Evening Star Newspaper, April 6, 1932, Page 13

TANCAB STUATON T0 B CONSDERED HTPUBLCHEARNG House District Committee Calls Special Session for Tomorrow Night. RELATIONSHIP TO MERGER PLANS WILL BE TAKEN UP Mrs. Norton Would Divorce Two Problems by Specific Provision in Pending Bill. The taxicab situation in Washington, with its relationship to the proposed merger of transportation facilities and the recent order of the Public Utilities Commission requiring meters to be in- stalled in all taxicabs, will be considered 8t a special meeting of the House District Committee tomorrow night at 8 o'clock. By agreement at the meeting of the committee today. this special session to- morrow night will be open to the public. Members of the Public Utilities Com- mission, W. A. Roberts, special counsel for the commission, and representatives of the independent taxicab companies have been invited by Chairman Norton of the District Committee to be present and testify. In order to divorce the taxicab prob- jem from the street railway merger, Mrs. Norton will seek to have the merger bill so restrictive in its pro- visions as to specifically eliminate the operation of taxicabs from the powers of the merged company. If this clarify- ing action is taken, she and other members of the committee, as well as District officials, feel that progress on the merger can be expedited, allowing the taxicab problem to be settled sep- arately. May Withdraw Powers. In answer to the question what Con- gress can do to prevent the Public Utilities Commission from carrying out its order to put meters into taxicabs, it was suggested today to members of the House District Committee that they might pass separate legislation with- drawing from the Public Utilities Com- mission any jurisdiction in the fixing of taxicab rates. It was disclosed by Chairman Norton that some such leg- islative proposal is being considered, aside from the announced determina- tion of Representative Blanton, Demo- crat, of Texas, to have the salary of Gen. Mason M. Patrick, chairman of the Public Utilities Commission, with- held. The taxicab question came up in the committee, when Mrs. Norton pre- sented the Iletter received yesterday from Gen. Patrick regarding the order to install meters and asked that the members of the committee hear Mr. Roberts as special counsel. Both Representative Black, chairman of the Public Utilities Subcommittee, and Representative Gilbert of Kentucky, a member of that subcommittee, Who for a number of years have been close students of the proposed merger, em- phasized that the taxicab problem and the merger question are closely related end that some determination regarding the taxicabs should be reached before the merger is acted upon. Cab Operation Problem. Mr. Black explained that the street railway companies are urging for early action on the merger because the cheap taxicabs are hurting the street railways in their finances. He argued that if, through a compelling order of the Pub- lic Utilities Commission, meters are re- quired to be installed in all taxicabs, the cheap-competition cabs will driven off the streets, and with author- ity to engage in all methods of trans- portation the proposed merged com- pany would be in an entirely different position than the street railways are at present. He insisted that this matter should be cleaned up before any action on the merger measure should be re- ported. Mr. Roberts assured the members of the committee that there is a general feeling that the proposed merger should specifically eliminate the merged com- panies from operating taxicabs. Evan H. Tucker, president of the Northeast Citizens’ Association, also emphasized that this is an important contention of District citizens Contending that the street railway merger plan as reported by the major- ity of the Senate District Committee is not equitable to the public, Senators Capper of Kansas and Blaine of Wis- consin late yesterday filed a minority report urging the Senate to rewrite the power clause, broaden the free transfer provision, change the court procedure in reviewing utility matters and insert several other amendments. The minority recommends that cur- rent for the merged car system be fur- nished by the Potomac Electric Power Co. at such reasonable rates as the Public Utilities Commission may fix. As the resolution now stands the com- mission would have control over only 37 per cent of the power to be furnished the car system, while 63 per cent would be furnished for the next 15 years on the basis of the arrangement already existing between the power company and the Washington Railway & Elec- tric Co. Universal Free Transfers. The majority plan would establish free transfers between street cars, but leaving the question of transfers from cars to busses and between bus lines to the discretion of the Public Utilities Commission. The minority report con- tains a demand for universal free trans- fers beiween cars and busses, excepting only the de luxe bus line, The majority proposal dealing with public utility court procedure seeks to place the determination of questions of fact in utility cases entirely in the hands of the utilities commission, leaving the | courts to pass on constitutional and| iegal questions. The minority contends the commission is equipped to perform administrative functions, while the courts gre not so equipped. Other amendments deemed essextial by Senators Capper and Blaine include the following: A provision to prevent the new company from operating through subsidiaries within the limits of the District, but allowing it the op- tion of carrying on operations either directly or through subsidiaries in ad- Jacent States; authority for the com- mission to require the absndonment of property necessary to improve service or bring about economies, and a modi- fication of the repealer clause. Price Held Too Great. “The public is, in principle, in favor of a merger of the local street railways, but the price exacted by the resolution 1s too great,” the minority report began In explaining their opposition to the power clause continuing the present ar- rangement between the Potomac Elec- tric Power Co. and the Washington Railway & Electric Co., which would apply to 63 per cent of the current of the merged car system for the next 15 years, the minority stated: “While it would appear that the ‘Wachington Railway & Electric Co, . the Capital Traction Co. and the Wash- iglon Rapid Transit Co. are The Foe ning Shap WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION WASHINGTON. Will Ride at YOUNGSTER WILL COMPET! Horse Show E FOR HONORS IN ARENA. ARGARET HILL, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William G. Hill, who will take part in the Junior Horse Show at the Riding and Hunt Club Satwrday. TWOD. C. BILLS GET COMMITTEES 0.K. Street-Widening and Secur- ities Measures Approved by House Group. Two important District bills were ordered favorably reported today by the House District Committee. One of these was & measure in which the District Commissioners are partic- ularly interested, having asked emer- gency action authorizing the widening of Michigan avenue from North Capitol street, between the Soldiers’ Home Grounds, the filtration plant and the reservoir. This is a circuitous route along which a number of serious traffic accidents have occurred. B The other bill provides for supervision and regulation of the sale of securities in the District under the superintendent of insurance. Corporation Counsel Bride represent- ed the Commissioners in urging the committee to act promptly on the street- widening measure. It carries the in- dorsement of the Secretary of War, the governor of the Soldiers'’ Home, the di- rector of traffic, the National Capital Park and Planning Commission and the | Senate District Committee. Representa- tive Smith of Virginia assured his col- leagues on the committee that there was no objection to this measure from any source. Representative Bowman, sponsor of the securities bill, explained that it had been drafted by investment bankers and had been amended in all particulars suggested by the leading bankers of the District, the corporation counsel, the District Commissioners, the superintend- ent of insurance, the Real Estate Board and pominent business associations. It was pointed out that the only op- position recorded came from O. H. Brinkman, who drafted the Blaine “blue sky” bill, which he urged in preference to the Bowman bill. ~Mr. Bowman stressed that the public had not been allowed to register its opinion and wishes during consideration of the Blaine bill in the Senate committee and that the Bowman bill represents the wishes of the peoplesof Washington best informed on the subject. At the request of Representative Pat- man, Democrat, of Texas, Mr. Bowman agreed to incorporate in his report on this bill a statement recording Mr. Brinkman’s opposition. D. C. BUILDING HAS FIRE A small fire in the basement of the District Building this morning filled the upper floors with smoke and excitement. The fire itself, however, was extinguished in a few minutes. Chief Engineer George S. Watson had only a few feet to travel to respond to the alarm Parafin melting on a stove is said to | have bolled over and set fire to a pile of rags and mops. e e principal parties involved in this pro- posed legislation, the fact of the matter is that the North American Co. &| holding company, 15 even more vitally interested. The latter company owns practically all of the stock of the Wash- ington Railway & Electric Co._ which in turn owns the Potomac Electric Power Co.” Public Doesn’t Benefit. “The Washington Railway & Electric | Co.” another part of the minority re- port stated, “receives its power at less than cost and sells the excess power ob- tained under its arrangement with the Potomac Electric Power Co. to other companies at a substantial profit. Thi results in the Potomac Electric Power | amount of | Co. losing a substantial an revenue. The general consuming public suffers by this in that their electric rates are not reduced to the extent that they should be under the consent de- gree, which provides that a certain por- tion of excess profits shall be reflected i reduced rates for the succeeding year. n & Electric Co. and the Potomac Electric Power Co. are one (both owned by the North American Co. it is highly ad- vantageous to the holding company that the profits in question go to the Wash- ington Railway & Electric Co., rather than to the Potomac Electric Power Co. because of the consent decree. By per- mitting the railway company to receive its power at less than cost and to sell excess power at a profit, the North American Co. gets the entire benefit of this profit, whereas, in fact, a portion of this profit under the consent decree should be reflected in reduced rates to the public.” ‘The minority stated that, while the ‘Washington Railway & Electric Co. has permitted the profits realized from the sale of power to go into operating reve- nue, “technically there is a question as to whether or not it could b&mufired the to do s0.” asmuch as the Washington Railway | SIXTAXI DRIVERS HOLD-UP VICTIMS Grocer Among Others Robbed in Nine Jobs Reported in Various Parts of City. e Bandits operating in every section of the city escaped with $95 in a series of | nine hold-ups reported to police last night. Six taxicab drivers and a grocer were listed among the victims. One of the hackers, Hiram D. But- terfield, of 76 Flower avenue, Takoma | Park, Md., reported that he was robbed | twice within three hours and his taxi | taken on both occasions. The machine |was recovered near Soldiers’ Home shortly after the first hold-up. He re- | ported cash loss of $2.50. The largest haul of the night was | obtained by two youths, who held up | Benjamin Deckelbaum, proprietor of a grocery store in the 400 block Four- teenth street northeast, and took $25 from the cash register. Taxi Robber Armed. Three colored bandits entered the | taxi of Louis A. Chenault, 1100 block I street at Eleventh and M streets and | instructed him to drive to Fourteenth |and Duncan streets northeast. Upon reaching their destination one of the | men drew a revolver and the hacker | was robbed of $9 and his cab. | A trio of bandits held up Eric Plainer, 12510 Twenty-second street, another | taxicab driver at North Capitol street |and Michigan avenue and took his night’s receipts, amounting to $4.50. | Robbed by Two Youths. 1 John M. Leeland of 20 R street, also driving a taxi, was hired in front of the i Bureau of Engraving and Printing early last night by two young men and in- | structed to drive to the Department of Agriculture’s experimental farm at the isouth end of Highway Bridge, where he | was robbed of $19 in bills and some | change. Lone bandits robbed Herbert W. Fer- guson of the 600 block B street north- east of $9 and his taxicab in the first {block of L street northeast, and Hugh | E. McDonald of Capitol Heights, Md., | of his taxi and $4.50 on Spring place. George Freedman, colored, 800 block Third street, told police he was held up and robbed of $14 by an unidenti- fied colored man in the 500 block of New Jersey avenue. MEMORIAL TO BE HELD FOR WILLIAM K. COOPER Y. M. C. A. Leaders to Eulogize Former Washington General Secretary. A memorial service in honor of the late Dr. William Knowles Cooper, re- tired general secretary of the Wash- | ington Young Men’s Christian Associa- tion, will be held Sunday, April 17, at 4 o'clock at the Central Y. M. C. A, 1736 G street. Dr. Cooper will be eulogized by Dr. George Otis Smith, Hugh A. Thrift and Huston Thompson, each of whom served a term as president of the association during Dr. Cooper's period of service as general secretary. A representative of the National Council of the Y. M. C. A,, of which Dr. Cooper was a member, also | will speak. Delegations from the many organiza- tions with which Dr. Cooper was affili- ated are expected to attend and a gen- |eral invitation has been issued to all friends of the late Y. M. C. A. and church leader to participate in the trib- ute. Dr. Cooper died recently after a long |iliness. He had devoted most of his life to Y. M. C. A. and civic welfare work. | —_————— |D. C. POSTAL RECEIPTS FOR MARCH INCREASE Total Put at $4904,030, as Against $484,529, Same Month Last Year. ‘Washington was one of five cities in which postal receipts in March showed lan increase over the corresponding month last year, according to figures | made public today at the Post Office | Department. | ‘The receipts here last month were | $494,030.66, as compared with $484,- | 529.87 for March of 1931. This rate of increase was 1.96 per cent. Other percentage increases were: Dayton, 5.81; Hartford, 4.11; Brooklyn, 1.74, and Worcester, Mass., .04. The Post Office Department figures covered receipts from 50 selected of- fices. The total revenues last month | were $26.676.802.46, as compared with | $30,178,375.67, or & decrease of 11.6 D. 0, NYE SEES THREAT 10 FUTURE CAPITAL IN MAPES REPORT U. S. Should Aid Generously in Developing City, Senator Warns. DEPLORES LACK OF VOTE FOR DISTRICT CITIZENS Places Big Responsibility on Con- gress, Speaker Tells Joint Meet- ing of Civic Groups. Final enactment into law of the Mapes report would be a dangerous threat to the future well-being of Washington, Senator Nye of North Da- kota declared last night at a com- munity dinner in Sherwood Hall, Rhode Island avenue and Twenty-second street northeast. Speaking at a joint rally of the Rhode Island Avenue Citizens’ Association and the Woodridge Garden Club, Sena- tor Nye said Congress “should not argue whether the taxes of Washington are Federal Government ought to be happy to contribute generously to you, so that you may build a city all the world may look up to.” ‘The North Dakotan took a stanch position in favor of national representa- tion for the District. Deplores Lack of Vote. “It is indeed unfortunate,” Senator Nye said, “that the people of the great- est city in the country have no voice whatsoever in determining how much money shall be raised and_how much shall be spent in making Washington a model city. Because of this situation it is the duty of Congress to provide adequately for your neecs.” The recent population growth of Washington necessitates large-scale schools, sanitation and paving improve- ments, he said. There is room, he added, for cutting of Federal expendi- tures, but the demand for economy should not “strike at that which has made our country great—good schools.™ Senator Nye said the solution of many of the country’s financial ills would lie in eliminating the present concentra- tion of wealth in a limited class. He advocated higher taxes on the excep- tionally wealthy in order to break up their fortunes and place more money into circulation. He said it is essential that something be done to check a trend which resulted in a larger combined in- come of a group of 509 persons in 1929 than that of 3,000,000 cotton and wheat farmers. Library Work Increases. Dr. George F. Bowerman, librarian of the Public Library, told of the in- creased circulation of books in Wash- ington’s branch libraries, including one in the Northeast. ' Other speakers included Henry Gilli- gan, member of the Board of Educa- tion: Lieut. R. E. York of the District Engineering Department, and W. H. Gannaway, president of the Woodridge Garden Club. Charles R. Allen, first vice president of the citizens' associa- tion, presided. The Banquet Committee was com- posed of Mrs. Paul O. Davis, general chairman; Mrs. Janet W. Torbert, vice chairman; H. D. Lambert, Miss Lorena ‘Monde‘rcnu. George R. Goergens, Mrs. { F. G. Augustine, Mr. Allen, Mrs. George R. Goergens, Mr. Gannaway, F. G. | Augustine, Mrs. A. H. Englebrecht, Miss | Kate Donahey, L. M. Clark, Mrs. A. L. Foster and J. O. Bouton. HOUSE T0 CONSIDER D. C. BILLS MONDAY Promise Obtained From Garner and Rainey, Mrs. Norton Announces. Chairman Norton of the House Dis- trict Committee announced today she has received promises from Speaker Gerner and Majority Leader Rainey that all of next Monday will be given over to consideration of District legislation. There are 15 District bills on the calendar awaiting action, Mrs. Norton said, most of which are non-controver- sial, and she expects to be able to get action on all these measures. ROBBERS CHOP SAFE TO OBTAIN $137 CASH 400-Pound Ctrongbox Dragged From E. G. Schafer & Co. Building. Robbers last night broke into the E. G. Schafer & Co. Building, 2321 Fourth street northeast, dragged a 400-pound safe from a front office to the rear of the structure, used an ax to chop a hole in the back of the strongbox and escaped with $137 The robbery was discovered shortly {after 6 a.m. today, when George Elkins, coiored employe, reported for work. He notified police. The thieves gained entrance by climb- ing a freight car on a loading platform beside the building and forcing a sec- ond-story door. - Gustav Escher, manager of the con- cern, which wholesales plumbing and heating supplies, said only money col- lected too late to be deposited in bank was kept in the safe. o g DR. PATTERSON TALKS ON WORLD ECONOMICS Wwill Be Chm Tonight at First Meeting of Newly Organized Academy. Dr. E. M. Patterson, president of the American Academy of Political and So- cial Science, will be principal speaker tonight at the first meeting of the newly-organized Academy of World Economics in Brookings Institution, 722 Jackson place. His subject will be “World Econom- ics.” Marc Peter, Minister from Swit- 2zerland, will be honorary chairman. A large number of diplomats, scholars and others interested in world affairs have accepted invitations to the meet- ing, which begins at 8 o'clock, and in- augurates a series to be held during the coming year. The academy is affiliated with the Academy of Political and Social Eco- nomics and plans are being made to co- ! operate with organizations throl the worl WEDNESDAY, on a par with those of other cities. The | FAST “GULL WING” APRIL 6, 1932 MONOPLANE O Society and General Peculiar New Army Plane Visits Capital USED FOR OBSERVATION. NE of the strangest of the fast new observation planes develoned for the Army Air Corps is this “gull wing” plane, which paid a brief visit to Bolling Field today en route ighm Wright Field, Ohio, to Mitchel Field, N. Y., home of the observation squadron which is to put the new ship through service tests. the wing form a “cabane” to support wing bracing wires. The cockpits are inclosed in a transparent cover, which is shown fully opened, to protect the pilot and observer and to improve the streamlining. The plane has twice the speed of early observation planes. - The three-bladed, geared propeller, partially inclosed tail wheel and large tail sec- tion are other peculiarities of the new ship. i The four struts meeting above —Star Staff Photo. POLICEMAN FACES TRIAL IN SHASH-UP McEwen Under Influence of Liquor When Cars Collided, Investigator Says. A Police Trial Board hearing will be recommended for Pvt. William McEwen of the vice squad, who was suspended late yesterday following a report that he was under the influence of liquor when a Prohibition Bureau automobile he was driving caught fire in a col- lision on McMillan Park driveway. McEwen and Charles Owens, 30, col- ored, of the 2100 block of Eighth street, a passenger in the prohibition car, were treated at Freedmen's Hospital for lacerations about the face. The other machine, operated by Jerome Jackson, 20, colored, of the 400 block of I street, also caught fire. Inspector James F. Beckett an- nounced today he would recommend that McEwen be brought before the Trial Board. Sergt. George M. Little, who investigated the accident, reported McEwen appeared under the influence of liquor and unfit for duty. The ser- geant emphasized, however, that he did not consider the policeman “drunk.” Fire apparatus was called to extin- guish the blaze and firemen said the damage to the two automobiles was about $300. The machine operated by McEwen was said to_have sideswiped the other car. Sergt. Little was sent to the scene of the accident after a telephone call from a witness. McEwen, 28 years old, was trans- ferred from No. 3 precinct to the vice squad about a month ago. RUNAWAY GIRLS CALL OFF TRIP TO FLORIDA No Place Like Home, Two Find After Remaining Away One Night. Contrasting the allure of Florida with | the practical benefits of a comfortable | home, there is something to be said in | favor of the latter. This was the ovinion of Adele Holo- ber, 16, of 1116 Seventh street, and Fannie Epstein, 15, of 1132 Seventh street, as they prepared to return to their classes at Central High School today. The girls “cut classes” %t Central Monday and announced their intention of traveling to Florida. When they fail- ed to return home Monday night, police were notified and authorities in South- ern. cities were asked to be on the lookout, for them. Yesterday they returned nome. They spent Monday night at a local hotel. Er e CHURCH TO REPEAT “PILGRIMS OF THE WAY” Drama to Be Presented Again To- morrow Night at First Con- gregational. ‘The Easter drama, “Pilgrims of the Way,” presented at the First Congre- gational Church Easter night, will be repeated tomorrow evening at 8:30 o'clock in the church auditorium, Tenth and G streets. The play was written by Dorothy Clarke Wilson and the cast is headed by Tudor Whiton, as Barnabas, and Patricia Nolan Palmer, as John Mark. Other players are Gail Whiton, as Mary, the mother of John Mark; Josephine Peters, as Mary’s maid;; George Field, as Saul of Tarsus, and Walton San- born, as the messenger. The drama is to be presented by the Young People’s Society or the church and is directed by Miss Nell Berghout, director of religious education. DEMOCRATS TO STAGE FIRST RALLY TONIGHT Pro-Roosevelt Forces in Capital to Hold Open Meeting at Wwillard. Democrats of the Capital will stage their first political rally of the present campaign tonight when the local branch of the Roosevelt League of Clubs holds an open meeting at the ‘Willard Hotel at 8 o'clock in the inter- est of the presidential candidacy of Gov. Roosevelt of New York. Senator Clarence C. Dill of Washing- ton and Senator Cordell Hull of Ten- nessee will be the principal speakers. In addition, a talk on the history of organized Democracy in the Capital will be given by John B. Colpoys, second vice president of the league group, who is chairman of the Democratic Central Committee here. John F. Costello, Democratic National Committeeman for the District, is presi- dent of the local league. WILL DISCUSS RUSSIA “Russia_and the Viking Empire” will be the subject of an illustrated lecture at 8:30 o'clock tonight in Wesley Heights Community Club by Harold Brenton MncDonald, travel =lecturer, who recently returned from & trip through Soviet Russia and has long been familiar with Scandinavia. Mr. MacDonald will use colored lantern slides to illustrate the changes which have taken place in Russia under the eral years ago_in Washington, but New $¥ork and Clidago are sald to"have PLAN STAGGER HOURS Chief Clerks Will Consider Pro- posal Tomorrow. Chief Clerk E. W. Libbey of the Com- merce Department today promised the District Commissioners the chief clerks of the various executive departments and independent establishments would meet to consider the possibility of adopt- ing a plan for staggering office hours as a measure of helping reduce traffic con- gestion in rush hours. The meeting will be held at 10:30 o'clock tomorrow in room 2064 of the Commerce Building. The plan was suggested by the Traffic Advisory Council. - FIGHT 1S STARTED [“Full and Free” Primary Asked for Democrats of Washington. By the Assoclated Press. Democrats of the District started a controversy today over the selection of six delegates to the national convention in Chicago. Mrs. Clara Wright Smith, president of |the Women's Democratic Educational | Council, addressed letters to all candi- dates for the Democratic presidential nomination and the National Commit- tee, urging members of the committee and delegates be selected in a “full and free” primary in this city. She referred to a statement attributed | to John F. Costeilo, national committee- | man from the District, that the city’s six delegates would be “pledged to a certain candidate.” Costello, a supporter of PFranklin D. Roosevelt, replied that delegates from this city will be named in a primary and have been since 1912. He declared rules for the primary, a date for which will be set today, would be explained at_a Democratic meeting tonight, by John B. Colpoys, State chairman, and that Mrs. Smith or any one else would polling places throughout the city. |GEORGE G. PHELPS DIES Post Office Employe Here for 33 Years to Be Buried Friday Afternoon. Georg® G. Phelps, an employe of the City Post Office for 33 years, died sud- denly today at his home, 704 Kennedy street. He was a son of the late James O. and Mary E. Phelps and was born in Erie County, Pa. Funeral services will be held at the home Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, followed by burial in Rock Creek Cemetery. Besides his widow, Lila A. Phelps, he is survived by a son, Lawrence W. Phelps, of this city; a daughter, Mrs. Ethel M. Collins, Winterhaven, Fla.; two grandchildren, Lawrence and Francis Phelps, Washington; a sister, Mrs. Edith M. Macdonald of this city, and two brothers, Earl V. Phelps, Long Island, N. Y, and H. Glenn Phelps of the Capital. CELLS ARE VENTILATED Precinct Police Station. A ventilator system was installed yesterday in_the cell room of the first precinct police station and _similar equipment will be placed in other po- | lice stations here before the arrival of | Summer. Meanwhile, Capt. William E. Holmes, first precinct commander, is preparing to add 20 new cells to the dozen al- ready in the station. The new cells will be placed in a room in the rear of the station, used as the District | morgue before the erection of the present morgue. DISTRICT DELEGATE be eligible to run for delegate at 22 SUDDENLY AT HIS HOME | | New Equipment Installed in First | OLD HEATING PLANT MUST SERVE AGAIN {Shelving of Unit to Serve Northwest Area Gives Task to Grant. Failure of Congress to permit expen- diture of $750,000 for the proposed new heating plant for Government buildings in the Northwest area, bounded by New York and Constitution avenues and Seventeenth street, places upon Lieut. Col. U. 8. Grant, 3d, director of public buildings and public parks, the burden of attempting to make the old heating plant at Eighteenth street and Con- stitution avenue do for another Winter. Plans Already Drawn. ‘The present heating plant, which has been in operation for a great number of years, is located in the building ad- jacent to the Federal Trade Commis- sion. Col. Grant and his associates already have drawn up plans for the proposed new central heating plant, de- signed for location near New York and Virginia avenues, and were expecting to call for bids on this within the next couple of months. As the money was made available some time ago, Col. Grant proposed to award a contract before the expiration of the current fiscal year, on June 30. ‘The site occupied by the present heating plant is required by the Pan- American Union to erect its $1,000,000 office building, but under the action of the House Economy Committee it ap- pears that this project will have to wait, unless tie Union wants to con- struct part of the building when the Federal Trade Commission yacates its quarters. Old Plant Needs Repairs. ‘There has been considerable discus- sion concerning the $750,000 central heating plant, which was designed as a standby emergency plant, comple- mentary to the heating plant being constructed by the Treasury Depart- ment near the Bureau of Engraving and | Printing. The heating plant, under Col. Grant’s program, would be con- structed so that a more pretentious building could be built around it after the question of the new War and Navy Department has been definitely settled. Considerable repairs are thought necessary on the old heating plant if it is to be made to do service through another Winter. LUCIAN VANDOREN MADE MARINE RESERVE MAJOR Vice President of District Bar As- sociation Served as Captain During World War, Lucian H. Vandoren, vice president of the District Bar Association, has been commissioned major in the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve to command the 2d Battalion, 23d Reserve Marines, ac- cording to an announcement made here y. Maj. Vandoren is a graduate of Georgetown University in the class of 1917 and saw service in the Marine Corps abroad during the World War. He rose from second lleutenant to captain in the war and was three times awarded the Croix de Guerre. George R. Littlehales, who will be assigned to duty as adjutant of the 2d Battalion, 20tH Reserves, 6th Marine Brigade, was commissioned as a lieuten- ant. Appointment of Felix R. Howland as first lieutenant in command of Company A, 1st Battalion, 20th Reserve Marines, was also announced. RECTOR TO TAKE POST Rev. A. J. Wilder to Be Instituted by Bishop Freeman. Rev. A. J. Wilder will be instituted by Bishop James E. Freeman next Sun- day at 11 oclock as rector of St. An- drew's Episcopal Church, New Hamp- shire avenue and V street. Bishop Freeman will preach the ser- mon and there will be special music. The bicycle was an efficient mode of transportation for a traffic officer | back in the days when Washington had a speed limit of 12 miles an hour, but police officials today decided that the | vehicle is obsolete in police work and ordered abolition of the bicycle brigade July 1. Twenty-five bicycle officers will lose their mounts as a result of the order. Most of them will be assigned to foot patrol duty. The hazard of riding a bicycle on traffic-congested streets was given as one of the reasons for the order. Police officials also realized that a bicycle offi- cer cannot peddle fast enough to catch a speeding motorist and his effective- ness in traffic work, therefore, is mate- rially reduced. ‘With the passing of the bicycle of- ficer, police authorities are understood to be giving serious consideration to bringing back the horse in police work. The mounted officer disappeared sev- |POLICE BICYCLE UNIT ABOLISHED, HORSE MAY RETURN TO SERVICE 25 Officers to Give Up Their “Wheels” July 1, but Equine Mounts Considered by Authorities. with such success with horses in police work that Brig. Gen, Pelnam D. Glass- ford, superintendent of police, and his executive staff have discussed the feasi- bility of using the horse again in the ‘Washington department. Horses were used by police in Wash- ington principally in the outlying sec- tions, where beats were long and the developed sections few. As a result the horses got too fat grazing in the open fjelds along the beat, and the horse-mfounted 3 as a rule, also took on superfluous flesh, so that neither made a snappy appearance. Washingion desartment, 1t will be un- epartment, it un- der a different plan. Gen. Glassford, PAGE B—1 LIQUOR RUNNERS BLIND POLICEMAN 10 STOP PURSUIT Auto Escapes as Smoke Screen Containing Chemical Is Turned on. OFFICER IS FORCED TO ABANDON CHASE Encounter Second of Kind in Week. Second Car Also Makes Getaway. Rum runners, who apparently are waging a chemical * warfare against Capital police, scored again today when { & heavily-loaded machine escaped from Patrolman J. E. Kenney of the sixth precinct station by using a smoke- screen mixture that temporarily blinded the officer. Kenney had to be taken to Walter Reed Hospital for treatment, after which he was relieved from duty by Acting Lieut. John H. Norris and sent home. The policeman was in a patrol car shortly after 3 o'clock this morning when a sedan sped through the inter- section of Fourth and Taylor streets, narrowly missing Kenney's car, Policeman Gives Chase. Kenney gave chase and the man rid- ing on the front seat of the sedan beside the driver turned on the smoke screen. The patrolman, blinded by a chemical used in the mixture, was forced to give up the pursuit and pull to the curb a short distance away. Fellow officers took Kenney to Walter Reed Hospital after he managed to drive back to his station. Staff physicians treated him. The chase was the second of the week in which police have been “smoked” with new types of mixtures. A car throwing out a screen in which ether was used forced two motor cycle police- men and a radio scout car to abandon pursuit several days ago, but it was seized by a vice squad detective in a garage soon afterward. Roadster Escapes Police. Earlier last night a high-powered roadster escaped from & fourth precinct radio scout car by outdistancing the police machine in a chase from Fifth and D streets southeast to Highway Bridge. Policcemen C. P. Paul and George Norris, members of the scout car crew, pursued the auto when they saw it speeding down D street, but were un- able to overtake it before it reached the Virginia end of the bridge. A num- ber of jars of whisky were tossed from the machine, they said. SR 5 S TN ELLSWORTH FUNERAL HELD THIS AFTERNOON Retired Laundry Official and For- mer Sergeant at Arms at Cap- itol Was 80 Years Old. Puneral services for James H. Ells- worth, 80, of 3027 Fifteenth street, re- tired official of the Manhattan Laundry and sergeant-at-arms at the Capitol during McKinley’s administration, were held at Chambers’ funeral parlors this afternoon. Burial was in Rock Creek Cemetery. Rites were conducted by La Fayette Masonic Lodge, of which Mr. Ellsworth was a member. He died Sunday at Sibley Hospital after an illness of two weeks. A native of South Bend, Ind., Mr. Ellsworth came to Washington after re- ceiving his early education there. He attended George Washington University and Columbia University Law School. WET BLOCS IN HOUSE PUSH 2.75 BEER BILL Decide to File Petition Tuesday to Bring 0’Connor-Hull Measure to Floor. By the Associated Press. Confident they can force still one more vote on prohibition in the House this session, the Democratic and Re- publican wet blocs have decided to file a petition Tuesday for bringing the O’Connor-Hull beer bill to the floor. This measure designed to legalize 2.75 beer and tax it 3 cents a pint, is before the Ways and Means Committee as a revenue bill, but the committee has declined to report it. If the peti- tion receives the needed 145 signatures, the vote may be brought up May 9. Representative O'Connor, Democrat, of New York, one of the authors, said: “We believe sentiment against pro- hibition is growing so fast that we will have even a greater vote on legalized non-intoxicating beer than on the sub- mission of the eighteenth amendment.” | HOOVER SEEKS TERMS IN BEET SUGAR FIGHT By the Associated Press. Representative Simmons, Republican, of Nebraska said today President Hoo- ver had agreed to request Secretary of Agriculture Hyde to look into the sugar beet situation in Montana, Wy- oming, Nebraska and Colorado to seek a higher contract for beet farmers from the Great Western Sugar Co. After a conference, Simmons said he told the President the company was of- fering a contract that “is unacceptable to the great body of beet farmers.” Ne- gotiations for a contract have broken ioff. ‘The Nebraskan said Mr. Hoover had expressed “concern” and had mised to request the Secretary to lend his offices. “It is imperative that that industry continue,” Simmons said, “and that the . sugar company offer a contract that the farmers can accept. INHABITANTS TO MEET Union Engine House Decorated for Army Day. Historic cld Union Engine House was gayly decorated today in observance of Army day by a committee of the ciation of Oldest Inhabitants, of it is said, would want well bred horses of the Cavalry type and military-ap- ign, New York and Chicago, where there would be no flelds in which to graze temptation to get fal. ‘met-Land no. the principal speak: wnuhz.:?un- sharp, A