Evening Star Newspaper, December 26, 1930, Page 17

The Foening Star SPACE FOR PARKING INSIDE BUILDINGS IS URGED IN REPORT Park and' Planning Group Also Would Encourage Private Garages. FEDERAL LEADERSHIP IN PROBLEM SOUGHT Government Is Given Double Re-| sponsibility to Meeting Needs for Traffic. Limited parking in downtown Wash- n and encouragement of private investors to set up parking garages are suggested in the annual report of the National . Capital Park and Planning Commission, made public today, in urg- ing that Uncle Sam lead the way by providing: parking dreas within Govern- ment buildings. Future. public buildings in the tri- angle should emzrace adequate parking facilities, in the opinion of the com- mission, 4s the Bureau of Internal Rev- enue and the new Department of Com- merce Buildings do not. “The best way to provide for the ex- tensive daytime storage of automobiles in & business district appears to be in garages, of which numerous ingenious and economic types have been and are being developed in many Ameri- can cities, both as independent plants and as part of office buildings,” the | Teport says. Recommendations Made. { In making its recommendations on this phase of city planning, the com- mission urged: In Washington, there should be agreement upon, and persistent adher- ance to, - seif-consistent and far- sighted policy, or group of co-related licies, by = several agencies of rnment responsible in various ways for the han of automobile storage | in the princy business district, in- cluding the District Commissioners and the Office of Public Buildings and Pub. lic Parks as concerned with parkin regulations, the Public Buildings Com- mission and, in - the last analysis, Congress. Such a policy or group of policies should probably be controled by recog- nition of the following principles: It is not''a legitimate permanent function of public streets and parks to Emde storage for vehicles when not use for transportation. ‘The policy of progressively and per- sistently increasing the stringency of restrictions upon the free storage of vehicles in the streets and parks should be so clear, and so firmly established that fear of competitive free storage provided by public authorities at the expense of the general tax payers will not deter investors from providing con- venient and economical storage places | on private ty in the business| district at charges commensurate with the cost of the services, and with the values of the service to those who use it. | Should Provide Space. The Government, in its capacity of ‘builder and operator of office buildings, | should, as a part of its om;i buudl.ngl program, provide a reasonable amoun! of cubic feet of building space adapted to the daytime storage of automobiles of the occupants of its office buildings. ‘This , except in the case of official cars, should be provided only on the basis of a reasonable charge suffi- clent to cover the cost of the service so that those to whom the convenience of such - storage and valuable central land is not worth its real cost, may use the public transportation systems. Other- wise they parasitically obtain a luxury at the cost of others which is not worth to anybody what it costs. | ~ing to the uncertainty as to what | ~{ automobile storage space w\ cace will prove economically | is expedient to make at least such structures for automo- in connection with Govern- readily convertible to other use, as ¢ readily be done with ordi- mary loft-building constructions. Two Responsibilities. The report reviews the findings of its expert, Dr. Miller McClintock of the Erskine Bureau of Traffic Research of Harvard University. ‘With reference to automobile parking in the central business district, the re- port asserts: “In dealing with this| problem in Washington, the responsibi- | ty of the Government is peculiar in two ways. In the first place, on gen- | eral principles, Washington ought to b"\ leading rather than lagging behind in the solution of an urban problem so acute and so general. In the second place, the Government not only has all the powers and responsibilities vested in ordinary municipal governments in this matter, but is at the same time the largest single land owner and occu- pant of office bullding space in the central business district, and thus unit- Mmg in a single agency responsibilities | and powers for dealing with the prob- lem which in other cities are divided | between the municipal government and | the owners and users of private prop- | erty.” i AUTO DEATH ACCIDENTAL Coroner's Jury Gives Verdict in| Killing of Bernard Gooding. A verdict of accidental death was re- turned by a coroner’s jury at the Dis- trict Morgue this morning at an inquest into the fatal accident on Christmas eve night in which Bernard Gooding. 19 years old, of Kensington, Md., was killed when a tire blowout caused his automobile to overturn on Reservoir | slogan, “Before Investing, Investiga | and who failed to obtain a permit from WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, DECEMBER PARKS ARE TO BE MADE SAFE Protection of Lovers From Hold-up Men Is Real Problem. Capt. Montgomery Depends on Patrolmen to Draw Line on “Decent Petting.” Uncle Sam has a full measure of ro- mance in his soul, and to prove it he is going to make his parks in the Capi- tal safe for swains and their sweet- hearts who “pet within the bounds of decency.” Holding hands on a park bench is mentioned specifically as one of the harmless but inspiring pastimes which park police will wink at. Nor will the stern reality of the law step in to spoil the big moment when a lovesick suitor pops the fatal question to the only girl in the world. Sighing and making “goo-goo” eyes also appear to be among the senti- mental activities that are condoned. Decision Left to Patrolmen. Capt. Ray C. Montgomery, who has just made known his views on “park petting,” is going to leave to the park partrolmen, however, the momentous decision .as to whether other variations of the art of lovemaking are to be smiled at or rudely interrupted. Capt. Montgomery has nothing but sympathy for the young couples of the Capital who are wont to succumb to the poetry of Nature while visiting Rock Creek or Potomac Park. Not only has he forbidden his men from shattering the reverie of those who sit in trance-like contemplation of love's fond dream, but he has directed that a cloak of police protection be drawn about them against the menace of “stick-up” men or other CAPT. RAY C. MONTGOMERY. criminals who specialize in preying on “spooners.” “The park police,” said Capt. Mont- gomery, “have been accused, usually with facetious intent, but sometimes in all seriousness, of going about with a flashlight to prevent young couples from holding hands in the parks. The park police have never interfered with couples holding hands. ‘Petting,’ within the bounds of decency, does not claim their attention. On the contrary, it is only the presence of policemen which makes it possible for the young people of Washington to frequent the parks without molestation or grave danger from a type of criminal who specializes in preying upon ‘spooners’ The pro- tection, as well as the control of ‘pet- ters,’ is distinctly a problem to the park police. Even with the closest policing possible with the number of men avail- able, reports are all too frequent of hold-ups and other crime directed to- ward couples in parked cars on park roadways.” BUEAETSHOP DRNE 5 EPORT FEATRE Better Business Bureau Also Cites Work in 1930 for Honest Advertising. The revelation of “bucket shops” in the District and valuable aid in elimination of them constituted an out- standing contribution made by the Bet- ter Business Bureau toward the clvic betterment of the National Capital dur- ing 1930, Louis Rothschild, director of the bureau, pointed out today in re- viewing the year's activities of the or- ganization. In response to & eamgl!ln conducted by the bureau, which adopted &h& between 2,500 and 3,000 inquiries con- cerning the status of stock and bond organizations and other establishments seeking contributions were received, Mr. Rothschild re] . The bureau keeps an active staff engaged in the compila- tion of data concerning these organ- izations. The work of the Better Business Bureau during the past year in connec- tion with its “Truth in Advertising” drive resulted in more than 4,000 in- vestigations of advertisements, Director Rothschild asserted. Acting as “friend of the court,” the bureau during the year was successful | in having a court order providing for an auction sale by an unlicensed auc- | tioneer rescinded, acting as plaintiff in the case in Equity Court recently. The court order contained- the name of an out-of-town crier against whom the bureau had had a previous grievance the District government to conduct an | auction sale of a jeweler's stock at a store on Thirteenth street near F. As a result of the bureau's petition, the court changed its order. Officers re-elected by the bureau dur- ing the year included Joshua Evans, jr., chairman of the board of directors; M. G. Gibbs, vice chairman; F. G. Addi- son, treasurer, and R. B. H. Lyons, SCALDING KILLS BOY IN AUGUSTA HOME|* Small Son of Mr. and Mrs. Pierce| Pulls Tub of Water Over Him. Special Dispatch to The Star. -STAUNTON, Va., December 26.—Suf- fering from burns received when a scalding tub of water overturned on him, Robert Pierce, small son of Mr. and | Mrs. R. L. Plerce of Augusta County, died in the University Hospital, Char- lottesville, after lingering five days. ‘The child had grasped the side of the | tub of water which was resting on a stand and pulled it oven on him. Be: sides his parents he is survived by one brother, Harold Lee Pierce. Teacher’s Wedding Announced. ANDREW CHAPEL, Va., December 26 (Special).—Mr. and Mrs. William Harmon Kephart of Herndon on Christ- mas eve announced the marriage of their daughter, Miss Mary Elizabeth Kephart, to Mark Lawson Money of Colvin Run. Mrs. Money is prima teacher at Andrew Chapel School. Money is the son of Fairfax County Fire Warden Joseph Money. The mar- road near Thirty-seventh street. ! September 6. riage took place in Gettysburg, Pa., ROLE OF ALARM CLOCK IS TAKEN BY OFFICER RESPONDING TO CALL Summoned by Woman Recovering From Operation to Arouse Sleeping Husband. Police have been called upon to offi- ciate in many capacities, but there is| & one member of the fourteenth precinct ‘who probably wins what should be given for “extraordinary duty”’—to wit, act-|that. ing as sort of an alarm clock. Recently this officer, res) to an eme; 'y call, went to home of ‘Walter C. Doe, 4604 Forty-eighth street, ‘where, despite repeated knocking, 4 making frantic motions for him return. 2 ‘When no one received him, he again he | where the woman was, the cause of the sgain looked at the window and saw the er on the door, and he Finally a sleepy-eyed man jerked open the door, wanting to know what it was all about, and when the police- man directed his attention to the room call came out. & Mrs. Doe, recovering from an - and unable to walk, hmop:::n cial) —Lewis B, in Stores Thronged By Gift Recipients Asking Exchanges Buying for Opposite Sex Blamed for Majority of Mistakes. Did those Christmas stockings fit you? Maybe they did, but countless persons who flocked into downtown stores to- the |day to exchange gifts for more appro- prl\lale sizes, had a different story to tell. Articles swapped ranged all the way from gloves to galoshes and from pa- jamas to pants. In most instances, the presents which proved too large or too small were bought by members of the opposite sex. In practically every Instance the exchanges were willingly made. One man walked into a Pennsylvania avenue store displaying a brown tie he had found on his Christmas tree. “I haven't anything except blue suits and can't wear brown ties,” he ex- plained. “May I exchange this one?” “Was it purchased here?” a clerk in- quired. “I don’t know.” if it wasn't, we can't help you.” The disappointed recipient of the gift insisted, however, and finally emerged from the store minus the unwanted neckpiece. In its place he possessed lh})l;l! tie and a white linen handker- chief. MRS. I. W. WINTOSH SUCCUMBS HERE AT 62 Funeral of Physician’s Widow Will Be Held at Marylgnd Home Tomorrow. Mrs. Isabelle Warfield Stinson McIn- tosh, 62 years old, died at 2521 Con- mcnucut avenue yesterday after a long ess. Mrs. McIntosh was the widow of Dr. Willlam Page Mclntosh, formerly con- nected with the United States Public Health Service here for a number of ears. She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. C. B. Morse of this city and Mrs. Isa- belle Pindell of Maryland and a son, Dr. William Page McIntosh, Jr., of West Virginia % A native of Maryland, Mrs: McIntosh was & member of an old and distin- guished family of that State. She hi spent considerable time in this city and was active in several patriotic so- cieties here. Funeral services will be conducted at the family residence, Longwood, at Glenwood, Md., tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Interment will bs in the family cemetery on the McIntosh estate there. Vs HERMAN WEISS DEAD AT RIVER ROAD HOME Funeral Services for Retired Yeast- maker to Be Held Tomorrow Afternoon. Special Dispatch to The Btar. BLADENSBURG, Md., Decemher 26. —Funeral services for Herman Weiss, 57 years old, who died Wednesday afternoon at 4 o'clock at his home on River road, will be held tomorrow after- noon from there at 2 o'clock. Rev. M. W. Derr, rector of St. Luke's Epis- copal Church will officiate. Six neph- ews of the deceased will act as pall- bearers. They are Edward Radtke, Carl Fierstein, Albert Pierstein, Richard Schuler, Daniel Pleitner and Frederick Miller. Interment will be in historic Evergreen Cemetery here. Mr. Weiss, formerly employed as a east maker at Fleishmann's plant ashington, D. C., had not been in good health for the past 10 weeks His conditiog, however, did not become alarming Tuesday night. Death was attributed to heart trouble. Born in Germany, Mr. Weiss lived in Washington 25 years before removing to his home on River road, eight-and-a- half years ago. Mr. Weiss leaves his widow, who be- fore her ma , was' Miss Lena Rath of Washington, D. C., and three daugh- ters, Mrs. Frank H. Pierstein of River road, Mrs. Dora Root of Braddock le%l;lu. Alexandria, Va., and Miss Sophie Weiss of River road. He is also survived by a sister, Mrs. Sophie Ut Paris, France, and a brother, Frederick Weiss of San Francisco, Calif. S A Denies Wedding Announcement. FAIRFAX, Va, December 26 (Spe- Oliver of Fairfax and state- his mar- ding | couldn’t be | FVE CRITICALLY, INAUTO MISHAPS Hit-Run Drivers Figure in Four Crashes—D. C. Men Plunge Off Road. SISTERS ARE RUN DOWN ON CONNECTICUT AVENUE | ing Catapulted From Machine Atfer Collision. With hit-and-run drivers figuring in four of the mishaps, 12 persons were carried to hospitals late yesterday with injuries received in a series of holiday nearby Maryland police. Five of those hurt were sald to be in a serious condition today, among them two Washington men who were taken to the Frederick Hosital after a machine in which they were riding plunged off a sharply curving road near Owens Creek on the Rocky Springs- Thurmont, Md., highway. Samuel Grogan, 29 years old, of 916 Nineteenth street, who was at th® wheel of the car when it careened off the roadway and upset in a field, and John Knott, 29, of 2609 Eighth street, were treated at the Frederick institution, 15 miles away, for possibe interhal .in- Jjuries, cuts and bruises. A third occupant of the auto, Willlam Kelly, 25 years old, of Thurmont, was able to go home after being treated for minor lacerations and contusions. Man Thrown From Aute. Joseph Hayes, 25, of 1803 Third street northeast, was injured critically last night when he was thrown from an automobile which overturned on the Baltimore- pike near Hyattsville after a collision with a hit-and-run machine. Joseph A. Hunter, 1600 Kentucky ayenue southeast, who was driving a roadster in which Hayes was riding, escaped unhurt. Hayes is in Garfield Hospital. Mrs. Catherine Sheahan, 44 years old, of 607 Sixth street northeast, was run down by an automobile at the in- tersection of Sixth and G streets north- east. She reported the car falled to stop after the accident. by Robert Arnett, colored, 65 years old, of Philadelphia, when a roadster driven by his brother, Archie Arnett, 27, of Margaret, N. J., collided at New Jersey avenue and C street with a taxicab operated by Fred Voorhees of 222 Sec- ond street northeast. The two drivers escaped unhurt. Robert Arnett was hurled against the side of the roadster and received sev- eral fractured ribs and internal hurts. He was taken to Casualty Hospital. Two sisters, Dorothy Froelke, 22-year- old War Department clerk, and Helen Froelke, 24, both of whom live at 2115 P street, were injured at Connecticut avenue and Q street last night when a taxicab which, police say, was driven by Milton C. Early, colored, 28, of the 1300 block S street, felled them. ‘Woman's Arm Broken. The younger of the two women sus- tained & broken right arm, while Miss | Proelke suffered a fractured left arm, cuts about the head and bruises. They | were treated at Emergency Hospital. | Early was arrested by third precinct police for reckless driving. A collision between two machines on Pennsylvania avenue near Thirtieth street southeast caused slight injury to an occupant of one car last night, while four others escaped unhurt. James O. Atwell, jr., 26, an oyster- counter at Shady Side, Md., who was driving one of the cars, was arrested and booked at No. 11 station for reck- mit. Atwell's automobile struck another operated by Thomas F. Roche, 53, as- sistant District building inspector, 3608 Alabama avenue southeast and overturned. Clarence F.-Rogers, 22, of Shady Side, Md., was pinned beneath Atwell's car and was taken to Casualty Hospital for first-ald treatment, after firemen responded to an alarm and righted the auto. Car Is Wrecked. A hit-and-run_ automobile wrecked the machine of Harry F. Shower, 21, of 927 G street southeast, near Fort Washington, Md., and sent the youth to_Casualty Hospital with slight cuts. Louis Fletcher, colored, 50 years old, of 1810 L street, was injured seriously yesterday when his car went over an embankment on the Crain Highway near Rosaryville, Md.,, and was demol- ad | ished. Fletcher's auto plunged down the 25- foot bank and plowed through a thicket of trees. He was found beneath his car by the operator of a wrecking truck, who went to ‘the scene and found him still in the car. Lindsey Fortune, colored, 35, of 1207 Carrolburg street southwest escaped with slight cuts on the left arm when an auto struck him at Ninth and Q streets last night. He went home after treatment. S — DUCK SHOOTING DR]VES AIRPLANES FROM SKY Low-Flying Machines Removed From Vicinity of Baltimore Air- port—Interfere With Sport. By the Assoclated Press. BALTIMORE, December 26.—Ducks have driven the airplanes out of the sky-at least in the vicinity of one Baltimore airport. Because the drone of the motors of low-flying planes in- terferred with the shooting at blinds on rivers north of the city, a delegation of sportsmen visited the officials of a airway passenger line operating between New York and Washington to protest. Line officals instructed their pilots passing over the area to swing to the north or south or else climb to ex- treme altitudes. SPURNS TRAFFIC LAWS Farmer Drives Buggy Past Red Lights Successfully. LOGAN, Ohio (N:AN.A.)—The “new- didn’t make a hl: 't his here recently in many , 50 he just Dothered with them. Although traffic was heavy, he rode into town seated in his , drove | his horse through two it sig- nals, made a “U” turn on the main street and then hitched to a light stand- ard at a theater entrance, a few feet from a fire plug. Nothing happened. There were no near. ml’fl.h Man in Serious Condition From Be- traffic accidents reported to District and | Serious internal injuries were received | less driving and driving without a per- |ped 80 feet to the bottom below. TWELVE INJURED, 19 AUTOS STOLEN FOR ROMANTIC YOUNG COUPLES| DURING HEIGHT OF YULE CELEBRATION Other Machines Robbed of Articles Valued at $175, According to Police. BURGLARS BREAK IN FIFTEENTH ST. STORE Sneak Thief Gets Purse and Ring From Kitchen Table in Southeast. Automobile thieves reaped a harvest last night during the height of Christ- mas festivities, 19 machines having been reported stolen. None of these had been recovered early today. In ad- dition, articles valued at nearly $175 were taken from other machines which the thieves had been unable to drive |~ away. The heaviest loser in this respect was Harry Cohen of 10 Pierce street, who told police $87 worth of clothing had been taken from his car while it was parked in front of his home. Roy D. Preston, 2737 Nichols avenue southeast, Teported the loss of a $20 laprobe and Mrs. Helen Johns of 4005 Fourth street had a $55 wrist watch, $4 in cash and lingerie valued at $5 stolen from her car parked on North Capitol street. Reports Make Long List. Among those whose cars were taken were the following: Louis Carl, 614 H street; Frank La- branco, 112 Fourth street northeast; Carnie O. Spicer, Zanesville, Ohio; Reeder, 921 O street; Joseph 1035 Twentieth street; 1749 Church street; Jacqueline Story, 2100 Massachusetts avenue; John Prancis, 2803 N street; Leo B. Oystermyer, 1629 R street; Clar- ence West, 123 D street southwest; Solomon Snider, 418 Oglethorpe street: Elder Johnson, 3201 Benning roa northeast; Willlam E. Grant, 908 Girard street northeast; DeSales Gardner, La Plata, Md.; Robert S. Atkins, 2548 Four- teenth street; Alpert P. Hall, 906 B street northeast; Napoleon La Fevre, 103 Second street northeast; Willlam Lee 1311 Thirteenth street, and Thomas W. Dorsey, 5210 Sheriff road northeast. Battering down the rear door of Leon Norris’ store, at 603 Fifteenth street, burglars took $24 in cash and made off with a number of valuable books and papers last night. Many Minor Larcenies. ‘The robbery was one of a number of | minor larcenies being investigated by police today. Mrs. Ann Fogarthy, 313 First street southeast, reported $3.50 in cash and a $35 ring stolen from a purse lying on the kitchen table of her home by some one who gained entrance through an unlocked rear door. Two hams valued at $14 were taken from the home of Henry L. Colman, at 4828 Brandywine street. A cash drawer in a barber shop at 3618 Fourteenth street yielded a sneak thief $10, accord- ing to a report made by the proprietor, Anthony Totaro. Awakened by the flashing of a light in their bed room about 4 o'clock this morning, Mr. and Mrs. Absalon Waller, 2136 Wyoming avenue, saw a burglar moving about the room. Outeries fright- ened the intruder aw: 'MAN KILLED IN FALL IN FREDERICK QUARRY Holiday Accidents in County Also Cause Injuries to Three Others. Special Dispatch to The Star. FREDERICK, Md, December 26— Christmas-day accidents in Frederick County claimed one life and sent three to the hospital. Clayton Hubble, 28, Baltimore, who, with his wife, were spending the holi- days with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas R. Hubble, Newmarket, was found dead in the quarry of Shank & Etzler, this city yesterday. He walked over the brink of the quarry and drop- He was killed instantly. Relatives said he had been in Pred- erick the night before and was walk- ing home, apparently having wandered from the highway to the quarry, which is several hundred yards from the road. ROCKVILL" ROCKVILLE, Md., Dec cial) —The funeral of D. Castle, who, as Miss I\ was married in the Montg General Hospital, Sandy day evening, while virtually appendicitis, and whose death two days later, was held from her erick County home this morning, burial being at Middletown, Md. The young bride, who was 20 years old, was & daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Smith of near Frederick. Licenses have been issued here for the marriage of Raymond M. Burns, 26, of Woodfield, Md.,, and Miss Thelma Pauline Pool, 18, of Mount Airy, Md.; Karl Fugenes, 43, of Washington, and Miss Charlotte Lange, 23, of Essen, Ger- mafy; Cecil A. Clark 23, of Lexington, Va. 'and Miss Alice A. Rohinson, 21, of Midland, Va.: William F. Soper, 25, of Clarksburg, Md., and Miss Mary Belle Davis, 18, of Hyattstown, Md.; William A. Scherer, jr., 21, and Miss Laura Lu cille Melins, 18, both of Richmond, Va. Rudolph Woodell, 22, and Miss Vara Cancofe, 24, both of Hopewell, Va.; Cecil Crouch, 21, and Miss Helen V. Beavers, 19, both of Manassas, Va.; Ed- ward F. Frey, 35, of Langley Field, Va., and Miss Ada Binegar, 33, of Phoebus, Va.; John Murray, 45, of Stocktop, Calif., and Mrs. Elena L. Worm, 42, of ‘Washington, and Blanton W. Kitts, 26, of Frederick, Md., and Miss Ada S. Carty, 24, of Woodbine, Md. ‘The body of Miss Louise B. Sullivan, young Rockville housekeeper, who died in_ the Montgomery County General Hospital, Sandy Spring, from the effects of a self-inflicted gn- shot wound and lung congestion, which followed, was yesterday sent to the home of her parents, near Orange, Va., where the funeral was scheduled to take place Announcement has been made that Rev. O. C. Barnes of Urbana, Md., will gruch in the Rockville Christian ‘hurch, !undn{ morning and will also occupy the pulpit there the following Sunday morning. He was formerly pastor of the Rockville Church. et Chicago expécts to entertain 75,000,- 000 visitors during the Century of Prog- 26, 1930. FRF STENOGRAPHER Miss Ruth Floor to Receive $1,440 in Insurance Department. Twelve Other Vacancies to Be Filled by Commis- sioners. The first District government em- ploye to be selected by the Commis- sloners from Civil Service Commission eligible lists, Miss Ruth G. Floor, was appointed today as clerk stenographer in the Department of Insurance, at an annual salary of $1,440. Miss Floor, who lives at 1213 Staples street northeast, is a legal resident of the District. She was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mrs. E. D. Seely December 8. The District has remaining 12 va- cancies to be filled from civil service lists. In only one other case, that of a nurse from Gallinger Hospital, has the certification been made, but the Commissioners have not yet made an appointment. The use of civil service lists for filling of positions\in the District government was made possible by an executive order by President Hoover last month. The loners are, for the present, se- lecting for the available positions only FIRST D. C. EMPLOYE FROM CIVIL SERVICE MISS RUTH G. FLOOR. —Star Staft Photo. residents of the District of Columbia, and several branches of the service have been exempted from the scope of the order. These are the public school teachers and officers and employes of the Public Library, the offices of the recorder of deeds and registrar of wills and the various courts. Per diem em- ployes and the minor custodial service at institutions under the control of the Board of Public Welfare. SPEED 1S URGED ON LIGHT RATES C. of C. Utility Committee Fears Hearing Tuesday Will Delay Action. ‘The Public Utilities Committee of the ‘Washington Chamber of Commerce to- day sent a communication to the Public Utilities Commission asking that there | be no delay in the ordering of new elec- | leigh, tric rates for 1931. ‘The commission, on request of Peo- ple’s Counsel Richmond B. Keech and the Federation of Citizens’ Associations, has called a public hearing for next ‘Tuesday, at which the rates and related matters will be discussed before any new rate schedule is put into effect. The Chamber of Commerce’s committee does not object to a public hearing as such, but feels that the public hearing should be divorced from the question of rates and apparently that the rates should be decided first before entering into questions as to the methods of application or the amount of the reduc- tion, which, the communication states, may be further considered at any time. The letter of the committee, signed by Harry King, chairman, states in “We are advised that a public hear- ing has been called to consider these proposed rates, the effect of which may be to postpone the date when they will become efTective. sary and desirable means of securing information for the Public Utilities Commission, but we are equally of the opinfon that such hearings should not cause postponement of the lower rates. “In accordance with clearly defined chamber policy, therefore, I write to call this matter to your attention, and to respectfully urge that the rate ques- tion be acted upon apart from other considerations relating to amount or methods of applications (which may be turther considered at any time) to the end that the immediate benefits of re- duced rates be not lost to District citizens.” VIRGINIA BOAT CLUB DESTROYED BY FIRE Mays Landing Organization Loses House and Contents After Christmas Dance. Special Dispatch to The Star. RICHMOND, Va, December 26.— Fire destroyed the Virginia Boat Club on Mayo Island yesterday morning three hours after the club's annual Christ- mas dance ended. The building and its contents were valued by officers of the club at more than $30,000. Only the badly charred sidewalls were left standing but the swimming pool was not harmed by the flames. J. Vaughan Gary, vice president of the club, said that the most serious loss was that of a large number of highly prized racing trophies which cannot’ be replaced. FATHER OF SEVEN KILLED IN CRASH OF HIS AUTO Machine Skids on Icy Road and Hits Pole Near Martins- burg. Special Dispatch to The Sta MARTINSBURG, W. Va., December 26.—Spencer Slonaker, 65, was killed almost instantly late Wednesday after- noon en route to his home on a county road when the automobile he was driv- ing skidded on ice and crashed into a power pole. He was returning home from Christmas shopping here. A son, with him in the car, sustained lacerations about the head. The de- ceased was an orchardist, a native and lifelong resident of this county. Seven children survive. J. C. VARNER DEAD Special Dispatch to The Star. LURAY, Va., December 26.—Jacob C. Varner, aged 81, one of the most promi- nent farmers of this county, is dead at his home 2 miles south of Lurary. Mr. Varner was born and reared in the vicinity where he died and was one of the most honored citizens of the county. Funeral services were held yesterday at Mount Church. Surviving is- | officers and men “The chamber feels that the holding | of such public hearing may be neces- | IMARKET OFFICER I3 GIVEN NEW 10B Rank and File of Workers Likely to Be Jobless on January 1. Charles H. Walleigh, superintendent of Center Market, will be transferred January 1, to the Department of Agri- culture, it was learned today. Mr. Wal- who has civil service status, will | be located in the Bureau of Agricultural | Economics. He will be connected with enforcement of the perishable agricul- | tural commodities act. Efforts are being made also to trans- fer other civil service employes at Cen- ter Market, but so far, it was said, the Civil Service Commission has not been able “to clear” these positions to the departmental service, ~Center Market is operated as a field agency of the De- partment of Agriculture. The Civil Service Commission was said today to have the matter under consideration and a decision finally is to be reached before the first of the year. * Many to Be Idle. Most of the rank and file of workers on the Government’s Center Market payroll, however, will find themselves out of a job on January 1. dealers and wholesalers who are to be forced out. Persons behind the projects to pro- | vide space at Convention Hall Market, located at Fifth and K streets; at Arcade Market; in the Northeast sec- tion market on the site of former Camp Melgs, and at' the Southwest location, contend that there are adequate stalls and market places available for the dealers, wholesalers and farmers. Re- ports were current at Center Market to- day, however, that some f the dealers will find themselves on New Year eve with no place to go. Archives Building Contract Let. The Government is taking over old Center Market for the site of the new Archives Building, and a contract has been let by the Treasury Department to H. Herfurth, Inc, of this city for tearing down the old market. There | are about 165 dealers now in Center Market. . WARNING IS ISSUED ON SCARLET FEVER Arlington Health Officer Advises Against Gatherings of Children. By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. ARLINGTON COUNTY COURT HOUSE. Va., December 26.—While not alarmed at the scarlet fever situation in the county, Dr. P. M. Chichester, county health officer, today issued a warning against gather that ht tend to spread the dlullm:' - There are at the present time but a few scattered cases in the county, Dr. Chichester said, but this is the time of year for scarlet fever and the chil- dren should be protected as much as possible. “I think it would be wise,” Dr. Chlchu':r said, fl‘:i parents to avold as much as possible any nmennfia and certainly not permit their chil- dren to mingle with others if there lksinél‘,l'e slightest indisposition of any Scarlet, fever, he declared, can be one of the mildest diseases to which chil- dren are subject and it can also be the most severe. The mildest case in one child can produce the most ‘malignant in another. Precautions should be taken espe- cially d the holiday period, he said, when children gather without the supervision to which they are subject while in school. PAGE B-1 MUNICIPAL CENTER WORK TO BE BEGUN EARLY NEXT SPRING D Street Will Be Torn Up and Surface Relaid Eight Feet Lower. MOST OF LAND NEEDED IS ALREADY ACQUIRED Grading and Paving Expense In- clusion in Appropriation Bill for 1932 Urged. The tearing down of D street along the frontage of the District Supreme Court grounds early next Spring will probably be the first tangible sign that the work of constructing Washington's new Municipal Center is under way. The street will be torn up and relaid 8 feet below its present level. :This Job will also entail numerous other jobs, which will be executed contefpo- raneously. Sewers, water and other service mains must be lowered to cor= respond to the new low lovel, and the levels of other intersecting streets must be adjusted to the new level of D street. Pending Budget Use Sought. Plans are now being worked out by the municipal architect’s office and other interested engineer branches of the District government to do these Center in the pending budget. avenue, will be far as the $1,500, Engineer wals is anxious to have mates worked out all of the ments so that the $! ito lar deficiency It is hoped that Congress will it this $1,500,000 on the “lmmedllu?;‘ avail- able” list of appropriations, so that work may start as soon as the priation bill becomes law the fiscal year for the appropriation will bz made. g Already approximately 69 or 70 per e Municipal Gontor e b e c] ject Dbee wml » n to go to proceedings, alf ‘rlenn‘;:‘t‘nwm. %om’ of tl‘w pmpenyn:& cent m%(;fmmd‘ per will have to be ere is already some work of wrecking buildings going on, but. this employes whose hureaus have been moved into buildings acquired in the municipal center area. These are 490 Louisiana avenue, which is now nearly demolished, and 327-329 C street, where the wrecking work has recently ‘been started. Five units of the District gOv- ernment are already temporarily located in the recently acquired buildings. They are the Police Department, the Traffic Director’s Office, the City Refuse De- partment, the District Employment Service and the Juvenile Court. The first building to be up will the Juvenile, and Courts, Gardens to Replace Street. The reason for the level of D street is m{ld o one. The center of ‘the entire of new buildings, architecturally, will be the present District Supreme Court Building, fronting on the i tion of John Marshall place -namfi"fi—m. In order to secure a better prospeet for this building from Penmy?vum ave- nue, D street will be lowered, and John Marshall place, now a street with ‘I” “ll!':tlrp nned:*dvm be replaced 0 and gardens. S NEW SCHOOL BURNED High Building Blaze at mco,‘v-d Believed Set. By the Associated Press. RICE, Va.,, December 26.—Fire dis- covered at 2 o'clock yesterday morning destroyed the recently completed $37,- 000 high school building here. County authorities exp the opinion that the blaze was of incendiary origin and an investigation is in prog- ress. The school was unoccupled, hav- ing closed for the holiday period. Girl Flees Industrial Home. ‘Walking away unnoticed by officials of the institution, Miss Marion Beane, 16 years old, of 1466 Chapin street, escaped from the Industrial Home School on Wisconsin avenue last might. Santa Claus Has an Santa Claus, unable to control the winds, made an exciting arrival at the Anacostia Naval Air Station to dis- tribute gifts to 110 children gathered by the station Cross and of the post from all parts of the o Dropping S ] KRIS KRINKLE HIT BY AIR WHIRL LANDING AT NAVAL STATION Chief Machinist Mate Scott, in Parachute, Impersonating Exciting Adventure.