Evening Star Newspaper, February 22, 1931, Page 13

[ ] @he Sunday Star MORNING, FEBRUARY WASHINGTON, D. C, SUNDAY 22, 1931, # 3000 NEED FREE OO AT SEADOLS HERE, QU SHOWS 1,250 Students Being Fed: Daily, Survey Reveals. 1,532 Get No Help. $40,491 REQUIRED IN cnfi TO PROVIDE FOR PUPILS Government Allots $8.190 for Crip»i pled and Tubercular—Ballou Sees Little Difficulty. Approximately 3,000 of 77,906 chil- dren enrolled in the public schools of | the District of Columbia are in need of free lunches, according to figures issued by Dr. Frank W. Ballou, school superintendent, following the compila- tion of reports made to him by teachers and officers during the official survey Jjust_completed. Of these, 1532 who are believed by their teachers to be in need of such | assistance are not now receiving fre® | lunches, while the remaining 1,250 are E being fed by various agencies. The | group now being served free lunches includes the 225 puplls of the schools for crippled children and those of the tuberculous schools who are provided lunches at Government expense. $83.80 Daily Cost. According to estimates contained in the statement made public by Dr. Bal- lou, the meals now being served needy children, exclusive of those provided tubercular and crippled pupils, cost $83.80 per day. The cost of feeding the additional 1,532 pupils believed by their teachers to be entitled to lunches without cost would approximate $95.65 & day. The meals now being served to cripples and tubercular pupils in those two special schools cost $45.50 a day. Thus, while lunches now being pro- | vided are costing at the rate of $15,084 | & school year of 180 school days, an additional expenditure of $17217 a school year would be needed to provide for the pupils also believed by their teachers to be entitled to lunches. $40,491 Now Needed. On the basis of these figures, a total | appropriation for food alone for the children not now receiving lunches at Government expense would total $32,301. ! Such an appropriation would bring the total of money provided out of public funds for pupils’ lunches to $40491, since the Government already is grant- mg"t:, 90 for the meals of crippled and G ular n. Dr. Ballou is of the opinion that since less than half of the total number of children adjudged needy are being supplied with lunches at present, the same assistance could be given the re- mainder of them “without difficulty.” | “The results of the inquiry, instituted | to ascertain “how many pupils now are being served food, the number of addi- | tional pupils who are in need of it, and | the way in which the expenses of serv- | ing such children are being met,” Dr. | Ballou said in a statement issued with | the resutts of the survey, “indicate that | only a small portion of the 78,000 school children are now being supplied with ! food. but that there is a still larger | number of pupils who apparently are in need of food, but who are not now being furnished with it. Little Difficulty Seen. “The cost of serving additional pupils ‘who need food can, it would appear, be met without difficulty.” Dr. Ballou’s report will be considered at a special meeting of the Judiciary subcommittee of the House District Committee Tuesday morning. This | special meeting was called by Chairman | McLeod in an effort to bring a favor- | able report on his bill, which authorizes | an appropriation of $30,000 to pay for the necessary additional employes, as ‘well as the food for free Junches. The measure is to be considered by the full | District Committee on Wednesday and Representative McLeod last night ex- confidence that the committee will stand strongly behind him in his effort to get the bill acted upon in time for inclusion in the second deficiency appropriation bill. All Details Avoided. ‘The data made public by Dr. Ballou #void all details which might lead to the identification of needy school build- ings or sections of the city in which | the apparent need for food for pupils | is greatest. The report treats the | survey in general classes under the | headings of “elementary schools,” “voca- | tional schools,” “junior high schools” | and “senior high “schools.” Kelly Tells of Finding Still, | forming tasks in the cafeterias, though | - | |Patrolman Who Figured in Limerick Death Case Still ‘ Facing Rum Charge. | | Mash and Rye Liguor in Man’s Home. Maximum penalties, dismissal from the force, were drawn yesterday after- noon by two Washington policemen, Robert F. Langdon and S. H. Miles, after hearings before the Police Trial Board. While the board’s recommendations must be passed upon by the District Commissioners, friends of both officers conceded they had little if any chance of remaining in the department, as the Commissioners have only overruled the Trial Board in isolated cases in the past. Me. awhile Langdon, a former fifth precinct policeman, is under indictment | on charges resulting from discovery that he possessed apparatus for the manu- facture of liquor, made while he was | being held as a principal in the slaying of Beulah Limerick. He subsequently was exonerated in that case. Facing the technical charge of con- duct unbecoming an officer as an after- math of the still discovery, Langdon re- fused to appear before the board after his attorney, Harry F. Whelan, had ad- vised him not to do so. on the ground | that his appearance would jeopardize his defense in court. The charge was placed against | Langdon after detectives, investigating the Limerick slaying, claimed to have found two stills, liquor and mash in the | basement of the policeman’s home in the 1200 block of Oates street northeast At that time, Langdon was under a rest in connection with the Limerick case. Explanation of Lawyer. In explaining his client’s refusal to appear before the Trial Board, Whelan | pointed out that the suspended police- | man would be under oath and that any statements he might make could be used against him later. To compel Langdon | to reveal his defense at this time, would | be unfair, the lawyer contended. After conferring with the prosecuting | attorney, Robert E. Lynch, however, the board ruled that the suspended police- man be tried immediately. Still de- | termined not to appear before the body | for trial, Langdon, accompanied by his | lawyer, left the room. “In view of the board's unfair de- cision,” Whelan announced, “I have’| advised my client not to stand trial | before it.” Nevertheless, the body proceeded with the trial and Capt. Edward J. Kelly, chief of detectives, was called to the witness stand. He testified that he visited Langdon's residence January 7| and obtained Mrs. Langdon’s permis- sion to search the house. Tells of Finding Still. After relating that Langdon was one of four suspects held in connection with the Limerick murder, Capt. Kelly told of finding a dismantied 75-gallon still. a smaller still, three barrels of mash and a small quantity of rye liquor in the cellar. The stills, liquor and mash were seiz- ed, Capt. Kelly continued, and charges of conduct prejudicial to the police de- partment, based on the alleged po kept, at the direction of the principal, at a virtually profitiess level. If re- turns from these cafeterias show size- able earnings, prices are cut. Where the cafeterias are providing free lunches to needy pupils, however, the profits are permitted to stand to cover that cost. In some instances, Kramer added, pupils “work out” their meals by per- these energetic younngsters are not | always “in need.” Elementary Problem. In the elementary schools, Dr. Bal- lou’s statement asserts. the problem is more difficult through the lack of lunch rooms. “Funds for feeding the (elementary school) children,” the statement con- | tinues, “are being furnished from the| surplus accumulated in the milk fund| established for all pupils by parent- teacher associations and by contribu- | tions from teachers and officers. | Parent-teacher associations have very generously and efficiently promoted the program of milk and cracker lunches for all pupils. The Board of Education has suggested that the District of Co- lumbia Congress of Parents and Teach. ers give special attention to the situa- | tion as it now exists and encourage and | assist the local organizations in meeting this present sftuation. “Officers of that association have in- dicated whole-hearted co-operation with school officials in the solution of this problem. It is believed that the sources of financial support that have heretofore been used and such other | Discussing _elementary schools, Ballou's statement indicates that out | ©of 51,556 enrolled pupils, 1,121 now are | being provided lunches at a daily cost of $50.44. This expense is being met his statement continues, by the surplus | accumulated in the general milk fund | for all pupils who have milk and cracker | lunches, by Parent-Teacher and similar associations and by contributions of teachers and principals. The inquiry shows further, he said, that there are financial assistance as may be readily secured will be adequate to meet the present situation. One of the problems hat it appears to be desirable to under- | take to solve at once is a proper dis- tribution of this financial burden more generally among parent-teacher associa- tions and the members of the teaching profession than is now being done. U. S. Aid Unnecessary. Mrs. Joseph N. Saunders, president an additional 1,373 pupils in need of food. On the basis of present expendi- ture. he said, it would take $68.65 | additional per day to supply these children | Veeational Survey, | Of the 1,021 vocational school pupils, | the survey showed that only 5 now are | receiving food and that 13 others are believed entitled to it. The present cost is 75 cents a day, while the addi- | tional needy children would require another $2 to feed them. The survey | showed that the vocational pupils are | being fed out of funds earned by the | school lunch rooms and, “to a lesser | extent from other sources’ | Of 11,077 junior high school children, 93 now are receiving fre= lunches and two also are receiving breakfast at a total cost of $1596 per day ‘This ex- | nse is being met by profits from the junch rooms in the or_high school buildings and. to a slight degre financial contributions of teachers home-and-school associations. teachers ar@ principals and The | cost an additional $25 a day would be required to cover the junior high school needs. 31 Senlors Get Aid. Only 31 senior high school pupils now are receiving free lunches. The total cost i approximately $7.65 a day and most of this cost is being borne by the cafeteria profits in each build- ing. reported no pupils receiving lunches and none in need who are not now being provided for The contributions which school cafe- terias make toward free lunches for | tendance all this weck at the annual r needy children, Stephen E. Kramer, first assistant superintendent. explained | Superintendence of the National Educa- G Sllveratone, late yesterday, come from the profits of their operation. The cafeterias, he however, feel | there are 146 pupils who should be sup- | plied with food. At the same rate of | of the District Columbia Congress of Parents and Teachers, said last night that the survey apparently indicated that the problem of providing luncheons for needy public school children is not o great for any thoroughly local agency or group of agenciss which might undertake the task. She added that in her opinion Congressional ap- necessary as well as inadvisable. “I don't see why, with the figures indicating as low a percentage of needy children of those contained in Dr. Ballou's report, we cannot meet all neds confronting us.” Mrs. Saunders said. “IL seems to me we of our own community ought to be able to relieve the situation where the needs are found. but we should remember that the extent of the need for relief prob- ably is an emergency condition requir- irg temporary relief. and not a perma- nent condition. 1 fail to see where Congressional appropriations would be necessary Quick Action Planned. Mrs. Saunders, however, declared that methods must be evolved by which any | kind of relief might be assembled and administered. For this purpose she and | & other members of the District Columbia Congress of Parents and Teachers will meet with school officers at the earliest | 2'"g¥ convenience of both parties. She | stressed the fact that Congress is anxious to_co-operate to the fullest ex- | tent with Dr. Ballou and his staff, and Dr. Ballou's public statement ex- | expressed regret over the difficulties and | g, 5 enost 7 of the bl | ifferences of opinfon which apparently trt E e e ing pols | Rave arisen between the congress and | | Dr. Ballou and Mrs. Giles Scott Rafter iromm- president of the par-nt-teacher central body. With Dr. Ballou in at- | convention of the Deparyments of tion Association at Detroit, the first conference_probably will be held with E. Kramer, first assistant ined .on POLICEMEN LANGDON AND MILES FROM FORCE ROBERT F. LANGDON. sesson_of liquor-making were placed against Langdon. Capt. Kelly's testimony was corro- | borated by that of Detective Sergt John_Flaherty, Inspector T. R. Bean and Sergt. George Little. The verdict against Langdon was re- | turned after the board, composed of | Inspector Louis Stoll and Capts. Frank | equipment, | Burke and O. J. Davis, had deliberated only a few minutes. Miles, a sixth precinct detective as- | signed to the Union Station, was con-| victed of being intoxicated while on| duty February 12. Witnesses testified | he had figured in a disturbance in a, drug store near the station. Physicians and others said he appeared to be un- ! der the influence of liquor. REVISED PENSION METHOD ADUPTED Employes to Get Disability] Rating to Determine Amount Paid. A revised and scientific method of | computing pensions for policemen and | firemen under the pension laws has | been decided upon by the District Com- missioners, and will be put into eflect‘v as soon as the necessary technical data can be obtained from the United States Veterans' Bureau. Although no pen- sion now being paid will be disturbed | as a result of this action, many pensions to be pald In the future will be cut down, it is estimated. At present there | are about 800 pensioners on the rolls| receiving about $800,000 in annual pen- | sions | Under the new system, the disability | of each applicant for retirement on lhcX ground of physicel disability will be rated by the Board of Surgeons, AUb-l ject to approval by the Retiring and Relief Board. This rating, expressed in terms of percentage, will govern the amount of pension to be paid to the pensioner. There is at present no such system 1n force in the District govern- ment, . although it is in a very highly developed state in the Veterans' Bureau administration. ‘The set-up of the new system has been worked out fairly definitely in con- | ferences between Willlam A, Roberts, | assistant corporation counsel, who acts as chairman of the retiring board, and Dr. F. E. Redman of the Veterans' Bureau. | THREE RUN DOWN IN CITY TRAFFIC Two Men and Boy Treated at Hospitals for Serious Injuries. ‘Three persons were seriously injured in_traffic_accidents last night. Felix Sutton, 38 years old, of 815 Maryland avenue northeast, received | severe head injuries and bruises to his | body when he was struck by an auto- | mobile at Twelfth street and Maryland avenue northeast. He was treated at Casualty Hospital. Did Not See Victim. Gotthold Steinert, 3843 Twenty- ninth street, driver of the car, police Sutton was crossing the street when he ran him down. Seinert said he did not see the man until he was almost upon him Six-yearlold Emile Swann, 102 Seventh street southeast, also received serfous head injuries, and internal in- juries when he was struck by an auto- mobile while crossing the intersection at Seventh and A streets southeast. The child was taken t Casualty Hos- pital for treatment by Dominick Rosa, 9 New Jersey avenue, driver of the Man, 65, Run Down. Half an hour later, John Cavanaugh, 65 years old, of 353 Pennsylvania ave- nue, was knocked down by an automo- car. | | | propriation for the relief would be un- bile at Delaware avenue and B street southw He treated at Casualty Hospital for injuries to his head and numerous cuts and bruises to his body. Police said the automobile which struck Cavanaugh was driven by Miss Flora Steward. None of the drivers were held. Marriage Licenses. John E. Dyer. 24. and Estell V. Pope, 18 b Biigas n Richmond. Ve . and Margarel M. B 20, this city; 'Rev Charles Enders and Margaret B Siz00. d Mary E. Cooke. oJ0seE Hennte Tibboit.. 68, Chesterville, Me and Della . Chatfieia,’ 58: Rev. Harvey B jith Morris Odoms. 45, and Eva Jones, 21; Rev. Prank W. Alstock Harold J: Davis, 3¢, Cortland. N. Y.. and Mary Lisstelt: 3%, New York City; Rev. Allan Lenger Buith, 29, and Linnie Dixon, 22 5 ler RGiemn "p' Ristey, 25. Sayre, Pu.. Beatrice Carpenter, 20, Waverly, N. ¥ Allan ¥, Poore. Phillp Adeistel New York City. and ore, ME; Judge Roh- Ayt A3 W ine, 20, and Maude £ Wi i Koth Rons, Va . and Rev Flovd, A . b i d':"Rev. Abeam Siman . 27. ‘and Naomi Jackson, 22 v Wi ray. Tieodore Rernst Mary “Priedman. . 28. Bronx, N. Y, ane ." Baltimore, Md.; Rev. nd Lilian G Va.; Judse loyd. Lioy. ane Raymond | W . 20, tlen, 19, both of ® Kichmon r E Mattingly, oRalon Grosme Asnb: ior told | Memorial Shaft to Test Foundation. MALL WILL BE RAISED IF PROJECTS ADOPTED Parkway in Vicinity of Fourteenth Street Will Be Elevated at Least 15 Feet Soon. Two new plans for improvement of the Washington Monument grounds, considered yesterday by the National Capital Park and Planning Commis- sion, soon Wwill set the engineers boring | again to determine feasability of the program. Maj. D. H. Gillette, assistant to Lieut. | Col. U. S. Grant, 3d, vice chairman and*executive officer of the commission, is preparing to open bids March 2, for the boring of six or more holes within a radius of 300 to 500 feet of the Monument. The commission is con- cerned principally with the probable effect of placing several tons of earth on the east slope of the Monument. Mall May Be Raised. Two plans, prepared by Prederick Law Olmsted, landscape architect of Brook line, Mass., and William A. Delano, New York architeet, both members of the commission, provide for raising the Mall | several feet as far as Fifteenth street. On the west side of the Monument, under the so-called formal plan, a low balistrade would be erected, while under the “informal” plan there would be | little change from the present status. ! On the east side, the formal scheme | contemplates an_earth fill about 5 or | 6 feet west of Fifteenth street, while the informal plan would drop off from the elevation to the present grade, with a wall erected at Fifteenth street. Under both plans there would be a fill on the Mall of about 15 feet between Fourteenth and Fifteenth street. Low Balistrade Planned. On the west side of the Monument, under both plans, there would be only | a rearrangement of roads and trees, | the difference being that in the formal | plan, a low balistrade directly around | the Monument would be constructed, while the other program contemplates nothing but grass. Under | fentative plans, _Fifteenth street would traverse the Mall as a depressed thoroughfare, as is contem- plated for Fourteenth street. Under the informal plan, there would | be little change to the Washington Monument, the Mall development end- ing at Fifteenth street. Under the formal plan little alteration would be brought about in front of Washington Monument, looking toward Lincoln Memorial. On the east side, the Mall develop- ment would end at the Washington Monument itself. Under the formal | plan there would be no further raise | between Fifteenth street and the Mon- ument, Other Plans Faulty. The commission recently directed the borings be made around the circular roadway that surrounds the Monument and as a result of this inquiry, it was determined that it would be inadvisable to excavate appreciably from around the base of the Monument, which does not rest upon dead rock. | The McMillan plan of 1901 contem- plated | program cannot go through! as it might Harvey Wiley parchitect, laid before the commission his revised plans for the design of the Masonic temple on the Dean tract at Florida and Connecticut avenues. The commission decided that the layout is acceptable provided the open spaces around the memorial building can be preserved as shown in the program. The commission was advised of the latest developments in the program to erect memorial entrances to the Dis- | trict of Columbia. It was told that the design with eagles, prepared by the | Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks, has received the indorsement of |the Fine Arts Commission. ‘The ! memorial entrances are designed to fol- | low the general character of the pylons the Arlington Memorial Bridge project. Numerous land purchases were con- | sidered by the commission at its after- | noon_session, but in keeping with its customary practice, no public informa- tion was forthcoming on this phase of i the proceedings. |STEAMER GRAMPUS TO ENTER BAY TRADE Navy Accepts $8,300 for Vessel, Formerly at Navy Yard, and $21,000 for Porpoise. | 'The passenger steamer Grampus, ! which, until recently, made her home port at the Washington Navy Yard, is slated to enter the Chesapeake Bay trade. The Navy Department announced yes- terday that it had accepted the offer of Christopher B. Garnett, attorney, with offices in the Shoreham Building, Fif- teenth and H streets, who has had con- siderable experience in steamboat oper- ations. The Navy will get $8,300 for the Grampus, which is now at the Nor- folk, Va., vy Yard, and Willlam M !Mllh of New York City will pay the !'service $21,000 for the steam ferryboat | Porpoise, which was another of Wash- | ington's’ Navy Yard vessels, until she | was taken recently to Norfolk for de- | commissioning as unfit for further naval ! I service. {_ The Gotham Marine Corporation of |New York City will get the ammuni- (tion lighter, now at the local navy vard, for $1,166, but the department re- Jected bids for seven destroyers and the motorboat Clarinda, now at the Charleston, 8. C.,, navy yard, as being too low. Mr. Garnett said last night that the Grampus will likely be placed in the Norfolk-Mob Jack Bay, Va. trade. Mob Jack Bay is located above the York River and south of the Rap- pahannock River. in the Chesapeake Bay country. Justice D. Lawrence Groner, recently appointed from Vir- iginia to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, named Mr. Garnett as re- ceiver for the Buxton Line of Nor- folk, which operates from that city to Richmond and Petersburg, Va., the at- torney said. In addition. Mr. Garnett is president of the Norfolk & Mob Jack Bay Steamboat Co. The Grampus 'y, be utilized on one of these two lines, asserted. the attorney | endanger the safety of the shaft. { Corbett, New York | Mrs. Henderson had adopted the young the construction of ambitiousuntil after the filing of her suit. sunken gardens around the base of the | Henderson then declared she had been | monument, but the recently completed | Informed her accepted granddaughter sclentific inquiry determined that this|Was a foundling I MONUMENT PLANS SUIT FILED ASKING HELD UP TO AWAIT UPSET IN ADOPTION RESULTS OF BORING O MRS. WHOLEAN 1 New Tests Will Be Made Near|Mrs. John B. Henderson Files Plea Hitz Order Invalid Because Girl Was 18. FAILURE OF PARENTS TO CONSENT CHARGED Counter-Claim Says Age Barred Legality of Action and Bares $675,000 Trust Fund. Further indication of the bitter legal fight to be waged over the Henderson fortune came yesterday when Mrs. John B. Henderson filed suit in District Su- preme Court to have her adoption of Mrs. Beatrice Henderson Wholean in 1924 declared invalid. Mrs. Henderson charged that Justice Willlam Hitz was without jurisdiction when he signed the order authorizing the adoption. The action, brought as a counter suit to proceedings insti- gated recently against Mrs. Henderson by Mrs. Wholean, was based to a great extent upon the contention that Mrs. Wholean, then Miss Beatrice Hender- son, was not subject to adoption in 1924 because she then was more than 18 years old. Disinterested lawyers agreed, how- ever, that a woman does not attain her majority under the District law until she reaches the age of 21. They con- tended the only exceptions to this gen- eral rule enabled girls to marry at 18 without the consent of their parents and to take a cash bequest under a will at the same age. Estates Involved. The Henderson-Wholean litigation began when Mrs. Wholean brought suit seeking to remove Mrs. Henderson as trustee of the extensive estates of her husband, the late John B. Henderson, former Senator from Missouri, and her son, the late John B. Henderson, jr. Mrs. Wholean also demanded that Mrs. Henderson be restrained from present- ing to the Government a Fifteenth street_mansion for use as a home for Vice Presidents of the United States. Through her attorney, George E. Edelin, the plaintiff told the court in her suit yesterday not only that Beatrice Henderson at the time of the adoption was more than 18 years old, but that she had been informed she was not the subject of adoption as having attained majority. Failure of the parents of the girl to consent to the adoption also was alleged against its validity. While assuming the offensive in the adoption suit, Mrs. Henderson also filed answer to the suit for her removal from the trusteeship and denied she was in- firm in body and mind. She asserted she was competent to continue to man- age the vast estates and had property enough in her own name to respond to any claim that Beatrice Henderson ‘Wholean may urge against her, Gift Plan Held Known. Mrs. Henderson declared the idea of the gift of a suitable home for the Vice President had been entertained by her for 20 years and was known to Mrs. Wholean and that the money in- vested in property which she wishes to present had not come from the estate of John B. Henderson, jr., under which Mrs. Wholean claimed a remainder in- terest on the death of Mrs. Henderson, the life tenant. The point was made that a remainder cannot demand an ac- counting during the life of the life ten- ant. Mrs. Wholean was accepted by Capital soclety as the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Henderson, jr. and grand- daughter and heir of Mrs. Henderson Mrs. After the filing of the suit it was disclosed that in secret proceeding morz than six years ago woman. Put $675,000 in Trust. Mrs. Henderson denied that she had disposed by gift of a large portion of her estate or that it had become dis- sipated. She admitted making gifts of small portions of her property, which she claimed she had the right to do. She argued she executed an irrevocable trust in 1923 and placed securities worth $675.000 in trust, the income to be paid to Mrs. Wholean after the death of ‘Mrs. Henderson. In addition she gave Mrs. Wholean $300,000 in securi- tles and also other gifts, she declared, Mrs. Wholean and her husband, ac- cording to Mrs. Henderson's answer, sought to persuade her to convey to them her property at Bar Harbor, Me., and during 1929 took possession of the Summer home to the exclusion of the owner and caused her to procure other quarters at York Harbor. Mrs. Hender- son sald she then sold the land since she could not have the use of it. She disposed of other properties that were unproductive, Mrs. Henderson stated, and will make proper accounting if required. e RECUE SQUAD CALLED ON 3 FALSE ALARMS In Each Instance Persons Were Reported Overcome by Gas; Fakes Held Unusual. The fire rescue squad was called out on three false alarms last night. In each instance a person was reported overcome by gas. The first call asked that the squad g0 to an address in the 800 block of Ninth street. Shortly afterward a man called the Fire Department and asked that the squad go to a small hotel in the downtown section. The third call came from the 600 block of Ninth street southwest. False alarms for the fire rescue squad, it was pointed out last night, are very unusual, persons desiring to play jokes evidently realizing the possible serious consequences in sending out the squad on fake calls when it might be actually needed in the meantime to revive some one actually in danges MRS. CRAVER TO SPEAK Official of Parent-Teachers’ Con- gress to Address Ballston Group. Special Dispatch to The Star. BALLSTON, Va., February 21.—Mrs. E. E. Craver, fifth vice president of the Virginia Congress of Parent-Teachers, will speak at the regular meeting of the Parent-Teacher Association of Wash- ington-Lee High School, to be held in the auditorium of the school on Thurs- day evening. There will be a special Founders' day program by the senior girls and an in- formal_reception to the faculty. Mrs. G. L. Tabor, chairman of the Member progress of the new will | ship CAPITAL PRODUCE TRADE WAR FOUGHT BY RIVAL MERCHANTS Commission Men Vie for Foodstuffs Worth $3.500,000 Annually After U. S. FOI‘CCS Sl‘ll ‘The Capital has become the battle- ground for a new war. The prize is the produce of the nearby farmers, with its normal annual value of approximately $3,500,000. The opposing armies are the com- mission men, split up when the Gov- ernment building program forced them ont_of long-established quarters south of Pennsylvania avenue and now en- | trenched on two fronts—northeast and southwest. Both sides voice unbounded opti- mism; claims and counter claims fall upon the ear. The outcome will be written when April rolls around and the produce really begins to roll in, Bows to U. S. Plan. The present condition grows out of a situation that developed several years ago, when the Government expansion program heralded the end of the great food-supply center built up below the Avenue. One of the units that faced ouster was the so-called “farmers’ line,” an establishment of long standing, where the growers from far and near gathered to dispose of their produce— vegetables, fruits, poultry—anything and everything that comes from a farm. Through the years the “line” trade had grown steadily. The sheds erected by the Government became inadequate, and adjacent street took up the over- flow. Some days saw more than 500 farmers “on the line,” and it was esti- mated that anywhere from 1,200 to 1,400 were making use of the location— about half regularly, and the other half from time to time. The great ma- Jority, of course, were from nearby sections, but in later years, good roads and fast trucks brought in trade from as far to the North as New Jersey and to the South as Geo: About 75 per cent of the trade was wholesale—commission men, grocery stcres, both chain and independent, hotels, restaurants, hospitals—any one buying in bulk. ‘The remainder came from the private consumers, purchasing anything from a nickel's worth up. From long before dawn until evening, bartering prog- ressed, through Summer and Winter. ‘Wholesale prices were lower than re- tail, but it is said the difference was not great. New Site Chosen. When it became known that the Farmers' Market must go, the ques- tion of its relocation came to the front, and a merry melee ensued as advocates of sites in varfous sections of the city advanced their claims. Ultimately, Congress chose two squares in _Southwest Washington, bounded by Tenth, Eleventh, E and G streets, and appropriated $300,000 for the establishment of a farmers’ “whole- sale” market there. ‘The selection was made over the pro- test of the Federation of Citizens’ Asso- ciations, which had argued against ap- propriating public funds for a “whole- sale” market, and had sald that what was needed was a new ‘retail” market that would accommodate the farmers, “in a central location,” the idea at that time being for another set-up such as prevailed at Center Market. $50,000 Net Yearly. Tt might be said here. though, that observers have questioned just how far the provision for “wholesale” trade can be enforced—if any effort is made to :nforce it, when the farmer has no guar- anty that he can get rid of all his prod- uce at wholesale. Again, it has been said on good su- thority that a farmers’ market, oper- ated under the right conditions, can | be made to pay running expenses. The old “line” cleared about $50,000 above all expenses between 1820 and 1928 when it was doomed. ‘The site also had come in for criti- cism in a report from the Bureau of Efficiency, compiled by Dr. George C. Havenner, an active figure in the fed- | eration, who, as investigator for the bureau, surveyed all the sites recom- mended for the “line” and, in a com- prehensive analysis, weighted the merits and demerits of each. Cost of Shift Rises. On the contrary, Southwest propon- ents fired back counter arguments. Rail facilities, cold storage plants, the proximity of the Municipal Fish Mar- ket, which would allow linking up of market facilities, all were advanced. ‘The appropriation finally was made last year, and condemnation proceed- ings now have been instituted, it hav- ing been found impossible to acquire the land for $225,000, which is the maximum figure it is considered the District can pay, if the cost of the market is to be kept within $300,000. The condemnation jury will be se- lected April 21. While the struggle over the farm market was waging there was in the background another fight, with the commission merchants, also pre-empted Uyltlu Government, playing the leading roles. One group decided to go Southwest. They formed the Potomac Food Dis- tributors’ Association, of which J, T. Richards, is president. New Market Built. ‘The Pennsylvania Ratlroad, which furnishes the rail facilities to that sec- tion, joined hands with these, and through the Potomac Preight Terminal Association, a subsidiary, erected at Twelfth and Water streets a group of modern commission houses costing be- tween $1,000,000 and $1.500,000. Located just below the site of the Farmers', Market, this venture already | has attrdcted more than 70 commis- | sion men, according to Richards. He also explained that no remt is being exacted until April 1, though some | of the tenants have been using trhel or | buildings _for _stor: purposes months. The occupants, he added, have the privilege of purchasing their places at the expiration of five years. Business was started at the new loca- tion just a week ago. Southwest Adds Market, But opponents of the Southwest were not idle. With some 30 commission men in line, they organized the Union Market Terminals Corporation took over the Patterson tract in Eckington, and there another modern commission center has sprung up, even including barber shops and lunch rooms, with Judson O. Harrison as president. The layout there, which also will include refrigeration, is estimated to have cost $3,000,000. This organization also reports lining up 24 retail dealers from Louisiana avenue, ready for business. A retail market is viewed in the Southwest site as_a sure ultimate development. Right now sponsors for each group are claiming the bulk of the wholesale trade in perishables. Incidentally, while Eckington is served by the nearby Baltimore ©Ohio Rail- road, it is emphasized that the railroad has “not contributed a dime” to the de- velopment, but that the dealers them- selves are the owners. Who Gets Farniers? With the lines thus drawn, the battle for business supremacy proceeds to the quv!:sgnizn going to get the farmers, , & adjunct to successful opera- southwest, they have the ft of Sites. t D(_fl’w Government “line.” To8| Ben g that, the District has allowed the use of a small strip on Water street, opposite the new commission center. The Pennsylvania Rallroad, according to Richards, has also tendered the use of its yard space, if necessary. Accord- ing to his figures, these two sites have room for something like 250 farmers. There is no charge to the farmers now, and Richards says the Pennsyl- vania area would be free, and that no charge would be levied on the District land, unless it was necessitated by the District, which has always exacted a 20-cent “line” fee. Sheds could be bullt if necessary, Richards says, but he >xpects the Government market to make these unnecessary. Some 40 to 5 farmers now are coming southwest, he says. New “Line” Slated. ‘The Union Market Terminals is going to construct a “line” of its own, plan- ning a venture that is estimated to cost $325,000 for land and buildings. This organization has the support of H. A. Friday of Lanham, president of the Maryland and Virginia Farmers' Asso- clation, who reports that more than 300 of his members already have signed cards indicating their intention to come into that market. The association has about 800 members. Friday expects to get formal agrements signed April 15. A 25-cent dally “line” charge is being exacted of the farmers now, and it may be increased when the sheds go up, but it is explained that there is no profit from this angle of the busi- ness, the charge being designed only to cover interest on investment, taxes, and sanitation. Both sides are claiming the farm business and say they can accommodate “more than 1,000 farmers.” The Bu- reau of Efficiency report lays the ad- vantage in size to northeast, but trims the figure of both sides as to capacity. Occupants Fewer. ‘There is still another factor to be considered. When the Farmers’ Market was razed in 1928 the occupants went either to the surrounding streets or, in some instances, to the “lines” at out- lying markets. Since that time the greatest number on hand downtown on any one day has been placed at 300. Right now, with supplies about limited to poultry, eggs, butter, cheese, apples and some meats, the dally attendance runs about 50. The last annual report of the Depart- ment of Weights, Measures and Mar- kets of the District says that make- shift nmnfemem itself, providing no protection from the weather, has cut the business. With this, however, must be taken into consideration the fact that crops for the past two years have been poor. This also is held to have been a contributing factor. Whether this lost trade will restored is some- thing for the future to decide. Geographical location is another ele- ment. The Maryland farmers, it is esti- mated in a reliable quarter, outnumber those from Virginia about four to one, raising the question as to whether the trade will drift to the center nearest home. Sales Are Good. Off handedly, it would appear that the farmers would enter into competition with the comm&flq men, but it is said that the competitit is light, and is overbalanced by the desirability of hav- ing them on hand as a supplamentary agency. “We need the farmer,” is the slogan. One of this warmly solicited group perhaps summed up the farmer's atti- tude pretty well a day or so ago, when mi‘& subject was under discussion. He said: ;lm farmer will go where he cean 'W'MAHON PRAISED . AND HIT AT HEARING ‘Witnelus Agmj;;dge’l ¢ K Say He is Harsh Toward Lawyers. ‘Witnesses for and against the con- firmation of Judge John P. McMahon for anothe: the T term on Police Court, were heard ernoon by Senator King of Utal man of the subcammittee in cl the nomination. Senator King an- nounced the subcommittee would en- deavor to make a report tomorrow after one more witness has been heard. Most of the discussion over Judge McMahon’s reappointment has had to do with the question of whether the Judge is harsh or arbitrary toward counsel in court. ‘The majority of those who testified yesterday were supporting Judge Mc- Mahon, expressing confidence in his ability and fairness. Those who testi- fied to this effect included: Corporation Counsel William W. Bride, Assistant Corporation Counsel Stanley DeNeale, John E. Laskey, Charles W. Arth, Rich- mond B. Keech, Assistant Corporation Counsel W. A. Roberts, John Lewis Smith, George E. McNeil, James C. Wilkes, George E. Sullivan and & num- ber of other attorneys. Attorneys Albert Stern and Albert Lyman, who appeared in opposition to Judge McMahon at a previous meet- ing, cross-examined the judge's sup- porters yesterday and also presented two more witnesses. James P. Farmer, |an attorney, told Senator King he re- garded Judge McMahon as a man of ability and integrity, but thought he was & poor judge. Attorney George Gertman, secretary of the District of Columbia Bar As- sociation, spoke in favor of the judge's confirmation and told of the associa- tion meeting at which the reappoint- ment was indorsed. Attorney Edward ‘Thomas, who was an assistant cor- poration counsel at Police Court for & number of years, indorsed the re- appointment of the judge. FREDERICKSBURG PLANS FOR MISSION DELEGATES 350 Representatives of Methodist Church Expected April 21 to 24. Special Dispateh to The Star. - ‘Woman! Missionary Society of the local Metl odist Church is busily engaged in mak- ln’ preparations for the coming of 350 delegates between April 21 and 24 from the Methodist churches throughout the Baltimore Conference. This territory includes such cities as Roanoke, Staun- ton, Harrisonburg, Washington, Balti- more, Cumberland, Hinton and Win- | chester. - PAGEBA NEW BORLAND LAW 'FORSTREET PAVING SIGNED BY HOOVER Measure Will Void Past As- sessments for New Levies. WORK WILL REQUIRE A YEAR TO COMPLETE President Also Approves Radio Re- search Act and Exchange of Land on'Potomac River, ‘The new paving assessment law for the District to replace the Borland act, rendered ineffective by court decisions, d'ls signed by President Hoover yester- ay. The law establishes a formula by which city officials will have to con- sider the shape, area and value of the land being assessed, whereas the old law required assessment of half the cost of a new street against the abutting Pproperty on the front-foot basis only. Assessments Canceled. Another effect of the measure is to cancel all paving assessments of the rast three years in order to reassess them under the new formula. This will mean a lowering of assessments, and those who have already paid with- in that time will have the difference re- :ulngedthlo them, It will take the Dis- rict at least a year, however, to worl out these refunds. ¥ Under the new law the front-foot assessment shall not exceed $3.50 per linear foot; the total assessment shall not exceed the number of square feet in the lot multiplied by 1 per cent of the front-foot assessment; it shall not exceed 20 per cent of the value of the land, and on unsubdivided property as- sessments based on the square feet and value shall not l}:fly to the land lying more than 100 feet back of the road- way. Elliott Bill Signed. ‘The President late yesterday also signed the Elliott bill for a radio re- search laboratory to be established by the Bureau of Standards, which is authorized to acquire land and erect a bulld\ni. ‘The third District bill signed by the President authorizes an exchange of land on the Virginia shore of the Po- tomac River with the Rosslyn connect- ing railway so as to provide for an underpass that will not interfere with the memorial boulevard into Arlington National Cemetery. LABOR STATISTICIAN DIES AT HOME HERE Lawrence W. Francis, Former Prominent Pennsylvania Repub- lican, Succumbs to Illness. Lawrence W. Francis, 52 years old, statistician of the Department of La- bor and for the past eight years a resi- dent of this city, died at his home, 3919 Fourteenth s yesterday oon. after an illness of more than a year. Mr. Francis came to Washington in 1922 to become senior examiner of the Emergency Fleet Corporation, with of- fices here and in Philadelphia. Prior to then he had been active in Repub- lican State politics in Pennsylvania, his native State. He had served from 1910 to 1922 as a county committeeman, while residing in Pittsburgh. While in the latter city he had served as valua- tion engineer of the United States Steel Corporation during the World War. At one time he had becen associated with the Interstate Commerce Commission in this city as assistant valuation en- eer. Prominent in the Masonic fraternity, Mr. Francis was a member of King Solomon Lodge, F. A. A. M., of Con- nellsville, Pa.; Royal Arch Chapter, No. 283, and McKeesport Knights Templar, He also bel to Syria Temple of the Mystic S e at Pittsburgh. Mr. Francis was a graduate of Wash- ington and Jefferson College 2t Wash- ington, Pa. He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Luther Place Memorial Church ere. Mr. Francis is survived by his widow, Mrs. Anna B. Francis; two daughters, Virginia G. and Katherine M. Francis; son, Lawrence W. Francis, 2d, and brother, Dr. Thomas R. Francis, the latter of Connellsville, Pa. Funeral services will be condueted at the residence Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Rev. Dr. Carl C. Rasmus- sen, pastor of Luther Place Memorial Church, will officiate. The place of in=- terment is to be announced later. SCENERY OF CAPITAL |Lieut. Col. U. 8. Grant, 3d, Hi Plan to Exhibit Movies Throughout U. 8. ‘Th> scenic beauties of the National Capital will be exhibited throughout the Nation, if a plan being perfected by Lieut. Col. U, S. Grant, 3d, director of Public Buildings and Public Parks, is translated into reality. Col. Grang is now drawing up a program under which films will be taken showing the natural beauties of th> parks, recrea- tion centers here, as well as the re- gional parks in this vicinity. Col. Grant is preparing to seek the co-operation of governmental agencies in the taking of the films, which will be of standard size. He hopes to launch this enterprise at an early date and the Japanese cherry blossoms, around the Tidal Basin, probably will occupy & stellar place in the celluloid production, although the anticipated ecrabapple blossoms in Anacostia Park and the redweod and dogwood displays in Rock Creek Park will also be recorded. MONUMENT L.IGHTS READY Fog Beacons Will Be Tested in Step to Safeguard Night Flying. Further steps are expected to be taken this week in the program for making the Washington Monument safe for night-flying airmen. First Lieut. F. B. Butler, assistant di~ rector of Public Buildings and Public Parks, said yesterday that the fog- warning lights are expected to be tried out on the Monument some times dur- ing the week when the weather is fa- These delegaigs are ususlly the best of the leaders and thefr coming will event local church af Aside from - ber of “con= vorable, A study is still being continued on the program of flood-lighting Monument 11t ing it with searchlights. The tics branch of the