Evening Star Newspaper, February 25, 1931, Page 17

WASHINGTON, @he Toening Star D, -0, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY CONFESSION FREES YOUTH N CELL OF ROBBERY CHARGE Carl B. Davis Found Innocent of Holding Up Filling Sta- tion Collector. BUT REME\IS IN PRISON ON ANOTHER CONVICTION Ex-Marines Said to Admit Four| Other Crimes—One Man Is Minister's Sox. The confession of a minister's son erased one “black mark” from the crime record of a youthful bandit leader today. Lorton Reformatory officials will open the youth's cell today—a cell in which he is doomed to spend a little less than eight years—and tell him he was in- dicted for a crime of which he knew | less than nothing. Carl Benjamin Davis, the boy ban- dit, is serving & term for participating in the hold-up of a Mount Vernon Savings Bank messenger last vear. ‘While that case against him was under investigation he was identified as hav- ing held up Benjamin Burch, a_col- lector for the Lord Baltimore filling stations, and robbed him of $2,216. A month later the grand jury indicted him in the Burch case, but the court nolle prossed the case, sentencing him in the Mount Vernon Bank robbery. Report Hold-ups Admitted. Today the minister's son, Clarence Paul Hulse, 24, of Baltimore, and his companion, Samuel A. Johnston, 23, of 637 G .street southeast, both former Marines, admitted five hold-ups, in- cluding the one in which Davis was in- dicted. Burch leveled his finger at the sus- pects at police headquarters last night and accused them of having twice held him up and taken $3.460. They were also pointed out, police said, by the victims of three other hold- ups, Thomas L. Swan, manager of a chain store at Thirteenth and D streets northeast: Thomas Guy, manager of a gasoline station at Fourth and I streets northeast, and Fred Hopkins, 816 Rhode Island avenne, a colored taxicab driver. Cab Used by Bandits. Hopkins' cab was used by bandits| in the first hold-up of the Lord Balti- more filling station’s collector. The hacker was forced to drive to a de- serted section of the city, where he was strapped to a tree and his mouth bound with adhesive tape. Swan was robbed of $200 on February 7, while $80 was taken from Guy on January 27. Search for a third ex-marine, who 1s said to have accompanied Hulse and Johnston on all their forays, was begun by police today, following the identifi- cation. Detective Sergts. Mike J. Dowd and Larry O'Dea, who arrested the pair Sat- urday, as a result of their investiga- tion of the second hold-up of Burch, said that the men have (essed the five robberies. Blames Unemployment. Johnston declared he went into the hold-up racket last Spring because his landlord was pressing him for the rent on his home and he was unable to find honest employment. Hulse explained that he also was out of work and not wishing to appear a “piker” in the eyes of his girl friend in Baltimore he joined Johnston and the third Marine so he could flash a; large bank roll. The trio it is alleged staged their first job on July 13 last, when they robbed Burch of $2216 in front of a gasoline station at 133 Pennsylvania avenue, after taking Hopkins' taxicab n which to make their getaway. ‘The robbers, however, overlooked $8,000, which Burch had collected dur- ing his rounds and wrapped in news- papers. Burch said that he bundled the money up and tossed it carelessly into his machine as a precautionary measure against such an occasion, rea- soning that any bandits that might hold him up would overlook the bulk of his collections. Johnston and Hulse, with their com- panion, were driving past Sixth strect and Rhode Island avenue several weeks | ago in A car which they are said to| have stolen in Fredericksburg, Va., when ! they spied Burch a second time and took $1,300. PERGLER MUST QUIT CZECH PARLIAMENT andate Cancelled by Court on Ground He Is American Citizen. The parliamentary mandate of Charles Pergler, former Czechoslovak- an Minister to the United States and now dean of the National University School of Economics and Government of this city, yesterday was cancelled a Czechoslovakian court on the ground that he is an American citize according to an Associated Press dis patch. The cancellation of his parlia- mentary mandate is interpreted as meaning that Mr. Pergler must r linquish his seat in the Czechoslovak- ian Parliament Mr. Pergler, it is pointed out, came to the United States in 1906 and be- came a naturalized citizen, his citizen- ship never having been revoked. In 1918 he met and became the secretary of President Masaryk of Czechoslovakia. Later he was named Minister to Wash- ington and then to Tokio, He became a political opponent of President Ma- saryk after being recalled from Tokio and was soon afterward elected to Parliament Mr. Pergler resides at 3000 Connecti- cut avenue. DELEGATION OF FILIPINOS Blast Razes Market Tower blast of dynamite yesterday. CAMERA SNAPS LANDMARK AS IT CRASHES., [E tower of Center Market Building, last of the famous old establishment on the site of the new Department of Justice Bullding, bowed before a The Star photographer caught the falling tower before the mass of brick and mortar hit the ground —Star Staff Photo. MANKILLEDBY TAXI STLL UNDENTIED | Taxi Driver Hunted After Fatal Accident—Victim’s Body at Morgue. The body of an unidentified man.‘ about 55 years old, lies at the District | Morgue while police and detectives | comb the city in a search for the driver | of a taxicab which ran the man down at Anacostia road and N street south- | east and is reported to have sped from | the scene last night. James R. O'Donnell of 3222 M street southeast, a passing motorist, witnessed the mishap and carried the victim to) Gallinger Municipal Hcspital, where he | died cne hour later with internal hurts and compound fractures of both legs Police described the man as being | STREET EXTENSION SUTS ARE FILED Action Taken to Condemn Lands Needed to Make Improvements. The District Commissioners today filéd suits in District Supreme Court for the condemnation of land for several street widening and extension projects. One of the suits calls for the widen- ing from 33 to 90 feet of Blair road between Underwood street and North Dakota avenue. Not only will the street be widened, but several sharp turns and curves in it will be smoothed out, fol- lowing the District’s acquisition of property under this proceeding. Street Extensions Planned. ‘The same suit also asks condemnation of land for the extension of Kansas D, C. SHELVES PLAN about 5 feet 6 or 7 inches in heighc|avenue from Nicholson street to the 140 and 145 |tracks of-the Metrgpolitan Branch of :gnd‘s’.e‘fl;i‘:"w:“"z:flng blue serge | the Baltimore & Obio Rallroad: of pin-striped coat, black shoes and a light fedora hat. | A search of garages and repair shops was instituted by officers of the eleventh | precinct, but the missing driver could not be located. One suspect was ar- rested, but he was released a stort time | later after proving he was not in the | vicinity when the accident took place. | Patrolman William Humpherys, who | investigated the case, declared that | one or both headlights of the taxi may be damaged and police are hopeful of locating the machine through this clue. Members of the homicide squad, led by Detective Sergt. John Flaherty, | joined in the investigation today, |EX-POLICEMAN FINED | | AND SENT T0 JAIL Batchelor, Convicted Two Weeks/ Ago in Reckless Driving Case, Is Sentenced. Convicted by a jury two weeks ago on charges of reckless driving and leaving after colliding, former Policeman Leroy | E. Batchelor, dismissed from the metro- | politan police force yesterday, was sen tenced by Judge Gus A. Schuldt in Po- lice Court today to serve a jail term of | 30 days on one charge and to pay a fine of $100 or serve an additional 30 days | on_the other charge. | The judge approved a recommenda- | { tion of Assistant Corporation Counsel | Edward Welliver for hospital treatment | | for Batchelor, who, it was explained has been copfined to his bed with in- | fluenza the past two weeks. | Batchelor was convicted of having | been the driver of an automobile which | struck and overturned a car operated by Willlam Neville of the 3800 block of | Seventh street, early in January. Batch- | elor was alleged to have left the scene immediately without revealing his iden- tity. He later reported the incident at the first, precinct and was placed under arrest The collision is said to have followed | a shooting affair in nearby Virginia in | which Batchelor was involved and which subsequently brought about his dismissal from the force. i trousers and vest, a red necktie, blue |NOrth Dakota avenue {rom Peabody treet to Sligo Mill road; of Quacken- bos street from Kansas road to Blair road and of Oglethorpe street through parcels 114-6, 114-7. It also calls for the - widening of North Capitol street, slightly, between McDonald place and Sligo Mill road. The extension of Kansas avenue and Quackenbos street, which, according to the plat filed, came together at the B. & O. Railroad tracks, is intended to prevent the construction of any building on the lines of the projected streets in future, as it is intended ulti- mately to build some kind of a grade paration at this point when traffic becomes too much for the grade separa- tion at Van Buren strect. There is no immediate work in prospect at the point, however. Act on ldaho Avenue. ‘The other proceeding filed today calls for the extension of Idaho avenue be- ween Rodman and Tilden streets, Thirty-seventh street between Quebec and Upton streets, and Tilden street between Wisconsin road., The same ing_also asks for a slight widening of Reno road through one of the parcels, No. 43/65, for the sole purpose of obtaining & smoother line for the road. Assistant Corporation Counsel Wal- ter L. Fowler represents the District in MOTOR TRUCK SERVICE CHARTERED NEARBY Freight Line to Run From Rich- mond to Culpeper, With No Intermediate Stops. Special Dispatch to The Star. RICHMOND, Va., February 25—The McCoy Transportation Co. has been au- thorized by the State Corporation Com- mission to operate a freight motor ve- hicle service between Richmond and Culpeper with the proviso, however, that no local service shall be rendered between Richmond and Fredericks- burg or intermediate points, Application of the company to oper- ate a similar service between Culpeper and Luray has been denied. Will Be their Last, I ARRIVES IN WASHINGTON Federation President Heads Group Protesting Immigration Restric- tion and Seeking Independence. Dr. Hilario C. Moncado, president of the Filipino Pederation of America, a rived here yesterdsy at the head of a delegation of his countrymen to pro- test against the restriction of immigra- tion from the Philippines and to seek ultimate independence of the islands. | Oscar. the pet cockroach in the Dis- trict Building press room, put on a white coat today and marched forth for his morning’s crumbs arrayed as Solomon in all his glory. Gray-headed District Bullding reporters, who have watched Oscar grow from an infini- tesimal mite to a fine upstanding in- sect with the longest pair of whiskers in the building, were aghast. That is to say, they could not believe their eyes. The federation holds that to restrict the entrance into this country of Fili- pinos classes them as allens, while they are under the protection of the Ameri- can flag. Dr. Moncado is widely known as an advocate of independence. Was this a sign of the approach of Spring or of somthing else? Presently Flora, Oscars wife, and some of his sturdy family of 85000 young cockroaches also put in their appearances. Each had on a white OSCAR A[:ID THOSE HE BEGOT DON WHITE COATSFOR SPRING {But New Apparel of District Building Cockroach Family t's Sodium Flouride. Some were slightly cream colored. Others were snowy white. Reporters frantically called for the superintendent of the bullding, E. P. Brooke, and demanded an explanation of this phenomenon—these phenomena. M . Brooke Euti hl; experienced eyc over the new Spring finery. t's sodium %’;urm," he pronounced. ‘Sodium what?" “Sodium flouride,” he repeated, very positively. “It’s recommended by the Department of Agriculture. Perfectly harmless to humans, but absolutely deadly to insects.” “Do you mean it kills them?” “It certainly does.” B “But they are not dead.” “Not _yet, but wait and see.” sult. Some of the sults were spackled. The reporters are waiting. enue and Reno | TOPAY §3800010 ALEXANDRIA LINEE Commissioners Unanimous in| Stand Regarding Abandon- ment of Tracks. LETTER FAVORING ITEM IN BUDGET NOT SENT Recent Conference Agreement Bared on Idea of Saving Cost- ly Litigation. The District Commissioners yesterday | decided to shelve the proposition to pay | the Mount Vernon, Alexandria & Wash- ington Railway Co. $98,000 for abandon- ment of the company’s tracks on Four- teenth street south of Water street southwest. The company is being forced out of its terminal at Twelfth and D streets by the Federal Government's building program, and the Public Utili- | ties Commission turned down its request to locate a new terminal at Eleventh; and E streets. A number of confer- ences between representatives of the corporation counsel's office, the Treas- ury Department and the railway re- sulted in an agreement to submit to Congress a bill to provide for payment to the railway of $98,000 from the Dis- trict coffers and $102,000 from Federal funds if the railway wowd abandon its tracks south of Water street and cease operating street cars into the District. | Letter, Explaining, Not Sent. A letter was prepared setting forth the reasons for the contemplated ac- tion at some length, and it was pro- | posed to send it to the Bureau of the Budget for that body's approval. The letter was never sent. It came up for action at a meeting of the Board of Commissioners yesterday, and Engineer Commissioner John C. Gotwals moved that “the action proposed herein be! disapproved, as the legislation lved is not believed to be necessary.” The motlon was unanimously adopted. According to the letter to the Budget Bureau, the payment had “little legal justification,” but “very substantial benefits would accrue to the District of Columbia as a result of an immediate abandonment of the entire operation within_the District,” and this furnish- ed a “practicable justification for the approval of the payment of this item,” and therefore the Commissioners * luctantly approve the passage of legis- lation which will accomplish this aban- donment.” The company, which was bought at a trustee's sale for $262,500, claimed .a value for rate-making purpcses of $1,- 100,000, and further claimed that the minimum payment which could be ac- cepted for its physical property in the District was $360,000. The Public Utili- ties Commission appraised the repro- duction cost of the company's property in the District at $207,000. Would Avoid Litigation, ! The reasons set forth in the letter are {as follows: “If the operation of the | street rallway company were to be con- tinued, hope of permanently correcting the almost intolerable traffic conditions at this entrance to the city would be greatly weakened, if mot destroyed. A grade separation of very expensive con- struction would be practically necessary in the near future at the outlet from Potomac Park. It is conceded, there- fore, that the entire remo¥al of the tracks from District territory would not | {only improve trafic conditions, but would materially reduce the cost of highway improvements in this vicinity. “Any method of compulsory ejection of the carrier without a payment would doubtless involve protracted litigation extending over several years. This ejec- tion, as far are the District of Colum- bla is concerned, could be effectively accomplished by demanding immediate reconstruction of defective trackage, which would place such burdens on the railroad that it would be obliged to abandon operations, but we have every reason to believe that steps in this direction would be resisted by the { carrier through every means at its dis- posal, including costly and time-con- suming litigatio HOLD-UP SUSPECTS WAIVE HEARING Two Accused in Bethesda Robbery Held for Jury in $3,000 Bond. Special Dispatch to The Star. ROCKVILLE, Md. February 25— Through their attorney, former State's Attorney Robert B. Peter, jr. two of the four youths arrested in connection with the hold-up and robbery of the Bethesda Pharmacy, at Bethesda, the night of February ‘13 waived prelimi- nary hearings in the Police Court here yesterday. They were William A. Steelman, 20, of the 1200 block of Thirtieth street, Washington, and Charles Elmo Adkins, 25, of the 4400 block of Conduit road, D. C. Judge Charles W. Woodward fixed bond at $3,000 in each case, which neither was able to furnish The others, charged with complicity in the affair, are Jimmett Gold O'Bri- ant, 18. and’ Willle E. Wiggs, 20, both of the 3200 block of N street, Washing- ton, who are also expected to waive preiiminary hearings. All four are in Jail here. The hold-up netted the perpetrators about $70. Wiggs was arrested by coun- ty police soon afterward, but the others got away, only to be apprehended in Washington on information furnished by Wiggs. LEFT $680,651.20 ESTATE Gracie K. Richards’ Executor Of- fers Will for Probate. Gracie K. Richards, who died Febru- ary 1, left an estate valued at $680.- 651.20, according to the petition of the American Security & Trust Co., his executor, for the probate of his will. He had real estate at Newport, R. 1., valued at $10,000; stocks, $529,475.26;! bonds, $02,158.50, real estate notes, $41,000; cash, $4,017.14, and household effects, $4,000. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Malvene B. E. Richards, Stoneleigh Court, and a nephew, Fred- erick Gore Richards, Galveston, Tex. | their_homes, Couple Married 62 Years. ‘WESTERNPORT, Md, February 25 (8pecial).—In honor of the sixty-second anniversary of their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. David Evans were tendered a sur- prise reception by two of their daugh- ters, Mrs. Austin Ward and Mrs. Thompson Metcalfe. Besides numer- ous relatives, many friends attended the event, Mr. Evans is 84 years old and Mrs. Evans 78. TAX FOR RESERVOIR ROAD IS PROTESTED BY CITIZEN GROUPS Burleith and Foxhall Village Associations Say Levies Exceed Benefits. INCONSISTENCY CHARGED IN MAKING ASSESSMENTS Resolution Adopted Asking Keech to Take Action to Check Size of Gas Bills. Basing their plea on declared incon- sistencies in the assessments levied against property holders in Burleith in connection with the widening of Reser- voir road from Thirty-fifth street to the Conduit road, the Executive Com- mittee of the Burleith Citizens' Asso- ciation prepared today to present & formal protest to the District Supreme Court against the method of assess- ment. Benefit assessments amounting to $56,737.55 were levied several weeks ago against property in Burleith extend- | ing north of Reservoir road to aid the District in paying the cost of the wid- ening of the road, which forms the eastern boundary of the subdivision known as Burleith for one block on Reservoir road. Six hundred and thirty-eight property owners have been assessed various amounts ranging from $2 td nearly $200, and these assessments are said to have been found to be 80 “spotty” and to have so many incon- sistencies that the association moved | {today to retain counsel to make a formal protest against the method of assessment. Inconsistencies Charged. Comparison of the awards of the condemnation jury, according to J. S. Gorrell, president of the Burleith Citi- zens' Association, with a plat cf the Burleith section ’ disclosed that prop- erty owners i the blocks on R and S streets between‘ Thirty-fitth and Thirty-sixth streets have not been as- sessed at all. The Executive Commit- tee found by the same comparison that property holders on one side of Thirty- seventh street were assessed, while those across the street were not as- sessed, and that in the same block on R street some property holders were as- sessed sums running up to $20,. while others received no notice of aSSessment. On these declared inconsistencies the association decided to take action. The Executive Committee pointed out that Reservoir road has the status at pres- ent of an arterial highway and that it is seldom used by residents of Bur- leith. These residents, it was declared, use R, S or T streets and the num- bered north and south streets to get to while the traffic which uses Reservoir road is almost exclusively traffic destined for points farther west and north than the Burleith section. The assessments were levied by a con- demnation jury consisting of Peter A. Drury, chairman; Frank Jellefl, secre- tary; J. 8. Copenhaver, John J. Camp- bell ‘and D. J. Barry. The assoclation takes the stand that the assessments are out of proportion to the benefits that will accrue to residents in the Burleith section, and have been levied in an inconsistent manner. Foxhall Citizens Meet. Residents of Foxhall Village who be- lieve they have been inequitably assessed for the widening of the road were told they would have to take individual a tion in court to secure adjustments, at & meeting of the Foxhall Village Citizens’ Association in St. Patrick’s Chape! Parish Hall last night. There was a difference of opinion at the meeting regarding whether the resi- dents were receiving “benefits” from the widening and_improving of the thor- oughfare sufficient to balance the amount which they are required to pay in assessments. * James K. Polk, jr., secretary of the association, explained, however, among the citizens living on streets a block or more from Reservoir road a number of them felt they had been in- equitably assessed, in view of persons on the side of the street nearest Reser- voir road being required to pay much greater sums than persons living across the street from them. The meeting, a special one, it was ex- plained, was called to give the members of the association an opportunity to discuss the question in open meeting and to take up the question of alleged increased amounts of gas bills in the section. Gas Bills Are Discussed. The general question of assessments for the widening of Reservoir road was explained before the assoclation by Lucien H. Mercier, chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee of the organi- zation. No action on the matter was taken by the association as a body, it being explained that it would be neces- sary for the citizens to take action in court as individuals to contest assess- ments, if they so desired. The citizens in the section, it was pointed out, will be assessed additional sums later for the repaving and im- provements to Reservoir road. The as- sessments under consideration last night involved principally those for the acquisition of land for the widening of Reservoir road. Following the discussion, the associa- tion took up the question of the al- leged increase in the amount of gas bills and adopted a resolution demand- ing the people’s counsel, Richmond B. Keech, to take action to put a stop to the increased amounts the citizens of the section say they have to pay. MRS. STEVENS BURIED . Widow of Army Major Interred in Arlington Cemetery. Funeral services for Mrs. Sarah Goldsborough Magruder Stevens, who died Monday at her home, 1406 Twenty- ninth street, were conducted at the res- idence this afternoon. Interment was in Arlington Cemetery, ~Honorary pall- bearers were: Representative T. Alan Goldsborough of Maryland, Dr. Robert S. Beale, An- thony C. Addison, John W. Davidge, Gen. Henry T. Allen and Frederick M. Bradley. Mrs. Stevens was the Plerre C. Stevens, U. 8. Child’s Body Found in Trash. Finding of the dead body of a male child on a dump near Rosslyn, Va., yes- terday afternoon was reported to of the seventh precinct by Roosevelt Tr:elaner and Kimmie Hinton, both col- ored. ‘The body was taken to the seventh precinct station, and an autopsy will be performed at the morgue for the purpose of determining if a crime had been committed in connection with the child’s death. The colored men said they took the body to the dump with a quantity of trash from the rear of a house. widow of Maj. A that | General News 1931. 25, PAGE B—1 | Open Old Corner Ston WITNESS SAW MARKER Ope) to right: Capt. AJ. JESSE B. K. LEE, who, as a 16-year-old boy, saw the corner’ stone of the old Wash- ington Light Infantry Armory laid 47 years ago, Was present today when the stone was opened and its contents were turned over to the District National Guard. The building, which also housed a theater—first known as Albaugh’s and Iater as Polf's, at Fifteenth street and Pennsylvania ~ avenue—was built in 1884, and the corner stone was laid May 18 of that year. Because of his age, Maj. Lee was not a member of the Light Infantry at that time, but M ning corner stone of old Washington Light Infantry Armory. PLACED 47 YEARS AGO. Left —Star Staff Photo. attended the ceremony with his uncle, Willlam F. Sinnott, who was & member. The zinc box removed from the stone contained a postal guide, several old newspapers and silk badges worn members of the Light Infantry. by Only the badges were in a good state of preservation. The papers were dated May 18, 1884. Attending were Maj. Gen. Stephan, commander of “the District National Guard; Col. John S. Upham, adjutant general of the organization; Lieut. Col. P. G. Nevitt, Capt. E. W. Zea and Maj. Lee. WARDLAW URGES - DISMISSAL OF SUIT Denies Swartzell, Rheem & ; Hensey Were Agents of Noteholders. George A. Wardlaw, 1705 Surrey Lane, who with his wife is named among 200 noteholders in the suit of Frank Tom- linson against the Swartzell, Rheem & Hensey receivers, today filed an answer in his own words, asking the court to dismiss the proceeding and denying that the investment firm was acting as agent for the noteholders when it re- celved a payment of $10,000 for lend- ing the money to Tomlinson to build an apartment at 1417 N street. The answer reads in part: “It is a fundamental concept of politi- cal economy that capital is timid and caslly frightened. Normally, capital stays in hiding until lured or enticed therefrom by assurance of safety as to both principal and interest. Knowing this, enterpreneurs have, time out of mind, employed those skilled in the art of enticing capital from its place of refuge so that the entrepreneurs might make use of this form of stored labor for their particular profit. In return for such services entrepreneurs pay lib- erally, usually a fixed percentage of the suim obtained. Thus the skilled money- getter becomes the pald agent of the entrepreneur. Not Noteholder's Agent. “Tq hgld that the money-getter, who is pald by the entrepreneur, acts as agent for the person who reluctantly trepsfers his funds from a place of safety to & place of risk.-is untenabl Such a contention, if sustaincd by tie court, would serve to drive all savings to refuge, for no one would remove his savings from a place of safety to a place where the savings risked a mul- tiple chance of being lost. For if the plaintiff’s contention were sustained and the person who hires out to find and transmit money were held as the agent of the lender, then, in turn, the entre- preneur, who' transmits the money to various contractors for work and ma- terial, would likewise become the agent of the lender. This would give rise. to a vicious economic circle, in which even the unpaid artisans and laborers might join, all at the expense of the innocent investor. In such circumstances all savings would stay in hiding, industry would languish and people would perish. Public interest then demands that the contention of the plaintiff be denied by the court. “For these reasons T deny that the Swartzell, Rheem & Hensey Co. acted as agent for the defendant noteholders, of which I am one, but contend that it did act specifically ‘as paid agent of the plaintiff in endeavoring to procure cer- tain sums of money to be used in con- nection with the erection, as a specula- tive venture by the plaintiff, of a cer tain building described in the plaintiff’s complaint. Suit Dismissal Asked. “If, as alleged by the plaintiff, the Swarizell, Rheem & Hensey Co. acted as agents for the defendant noeteholders, why did not the defendant noteholders pay the Swartzell, Rheem & Hensey Co. for the privilege of risking their savings in the plaintiff’s speculative en- terprise? And if, as alleged by the plaintiff, he paid $10,000 to the Swart- zell, Rheem & Hensey Co., then arises this query: By what right and for what purpose did the plaintiff pay money in any amount to the agent of the defend- ant noteholders? Since the Swartzell, Rheem & Hensey Co. was evidently the paid agent of the plaintiff, and since the defendant has fulfilled his obligations to the plaintiff, as evidenced by a promissory note now in the defendant's possession, giving the plaintiff’s promise to pay. for value received, the sum of $500, it is contended that any obligation, now alive in the case rest, not with the defendant note holder, but with the plaintiff. It is therefore respectfully requested that the suit be dismissed. Girl Scout Meeting Saturday. CUMBERLAND, Md., February 25 (Special).—A Girl Scout conference will be held in Emmanuel Episcooal Parish House here Saturday. Scout leaders and their assistants, troop committees, community committees and Scout coun- cils will participate. Members are ex- pected from Winchester, Va.; Union- town, Pa.; Hagerstown, Grantsville, Prostburg, Mivuhnd and Oakland, Md. b EGIONASKSVOTE DVERRULIG VEF prpeals to Congress for Ac- | tion on Bonus—Johnson Sees It Harmful. | With a presidential veto expected today or tomorrow to the veterans' o | IPUPLS' CAR FARE CUT PREPARATIONS HIT' DIFFICULTIES School Officials Refuse to Assume Burden of Sell- ing Tickets. SUGGEST TRACTION LINE AGENTS VISIT CLASSES Transfer Arrangements Also Are Undecided, With 3-Cent Limit Agreed Upon. Preparations for putting into effect the new law calling for reduced street car and bus fares for school children ran into difficulties today when Assist- ant Superintendent of Schools Stephen Kramer informed the Public Utilities Commission that it would be impossible for the schools to undertake the re- sponsibility and the labor of distribut- ing the tickets in accordance with pre- liminary plans drafted by the commis- slon late yesterday. A second confer- ence between the commission and rail- way and bus officials was to be held to- day to cope with the sudden change in . E. W. Zea, Ma). Gen. Anton Stephan, commander of the District | plans. National Guard; Lieut. Col. John 8. Upham and Maj. Jesse B. K. Lee. The first scheme was to sell strips of 10 tickets for 30 cents through the schools. Mr. Kramer told the commis- sion today that the schools would be willing to allow company representatives visit the schools once a month and sell 40 tickets for $1.20. In case any child found himself unable to make an investment of that size at the beginning of the month, then the school would furnish him with an identification card which would allow him to get the tickets in smaller numbers by applying at the offices or car barns of the various operating companies. Fare Set at 3 Cents. This second scheme, as well as many details left unsettled at yesterday’s con- ference, will be gone over by the com- mission and company officials today. It has been decided, although no formal order on the subject has been issued, that the fare shall be 3 cents, the maxi- mum allowable under the law, Transfer arrangements are still a mat- ter for debate. One proposition ad- vanced yesterday was for the sale of books of transfers, 10 for 5 ceats, for use by school children at points where adults can now get transfers between cars of the Capital Traction Co. and the Washington Railway & Electric Co. This point was left undecided. It is fairly certain that there will be no inter- company transfers at points where such are not now in effect. Thus, if a child now has to pay two full fares in order to get to school, he will have to pay two 3-cent fares under the new law. Time of Use Limited. While it has been decided that two |loan® bill, the American Legion last|local street car companies and the night formally requested each member | Washington Rapid Transit Co., which of the House and Senate to override | Operates the Sixteenth street and other { the proposed action. bus lines, shall-issue printed tickets in From Chairman Johnson of the |sets of 10 or more, no decision has been House Veterans’ Committee meantime | reached as to the method to be em- came a new attack upon the measure | ployed by the Washington, Marlboro as one that, would “do greater injury (& Annapolis Motor Lines. That con- to more veterans than any legislation | cern now operates a bus service into enacted in all history.” President Hoover has intimated he would take action upon the bill today the District for Hyattsville Hills and has in force a regulation under which certain of its patrons riding on reduced or, at latest, tomorrow, and that it|fares present the bus driver with a would be returned immediately to the Capitol. Congress by its former votes has given notice it probably would ig- nore the presidential disapproval. O'Neil “Speaks for Bill. Ralph T. O'Neil, national commander of the American Legion, in his letter to individual Congressmen last night, asked for re-enactment on the ground that the loan not only would not | “place financial burden upon this | country,” but would fall well within the already appropriated veterans' re- | serve fund, aggregating nearly $800, | 000,000. | "“It is our estimate, based upon the | facts ‘and figures ‘that we have” | O'Neil ~ wrote, ~ “that the. maximum | amount of additional loans under this | legislation that will be made will not ex- ceed $525,000,000. This is assuming that all needy veterans will take advantage {to the. full extent of the new, loan value. This would still leave o sub- ?nndual sum in the veterans' reserve und."” Sees Deficit Unaffected. The Legion commander contended the | 1oans would have no relation whatever | “to an impending deficil He said the | reserve fund was a capital asset, be- longing to the veterans and merely held in trust for them by the Secretary of the Treasury. O'Neil ‘said the Legion would “issue a call to arms” to all veterans to insure that only those in need would borrow and others would not take advantage of the loan, thus keeping the machinery involved ‘unclogged. “‘Agreements not indicated in the lew were made among the legislators and veterans’ organizations at the time of passage of the bonus bill,” said Chair- man Johnson, himself a veteran. “In these agreements the responsible individuals in the Legion and other or- ganizations agreed that pensions would not be demanded or requested until after the service certificates had ma- tured in 1945 and been paid. Always there was the tacit agreement that no demands would be made on the Gov- ernment except, for the disabled. I cannot vote for the payment of any part of the bonus provided by this law when I know and realize that those agreements are still in existence.” ’ MISS HIGGINS’ BURIAL TO BE AT WORCESTER Teacher Found Dead in Apartment Victim of Apoplexy, Accord- ing to Coroner. Burial services for Miss Elizabeth Higgins, veteran teacher in the District of Columbia public schools, who died at her home, 1735 New Hampshire avenue, yesterday, will be in Worcester, Mass. Details of the funeral arrangements are to_be announced later. Miss Higgins’ death was ascribed to apoplexy by Coroner J. Ramsay Nevitt after she had been found dead in bed by Mrs. Charles B. Welsh, a friend who resides in an adjoining apartment in the building. A native of Worcester, Miss Higgins at the time of her death was 45 years old. She was educated in schools of ‘Worcester, and following her gradua- tion from normal sehool came to this city and taught the time of her death she sixth grafle at the Brent Sch§l. Miss Higgins apparently had .been i good health up to Monday night. She 1§ si vived by three sisters, Miss Helen gins, ‘Alice Higgins and Miss O erine Higgins, all of Worcester. t in the “I was a party to these agreements hw: and I intend to keep them. Therefore |affairs, predicted the Senate will vote ticket which is punched to show that a ride has been taken, the same ticket being good for several rides. The com- pany is anxious to retain this system and the commission has asked its offi- cials to work out a method for applying It to the reduced fare bill and report ck. The problem of handling reduced fare tickets for parochial schools, which also come under the terms of the act, has not been gone into. Utilities Commis- sion officials were trying today to get into touch with representatives of the parochial schools. The commission un- derstands that besides the Catholic parochial schools there are such schools connected with several of the other re- ligious denominations, and are anxious to include all proper schools within the terms of the new law. Tentatively, it has been decided that day pupils may use their tickets only between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., and pupils at the night schools between 6:30 and 10:30 p.m., and that the tickets will not be ‘good on holidays. WORLD COURT ACTION SEEN BY U. S. IN 1931 Approval of Treaty by Senate Pre- dicted During This Year at Meeting Here. Prompt approval by the Senate of the World Court treaties was urged in a petition signed last night by more than 100 members and guests of the ‘Washington World Court Committee following a dinner at the Cosmos Club. The dinner,. at which 150 guests were seated, was arranged by the committee to “demonstrate the interest of the cit- izens of Washington in the prompt ad- herence of the United States to the World Court. Chester H. Rowell of Fresno, Calif., riter and authority on international favorably on the treaties this year, and |in this he was supported by the master of ceremonies, Bishop Willlam F. Mc- Dowell. Bishop McDowell questioned the logic of those who quote George Washington's views on foreign entanglements as_ the basis for their opposition to the World Court. 'm sure that if Washington should speak to us now he would not speak against the World Court,” Bishop McDowell said. The committee's guests included rep- resentatives invited from the following organizations: ‘Washington Council on International Relations, Voteless District of Colum- bia League of Women Voters, Inter- national Relations Committee, Wash- ington Federation of Churches; Wom- en’s International League, local branch; Catholic Association for International Peace, World Fellowship Committee of the Young Women's Christlan Associa- tion, National Council for the Preven- years. At|S. tion of War, American Association of University Women, Washington, D. C, Section of the National Council of Jew- ish Women; Peace and Race Relation Committee, Friends’ Meeting. Naval Officer Assigned. Capt. Walter Browne Woodson, U. . N., will soon relieve Comdr. Harrison E. auss as assistant to the judge advocate general of the l‘ll_H;e Admiral David F. Seller: orders for Comdr. been published. Capt. Woodson is at present chief of staff of the destroyer squadrons of the scouting flee},