Evening Star Newspaper, February 12, 1932, Page 17

Washi ngtdn News MYSTERY GUNMAN FIRES INTO ROOM OF STANLEY BELL Newshoy Sees Passenger in Taxicab Lean Out and Pull Trigger. SLEEPER IS MYSTIFIED BY ATTEMPT ON LIFE Radio Announcer Says He Can’t Explain Shot, Unless It Was “the Mad Sniper.” The mysterious gunman who has killed one man and wounded three other per- sons in the last eight days is believed to have fired a shot early today into the bed room of Stanley Bell, announcer for radio Station WMAL. Bell told police the bullet crashed through a window of his second-floor apartment at 3930 Fourteenth street shortly after 5 o'clock this morning. Newsboy Sees Shot. The gunplay was witnessed by only one person, a newsboy, who told po- lice the shot was fired by a man in a taxicab. The gunman leaned from the cab window, the boy said, leveled his gun at Bell's apartment and pulled the the boy, added, the ed the driver to speed Neither the license number nor the ame of the cab were noticed by the howey 1. who was asleep when the bullet tore through the window. said he has no enemies and cannot even guess who fired the shot “unless it was the mys- tericus gunman.” Bullet Hits Windshield. The gunplay was reported to police while they were still investigating a report that a bullet was fired through the windshield of an automobile driven by Mrs. Mamie T. Johnston, 1433 Clifton street, while she and two other women were riding through Rock Creek Park last Sunday. Mrs. Johnston was unable to say whether the shot was fired from another automobile or by some ore concealed in the underbrush along the road. At the same time. police also were investigating a shooting and a reported attempted shooting on the theory they. too, may have been perpetrated by the mysterious _gunman. Meanwhile, the three youths arrested Wednesday night following an alleged holdup, have been cleared of any con- nection with the series of shootings, according to Inspector Frank S. W. Burke, chief of detectives. They are being 'held, however, for interrogation in connection with a number of other | crimes, mostly holdups. Washingtonian Shot. Last night's shooting occurred near Brooks Hill, Md., but the victim is a resicent of Washington. He is William H. Gehramann, 48, of 120 Adams street. He was walking on Conduit road shortly before midnight, he told police, when a man suddenly leaped from a parked automobile, and, without any warning. fired at him. Wounded in the left arm, Gehramann to Georgetown University Hos- ere he was treated. His con- not considered serious. The “attempted shcoting” was re- ported to police by Maurice Salkeld, 5 Pine avenue, Takoma Park, Md. He said he and two other men—Jules Pruitt and_Benjamin Reins. both of Takoma Park—were walking near Carroll and Maple streets about 11:45 o'clock when they were fired upon from a large touring car. After firing cne shot at him and his companions, Salkeld added. the motorist sped away. Checking up on Salkeld's report, po- lice were told that one of the men de- clared the “shot” was nothing more than the backfire of the machine, while the other asserted he had heard no noise of any kind. Nevertheless, police continued their investigation. Trio Faces 45 Witnesses. Approximately 45 witnesses failed last night to identify any of the three young | men arrested Wednesday night after a chase through Rock Creek Park by a police cruiser. Previously one of the trio had been said to answer the gen- eral description of the slayer of Paul Riedel, 45, of 3209 Adams Mill road, who was shot Saturday night in his bakery at 3215!> Mount Pleasant street. One of the youths, who gave his name as Willard Messick, 24, was iden- tified, however, as Floyd Bennett, one of three men arrested during the in- vestigation of the unsolved murder of manuel Thorne, ine private, whose body was found buried in a patch of woods in Greater Capitol Heights, Md., last Winter. Bennett Thompson, tives, fac according to Capt. Bernard ssistanit chief of detec- osecution on a non-sup- port charge filed by his wife, who lives at 1246 Maryland avenue northeast. When questioned by members of the homicide squad, the youth declared he ‘was unable to remember anything that had happened since last October, when he fell off a freight train in Kansls City, Mo. Captured After Chase. The two arrested with him were William McKinney, 18, Fitchburg, Mass, and William' G. Duffy, 22, of Macon, Ga. The three were captured after a chase in which several shots were fired by police. Before surren- dering, however, one of them is said to have attempted to shoot Detective Sergt. E. F. Lewis, but the gun, a .25 caliber automatic, jammed. ‘The mysterious gunman's other vic- tims were Gordon T. Backus, 51, 3433 Mount Pleasant street; Helen Andrews, 18, of 5811 Sixth street, and Doris Beall, 16, of 1411 G street southeast. Both Backus and the girls were shot last Thursday night while walking in the northwest section of the city. SHACK BUILT AT OBELISK Monument Elevators to Be Guard- ed From Rain. Guarding against having the elevator at the Washington Monument go out of commission due to water getting down into the electrical apparatus whiie improvements are going forward, work- men of the Office of Public Building and Public Parks today were erecting a temporary wooden thack at the west side of the monument. This shack will cover the open space lefu when the present concrete pavement and area- way are removed to provide for the new circular walk immediately adjacent to the monument. On the other sides of the monument the raised circular walk has been bullt, and it is proposed to place benches near the rim of the enlarged concrete plat- form that is now nearing completion. ¥ fil Lincoln Mystery Solved The ITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION Foening faf WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1932. BY THOMAS R. HENRY. When Abraham Lincoln was a small boy his mother died, the victim of a mysterious scourge that was sweeping through the pioneer settlements of the Middle West. Chemists of the Department of Agri- culture a century later have found what killed her. The specific poison has been isolated, it is announced, which was responsible for the dreaded “milk sick- ness,” the phantom killer that descend- ed upon the lonely frontier cabins with the early Autumn and caused such havoc that some areas were abandoned as _impossible of settlement. Fortunately for Abraham Lincoln, frontier boys of the early nineteenth century were not reared on the current “quart-of-milk-a-day” formula. Other- wise he probably would have been buried with his mother. He suffered a slight attack of the disease that killed his mother. Many years afterward it was found that the scourge was associated in some way with an innocent-looking little white flower, the white snakeroot, which contaminated the milk of the cows that ate it. The final step has been the isolation by Dr. J. F. Couch, chemist of the Bureau of Animal Industry, of the specific poison in the plant responsible for the disease. It is an oily liquid, chemically classed as one of the alco- hols and acting insidiously on the human system. Name Due to “Trembling.” This new chemical substance has been named tremetol, because of the “trem- | bling” which is one of its outstanding effects, especially with animals. This poison appears to be restricted to three plants growing in North America, the white snakeroot of the Ohio Valley and two species of rayless goldenrod in the South. An almost identical species of snakeroot is common around the Dis- trict of Columbia, but its tremetol con- tent is so slight that it probably never has caused a case of “milk sickness. Tremetol in plants, Dr. Couch ex-| plains, not only affects the cows them- | selves in the form of a curious animal disease known as “trembles,” but is| carried in the milk so that the human | illness almost invariably comes from drinking milk or eating butter. Despite | the fact that the association between | the plant and the disease has been known for many years there still are occasional epidemics in the white snakeroot country. | Thus far the Department of Agri-| culture chemists have not been able to find any antidote for tremetol, and, Dr. Couch explains, none is needed if the case comes into the hands of a com- petent physician. The drug kills only | over a considerable period and acts| in a vicious circle. Here, Dr. Couch says, is approximately what happened | to Nancy Hanks After the Lincoln ~ows began grazing on the Autumn forage in the partial | clearing she began to complain of tiredness and loss of appetite. Phy- sicians were few and far between, but even if one had been called he prob- | ably could have done no more than the | members of her family. Through the | Fall the condition became rapidly worse, with the typical symptoms of | the terrible “milk sickness,” which the ploneers regarded practically as a death warrant, becoming apparent. ~ She | reached the point where she could keep | 10 solid food on her stomach. The only | | form of nourishment she could take MOTHER'S DEATH DUE TO WEED IN MILK. | in masses on cleared hillsides in the open. | has been to fence off tracts where it | the poison was very difficult to isolate. DR. J. F. COUCH. —Harris-Ewing Photo. was milk and the more milk she drank the worse her condition became. But at almost any point_her life could have been saved by exactly the opposite pro- cedure, stopping milk altogether. Much in Open Areas. The white snakeroot is likely to be most abundant in partial clearings. The disease attacked the pioneers espe- clally because most of the frontier pas- turage was in just such areas. It is partial to shade, but sometimes grows The weed is difficult to eliminate and the most successful way of dealing with it grows to keep the cattle out. The search for tremetol. long sus- pected. had been consistently unsuc- cessful, when the Bureau of Animal Industry took up the problem with im- proved chemical methods. Even then With this new alcohol alone it was pos- sible to cause the “trembles” in both cattle and sheep and also to transmit it through the milk of the affected animals. ‘The poison apparently is present only in the green plant, It disappears, at least in significant | amounts, when the plant is dried, as in hay. The final isolation of the poison itself disposes of lingering theories that the disease from which Lincoln’s mother died—how the little boy himself escaped nobody knows—was due to an organism from stagnant waters or to a poisonous gas arising from them. Tike maleria, it was known to be most frequent in damp places. These theories received impetus from the failure actually to find any poison in the plant itself. In North Carolina, where the disease made its first appearance, it was believed only a few years ago that it was due to some emanation from the soil. Country peo- ple insisted that a gas arose at night and settled on the vegetation and that cattle were poisoned only if turned out to graze too early in the morning be- fore the sun had dried the dew. Hay left on the ground all night was| thought to be similarly poisoned. | salary promotions and prohibit filling 1S PROMOTION BAN SCORED IN SENATE: PRECEDENT FEARED Bill to End Pay Increases Aitacked by Alifas, Union Chief. COMMITTEE IS SILENT; REPORT DUE SHORTLY Provision Against Filling Vacan- cies Also Held Unfair to Work- ers Needing U. S. Jobs. A plea to the Senate to reject the House provisions in the agricultural ap- propriation bill which would prevent of vacancies except in unusual cases was made today by N. P. Alifas, presi- dent of District No. 44, International Association of Machinists. It is generally understood that if these limitations are left in the agri- cultural bill, which is the first of the annual supply measures, it will be ap-| plied to the whole Government service as the other appropriation bills come along. | Decision Due in Few Days. Mr. Alifas presented his arguments against these restrictions to the Sen- ate subcommittee which is considering the agricultural bill. It probably will be several days before the bill is ready to be reported to the Senate and until that time the attitude of the Senate committee toward these limitations will not be known. The workers repre- sented by Mr. Alifas are directly af- fected by the War and Navy Depart- ments appropriation bill, but the policy toward these restrictions is -expected 10 be determined on the pending bill. Mr. Alifas pointed out teday that the House provisions would prevent em- ployes receiving the minimum salary of a grade from receiving an increase, as they ordinarily would do. when some one receiving a higher salary leaves the service. He said a person entering a new grade would get the minimum rate, unless that should amount to a re- duction. Cites Jobless Problem. He also emphasized that the restric- tion on filling vacancies in the Gov- ernment service from now until the end of the next fiscal year, would prevent Uncle Sam, one of the largest em- ployers in the United States, from help- ing to absorb his share of the army of unemployed throughout the country. As passed by the House, the bill pro- vides that vacancies could be filled only by presidential order in cases regarded as_essential. Mr. Alifas pointed out today that economists contend that every dollar expended by the Government in the course of a year creates about five dol- lars’ worth of purchasing power. HOUSE ASKS PROBE OF SHERMAN LAW Action Seen Opening Wedge in Revision of Existieg Anti-Trust Acts. Authority for an investigation in- | tended to result in revision of the Sher- man law as & means of improving busi- ness conditions will be asked by the House Judiciary Committee under & vote taken yesterday. Meanwhile, the administration of- fered to industries seeking to free them- selves from the depresstve effects of de- structive competition a choice between strict governmental regulation and a | continuance of the present hampering | Testrictions of the anti-trust laws. | A group of 122 business men gathered here as independent executives to study methods of economic rehabilitation pre- | sented the President, with proposals for | a two-year “truce” in competition, di- Tected by a national board, with & non- partisan_investigation of business con- ditions filling the intertm. The Presi- dent asked them to reconsider, and cited the anti-trust laws as the prin- cipal barrier to their plan. Then John L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers of America, took to the White House a petition asking Mr. Hoover to lend a helping hand to- ward the enactment of legislation to | stabilize the bituminous coal industry. He sought the President's support for | | the ~Capper-Kelly bill, now pending, | |under which operators and selling | | agents of coil would be licensed to en- | ter combinations to end wasteful com- | petition, President Hoover, in his annual mes- (sage to Congress opposed outright re- peal of the anti-trust statutes, but asked a congressional inquiry of their effects on general business. Legislation to bring about changes of which Mr. Hoover spoke probably will be the item on the congressional program to follow the banking legisla- SKYSCRAPER TABOO HERE, SAYS GRANT Architects Told Tall Buildings Would Dwarf Capitol and Other Buildings. Skyscrapers have no place in Wash- ington’s architectural plan, Col. U. S. Grant, 3d, director of the Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks, de- clared last night in a lecture delivered before the local chapter of the Amer- ican Institute of Architects at the Carl- ton Hotel. If skyscrapers were erected here, the speaker declared, they would dwarf the dome of the Capitol and other Govern- ment_structures, striking a discordant note in the general scheme. The lecture was the fourth of a series sponsored by the architects. The first address was on mural painting, the second on artificial illumination and the third a discussion as to whether modern architecture should ‘be used in classical Washington. Col. Grant displayed colored slides showing many of the proposed improve- ments in public buildings and parks to be made. Owing to the poor subsoil under the Washington Monument, he declared, it is impossible to carry out the idea for elaborate sunken gardens as proposed in the McMillan plan of 1901, but -that the National Capital Park and Planning Commission is study- ing another scheme to take its place. Maj. George Oakley Totten, jr., presi- dent of the architects, presided. Col. Grant was introduced by A. B. Trow- bridge, who arranged the meeting. Plan Benefit Party. A dance and card party for the ben- efit of Naomi Chapter, No. 23, Order of Eastern Star, of Bethesda, Md., will be held tonight at the New Amsterdam Hotel, Fourteenth and Fairmont streets Past Matron Lillian Beall and Mr: tion now pending. Breakdown of Cottage City Louis J. Lynn as Louis J. Lynn, & letter carrier at the City Post Office, residing in Cottage City, Md., is becoming a bit wearied with this hunt for the “sniper.” It happens that Lynn drives a black coach, carrying Maryland tags 209-324. ‘The “sniper” also had a black car, and the first four figures of his plates were reported as 209-3. It doesn't require any particular stretch of the imagination to see what the result has been. ‘Thus far, Lynn has been s six umhu by police, and the end is not in sight. This morning Lynn broke down at ! Sherman avenue and Euclid street. Any other motorist would have taken immediate steps to get repairs. Tells Police About It. Lynn knew better than to leave that car at the curb without an explanation. In fact, he knew if he did, he'd more than likely have to go to some police station to reclaim it. So, first of all, he got In touch with & nearby policeman, to give full details, and to emphasize that his machine wasn't “abandoned.” POSTMAN HAS STRENUOUS DAY ALIBIING CAR LIKE “SNIPER’S” Margaret Comstock will be in charge. Auto Adds to Troubles of Probers Gather. Next he went to a grocer across the street and repeated his story, antici- pating that any investigators would go to the merchapt in search of informa- n. Then, and not until then, did Lynn set out for a motor concern to get repair materials, When he returned, he found a news- paper photographer getting a picture of the car, while a couple of other volunteer investigators (who already had talked to the grocer) stood nearby wondering what, if anything, should be done. They had been “tipped” by an- other sleuth. Lynn wasn't surprised. For the third time this morning, he repeated his story, then went under the car to start repairs. He didn't lack company, either, other investigators dropping by from time to time, this being a very good day for the investigating business. By an odd coincidence, Lynn, until eight months ago, lived at 3153 Mount Pleasant street, just a block from the scene of the killing Saturday night gkl’lul Riedel, and traded at Riedel's ery. Y’ BOYS TO HONOR VISITING FATHERS Program of Entertainment Will Follow Father-and-Son Banquet Tonight. The boys' department of the Wash- ington Y. M. C. A. will observe “Dad night” in honor of visiting fathers to- night at the boys' Y. M. C. A, 1732 G | street. There will be a “father-and-son” banquet in the “Y" assembly hall followed by an elaborate program of entertainment arranged by the boys. A feature will be a plunge in the boys' pool, during which the youngsters will challenge their elders’ prowess as swimmers, it was announced by J. C. Ingram, boys' work director. H. W. Gibson, nationally prominent boys’ work leader and authority on camping, will speak at the banquet on the relationship that should exist between fathers and sons. The feast will start at 6:15 o'clock, with George Kennedy, member of the Boys' Depart- ment Committee of the Y. M. C. A, presiding. The “Y” Ladies' Club, com- posed of wives of secretaries of the Central Y. M. C. A, will serve the dinner. Entertainment will include a short play by a group of Richmond Y. M. C. A. boys, a trap drum concert by Wal- ter Doe, a basket ball match and various indoor games. UNRESTRICTED FIREARMS SALE IN DISTRICT HIT Pearl McCall “Murderers’ Row"” in Asking Deadly Weapon Curb. Dope addicts, criminals, drunkards, children and imbeciles are offered dead- ly weapons for sale in second-hand stores along “Murderers’ Row” in the District, it was charged in a radio ad- dress delivered by Pearl McCall, as- sistant United States district attorney, over Station WRC Wednesday. Without challenge, any one may ob- tain guns from the shops on D street between Pennsylvania avenue and the Police Court Building, the speaker as- serted, and from other undis sources in Washington. Denounces Open As a member of the advisory council of the National | CT' Anti-Weapon Association, which has sponsored a series of broadcasts over WRC, Miss McCall urged residents of the District to support the bill now be- fore Congress to regulate the sale and possession of dangerous weapons here. STORES TO -.CLOSE EARLY To permit employes to attend Bicen- tennial commemorative exercises at the Capitol on George Washington's birth- day anniversary, February 22, depart- ment stores and specialty stores in_the downtown section will close at 12:30 that day, instead of 1 o'clock, as been customary, it was decided at/a meeting of the department stores sec- tion of the Merchants and Manufac- turers' Association yesterday. The coal merchants' division of the association, Edward D. Shaw, its secre- tary, said, has decided to close coal | in important roles in the pageant, in- yards all afternoon February 22. CANDIDATE FOR JUDGE Representative Larsen to Retire From Congress. Announcing that he would become a candidate for judge of the Superior Court of the Dublin judicial circuit of |in his State, Representative Larsen of Georgia announced he planned to retire fro‘m Congress at the end of his pres- ent term. Society and General North Capitol Plaza Taking Form VIEW OF TERRACF, FOUNTAIN \Y IEW of the terrace, fountain and underground garage being developed on the north side of the Capitol. In the fore-| ground is the reflecting pool for the Capitol dome, at North Capitol street and the new Louisiana avenue. The fountain in the background is on top of the garage and is approached by steps which cover the street car subway. The work is being done by H. R. Blagg Co. under supervision of Architect of the Capitol Lynn.—Commercial Photo. AND UNDERGROUND GARAGE. | 1 0 TO TAKE PART | Fris rus ere | N FOLK NASDLE Shakspearean Society Heads | Group of Organizations Co- operating in Project. The Shakespearean Society of Wash- ington, one of the oldest and best known dramatic groups in the Capital, is leading the list of civic organizations co-operating with the District of Co- lumbia and the United States George Washington Bicentennial Commissions in preparing for the premiere presenta- tion of the Percy MacKaye folk-masque, “Wakefleld.” to take place in Constitu- tion Hall February 21. The cast of the play, in which nearly 1,000 Washingtonians will take part, will include members of the Dramatic Guild, which has been active in the growth of dramatizations in the Dis- trict. Players From Arts Club. Players from the Arts Club are cast cluding that episode depicting the pio- neers of America, David Crocket, Daniel Boone, Ethan Allen. and other heroes FILIPINOS PLAN FETE | Honored at Banquet Tonight. ‘ Members of Congress, Philippine resi- dent_commissioners, members of the Philippine Independence Mission, and | university professors have been invited | | to & banquet tonight honoring the of- | ficers of the newly-organized Philippine | Modernist Party at the Mayflower Ho- tel tonight. | The new party. recently organized by Dr. Hilario Camino Moncado, now_ its president, and other Filipino college graduates in this country, expects to | enter candidates for all elective posts in } the islands in 1934. Dr. Moncado is also head of the Filipino Federation of CESTGTS 1 CHEST GIFTS DEFICIT FURTHER Only $190,437 Behind Goal. Drive Leaders Praise Public Response. of early times. The Knights of Co- Jumbus dramatic group appears in thg scene portraying the heroes of the New World venture, in _which Indians. brought together by the Indian Bureau of the Department of the Interior, also will participate. The Committee on Religlous Drams and Pageantry of the Washington Fed- eration of Churches is directing rehear- sals for the Bible scene of the Mac- Kaye masque, in which many church dramatic groups will take part. De- nominations represented in this act include All Souls’ Episcopal, Chevy Chase Presbyterian, Christ Episcopal, First Congregational, Foundry Metho- dist, Luther Place Memorial. Mount Pleasant Congregational, National City | Christian, Jewish Community Center, and others. Young Singers to Rehearse. Mabel Owens Wilcox is directing the Shakespearean Society group, while the Knights of COIumhus“_plnye rected by W. A. Mulligan. Club group includes John Paul Jones, Clifford Berryman, Fulton Lewis, Frank Steele, Glen Brown, and Maxfield Dun- lap. In preparation for the massed chorus of 10,000 voices which will sing on the east Steps of the Capitol on February 22, a group of 2,000 picked school chil- dren will rehearse this afternoon in the Central High School. The group will form a part of the great chorus, which | will include also 5.000 voices from the graded, private an and 3,000 voices schools. from the colored . LEADER HITS DELAY IN TUBERCULAR AID Mrs. Ernest R. Grant Says Funds for Children’s Hospital Have Been Available for Year. more children suffer from tu- beméem in the District each year, construction of a sanitorium for tuber- cular children here has been delayed three years after congressional authori- zation of the work, Mrs. Ernest R. Grant, president of the Association for the Prevention of Tuberculosis, charged in a radio address broadcast from ‘WRC last night. Publ%c funds for building the much- needed structure have been available for more than a year, Mrs. Grant said. Meanwhile deaths from tuberculosis in- eased here last year, Health Depart- ment statistics show, and the number of Kknown cases of the disease in children was larger than before. On January 21 there were 901 tuberculous children in the District. Of these 235 had the dis- ease in active or pulmonary form, the others in its juvenile stages, Only 160 such children can be cared for at the special health schools provided to han- le tubercular cases. The others, ex- cluded from public schools, have no cial care. sp;'he operation of many children’s sanatoria in other cities of the United States indicates that the plans fcr such institutions are long past the ex- perimental stage, Mrs. Grant pointed out. BACK BOWMAN BILL C. Commissioners, However, Point to Barred Use of Funds. The Commissioners, in a report to the House District Committee today, expressed their sympathy with the pur- poses of the Bowman bill for the dis- continuance of the use of alley dwell- ings as residences, but pointed out that the proposal in the bill to use the $500,- 000 unexpended balance of the funds ration for the conflict D. purpose with the financial program the Budget Bureau. is enacted into law several of the President by rs_are di-| The_ Arts| d_parochial schools, | | Consistent reduction of the Com- munity Chest deficit continued today. New gifts reported yesterday in the drive for $2,601,000 increased the :otal | to $2,410,562.84 and reduced the deficit to $190,437.16. | “While the amount received is not so large,” said Elwood Street, Chest di- | rector, “we are highly gratified at the contributions received in response to | the appeal in the newspapers. Gratified by Response. “It shows that Washingtonians are | realizing their duty to their fellow men and that when the needs of these | thousands of people are presented to them they are willing to respond. | “Especially gratifying are the addi- | tional gifts being received from people | who although they had already pledzed to the Chest for 1932, feit that they could do still more and are sending in | additional pledges or checks. The Chest | can use every penny and could use even | more than the campaign goal, which was arbitrarily fixed before a definite | knowledge of the seriousness of the un- | employment situation was fully ob- | tained. “With the Associated Charities, Sal- | vation Army and other family organ- | izations reporting decided increases in the demands for aid, every penny that comes in by mail or personal visit will be appreciated and will be needed to meet cases of absolute need.” New Pledges Received. Among new or additional pledges re- ceived at Chest headquarters in the In- vestment Building were: $10, Mrs. Elizabeth S. Adams, Frances F. Ander- son; $2, anonymous; $1, anonymous: $100, Samuel §. Bond; $10, Jane M Bradley; $300, H. F. Bueblin; $20 Josephine Burke; $5, Mary Stone Chap- man; $2, Ruth A. Clough; $10, C. F. Cole; $5, Martha L. Collins, Oleta A Costello; $100, Walter E. Edge: $75, M. Emmerich; $10, Joseph L. Gamme! $3. Andrew Glynn: $5, Eva Hazar $50, Ralph J. M. D. Haws; $10, Mary J. Holdeman: $25. Minta G. Howe: $10, Lora Johnson; $25. Ethel B. Ketchm: $20, Morris snd Eagan Co.; $5, G. E. Muth; $3, Clifford Napper; 85, J. O. Pace; $10, Jennie D. Parrott; $5, E. A. Passagno; $10, Mrs. Dorothy S. Pierson, Joseph B. Stein, Mrs. A. W. Thompson, Elizabeth W. Trescot; $5, Mrs. L. V. Wallace: $20, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. White- man; $5, Mrs. D. E. Winstead. Card Party Postponed. CHEVERLY, Md., February 12 (Spe- clal) —The card party, originally plan- ned for this evening by the Cheverly- Tuxedo School Improvement Associa- tion, has been postponed until Tuesday evening. It will be held at the home of Mrs. W. R. Gaither. CLASSFORD ASKS SAFERTAXI DRI i i Appeal to Companies by Po- lice Head Result of “Nu- merous Complaints.” An appeal for “greater care” in the operation of taxicabs was made today by Brig. Gen. Pelham D. Glassford, superintendent of police, in a letter to officials of the taxicab companies. Gen, Glassford's action was inspired by numerous complaints of flagrant vio- lation of the traffic regulations by taxi drivers. His letter listed seven violations which he said are in need of “correc- tive measures.” “Here in the Nation's Capital,” Gen. Glassford said, “we have a very complex problem, brought about no doubt by the large motor vehicle registration in this jurisdiction, tne increasing num- ber of taxicabs in operation on our streets city of a comparable population), the large number of visiting tourists. “In an effort to improve our traffic conditions your assistance and co- operation are requested with a view of improving the driving habits of some of our taxicab operators, as this de- partment is in receipt of numerous complaints, and observation indicates that some taxi drivers are mot exer- cising that care in the operation of their vehicles which promotes safety. “Without going into some of the more serious violations, it is requested if possible that you instruct the taxi drivers in your company to exercise greater care. It is believed that your co-operation in this respect will be of greater benefit than police action di-| rected against the individual driver.” Nature of Violations. The seven violations which need cor- rective measures Gen. Glassford listed as follows: | “1. A tendency on the part of many | taxi drivers n obstructing traffic by parking abreast for the discharge or taking on of passengers when curb space is nearby. “2. Suddenly stopping in the lane of | moving traffic to pick up a prospective passenger. 3. Weaving in and out of lanes of traffic for the purpose of getting ahead of traffic moving in the proper lane. “4. Driving to the left of the center of the roadway, especially at the ap- proach of intersecting streets. in an effort to get ahead of traffic waiting on the proper signal. “5. Speeding at intersections to cross before a change of signals. “6. Starting at intersections before (far in excess of any other | ) ®ond | Placed until after a careful examination PAGE B—1 SCHOOL IS VACATED ONWARNING ISSUED BY D. C. OFFICIALS Commissioners Tell Educa- tion Heads Wilson Teach- ers’ College Is Unsafe. CLASSES MOVE MONDAY TO COLUMBIA JUNIOR HIGH Representative Holaday Declares No Chances Will Be Taken in Repairing 01d Building. The Wilson Teachers' Eleventh and Harvard streets was vacated Wednesday only after the Commissioners had notified the school authorities that the struccure was “not safe for human occupancy.” This was revealed today by a letter signed by Emilie Buhler, acting secretary to the District Board of Ccmmissioners, on which was based Dr. Prank W. Bal- lou's formal order for immediate evacu- ation of the school. Meanwhile the refurnishing of the old Columbia Junior High School Building at Seventh and O streets is being accelerated in preparation for the opening Monday morning of the Wilson Teachers Coilege classes there. Reports that the Wilson Teachers’ Col- lege students had complained against their transfer to what they called an “undesirable neighborhood” were re- ceived by school officials. “I have instructed Dr. Edgar Higbie, the Wilson College president, to advise any students who complain to him that if they choose they might postpone their education until the old college building is repaired or a new building provided,” Stephen E. Kramer, first as- sistant superintendent, said today. Not to Take Any Chances. “If there is any question about tie Wilson Teachers' College being unsafe and dangerous—if it is found to be be- vond repair—of course, we will not take iy chances by using it said Repre- sentative William P. Holaday, Repub- lican, of Illinois. He has been a mem- College at | ber of the subcommittee on District ap- propriations for more than five years. “The fact that a crack appears in the walls of the Wilson Teachers' College or of the adjacent Ross Elementary Sehool does not necessarily indicate that the bullding is a total loss and beyond repair—that would be quite un- usual. So the question arises what will it cost to properly repair the building. “Of course, no definite conclusion can be reached whether these buildings can be repaired or whether they must be re- has been made by an engineer. Cracks do not necessarily indicate any serious structural fault. We must have definite engineering report on what the actual, true condition of the building is. I feel quite hopeful that a thorough in- vestigation by an engineer may sho | that these buildings could be repaired.” Sees Annual “Scare.” Representative Robert G. Simmons of Nebraska, former chairman of the subcommittee, said: “Of course, there may be some serious structural fault, but during the seven years I have been working on_District ~appropriations I have noticed that just about the time we are ready to start our hearings or during our hearings some unlooked-for ‘emergency’ in the school system has been brought to light “I am not saying but what some- thing may really be wrong that will have to be taken care of. but it is really remarkable how well timed these ‘emergencies’ have been. This year I have been watching with considerable curiosity and interest to see what would be found wrong. I have been unable to figure out what it might be, and I cer- tainly did not expect that after a pe- riod of years of service, during which we had severe droughts and heavy rains, that a_ building would be abandoned with what seemed to me to be such a flimsy explanation of the cause for the dangerous condition.” KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS the proper signal. “7. The unnecessary and obnoxious use of horns when the progress of the taxicab is delayed by congested traffic or slow-moving vehicles in front.” e DOOR HANGING BILL HIT City Heads Oppose Measure Requir- ing All to Open Outward. The Commissioners today sent to PLANS FEB. 22 FETE Fourth Degree Will Hold Initia- tion, Banquet and Dance at Shoreham Hotel. Commemorating the Bicentennial an- niversary of the birth of George Wash- ington, Maryland and District of Co- lumbia Fourth Degree General Assem- Congress an unfavorable report on a | blies of the Knights of Columbus will bill introduced by Senator Copeland |hold their annual initiation, banquet proposing to require all exit doors of |and dance on February 22 at the public buildings to open outwardly. Shoreham Hotel. More than 75 ap- This bill includes within its terms |Pplicants are expected to take the de- private as well as public buildings and the Commissioners said it would not be wise to apply the requirement to pri- vate buildings and that it is already in effect as regards public buildings used as places of assembly. Cosmopolitan Plans Stag. The next night meeting of the Cos- mopolitan Club will be a stag affalr, tg be held in the warehouse of the N. Auth Provision Co., at 623 D street south- west, February 25, it was announced today. Thomas J. Groom is chairman of committee in charge. Plans for the entertainment were announced at yes- terday's meeting of the club in the Carlton Hotel by Mr. Groom. After earning his bread for several years by poking fun at President Hoo- ver’s commissions, Wil an- nounced yesterday he will head a s cial one himself. It probably will be called the Committee on Anti-Hoarding Funsters and Wags. Following a “conference” with Secre- tary of War Hurley and President Hoo- ver, Rogers announced: “The President asked me if I wouldn't make up a joke to help along his anti-hoarding cam- paign. I'm going to appoint me some subcommittees mission.” first Rogers contended he had done nothing but listen to the Presi- dent and Secretary Hurley talk during his visit to the White House. “I was made the victim of s lot of information. ,You know, there are only and have & com- ROGERS FORMS OWN ONE-MAN, ANTI-HOARDING COMMISSION Accepts Hoover “Appointment” After Settling All World Questions Except Al Smith at White House Parley. two men in’ the world who can outtalk me. One is Bernard Shaw and the other is Pat Hurley.’ Later, however, he confessed he had settled most of the important questions of the day, including the Sino-Japanese difficulty, but forgot completely to solve “the Al Smith question.” The cowboy hurmorist said he asked the Precident if Congress would the $375,000,000 La Follette-Costigan bill for direct Federal relief. Mr. Hoo- ver replied he didn't know. The Presi- dent said no State government had yet applied for aid or even conceded it could not take care of its own sttuation. “In other words,” Rogers explained, “he sald no Governors had been parad- ing up and down Pennsylvania avenue with & tin cup.” Rogers went to Phila- delphia today. gree at the affair. William Leahy will be toastmaster at the banquet, while entertainment will be led by George O'Connor and Matt Horne. Arthur B. Williamson, acting master of the Fourth Degree, Knights of Co- lumbus in the District, will preside. A. J. Scullen is chairman of the Gneral Committee planning the func- tion. Michael Casey is marshal. Final opportunity to present appli- cations from candidates for initiation will be given at an assembly meeting February 18. PR KOHLER RITES TOMORROW German Chef Is Stricken With Heart Attack. Funeral services for Karl Kohler, 42, who died suddenly yesterday after a heart attack, will be held at his home, 1210 E street northeast, at 2:30 tomor- row afternoon. Burial will be in Pros- pect Hill Cemetery, with Masonic rites. Mr. Kohler was a member of the Armenian Masonic Lodge and was a director of the German Orphan Asylum. He had been working as a chef since arriving in this country more than 25 years ago and was at work at 2023 L street when stricken yesterday. He is survived by his widow. Elizabeth Kohler; a _son, Frederick C. Kohler; a daughter, Dorothy Kohler, and his par- ents, two brothers and a sister in Ger- many, from which country he came to the United States. Marriage Licenses. Walte rissett. 19. and Helen M. Mori- lfl.’,"l:r %.!\'G él"fln\'d H. Jope. saLemuel Brooks "33 andFlorence Colston A v. W_8. ‘.‘ln';fe‘ E wémv.-,"zx. ‘and Ruth E. Talley, 19; Samyel H_ Sapin; 3. and Gladys 8. Nor- . D. Sterrett. a1 Fo 5‘{ l"ndHulllleflu M. V. Francis J. Hurnes. LYgknry 'C. Bacra. 25, and Hazel A. Farmer, 18; R E. H!l“!' e Robert Talb and Lillian J. Nobls, 107 Rev. H. M. Hen