Evening Star Newspaper, March 17, 1931, Page 5

BILLBOARD LOBBY STRIVES T0 RULE Maryland Lawmakers Seek Compromise to Insure Pro- tection to State’s Beauty. By » Staff Correspondent of Th ANNAPOLIS, Md, March 17.—“Are| the members of Maryland's General As- | sembly going to continue to sacrifice the | safety and beauty of the State's splen- | did highways and surrender in the face | of a powerful group of lobbyists rep-| resenting the organized bill board in-| terests?” “Are they going to capitalize the op- portunity of ereating a favorable im-| pression on the millions of visitors who will ride over their highways to attend | the George Washington Bicentennial | celebration in the National Capital next year, or are they going to let the bill- board interests control the highways they have erect:d at such large ex- pense, and border them with & crazy quilt conglomeration of clashing com- mercial appeals?” “Are they going to be swayed again by the selfish arguments of paid lobby- ists, some of whom have been imported from other States, or exalt their boasted home rule principle and make their roads real assets instead of liabilities?” Fate of Bill in Balance. These were the outstanding questions in the Senate and House last night as the Legislature convened for a week, that will probably determine the fate of the bill designed to put an end to the unrestrained _construction of the signs that have so largely crippled two of State’s most valuable assets—its nnturnl beauty and historic shrines. The answers lay in a large measure in the hands of Delegates Lavinia Engle, Kent R. Mullikin, Oliver Metzerott and Lawrence P. Williams, joint sponsors of the bill, who are holding a series of conferences with the billboard repre- sentatives in an effort to reach a com- promise that will insure the passage of a satisfactory bill. An _encour:|zing feature of the situa- tion last nigat was the fact that the sponsors of the bill were awake to the danger of conceding too much in a series of conferences now being held with representatives ot the . billboard concerns. The chief “storm cenber of the bill is the tax provision. Fearful Jf the existence of a bill- board tax in Maryland as an argument in favor of similar taxes in other prog- ressive States where the necessity for billboard control is recognized, the bill- board companies ask that the word tax be eliminated entirely from the bill, and some other term, such as “permit fee” used in its stead. The quaret who iniroduced the meas- ure, believing a tax by any other name would be as effective, may concede -this point. ‘The bill as now drawn calls for a 3- cent per square foot annual tax on each individual sign, which the com- panies say would be financially ruinous. The backers of the bill were in ac- cord last night over a proposed amend- ment reducing this tax to 1 cent a square foot, which will establish the area-taxing principle and at the seme time probably meet with the indorse- ment of the billboard people themselves. Report Expected Soon. Miss Engle and her associates hope | to have this and a few other minor amendments drawn and presented to the Ways and Means Committee, to which the bill -was referred, today. A » committee report then is expected to- morrow or Thursday. Indications are that the report will be favorable, as many of the members of the committee recognize the neces- ! sity of signboard control and are al- ready committed to legislation of this type. A few of the committeemen have been hesitant for fear of crippling lhe’ industry through overtaxation, but their | reluctance should be overcome when it is known that the amendments embody a tax rate which the compflnlu them- selves have approved as logical. Other features of the blll which have met with practically universal ap- proval, place the signboards under the supervision of the State Roads Commis- sion and require a $200 annual license fee of the companies. WOULD OUST PIKE SIGNS. By a Staft Correspondent of The Star. HALPINE, Md., March 17.—Mont- | E ery County authorities were urged t night in a resolution adopted by the ! Rockville Pike Citizens’ .Association to eliminate all billboards along the pike and to pass ordinances preventing the | erection of signs in the future. ‘The association also went on record as in favor of limiting gasoline' filling tions along the pike to thcse now in existence. The dispute as to the proper name of | $3 DOWN « All You Need Choose Any Piano In the Store . .. 5 " Drastic +~PRICE Reductions Remember! After this GREATEST STIEFF SALE, these prices and terms are positively withdrawn. We deliver free within a radius of sixty miles. Think of purchasing your favorite make in a brand new Baby Grand or Upright Piano at only $3.00 down and $1.00 per week to those of ap proved credit. Your old plano or phonograph will be ac- d in trade at a liberal wance if you have one. Open evety evening—better come in tonight. Chas. M. Stieff, Inc. STIEFF HALL 1340 G St. N. W. THE EVENING STAR. WASHINGTON, Miss Lucy Frank (upper left) of the Bethesca-Chevy Chase High School, Miss Sylvia Miriam Ellin (upper right) of the Fairland High Scho ! and Miss Mary Josephine Kelly (lower right) of the Holy Trinity High School, Wash- ington, who, in competitions in their respective institutions, were se'ected to participate in the finals in the Orator- nnl letesl )n ‘The E\ang Star's area. ST. PATRICK'S DAY OBSERVED BY IRISH “Drowning of Shamrock” Is Prevented by Omission of Legislature. By the Associated Press. DUBLIN, Irish Free State, March 17. —Residents of the Saorstat and kindred souls in the northern counties today celebrated St. Patrick’s day with nation- wide religious ceremonies, civic pro- grams, sporting contests and feasts and dancing which may last until tomorrow morning. An_eleventh-hour legislative omission prevented drowning the shamrock in good Irish whisky, but for those who did not live tco far away there was a prospect of a trip over from Ul- ster, where restrictions closing publi- houses on St. Patrick’s day do not hold. Resolution Languishes. A resolution which would have re- pealed the restrictions, now nearly a decade old. was on the calendar of the Dail and ould have been passed on late yesterday afternoon, in time for today's celebrations, but for some rea- son it was left off the listing of the day’s events and cannot come up until Wednesday. President Cosgrave planned his second radio broadcast in three days to Irish- men residing in other nations, taking advantage at noon of an international hok-up to broadcast a message of peace and good will to America and other countries. American Irish Gr: In a published message cf good will he said: “All is well with th> Saorstat Eireenn. We are continuing with in- creasing success to build the old Irish nation anew, to preserve and strength- en its distinctive nationality and to | secure for Ireland's sons and daugh- ters a living in their own land and enjoyment of a freedom not less than that of any other nation.” He concluded with a American Irish and the blessing, bless you all.” ted. | greeting to fGod | the highway connecting Belhesda and Rockville was discussed. and the asso- clation voted in favor of retention of the name “Rockville pike” rather than “Wisconsin avenue.” The meeting was held at the home of Mrs, John A. Holmes here. C. G. Ran- dle, president, presided. | During the meeting Rev. Robert S. Lloyd. head master of the Georgetown Preparatory School. announced the gift of a new chapel to the school. The new chapel will be built in keeping with the general architecture of the school build- ing. The donor wishes his name kept | secret. @ WASHINGTON'S | Harry Shockey of Falls Church. | 'SMITH IS INDICTED I | | { ter of Mr | of age, FOUR MORE GIRL ORATORS SELECTED Surrattsville, Gaithersburg, Bethesda and Fairland, Md., Misses Chosen. ‘The forensic powers of the feminine contingent in Washington, Maryland and Virginia schools are attested by the addition of four girls' names to the list of county finalists in The Evening Star | area of the National Oratorical Contest. Miss Edna Clifton, 16 years old, of Surrattsville High School, Clinton, Md.; Miss Doris Margaret Palmer, age 16, of the Gaithersburg High School, Gaithers- burg, Md.; Miss Lucy Frmk 15 years Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, Bethesda, Md., and Miss Sylvl& Mirlam Ellin, 17, of Fairland High School are the new winners to join the group of five previously selected success- | | ful girl contestants. Twelve Now Chosen. representatives ~have been | Twelve | chosen by the same number of schools | to date. Nine of these are girls, only two of whom were chosen from strictly | girls’ schools. Miss Clifton, the Surrattsville winner, | used as her subject “The Development | of the Constitution.” She is the daugh- and Mrs. Willlam Clifton of R. F. D. No. 3, Anacostia Station, D. C. Her father is a farmer. Following her graduation in June of this year she will attend the State Normal School to pre- vare herself to become @ teacher. In | high school she has been active as & member of the volley ball and fleld ball | teams and as the secretary of her class. Miss Palmer is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Palmer of Wash- | ington Grove, Md. Her father is a spe- | | cial representative of the Equitable Life | | Insurance Co. IN SHOOTING CASE Draftsman Who Shot at Officer Faces Attempt to Commit Murder Count. Special Dispatch to the Star. FAIRFAX, Va, March 17.—W. E. Smith, United States Treasury Depari- ment draftsman, was indicted yesterday in the Fairfax County Circuit Court on a charge of attempt to commit murder. Smith, it is alleged, Saturday n'ght fired three shots at Traffic Officer Carl McIntosh when the latter approached his car, parked on Chain Bridge road, at midnight. Smith pleaded not guilty to the indictment charging attempt to commit murder. He maintains that he thought he was being approached by a hold-up man. McIntosh was wearing a soft black hat, instead of his cus- tomary visored cap, with black leathier jacket. Smith is represented by Attorney Trial has bzen set for April 1. Judge Walter McCarthy jesterday set Smith's bond at $4,000. Smith has not as yet been able to arrange the necessary bail, Candidate for Sheriff. LYNCHBURG, Va., March 17 (Spe- =ial).—William L. Goggin has announced himself a candidate for nomination in the August primary as Democratic can- didate for sheriff. "R. L. Perrow, sheriff for 35 years, announced several months ag> that hc would retire at the end of the present term, December 31. R Enclosure. Shields RADIATOR COY'ERS Before you buy. invesiica No Obligation Fred Blackburn, Distributor 706 Chandler Bldg. NA. 67 Trico FINEST MEN'S KNOX THE FIFTH AVENUE— a welt edged hat with a smart snap brim be worn down or to up to match your spirits; and in all the new Spring colors to match your new Spring coat or suit. Y SILK LINED THESE SAME SMART STYLES ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR SILK LINED RALEIGH HATS. | Her subject at the Mont- | gomery County finals will be “Jefferson | and the Constitution.” She is a mem- ber of the Gaithersburg School Glee Club, Dramatic Club and History Club. | Next year Miss Palmer will attend the University of Buffalo and will specialize in languages. Lincoln Topic. At the Bethesda-Chevy Chase meet- ing “Lincoln’s Service to His Country” | was the topic of Miss Frank’s winning | oration. She is the daughter of Mr. | and Mrs. Leslie C. Frank of 11 Leland street, Chevy Chase, Md. Mr. Frank is a sanitary engineer in the United | States Public Health Service. Last year Miss Frank served as the president of the Student Council, and she is a mem- | ber of the Senior Dramatic Club. She | intends to study medicine at the Amer- | ican University next year. - Miss Ellin served as alternate for the | Fairland High School in the Oratorical | Contest of 1930. This year her subject was “The Citizen, His Privileges and Duties Under the Constitution.” _She | is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. A.! Ellin of Beltsville, Md. Her father is a farmer. Miss Ellin has held numerous offices 1n the school affairs at Fairland, | serving as president of the Athletic As- sociation for one term, as vice presi-| dent of the association, as president of the Dramatic Club, secretary of the home room_organization, assistant edi- | tor of the Fairland High School Trou- | badour, secretary of the Airplane Club | and representative to the Maryland| Scholastic Press Association. She has | been on the volley ball team also. Miss Ellin plans to study business admin- istration, following her graduation in, June of 1932, ‘ $25, 000 FOR FORT 'MEADE | | S g E An allotment of $25000 has been‘ made by the War Department for vari- ous improvements at Fort George G.| Meade, Md., including $8,952 for temp- orary projects in the R. O. T. C. area; 1 $7,400 for construction of two temporary | mess halls for use of C. M. T. C.; $2.500 for a bath house at the swimming pool | for use of C. M. T. C.. and $3,100 for | the rehabilitation of the electric line | stem _at_the post. Telephone National 5000 For immediate delivery of The Star to your home every evening and Sunday morning. The Route Agent will collect at the at the rate ys and 5 cents Sunday. WEAR 35 RALEIGH HABERDASHER 1310 F Street 4. Crlumbu hav Corps of the Army. | Twenty-second street, | second ileutenant of Infantry and Wil- liam H. Cranford, 2877 Audubon ter- fifth’ street; Flagler place, and Stanley E. Travis 607 Longfellow street, second Jieutenants in the Quartermaster D. O, TUESDAY, Porto Rico Recalls St. Patrick as Aide In Insect Riddance By the Assoclated Press. SAN JUAN, Porto Rico, March 17.—8t. Patrick is credited in legends collated by the island’s official historian with driving in- sects out of Porto Rico. ‘When, in the sixteenth century, the islands suffered severely both from lack of rain and a plague of insects, St. Patrick, or San Patricio, was little known here, but the Catholic bishop, Alonzo Manso, was moved to seek the intercession of some powerful saint for the island’s relief. . ‘The names of many saints were written on slips and a child, blindfolded, was chosen to draw the name of the saint to whom the island should address its ap- peal. Three successive times the name of St. Patrick was drawn. That seemed conclusive; prayers were sald to the saint of Ireland and shortly rains came and the insects went. FIVE GET COMMISSIONS | War Department Makes Appoint- ments in Reserve Corps. Five more residents of the District of been commissioned by tment in the Reserve Ellis Kiein, 814 is appointed a e War Depa race; Ernest L. Minott, 950 Twenty- Max L. Shulman, 2200 are appointed SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO! % ONCE IN A LIFETIME you MARCH 17, 1931, U. 5. PROBES DEATH OF LIGHT KEEPER Department of Justice Agent Sent to Crisfield by Dis- trict Attorney. Speclal Dispatch to the Star, CRISFIELD, Md., March 17.—The re- port of Department of Justice Agent J. L. Gerraghty, investigating the death of Ullman Owens, keeper of the Holland Bar Light House, on Tangier Sound, in the Chesapeake Bay, was being awaited by United States District Attorney Simon E. Sobeloff in Balti- more today, while authorities of Somer- set County continued their inquiry into the case. Owens was found dead yesterday, un- clcthed and bruised, in the wreckage of his light house home after officials were notified that the light had not burncd since Thurldly night. A coroner’s jury sald death was due to natural causes, but, dissatisfied with | the verdict, District Attorney Sobeloft find something you decide never again to be without. In the tooth paste realm that “something” is the mouth exhilaration you experience after using PEBECO, the “iced” dentifrice. Here is a taste you remember...seek again. For the bite, the “digging in” effort of Pebeco assures you that it is working—keeping your teeth sparkling white, your mouth youthfully fresh. Pebeco is the tooth paste you look forward to using, once you've tried it. Try it foday! —Advemument. Visit the enter Market GRAND OPENING Wed. Mar. 18th Thur.Mar. 19th 7 to 10 P. M. EACH EVENING MUSIC SOUVENIRS Bring Your Friends ADMISSION FREE The New CENTER MARKET Fifth Street N. W.—between K and L requested that an agent of the Depart- ment of Justice be sent to Crisfield, the | Somerset County seat, to conduct an in- | vutlnllon ‘The agent left Baltimore by boat last night. Orders werc given Sheriff Luther Dougherty not to permit the body to be buried unlll the agent had completed his inqui The keeper's home was found in great | confusion. Chairs were overturned and doors left open. The bady was clothed in a torn shirt and bore numerous l)l‘uL‘N On the fic fearby was a blcod-stained knife A local physician who body expressed the opinion that Owens cdied cf a heart attack and believed that while delirfous he might have fallen against the pieces of furniture, over- turning them and causing the bruises on his body. The light house regi xamined the er contained no 4 wm” i I /// buys a good-looking suit this spring! (with two trousers) # A-—-S‘; | entry after March 12, although Mml law Tequires the keeper to makeé entry. Sheriff Dougherty was unnu | to say whether an aul would be performed. Physicians had not de- termined whether death occurred Fri- | day or Saturday. The assistant keeper | had been granted a leave of absence because of iliness. If it is found that Owens died from foul play his family will be entitled to | compensation from the Government. but if he died from natural causes no such | payment would be granted The first safety valve originated from the fact that a boy set to raise a lever and release the steam on an early steam engine boiler, being lazy, soon found that, with a weight hung from a certain part of the lever he could sit back and take it eas Use Bond Ten Payment Service! There is no extra charge for this convenience. mighty But brisk, keen appearance isn’t the only reason we're selling so many of them! We've last season. an idea that the stalwart worsteds in which they’re tailored have a lot to do with their success. 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