Evening Star Newspaper, October 27, 1930, Page 17

. RAZING DATE STIRS | - MARKET MEN, WHO| EXPECTED DELAY Fact That No New Housing Had Been Started Brought to Foreground. . NOTICE OFFICIALLY GIVEN MONTHS AGO Demolition Early in New Year Blow to Farmers and Deal- ers, Say Standholders, Reports that the Treasury Depart- ment plans to tear down Center Market in January have thrown consternation into the ranks of merchants and others doing business at the market. It had been confidently expected by market people that the demolition of the old market would again be post- ned, as it was last June. Legislation d fixed the end of the market on June 30, but it was amended to place the end at January 1, 1931. And mer-l chants were resting more or less secure in the feeling that another tpone- ment could obtained until a new gnur market could be built to house em. Projects for building another structure are still under way, the Downtown Market Company, being reported as fur- thest advanced. But no building opera- tions have yet been strated. Protests With Empphasis. A spokesman for {he marketmen in Center Market today was emphatic in his aring Tt will ry. throw 1,200 people out of their place of business in the dead of Winter,” he said. Announcement yesterday of the ‘Treasury’s intention resulted in hurried conferences among market leaders, and there was deep concern expressed today as discussion of the matter buzzed ‘The ey, RowEre, 1t was learned, ‘Treasury, however, it was 4s going forward with the Government's t building program. It has been g;d with protests of various natures before t the demolition of build- ings. . have held back some of the projects, but there appears to be a determination on the part of the Gov- ernment to proceed now as rapidly as ‘with development of the entire triangle, including the site of Center Market. On this site, the new Archives Building will rise. ‘There are now 165 standholders in Market, each one having lbgg; 7 ates Depart- ure, which supervises ‘sky-high” tearing down Center Market in the middle of Winter, one market man said. He also claimed that there would be ‘ big inconvenience caused to the buy- public, thousands of whom had pur- | Russell chased thelr supplies at Center Market for years. Official Notice Given. The merchants of Center Market have known for years, however, it was re-|responded to a call from the Harvard in circles, that the Gov- | street address, he said, and found the to tear down the|couple alone together. official notice by legislation which has|when Wilson was informed the woman bef! Sena mzflmflmmy-mmmma ress. tor the legislation for tearing market, explained that the t the merchants on their | placed house lves elsewhere. | ly injured, Wilson drove Projects for bu! a new but none of these has yet reached the building stage. URGES CHRISTIANS AS OFFICEHOLDERS Archbishop Curley Declares Crime Is Rampant in U. 8.—Highest Officials Accused. Bpecial Dispatch to The Star. FREDERICK, Md., October 27.—De- that the United States is rid- den with “immorality and corruption” and maintaining that the only salvation of the country is through religious ed- ucation, mnot legislation, Archbishop Michael J. Curley of Baltimore yester- day confirmed & class of 167 persons at 8t. John's Church, this city. “What. we need,” said Archbishop Curley, “In public and private life in this country, from the White House down, is a love for Jesus Christ and respect for His teachings. I am not one to mix religion and politics, but I do say that you can't legislate morals into people, and the only salvation for this country or any country is to elect men to public office who have a love for Christ and apply His teachings to the laws they help enact. “I know of no country in the world today,” he continued, “wherz there 15 80 much disrespect for law as in the United States. Every day we read and hear of flagrant violations of the law. Even the men we elect to the highest offices in the land are dishonest and in quite & number of cases are out-and- out robbers.” " FUNERAL SERVICES HELD | FOR MISS BELLE MOORE Requiem mass for Miss Belle Moore, 80 years old, for more than 60 years a nurse at Providence Hospital, who died Friday at the hospital, was solemnizcd this morning at 9 o'clock at the hos- pital chapel, Interment was in Mount ivet Cemetery. Miss Moore, whose nursing career was bly the longest ever recorded at hospital, became & member of the Providence nursing staff during the her injus improvement at Emergency Hospital last night, however, and doctors will recover. drawer, she said, and attempted to shoot herself, the gun discharging when Rus- sell sought to wrest it from her. woman to Emergency Hospital. She had have been under way for many months, | been hit in:the abdomen p:nd right leg. Police say Russell verified Miss Moore's a struggle for its have had a the The U. S. S. Marblehead at the Washington Navy Yard today. Navy day program. WOMAN, 2, SHOT; MAN IS ARRESTED Accident Blamed for Wound- ing of Miss Clara Moore in Apartment. Miss Clara Mpore, 25 years old, of Clarendon, Va., was believed recovering at Emergency Hospital today from a bullet wound in the abdomen received early Sunday in an apartment on the third floor at 1386 Harvard street. The owner of the apartment, David Russell, was being held at No. 3 precinct pend- ing the outcome of Miss Moore's condi- n. Police say Miss Moore at first identi- fied herself as Russell's wife, and later furnished her real name when informed ry appeared serious. She showed belleve she Miss Moore told police that she and 1l had quarreled. She ran and got 's _revolver out of a bureau Headguarters Detective L. M. Wilson An ambulance been summoned, but was dismissed the leg. Russell and Miss Moore then were in the ice car and the latter Seeing that she was serious- the young that the gun had exploded during Ppossession. il ARMY MEN AID NAVY DAY Chairman and Secretary of League Back of Celebration Are Reserves. It's Navy day today—but Army men large lh’:re in The Foening Sap [ oo v | MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1930. WASHINGTON, D 0, The warship was open to visitors as part of the —Star Staff Photo. Army Officers Dress For Navy Day, While Navy Is in ““Civies” Alhough Army officers were in uniform today at celebrations in honor of Navy day, officers of the naval establishment in many cases appeas as usual in “civies.” 1In previous years they reported at the Navy Depart- ment in uniform on Navy day. No explanation was given for policy. Navy day ceremony which in previous years has been held at the !l:l mdafi‘ th;“l:’lvy ?h: partment Buil ng noon hour was omitted today. RITCHIE PRAISED FOR SCHOOL HELP State Teachers’ Association Commends Governor for. Education Attitude. Special Dispatch to The Star. BALTIMORE, October 27.—Gov. Ritchie was commended Saturday by the Maryland State Teachers’ Association for his “broadly sympathetic attitude toward public education, as expressed in his support of financial needs, in his attitude toward ive school legis- lation and in general wholehearted support of the policies of the Stal superintendent of schools.” ‘The resolution, adopted at the educa- tors’ annual convention here, was con- strued by many as an indorsement of Gov. Ritchie’s fourth-term aspirations. ‘The action was taken at the annual business meeting at which the follow- ing officers were elected for the en- suing year: President, Miss Helen M. Johnson, Baltimore; first vice president, Byron J. Gent, Mss' Ines Bover ot Hagers| i er of wn; treasurer, Dr. R. Berryman, Baltimore, and Walter H. Davis, Harve de Grace, e — Juf was that the State Board of Education re- quire ve teachers to study three t | years instead of two at the State Nor- ‘Towson. The national chairman for Navy da is Walter Bruce Howe. He's a major 1; the Officers’ Reserve Corps of the Army. The Navy League's executive secre- tary is Willlam Galvin, He's a reserve captain in the Arm; DEAN DOYLE T0 SPEAK W. U. Professor to Address D. C. Library Association. Henry Grattan Dodyle, dean of the Junior College, George Washington Uni- | versity, will address the meeting of the District of Columbia Library Associa- | tion Tuesday night, October 28, in the Library of Congress. Dean Doyle will tell of ths work of the junior college in the educational system. BLACKJACK USED IN ROW Struck over the head with a black- Jjack during a quarrel at 206 Four-and- a-half street southwest last night, John Berg, 28 years old, of 13 Q street, was removed {o Emergency Hospital with a possible fracture of the skull. The assaflant was said by police to be Lamar E. Brown, colored, 27, of 130 D mal School in TRAINED NURSE SUED FOR ABSOLUYE DIVORCE Separation Also Asked by Father of Four Children, Who Names Co-respondent in Suit. Frances V. Dodge, & trained nurse, 2112 F street, is named as defendant in & sult for an absolute divorce flled today in the District Supreme Court by Joseph C. Dodge, 1724 Seventeenth street. A resident of Mahoney City, is named as co-respondent. ‘The husband tells the court through Attorney George A. Berry that he was married August 24, 1921, and lived happily with his wife until May, 1928, when, he alleges, she deserted him and moved to Weston, W. Va. She return- ed to Washington October 15, he states, and lived three days with the co-re- spondent at & local hotel as his wife. Absolute divorce is also asked in a suit filed by Willlam R. Bladen, 2600 ‘Thirtieth street northeast. against his wife, Goldie I. Bladen, 6000 Sligo Mill road. They were married January 29, 1904, and have four children. They separated in May, 1929. A co-respondent street southwest. He is being searched for by police of the fourth precinct. is named. Attorney Vivian O. Hill ap- pears for the husband. Civil War. She retired from the nursing profession eight years ago, when she & serious leg injury. She was particularly well known for her charity work in Southeast Washingto: FAILS IN SUICIDE TRY Virginian Attempts to Shoot Self, but Is Poor Marksman. John E. McKinney. 60 years old, of p ld, Va., owes his life to his own McKinney attempted to end his life in his room at the Ovmmercll:l H-;m terday, according to ice, but :!-lud shooting himself ough the , the bullet 'nl!ni his scalp. was treated at rgency Hos- where physicians said his condi- not serious. is McKinney told he was over his inability to find emp’oyment after searching for Sgee weeks. ‘The world's only all-metal dirigible, the Navy ZMC-2, passed over the Na- tional Capital shortly after noon today to open an impressive aerial derfion- i stration in ccnnection with Navy day. ‘With her polished metal skin glisten- Ing against a dull sky, the ZMC-2 circled over the city and then headed for Alexandria, Va., before turning back to her home station at Lakehurst, N. J. The ZMC-2 paid her only other visit to the Capital last Spring. The ZMC-2 is being followed by the dirigible Los Angeles, which is to pass over the city during the afternoon. Lieut. Comdr. V. A. Clarke, command- ing the Los Angeles, visited Philadelphia and Baltimore en route to the Capital and was to visit New York after sunset Comdr. A. Douglas, WORLD ONLY ALL-METAL DIRIGIBLE PASSES OVER THE CAPITAL TODAY Navy ZMC-2 Here to Open Impressive Aerial Demon- stration in Observing Navy Day. with all types of naval aircraft sta- tioned there on public view. A one-hour aerial demonstration will be given at the station g_al 2:30, when an observation plane will “bomb” the crowds at the Wi navy yard with paper balls and & half- dozen parachute jumps will be made. Formation acrobatics will be shown by a squadron of six Marine Corps single-seater fighters from Quantico, Va., following which the “Three Fly- Fish,” famous acrobatic section, | take' off at 3 o'clock for its first public demonstration here of forma- tion acrobatics. The three pilots of the section, Lieut. Matthias B. Gardner, section leader: Lieut. Aaron P. Storrs and ue‘ut.uf‘rheedmck M. mmfl :nlg demonstraf new “section roll” their famous “insid " The te | Dended at noon ELEVEN INJURED IN AUTO MISHAPS Five Persons Hurt When Coupe Hits Taxi and Leaves Scene of Mishap. Eleven persons were reported injured in traffic accidents yesterday and last night, five of whom were hurt when a small coupe collided with a taxicab at Twelfth and G streets and then left the scene of the mishap before the driver made known his identity. Mrs. Eleanor Yates, 44 years old, of 1831 California street, who was riding in the taxi, driven by Merle Blair of 731 Second street northeast, and Miss Gertrude Harris, 20, of 525 Eleventh street southeast, said to have been an occupant of the coupe, were the most seriously hurt. Car Ownership Traced. Mrs. Yates was treated at Emergency Hospital for a possible fracture of the back and other inj , while Miss ‘Harris was treated at the same institu- tion for & compound fracture of the lower jaw. Two_other occupants of the taxicab, Miss Margaret Armandi, 21, of 4708 Georgla avenue, and Joseph Daley, 24, of 211 First street, were treated at Emergency Hospital for cuts and bruises. Blair was lightly injured also, but refused hospital treatment. Police who traced the ownership of the coupe said that it had been loaned to William Gray, 25, of 724 Fifth street. A lookout requesting his arrest for No. 1 station was flashed to all precincts in the city, but he had not been appre- today. Say Car Passed Red Light. Officers were told that the coupe ran past a red light at G street and crashed into the taxicab. The driver of the coupe carried Miss Harris to the hospital and then left without giv- ing his name, police said. it Cole, 9 years old, of the 100 block Eleventh street northeast, suffered a minor Jaceration of the mouth when knocked down near his home by an automobile operated by Martin White, 19, of 1332 U street southeast. He went home after first aid treatment at Casualty Hospital. Mrs. Francis C. Bell, 45-year-old school teacher, and her daughter Paith, 11, were given first aid treatment at Emergency Hospital for injuries received when a machine in which they were riding overturned at Twentieth and I streets after colliding with another car. They later were taken to their home at Cherrydale, Va. Teacher’s Machine Struck. Mrs. Bell, a teacher at Washington- Lee High School, and her daughter were occupants of a car driven by John O. Bell, 18, when it struck another ma- chine operated by Miss Emile M. White, 1417 Belmont street, & teacher at Cen- tral High School. Others injured in traffic accidents yesterday ~ were: Anna Catherine ‘Thompson, colored, 4 years old, of 152 W street; Leon Brown, colored, 38, of 1430 Rock Creek Church road, and Serah Holt, colored, 49, of the 300 block Virginia avenue southeast, the latter | a victim of a hit-and-run driver. None of the three was badly hurt. DEMOCRATIC RALLY IN MECHANICSVILLE Candidates in St. Marys County Laud Administra- tion. Special Dispatch to The Star. LEONARDTOWN, Md., October 27.— The second of a series of Democratic campaign meetings was held Saturday night at the Mechanicsville Hall, in Mechaniesville. J. Franklin Adams, county supervisor of assessments, of Mechanicsville presided. Joseph M. Mattingly, candidate for re-election for the clerkship of the St. Marys Circuit Court, praised Gov. Albert C. Ritchie. He said it was an honor to vote for Stephen W. Gambrill, incumbent, run- ning for re-election to Congress from the fifth congressional district of Mary- land, and added that State Senator J. Allen Coad of Leonardtown had ably and intelligently represented St. Marys County in the Maryland Senate. Matthew Long said that the Demo- cratic administration spoke for itself, and commended Gov. Albert C. Ritchie on the progress of the State under his management. Philip H. Dorsey, jr., State’s attorney, candidate for the House of Delegates, said the school system for the past 12 years had been outstanding. Lawrence P. Willlams, candidate for the House of Delegates, 2iso spoke. State Senator J. Allen Coad of Leon- ardtown, up for re-election on a wet ticket for the Maryland Senate, said the only weapon that the Republican ty could use was criticiim of the of the Anacostia Naval Alr Station, opened the station to the publie today e-outside loop.” T aeriel program will b—:ueon:mded by the laying of a smoke screen at 3:30 p.m. tic administra ‘The next meeting wli eld at 7:30 tonight at Chaptico, #* INAVY DAY EVENTS | l | DRAW HUGE CROWD WITH BIG PROGRAM More Than 18,000 Visitors Attend Celebrations Be- fore Noon Today. NAVAL HEROES HONORED AT SPECIAL SERVICES Deep-Sea Diving, Aerial Stunts and Music Entertain Many Celebrants. A record-breaking crowd of 100,000 visitors was anticipated at the Wash- ington Navy Yard today as the naval service held open house in celebration of Navy day. The program at the Yard includes band concerjs, demonstrations of work conducted in shops of the gun factory, deep-sea diving, an aerial show, a parade of sailors and Marines, para- chute jumping and bombing of the Yard with paper balls from a Navy plane. School Children Attend. Before noon, 18,000 visitors, including a number of school children, had passed through the Navy Yard gates. While most of the Navy day program centered at the Navy Yard, crowds gathered around monuments to naval heroes here and paid tribute. Secretary Adams tonight will make a radio ad- dress, while Assistant Secretary Ernest Lee Jahncke is at Houston, Tex., where the new cruiser Houston is receiving a silver service set. ‘The Naval Observatory tonight will allow ticketholders to view the stars if the weather is clear. Tickets may be obtained from the superintendent of the Naval Observatory. ‘The Naval Air Station at Anacostia drew its thousands of interested lfi- tators, eager to view the latest develop- ments in aerial fighting craft. At the Navy Yard, the two cruisers, U. S. 8. Marblehead and Raleigh, were the center of attraction to thousands of sightseers. The vessels were decorated. Band Plays All Day. A scheduled take-off of a plane from the deck of the Marblehead, was halted by a stuck valve in the catapult appara- tus. Mechanics ex) d to have this remedied later in day. The Navy Band played throughout the day. Near the band stand was a model Marine Corps camp. Marines, Bluejackets, Boy Scouts and apprentices in the various shops acted as guides. On the diving boat, Crilley, a special exhibition of deep-sea diving was given hourly during the day. At 10:15 o'clock a parade of Sallors and Marines, headed by the Navy Band, was held. leut. Comdr. Richard W. Gruelick of the Bureau of Navigation, delivered an address at 11 o'clock this morming before the Dames of the Loyal Legion at Dupont Circle, outlining the tradi- tions of the naval service. Monument Services Held. Exercises were held at noon at the John Paul Jones status, near the Tidal PBasin, with Comdr. F. C. Sherman, U. 8. N, delivering the principal address and the representatives of several patriotic organizations laying wreaths on the statue. Chaplain Sidney K. Evans, chief of chaplal of the Navy, and Chaplain J. E. Yates, chief of Army chaplains, delivered the invoca- tion and benediction, respectively. A tribute to John Paul Jones was de- livered by Comdr. Sherman, who took occasion also to deprecate efforts of pacifists to reduce effectiveness of the Navy below that needed for protection of the Nation. Wreaths were laid by Maj. Robert Dunlap, representing the - “Heroes of ’'76”; Maj. Charles E. Demonet of the Military Order of the World War; Admiral T. J. Cowle, representing the Washington Sojourners, and Coms ‘Templeton of the Peary Ship, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The United States Marine Band played an introduc- tion to the exercises and concluded with a rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.” Radio Address Is Made. ‘The Knights of Columbus held brief, impressive exercises at the statue erect- ed to John Barry in Pranklin Square at 10 o'clock. Maj. Daniel A. Edwards of the Columbian Correspondence Col- lege, paid tribute to Comdr. Barry as the “father of the American Navy” and Charles W. Darr placed a wreath at the base of the statute on behalf of the organization. Father Francis X. Cavanagh, State chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, delivered the in- vocation. ‘This afternoon at 5 o'clock a radio address was to be delivered by Rear Admiral Willlam Ledyard Rodgers, U. 8. N, retired, over the Columbia Broadcasting System. The Fleet Naval Reserve Association will meet at 8 o'clock at the Roose- velt Hotel, and will be addressed by a number of naval officers. At 8:15 o'clock exercises will be held at the Georgetown Foreign Service School and will be addressed by Rear Admiral S. S. Robison, superintendent of the Naval Academy. Secretary Adams and Admiral Wil- liam V. Pratt, chief of naval operations, will speak over Station WRC and the National Broadcasting Co.’s chain from 11 to 11:30 p.m. At the Willard Hotel at 8 o'clock the Nationzl Patriotic Council will hold a Navy day program and be addressed by Lieut. L. S. Pel U. 8. N, on duty in the Office of Naval Intelligence. ‘The National Press Club auditorium will be the scene of a Navy day ball at 9 o'clock tonight, under auspices of the 20th Marines. iSO WETS CALL CONVENTION National Constitutional Meet Is Set for December 8. A call for a National Constitutional Convention to be held in Washington December 8 to discuss suggestions for amending the dry law, was issued today by a committee in charge. Those listed as officers of the Con- vention Committee were Rice Hooe, chairman; Leo P. Harlow, vice chair- man; F. W. Buck, executive secretary, and F. W. Proffitt, treasurer. Hooe and Harlow - are. lawyers, - . Farmer Found Dead. LEONARDTOWN, Md., October 27 (Special Lafe Hill, aged 58, of Holly- wood, near Leonardtown, was found dead on his farm near the Patuxent River. Dr. F. F. Greenwell of Leon- ardtown was called, with Magistrate Valley I. Greenwell of Hollywood, who viewed the body and said he had died of 'Xy. Mr. Hill had been a farmer and oysterman all his life, and is survived by his wifc, Mrs. Mary Hill; four daughters and one son. ' * $44,709 Banked in Schools 20,823 White and 1,512 Colored Pupils’ Savings Re- ported, and Next Year Att.mpt Will Be Made to Surpass Figure. A total of $44,709.02 was saved by Washington elementary school children last school year in the sutomatic bank “tellers” maintained in 49 school build- ings by various banking houses here. ‘These figures have been compiled by Miss Jane McWilliams, supervising prin- cipal of the third division, who has charge of thrift activities in the schools, and were announced today as the goal which District youngsters will strive to pass this year. In the report on last year’s savings, it is shown that 5,978 individual bank ac- counts weye opened as a result of the habit formed by the automatic tellers in the school corridors. Besides these, 22,335 boys and girls actually deposited :.:llelir money the “slot-machine ers.” ‘White and Colored Deposits. Of the total funds saved in the tellers, $44,271 was deposited by white puplls and $437.95 was saved by colored chil- dren. Of the 49 schools using tellers, 46 were white and 3 were colored. gfince. dv;'hue‘ '.250.8‘2% 1véhlt.elchfldren made ler deposits, 1, colored children used the machines. ‘The sixth division, In which 18 schools hal tellers, led in the deposit total with $15,250.28 credited to its children. The third division was next with $7,764.97 being saved in eight buildings, while the fifth division fol- lowed closely with 10 buildings saving $7,576.71. Bank Has 33 Schools. ‘The Mount Vernon Savings Bank headed the list of institutions maintain- ing automatic tellers in the schools last year with 33 school buildings on its list. This institution's total collections were $36,144.31. The Security Savings and Commercial Bank, with five schools depositing $5.409.14, was second. Other banks maintaining the school tellers, the number of buildings served and the total collections made follow: Wood- ridge-Langdon Savings and Commercial Bank, three schools, $1,063.03; Mer- chants’ Bank and Trust Co., one school, $582.23; Bank of Commerce and Sav- ings, one school, $577.17; Prudential Bank, three schools, $437.95. Takoma Park Bank, one school, $224.02; Brook- land Branch, Merchants’ Bank and Trust Co., one school, $143.27, and Brightwood Bank, one school, $127.90. EXPECT OPPOSITION 10 GAS TAX BOOST Traffic Committee to Meet This Afternoon to Discuss Recommendations. ‘The Traffic Committee of the Wash- ington Board of Trade will meet at 4 o'clock this afternoon to consider the recent proposals of the Traffic Advisory Council o increase the tax on gasoline and boost the registration fee for auto- mobiles in the District, it was an- nounced today by Theodore P. Noyes, chairman of the committee. Al on record as opposed to any increase in the tax rate on gasoline, the Trafic Committee is expected to urge the Executive Committee of the board to oppose the recommendations m.ldm;lutp:::: lg fig traffic council, which pro crease the gaso- u.nauxxmzwaunumg?xfon the $1 registration fee also recommended that commer- cial vehicles be taxed according to their gross weight. These recommendations, it is estimated, would result in a cost to District motorists of $1,500,000 more annu: in gasoline tax and increase from $94,000 to approximately $403,00¢ annually in registration fees. The fight against the recommenda- tions in the Triffic Advisory Council session last week, which was led Mr. Noyes, a member of the counci was lost by a vote of 8 to 6. The Board of Trade Committee chairman opposed the recommendations on the grounds that no cause had been shown by revenue returns from automobile taxation sources to justify boosting rates. ‘The returns as they now stand, Mr. Noyes pointed out, show ample surplus. “This is a time when we should :: u:;gnz reduc;thlon I.nhe an increasing them,” said. The Washington Chamber of Com- merce and the Merchants and Manufac- turers’ Association last week filed pro- test against the proposals of the Traffic Advisory Council and indicated their readiness to wage a vigorous fight against the adoption of the recom- mendations, 195,159 ILLITERATES IN VIRGINIA CENSUS New State Board, Recently Ap- pointed, Faced by Number Greater Than Eight States. - * By the Associated Press. CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., October 27—Pigures confronting the Virginia Advisory Committee on Illiteracy, re- cently appointed by Gov. Pollard, show there were 195,159 illiterate persons in the State of Virginia at the time of the 1930 census. This number, the committee was in- formed, was greater than the combined illiteracy of Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Washington, South Dakota and 8. ‘The 1930 census placed Virginia 41 in per centage of native white illit- erates, with a total of 70,473 in the State. The same census placed the Old Dominion fortieth from the top in total percentage of illiteracy. There were 162,736 illiterates of voting age— 86,819 males and 75,557 females. Illiteracy, the committee was told, was largely rural, but there were 7,931 illiterates in Richmond, the capital, and 458 in Charlottesville, the seat of the University of Virginia. ‘The committee, of which Dean Charles G. Maphis of the university is chairman, is now at work in an effort to formulate a practical plan for the solution of ‘the illiteracy problem. . VIRGINIA FIREMEN’S COMMITTEES NAMED Organization of State Association Completed by President Wood- ward of Lexington. By the Associated Press. LEXINGTON, Va., tober 27.—C. E. Woodward of Lexington, president of the Virginia State Firemen's Associa- tion announced today that he had completed the appointment of his com- mittee for the coming year. The appointments follow: Executive Committee—Eugene W. Bare, chair- man, Le: ; E. Curtis Smith, Siampton; B. . Roue, Orange; B K. D'umah“y' 5"“‘;";“.& L. Ball, chair ive—] , chair- man, Clarendon; Thomas T. Shee- han, Hampton; James D. Duncan, jr., Alexandria. By-laws—W. H. Vanderslice, chair- man, Newport News; C. L. Lewis, Suf- ‘W. R. Rawlins, Hampton. Other officers of the association are F. W. Farney, vice president, Winches- ter; T. C. Clarity, treasurer, Char- lottesville; Rev. Frank C. Riley, chap- lain, Orange; L. F. Lookabill, statis- tician, Roanoke; E. K. Landis, secre- Pulaski, 1931 convention Wil be held PARKED MACHINES LOOTED BY THIEVES Robbery of Two Homes and Stealing of Coat in Church Make Total $1,326. ‘Thieves netted $1,326 in loot over the week end, police reported today. Specializing on parked automobiles in the grounds of Howard University, thieves escaped with overcoats, scarfs and gloves valued at $200. The vic- tims were Edward J. Edwards, 1005 Florida avenue; Gordon Young, 506 T street; Franklin Ramsaur, 506 Kastle place northeast; Thomas Gardner, jr., 753 K street; Clarence Lewis, jr, 1924 Fifteenth street; Robert C. Evans, 1926 W street, and John Was] Clark Hall, Hovard University. Parked automobile thefts were also reported in other sections of the city. Naval Officer’s Car Robbed. Lieut. Comdr. Philip V. H. Weams, C. S. N, of 3506 Garfleld street, told police that a leather handbag contain- ing wearing apparel worth $200 was stolen from his automobile while it was parked near his home, A coat and scarf valued at $360 was reported stolen from the parked auto- mobile of Miss Stella Rosenstein of Bal- timore, Md., while the machine was parked at Thirteenth and C streets. A lock on the automobile’s door was “Jimmied.” ‘Theft of & coat valued at $35 and & pair of gloves worth $5 from a parked automobile at Ninth and H streets was re] by Joseph Brown of 631 I street. Home is Entered. George F. Huber, 429 Kenyon street, reported the loss of an overcoat valued at $30 from his automobile while it was parked near the National Museum. Later Sunday afternoon police were told that thieves entered the home of John M. Waters, 3110 PFirst street, and stole a radio set, jewelry and wearing apparel valued at $284. Employing a duplicate key thieves entered the apartment of Mrs. Marle White of 1154 Nineteenth street and :filzw with clothing and jewelry worth A coat valued at $100 was reported stolen from the Church of the Covenant yesterday by Mrs. Hope D. Wagner of 37 Drummond avenue, Chevy Chase, Md. PHARMACIST DEAD AT AGE OF 85 YEARS Nicholas S. Purcell, Retired, of Leesburg Succumbs to In- firmities of Age. Special Dispatch to The Star. LEESBURG, Va, October 27.— Nicholas S. Purcell, 85 years of age, prominent retired pharmacist of Lees- burg, died last night at his home in Leesburg from the infirmities of age. He was a native of Loudoun County, a son of the late Samuel and Elizabeth S. Purcell. He was a former member of the drug firm of Mott & Purcell in Leesburg, and later of the firm of Purcell & Littlejohn, also in Leesburg, which pharmacy still bears his name. Mr. Purcell was a graduate of the Maryland College of Pharmacists in Baltimore and was employed in Balti- more as a pharmacist until the close of the Civil War, when he came to Lees- burg and purchased the interest of Metzger in the firm of Mott & Metzger. In 1913 he retired from active business. He was the treasurer of Olive Branch, No. 114, A. F. and A. M, Leesburg, which order will have charge of the funeral Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock from Presbyterian Church, Lees- burg. Mr. Purcell was prominent also in civic and church affairs and owned several large farms in Loudoun County. One brother, Mahlon Purcell, Lovetts- ville, survives. PAGE B-—1 MUNICIPAL POWER PLANT PROPOSALS ARE INVESTIGATED Five Bids for City-Owned Electric Survey Studied by Engineer Experts. $25,000 IS AVAILABLE FOR STARTING PROJECT, Work Expected to Begin Within Six Weeks in Effort to Save on Costs to District. Five proposals for making & survey as to the advisability of constructing & municipal power plant for furnishing the electrical energy used by the Dise trict government institutions are now under consideration by Assistant Engi- neer Commissioner Donald A. Davison and Warren B. Hadley, District elec- trical engineer. It is expected that one of the bids will be accepted and work begun on the survey within the next six weeks. The current appropriation bill makes available $25,000 for the survey. The bids must be carefully studied and compared before that most ade vantageous to the District is selected, according to Maj. Davison. The situa= tion is not like a bid for construction of a school, where 1t is relatively easy to_select the lowest responsible bid. Most of the electricity now used by the municipality is furnished by the Potomac _Electric Power Co. at rates fixed each year for the various services, It is used for street lighting, runni automatic traffic signals, lighting an operating elevators in schools and other municipal structures, and the like. ‘The firms who have submitted bids are the Burns & McDonnell Engineere ing Co., Kansas City; the Scofield Ene gineering Co., Philadelphia; Ford, Bae con & Davis, New York; Smity, Kynche man & Grylls, Detroit, and the Public Service Institute, by C. C. Mayer, ‘Washington. ALEXANDRIA ROBBERS KEEP POLICE ON JUMP Four Reports of Depredations in Rapid Order Make Officers Hustle. Special Dispatch to The Star. ALEXANDRIA, Va., October 27.— Police were kept on the jump here early Sunday morning by a series of four robberies, reported in rapid succession, ‘The same man is believed to have com= mitted all of the robberies, but police are unable to say whether he is white or_colored. Edward H. Magruder of 51 Dix street called police early Sunday morning to report that during his absence from home Saturday night some one had entered his house and ransacked it. Nothing was reported missing. Wilson Darr, 415 Prince street, then called police and reported that some one had entered his home and taken a wrist watch valued at $35 and also stolem a spare tire, valued at $8, from an agwmohfle parked in front of the use. While police were investigating these calls, A. C. Howard of 1904 King street reported that his daughter, Miss Anita Howard, had awakened to find a man in her room. She screamed and the man fled, but took with him a pocket- book containing $10 in cash and a check for $12. The pocketbook was found later on Oak street. Frank E. Hopkins of No. 1 Lloyd lane, Braddock Heights, later reported that some one had entered his house and awakened his daughter, and then fled. Nothing was reported missing, Descriptions of the man tally, but neither of the girls who saw him in their roomgwith a flashlight were able to tell whether he was white or colored, WOMAN’S QUICK WIT PREVENTS ROBBERY Snatches Auto Keys in Alexandria and Two Young Men Can- not Escape. Special Dispatch to The Star. ALEXANDRIA, Va, October 27— Quick action on the part of Mrs, Anna M. Hurshman, who was in charge of the store owned by her husband at King and Royal streets last night, prevented two young men who walked into the store and took merchandise from the counter from escaping. Mrs. Hurshman ran to the sidewalk where the two had a car parked, and when the men would not pay for the merchandise she pulled the keys from the car and ran into her store and called police, The outcome of the affair was & sentence of one year in jail by Judge William S. Snow ‘in Police Court today against D. J. Neville, 21, of 233 East Lloyd avenue, this city, on a charge of carrying concealed weapons and disor- derly conduct, and a fine of $100 and costs and one month in jail against B. B. William, 21, of the 600 block F street southwest, Washington, D. C., on STABBED, JILTED BEAU, REMAINS UNCONVINCED Returns to Former Sweetheart’s Home Until Neighbors Send for Squad of Police. Sylvester Passagno of 2308 Nicholson street southeast is hard to convince, if the police have quoted Miss Agnes Amedink correctly. Passagno, Miss Amedink said, ‘wouldn't listen last night when she told him another man had taken his place in her affections. Then Miss Amedink Passagno said, emphasized her words by stabbing him in the hand. Passagno left off the argument long enough to go by Emergency Hospital to get a flesh wound treated, then hurried back to Miss Amedink’s home at 1214 N street. A second controversy became so -th phoned Ngy 2 precin gency squad. On their police amvested both. At precinct the couple lateral disorderly conduct © was asked if he charge against Sprang up an neighbors tele- the emer- kival the it col- agges. to press & in Winchester the second week | fcr ghe knife wound. in August, | He did not, Passagno charges of being drunk, having con- cealed weapons in his car, petty larceny and disorderly conduct. FIREMEN KEPT BUSY Fight Flames in Woods Believed Started by Careless Smokers. Two fires in the woods within the District limits kept six fire companies busy yesterday afternoon.. It is be= lieved that they were started by care- smokers. A blaze raged on the Patterson tract, behind Gallaudet College, for three hours before the three engine compa- nies dispatched to the scene in placing it under control. A fire also broke out in the woods at Thirty-seventh street and Benning road northeast and burned for two hours be- fore it was finally extinguished. Traffic along Benning road was halted while firemen combated the flames. Faces 8 Counts in Housebreaking. ‘Thomas W. Martin, colored, 30 years gld. charged with eight counts ‘07.’1‘a house= jury today from Police &\m under $5,000 bond. Martin waived inary before .vuq; m Kcmhmhn:’:';td was taken