Evening Star Newspaper, January 23, 1932, Page 16

SATURDAY, NUARY 23, 1933, THE EVENING STAR, WASHI} IRESPONSIBILITY ACT FORD. C. MOTORISTS 1S URGED BY GROUP Traffic Committee of Board of Trade Calls for Early Action on Bill. TCHEST AGENCIES WORK VIEWED BY NOTABLESINTOUR Group Taken on Survey by Head of “Come-and-See” Committee. Municipal Woodyard Is )Insp,ecte'd TRACTION MERGER HEARINGS 70 OPEN NEXT WEDNESDAY Gen. Patrick and Wallace Dempsey to Be First Wit- nesses to Testify. Baby’s Parents Sought RING DOOR BELL AND LEAVE HER. ONE BRANCH OBTAINS JOBS FOR OVER 800 MEN 18 STATES HAVE SIMILAR STATUTES AT PRESENT REPRESENTATIVE BLACK OPTIMISTIC OF OUTCOME Party Includes Mrs, Gann, Secre- tary Wilbur, Representative Fish and Senator Carey. Auto Tax Set by Weight in Mapes Program Attacked at Meeting. Only Short Time Expected Neces- sary to Complete Taking of Testimony. How Washington’s various social agencies operate to alleviate poverty and suffering was demonstrated to an outstanding group of persons yesterday when they visited headquarters of or- ganizations participating in Community Chest funds. The trip was made under the per- sonal guidance of Gen. Michael J. Lenihan, chairman of the “Come and See” Committee of the Chest, and the itinerary included stops at the offices of the District of Columbia Committee on Employment, the municipal wood yard, the Salvatian Army’s emergencr lodge for homeless men, the Holy Fam- ily Day Nursery, the alley dwellings of Logan and Fenton courts and the He- brew Home for the Aged. Party Includes Notables. Included in the party were Mrs. Dolly Curtis Gann, Dr. Ray Lyman ‘Wilbur, Secretary of the Interior; Sen- ator Robert D. Carey of Wyoming, Representative Hamilton Fish of New York, Dr. Luther H. Reichelderfer and Maj. Gen. Herbert B. Crosby, District Commissioners; Dr. Thomas E. Green of the American Red Cross, John Poole, president of the Community Chest; Mrs. Frank W. Mondell, Mrs. Benja- min F. Weems, Miss Anna Michelun, Miss Eleanor Preston, Miss Helen Strauss, Mrs. Charles A. Goldsmith, Miss Martha Ellis, Miss Betty Tills- Calling for early action on the Ameri- can Automobile Association’s bill pro- viding a safety-responsibility law for the District, which failed to pass the last session of Congress and is now again pending before that body, the Traffic Committee of the Washington Board of Trade, at a meeting yesterday in the Raleigh Hotel, reaffirmed its in- dorsement of the proposal. Similar action on the measure was taken by the trade board’s committee when the bill was before the Seventy- first Congress, where it died as the ses- sion ended, after passing the House and receiving a favorable report by the Sen- ate District Committee. Four Points Included. | ‘The law, which is now effective in 18 States and in four provinces of Can- ada, provides (1) that any person con- victed of a major traffic offense must, before his permit is restored, show financial responsibility for the sum of $11,000 (of which $1,000 is for property damage and $10,000 for injury to one or more persons in an accident) by post- ing collateral, taking out bond or se- curing liability insurance; (2) that a motorist fafling to pay & judgment levied against him by a court of com- petent jurisdiction up to this amount for an accident be deprived of his per- mit to drive until he meets the re- Hearings are to start next Wednes- day night before the subcommittee on Public Utilities of the House District Committee, of which Representative Loring M. Black, Democrat, of New York is chairman, on the pending reso- Jution permitting a merger of the trac- tion facilities in the National Capital. Representative Black said today that Gen. Mason M. Patrick, chairman of the Public Utilitles Commission, who has sponsored this legislation, and Wal- lace Dempsey, former member of Con- gress, representing the North American Co.. will be the first witnesses, | —ccause there is a general feeling | that there should be a merger of the traction facilities, Representative Black believes that extensive hearings will not be necessary and that they can be concluded next week. He hopes to have the bill considered in the House in February and expresses optimism that after discussion and hearings for nearly a quarter of & century a merger of the transportation systems can be effected through congressional permis- sion and approval. % Representative Black emphasizes that he has no disposition to shut off from the hearing any person, public official or business interest desiring to be heard on the traction question. He hopes, however, that only the more essential The “Come and See” Committee of the Community Chest yesterday conducted a tour of many of the agencles of the Chest to show their work to & group of prominent persons. The photograph above was made at the municipal wood- yard. Secretary of the Interior Wilbur and Mrs. Dolly Gann, sister of Vice President Curtis, are watching the wood sawing. BT OB NI ANSURGH HEALS OESIPEETHEL MERCHANTS' GROUP Re-elected President Says D. C. Has Suffered Less Fireman Dead BURIAL TO BE AT HAMIL- TON, VA, TOMORROW. —=Star Staff Photo. precinct, Mr. Bunn sald, “we had quite Virginis Blackwood, nurse at Children’s Hospital, holding foundling baby girl. . witnesses will be presented on account of exhaustive hearings previously held an_the same subject. With a quite general understanding of the problem of the merger and the needs for consolidation, Representative Black expresses the view that legislative action at an early date is more desirable than long drawn out hearings. NOT GUILTY PLEA FILED IN SLAYING Suspect in Jeanette Hendrick's Death Asks Time to See Attorney, but Court Orders Action. Warden Lowe Tibuwrg, charged with the murder of Jeannetfe Hendricks, 2318 Eighteenth street, pleaded not guilty before Justice F. Dickinson Letts ip District Supreme Court yesterday. ‘Tilburg was brought into court from the District jail. When asked how he wanted to plead, he said he would pre- fer to wait until he could consult an attorney. The court, however, directed that a not guilty piea be entered for Hm. It is expected counsel will be appointed to represent him. Bond of $15,000 was fixed in the case of David N. Chadwick after he had jeaded not guilty to a charge of bring- stolen bonds into the District. As- t United States Attorney William A. Gallagher asked the large bond, pointing out that the bonds in ques- tion are alleged to have been stolen from a Philadelphia bank in a $91,000 Tobbery. Justice Letts took under advisement & motion for a new trial for three col- ored youths charged with murdering Mannie Solomon, taxicab driver, in a hold-up last year. The men have been found guilty of the murder, but Attor- ney E. Russel Kelly argued they are entitled to a new trial because a con- fession they made to police was improp- erly admitted in evidence. DISTRICT.TO PURCHASE LAND FOR RENO SCHOOL Improved Property and Two Lots Adjoining It Will Be Bought as Part of Building Site. The District Commissioners yester- day authorized the purchase of two | pieces of property at Thirty-ninth and | Chesapeake streets for the site of the new Reno Senior High School. One of the purchases is of improved property at 3922 Chesapeake street, from Fred Walmsley, for $16,900. Although this lot is zoned for residen- tial purposes, it has been used as a slate storage yard since before the zon- ing act went into effect. The price | is almost double the assessed value of $8,475, but the Commissioners decided the property could be obtained more cheaply by purchase than by condem- nation. The Park and Planning Com- mission is purchasing a lot to the wes of the District site, also owned by Mr. y, at the same rate. ‘Two unimproved lots adjoining will :’52:’8““ from W. A. Volkman, for CIviC FEbERA:rION GETS PROTEST ON TAX BILLS Resolutions from constituent bodies opposing the tax measures passed by the House of Representatives and the manner cf thelr passage were referred to the Committee on Legislation by the Federation of Civic Associations at its meeting last night. The civic federation favored provi- #lons of the Capper bill to repay to colored school teachers deductions from their salaries alleged to have been erro- neously made. The claims aggregate $52,635 Col. West A. Hamilton spoke in be- half of the Community Chest. The | federation authorized a marker for the grave of the late John E. Bowles, a Tormer executive secretary, and adopted a resolution of regret at the death of E.'J. Morton, first secretary of the fed- eration. The Eastland Gardens Civic Associa- tion was adimitted to membership. DR. SMITH TO PREACH AT ST. MARGARET’S RITES Holy communion will be celebrated tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. at St. Margaret's Church. At 11 o'clock the service will be morning prayer with sermon by the rector, Dr. Herbert Scott Smith. Sunday school will convene at 9:30 am. Both sections of the confirmation clags will meet at 3:30 p.m., the senjors ‘with the rector in the study and the A doorbell flmn&:fm 3 am, an abandoned baby ki g in the vesti- bule at 1531 Park road, & veiled woman in a long black coat gl ed outside— these and other bits of information police pleced together today in an ef- fort to locate the parents of “Baby Dawn,” the newest arrival at Children's Hospital. ‘The walf herself is doing nicely, a 30-day-old girl named at an informal christening party by nurses, who pro- nounced her a healthy, normal baby in every respect. Snugly wrapped and Ikm'd in a pink blanket, she was found early today by Alex M. Bunn, a patent attorney, who came stumbling sleepily down the steps from his second-floor apartment in answer to the insistent ringing of his door bell. Mr, Bunn, still blinking with astonish- ment, carried the baby back upstairs and roused his sister, Miss Myrtle L. Bunn. They held a hasty conference over the baby, which they had settled on the divan, and called in a neighbor, a married woman, who understood babies. The police were notified, and while an officer was on his way from No. 10 a party with the newcomer as the guest of honor.” ‘The officer removed the child to Children’s Hospital, and her new-found friends, wide awake by that time, were reluctant to see her go. This morning, Mr. Bunn said, a policeman whose name he did not learn called at his residence and said that, while passing in an automobile before daylight, he saw a light sedan parked before Mr. Bunn's home with a man at the wheel. A veiled woman in a long dark coat, the officer sald, had jusc stepped from the sedan with a bundle in her arms, pausing as if to return to the auto- mobile when the headlights of the sec- ond machine swung around the corner. The officer, seeing-nothing suspicious in the circumstances, passed on with- out taking the license number of the automobile or particularly heeding the occupants. Mr. Bunn said today that the walf was “a very pretty baby”’ He even admitted he was & little sorry circum- stances did not permit him to adopt the child which chance had left at his door. THEATER:SEATING BILL IS MODIFIED Adequate “S. R. 0.” Signs Ordered in Measure Revised by District Committee. The Senate District Committee late yesterday ordered a favorable report on an amended theater-seating bill, and at the same time heard a renewal of the debate staged before the committee last year for and against a measure to close barber shops on Sundays. Action was deferred on the barber bill and also on the resolution to per- mit the District Supreme Court to pass on any claim the Mount Vernon, Alex- andria & Washington Railway may have in connection with the removal of its tracks to make way for the Federal building program south cf Pennsylvania avenue. The theater bill was rewritten by striking out the clause which would have prohibited the selling of more tickets than there are seats available for any performance. This would have rear of the theaters for seats to become available. The bill, as amended, will require theaters to give adequate notice to prospective ticket buyers as to whether seats are available. “S. R. 0.” Signs Ordered. information regarding the seating sit- uation, and provides that when seats | are not available signs shall be dis- played in the lobbles. Where the seat- ing capacity of a theater is 1,000 or more there shall also be oral an- garding the seating situation. The bil was reported following a report from the subcommittee, headed by Senator Carey of Wyoming, its sponsor. The report was filed by Sen- ator Austin of Vermont, and Corpora- tion Counsel Bride announced that all interested parties have agreed on the modified bill. Chairman Capper sald he regarded it as desirable legislation. The theater owners previously had agreed to co-operate voluntarily in seeing that adequate seating informa- tion is given. Charles J. Bovello and Joseph Suraci, spokesmen for a delegation of barbers, and W. C. Hushing, of the American Federation of Labor, urged approval of the Sunday closing bill for barber shops on the ground that it is a health meas- ure to give barbers & day of rest. The bill also was supported by Edward Keating, who sponsored a similar bill when he was & member of the House some years ago. Opponents Are Heard. Opposition was led by Rev. C. S. Longacre of the Religious Liberty As- sociation of America, M. C. Taft of the same association, John D. Bradley of the American Rationalist Association and Linn Gale of the National Asso- cation Opposed to Blue Laws. These groups in opposition to the bill all told the committee they were In favor of the barbers having one day of rest each week, but objected to specify- ing Sunday, on the ground that such a law would be a precedent for other Sunday-closing laws, Bubstitute bills, to vide for 24 hours of rest each w were offered by nents of the original measure, The bers have contended the sub- stitute p'rapoul would be difficult to carry out. At the suggestion of Senator Austin, the resolution relating to the street car tracks in the Federal building erea jugiors with Rev. Ronert Shores in the jbrary. Evening prayer is at 4:30 o'elock. Holy communion will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, the conversion of St. Payl, and Thursday at the same hour. A meetln¥ of St. Margaret's Union, of the heads of parish organ- 1 and other interested persons, has been called for 8 pan. Februgry, 28, is to be redrafted ang considered at the next meeting. i Senator Austin also the views of the Attorney General on the resolution be obtained. ‘The Senate Committee made a favor- able report on the bill to exempt from taxation the proj of the National Society of the United States Daughters LR prevented patroms from waliting in the | It fixes penalty for giving any mis- | nouncements at frequent intervals re- | suggested that | POLIE BENEFTS SLASHED INDEFT Retirement Sliding Scale to Begin With $250 Instead of $1,000. | So many police officers have been | retired within the last couple of years that the Policemen’s Retirement Asso- | clation has voted to slash $750 from the $1,000 benefits which were to have | been paid members of the force retiring | prior to March 11. | This action, taken at & recent meet- ing of the organization, was explained today by Capt. Charles G. Stott, presi- dent of the group. Since March 11, 1930, when payment ot retirement benefits was inaugu- rated, Capt. Stott said, 87 officers have been retired. As a result, he pointed out, $89,800 has been paid out, while income from dues has totaled only about $76,000. However, this deficit has been cov- ered, he continued, by the giving of notes. Many of these have been paid, he said, and the others are being met from incoming dues. Sliding Scale Adopted. “Under normal retirement condi- tions,” he declared, “the organization will quickly eliminate this condition. Meanwhile, we have decided to adopt a sliding scale for the payment of re- tirement benefits. " These benefits, under the new scheme, | will be paid as follows, he said: Policemen retiring before March 11, | 1933, $250; between March 11, 1932, |and March 11, 1933, $500; between | March 11, 1933, and March 11, 1934, | $750, and between March 11, 1934, and March 11, 1935, $1,000. ‘Thus, by 1932, the association again will be paying the $1,000 retirement benefits ;originally agreed upon. The first officers to be affected by the new plan are Capt. C. L. Plemmons, fifth precinct commander, and Detec- tive Sergt. Willlam Messer, both of whom will be retired February 1. Plemmous at Age Limit. Capt. Plemmons was ordered retired, because of age limitation of 64, and Messer for physical disability incurred in the line of duty. Both will be re- lieved from duty a month and 10 days short of the date which would put them in the $500 benefit class. For this reason, Capt. Stott said, thelr cases are considered unfortunate. “Speaking unofficially and not as president of the organization,” he said, “T believe something may be done for them in the future. Just what form this action will take, however, I am not prepared to say.” Meanwhile, there is nothing Capt. Plemmons and Sergt. Messer can do about the matter, as it is covered in the by-laws of the assoclation. And these by-laws, Capt. Stott pointed out, were adopted “for the good of the 1,170 members.” “I wish to make it clear,” Capt. Stott concluded, “that the organization is not in shaky condition financially. ‘While the unprecedented number of re- tirements has forced us to cut down in the payment of benefits, I am confident the new scheme will take care of the problem, and the financial strength of the association will not be impaired.” — BILL LIMITS “LAWYER” A bill providing that only members of the bar of the District Supreme Court could use the title “lawyer,” “‘counselor at law” or similar designations was in- troduced yesterday by Senator King, Democrat, of Utah. The measure provides that those who are not members of the bar of the Dis- trict Supreme Court, but who practice before other Federal tribunals or spe- cial governmental agencies here, could use these ignations, together with further descriptions of the scope of their practice. quirement of the law; (3) that all States recognizing this law maintain recriprocal relationship, prohibiting a motorist convicted in one State from operating in another, and (4) that all States enact laws requiring driving licenses to provide closer check on au- tomobile operators. The Trafic Committee, of which Theodore P. Noyes is chairman, adopted a resolution opposing enactment of any tax-raising legislation which would re- quire District motorists to pay more than a fair share for the upkeep of roads and the furthering of the high- ways program in Washington. The committee was opposed specifically to the legislation proposed in one of the Mapes bills, which would levy a tax on automobiles in accordance with their weight, which it held was an inequitable method of taxation in view of the unique conditions in the Capital. May Curtail Service. E. D. Merrill of the Washington Rapid Transit Co., in discussing the weight and gasoline tax proposals of the Mapes bills, said if the measures are enacted as they passed the House, his company would find it necessary to curtail the present service. It would mean an in- crease in tax of more than 5 per cent of the total gross revenue of the com- pany, he declared. J. E. Heberle, assistant to the presi- dent, of the Capital Traction Co., said in view of the fact a tax of 4 per cent of his concern’s gross revenue from bus operation is now levied in lieu of the personal property tax, the bills as drafted would impose an _additional form of taxation on their vehicles. The proposed weight tax, it is explained, is intended as a substitute for the per- sonal property tax. The meeting of the committee was addressed by derome Fanciulli, execu- tive secretary of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Owners' Association, who out- lined the scope of proposed legislation in Virginia affecting the existing reci- procity laws on motor vehicles. The committee adopted a resolution-| urging that the traffic department con- sider the advisability of eliminating | parking on one side of Fifteenth street | between New York avenue and K street | as a means of lessening congestion in | that area. It also recommended re- moval of taxicab stands on that street | toward the center of the blocks. WELFARE HEARING MAY BE RESUMED Riley Evidence So Far Insufficient | to Base Charges, Says Palmisano. Although declaring his subcommittee had not closed its investigation of the Board of Public Welfare in connection with the handling of the case of 12- year-old Edith Riley, Chairman Palmi- | sano asserted today “there is not much on which to base charges of gross negli- gence against any one connected with welfare activities in the District.” “There has been an unfortunate situ- ation regarding this child,” the Mary- land Democrat said, “but, in my opin- ion, it is one of those deplorable cases | that happen from time to time in any large city. I have not said at any time that hearings on the Bowman resolu- tion authorizing the inquiry are closed. | I believe Mr. Bowman is preparing for a further hearing and when he asks for it he shall have it.” | Representative Palmisano, who heads a subcommittee of the House District Committee, issued his statement follow- ing a conference last night with Chair- man Norton of the full committee, who announced the subcommittee chairman had informed her the hearings were not yet closed. Sitting with Palmisano on the in- vestigating committee are Represent- ative Frank L. Bowman, Republican, of West Virginia, author of the resolution under which the inquiry was begun, and Representative Loring Black, Democrat, of New York. A hearing was held Tuesday at which members of the Board of Public Wel- fare, Women’s Bureau and Juvenile Court appeared. George S. Wilson, welfare director, and his superintendent of child welfare, Miss Patricia Morss, denied charges of mishandling the Edith Riley case, which had been called to the board's attention as éarly as 1925. Representatives of the Juvenile Court were instructed to draft recom- mendations concerning modernization of the present Juvenile Court law, but as yet no proposed changes have been made public. OPPOSE D. C. BILL Commissioners Object to Paying Dismissed Fireman. The Commissioners yesterday sent to Congress a report disapproving & pri- vate bill proposing to return to John G. Schulz, & former member of the Fire Department, the deductions made from his salary prior to his dismissal from the department for cause. Schulz was removed before the pas- sage of the law which provided for the refunds and the Commissioners re- ed that favorable action on this would result in a flood of similar bills and be a drain on the District sy, Pressed Against His Side, Calls Policeman. Nine armed hold-ups yesterday and | last night in~widely separated sections | of the city today resulted in an exten- sive search for the robbers. | Meanwhile, a suspect, Who was cap- tured through the courage of a taxicab driver in disregarding a threatening gun and calling police, was identified in connection with one of the crimes, police say. Six of the hold-ups reported were of storekeepers. The other victims were pedestrians, two of whom were beaten by the robbers. Similarity of tactics at two of the stores, where the hold-up men fired shots into the floor to intimidate the proprietors, led police to believe the same robbers figured in both cases. Captured After Chase. The man arrested was captured by | Pvt. W. E. Scott of the third pre-| cinct, near Eighteenth and S streets | when Edward G. Dungan, a taxicab driver, put on his brakes when sighted the officer and shouted for him to arrest the two men who had com- | mandeered his cab after holding up a store. At the time, one of the men | was holding a gun against the driver’s | side. Dungan explained he “decided to | take a chance,” believing if he were shot the men at least would be ar-| rested. % Both of the men in the cab jumped out and started to run, but Scott over- hauled one after pursuing him for a| block. Taken to the police station the | man gave his name and address as| James F. Donovan, 33, of the 2100 block | of N street. This morning he is said | by Capt. Edward J. Kelly, commander | of the third precinct, to have been | identified by Dungan and Mrs. Lena | Katz, 1259 Twenty-third street, as one | of thepair which held up Mrs. Katz's | store last night. | Dungan said he picked up two men at Twenty-first and K streets and was told to drive them to Twenty-third and N streets. One of the duo went into the store and robbed Mrs. Katz of $30. Upon his return the other man shoved a gun in Dungan'’s ribs and command- ed him to drive on, Dungan told po- | lice. Storekeeper Robbed. The first hold-up reported last eve- ning was at 2133 Ward place, where David Turshinsky, storekeeper, Wwas robbed of $30 by two men. The rob- bers drove away in a taxicab operated | by Benjamin Freenfield, whom they | forced to obey their commands at the | point of a pistol. They fired one shot from the taxi window to impress the driver. ‘Turshinsky said one of the men fired a bullet into the floor of the store, eyidently to intimidate him, | shortly after they entered. | Similar tactics were employed by two men, who early yesterday Tobbed the Liberty Food Shop of the 900 block of Fourteenth street of $50. Two shots | were fired into the floor there, | Shortly before 11 o'clock last night, Norman Parker, in the Parker Drug Store, North Capitol street and Rhede Island_avenue, was held up at pistol point by three men, who obtained a total of $60 from two cash registers. Parker told police the robbers covered him and Mrs. L. B. Edwards of 34 Rhode Island avenue with an automatic | while they went through the registers. | Others Report Hold-ups. The two other storekeepers held up| last night were Milton Weber, 1439 Eleventh street, and Mrs. Helen Hoff- berg, 127 L street. Each was robbed by two armed colored men. Weber re- | ported a loss of $25 and Mrs. Hofl-| berg $10. Willlam E. Hyman, 105 C street southeast, an employe of St. Eliza- beth's Hospital, was beaten when he| told three colored men who held him up at the north end of the Anacostia Bridge that he had no money. He| said one of the trio struck him with a stone. William Carpenter, 1302 Sixth street southwest, reported he was beaten by | two white men who held him up at| Sixth and K streets southwest, robbing him of $6. While about to get into his automo- bile, parked in front of 933 L street, last night, John K. Poetzman, 3 New York avenue, was accosted by four or five colored men, he told police. One of them thrust a gun against his ribs and demanded his «money. Poetzman handed over a pocketbook containing $2, hoping to save a second one with $40. “Yoy will have to do better than that,” one of the bandits informed him, | and Poetzman was forced to give up | the rest of his money. LECTURES TO CONTINUE Rev. Hulbert A. Woolfall to Preach at St. Mark's Church« Rey. Hulbert A. Woolfall, rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Third and A streets southeast, will occupy the pulpit at both services Sunday, preaching on “The Social Challenge | of the Day,” at the 11 o'clock service. Rev. Mr. Woolfall began last Sunday his confirmation lectures to his chil-| dren of the parish at 4 o'clock and to the adults immediately following the evening service, These lectures will continue until the class is presented for copfrmation Februsry 28 8 | the United States Marines, attached to John H. Marti, 56, retired fireman, who died Thursday at Georgetown Uni- versity Hospital, will be buried at Ham- ilton, Va., following services tomorrow at 1 o'clock at Birch’s chapel, 3034 M street. Potomac Lodge, No. 5, he|F. A. A. M, will have charge of the services. Marti, said by fellow firemen to have been one of the best known and most popular men in the department, in which he served almost 20 years, Was retired in 1918 for physical disability. He served at No. 1 Engine Company, 1643 K street, for many years, and was attached to the fireboat for some time. in 1876, ne was appointed to the Fire Department in 1900, serving until late in 1918. Since retiring from the de- partment he had been employed by the Capitol Traction Co. 8 Members of the department sald Marti was well known, not only in the department, but among civilians. Be- sides his widow, Mrs. Grace T. Marti, he is survived by a half-sister, Mrs. Mamie King, McKeesport, Pa. WIRKUS DESCRIBES LIFE ON LA GONAVE Geographic Society Hears Talk on Strange Rites of Islanders. The odd mixture of civilization and primitive habits, of Christianity and age-old African rites that makes up the life of the people of La Gonave, an is- land off the coast of Haiti, was described for members of the National Geographic Society last night by Faustin Wirkus in an address at the Washington Audi- torium. In illustrating his talk the speaker exhibited motion pictuzes of secret, rites never before photographed. Mr, Wirkus was detailed to live on the island and to represent the governing authority while serving as a sergeant of the Haitian Constabulary. He was the only white man among a population of 12,000 blacks, and was treated by the p}g?plc of the island virtually as thetr Pking.» Snake God Worshipped. The most unusual pictures shown by Mr. Wirkus depict, ceremonies whereby candidates are taken into a weird secret religious cult in which a snake god plays a prominent part. Because the people of the island have not a good repre- sentation of this deity they have in- staled in their secret temples pictures of | St. Patrick with snakes at his feet. The candidates, Mr. Wirkus said, fast for three days and then appear be- fore the priestess. A chicken is killed ritually. ~Corn meal is heated in an iron vessel and the candidates, dipping their fingers in ofl, thrust them into | the hot meal and make balls of dough. | Then they retire to the temple. If they can resist eating this food after their three-day fast, the initiation proceeds. The motion pictures showed the men Born in King George County, Va.,| Than Other Cities. | Mark Lansburgh, president of the | Merchants and Manufacturers’ Associa- | tion, was re-elected to that post at the | annual meeting of the board of gov- | ernors of the merchants’ body at the | association headquarters in The Star | Bullding yesterday. | Other officers elected at the session | include James E. Colliffower, first vice | president; Ford E. Young, second vice | president; Gen. Anton Stephan, third “vice president; Louis Levay, treasurer; | Edward D. Shaw, secretary, and Ring- | gold Hart, general counsel. |~ In presenting his report for the year’s activities Mr. Lansburgh said the asso- | ciation had enjoyed a successful year. | “While the rest of the world has been | passing through a serious economic up- heaval, Washington has occupied a unique position,” he declared. “This city has suffered less than any other city in the country.” D. C. Tax Increase Bills Opposed. The association president pointed out that the report of the Federal Reserve | Board showed that the retail trade of Washington for 1931 was only 2 per cent below 1930, as compared with a | decrease of 7.8 per cent in Baltimore | and 8.9 per cent in Richmond. Other cities, he said, showed decreases from 15 to 20 per cent, while the country's average decrease was 11 per cent. Voting its support of the Citizens’ | Joint Committee on Piscal Relations between the United States and the District, the association went on ree- |ord as opposed to the Mapes bills, which would mcrm District taxes. Oppose Bill to nge Tariff Act. The board expressed its disapprov: of the bill which passed in wepg[:u;el and is now before the Senate, to amend the administrative features of the pres- ent tariff law by depriving the Presi- dent of authority to make changes 1;’;:“" limits set by Congress in tariff | rates. . | The Gibson bill, to give the District | a new license law, was approved. | The Norton bill, which would com- pel taxicabs to satisfy the Public Utili- léi;::rggmmlssd a.lmlson u‘i)jl their ability to dis- | judged | also was indorsed. Sl association registered its o) 1- tion to the recent bill anl‘oducegpi‘:lsm Congress which would annul the pres- ent act of Congress which stipulates that 40 per cent of the budget of the District must be paid by the Federal Government. Other Measures Favored. The Capper bill, which provides for the acquiring of land and developing & memorial parkway on both sides of the Potomac River from Mount Vernon and | Fort Washington to Great Falls was approved. The King bill, to extend the power of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia, received indorsement of the board. ‘The board favored the Capper bill, which would provide space for the parking of officers’ and employees’ cars in public buildings to be erected in the District of Columbia. The group also approved the Capper bill providing for financial responsibil- ity of automobiles operated in the Dis- trict of Columbia. Indorsement was given the campaign for rationalized foot ball with a view to resumption of the annual foot ball game between Georgetown and Virginia. LEGION WILL PRESS FOR WIDOWS’ FUNDS Legislative Committeeman Says Veterans Will Not Give Up Fight for Women and Children. The American Legion will continue to press for allowances for widows and orphans of World War veterans, John Thomas Taylor, vice chairman of the National Legislative Committee of the Legion, declared in letters to every member of ~Congress, made public and women engaged in strenuous dances.” Some are seized with | a sort of hysteria. When this happens | the other candidates close in around | mlemsm prevent their injuring them- | selves. | Set Food Trays Afloat. | ‘The people seek to appease the “god of the sea” and his wife by dances on the beach and by setting adrift at cer- tain times trays with dishes and food set for two. ‘The people of La Gonave are peace- able and orderly, Mr. Wirkus found. During his four-year shift as local “king,” only two homicides occurred. The construction of a unique musi- cal instrument, a “mosquito drum,” was shown in one of the motion pic- ture reels. Over a hole in the ground | & square of palm bark is pegged down. A small fiber rope extends from the exceedingly | tod ay. Taylor said his letter was designed to clear up any misunderstanding that might have been created by an editorial in a morning paper which would leave the impression that this legislation had been given up. mlsvrously assailing the editorial, he said: “I want you to know that the re- sponsible officials of the Legion, our 1,000,000 members throughout the coun- try and the 500,000 women in our aux- iliary have never even considered the question of abandoning this fight for justice. The widows’ and orphans’ legislation is No. 1 upon the preferred legislative program of the Legion for the present session of the Congress, and the Legion will throw its entire strength into the fight for the enactment of this just and long-delayed legislation. “The fact that there is depression in the land makes the hardships con- center of this bark diaphragm to & bent sapling, which stretchas it tight. The | operator plucks and strikes the rope, | producing sounds like the drone of | some gigantic insect fronting widows and orphans much more severe than they would other- wise be, and therefore increases the necessity for immediate congressional action,” bury, Edward F. Colladay, A. Julian Brylawski, Joseph D. Kaufman, George J. Adams, Lenihan. Displaying a lively interest in the methods of administering the work of the various agencies visited, members of the party questioned both officials and beneficiaries of the charity enter- Ross Haworth and Gen. The reaction of the group was epitomized by John Poole, president of the Community Chest, clared, “If all the thousands who are asked to contribute to the Chest could see at first hand, as we are doing, the manner in which the money is being spent they would not only give more generously, but would be more active in working for the success of the Com- munity Chest drive.” when he de- Get Jobs for 800 Men. The District Committee on Employ- ment has placed 800 men at work since it was reorganized January 1, group was told by Mss Adelaide Barker, head of the committee’s application bu- reau at its offices at 1000 Pennsylvania avenue, and this next week. 1,900 have been received. The per- centage smaller, a few clerical positions having been filled and a total of 100 women weekly having been furnished with sewing provided by the Junior League. The municipal woodyard -7as next visited, where explanation was made of the method by which men who wish to work to pay for their living expenses may do s0. The Salvation Army Emer- gency Lodge, 479 C street, where many ot these men live, was next on the schedule, and the cleanliness of the place and the military efficiency with which it is conducted ‘evoked favorable comment. An intensely human touch was pro- * | vided at the Holy Family Day Nursery, where employed mothers leave their children during the hours they are at work. The group was shown through the nursery by Mother Mary Lourds, Mother Ann M. Angels, Sister M. Ursula, Sister Anna and Sister Teresa. The most lively interested display, perhaps, was that shown in the “alley dwellings” of T.c bills to abolish, w. :h are pending in both branches of Congress. Picturesque in their squalidness, they evoked as- tonished comment that such places ex- isted in Washington. The tour concluded with a trip to the Hebrew Home for the Aged, where the party was received by Charles A. Goldsmith, president of the Maurice Maser, its superintendent, and Saul Lansburgh. The commission went on record as favoring the use of part of the funds, if secured by the proposed additional 2- cent tax on gasoline here, for the im- provement of park roads. Officials of the Office of Public Build- ings and Public Parks have complained that the roads in Rock Creek Park are too narrow, but funds have been lack- ing for proper widening. An amendment to the Capper-Cram- ton park purchase act was advocated by the commission to permit the Fed- eral Government to proceed immediate- ly to buy land for the George Wash- ington Memorial Parkway, on both sides of the Potomac River southward from Great Falls, without waiting for the States of Maryland or Virginia, or their political subdivisions, to advance their share on a 50-50 basis. This would be cared for, under the measure, by in- suring that the States would purchase outright an equal amount of land at the same ratio in price as had the Fed- eral Government. USE OF FUND DISCUSSED. the re will total 1,000 Applications numbering of women placed has been ~ and Fenton courts, Home, $500,000 Would Be Utilized to Open Secluded Alleys. Utilization of the $500,000 unexpended balance of the United States Housing Corporation to gradually rid Washing- ton of its alley dwellings was discussed today by the National Capital Park and Planning Commission. T. Norton, chairman of the House Dis- trict Committee, was at the conferengey table, the first time a woman has sat~ as a member of the commission. Under a preliminary program worked out, if Congress authorizes the use of the $500,000, now in the Treasury, for this work, the two ends of secluded alleys will be opened to permit the en- trance of automobiles, and air. The condition of Washington's alleys frequently has been criticized seve{ehg and the Planning Commission set morning aside to tackle again the per: plexing problem and seek to relieve it. Some time ago, the commission em- ployed as its housing expert, John Ihlder, who made an exhaustive study of the alley situation here. 1In previous Congresses, legislation has been introduced designed to eradicate gradually Washington's alley dwellings, but the courts later blocked these moves. Mrs. Norton is an exofficlo member of the commission. by virture of her committee chairmanship. ROLLING PIN FOR BRIDE Mrs. Mary more sunshine Mayor James A. West of Paulsboro, N. J., who used to give a silver dollar to every couple at whose marriage he officiated has adopted a new wedding gift. When he performed the wedding ceremony for Alfred Lukosavich and mes Kumeba he presented the bride ]w t‘;xl an mkmmil;?lg pin autographed by eading munic! officials officers, onhine