to notes will go against the extempo- raneous speaker, in the opinfon of the judges and audience. It is planned to have the first con- testant launch into his speech promptly at 9 o'clock and the last orator complete his at noon. At 9 o'clock the judges will be in their places at Eastern High School and Charles W. Hart, 15-year-old son of the principal of the school, will speak. Next in their itinerary is McKinley Manual Training High ‘School, where the speaking is scheduled to begin at 9:20 o'clock. David Akers Hill, 18 years old, will speak. Other orators and the time their speeches are scheduled follow: Edith King, 18 years old, Armstrong High School, at 9:45 o'clock. Joseph Cornelius Waddy, 18 years old, Dunbar High School, at 10 o'clock. Robert J. Harlan, 18 years old, Cardoza High School, at 10:15 o'clock. ‘The contest at the museum is to begin at 10:35 o'clock, when J. Loren Freund of Gonzaga College, representa- tive of the private and parochial dis- trict, will commence his speech. Freund will be just 19 years old tomorrow. He will be followed by Virginia Carr. 18 years old, of the Oakton High School, Tepresentative of the Virginia district, at 10:46 o'clock. The last speaker at the Museum will be Frances Gt‘l’lrud'(‘ McKim, 18 years old, of St. Mary’s Seminary, St. Marys City, Md, at 10:57 o'clock. Dorothy Marie Zepp, 17 ye: old, Business High School, at 11:15 o’clock. Griffith Johnson, 17 years old, Cen- tral High School, at 11:30 o’clock. Edmund Gullian, 17 years old, West- ern High School, at 11:50 o’clock. Star to Announce Winners. The decision of the judges as to win- ner and alternate will be announced in tomorrow’s Star, rather than at the completion of the speaking. The judges include Senator Tom Con- nally of Texas, Representative Ruth Bryan Owen of Florida, French Strother, administrative assistant to President Hoover; G. Aaron Young- quist, Assistant Attorney General of the United States, and Robert V. Fleming president of the Riggs National Bank. As_in previous contests, they wili use the low-point total system in rating the contestants. | B Nearly 21,000,000 buehels of pears were grown in the United States last year. Excitable Motorist Bares “Suicide” and Ties Up All Traffic Pedestrian Hops Over Key | Bridge "Rail—but Only to Walk on Old Span! A whimsical pedestrian and a motor- ist too easily alarmed were the reasons why hundreds of Government employes were late for work this morning. In the police report of the incident the pedestrian is identified as a Mr. X, and the motorist as a Mr. Y. ‘The report was a bit vague, but the substance of what happened is this: Mr. X, coming from some unknown place, paused at the Virginia side of the Key Bridge. For reasons known only to himself, he decided that the walking was better on the old Aqueduct Bridge. Without more ado he scaled the guard rail of the Key Bridge and leaped to the other span, about eight feet away and a few feet lower, Autoist Sees Head Vanish, ‘That would have been the end of the matter had not Mr. Y approachied in his automobile just in time to see the head and shouiders of Mr. X vanish over the side. Mr. Y did not hesitate or investigate. He sped across the bridge and told a traffic policeman on the other side what he had seen. This policeman called the seventh precinct and a detail of men was sent to the bridge. Another motorist saw the policemen on the bridge, and stopped to ascer- tain why iy were there. He took it upon himself to spread the news, and in a very few minutes hundreds of a%lomobl]es lined the bridge on either side. Maybe It Was a Woman! ‘The story began to assume different aspects. Some bad it that a man had gofie over, others that it was a woman. One man detected scratches on the guard rall and advanced a theory that an automobile had scaled the five-foot barrjer. ‘The policemen - investigated and learned from witnesses that Mr. X had crossed the old bridge safely and con- tinued on his way to an unknown des- tination. Mr. ¥, also, had disappeared. In a few minutes the police left, but an hour later the crowd was still there, patiently scanning the river for sight of a floating body or automobile, DRILL T0 BE HELD AT U OF M. FRIDAY Annual R. 0. T. C. Competi- tion for Various Awards and Review Listed. COLLEGE PARK, Md., May 7.—Uni- versity of Maryland's Reserve Officers’ Training Corps unit will hold its an- nual military competitions lere Friday, when the members of the six companies will strive for honors in the various maneuvers. There will be eight awards, as fol- lows: Gov. Ritchie Cup to the best drilled company; University of Mary- land saber to captain of winning com- pany; Alumni Cup to the best drilled platoon; class of 1899 gold medal to the best drilled student; 3d Corps Area silver medal to student making highest gallery score in area match:,3d Corps Area bronze medal to student making second highest gallery score; military department award to student who has done the most for the military depart- ment during the year. The company drill will be at 9:30, the platoon competition at 10:15 and the individual tests at 11:10. Following the ,close of the various competitions, scheduled to be finished shortly before noon, the regiment will be fornfed and the awards made by Dr. Raymond Allen Pearson, president of the University. Then the regiment will be reviewed by Dr. Pearson, Maj. R. 8. Lytle, head of the department of mili- tary sclence and tactics, and invited guests, Capt. R. L. Shoemaker, on duty with the R. O. T. C. at Georgetown Univer- sity, and Pirst Lieut. J. C. White and Second Lieut. T. H. Allen, both from Headquarters Company, District of Washington, will be the judges of the competitions. WOMAN BADLY SCALDED Stumbling while carrying a pail of scalding water at her home yesterday afternoon, Mrs. Carrie Beall, 53 years old, of 3405 Rhode Island avenue, Mount Rainier, received burns of the the left shoulder and left . She was admitted to Providence Hospital for l* ment. | Police FAVOR ARHORY FORD. UARD | Those Appearing at Public Hearing Voice No Objec- tion to Project. ‘The committee appointed several months ago by the District Commis- | sloners to study the question of hous- ing the District National Guard in a proper armory held a public hearing yesterday afternoon at which all pres- ent spoke in favor of construction of a worthy building to house the Dis- truct’s militia, ‘The committee had expected to hear | ture of the situation, together with sug- gestions as to sites, etc. All present. however, merely sppke generally in favor of having a good armory in Washington for the Natlonal Guard, which is at present drilling in the old National Hotel. The committee retired to an exec- utive session with representatives of the National Capital Park and Planning Commission after the hearing to discuss the possibility of using land owned by the Federal Government for the armory. The result of the discussion was not made public, however, ‘The committee had invited Maj. Gen. William G. Everson, jr., of the Militia Bureau, and Maj. Gen. Anton Stephan, commanding the local Guard unit, to! sit with it. Gen. Everson spoke on the interest in the State Guards being shown elscwhere than in Washington. He said that the records at _the Militia Bureau showed that the Washington | Guardsmen, in spite of the handicaps | under which they struggie, are among | the six “top-notch” units. The committee considering the ques- arguments for and against any fea-| PAGE B-—-1 PUBLIC WORKS BIDS WILL BE DISCUSSED BY COMMISSIONERS Whether Local Labor Should Have Preference Is Ques- tion at Stake. LAW REQUIRES CONTRACT BE GIVEN TO LOW OFFER Eliot School Project Creates Fight as Builders Protest Tentative Grant to Outside Firm. Whether to give preference to local labor in public works in the District {or to accept the low bids, regardless of whence the bidder comes, will be dis- cussed at a public hearing before the District Commissioners in the board room of the District Building at 10:15 am. Friday. The question arose over the tentative decision of Engineer Commissioner Wil- liam B. Ladue to accept the low bid of the W. P. Rose Co. of Goldsboro, N. C., for the construction of the Charles William Eliot School. Numerous pro- tests reached Cal. Ladue against grant- ing this contract to an out-of-town firm, and he recommended to his fel- low Commissioners at the board meet- ing yesterday that the matter be trash- ed out in public hearing before the board took action on awarding the con- tract. The Rose bid was $24,500 lower than the lowest figure submitted lo- cally. Protests Are Cited. “A number of protests against award in this case to the low bidder have been received,” Col. Ladue wrote in a memorandum for the board, “from lo- cal building trades, the Washington Chamber of Commerce, members of the {Senate and House of Representativs and others, The general basis of the objections is that the Rose company | will bring to the job labor from the South, thus preventing employment of local labor, which now is suffering from the unemployment situation. It is in- timated in some of these protests that Mr. Rose may propose to pay less than the current rates in Washington, and Lh{\lt inferior work is likely to be done. ‘The W. P. Rose Co. is a new bidder on work for the District of Columbia. He has, however, done work for the Veterans' Bureau and for the Con- structing Quartermaster, U. S. A., and is now carrying on a $750,000 con- tract at St. Elizabeth's Hospital under the direction of the Veterans' Bureau. On account of the protests, unusually careful inquiry has bcen made as to the ccmpany’s financial condition, busi- { ness and technical organization and { character of work done. Maj. Tripp, !m charge of the construction division io( the Veterans' Bureau, and Maj. Kil- patrick, in charge of the construction lm‘ ision of the quartermaster general's office, for wh.m the W. P. Rose . !has executed several large contracts | outside of Washington, both speak in high terms of the company as a thor- oughly satisfactory ccntractor. He is a satisfactory man to deal with, his work is excellent, and his contracts are finished practically on time. The municipal architect, the assistant mu- nicipal architect and the Engineer Com- missioner have personally inspected the Jjob now under way at St. Elizabeth’s Hos) 1 and are entirely satisfied with the character of the work there, Policy Is Held Argument. _“The real argument here is ths ques- tion of policy. This, however, is & question with which the executive of- ficers have nothing to do. The law re- quires that the awards be made to the lowest responsible bidder who can give adequate security and show that he tion consists of Assistant Engineer Com- missioner Donald A. Davison, chair- man; Building Inspector John W. Oehmann, who commands the Engineer regiment of the local Guards, and Municipal Architect Albert L. Harris. Those present at the hearing included William McK. Clayton, Charles I. | Stengel and Marguerite Baughmann of the Féderation®of Citizens’ Associations. ALLEY DWELLING BILL HELD T0 BE FAILURE Capper-Zihlman Measure Would Not Accomplish Purpose, Com- missioners Report. The Capper-Zihlman bill, providing for the discontinuance of alley dwell- ings in the District, will not accomplish its purpose, the District Commissioners reported to Congress yesterday, should not be enacted into law. “There is nothing in the bill as drawn,” the report states, “which re- with water and sewer, or to be made otherwise senitary and healthful. “As no provision is made for com- pensation to the owners of dwellings sought. to be eliminated in_the bill, it is doubtful if it can be enforced.” COURT GRANTS DIVORCE TO MRS. WILMA F. YEAGER Interlocutory Decree Awarded on Charge of Desertion—‘“Another Woman" Named in Suit. Justice Wheat in Equity Court has awarded an interlocutory decree of di- vorce to Mrs. Wilma F. Yeager, 216 Twelfth street southeast, from Russell A. Yeager, to whom she was married August 17 1921, in this city. Mrs. Yeager, represented by Attor- neys Raymond Neudecker and William C. Ashford, charged that her husband deserted her on October 1, 1924, and that subsequently he developed a love affair with another woman. The bill filed by the wife described the husband, Russell A. Yeager, as being a resident of Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Under the terms of the decree Mrs. Yeager is permitted to resume her maiden name of Wilma Fisher. HUNT HEARING DELAYED Police School Head, Charged With Intoxication, Faces Police Court. A continuance of a week was granted Sergt. Odessa 8. Hunt, suspended head of the police school, when his case was called for hearing today by the Police ‘Trial Board. Hunt was arrested Satur- day night on a charge of intoxication. ‘The postponement was decided on today because Hunt remains to be tried in st and ! quires alley dwellings to be connected ! has the business organization and ex- perience necessary to qualify him to handle the job. ~The standard Gov- ernment form of contract provides that no labor or mechanics on the work shall work more than eight hours in any one day, that persons undergoing sentence at hard labor shall not be employed and that the contracting of- ficer may require the contractor to dis- miss any employe whom the contracting officer deems incompetent, careless or otherwise objectionable. These pro- visions represent the extent to which executive officers can go in controlling the labor employed by a contractor. Should Congress desire to establish a more restricted policy, that must be done by legislation. There are certain bills now pending in Congress which have this purpose in view, but unless and until such bills have passed, execu- tive officers cannot be guided by the policies expressed in them. “I therefore concur in the recom- mendation of the municipal architect that award in this case be made to the W. P. Rose Co., and move that the order proposed be issued. “‘Attention is invited to the fact that several of these protestants request that a hearing be given them before final action is taken. If it is desired to comply with these requests, I recom- mend that a date in the very near future be set for such a hearing, and that action on my foregoing motion ;n‘ds\mpcnded until such hearing is ad.” ‘The school to be built under the con- tract in question is to be located on the north side of B street between Seventeenth place and Nineteenth street northeast. The bid submitted by the Rose company was $452,500. The cost estimated before the contract was advertised by the District was $485,000. There were eight local bidders, whose figures ranged from a minimum of $477,000 to $492,000. CHILD’S LIFE SAVED BY HEROIC WOMAN Mrs. Rollins, 88, Smothers Flames That Imperiled 7-Year-0ld Harriet Garfield. Improvement today in the condition of 7-year-old Harriet Garfleld of 1375 L street southeast lent assurance that the child’s life had been saved after her dress caught fire yesterday afternoon by the prompt action of an 88-year-old neighbor, who chased after the little girl, caught her and beat out the flames. The neighbor, Mrs. Laura B. Rollins, of 1377 L street, was nearby while Har- {riett and some playmates were amusing themselves with matches in a woodshed behind the Garfleld home. Harriet's dress became ignited and the child fled down the street in a panic. Mrs. Rollins was attracted by the girl's screams. She caught her and tore the blazing dress from her, beating out the flames. Attendants said today that the child recovery iy has an excellent chance of _ Harrlet’s mother, pront -