Evening Star Newspaper, March 5, 1932, Page 14

HOWELL DRY BILL | MAY BE SUBMITTED WITHOUT A REPORT Author Informs Committee He Is Not Insisting on Favor- able Recommendation. CHIEFLY WANTS MEASURE PUT ON SENATE CALENDAR Kegislation to Be Considered Again Tuesday—Lack of Quorum Prevents Vote. ‘When the Senate District Commit- tee takes up the Howell dry enforce- ment bill again next week, it may be decided to take the measure to the Senate without a recommendation from the committee. * This appeared the probable course of action following a meeting of the | committee yesterday afternoon, at which Senator Howell. Republican, of , author measure, in- he would not ask for a favorable report if he could have the bill placed on the Senate calendar. This would pave the way for the Senate itself to decide whether the measure should be taken up and voted on. The bill was partially con- sidered in the Senate last year, but did not reach a final vote. Quorum Lacking. The District Committee was sched- uled to reach a decision on the measure yesterday, and Senator Blaine, Repub- lican, of Wisconsin, an opponent of the bill, had made a& motion that a vote be taken of the members present and that Chairman Capper be author- ized to poll the absentees, when it was oted that & quorum was not present. Efi'fltflr Blaine said that in view of the e of the question he thought should be a and he his motion. not ask a favorable report,” “All I ask is that Tydings, Democrat, of Mary- r opponent of the bill, said -against it, but indicated other Senik to have it considered so ay vote on it also. terday, C! mittee convened yes- in which Poll\ Capper read a letter that enactmentypt. Glassford wrote sist materially Ixhe bill would “as- the prohibition-la\e enforcement of Columbia, but wouly the District of if the penalties wen more effective However, in an ‘creased.” | ying the GlassfoXbit accom- ining present enforcemetter out- | it was stated that “crime‘pachinery, this city (other than violalitions in prohibition law) do not warn of the time an assignment of a largest this of police officers on prohibiwmber Wins Contest MARGARET McDONALD CHOSEN AT HOLY CROSS. MARGARET McDONALD, Eighteen, a resident student at the Academy of the Holy Cross, was selected as winner of the school elimination in the National Oratorical Contest at a competition held this week. She will represent the school in the private and | parochial finals of The Star area with{ her oration on “Origins of the Consti- tution.” Miss McDonald is the daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin McDonald of this city. She is a member of the senior class, president of the Catholic students’ mission crusade unit and in- terested in basket bali, tennis and horse- back riding. CREATION OF WORK URGED BY CURTIS o THE EVENING TRADE BOARD BODY | ASKS CAR MERGER 10 AID EFFICIENCY Committee Approves Report Asking Legislation at Present Session. LIMITED FIELD OPPOSED IN TRACTION OPERATION Group Feels Companies Should Be Free to Operate Cabs Also if Util- ities Board Is Favorable. ‘The Public Utilities Committee of the Washington Board of Trade, in adopt- ing the report of a special subcommit- tee yesterday, approved enactment of transportation merger legislation during the present session of Congress, stating “this legislation will make possible long- needed improvements in the transpor- tation services rendered to the people of the District.” The committee action came after thorough study of the proposed merger bill, during which representatives of the street rallway companies, independent taxicab owners and sightseeing bus op- erators conferred with committee mem- bers. The group also had the benefit of the presense at one of its meetings of Assistant Corporation Counsel William A. Roberts, who explained the attitude of the Public Utilities Commission and the District Commissioners toward the proposed bill. Limited Power Opposed. In opposing any legislation seeking to limit the powers of transportation com- panies concerning their services to mass transportation, the committee saw no reason why the companies should be prohibited by law from engaging in taxicab operations “of a character ap- propriate in connection with street rail- way and bus service” deemed by the Public Utilities Commission to be desir- able in the public interest. Relief of transportation companies from “existing unfair burdens and es- tablishment of conditions which will Appeals to Citizens to Aid Idle by Having Needed Repairs Made Now. “The people of Washington were urged to provide jobs for the unemployed by doing at once those things they need and can afford to do, in a statement is- sued today by Vice President Curtis. He pointed out that the city should groom itself now so as to appear to best advantage during the George Washing- forcement activities.” en- One of the objects of the Howe, ton Bicentennial year. Vice President Curtis’ statement fol- is to clothe all members of the M&ll | lows: “Idle money maxes men idle. politan Police Force with the necess,| When the dollars go back to work it is authority to aid in prohibition enfordnot long before business feels the ment. In his report to the commitatimulating effect and men go back to tee, Gen. Glassford stated that 38 prk also. The men who are thus re- members of his department now have | red to employment have more dollars prohibition authority. imt in circulation and the beneficial ce grows and expands. Bride Objections Followed. tovfl-y one can help in this campaign He explained in a footnote that by is diove conditions. All 1t m&ug; rohibition authority” is meant the| Whichuination to do 0se gm 0 serve searchywlmm_s. adding | afford tueed to do and which we can that all members of the force “are s no que. and d‘:hthem now. There now empowered to enforce the prohibi-|in the city that thousands of people tion laws.” The police chief also advo- | ing expendfvashington are consider- cated heavier penalties. pairs and ps for improvements, re- After stating that the features ob- | themselves amases all beneficial to Jected to by Counsel Bride possibly have %eir property. They when the bill was up in 1930 have | for some time, considering _ these been’ eliminated or modified, Gen. G or another, have e to one influence as follows: ing them into eff&ined from carry- “I have no comments or suggestions | been less money in ¢ The result has make to the bill as it now stands, I ;oh;fm offer to mm‘s ;uauont zu-:d Jess except that it is believed that the en- “If every one Wot VAN work. actment of this bill into law will assist | they have been contempse the work in the enforcement of the fect would be almost insting the ef- laws in the District of Co- Washington we have an aneous. In lumbia, but would be more effective ‘were the penalties increased.” to do this without delay. ‘J reason tennial -of the birth of Geon Bicen- The report accompanying Glassford's letter stated further: ington will undoubtedly bring Wash- of people to Washington, and Hlions “Our records show that on this date | reason all Washingtonians will wkhis there are 401 locations where it is|Make their Capital City appear tfo known or suspected that liquor is sold. | best advantage. Improvements to pr& These known and suspected establish- ments cannot be raided unless & police ises, repainting, sprucing up of las and similar work will all contribute officer or informer is able to enter and actually make a purchase. It is very | difficult for any one who is not a regular and known patron of these es- tablishments to make a purchase.” In addition to the 38 policemen designated for prohibition enforcement, the report showed the department has 10 informers paid by the Prohibition Bureau to assist_in getting evidence, The department has two automobiles, both more than four years old, for pur- suing transporters of liquor. | ‘Would Broaden Searches. ‘The section of the bill relating to search warrants for dwellings, which has created most of the discussion on the bill, would permit search warrants for dwellings used “for the unlawful | sale, manufacture for sale, or storage | said. for sale.” could be done at less cost. “Let’s all do our part, large and smal WON'T FINANCE DEPOT 000 might be financed by Henry Clews & Co. of New York was deni | partner in the brokerage firm. “There is not a word of truth to f A report that a union bus terminal | tion compani | and office building here to cost $1,500,- | °f the Public Ut} ed | today by George W. Macilvray, senior | It is the first we have heard of it,” he DY busses.” permit the new company to effect im- provements of service” also was recom- mended by the committee. In this connection the committee stated: “Competition from taxicabs and pri- vate automobiles in this territory is such that in order to retain and attract patronage the street railway and bus lines must render a high grade of serv- ice at reasonable rates. Therefore, we believe that instead of imposing addi- tional burdens or restrictions upon the transportation companies, the public in- terest requires that the legislation pro- vide for relief from existing unfair burdens.” Pointing to the changing conditions affecting local passenger transportation in American cities, the committee felt that “the future interest of the public will be best served by leaving the trans- portation agencies free, subject to proper control by the Public Utilities Commission, to develop their services to meet the public need in accordance with the developments of transportation methods.” Fair Dealing Seen. Stating it believes the commission can be depended upon to protect the public interest and to deal fairly with all the transportation agencies con- cerned, the committee continued: “Experience in other cities does not indicate any ground for apprehepsion on the part of taxicab owners or opera- tors as to possible operation of taxicabs by the transportation companies. If in the future taxicab operations of a char- acter appropriate in connection with street railway and bus service should, in the judgment of the Public Utilities Commission, be desirable in the public interest, we do not believe the trans- i)ortluon companies should be prohib- ted by law from engaging in such op- erations. “We find that the busses belonging | to the transportation companies are | now and have for years been chartered | for sightseeing purposes. In fact, street cars were regularly employed in sight- ing business before busses came into this end. There is probably no time in'gneral use. Prohibition of charter of many years when this kind of work ses or street cars for sightseeing ses would keep available equip- 11, | woy idle during off-peak hours and in improving the appearance of our | wousmpose a loss of revenue, which city, restoring the normal circulation of bornén the last analysis have to be business and eliminating the unemploy- ment problem in this, our National City. | tion. street | those who use busses and % for their daily transporta- | economic therefore consider it un- the chartel undesirable to prohibit busses for sk, transportation company | regular bus sieeing purposes. As the | es of the transporta- under the control Commission, there is thu: 1 o ity, if such were needed, to assure busses for sightseet the charter of not be allowed to h purposes shall regular transportationfere with the = “vice rendered Favors Liberal Proy, After a brief discussion of the bill,| ————————————— | The committee felt thal™® in which attention was called to the |sel Bride objected to in his report was | requiring a complete merger }gislation objection made by the Attorney General | section 6, which provides that it to extending the search warrant au- | be the duty of the Commissioners thority in the case of private dwellings, the committee was asked by Chairman | of this act Senator Blaine then made his mo- | officer.” tion that a vote be taken of the members present and that the chair- man be authorized to poll absentees on the question of whether the bill should be reported. At this point | it was noted that there was not a quo- rum present, whereupon Senator Blaine withdrew his motion and suggested feiture of office.” On this Mr. Bride wrote: prehensive to justify the constructio more members could attend. Borah Amendment Voted. Explaining his bill, Senator Howell #aid that in the Senate last year the search warrant section was modified by adoption of the Borah amendment, providing for a warrant for dwellings only when used for unlawful sale, manufacture for sale, or storage for sale, of intoxicating liquor, The Senator said that at the 1930 hearings the Attorney General's repr sentative did not contend tte ne search warrant power was unnecessary, but thet it would be inexpedient to enact it. Chairman Capper also filed at yesterday’s meeting a new letter from Assistant Attorney General Young- quist, suggesting clarification of a section dealing with the disposition of seized automobiles, in addition to the changes proposed two years ago Senator Gore, Democrat, of Okla- homa, asked if he was correct in un- derstanding that the Howell bill would in addition to the Volstead law in gton. Senator Howell affirmed this view, explaining the District had dts local Sheppard prohibition law i 8917, but that officials hold the Shep- Eu‘d law was, in large part, repealed y implication when the Volstead law Was enacted. Senator King, Democrat, of Utah, aid he wondered if that conclusion is Justified, and Senator Glenn, Republi- lc:n. of nlgzm g:;]zred the Volstead W Was Tegar: as having repealed State liquor laws. S *Q:A:Irmm Capper said he had not re- report on the bill from the Dis- ¥riet Commissioners, but that they had & memorandum prepared by Counsel Bride, approving suggesting changes | ministrative capacity, fine and forfeiture of office To provide additional penalties failure to enforce laws relating to in { all other laws. extent such a provision could be car. ried. If, for instance, under the provi prehending the murderer. Justified under the proposed law.” Section 7 Also Cited. whether to for report. necessary, Mr. Bride said, because the: warrants from United States sloners. bill may be considered i, and opinton, that the Commissioners of the District are required not merely to investigate hicles, according to the committee, there should be another meeting when | Violations of the liquor laws in an ad- but to dev their time personally to such investige. tions at the expense of their other du- ties as Commissioners under pain of |the trade body committee said. * | understand that the objections of the | District Cormmmissioners to those provi- | sions are mainly on the ground that the of the District of Co- to assume the payment of the prospective | paving costs.” We beMeve, however, that |such an objection affecting only the | current budget or budgets should not stand in the way of adoption of reason- It 1s {to the public interest that the District {should for the future assume responsi- bility for its proper share of paving costs, and thus further the general pur- ovement of ‘Por neglect of duty a police officer is subject to penalties now prescribed. for toxicating liquor would have the effect, of making the duty of enforcing such laws paramount to the enforcement, of Let us see to what a policemnan should learn of a murder and also of a violation of the national prohibition act, ions of this section his primary duty would be to investi- gate the violation of the liquor laws before investigating the murder or ap- This ma: be a severe instance, but it is cleafl; Section 7, which deprives the United States attorney of all discretion as to | prosecute under the i Iaw or not, Mr. Bride said weald Yer duce the district attorney to a “mere ministerial officer” and suggested that | it be referred to the Attorney General Section 10, which gives to judges of Pollce Court the power to issue arrest warrants in prohibition cases, is un- now have general powers to issue arrest warrants and this might restrict their powers to the sole one of issuing such warrants in liquor cases. He said that there was no difficulty now in obtaining commis: e tdes toport S Shown to the ers yest , but they have nfl!;pdumew.ppmvewduy e 1 | poration of all the transportaile cor- + | under control of the transp,units to investigate and report all violations | companies would be “impracticaition * and to report any unnecessary and the Capper what course it wished to follow. | Violations to the proper prosecuting not require it.” Failure to comply with the | terms of this section is made punishable | held, are necessary in regard to rel by a fine of $100 to $500 and for- |from existing paving burdens if the | purpose of the legislation is to be ac- These burdens at present “This language is sufficiently com- impose upon street car riders a con- siderable part of the cost of paving used and worn largely by motor ve- public interes#nd es Liberal provisions, the commity { complished. n | pa; ed existing budget lumbia makes tire District unable able provisions on this subject pose of facilitating the the service rendered to ;,‘ merger legislation next week. y Sentenced in Dance Hall. was tried for murder, convi sentenced to hang at court sessions Pprove it status is he met the girl . that of en in a dance hall where [ he iiilled. “We find considerutte difference in the estimates as to the effects of the ving provision in the bill recommend- by the Public Utilities Commission,” W “We regard the paving provisions as contained in the bills as recommended passed on by the board of directors of the Board of Trade Monday, and the arguments are expected to be presented before the House District Committee when that body holds hearings on the John J. Bsch is chairman of the Pub- of the trade Sydney Goulter of Ouflalom.lcmh.n:a held STAR, WASHINGTO! Honor Guest GRAY ENTERTAINED BY GARDENERS AT BANQUET. | WILLIAM J. GRAY, Superintendent of the Oaks estate in Georgetown and president of the Na- tional Assoclation of Gardeners, was guest of honor last night at a banquet and dance given by the District branch | of the association at the Willard Hotel. | Mr. Gray, who lives at 3203 S street, | helped to found the local branch and served as its first chairman. Mr. Gray is regarded as one of the | most efficient and well informed garden- | ers in the country. He has played an active part in the affairs of the nation- al association for many years, | Mr. Gray is an enthusiastic supporter of the projected international peace garden along the Canadian border as a lasting memorial to the friendship and confidence between the two nations. COMMITTEE T0 GET FIVED. C. MEASURES Real Estate and Banking Bills Due Tuesday for Senate Study. Bills to regulate foreclosure of mortgages, the licensing of real estate dealers, to control the sale of securities and to amend the banking laws of the District will be considered by the Sen- ate District Committee at a meeting called for 2:30 o'clock Tuesday after- noon. The committee also will take up a bill to amend in several respects the act incorporating the Acacia Mutual Life Insurance Association. The bill would change the name from “Associa- tain changes in sections defining pow- ers of the organization. All five of these measures will be explained to the committee by Senator Blaine, Republican, of Wisconsin, who has had them under consideration in a subcommittee. He notified Chair- man Capper of the District Committee yesterday that he was ready to have them considered by the full committee. Shelved at Last Session. The bills relating to foreclosure of mortgages, real estate llceming and sale of securities were all passed by the Senate in the last Congress, but did not get though the House and had to be_reintroduced. The bill adding new provisions to the laws relating to banks, trust companies and building and loan associations was drafted and recommended by the con- troller of the currency. ‘The District Committee yesterday afternoon made a favorable report on a bill recommended by District offi- cials to require insurance companies incorporated under the laws of the Dis- trict to keep their principal books and records here in order to faciiltate in- spection by the Insurance Department. The committee also received yester- day from Assistant Corporation Counsel Vernon West the final draft of the Cap- per bill to regulate more effectively the| sale and use of firearms, which the com- mittee is expected to report out next week. Car Safety Bill Due. Mr. West also expects to submit to the Senate Committee at an early date the perfected draft of the automobile safety responsibility bill, which already has been considered by the committee. The committee turned the measure over to Mr. West to work out the legal form of several proposed amendments. The bill is designed to promote safety by requiring motorists who are convicted of serious traffic offenses to show proof of financial responsibility for damages before driving again. It would not af- fect careful drivers. REVIEWING STAND SITES APPROVED Commissioners Adopt Locations Fixed Along Pennsylvania Ave- nue for Bicentennial Parades. The District Commissioners yesterday wroved several locations {or reviewing ads along Pennsylvania avenue from ThE, Monument to Fifteenth streel {ricptnds are to be bullt by the Dis- Hor, Jeentenntal Commission. The ac- tion Merday only applies to the loca- Sibe stands. No permits have b".?,& for .;fim;‘z'mcu.nuu’. A wi erec or the | oo P at the many parades kil Pl & o use historlcPennsyl- cmhm"“‘;‘:‘mwnn the Bicentennial The locavgns®r: sclide: South side of pgpProved sales] between First and yanla mventic side of Pennsylvania®, Streets, voret Beventh strect, north & R 07 vania avenue between *wnn‘x and Eighth street, south side'y’ Pennsyl- vania avenue between Ninth o COtEY Louisiana avenue, North side'v SH< sylvania_avenue east of Tentr.Eent- south side of Pennsylvania aveli®(h front, of the Post Office Building, in side of Pennsylvania avenue wa&m Thirteenth street, south side of Pe sylvania avenue between Thirteen a-Half and Fourteenth streets. There will be at least mission informed the city heads. ROB FILLIG STATION Oolored Pair Bind and Gag Mana- ger and Flee With $25. $26 last night when they filling station at 1731 Kalorama road. ade ¢ police’ descriptions of the men. tion” to “Company” and authorize cer- | i 13 parades and reviews during the year, the com- ‘Two unidenti; colored men obtained i pod held up Charles Wade, ‘manager of a gasoline he was left bound and from his D. C. SATURDAY., MARCH 5. LARGE SAVING SEEN INDISTRICT BUDGET FROM NEW AGENCY Economy Committee Named by City Heads to Start Work in May. WILL BEGIN PREPARATION OF ESTIMATES FOR 1934 Donovan Made Chairman of Group, Which Will Center Attention on Matter of Purchases. Unusual economies in the 1934 Dis-| trict budget are expected as a result of the appointment of an Economy Committee by the District Commission- ers yesterday. Preparations of the 1934 budget will be started in May, probably before the 1933 District supply bill is enacted. The Economy Committee, however, will go to work in advance upon the preparation of the 1934 esti- mate and suggest to the Commission- ers a field in which they believe econo- mies can be made. ‘The committee will not be tied to budget recommendations, however, but will be asked to look into the matter of purchase of supplies and. equipment, of construction material, equalization of supplies, material and equipment on hand, purchase and use of motor ve- hicles and other matters. In discussing the appointment of the new committee, Dr. Luther H. Reichel: derfer, president of the Board of Co missionrs, said that it was not the re- sult of any suggestion from Congress, but solely an evidence of the Com- missioners’ desire to operate the District government as economically as possible. ‘The . Commissioners had previously been requested by the House Appropri- ations Committee for lists of all em- ployes drawing $2,500 a year or over and for statistics on the number of an- nual reports printed and distributed by the various District departments. There is no connection, however, between those requests and the formation of the present committee. Daniel J. Donovan, District auditor, was made chairman of the committee and W. G. Weilding of the auditor's office was made sec . Other mem- bers of the committee are: Capt. H. C. Whitehurst, director of hjghways; Dan- iel E. Garges, secretary of the Board of Commissioners; Stephen E. Kramer, first assistant superintendent of public schools; Tax Assessor William P. Rich- ards and George S. Wilson, director of public welfare. ‘The committee it to meet on call of the chairman and is to have the right to call before it the heads of the de- partments and other employes for such lormaf as it may require, to in- vestigate methods in effect in the sev- eral departments, to recommend im- provements therein and to make any other recommendations as in its judg- ment may result in economies in the administration of public business. COMMITTEE ON TAFT SCHOOL WORK NAMED Heads of Four Civic Groups Will Inquire Into Failure of U. S, to Let Contract. ‘The presidents of four Northeast civic groups represented in the Northeast Conference of Citizens’ Associations were named last night as a committee | to inquire into the failure of the Gov- ermment to award a contract for com- pletion of the Taft Junior High School, Eia?uenm and Quincy streets north- east. At a meeting held in the home of the conference secretary, R. N. Ashmun, 1524 Newton street northeast, plans were discussed for overcoming congres- sional opposition to a $250,000 appropri- ation_recommended by the Bureau of the Budget to complete the school project. Members of the conference include the Brookland, Michigan Park, Dahl- gren Terrace and Burroughs Citizens’ Associations. An initial fund of $200,000 was ap- propriated at the last session of Con- gress, out of which the site for the school was purchased and plans drafted for the erection of the building. N’GI IS ‘MUCH BETTER, DRINKS PINT OF MILK Keeper of Baby Gorilla Whistles Again as Marked Improvement Follows Operation at Zoo. N'Gi, the zoo's baby gorilla. was “much better” today, Dr. Willam M. Mann, zoo director, reported. Fed with a syringe because of his extreme weakness all day vesterday, this morning N'Gi had so far regained his strength that he was able to drink a pint of milk unaided. This is considered the best sign in & long time. “I caught Blackburn whistling this morning,” said Dr. Mann. “It's the first time in & month.” Willlam H. Blackburn is the head- keeper who has raised N'Gi. STREET WORK ORDERED Resurfacing Is Authorized by Dis- trict Commissioners. The District Commissioners today ordered resurfacing of the followin streets, on recommendation of Capt. Herbert C. Whitehurst, highway engi- neer: Fourteenth street southwest, Water street to Highway Bridge; Twenty-fifth street, Virginia to Pennsylvania ave- nues; G street, Twenty-second street to Virginia avenue; North Capitol street, Indiana to Massachusetts avenue; D street northeast, First street’to Massa- chusetts avenue: Eighteenth street, E reet to Pennsylvania avenue; Mount sant street, Sixteenth street to road: U street, Ninth to Tenth F street, ' Twenty-first to (second streets; F street south- Florida¥rd to Four-and-a-Half street; . Rvenue, Seventh to Ninth 1s avenue southeast, Sher- orth end of concrete. MUSIC \OR PATIENTS Patlents at will be entert; Reed Hospital orrow after- es Thompson " & 10-piece or- noon at 3 o'clock by and his ambassadors, Katherine Kendall told police she was knocked down Jast night while put- tng an automobile in & in Tear of her home at 128 B stract north. east, ‘The assaflant, man, with & by an unidentified ' Price, pookethook con- 1932. Where Riverman Died in Fire TAXI SLAYING TRIO SENTENCED 10 DIE | Executions of Robinson, Lay-‘i ton and Washington Set for June 15. Three colored men—William Clinton Robinson, 20; Charles E. Washington, 23, and Leonard A. Layton, 18—were sentenced to death yesterday by Justice F. D. Letts for the killing of Manny Solomon, & taxi driver. Solomon was shot to death during an attempted hold- up at Union and O streets southwest July 29 last. The death sentences were read sepa- | rately by Justice Letts to the three pris- oners, fixing the date of their electro- cution as Friday, June 15, between 10 am. and 2 pm. Counsel for each of the men noted an appeal. Assistant United States Attorney John | J. Sirica conducted the prosecution, while the defendants were represented | by Attorneys E. Russel Kelly, Cedric | Johnson and Charles Williams, Declaring he could “work up no sym- | pathy for gunmen,” Justice Letts sent to the penitentiary for 15 years—the | maximum sentence—Alonzo Dunbar, | colored, who shot and killed Cicero Dodson, also colored, September 19 last. Dunbar had been indicted for first- degree murder, but the prosecution ac- cepted his plea of guilty to manslaughter. ‘When counsel for the prisoner asked for further leniency, the court declared the reduction of the grade of the crime | was all that could be allowed under the | circumstances. Later he permitted the | time to include six months that the prisoner has been in custody. Because of peculiar circumstances in | the case of William Watkins, colored, | who had known his victim, Wesley | Phillips, only a few hours before he got | into a fight and stabbed Phillips, the court fixed the penalty at 10 years in the penitentiary. Watkins also had been indicted for first-degree murder, | but was allowed to change his plea to | manslaughter. The mother of the pris- oner traveled from Atlanta to tell the | court her son had never been is serious | trouble before. THREE HURT HERE IN AUTO MISHAPS Man, Thrown by Car Into Another':: Path, Seriously Injured; Driver Held—@Girl Also Is Victim. A child and two adults were hurt | in traffic mishaps late yesterday. | The most seriously injured was Oni- | bale Increte, 38, 1100 block of New Hampshire avenue, who was knocked down by one automobile and thrown di- rectly into the path of another machine which ran over him on Pennsylvania avenue near Four-and-a-half street. He was treated at Emergency Hospital for fractured ribs, a broken arm, cuts and a head injury. Vance Watts, 24, colored, of the 800 block of Howard road southeast, driver of the first car which struck him, was | arrested and charged at No. 1 police station with reckless driving and assault. The automobile which ran over him was operated by Merrill I. Clements, 20, of the 200 block of Thirteenth street northeast, police say, Betty Smith, 20, of the 1500 block of Rhode Island avenue, was treated at Emergency Hospital for an injury to the knee, after being struck by an auto- mobile operated by W. J. Goddard, 42, of the 400 block of Maryland avenue southwest, at the intersection of Massa- chusetts avenue and Fifteenth street. Eva May, 10, of the 1400 block of Massachusetts avenue, received cuts about the face when struck by an auto- mobile several hours earlier at Fifteenth street and Massachusetts avenue. The car which struck her was operated by John H. Layton, 30, of the 500 block of Thirteenth street. police said. The girl was treated at the Episcopal Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital. FORMER WASHINGTONIAN CONVICTED IN AUTO THEFT Norman T. Whitaker, Disbarred Here in 1924, Sentenced to Three Years in Prison. By the Associated Press. TAMPA, Fla. March 5—Norman T. ‘Whitaker, former Washington, D. C. attorney, was sentenced yesterday to three years imprisonment for violat- | ing the Federal automobile theft law.| He was accused of receiving and con- cealing an automobile stolen Decem. ber 19, 1929, in Philadelphia and trans porting it to St. Petersburg. It was found there by officers. | Norman T. Whitaker, who was ad- mitted to the District Bar in 1913, was | disbarred October 7, 1924, for unethical conduct in an alleged attempt to force the Western Union Telegraph Co. to purchase an invention from one of his clients. | ey 26 YEARS FOR SHOOTING Court Sentences Assailant of Cab Driver. '!'he:imswnL g.unt‘h eglond was sen- tenced yesterday by Justice James M. Criminal g the sh a cab _driver, & hold-up last Renshaw was shot in the back and has become paralyzed. He was brought into court in a wheel chair to testify last week. The court gave Hunt the maximum sentence of 15 years for rob- bery and 10 years for an assault with Upper photo shows the ruins of the river shanty in which John Williams was burned to death—Star Staff Photo. BURNED 10 DEATH N RNER SHANT J. W. Reynolds, Nephew of Late “Capt.” Reynolds, Perishes in Flames. John William Reynolds, nephew of the late Capt. William T. Reynolds, whe saved so many persons from drowning in the Potomac that he “couldn’t keep track of 'em,” was burned to death last night when fire wrecked the one-room shack on the riverfront, in which he made his home. Reynolds, who was 41, apparently was asleep when the blaze, which is believed to have been caused by an overheated stove, broke out. His charred body was found near the door of the shanty, located a short distance below Key Bridge. Overcome by Smoke. ‘The position of his body, police and firemen pointed out, indicated he evi- dently awakened while the fire was at its height and was overcome by smoke while trying to grope his way out of the burning shack. The blaze was discovered by a taxi- cab driver, who saw flames leaping into the air as he drove past the shanty. After making a futile attempt to enter the shack and notify its occupant, the hacker notified Engine Co., No. 5. Reynolds was dragged from the burn- ing shanty by Lieut. J. H. Davison, and the rescue squad took him to Emergency é{:gim, where he was pronounced Meanwhile, the firemen succeeded in extinguishing the blaze, which, for a brief interval, threatened to spread to a boat house a few feet away, owned by the dead man’s father, Joseph R. Rey- nolds. Other nearby property, including the storage house and wharf above the old Aqueduct Brdige, was not menaced, however. ‘The shack, consisting of a fairly large room with a tiny closet at either end, was burned to a shell of charcoal. Boat House Manager. Reynolds. who was unmarried, had been_ living in the shanty since the death of his uncle, “Capn Willie,” February 20, 1931. “Capn Willie,” whose numerous rescues made him known to thousands of Washingtonians, died of pneumonia. He was the owner of Reynold’s boat house, when many resdents of the Capital rented canoes. With the ‘demise of “Cap'n Willie,” ownership of the boat house passed to the father of the man who was burned to death. The fire victim had been managing the boat house, his father taking care of a similar place farther up the river. Besides his father, Reynolds is sur- vived by three brothers, Robert, who lives in Greater Capitol Heights, Md.; Henry. a resident of the 3700 block of Conduit road, and Clarence, 1421 Thirty- third street, and two sisters, Mrs. Eva Curry, Rosslyn, Va., and Mrs. M: E. Bauer, who also makes her home at the Thirty-third street address, as does the father. Funeral arrangements have not been completed. Reynold’s death was the fifth to occur in the family since PFebruary, 1931. “Cap'n Willie” started the string of deaths, and his two brothers, his sis- ter and his granddaughter followed him in rapid succession. CITY NEWS IN BRIEF. TODAY. Meeting and dance, Texas State So- ciety, Raleigh Hotel, 8 pm. Meeting, Biological Society of Wash- ington, Cosmos Club, 8 p.m. Entertainment and dance, Oklahoma State Society, Meridian Mansions, 8:30 pm. Meeting, Federation of Citizens’ As- sociations, District Building, 8 pm. Card party, Officers’ Club, Washing- ton Loan & Trust Building, 8:15 p.m. Meeting, National Genealogical So- ciety, Y. W. C. A, 8 pm. Dinner, Federal Schooimen’s Chub, Hamilton Hotel, 7 p.m. Dinner, United Spanish War Vet- erans, Mayflower Hotel, 7 p.m. Anniversary card party, Mothers | Club of Colmar Manor, Cottage City Fire House, 8 pm. Dance and card party, Gavel Chapter, 0. E. 8, No. 20, Kennedy-Warren, 8 Benefit card party, Silver ¥l School, silver H8ll, Md., 7:30 pm. - » NEW POST OFFICE WORK 1S PUSHED WITH DUAL SHIFT Two Hundred Additional Men to Be Employed by Revised Schedule Monday. 62 MILES OF PILINGS PLANNED ON ONE SITE Electric Lighting Lines and More Pile Drivers Moved Into Place for 6 AM to 10 P.M. Use. Two shifts of pile drivers will begin pounding on the site of the new Post Office Department, running the work up to 10 o'clock at night, beginning Monday, it was learned today. Electric lighting lines have been run inta place, more pile drivers are being moved into the Post Office site from nearby locations, and Neal A. Melick, U. S. construction engineer in charge, expects that 11 drivers will be ready for action at 6 o'clock Monday morn- ing, weather permitting. Plan 16-Hour Work. ‘The two shifts will keep up a con- tinuous drive on piles from 6 o'clock in the morning until 10 o'clock at night, in what is expected to produce the most concentrated clatter yet produced in any part of the Government build- ing program. Already the pile jobs of both Inter- state Commerce Commission and De- partment of Labor Buildings, Constitution avenue from Twelfth to Fourteenth street have been nnhbemd, between these two structures there will be 4,000 more piles to be driven later on when | Reynolds (lower), boat house manager, | the site is ready. But the Post Office Department Bulid- ing, where driving is to be concentrated Monday morning, will have more miles of piling under it than any bullding in this part of the country. On ac- count of the depth of the soft subsoll long piles running up to 60 feet in length are being driven. This is about twice as long as usual for a building in this vicinity. 62 Miles of Piling. Under the new Department of Com- merce Building, there are 13,500 piles, but their total length is less than the total piling length to be sunk beneath the Post Office Department. It is ex- pected. there will be 62 miles of piling beneath the Post Office Department, together in the four buildings in that area of the Federal Building Triangle there will be more than 125 miles of piling. About 600 men are now employed on the sites of these four buildings, al- though the heavy rain yesterday almost completely stopped operations. With the addition of the new night shift, it is expected about 200 more men will be added, making a total of 800. ALLEY CLOSING BILL IS GIVEN SENATE Affected Property Owners Assured by Commissioners of Right of Access. A bill authorizing the District gov- ernment to close and relocate alleys in squares where the city buys property for some municipal purpose was intro- duced yesterday by Chairman Capper of the Senate District Committee. ‘The bill refers to several alleys speci- fically, and then gives general authority to handle similar cases. In trans- mitting the measure, the Commission- ers said no property owner in blocks where such alley changes are to be made will be deprived of the right of uc’:z u;e:h ampeny !zg e'xi‘.:shunx alleys un] a uate access su operty is substituted therefore. ok ASKS LONGER RESIDENCE | FOR MOTHERS’ PENSIONS Board of Public Welfare Would Make Requirement of Twe Years Instead of One. ‘The Board of Public Welfare today recommended to the Commissioners that the period of residence requisite for eligibility to mothers’ pensions under the act of 1926 be increased from one to two years. The letter of Director George S. Wilson said: “It has become increasingly t to the Board of Public Woltare. that because of the comparatively short period of residence required by the act persons who are eligible to this assist- ance, except in the matter of residence, are coming to the District of Columbia, establishing a residence of one year and immediately thereafter making their application. It is felt that this practice would be deterred by an increase in the period of time an applicant must re- side in the District before becoming eligible to home care aid.” TEXAN- DENIES KNOWING OF TAX INDICTMENTS W. L. Pearson, Accused Here Yes- terday, Declines Comment at Home in Houston. W. L. Pearson of Houston, Tex., who was indicted here yesterday for income tax irregularities under a section of the internal revenue law never before invoked by the Government, said in Houston last night that he knew noth- ing about the case, according to the Associated Press. “I know no more about it than you do,” Pearson declared when informed of the indictment. “I have no state- ment to make.” Pearson is a wealthy contractor who has built many re in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Pearson and W. L. Pearson & Co. of Corpus Christi, Tex., were indicted on charges that they neglected to report payments to 11 officials of Hidalgo and Duval Counties of “commissions” in se- curing road-building contracts. CHILLUM CITIZENS MEET ‘The Chillum Citizens’ Association held its regular monthly meeting last | night at_ the Woodburn School with ‘Thomas Joy, president, presiding. Dis- satisfaction was expressed at the recent action taken by the School Board in regard to a colored school to be erected at Rock Creek Church road and Allison