Evening Star Newspaper, October 18, 1931, Page 18

BOOK CIRCULATION OF LIBRARY RISES Despite Lack of Facilities, 16 Per Cent Increase Occurs, Annual Report Says. Despite the insufficiency of library facllities of the District of Columbla. in relation to its population, there was an increase of 16 per cent in the home circulation of the Public Library dur- | ing the past fiscal year, according to the annual report of the board of trustees of the library, filed with the District Commissioners yesterday. The_report, submitted for the board | by Theodore W. Noyes, president, | showed that the number of book!‘ loaned in the fiscal year, 1930-1931, numbered 1,957,697, Further progress in the growth of the | Public Library system, through current | appropriations, is shown in & report by | George F. Bowerman, public librarian, ! which accompanied the statement of the board of trustees. Facilities to Be Enlarged. Library facilities will be enhanced, | Dr. Bowerman points out, through the construction of the Northeast Branch, which will be ready for occupancy early | in 1932; in the appropriation by Con- greea of $30,000 for the grading of the Georgetown Reservoir tract for utiliza- tion as a site for the Georgtown Branch Library; and in the removal of the library's acquisitions, cataloging and bindery departments from the central building to the Metropolitan Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church building in the area of the new Municipal Center, pending enlargement of the central building of the library at Eighth and K streets. “It seems peculiarly unfortunate,” the trustees’ report states, “that the library has been compelled to shorten its hours at a time when there is much unem- ployment, and when Federal employes have increased leisure due to the opera- tion of the Saturday half-holiday law. ‘The library's activities, however, have so far outrun its resources that the trustees have felt obliged to close the library on Saturday at 1 p.m., beginning July 1, 1931. An increase in circula- tion of 277,000 volumes, or 16 per cent, and especially the loss of staff time owing to the half-holiday law, aggre- gating that of seven persons, offset only by the meager addition of three minor positions added in July, have caused this regretable curtailment. Cites Need of Larger Staff. ith every inérease in book circula- tion there is a corresponding or even larger increase in the advisory, reference, technical and clerical work of the library, which is not susceptible of statisticai statement,” Dr. Bower- man sald. “On the basis generally ac- cepted by the library profession of one additional assistant for every 15,000 to 20,000 volumes of circulation, these in- creases in circulation d other work of the library should be balanced by additions to the staff of from 14 to 18 persons. “Even in times of depression, when it is not to be expected that rapid prog- | ress will be made in initiating exten- | slons of service, planning for the future | is necessary,” Dr. Bowerman states. The library's extension program is based on surveys carried on continuously for 14 years. During this period the library agencies established have been insufficient to meet the population growth and the community extension into new territories. $767,735 Sought for 1933. One-third of the local population is receiving adequate library service; but two-thirds of the population still without library service “convenient to the homes and offices of all residents” of the District, this being the standard set up by the act of Congress creating the library. Dr. Bowerman points out A schedule of possible capital ex- penditures required by the library dur- ing the fiscal years 1932-1946 Was pre- pared in October, 1930, and shaped into a program at the request of the Dis- trict Commissioners. Adopted by the Board of Library Trustees, and sub- mitted to the Commissioners, it re- celved the indorsement of the Wash- ington Chamber of Commerce shortly thereafter, Dr. Bowerman reported. ‘The estimates for the fiscal year 1933, as submitted by the library trus- tees to the Distritt Commissioners, amounted. for maintenance. to $520. 735; for the Georgetown Branch Li-| brary Buildine, £150,000 (the appropri- ations for the fiscal vear 1932 carry $30,000 for the grading of the old ‘Georgetown reservoir as a site); for - the original equipment of the proposed Municipal © Center Annex branch, $5,000; for the preparation of plans | and specifications for the enlargement of the Oentral Library, $30,000; for the purchase of a site for the proposed Bumuy building near the Central Li- | brary, $60,000, and for the preparation plans and specifications for such \ hufldln( $2,000; a total for extension projects of ’24" 000, and a grand total of $767,735. Maintenance Funds Held Low. i “That present library maintenance appropriations are too low and that the present estimates are modest and| reasonable can be shown by comparison ; with public library appropriations in| comparable American cities.” Dr. Bow- | erman says. In the last published comparative table of library statistics for cities above 200,000 population, compiled by > the American Library Association, for 1929-1930, and covering 42 cit Washington ranked twenty-first in its ‘)er capita expenditures for its public ibrary, with 74 cents per capita, as compared with Cleveland, which spent $2.12 per capita on its public library; Boston, $1.51; Newark, $1.17; Dayton, $1.23, d Seattle, $1.11. For 1931, Washington's per capita expenditure advanced to 79 cents, even if the foregoing estimates of $520,- 735 for maintenance were to be ap- propriated in their entirety for the fiscal year 1933, on the basis of the ex- pected increase in population (494,000 on July 1, 1932) the per capita ex- penditure for library expenditures would be only $1.05. According to the latest publisfied vol- ume of the Census Bureau's financial astatistics of cities having a_ population of over 30,000 for 1928, the Washington Public Library is receiving a dispro- portionately small percentage of the money spent for municipal mainte- nance as compared with other cities. An average of 1.3 per cent of all municipal expenditures was maintained in all the cities listed. D. C. Spends Only 1 Per Cent. In the group from 300,000 to 500,000 population an average of 15 per cent of all municipal expenditures was spent on libraries. Washington, however, spent but 1 per cent of the District's maintenance expenditure on its library in 1928. In Seattle and Boston 2 per cent of all municipal maintenance was devoted to public library support, in Minneapolis, 2.3; Grand Rapids, 2.5, and Cleveland, 3.2. “If the local library could receive the average prevailing in other American cities,” Dr. Bowerman points out, “it would be enabled to maintain a larger N number of library agencies and thus come nearer to furnishing to the two- thirds of the popylation now practically denied it library service ‘convenient to the homes and offices of all residents’ as contemplated by the library law.” The Mount Pleasant branch serves a community of about 100,000 people, among whom it circulated a total of | 343,223 volumes, a turnover of 11 times | for its adult book stock and seven times | for its juvenile book collection, and a gain of 37,000 volumes over the ‘cireula. tion of the previous year. The enmm tion at the Southeastern br* 201,225, an increase of 17,568:% At tht THE SUNDAY Married Half Century MR. AND MRS. RUDOLPH, E. DUEHRING. of 830 D street southeast were guests of honor at a party Friday night at a the home of their son, Julius Duehring, Clarendon, Children of the IN celebration of their fiftieth wedding anniversary, Mr. and Mrs. Duehring couple present were Lloyd Duehring, Herman, Edward and Mrs. Helen Curley. d Rosa Duehring —Harris-Ewing Photo. ‘Takoma Park branch 95528 volumes, ior 18,090 more than in 1929-30, were circulated. Reporting on the services of the five sub-branch libraries, Dr. Bowerman said the Woodbridge sub-branch, the last to be opened, in its first full year circu- lated 64929 volumes, others, even Chevy Chase, though the Intter last year gained 12.797 volumes | in a circulation which totaled 60,614 volumes. Sub-branch Circulation Gains. circulation_was 19,197 volumes, a gain of nearly 13 per cent; at the Eastern High_sub-branch 54,737 circulated, or 8,677 over the previous year, and the Tenley sub-branch gained | about 32 per cent, with a total of 41,122 volumes. outstripping all | volumes were | “PANTRY PARTIES” URGED IN HOMES |Idea Will Be Inaugurated Here At the Conduit Road sub-branch the | This Week to Provide Food for Needy. Parties in private homes to which no The extension division, operating from | guest would be admitted without a headquarters in the contral building, served the eight branches and sub- gift of groceries for the unemployed branches through an inter-loan system | Will be inaugurated this week in Wash- by which 8,812 -books wers sent out from the central library to borrowers at the branches. Through 20 stations, includ. ing Government bur:aus, ington. George J. Adams, executive secretary | of the Washington Employment Com- public utili- | mittee, announced last night both his ties, Government hospitals, mercantile | organization and the Washington Food houses, social settlements and homes for | Conservation Committee would make the infirm the division volumes, which had a circulation of 10,- 786, an increase of 9.7 per cent over last year. The school circulation in- creased 34 per cent, with 29,905 circula- tions for 5,247 volumes loaned thron 33 schools, including public high school private schools, colleges and universities. | already had proved successful 5,031 New Titles Catalogued. ‘The gain in juvenile circulation was more than 15 per cent, with a total of 988,755 books loaned to the young peo- ple of Washington. “What the reading of these carefully selected bocks has meant in stimulating constructive thinking and offsetting de- structive and cheapening thought it would be difficult to estimate,” the re- port states. “But the library receives almost daily testimony from parents and teachers as to the mental stimulation and behavior improvement resulting from the reading of the right sort of books secured from the library. “That the elementary and junior high loaned 2,878 | every effort to put across the * | schools of Washington depend on the | Public Library to furnish general litera- ture and necessary supplementary read- ing for their students is proved by the 430,762 books circulated through the class rooms of the public, parochial and privats schools of the city during the school year.” An increase of 43 per cent in the | number of volumes accessioned, a total of 46,538, is noted over last year. The number of new titles catalogued was 5,031, ‘pantry party” idea. He revealed a series of radio speeches would be made on the subject and letters explaining the plan in detail would be written to 50 to 60 organizations _of women. He pointed out the pantry parties when given by organizations. He said the movement should spread to private affairs as well. The organizer predict- ed more help for the needy would be obtained from this source than from | any other. 18,000 Must Be Helped. “Indications are that this idea will take hold and become really popular all over town,” Mr. Adams said. “'Here's homng it does,” he added, “because we're going to need enormous quantities of food to care for the army of unem- ployed here this Winter. It's already getting cold and something must be accomplished. There are from 14,000 to 18,000 unemployed men and women here now and most of them are at the end of their resources. They must be helped or they'll starve.” Mr. Adams sald his committee would arrange to send trucks all over the city to collect groceries donated at the par- ties. He said the trucks could be ob- tained by calling the Employment Com- mittee at National 6000 He said good results were being ob- tained through placing_of boxes in more than 1,000 stores. The public has Other volumes to the number of | been asked to place groceries for the 42,790 were catalogued as nrl-cements | unemployed in these containers. dupliclles added perlodltl and volumes to complete sets. $350,000 GEM THEFT annuals | PAIR IS IDENTIFIED Three Scciety Women, Victims Dur- ing Six Months, Pick Two in Line-up. By the Associated Press. NEW YORK, October 17.—Mrs. §. ‘Tanwood Menken and two other so- clety women who have been robbed of a total of nearly $X0.000 worth of Jewels in the last six months, today picked from a crowd of suspects in Yorkville Court two men and mentifled them as the robbers. ‘The suspects, Arthur Rose and Jlm!s Brady, were held without bail for a hearing Tuesday. They were arrested Wednesday. Mrs. Menken was robbed of $300,000 in jewelry June 17 by hold-up men, who got into her home on the pretext that | they were deliverymen, and bound her and her servants after forcing her to | open a wall safe. The other two women in court were Mrs. Edith Donnellan and Mrs. Louise ‘Tucker. Jewelry taken from Mrs. Don- nellan was valued at $35,000 and that taken from Mrs. Tucker at $10,000. PRI s Heads Economic Association. ATLANTA, Ga. Qctober 17 (#).— Prof. T. R. Snavely of the University of Virginia was elected president of the Southeastern Economic Association here today. Will Stimulate Business. “Not only will this grocery store box plan help the grocer by adding to his business.,” Mr. Adams said, “but it will help business conditions generally. Those to be alded in this manner will include the man who made the can, the miner who produced the tin from which the can was made. the packer who filled the can, the farmer who supplied the food and the farm machinery manu- facturer who sol's to the farm-r.” A meeting of the Executive Commit- tee of the Food Conservation Commit- tee will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock in Harvey's former restaurant at Eleventh street and Pennsylvania avenue. Plans will be discussed for immediate distribution of perishable food already on hand. ALABAMAN .WINS PRIZE ST. LOUIS, October 17 (#.—Roy D. Hickman of Birmingham, Ala., yester- day was awarded first prize in & speak- ing contest conducted in connection with the annual convention of the American Photoengravers' Association here. K. ‘Whitsett of Charlotte, N. C, was second and Edgar Harris of St. Louis third. All spoke on “How the Photoengraver Can Create New Business.” First prize was $190, second $50 and third $25. Approximately 500 delegates from the United States and Canada are attend- ing the convention, which will close tomorrow with the election of officers ang selection of next years conven- tion city. A proposed revision of the standard rate scale recommended by the Execu- tive Committee of the association at & meeting in Atlanta. several months ago, is being discussed at the com- vention. Double Guarantee! Every plant carries the manufacturers’ guarantee, as well as our own personal guarantee. Thus you are assured of absolute satisfaction, from the standpoint of equipment and installation. AMERICAN, RADIATOR Hot Water Heating Plant Completely Installed in 6-Room House One of the finest planis you can buy at the price. This low price includes 17-in. boiler, 6 radiators, 300 ft. radiation, fully and satisfactorily in- stalled. Special Summer terms—immediate in- stallation. AS LOW AS 329 2 or 3 Years to Pay—Easy Monthly Payments Budget Plumbing & Heating Co. 513 H ST. N.E. Lincoln 10317 BB T2 STAR, WASHID N, IERNEST DININET HINGTON 15 0. . VISITOR Author of “Art of Thinking” Discusses Prohibition, Al Capone and Books. Ernest Dimnet, who has written books equally successful in his native French, in English and in Latin, ar- rived in Washington last night for a two-day visit. Seated beneath a reading lamp on the apartment porch of Washington friends, the genial abbe, who is still making best-seller history with his popular “Art of Thinking,” conversed quietly. _European unrest—Al Capone—prohi- bition—love—philosophy. He discussed them all with the keen and happy com- ment of & man who has thought in- terestedly and tolerantly for himself. Predicts Dry Modification. “Prohibition is the only live issue in America that endures,” he said with just enough of the French accent to his words to distinguish them. *“I really believe, however, that slowly, gradually, without undue violence, Americans are working toward an in- evitable modification of the eighteenth | amendment.” ‘The abbe pointed out the prominence of Al Capone in the day's newspaper. “It is news worth reading,” he said, “for the racketeer is part of the his- tory of the present day. Only the events that are making history should hold the attention of the thinking newspaper reader. “The economic unrest? Yes, that is part of it. Tomorrow's school books are in the making as America deliber- ates with the League of Nations. But war {involving Europe is impossible, I think, because of the present disastrous economic condition. Newspapers Lack Soul. “And speaking of the newspaper— few of the modern ones haul a soul. Even the reporters’ questions are stereo- typed. I have found it 30 on my many lecture ~tours through the United States.” ‘The abbe Is on his way to Greensbare, N. C., where he will make a lecture dur- in December, when he will return to France. He is a small man, with white hair, florid face and wears the turned | dence was saved from the flames by He said there were 5400 applicants, collar of the churchma | The conversation turned to literature. | Rainier and Brentwood Fire Deyun- stenographers “Americans write books that are plainly MONDAY «will be D. C, OCTOBER 18 composed to be sold. The chief virtue is clevemeu At the present time, it seems to me, there is a preponderance of realism — particularly that dealing with physical love. “Physical love? There is, nothing to it. Love should be shown in literature with its inspiration, its jealousies, its motivating forces. Art is an ex- al representation of life, and if that be true, few of the many current achieve it. But realism, handled care- fully, can be art. D. H. Lawrence has shown us that in such books as ‘Sons and Lovers.’ English Poetry Best. “Russia and Scandinavia are produc- ing the best literature of the present day, I think. “The beauty of English enraptures me, however. I think English poetry is the best in the world. It is pure honey. But when I want to read criticism or philosophy, I prefer French. “I began to learn English when about 13 or 14, and during my school days kept my diary in that language. Wash- ington Irving was the model I followed constantly. Therefore it is easy now to write in English. After all, we can do anylhlnx we really want to do, you The conversation could hardly be called an interview. It had charm, and lacked the chill formality that pre- cludes real interest. There is some- thing of Dr. Samuel Johnson, or Vol- tiare, or any of the great conversation- alists in Abbe Dimnet. He seizes on facts keenly but gently, enthusiastically but considerately, always interesting, because he is -lw-y. thinking. U. S. Professors Overworked. “Professors in the United States are | overworked,” he said. “They have no time in which to write books. Lacking that leisure, the student misses the ad- vantage of seeing actual thought erys- talize into printed words. en, too, | with onl& his badly worn notecards, the teacher is prone to become rutted in his effort to educate, or lead out, the stu- dent’s imagination and desire to learn. “The student who has had the op- portunity of meeting just one teacher who is a thlnker is fortunate. Just one 1s enough. | The Abbe plans to publish | volume, continuation of the “Art of | Think! in February. 1 During his short ly in the Capital | he is the guest of Mr. and Mrs. E. 8. Al\'nrd of 2032 Bellnont rd. | FIRE DAMAGES HOME l Special Disostch to The Btar. HYATTSVILLE, Md., October 17— | Fire, belleved to have originated in the cellar, partially destroyed the home of . 8. Czarra at Columbia and Prospect avenues here today. | . Most of the furniture in the resi- members of the Hyattsville, Mount | | ments, which answered the ai new | 1931—PART ONE. FEDERAL PAY ROLL | NOW AT PEAK HERE $150,000,000 a Year Is Total Paid. Federal payrolls now are at their| peak regardless of the depression, Thomas E. Campbell, chairman of the Civil Service Commission, declared yes- terday at a meeting of the Political Study Club in the Washington Club. He pointed out that the Pederal pay- roll now averages $150,000,000 annually as compared with $115,000,000 in 1927 exclusive of armed forces. 'He said this meant the Government is paying out $100,000 a day more now than four years ago in salarles and wages. He sald the Government spends more money for this purpose rew% than at any time since the war. Complaints Numerous. Chairman Campbell said countless complaints were received because of the fnabllity of District residents to obtain permanent Federal positions. He said | the apportionment law provides resi- dents of the District should have but 151 such positions, though 12,683 per- sons obtained them. He explained the many other Federal employes here are residents of various States or were when they received their appointments. Of the nearby States, he said, Virginia Is entitled to 743 positions and has 2,620, while Maryland is due 501 and possesses ‘The chairman disclosed 30,594 Wash- ington women are employed by the Gov- ernment, while 90.000 women are on the rolls in the field. “Blind Alley” Complaints. Mr. Campbell said he hoped to elimi- nate the numerous complaints that Fed eral employes are in a “blind alley.” He said the Council of Perfonnel Admin- 1stration planned to make more flexible promotions and transfers within the | service. He said he believed this would aid the Government in obtaining higher grade men. He said the best men here- tofore have sought private careers rather than Government positions. The chairman said it would be impos- sible to grant positions to all the Dis- trict residents seeking Government posts. He pointed out there were 10,000 | applicants from the District out of 30.- ‘ 000 in the entire country in recent | examinations for positions as file clerks. | from Washington and for openings _a. typists in other | recent tests. | a great day to buy Good Furniture! A Newly Arrived Suite That 1S New! 3-Pc. Overstuffed Suite . . Upholstered in the new freizette in either rust or green. Sofa, club Pillow-Back Monday Special! $129 A suite that of styling in living reem fi lines, soft, downy nom'ert ta lullond lnd splendid construction. chair and deep-seated, high-back comfy chair. 10-Pc. Duncan Phyfe Dining Room Suite. . Rich antique mahogany finish. Pedestal table with brass tips. cabinet, 66-inch buffet, server. Chairs upholstered in hair cloth. 175 7-Pc. 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Civil Service Chairman Says|* The real GREAT GARBO, who once worked in a Barber Shop, pat- ting lather on the customers’ faces ~1i...who sold hats .in a department store. Whose flaming ambition was to be a great actress. Read about the true woman of mystery who is the despair of all press agents . . . who bars interviewers who demands seclusion and gets it. Special Release Friday Oct. 23 The true GRETA GARBO, woman of contradictions, of cold reserve, revealed for the first time in a series of biographical sketchesbyRil- la Page Palm- Star