Evening Star Newspaper, January 1, 1931, Page 17

REVELRY MINGLES WITH PRAYER AS 1931 1S USHERED IN Police Records Show Debut Neither More Boisterous Nor Drier Than Last. 63 PERSONS ARRESTED ON DRINKING CHARGES Majority Forfeit Collateral—Only One Taken Into Custody for Driving While Intoxicated. After a night of the usual revelry and yer, Mfi? 1931 o “sitting on the e world” today. q:lin:h records today teven]eg r:.h.nt :,’!:e debu new year was neither more hamterl;‘mm:})r drier than that of 1930. For & small minority of the thou- sands who celebrated the passing of the old year in downtown Washington Jast night, the Police and Traffic Courts were holding receptions this morning. But only a few of the 63 persons ar- Tested for drunkenness showed up in eourt. The rest had forfeited their oollateral. Only one of the 63 was ar- rested for driving while intoxicated and this offender, Albert S. Donnelly, 34 years old, of 3109 Nichols avenue south- east, had the “distinction” of having his name the first to appear on the 1931 police blotter. He was arresudl at 12:01 o'clock. Escapes Fine. Being the first person, however, caused Donnelly to receive judicial for- veness and left Police Court later without a fine. He was charged with speeding at 65 miles an hour. Donnelly, an employe of St. Eliza- beth'’s Holplué, hn‘:;\ak apprehended by liceman M. 0. ) y sald that he was rushing home to witness the ushering in of the mew year with his family. “Judge, I am going to let this man ,” said the officer to Judge Isaac R. tt. “I want to start the new year right by doing a little kindness.” One Casualty Reported. ‘While the police were ke‘pz X‘nh‘ly busy, the firemen, were sent out on eight false alarms turned in by the usual prankers. | Only one casualty was reported. George E. Harbin, 37, of 351 Eleventh street southeast, was passing the cor- ner of Eleventh street and Potomac avenue southeast at the stroke of mid- t, when he was accidentally shot. Mfio unidentified men standing on the corner fired shotguns to greet the New Year, he told the police, and scattered shot from one of the guns penetrated the side of his head.._He was taken to Casualty Hospital and later permitted return e. to 5 ‘The debut of 1931 was ushered in with the usual amount of revelry in the streets, night clubs and private homes. But other thousands, more serious in ttended the watch-night serv- ices hundred churches. SECOND FREE WOOD BARGE IS UNLOADED Jobless Earn $267.94 Handling Marines’ Donation to Needy Families of District. ‘The Distriet of Columbia Committee on Unemployment today announced thai the second barge of free kindling wood donated by the Marine Corps base | at Quantico, Va., had been unloaded and distributed at a cost to the committee of $267.94. This sum was paid to un=| employed men who were given the | work of unloading the barge at the Municipal Fish Wharf, Eleventh and ‘Water streets, at $3.50 per day. ‘The W was transported from Quantico by & Navy tug and barge, and the trucking in Washington was fur- free b%'-!u Amfil ‘Transport and by Wash B. Williams, local dealer. The trucks conveyed the wood to individual needy families, ‘whose addresses were submitted to the committee by various local organized charities. The cost of distributing the wood works out to 59 cents per cord. The conclusion of the committee’s statement reads: “It might be stated that the com- mittee finds that the man now out of work is not a floater, but rather a ca- ble and willing worker, who performs { ml duty with good will and energy and who is entirely dissimilar from ‘what some persons conceive to be the unemployed.” NURSE AND MAN HELD | IN OPERATION PROBE| Young Woman Reported in Serious Condition as Result—Pair Make Bond. Mrs. Bertha Hartwell, 31 years old, a | nurse, residing at 1441 Pennsylvania avenue southeast, and Paul Miller Rhodes, 22 years old, of 217 Eleventh street southwest, were booked by the lice yesterday on a charge of abor- | n. The former gave bond in th: sum of $2,500 for her appearance, while the latter furnished a bond of $1,500. Several days ago the local police re- ceived word fiuxx Atlantic City, N, J., that a young woman, resident of th® seaside city, was in a serious condition 8 a result of an operation reported to have been performed in this city. Detectives Robert A. Sanders and D. H. Jones, of the Narcotic Squad, conducted an investigation which re- sulted in the arrests. | { g { VETERANS OF SERVICE | BRANCHES WILL MEET, Men Who Served in Armed Forces| More Than 30 Years to Install Officers Saturday Night. ‘Veterans of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps Coast Guard who have had 30 years of active service and upwards hold s get-together on Saturday , when the Retired Enlisted Men's Association, No. 1, holds its an- nusl installation of officers at the Pythian Temple, 1012 Ninth street. The is scheduled to start at 7:45 pam. and will include music, a supper dancing. Officials to be installed are: Charles commander; Thomas W. Roland, Ellis Loney, hee the day: Jlnn“éuxlffvun of- cer of : , of- C. A. McCormack, ‘Wright, quarter- E& WASHINGTON, OFFICE BUILDING DAMAGED BY FRE $35,000 Maddux Hotels Co. Blaze Attracts Throng of Merrymakers. Holiday crowds were thrilled last night by a fire which swept through the basemetit af"the Maddux Hotel, Inc., of- fice, at 1409 L street. Officials esti- | mated the damage at $35,000. While an investigation to determine the source of the blaze was under way today, police reported it appeared to have ori ted in the electric wiring system. It was explained that the| flames were virtually confined to the| basement of the three-story structure. Police discovered the fire shortly after 9 o'clock. Two alarms were sounded in quick succession. A huge throng, in- cluding many fashionably dressed men and women en route to New Year par- tles, was attracted by dense clouds of smoke and the clatter of fire apparatus. ‘The blaze caused a 30-minute traffic tie-up. More than a score of Four- teenth street trolleys were halted. Po- lice rescrves were summoned to keep motorists out of the danger zone and to control the crowd. Physicians and Emergency and Ce. on hand. No one was injured, however. Officials reported the fire failed to penetrate a brick vault in the cellar in which valuable records of the com- pany were stored. . LIEUT. SCHILLING COMING TO WASHINGTON FOR DUTY Army Officer, Now in Cincinnati, to Become Assistant in Engi- neering in Capital District. mbulances from sualty Hospitals were Lieut. Karl B. Schilling, Corps of En- gineers, on duty as military instructor at the University of Cincinnati, has| been ordered to this city, effective Jan- uary 17, for duty as an essistant to Maj. Joseph D. Arthur, jr., Corps of Engi- neers, in charge of Federal engineering works in this vicinity, including the navigation of the Potomac River and its tributaries and the District water supply system. Lieut. Schilling is from New York and is a graduate of the West Point Mili- tary Academy, class of 1916 and of the . FIRE DAMAGES OFFICE BUILDING 5 An interior view of the office building of the Maddux Hotels, Inc., 1409 L street, damaged by a $35,000 fire last night. —Star Staff Photo. WASHINGTONCGROUP SEEKS NEW-HOME Association of Oldest Inhab- itants May Be Forced Out by Federal Plans. Because of the fact that there is a possibility the Government may decide to take its present headquarters at Nineteenth and H streets for either the ‘War or Navy Department, the Asso- ciation of Oldest Inhabitants of the District of Columbia plans to launch a campaign this year for a building fund for a new permanent home. ‘This was formally announced at the regular New Year meeting of the as- sociation at the headquarters today by James F. Duhamel, chairman of the committee in charge. Mr. Duhamel ex- plained that already $3,000 has been raised for the new home, and that during this year an effort would be put forth to raise funds for a perma- nent location. Fine Arts Group Favorable. It is understood that the present lo- cation is favored by the Fine Arts Com- mission for one of the Federal struc- tures, but no decision has been reached in the matter by the Public Buildings Commission, the only body having suffi- cient authority to decide. ‘The association members, following their regular annual New Year meet- ing, marched in a body to the White House, where they were received by President Hoover, At the regular meeting the principal feature on the program was the read- ing of the chronicles of 1930 by the association’s chronicler and historian, John Clagett Proctor. Mr. Proctor's chronicles outlined the high-spots of the history for this city and the Na- tion's Government for the past year. Outdoor Christmas Trees Approved. On motion of Charles V. Samuels, the association commended the many citizens of the District who have con- tributed to the Yuletide beauty of the city by illumination’of outdoor Christ- mas trees. The needs of the Community Chest of Washington were brought to the at- tention of the association by Eugene Woodson, representing the Chest. Henry L. Bryan, vice president of the | assoclation, presided. Plane Firm Shows Gain. SEATTLE, January 1 (#)—The Boeing Airplane Co. revealed today it Engincer School at Fort Humphreys, Va., 1921. delivered 189 planes last year, more than in any period since 1922. Mrs. Ida Dinger Ranke Began Printing Office Services 50 Years Ago. Friends Honor Woman Who Retires With Half-Cen- tury Record. In the year 1881 the modes of public transportation were not what they are today, and on a cold, snowy morning in January, for instance, it was quite o problem to travel over unplowed high- ways to one's place of employment. But Mrs. Ida Dinger Ranke, of 3100 Monroe street northeast, now approach- ing her seventieth year, recalls vividly as she retires from the Goyernment employ today after 50 years of service the first day when she made her way from her home in Southwest Washing- ton to the Government Printing Office, on January 10, 1881, She remembers, too, the struggle the team of horses drawing the street car she rode had to two the last word in public utilities over snow-covered tracks and how she alighted from the tram with other passengers to walk ahead of th;m horses so0 as lessen the load on & hill. Mrs. Ranke, who was born in Balti- 'RETIRING U. S. WORKER RECALLS STREET CAR TROUBLES OF 1881 | s MRS. IDA DINGER RANKE, —Star Staff Photo. | with the exception of one fcur-year period when she was off duty because of illness. She has been a consistent worker with the Government Printing Office, having been called upon many times for special duty at all hours of the night when Congress was working overtime. of her co-workers mm purse A grou) m‘ her with a coin at » farewell reception, . D. C, THURSDAY, IREDUCED ELECTRIC | RATES EFFECTIVE BEGINNING TODAY Saving of $830,000 to Con- sumers in 1931 Expected From New Scale. COMMISSION TO SEEK INCREASED AUTHORITY Finds Present Consent Decree Per- mits Company to Earn Ex- cessive Amount. Washington's new reduced electric rates went into effect at midnight last night and will be applied on all meter readings taken, beginning today. The rates, ordered by the Public Utilities Commission late yesterday afternoon, offer to householders a reduction for their light bills of one-half of a cent per kilowatt hour, the rate having been reduced from 4.7 to 4.2 cents. For the current used by electric ice boxes, ranges, radios, vacuum cleaners, toasters and the like, the rate for the first 25 hours drops from 4.7 to 4.2 cents and from all in excess from 2.5 to 2.1 cents per kilowatt hour. Similar reduc- schedules, the details of which are set forth herewith. At the same time the commission an- nounced its intention of seeking a ref- ormation of the consent decree under which the rates have been adjusted for the past six years. The commission found that the way the decree worked out was to give the company last year a rate of return on its valuation of more than 10 per cent, which was found excessive. ‘Will Consult Company. ‘The first steps to be taken will be to hold conferences with power company officials in order to come to an agree- ment as to what change should be made in the decree. One suggestion is already before the commission. It comes from William McK. Clayton, representing the Fed- eration of Citizens’ Associations, and seeks to apply in annual rate reduc- tions three-quarters instead of one-half of the company’s excess earnings above {712 per cent of its valuation. A second suggestion also made by Mr. Clayton is to adjust the rates every six months, instead of every year, so that the com- pany would not have so much time to amass large surpluses. If the conferences fail to yield an agreement as to the terms of modify- ing the decree, then the commission will proceed to revalue the properties of the company and set rates based upon the valuations. Their action in adopting substantially the rates offered by the Potomac Electric Co. was explained in the state- ment as based on a desire to prevent any loss to the consumers through a delay in ordering new rates. There were some changes made in the com- mercial schedules, but these were of a minor character. They did not affect the ultimate saving calculated which remains at $830,000 for 1931, Keech Is Disappointed. Although he succeeded in getting the commission to join him in an attack on the consent decree, People’s Counsel Richmond B. Keech expressed dis- appointment that the commission had not ordered greater reductions than those offered by the compay. After a cursory examination of the commission's statement and the new schedule, Mr. Keech u}? “The effect of the whole order seems to be that the commission has de- termined that with the entry of the | decree it was to all intents and pur- | poses divested of power over the Po- | tomac Electric Power Co., except for the purpose of computing what the amount of revenue in excess of 7! cent of its rate base was for a given year, “I entertain the opinion expressed to the commission at the hearing, and in fact, practically since entry into office, that it is clearly within the province of and likewise the duty of the commission to see that reasonable and just rates are charged, and that the decree in nowise does nor was in in- tended to abridge this obligation.” Approved Rates. The rates approved by the commis- sion are as follows: Schedule A, 4.2 cents per kilowatt hour, straight. This applies for electric service for any residential purpose. Schedule K, for separately metered residential purposes other than light- |ing, 4.2 cents per kilowatt hour for the first 10 hours and 2.1 cents per kilo- | watt hour fér all over the first 10. Schedule B, for separately metered electric service used for any commer- clal purpose other than lighting, 4.2 cents per kilowatt hour for the first 30 hours’ use monthly of the connected load, and 4 cents per kilowatt hour for all in excess. Schedule C, for public lighting and motors in apartment houses and office buildings: First 400 kilowatt hours, 4.2 cents per kilowatt hour. Next 450 kilowatt hours, 3.7 cents per kilowatt hour. Next 1,000 kilowatt hours, 2.9 cents per kilowatt hour. Next 7,600 kilowatt hours, 2.1 cents per kilowatt hour. All in excess of 9,450 kilowatt hours, 2 cents per kilowatt hour. | Schedule D, for general lighting, power and industrial purposes, includ- ing battery charging: First 450 kilowatt hours, per_kilowatt hour. Next 1,500 kilowatt hours, 3.9 cents per kilowatt hour. Next 1,500 kilowatt hours, 3.3 cents per kilowatt hour. Next 6.000 kilowatt hours, 2.4 cents per kilowatt hour. All in excess of 9,450 kilowatt hours, 2 cents per kilowatt hour. Additional Rates. Schedule E, for electric service for any commercial purpose where the ce- mand contracted for is not less than 20 kilowatts. Fixed charge per month, $2 per kilowatt for the first 100 kilo- watts of consumer’s demand and $1.50 per kilowatt for all over 100. In this schedule the energy charge is 1.9 cents per kilowatt hour for the first 13,750 kilowatt hours’ consumption, 1.2 cents per kilowatt hour for the next 25,000 kilowatt hours, and 0.8 cents per kilowatt hour for all in excess of 38,750 kilowatt hours. Schedule L, high-tension electric service for any commercial purpose where the demand contracted for is not less than 20 kilowatts. There is a fixed charge of $1.60 per kilowatt for the first 100 kilowat:s of the consumer's de- mand, $1.30 for the next 900 kilowatts and $1.10 for all in excess of 1,000 kilo- in this schedule starts E kilowatt hour for SR B T e lor X cents per kilowatt hour for the next 42 cents ] tions are made on all the commercial | 2 per | JANUARY 1, 1931 The last of Center ) ings from abandoned sta making work for the salv: ers. LAST OF MARKET DEALERS MOVING Given Two More Days to Get Equipment and (Goods Out of Stalls. Armed with special permission from the Department of Agriculture to re- main in the old Center Market Building two days longer for the purpose of re- mo\'mg equipment and belongings, busy band of straggling dealers this morning proceeded to continue moving from the historic marketplace pursuant to the Government’s evacuation order, which went into effect last midnight. While the majority of the dealers forced to quit the market rounded out a final day of business yesterday and succeeded in removing equipment from their stalls last night, evidence of much moving activity prevailed along the aisles of the huge market building on the south side of Pennsylvania avenue, kd)etween Seventh and Ninth streets to- ay. Property Removed Checked. The Government was repsesented at the scene of the moving last night and today by watchmen and caretakers, in- structed to check the amount of prop- erty removed from the stalls and to thwart any attempt today to use the| building as a public market. A few cases were noted where dealers were prevented from consigning goods or- dered from them yesterday directly from the Center Market to customers. The Government contended this would | be in violation of the order to close the market. Dealers were permitied, however, to remove their merchandise and equip- ment, provided it was consigned to a newly established market stall, or to some other storage place. Only certain of the doors of Center Market were left unlocked for the dealers so that a more accurate check by the limited number of Government employes on the scene might be made. Most of the dealers have obtained quarters in other market places in other parts of the city, principally the Convention Hall Market, at Fifth and K streets, while a few have abandoned business altogether. No Headway on Extenslon. ‘The order to close Center Market January 1, 1931, was passed by Con- gress early last year, so that the struc- ture could be demolished to make way for the new Department of Justice Building, which is to form an integral part of the Federal buildings program south of Pennsylvania avenue. A number of Senators who were sympathetic to the position of the many dealers and retail farmers scattered around the building who are affected by the order sought to have an exten- sion obtained for the marketmen, but no headway in this respect was made. A few days ago the controller general of the Treasury informed the Secretary of Agriculture that under his interpre- tation of the congressional act, the De- partment of Agriculture would be un- warranted in expending public funds for the continuance of operation of the market after January 1. As soon as all of the dealers’ property has been removed from the Center Market Building, the Treasury is ex- pected to instruct the wrecking com- pany awarded the contract for demoli~ tion to proceed with the razing. The site of Center Market is one designated by George Washington in 1797 as “parcel No. 7" of a group of 17 pieces of land in the District of Columbia reserved by the then Presi- dent as public reservations. Gen. Wash- ington at that time described the loca- tion south of the avenue as “Center Market,” being an area comprising slightly more than two acres, and was ‘ acquired by the Government at the rate of '$66.50 an acre, according to John Clagett Proctor’s “Washington, Past and Present.” The first market house was established there in 1802. The present building was constructed in 1872, o CITY NEWS IN BRIEF. ‘TODAY. Study class, United Lodge of Theos- ophists, Hill Building, Seventeenth and I streets, 8:15 p.m. FUTURE. Tea, Western College Alumnae, Uni- versitv Woman’'s Club, 1634 I street, tomorrow, 4 to 6 p.m. Luncheon, Columbia University Alum- ni Club, University Club, tomorrow, 12:30 p.m. 150,000, and 0.53 cents per kilowatt hour for the belance. Schedule G, for industrial motors, for the first 70 hours’ use monthly of the maximum demand, 4.2 cents per kilowatt hour. For all electricity used monthly in excess of 70 hours, use of the maximum demand, 3 cents per kilowatt hour. Schedule H, for electric service used for commercial heating and cooking only, first 10 kilowatt hours 4.2 cents per kilowatt hour, all in excess of 10 :llownn hours 2.1 cents per kilowatt our. The order is effective on all bills based on meter January 1, 1931, arket's army of dealers were busily engaged this morning in removing equipment and belong- pursuant to the Government’s e vacuation order. And while they were about it behind counters and into crevices during erstwhile business hou Scene shows a group of dealers’ employes they kept an eye open for coins that might have slipped —Star Staff Photo. UNDERSEA EXPLORER TO TELL OF DISCOVERIES Dr. William Beebe, Naturalist, to Describe Adventure Near Bermuda Islands. What one finds when he is let down | 1,500 feet below the surface of the sea in a steel ball will be described for members of the National Geographic tomorrow night by Dr. William Beebe, naturalist. Dr. Beebe made his astounding de- scent into “Davy Jones’ Locker” near the Bermuda Islands. His steel sphere was fitted with heavy quartz glass win- dows capable of withstanding a pressure of nine tons. | Through these windows he obtained still and motion pictures cf the remark- able creatures that live at great depths in the sea. These and other photo- graphs showing Dr. Beebe's oceano- graphic investigations will be used in illustrating the address. PHONE COMPANIES 10 SPEND MILLIONS $16,000,000 in Improve- ments Planned for District and Nearby States. More than $16,000,000 will be spent during the year 1931 by the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co.'s operating in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, on exten- sions and improvements, it K was an- nounced by officials here. During this year, the company esti- mates that 33,800 telephones will be added to the system, as compared with a net .gain of 31,500 in 1930. Officials estimate that the total number of phones will gain from the 651,300 in use yesterday, to 685,000 by the end of this new year. 1,070,000,000 Calls in Year. Major projects contemplated this year which will provide employment for the companies’ installation, construction and operating forces include outside plant consisting of additional pole lines, exchange and toll circuits, aerial and underground cable and conduit, and miscellaneous items, $6,491,000; tele- phones, private branch exchange sys- tems and other equigment on the sub- scribers’ premises, $5,130,000; switch- hoards and central office equipment ad- ditions, $3,369,000, and land, buildings and additions, $1,658,000. Telephone users in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia last year made more than 1,010,000,000 telephone calls, which was an increase of 26,400,000 over the num- ber made in 1929. Construction contemplated in the District of Columbia by the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co. is estimated to involve gross expenditure of $3,462,- 000. During the year the company ex- pects to add 8,900 telephones to the 168,625 in service at the end of 1930. $3,373,000 Spent Here. Additions and betterments to the telephone system in the District of Co- lumbia completed during the past year, in addition to routine construction in- volved expenditures of about $3,373,000. During the past year large dial pri- vate branch exchange systems were in- stalled and placed in service in the Treasury Department, Bureau of En- graving and Printing and Bureau of In- ternal Revenue, and in six commercial establishments. Two large manual pri- vate branch exchange switchboard sys- tems were also installed. At the Wash- | ington Terminal Co., an improved Pull- | man reservation telephone system was also placed in service. FOUND DEAD IN ALLEY Man Believed to Have Toppled From Car While Sleeping. A man whose body was identified as that of Frank Murray, about 52 years old, of 120 Thornapple street, Chevy Chase, Md., was found in an alley in the rear of the 1300 block of U street about 10 _o'clock this morning. Police believe that Murray fell asleep in an automobile and accidentally top- pled to the cement pavement. The cause of death will be determined by the coroner when the body is examined at the Morgue. POOL SKATING BARRED Although 1931 brought some skatin today In Rock Creek Park, officials of the United States park police said that the ice on the reflecting pool of the Lincoln Memorial is insufficient to per- mit of skating there. In some places the reflecting pool ice is but half an inch thick, while in others it is one lng one-half inches thick. and Public Parks desire to have the ice three inches thick before allow- ing u&m to throng on the reflecting ~ Soclety at the Washington Auditorium | THIEVES KEEP BUSY - ONNEW YEAR EVE Loss of Envelope Containing $1,600 Reported—Other Robberies Listed. of an envelope containing a $1,000 bond of the Vermont Building, Fifteenth and L streets, and first mortgage bonds for $600 was reported to the police yesterday afternoon by | Gustave C. Hertz, room 1108 Investment Building. When Arthur Roberts, colored, re- siding at 617)> First street southwest, returned home last evening and dis- covered numerous articles of furniture missing from his home, he almost con- cluded he was in the wrong house. He later told police his home had been robbed of a velour parlor suite, cot and ta'b;es.o He valued the stolen property a . A “jimmy” operator visited an apart- ment house at 1815 8 street yesterday, Jimmied doors of two apartments, did a bit of ransacking and departed without taking anything. The apartments ran- sacked were those of Elaine Hughes and James Miller on the fourth floor. $300 Radio Stolen. | Earl Benton, 606 I street, told police of the taking of a $300 radio from a car parked at Sixth and I streets yes- terday. The radio was the property ot the Joseph M. Zamoiski Co., 928 H street. Theft of an evening wrap valued at | $69.50 was reported to the police. The wrap, property of Mrs. Thomas A. Pat- terson, Fairfax Hotel, was taken from an automobile parked at Eleventh and F streets. Frank E. Crane, 1474 Columbia road. | reported the taking of his overcoat and | pair of gloves from the telephone ex- |change at Fourteenth and R streets. | His coat was valued at $50. | Benjamin Siegal. proprietor of a grocery store at 1237 C street south- west. returned to his home in the rear colored man behind a stove. Threatens to Kill. “Shut up or I'll kill you,” the man said leveling a revolver at Siegal's sis- ter and & guest from New York, the first to discover the man's presence in the house. He was allowed to leave un- molested. Examination of the house showed that the man had entered by removing a pane of glass from a rear window. ’I;heuoca.sh register had been robbed o ; William McKenney, 420 New Jersey avenue southeast, is the most recent taxicab victim of hold-up. He told lice that three colored men robbed im of $7 and his watch and eye glass- es. The driver said that he resisted the robbers with a screw driver and believes that he stabbed one of the men in the neck. Joseph Johnson, 744 Nin:teenth street northeast, reported being grabbed from behind by an unknown colored man while he was walking on Benning road near Seventeenth street northeast. A white man rified his pockets and took $22 while the colored man held him, Johnson said. A third man drove the pair away in an automobil¢ after rob- bing him, he said. Lincoln Watts, 103 Seaton place, de- clared that a colored man pressed a pistol to his side and took $14 from him while he was in a houss in the first block of Hanover street. Watts recog- nized the man and said that he would obtain a warrant. ANNULMENT ORDERED " ON WOMAN’S PETITION ‘The marriage of Mrs. Evelyn Harris in Kansas last year was annulled in District Supreme Court yesterday after the woman had declared she would not have gone thfough with the ceremony except that she believed the procuring of the license bound her legally to do so. The husband is Jesse G. Harris of Kansas City, Ma. The wife, through Attorney Campbell Howard, told the court she was a minor at the time the ceremony was perform- ed. Justice William Hitz signed the an- nullment decree, which permitted the woman to resume her maiden name of Evelyn Harlan. The marriage was per- formed March 2, 1929. BLAINE CLUB THANKFUL Colored Political Group Expresses Appreciation for Chance to Serve. A deep appreciation of the opportu- nity of the colored citizens for service and devotion to his country is expressed in the New Year Blaine Invi es 3 fficial of the Office of Public Build- | anc of the store this morning to find a. e PAGE B-1 95,000,000 ADVANGE FOR RECREATION S BEING CONSIDERED Suggestion That U. S. Provide Funds for District Studied by School Officials. REPAYMENT OF $500,000 EACH YEAR IS WANTED Sites for New Buildings, Yards and Branch Libraries Would Be Bought by Loan. A suggestion for an advance « $5,000,000 from the Federal Treasury to the District of Columbia to finance the carrying out of the recreation program assigned to the public school system and the libraries and to purchase other school and library sites, as recom- mended by the special committee operating under the National Capital Park and Planning Commission in the annual report of the Park and Planning Commission for 1930, is being studied closely by school officials. The cammission itself recommends in its yearly review “that provision be made for the systematic acquisition of sites for schools, school yards and branch libraries in correlation with the purchase of park and playground areas ap'proved under the Capper-Cramton act. Under the special committee’s pro- posal the 85,000,000 loan to the District would oe repaid without interest from the combined revenues of the District at the rate of $500,000 a year, a figure less than the annual appropriation for this purpose for the past few years. The average for the past 24 months was $545,000. Personnel of Committee, The recommendation is made by a committee representing the various agencies concerned with the purchase of public sites in the Natioaal Capital. Its personnel included Maj. L. E. Atkins, former Assistant Engineer Commis- sioner, representing the Commissioners, chairman; Dr. H. B. Learned, Stephen E. Kramer and Miss Sibyl Baker, repre- senting the Board of Education; Mrs. Susie Root Rhodes and Richard Tenny- son, representing the playground de- partment; Dr. George F. Bowerman and Miss C. W. Herbert, representing the Public Library trustees; E. D. Hardy, representing the U. S. Engineer office; Capt. E. N. Chisolm, jr, repre- senting the Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks, and Charles W. Eliot, 2d, representing the National Capital Park and Planning Commission. ‘The committee points out in the re- view that land purchases for both schools and libraries ordinarily have been carried in the budget estimates under these respective headings, while the actual purchases have bheen made by Maj. Atkins' office. Maj. Atkins estimated that the projects in the rec- reation system assigned by the special committee to the schools will cost about $2,606,663, while the other projects of the schools will cost about $1,274,168 additional. Similarly, the library items of the recreation system are estimated at $10,718 ;_!'lld other library sites at $452,124. is makes a total for schools of $3,880,831, and for libraries $462,842, with a grand total of $4,343,673. Recommends Advance. “In order to carry out the portion of the recreation program assigned to the agency and to purchase other school and library sites,” it is asserted in the report, “the committee recommends the introduction and passage of a bill for the advance of $5,000,000 from the Federal Treasury, to be repair, without interest, from the combined revenues of the District at the rate of $500,000 |a year, which is less than the annual | appropriation for the last two years | ($545,000) for this purpose.” School officials today, while reluctant to discuss at length the Park and Planning Commission’s proposal, ex- pressed the belief that the recom- mendation “has real value.” Dr. Frank . Ballou, superintendent, and Mr. Kramer, assistant superintendent, and a member of commission’s committee, both declared, however, that any plan proposed with the idea of making site purchases economic and more expedient should be given very careful consideration by the agencies involved. They are at present making a study of school site purchases and building construction in an effort to reveal the retarding features of the present system of land acquisitions and school construction. BISHOP FREEMAN SPEAKS ON JOBLESS SITUATION Recognition of Religious Principles in Mapping Remedies Urged in Sermon at Chapel. Recognition of religious principles in the formulation of economic remedies was urged in preference to mere well- wishing and boasted self confidence by the Right Rev. James E. Freeman, Bish- op of Washington, in a radio broadcast sermon in the Bethlehem Chapel of the ‘Washington Cathedral today. Bishop Freeman'’s theme was the un- employment_situation from the view- point of a church leader, and his obser- vations were made in the special New Year day services, “We can readily make choice today of that which the Russian experiment boldly sets forth, in which religion plays no part,” the bishop declared, “or we can begin afresh to build our institu- tions on those stable and sure footings that were lald by the fathers of the republic.” YOUTH, 13, TO SPEAK will Address Commissioners on Better Citizenship. Better citizenship during the coming year will be urged by George Hahn, 13 years old, in a talk before Board of Commissioners Saturday morning in the District Building. The youngster will represent the Boys Club of Wash- ington and 240 similar groups in other parts of the country. More than 100 boys also will take an oath of alley ice to better citizenship before the ners. The occa- sion will mark the organization’s tent anniversary. ASKS ABSOLiJTE DIVORCE Suit for absolute divorce from Clif- ford M. Stretmater, 1322 Madison place, was filed in District Supreme Court to-