Evening Star Newspaper, December 24, 1930, Page 13

- The Foening - Star EXCSMITH C0. MEN PREPARED T0 SPEND, CHRISTMAS N JAIL Edwards Begins Sentence, Reduced From Four Years to Three by Court. BAIL DENIED TWO MEN WHO WAIT ON APPEALS Pitts and Anadale Separated From Former Companion, for Whom Parole’ Will Be Sought. Three former officers of the F. H. Smith Co., ccnvicted on conspiracy- embezzlement charges, were prepared today to spend their Christmas in jail, one commencing a sentence and the others awaiting an appeal. John H. Edwards, jr., former vice president. of the company, is serving the first day of a three-year sentence " imposed by Justice William Hitz in District Supreme Court yesterday. The others, G. Bryan Pitts, former chairman of the board, and C. Elbert ‘Anadale, former vice. president, have appealed their convictions. They were refused bond and must stay in jail until the case can reach the higher court. Pitts was sentenced to serve 14 years and Anadale 9 years. Will Be Taken to Lorton. Edwards was originally sentenced to serve four years, but one year was<cut from the penalty when he decided not to appeal his case. He will be taken to the reformatory at Lorton Friday and put to work in one of the prison titutions. ‘m;fls sudden change of heart with regard to an appeal after sentence had been imposed gave riss to reports that he would appear as a Government wit- ness in the trials of other charges pending against Smith company offi- cials. Among these are an indictment charging Pitts with embezzling approxi mately $1,200,000 from the Smith com- pany and a mail fraud conspiracy in- Qictment against Pitts, Ahadale, Samuel J. Henry, Daniel R. Crissinger, Freder- jck N. zihiman and H. C. Maddux. Pdwards also was indicted on this charge. A‘l:lx appeal in Edwards’ behalf had been noted by counsel for the three men, but Edwards later informed Justice ! Hitz he had changed his mind cn this matter. He was taken to the judge's chambers yesterday afternoon and, after & prolonged discussion, his sentence was cut. Will Have Separate Cell. Col. William L. Peake, superintendent of the jail, sald Edwards had not been placed in the same cell with the other wo men. 3 He will be eligible for parole after serving one year of his sentence, an it is believed that every effort will be made to effect his release at that time. Bail for Pitts and Anadale was vig- orously opposed by the Government prosscutors, Nugent Doods, special as- sistant to the Attorney General, and Neil Burkinshaw, assistant United States attorney. ‘They told Justice Hitz they were afraid the two men would leave the jurisdiction. . Suit Directed Against Pitis. Meanwhile Justice Frederick L. Sid- dons of the District Supreme Court today directed Herbert L. Davis and Charles W. Arth, receivers of the Jeffer- son Apartments, at Sixteenth and M treets, to bring suit against Pitts to cover rent for a 31-room apartment occupied by Pitts from April 1, 1924, to April 1, 1930. The receivers made a report to the court last month, setting forth an| alleged indebtedness of Pitts for the | spacious apartment, for which he cwed | rental of $850 per month and which for the six years has exceeded $60,000. Pitts, it is claimed, is also responsible for the rent due on two other apart- ments occupied by Anthony Senes, his former bodyguard, and by Miss Helen Schneider, his secretary, in the same building. Henry Application Denied. The District Court of Appeals has denied the application of Samugl J. Henry, former president of the F. H. Smith Co., for a mandamus to compel Chief Justice Alfred A. Wheat of the District Supreme Court to permit him to file a supersedeas bond which would (have stayed the execution of the order of the chief justice removing Henry from the position of trustee under a bond issue secured on the Cedric partments. Chief Justice Wheat had deferred gning an order removing Henry from trusteeship in bond issues on three other apartments, the Tivoli, Al-Roy and Stanley Arms Apartments. But when the jppelate court denied the mandamus, he signed the orders and also refused [the application of Attorney Harry S. IBarger for supersedeas bonds pending :rpell& in all four cases to the Court Appeals. AXI DRIVER LOSES CAB, BUT RETAINS HIS CASH Bolored Bandits Drive Off in Car When Frightened by Approach- ing Automobile. Forced to drive to a secluded spot t Woodland drive and Thirty-second treet, William L. Curles, a taxicab driveg of 1618 Potomac avenue south- east, Jast night was robbed of his cab when an approaching automobile caused wo colored bandits to flee before re- hieving Curles of his daily receipts. Curles told police the two men opped his cab at Sixteenth and R ktreets and after obliging him to drive 0 the Woodland street destination one of them drew a revolver while the other started to rifie his pockets. They pbandoned their search at the appear- nee of an approaching automobile, he d, and forcing him to alight from be car, drove away. CHARITIES GIVEN $605.30 Go to Aid Jobless. The Central Union Mission and the Balvation Army wul‘e::h recei:et utom om the rroceedl of the recent foof m jween Central and McKinley High played for the benefit of The proceeds were turned over to phen E. Kramer, assistant super- terfdent of “\‘,’l::oh' by S. T. Kimble, thietic Association. They had decided hat the two welfare institutions should the beneficlaries on account of the Schools, ashington’s unemployed. i of Inter-High School large number of men they have | Representing the public parks and ray, 6 years old_(right), and Harry G. House this morning to extend season the President and Mrs. Hoover. WASHINGTON, D. ¢, V playgrounds of Washington, Kitty Mur- Helme, jr., also 6, calling at the White greetings in behalf of the children of ‘Washington to Peggy Ann and Herbert Hoover, 3d, (center) grandchildren of —Star Staff Photo. POLICE WRECK CAR OF LIQUOR N CHASE Colored Man, Whose Smoke Screen Failed, Arrested. Second Runner Escapes. A'mile chase during which a police car drove into a thick smoke screen from a liquor-laden automobile, ended the police car smashed into the fleeing auto as it slowed down to negotiate a turn, overturning it and exposing its cargo of 216 half-gallon jars of corn whisky. Neither Sergt. George M. Little, George C. Deyoe, members of the police liquor squad who pursued the rum run- ner, nor Willlam Stone, 24, colored, of 344 K street southwest, driver of the liquor car, was injured. The rum auto- mobile was righted and driven under its own power to the Internal Revenue Bu- reau warehouse. The chase began near the District d | line on Sargent road shortly before mid- night. Sergt. Little and Deyoe, antici- pating the running .of . “Christmas liquor” had taken up a watch at that point, and when Stcne'’s car P‘sud‘ they took out after it. Almost immediately :‘he smoke screen was put into opera- jon. ‘Wind Favors Pursuers. Stone drove on the wrong side of the road and the wind was at the proper angle to carry away enough of the smoke ‘to permit the police to keep sight of the fieeing auto. The speed averaged 60 miles an hour. Suddenly Stone slackened his pace to turn off the road and the police car ran into its side, turning it'over and pinning the driven within. Stone, police said, admitted readily that he was employed to run the liquor load in from Baltimore, and provided them with the name of his employer. Store was booked on charges of reckless driving, operating a smoke screen and violation of the prohibition act. Further investigation is being made of the in- formation given police by Stone. Chase Less Spectacular. Another chase last night was less spectacular and less successful. A park policeman pursued a rum car on his motor cycle until the last case of liquor had been hurled overboard by the cul- prits. When he returned to gather up the “evidence” he learned all but a single container had been gathered up by _unofficial witnesses. Park Policeman Maurice A. Rainey sighted a car in Southeast Washington late last night. Two colored men were its occupants and the policeman be- came suspicious. His hail was answered by a burst of speed that climbed to 65 miles an hour. Rainey gave chase, and one by one, cases of liquor-were heaved out of the fleeing car to the road in front of him. Finally, the automobile out-distanced him, and Rainey re- turned over his route to Second and E streets southeast, where he gathered up broken glass and a lone contained of liquor, A crowd assembled in tie wake of the chase. OIL LITIGATION SETTLED OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., December 24 (#).—Three years of litigation by Nora Foster, full-blood Seminole Indian, and others, to obtain title to Seminole oil fleld property valued at $4,000- 000 has ended with a $75,000 settlement. The State Supreme Court was ad- vised yesterday of the action and Chief Justice Charles W. Mason immediately filed a notice of dismissal. ‘The Indian woman claimed the land through inheritance. The defendants included Forest Anderson, wealthy col- ored man; the Tom B. Slick estate, the Amerada Petroleum Corporation and the Barnsdall Oil Co. in Brookland early this morning when | COMMITTEE MAY HIRE TAX EXPERT Fiscal Study Aid Authoriza- tion to Require Action of House. “The Special Committee of the House studying the fiscal relationship between the Federal and District governments, it was discolsed, today by Chairman Carl Mapes, is seriously contemplating the employment of an expert on tax- ation to assist in the investigation. Definite action cannot be taken by the committee, however, until Congress reconvenes after the Christmas holi- days on January 5, since the House must authorize the appointment of the expert and provide for his com- pensation. In the meantime, the com- mittee will select the expert if it defi- nitely decides to carry out its plan to call in aid from the outside. Sev- eral candidates already are under con- sideration. Representative Mapes indicated that the expert chosen would have no con- nection whatever with Washington business interests nor with the Federal or municipal governments. The com- mittee, he pointed out, d-sires an in- dividual without any alliances that would tend to prevent a non-partisan study. ‘The committee has not yet clearly defined the duties of an expert, al- though his principal work, i¥ was said, would be to analyze the mass of sta- tistics introduced during the recent series of public hearings by the Bureau of Efficlency and the dozen witnesses who testified. The committee also is sald to be anxious to get comparable data in the general tax situation in other cities, other than that contained in the Efficlency Bureau's ¢omprehen- sive report. This might necessitate an investiga- | tion in these cities by the expert, al- though Mr. Mapes said the committee | had made no plans to send its investi- gator on a tax gathering junkef about the country. Aside from the contemplated employ- ment of a tax expert, the future plans cf the committee are indefinite. The indications are, though, that no further public hearings will be held, but rep- resentatives of Washington interests who desire to give the committee any information on the fiscal relations sub- ject will be requested to do so in writing. ‘The committee’s study, it was em- phasized, will be a thorough one, and for this reason no efforts will be made to rush the investigation to completion, It is unlikely, it was said, the the com- mittee’s report and recommendations will be ready until a few days before the close of the present short session of Congress. It will, therefore, not have any influence on the District appropria- tion bill for the 1932 fiscal year, which is predicated on continuance of the existing. $1.70 tax rate, and a $9,500,~ 000 contribution by the United States. The report, however, will be available in time for its consideration in connec- tion with the preparation of the budget estimates for the 1933 fiscal year. . BATTLE IN CHAIN STORE ST. LOUIS, December 24 (#)—Five employes of a Piggly Wiggly store here last night used canned goods and meat cleavers in a battle with two supposed robbers, capturing one of them. Employes became suspicious when the men entered the store. When one of them started for the rear, they laid down a barrage of canned goods and the, supposed Tobbers started shooting. Two employes were wounded by bul- lets. A man who sald he was “Jack Johnson of Chicago,” one of the sus- pected robbers, was struck by a meat cleaver and wounded. Johnson's com- panion escaped. ‘The injured were taken to a hospital, where police said they would question Johnson. Representative Timberlake, Roberta Wood Elliott, B. Timberlake, arried ceremony at the Carlton 3 The elderly Representative and his youthful bride kept the Rev. James Shera Montgomery, chaplain of the House of Representatives, waiting for some time at the hotel, because, as the new Mrs. Tiberlake remarked to news photographers who further delayed the wedding: “We wanted to be late, we wouldn't be_fashionable if we weren’t, and bride ‘The 75-year-old groom, his nn-n.nflcndm l.l-lemael—o vuwmmun cameras in a m.rmmmfl{ The wedding gown was of white . RICH CONGRESS MEMBER TAKES BRIDE WITH SIMPLE CEREMONY' 72, of Colorado Weds Mrs. , 32-Year-Old Widow. crepe, sleeveless, studded with sequins. ‘The bride’s blue eyes sparkled; h brown hair was smoothly waved. She wore her wedding gift—a long rope of pearls-—and a diamond-studded wrist watch over her long white gloves. ‘The bridal party included Mrs, Louise Hill, sister of Mrs. Elliott; Glenn O. Hiatt, the Representative’s secretary, and many women ‘Who had worked with Mrs. Elliott at the Census Bureau, where she had been more lately em- ployed. ‘The honeymoon trail Jed to North Carolina, the bride's home, for a 'il&: SAILOR 1S KILLED BY CRASHING INTO ANACOSTIA BRIDGE Birta A. Venable, 24, Victim of Auto, on Way to Air Station. CATONSVILLE, MD., MAN EXPIRES OF INJURIES Samuel E. Everham in Accident Saturday—Three Women Injured in Traffic. Birta Allen Venable, 24 years 6ld, a sallor at the Naval Air Station, was fatally injured shortly after last mid- night when an automobile he was driving crashed into the curbing at the north end of the Anracostia Bridge and overturned, pinning him beneath it. ‘The death of Venable was the second to occur in the District last night ‘as the result of traffic accidents, Samuel E. Everham, 45, of Catonsville, Md., dying at Gallinger Hospital some time before from hurts received at Twenty- eighth street and Rhode Island avenue northeast Saturday. A coroner’s inquest in Everham's case resulted in a verdict of accident. Venable was returning to the air sta- tion about 12:30 o'clock after visiting friends in another section of the city when the mishap occurred. Two pass- ers-by, Paul Trudge of 2812 Alabama avenue southeast, and W. A. Fox of 1016 K street southeast, extricated the sailor from the wrecked car. Expires After Two Hours. The injured man was carried to Casualty Hospital in Trudge’s automo- bile and he died there about two hours ter. Venable was & first class yeoman and had been stationed in Washington less than two months. The body was re- moved to the Naval Hospital today while Navy officials awaited word from the deceased’s relatives at his home_ town of Eclectic, Ala., before proceeding with funeral arrangements. It is expected burial will be. in Arlington National Cemetery. Everham was injured early Saturday when a machine in which he and Wil- liam Thornton, 40 years old, also of Catonsville, were riding crashed into a pile of dirt. Thornton escaped with minor injuries. Three Women Injured. ‘Three women sustained minor injuries in_two accidents reported to District p?gh;‘:e late yesterday afternoon and last night. Georgetown University Hospital phy- sicians treated Susie Handback, 36, of Bonair, Va. for cuts, bruises and a broken wrist, received when au_auto- mobile operated by Stephen T. Porter, 42, of 1149 New Hampshire avenue, struck her. Miss Charlotte Boulgar, 17 years old, of 717 Seventh street southwest, and Mrs. Paul A. Lesner, 24, of 1738 Bay street southeast, were given treatment at Emergency Hospital after a collision between two machines at Thirteenth and K streets. A machine driven by Miss Boulgar was proc-eding south on Thirteenth street when it struck a car operated by Danjel B. Parker of 4000 Fifth street, which was crossing at K. Miss Boulgar received a lacerated lip, while Mrs. Lesner, who was riding in the rear seat of Parker’s machine, was treated for a sprained back. MYSTERIOUS PARCEL IS CAUSE OF WONDER Undertaker Receives Christmas Package of 0dd Articles From Unknown Woman. Several persons wondered about the package which arrived at 621 Florida avenue last night, innocent of exterior is innumerable others in the Christmas mails, ‘The first to wonder was Edward W. Bundy, the colored undertaker, to whom it was addressed by an unknown “May Smith” under a New York City post mark. Bundy wondered if it contained an_infernal machine. Policeman E. Barnett of Ne. 8 pre- cinct woridered still further when, sum- moned by telephone, he began to un- wrap the package. It contained a novelty box of pepper- mints, a sausage, a screw used by un- dertakers to fasten down coffiin lids, five hickory nuts, an Italian cigar and— ‘The precinct’s prohibition officer wondered about the last article—a pint of some kind of liquid. Both Bundy and police said today they still were wondering what the package meant, who sent it and why and if the bottle really contained a beverage. No one seemed to doubt it contained alcohol. . STATUE OF HENRY CLAY IN CAPITAL IS SOUGHT Steps were authorized at a meeting of the Kentucky Soclety last night in the Willard Hotel looking to the erec- tion of a statue of Henry Clay, the great ‘“compromiser,” in the National Capital. G The motion was made by Francis M. Savage, who pointed out to the soclety that whereas there is a statue to Daniel Webster in Washington, the only statue to the great Kentucky statesman is in the Capitol. Former Gov. A. O. Ousley of Kentucky seconded the motion to form a committee to look into the mat- ter. Such a committee will be named by Col. Gullion, president of the society. It is probable that Repreuntauv' ‘Thatcher of Kentucky, who was a mem! ber of the American mission attending the ceremonies in Venezuela at the un- veiling of a statue of Clay, will introduce a bill authorizing Congress to appro- priate funds for a statue or memorial to Clay in Washington. NORTH GETS AIRMAIL The first airmail service in New- foundland is to be established early next month, according to a rt made public by the Department of lerce. The National Capital will have direct connection with new line by way of Eastern Air Transport and Canadian- Colonial Air Trans) 3 EDNESDAY, By Lamont, completing their shopping. DECEMBER 24, 1930. A view of F street just before noon today when Christmas shoppers started their “last minute” rush.—Star Staff Photo. Below: Miss Laura Barkley, daughter of Senator and Mrs. Alben W. Barkley of Kentucky (at left) ; Miss Elizabeth Meyer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Meyer (center), and Miss Gertrude Lamont, daughter of Secretary and Mrs. PAGE ] ra ¥ | I —P. & A. Photos. CAPITAL SHIPS SET Extra Planes Put in Service to Care for Those Going Home for Holidays. New records for airblane passenger activity on air lines operating out of ‘Washington-Hoover Airport were indi- cated today as plane after plane took | off on scheduled runs loaded to capac- |ity. Early this morning all but about a half dozen seats had been reserved on 29 passenger planes departing from the District on regular runs. These planes can carry 297 passengers, and it was expected every one of the seats would be filled. Extra Ships Utilized. Approximately 26 passenger planes were scheduled to arrive in the Dis- trict on regular runs today, but the number of ngers arriving is ex- the number of departures, the Christ- mas traffic being away from the Na- tional Capital to homes in the States. The New York, Philadelphia & Wash- ington Airway Corporation has had every seat in its regular planes sold for several days, and this morning all but two seats on three extra ‘“double sections” had been reserved. The two vacancies, on a second section of the 5 p.m. plane were expected to be filled by noon Cadets Ride Planes. Eastern Air transport, the mail line, has had all seats on its south-bound plane out of the District sold for sev- eral days, and all seats have been re- served for nearly a week ahead, it was said today. Three round trips are to be flown between this city and New York. ‘The Pennsylvania Airline plane was expected to leave with capacity load for Pittsburgh and Cleveland this afternoon and the Dixie Flying Service plane to Charlottesville, Va., and Greensboro, N. C., was booked to capacity. Yesterday afternoon 40 West Point Cadets arrived in the Capital in four special tri-motored transport planes of the “Nypwac” line SEAL SALE EXPECTED TO APPROACH $45,000 Tuberculosis Association Announces Receipts of $35,000—Private Schools Boost Fund $800. ‘With the salg of 3,500,000 seals having netted $35,000, the District of Columbia ‘Tuberculosis Association today enter- tained hopes of eleventh-hour sales lboostlng the receipts in the near vicinity of the $45,000 objective. Reports received yesterday from four private schools that have conducted volunteer seal sales disclosed that ap- proximately $800 worth of seals were sold. The schools reporting were Sid- well's Friends School, Mount Vernon Seminary, National Cathedral School for Girls and Miss Madeira’s School. s QUEST IS HELD An inquest was being held at the District Morgue this afternoon into the death of Lewis W. Littlefield, 50 years old, of 807 Silver Spring avenue, Silver Spring, Md.,, who was Kkilled instantly yesterday afternoon when a heavy steel beam fell from a truck and struck Littlefleld was helping to unload the beam at a building under construction ‘This|at Florida avenue and North Capitol street when the beam slipped from chains of a small crane, e 'police of the second AIR TRAVEL RECORD passel pected to be considerably smaller than | Chrisf FRANTIC CHRISTMAS EVE RUSH MISSING UNDER BUY-EARLY PLAN Santa Fairly Ignored in To; Only Moderately Thronged. BY GRETCHEN SMITH. Christmas eve isn't what it used to be. Deserted streets, shops empty of frantically rushing, last-minute shop- rs, Santa Claus sitting unattended upon hig throne in the toy department of one of F street’s large stores, all go to prove t Americans have followed the Post, ice slogan, “Mail Early for Christmas. Twenty-five years ago, according to J. Madison Carroll, local merchant, who for 28 years has watched Christ- mas shoppers hurry in and out of the F street stores, many people put off their gift purchases until midnight Christmas eve. “We never started our Christmas window dressing until two weeks be- fore Christmas,” said Mr. Carroll. “Twenty-five years ago, starting about two weeks before Christmas, the shops would stay open until 9 o'clock at night. tmas eve we would not close until after midnight. We would stay open until after the theaters let out. It was surprising the number of people who Jould buy Christmas gitts at that late eventy-five per cent of Christmas gifts mpade by women to men is neck- wear, declares Mr. Carrcll. “Next in popularity,” said the mer- y Departments and F Street chant, “are lounging robes. Fast-moving transportation is in a large part re- sponsible for the falling off in umbrella sales for men,” said Mr. Carroll. “This year we have sold very few umbrellas or canes,” he added. At 10 o'clock this morning F street, which at the same hour any day last week gvas overflowing with hurrying throngs, appeared like Main street of a quiet country town. Flower shops appeared to be doing the best Christmas eve business. One store, attractive with poinsetta plants and fruit-bearing miniature orange trees, appeared to be doing a comfort- ably rushing business, shoppers having to wait their turn to place orders. Mr. Carol prophe that, despite the economic depression this year, mer- chants are not apt to suffer, although their profits will not be so large as in other years. “All merchants have bought short this year,” he explained. “Consequ ly, few stores will find themselves over- stocked after Ohristmas. I do not think this ‘tight’ condition is going to con- tinue more than six more months,” he added, optimistically. “By next Sum- mer buying should have returned to normalcy, and goods are going to be much less expensive. People will get much more for their dollar than they have in many years.” POLICE CASES DROP 30 PER CENT IN YEAR Collections $110,000 Below 1929. Prohibition Revenue Total Is $46,148.92. The number of Police Court cases has fallen off approximately 30 per cent in one year, according to figures released today, while the court financial office reported taking in $110,000 less than last year. Prior to this year the numiber of cases handled in court as well as the amount of money teken in has been increasing steadily since 1900, with the exception of a few years. This year showed by far the most radical change in the court history. The total number of cases in 1930, including yesterday, was 56,472, while the total for 1929 was approximately 83,000. More than $532,000 was taken in last year, while up to today '$418,- 130.49 had been counted. About 23,000 instances were persons arrested for minor infractions of parking regulations and other similar rules were recorded both this year and last. Revenue from prohibition cases in the District this year amounted to $49,148.92, according to Andrew J. San- ford, court financial clerk. WSS ARMY BARRACKS BURN Fort Crockett Quarters Destroyed by Fire in Night. GALVESTON, Tex., December 24 (#).—Fire of undetermined origin through barracks occupled y bachelor non-commissioned officers of the 3d Attack Omg, Army Air Corps, stationed at Fort Crockett, vir- tually wrecking the building. Soldiers, assisted by Galveston fire- men, extinguished the blaze. For a e other barracks buil were as not | &. result rule, when it was ws' Bulgarians to live as un- last | itable h VETERANS PROTEST BARGE WORK COST |Suggest “Even” Distribution of Charity Foot Ball Game Money. Protest against the use of $5,000 of the receipts from the Coast Guard- Marine benefit foot ball game, for labor in connection with the unloading of the barges sent here from the Marine Base at Quantico with free wood for the poor, was voiced today by the District of Columbia Department, No. 1, Veterans of Foreign Wars, in & letter addressed t6 the newspapers. Stating that the Commissioners’ Committee on Unemployment’s Funds are limited, the letter suggests that they should “make as even a distribution of the funds as possible.” There is no direct suggestion that the funds be given to the veterans organization for distribution; but the suggestion as to “even” distribution is immediately fol- lowed up by the suggestion that those needing wood should unload the barges without charge, and that the $5,000 thus saved could be used “for the purchase of food, necessary. clothing, coal, pay- ment of rent and other items.” Then follows the statement that the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which has an office in the Colorado Building, is willing to sup-. ply such benefits, although it _gets no‘l money from unity Chest, its funds being limited to moneys received from the Armistice day and the PopRY sale. e Unemployment Committee had at' first considered distributing the funds from the foot ball game much along the lines suggested, h char- organizations, but after a ther- ough discussion, the éommittee decided to make a more direct attack on un- employment by el men in un- loading ths money on the Dists ice, housed at e unemployment s Louisiana avenue. Village hotses in Bul a to re 1oaf DISTRICT TRAFFICT AND BORLAND LAW- HEARINGS ASSURED Capper Promises D. C. Heads Senate Group Considera- tion Early in January. PAVING ASSESSMENTS ARE BEATEN IN COURT Commissioners Draft Bill to Mees Exceptional Cases—Ask Regula- tory Powers Given Director. Proposed amendments to the District traffic law and the question of what changes should be made in the Borland street paving assessment law will be the subjects of hearings before the Sen- ate District Committee soon after Con- gress reconvenes in January, according to Chairman Capper. Bills Mentioned to Capper. In a conference with Senator Capper * several weeks 2go, District offizials men- tioned these two bills as ones they were anxious to have the committee consid- er during the present short session. Dates have not been fixed for the hear- ings, but Senator Capper indicated these two bills would be brought up for discussion after the holiday recess, which ends January 5. ‘The traffic bill submitted by the Com- missioners would give the heads of the District government authority to make and modify regulations and to exercise the powers now imposed on the director of traffic. The office of director would be abolished under this bill and the Commissioners would be enabled to exercise the regulatory power through the Police Department and such other existing offices of the District as they may designate. The bill also would provide an automobile title law for the District. Owners Win in Court. The question of the future operation of the Borland paving law hfi been brought to the attention of Congress as the result of court cases from time to time, in which property owners have been successful in setting aside paving assessments under this law. The Com- missioners have drafted a bill intended to meet exceptional cases, such as where property abuts on two or more streets. The e g law also has been attacked by property owners having irregular- shaped lots. It is expected that the hearings on.this bill will include a gen- eral discussion of the operation of the Borland law, which has been opposed by numerous organizati ctscEneTt Tgal ons since its CONTRACT AWARDED FOR NURSES’ HOME Commissioners Authorize Construc- tion at Gallinger Hospital—Other Buildings Given Approval. ‘The District Commissioners yesterda awarded to the W. P. Rose Conyst.runla: Co. of Goldsboro, N. C., a contract for muongou;cno: Go‘!m:1 building fob a nugses’ e af T $311,120. B Contract for construction of a school at Broad Branch road and Northamp- ton street was awarded to Charles 8, Bannett, Inc, who bid $132,300. A contract for installing an elevator in the Highway Department Garage went to the General Elevator Co., Inc., B.!_}tl.llmm":e, fDr‘;?‘QlO. e Commissioners approved pla drawn by Municipal Archl;gect Alhe';t lI‘a. Harris for a four-room addition, includ- ing combination gymnasium-assembly hall, to the Deanwood School, Whitting- ham place and Lane place northeast, and ordered the contract advertised. REDUCTION IN CAR FARE FOR SCHOOLS DELAYED Senate Bill, in Interest of Young Pupils May Be Considered Early in January. The bill to authorize a reduced for school children on cars and bu::::, which was apprqved by the Senate Dis~ trict Committee several days ago, prob- ably will have its first chance for con- sideration when the Senate takes up the calendar of miscellaneous bills some zlal:: h_}?;vs:uluxryh, after the holiday re- . e as passed the a 'Id_}l‘flerent form. i fe e e committee report accom in; the bill includes a letter in .su$r{ o the measure written to Chairman Cap- per by Willlam McK. Clayton of the Federation of Citizens’ Associations. Mr. Clayton pointed out in the letter that a reduced fare for school children has been on the list of proposed legis- lation since the federation was organ- —— il ARMY BAND TO SERENADE PRESIDENT AND GUESTS Organization to Observe Its Annual Custom at White House on Christmas Day. Following its annual custom, the United States Army Band will serenade the President and his holiday guests, on the north lawn of the White House Christmas day. The concert will begin at 9:45 o'clock, shortly after break- fast, and it is expected the President and Mrs. Hoover and their two grand children will hear at least a portion of it from the north portico. Capt. Wil- llam J. Stannard, leader of the band, who will direct the music has selected a program specially appropriate to the occasion. D — WILL DREDGE TO DEEPEN POTOMAC RIVER CHANNEL Maj. Joseph D. Arthur, jr., District engineer for the War Dej it for rday adver- the Washington area, yi tised for bids for two Pprojec the on the Potomac River, to deepen channel as aids to navigation. dent Hoover signed the bill authorizing the work Saturday. Bids will be opened on January 14. Dredging will be done under the contracts, at Smiths Creek, Md., near the mouth of the Potomac River, and at Monroe Bay and Creek, pear Colonial Beach, Va. The United tates engineer office declined to say hat sum of money has been made jallable for this work prior to receipt