Evening Star Newspaper, December 6, 1932, Page 17

- MIRS. NORTON HITS CARRIERS STAND ON SCHOOL FARES Says “Fight” on Reduction Tands to Defeat Compul- sory Attendance Law. DECREASE IN REVENUES | BLAMED ON COMPANIES House Member Thinks 3-Cent Rate Should Be Condition to Carry- ing Out Merger. Washington street railway and bus| companies were criticized today by Rep- resentative Mary T. Norton, chaiman of the House District CommiZee, lor what she called an attempt “io vitiate the act of Congress proviZing for re- duced fares for school children.” She; emphasized that if taeir “determined | fight” in this direction is successful, ml this period of extraordinary economic distress, it will tend to defeat the com- pulsory school-attendance law, and that “the youth of the city will be deprived of one of the greatest gifts the munici- pality has to offer—an education.” In'a prepared statement issued today, Mrs. Norton said: “I am not a little surprised at the attitude taken by local street railway and bus companies with respect to the matter of reduced fares for school chil- dren. The determined fight of these transportation agencies to de‘eat the express and apparent will of Congress 15 a matter of grave concern, especially in times of extraordinary economic stress, such as we are now experiencing. Not only is the attack of these com- panies contrary to the almost unani- mous will of Congress, but its ultimate effect, if successful, will tend to defeat another act of Congress that has been & law in the District of Columbia since 1925, I refer to the compulsory school attendance law. With the reduced car fare measure no longer in effect, rents in financial distress who live a g distance from schools, will be unable to pay for transportation to and from such schools, and thus the youth of the city will be deprived of one of thé greatest gifts the municipality has to offer—an education. House Action Called Vital. “The merger bill, as passed by the House of Representatives, does not deal with the matter of reduced fares for s-hocl children. The House was silent wuth respect to this matter, not due to @ lack of interest, but purely on the »--und that Congress assumed that the anies would recognize its mandate ing transportation of school chil- 2t a rate not in excess of 3 cents. ~ i ace enactment of the merger by the “use the companies have seen fit to ely defy its reduced fare mandate the ccuris of the District of Co- Z1=bla. This procedure makes it vital 12 . the House take steps to make ‘an uizseence on the part of the com- s to a reduced .fare for school children, a condition precedent to ac- tual consummation of the merger. “There is no denying the fact that lgeal transportation conditions are chaotic. - The companies are losing money. ‘The contention, however, that reduced fares for school children is responsible for these financial losses is ridiculous. The loss in revenue due to reduced school fares is insignificant. ‘The chief reason for the loss in revenue is occasioned because of the fact that the public will not make use of the » Tacilities offered by local transportation companies. Many residents of the Dis- trict will not pay 10 cents for riding the length of F street, or from Pennsyl- vania avenue near the Willard Hotel to the Capitol, or other equally short dis- tances. L~ Suggestions Declared Ignored. “Suggesticn have been made to the eompanies that they reduce prices for such short trips. These suggestions have been disregarded. What can one do for public utility that needs help, but will not take steps to help itself? What can one do for a company or companies, that instead of seeking to obtain the riding public's confidence persists in steps to antagonize that public? ~“Congress, local authorities and the public generally have not been. or unsympathetic toward local transpor- tation agencies. Requests for increased fares have not been ignored and the merger bill in its present form cannot be construed to be in any sense oppres- sive to them. I worked hard during the past session for the passage of the merger bill. I believe it would be a start in the right direction toward ameliorating present unsatisfactory tra; tion conditions in the District of Columbia, but you may put me on record as expressing profound dissatis- faction at the attempt now underfoot %o vitiate the act of Congress providing for reduced fares for school children.” DISTRICT COMMITTEE T0 MEET TOMORROW 13 Bills Already Passed by Senate Are Pending Before House Group. The first meeting of the House Dis- trict Committce this session of Con- gress has been called for tomorrow morning by Chairman Norton, who said todey she would seek to have a District legislation program formulated to push 8t this session Mrs. Norton has conferred with Epeeker Garner and other House lead- ers and finds that very little time will d for District legislation at lon. For this reason she will nrge the committee to concentrate on vt program of the more essential pasures. Legislation to receive prompt con- sideration by the House District Com- mittee consists of 13 bills which have ssed the Senate and have been re- Jerred to the House committee. These relate to a wifle variety of subjects, such as orphan asylums, fraud prevention in stock sales. control over degree-con- ferring institutions, real estate sale reg- aulation, guardianship of veterans, fore- slosure of mortgages, construction and gepair work, kidnaping, nonssupport, illegitimate children, amending of the home care act for children, and the Della Ledendecker relief bill. WOMAN SERIOUSLY HURT Mrs. Mary E. Sparks, 60, critically 4njured when she fcll down the steps §t the home of her daughter, Mrs. David Mulquin, 2524 Seventeenth street, was «still in a serious condition at Emer- gency Hospital today. “Mrs. Sparks, who lives at 1467 Irving strest, is ruffering from a fractured skuil al nd other injuries, NEW YORKER BERATES OFFS] Dominick Pellicco (left) of New Yo was found by his father in the ranks of avenue camp this morning. HEN dawn broke over the| roadside camp of the hunger marchers this morning, po- lice on guard there saw an elderly Italian searching the throng for his son, who had run away to_join the demonstrators. Dominick Pellicco, the man said his name was, and he had come here on | the day coach from Mount Vernon, N. Y, to find his boy, John Pellicco, 17. The elder Pellicco made his way down the long line of automobiles in- quiring about the youth. ] @he Finds Son Among Marchers JPRING FOR JOINING MARCH. rk and his son, John Pellicco, 1 the hunger marchers in the New York —Star Stafl Photo. After a diligent search of several| hours, he found the boy, and hustled | him away from the other marchers. “I try to teach you better than to run off with this crowd,” Pellicco told his son. "I come all the way from New | York to bring you home. I don't want you going with these people into trouble. | You are coming home now, where you belong!” The father and son trudged off to- ward Union Station, the elder Pellicco | still scolding his prodigal offspring. TAKOMA CTZEN LAY NERGERBLL Want Federation to Fight Street Car Measure in Present Form. Voicing opposition to the street car merger bill in its present form, the Ta- koma Citizens' Association last night urged the Federation of Citizens' Asso- ciations to oppose the measure in Con- gress. The association adopted a resolution opposing the passage of any merger bill which did not reserve to Congress full power to amend or repeal all franchise rights arising under it. ‘The resolution, presented by George E. Sullivan, pointed out problems fac- ing local street car companies and the fact that the present pending bill em- bodies no reservation of power in Con- gress to repeal the new franchise rights proposed to be granted to a new com- pany. Phone Valuation Urged. Congressional action was urged in an- other resolution adopted to compel the Public Utilities Commission to proceed 8t once to secure a full valuation for the purpose of fixing rates of the Chesa- peake & Potomac Telephone Co. At the end of the business session an address was made by Paul E. Lesh on “The Vote in the District of Columbia.” Mr. Lesh said founders of the Nation did not intend to exclude residents of the National Capital from having the right to vote, and pointed out the Dis- trict has more eligible voters than eight States in the Union. The District is practically two congressional units at | the present time and that the time has arrived for securing representation in Congress, he added. Mr. Lesh outlined the early history of the voting situation and said it was not until the early '80s that the Dis- | trict had population enough to be a single geographical unit. | D. C. Vote Resolution Offered. | In speaking from the standpoint of taxation in 1930-31, he said “the Dis- trict_paid $14,600,000 in Federal taxes, which was greater than 28 States While the District stood ninetieth from | the standpoint of population it was | twenty-first on the list of Federal tax- | payers, Yet these 28 States who paid less than the District send Representa- | tives here to decide how that money | shall be spent. That is certainly taxa- ‘ tion without representation.” Sullivan presented a resolution to the effect that “it was the sense of the as- sociation that we take immediate steps | to obtain national representation .for the District of Columbia” Objection | Honored GEORGE W. HUTCHISON. GEOGRAPHIC GROLP HONGRS HUTCHON Associate Secretary of So- ciety Is Guest at Head- quarters Luncheon. George W. Hutchison, associate sec- retary of the National Geographic Society, was guest of honor at a lunch- | eon given today by his fellow officers | of the soclety in recognition of his) completion of 25 years of service Held at the National Goegraphic Society heaZquarters building, in Six- teenth strect, the luncheon was p sided over by Dr. Gilbert Grosvenor, president of the organization and editor | of the National Geographic Magazine. The guests included Mr. Hutchison's associates on the official stafi of the Geographic Society and many personal {riends . When Mr. Hutchinson joined the Na- tional Geographic Society in 1907 as manager of the clerical and business departments, whose total personnel was less than 20, Dr. Grosvenor and Joha Oliver La Gorce were the only other officials. The membership of the so- clety then was 31,000. Since then, Mr. 10 START SHORTLY ON' FIRE STATION Appropriation of $71,716 for New Engine House Is Available. CROSBY WILL DISCUSS PROJECT WITH WATSON | Right to Build on Sixteenth Street| Site Won After Four- Year Fight. The District’s victory in its four- year fight to place a fire engine house | on the northwest corner of Sixi | street and Colorado avenue, made final | by a decision in the Supreme Court of the United States yesterday, will prebably mean that construction of the house will start in the near future.| The appropriation for the house has| been continued and is now available. | It amounts to $71,716. Plans for the | new house were drawn and a contract | awarded in 1929. When the objecting property owners enjoined the Commis- sioners from proceeding, however, the contract was rescinded. Originally it had been let to James L. Parson, jr., for $57,100. Commissioner Herbert B. Crosby said | today he would talk the matter over with Fire Chief George S. Watson be- fore going ahead with the construction. Watson is away on sick leave, but is| >xpected to return shortly. He is known to be anxious to have the engine house built. Case Taken to Appeals Court. Originally the District bought a site at Sixteenth and Webster streets for | the fire engine house, but residents cf | that neighborhood succeeded in block- | ing construction when it was found that a clause in the deed to the property limited its use to residential purposes. Then in 1928 Congress passed an act allowing the District to use a strip of land 100 by 160 feet in Rock Creek | Park cn the northwest corner of Six- teenth street and Colorado avenue for | the engine house and permitting it to | sell the Sixteenth and Webster streets site. A group of property owners, head- | ed by Henry 1. Quinn, again resisted, and succeeded in restraining the Com- missioners from putting up the house. The case went twice to the Court of Appeals and both times the property owners were victorious. The Court of Appeals based its de- Foenin WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION CHILDREN PRESENT PLAQUE IN-TRIBUTE 10 0LD IRONSIDE {Bronze Tablet Commemo- rates Fund Given to Re- store Famous Frigate. CEREMONIES BROADCAST FROM NAVY YARD HERE Speakers Prajse Pupils Who Gave Pennies to Perpetuate TIdeals. Young America today presented to Old Ironsides, on the eve of her de- parture from the National Capital, a bronze plaque, emblematic of the pen- nies that made her restoration possible. With a bright December sun glinting over the waters near the Washington Navy Yard, surrounded by delegations of school children from this region, the half-hour ceremony was held, at- tended by a number of notables. The plaque, placed conspicuously forward on the starboard side, bears the legend: “Pennies proved their worth, when the school children of America donated and made possible the restoration of the noble ship Constitution.” Then follows a statement that it was pre- sented by the school children of the George Mason High School of Alex- andria, Va. Above the lettering is a reproduction of the vessel, under full sail. Poet Presents Plague. Miss Ellen Olinger, class poet of the George Mason High School, presented the plaque, which was unveiled by Miss Esther Cunningham of that school, on behalf of the school children of Amer- ica. The tablet was accepted for the ship by Comdr. Louis J. Gulliver, U. 8. N, her commanding officer. Brief addresses were delivered by | Lieut. John Y. Dannenberg, U. S. N., who acted as master of ceremonies; C. H. Strader, principal of the George Mason High School, introduced as the “man who conceived the idea of the presentation of this plaque”; Comdr. n Star WASHINGTON, D. C, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, WORK IS EXPECTED Society and General 32. Washingtcn Navy Yard, at which school was Comdr. Louis J. Gulliver, U. 8. N., of Gloucester, Mass. Farewell to “0Old Ironsides” A leading figure in today’s ceremony on the U. 8. S. Constitution at the children presented & plaque to the ship, shown here. He is displaying an oflr painting of the frigate, the work of Frederick J. Mulhaupt, national academician, BUDGET SLASHIG - BEGUN BY HEST {Impossibility of Meeting Al Pleas From Agencies Is Stressed by Evans. Scaling down of the budgets of the| 63 member agencies of the Community | Sliltver, who_ invited ‘the. enildren. of | e e tpe Nation to visit the ship, when she| Gpest at the United States Chamber | | yisits ports near their homes, as she| & commerce. |bravels up the West Coast after nego-| ™ Hearings will be held by five subcom- | | tiating the Panama Canal early in the | et to8S, FEL 0 Toid o o0 SO | new year; Rear Admiral Prank B. Up- cision on the theory the land had been | ham, chief of the Bureau of Navigation, condemned and benefit assessments | Who reminded the children that “we levied against adjacent property owners, for park purpcses, and that the ad- jacent property owners had a right to have this use continued indefinitely, | Old Ironsides stands, and by Dan Hol- and that Congress could not divert the |lenga, manager of the "Alexandria land from the purpose originally set | Chamber of Commerce, who informed out in the condemnation acts. | his audience that the future of the 4 | Nation is safe, when children interest Opinion Written by Stone. | themselves in its welfare and the things The Supreme Court, in an opinion g 3 : i which it reveres. written by Asscciate Justice Stone, how- | ever, held that the adjacent property | Program Broadeast. owners had no property or contract| Nation-wide radio hook-ups of the right superior to the right of Congress | Columbia and National Broadcasting to protect the District against fire | systems carried the program over the hazards. The opinion said in part: country from 10:30 to 11 o'clock. The “By dedicating the lands thus ac- program was interspersed with selec- quired to a particular public use, Con- | tions by the Marine Band, under the gress declared a public policy, but did | baton of Capt. Taylor Branson, U. S. not purport to deprive itself ‘of the| M. C. These included Sousa's marches, power to change that policy by devoting | “The High School Cadets” and “Jack the lands to other use. The dedication | Tar March,” “Anchors Aweigh” and expressed no more than the will of a | other airs. The plaque will be placed particular Corgress which does not im- | permanently on the forward side of protect our trade upon the seas” and urged them to love the Navy, for which built this ship and her sister ships to| + son, pose itself upon those to follow in suc- | cecding years * * * “It is true that the mere presence of the park may have conferred a spe- cial benefit on neighboring owners and enhanced the value of their property. But the existence of value alone does not generate interests protected by the Constitution against diminution by the Government, however unreasoable its action may be.” On the particular strip of property involved, Lieut. Col. U.S. Grant, 3d has now_established a miniature golf course. If the Commissioners decide io go ahead with the construction this will have to be moved. CITIZENS DISCUSS NEEDS. Necessity for a new fire engine house in the Sixteenth Street Highlands sec- tion was discussed last night at the regular meeting of the Sixteenth Street Highlands Citizens’ Association at 1440 Kennedy street. It was pointed out by P. W. Nichol- retired Fire Department official, that the present Brightwood engine company on Georgia avenue must serve the entire section from the Chillum dis- trict west to Rock Creek Park, and that serious fires in opposite sections of this large area could not be handled without calling apparatus from distant points. He advocated construction of an engine house in the general neighborhood of Fourteenth and Buchanan streets. Paul Grove, appointed at the last meeting to inquire into the need for | keeping the Brightwood station of the city Post Office open at night, reported he had conferred with Postmaster Wil- the foremast. | " Distinguished guests included Repre- | sentative Howard Smith, Democrat, of Virginia; Mayor Edward F. Tiver and Council of Alexandria, Judge W. P. Wools of the Alexandria Corporation | Court, Roy S. Braden, Arlington County, Va, manager, and representatives of | schools, private, parochial and publiz, | as well' as officials of fraternal and pa- | triotic organizations. | Fepresentatives of school children | attended from the District, Alexandria |and other adjacent points in Virginia |and Maryland. Two companies of cadets, boys and girls in uniform, from the Washington-Lee High School, Clarendon, Va., acted as guard of honor. St. Charles’ Catholic School of Claren- don sent a large delegation. Tomorrow morning at 7 o'clock O Tronsides will leave the navy yard in tow of the minesweeper U. 8. S. Grebe. From Hains Point, in East Potomac Park, Washingtonians will be able to see a beautiful sight—the veteran frigate standing down the Potomac River on a long voyage that will take her to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as her first stop: thence through the Panama Canal and on a tour of West coast ports of the United States that will end next September. Congress Proceedings Heard Over Nation-wide Hook-up. Broadcasting experts asserted today that the radio audition given members | iam M. Mooney and had been told | of Congress yesterday was a success. that in view of the economy situation | A broadcast of the proceedings in the and the amount of night business it | House was made yesterday over a coast- was not advisable to keep the office | to-coast hook-up of the Columbia and open regularly at night but that from | National Broadcasting systems for the December 16 to 23 it would be kept|first time in history. During lulls in open until 8 p.m. daily. ‘the debate on the resolution repealing The committee on Christmas lighting | the eighteenth amendment interviews will request every property owner in | Were obtained by members of the wet the association’s ~ territory to install |and dry leaders by announcers. outside lighting for Christmas. Paul Grove was appointed chairman of the Program Committee. The association admitted the follow- | ing new members: P. E. Snyder, 1353 |on the lookout for five boys Who es- Montague. street; Charles Conrad, 1357 | caped from the Maryland Training Montague street; Edgar M. Ebert, 1383 | School at Lochraven, Md. ‘The boys Manchester lane; Joseph A. Fox. 1351 |are Robert Parker, 17; John Burke, 16; Montague street, and W. H. Walton | Bennett Thompson. 18; Gilbert Stump, Police Seek Five Boys. Police here were asked today to be was mace on the ground that it was too | Hyichinson has scen the clerical per- | important a matter to take action with- | sonnel grow to 500 and the membership, out investigation and the matter was referred to the Committee on Laws and | Legislation for report at the next meet- | ing. | CLERKS’ UNION MEETS Navy Department Branch Dis- cusses Credit Union. The monthly business meeting of the Navy Department Branch of Federal | Employes’ Union, No. 2, National Fed- eration of Federal Employes, was held yesterday at 710 Fourteenth street to discuss formation of a credit union and activities of the Educational and Mem- bership Campaign Committees. W. L. Harrison, president of the organization, presided. Only approval of the District Com- missioners is needed to complete or- ganization of a credit union, it was reported by Leslie C. McNemar, chair- man of the committee. Prosperity Circus Opens. A one-week ty Circus” was opened by St. Gabriel's Church last night at Grant Circle. ‘The circus will continue every night this week from 7 to more than 1,000,000. : Mr. Hutchison’s duties have included | assistance in developing the distribution program of the society’s magazine, the circulation of which exceeds 1,000,000. Guests at today’s luncheon included Dr. La Gorce, John Joy Edson, Franklin L. Fisher, Herbert A. Poole, J. R. Hilde- brand, Frederick Simpich, Dr. Willlam J. Showalter, Melville Bell Grosvenor, Albert H. Bumstead, Maynard Owen Williams, Charles Martin, L. W. Gillette, Dr. Allan Scott Wolfe, Dr. Lewis H. Taylor, Robert V. Fleming, Hilleary G. Hoskinson, Elisha Hanson, Charles W. Beck, Hal Sorensen, John H. Davis, Thomas W. McKnew, Albert W. Tucker, McFall Kerbey, E. John Long, W. Rob- ert Moore, L. Rohe Walter, Leo A. Borah, Worth Shoults, Vernon H. Brewster, Gerard P. Hubbard, Leonard C. Roy, Hashime Murayama, Conrad C. Smith, Dr. Guy Latimer and Gilbert 1636 Nicholson street. 18, and George F. Davis, 19. [FIREMEN FIND AXES USEFUL IN ANSWERING POLICE CALL Men on Special Duty Revert to Routine Experience in Forcing Two Doors. ‘Two Washington firemen on special | police duty yesterday answered a reg- ular three-alarm crime call for the first time in their lives and found experi- ence with the well known fire business is handy in any line. Sergt. W. J. Bunton and Pvt. F. M. Wighington of No. 9 Engine Company G. La Gorce. Will Address P.-T. A. Dr. R. H. Bell of the educational de- partment. of ihe Young Men's Chris- tian Association will address a trlneeun( sociation at 7:45 o'clock tonigh! to 10 o'clock. newly elected presit stalled. , | to enter. were hovering about their home fire house, in the 1600 block of U street, swinging their clubs like real police- men lete yesterday afterncon when they received a cal) “a men has been shot at 16— U.” Bunton and Wighington were prac- tically standing on the scene. They rushed to a stairway door and started ‘The door was locked. No one answered their demands to it. By this time Officers l'n:m and Montgomery of No. 3 had arrived in a radlo scout car. All four tried the door, This, it was plain to the firemen, was literally “up their alley.” Rushing to the fire station a couple of doors away, they grabbed up fire axes. The first door went down and 3;:“’ {ouxlxél utkmmer one, locked and 3 e succum| e b P! they discov some billiard tables and other paraphernalia, 8, few people and no gdead man. Some of the patrons obviously had departed at high speed via a back stairway. Po- lice arrested several tee, aided by five consultants of the| Council of Social Agencles, it was an- | nounced. H Allocation of funds not now In sight | | should not be made, Joshua Evans, jr., | chairman of the committee, told mem- bers, stressing the fact that 1t will not be possible for the committee to make | all appropriations requested by Chest | | member agencies. Care on Commitments Urged. He also urged that no Chest agencies make commitments where their dis- i charge is dependent on the receipt of i Chest funds, except those absolutely | unavoidable, until after the work of the| | Budget Committee has been completed. In a brief talk, Elwood Street, direc- tor of the Chest, outlined the actual work of the committee, praised its per- sonnel and started the machinery of | budget-making in motion. At the close of the meeting Chairman | Evans said: | “The committee is going at its task | {with a spirit of consecration to the service of our city, recognizing, how- | ever, the stern realities that face it, but | hoping that the results of its efforts will be regarded as fair and equitable.” Subcommittees to Meet. Subcommittee meetings will be held Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of each week, each subcom- mitiee meeting one day each week, The committee, in addition to Mr. Evans, Includes: | Clarence Phelps Dodge, vice chair- | man; William J. Flather, jr.; Arthur | Hellen, H. L. Rust, jr.; Elwood Street, | A. G. Landrus and E. E. Gallahue. ABOLITION OF PARKING IS URGED TO CITIZENS Dupont Association Hears Plan to Clear Streets in “0ld City Proper.” | A plan to eliminate parked cars from streets in the “old city proper” area of Washington was presented to the Du- pont Circle Citizens’ Association yester- day at its regular meeting in the May- flower Hotel. Reported by Maj. Clayton E. Emig, chairman of the Traffic Committee of the organization, the scheme proposed that property owners in the area below Florida avenue have their back yards zoned to permit rental or.the space for parked cars. In the average-width back yard, 18 feet, three cars could be placed diagonally, allowing frec move- ment at all times, the report pointed out. Rates for the parking would be $3 a month payable monthly, according to the plan. These charges should be regulated by order of the District Com- missioners or the Public Utilities Com- mission, it was said. Property owners would not be re- quired to make improvements other than removal of back fences and sheds which would interfere with parking. Other members of the Traffic Com- mittee besides Maj. Emig, originator of the plan, are Admiral Joseph Strnm,; Admiral William Rogers, Gen. George | P. Scriven, William Phelps Eno and | Capt. Albert G. Gore. REICHELDERFERS GUESTS Will Attend Lido Civic Club Din- ner Thursday. Commissioner and Mrs. Luther Reich- elderfer and Charles P. Sisson of the Federal Farm Loan Board will be guests of honor at the Lido Civic Club dinner in the Mayflower Hotel Thursday night, it was announced today. Other honor guests will include Rep- resentative Peter Cavicchia of New Jersey and representatives of the Italian embassy. Dancing will follow dinner. LECTURES OF LAW Dr. Elemer Balogh of Berlin, secre- tary-general of the International Academy of Comparative Law, will lec- ture at George Wi n U Hurt in Fall TECH STUDENT CRASHES THROUGH SKYLIGHT. JACK SIMMONS, | Seventeen, a student at McKinley High | School, was severely injured yesterday | afterncon when he fell through a sky- light at Powell Junior High School. Simmons was attempting to retrieve a foot ball kicked on the school roof dur- ing a game when he stepped through the skylight and tumbled about 20 feet to a concrete ficor below. He suffered a slight concussion of the brain. At Garfield Hospital this morning his con- dition was said to be improved. Young Simmens is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben H. Simmons, 1339 Kenyon street. COURT HOLDS MAN IN 60 BURGLARIES Cases of Three Alleged ‘Fences,” Charged With Re- ceiving $15,000, Continued. Alleged to have been responsible for more than 60 housebreakings over a period of several months, Leroy Dorsey, 21, colored, of 1700 block, Eighth street, was held on bond of $25,000 for grand jury action when arraigned before Judge Ralph Given in United States Branch of Police Court today. The cases of three so-called “fences,” alleged to have received stolen property valued at close to $15,000 from Dorsey, were continued until tomorrow. The three, Ben Seidel, 24; Mitchell Miller, block, Seventh street, were held under bond of $2,000 each. Dorsey was arrested November 29 by Detective E. L. Dalstrom, third precinct, with a quantity of clothing and jewelry belonging to Fentiss Gardner, colored, 1800 block Vernon street. The detec- tive saw Dorsey running through an alley near Sixteenth and S streets with the clothing under his arm. The cul- prit was captured after a short chase, and all the property stolen from Gard- ner’s apartment recovered. Police said more than 25 suits of clothes, several overcoats and ladies’ dresses were recovered from the pawn- broking establishment on Seventh street where the three “fences” were arrested. According to Assistant United States Attorney Michael F. Keogh, Dorsey | spent 2" years at Occoquan for house- | breaking ‘and served time in the Na. tional Training School for Boys. Among the homes he robbed was that of Maj. Gen. Stephen D. Fuqua, United States Army, chief of Infantry. FEDERAL JUDGE ENDS PRISONER’S SENTENCE Justice Way Holds D. C. Court In- flicted Too Sever “enalty in Larceny Holding that too heavy a punishment had been imposed in Police Court here, Presiding Justice Way in the Federal Court at Alexandria, Va., today cr cred the release from Lorton Reln of Nelson Harrison, who was : two-year sentence for larceny. Harrison was sentenced to serve 360 days and pay a fine of $500. Unable to pay the fine, an additional term of , Was rel punishmen : District Attorney Leo A. Rover said he ‘would the to attention of case Solicitor General to see whether he| traffic taken. PAGE B—1 RESCINDING OF PAY CUT ACT DENANDED BY LABOR BODIES Back Appeal of U. S. Em- ployes Before Senate Econ- omy Committee. GOVERNMENT LEAD ASKED IN KEEPING WAGE LEVELS McKellar Appeals to Patriotism in Accepting of Salary Reductions. Spokesmen for the American Federa- tion of Labor and the Washington Cen- tral Labor Union went before the Senate Economy Committee today in support of the appeal of Government employes against continuing the reductions in Federal salaries established by the econ= omy law. Edward F. McGrady, representing the A. F. of L, declared the Government should take the lead in maintaining wage levels rather than to encourage salary reductions. He said the economy act should be rescinded. PFrank J. Coleman of the Central La- bor Union took the same position and said that if the economy act cannot be repealed, it should be amended to correct various inequalities. McGrady took issue with members of the committee when they pointed to the Treasury deficit and inquired how this money could be raised to restore Gove ernment salaries to where they were last year. Appeals to Patriotism, Senator McKellar, Democrat, of Ten- nessee, said that when the Government is in good shape he agrees with the con- tention that it ought to take the lead in establishing higher wages, but that with the Treasury running $750,000,000 be- hind he said he thought “we ought to be patriotic enough to accept a reduc- tion.” Senator McKellar also pointed out that the purchasing power of the employes’ dollar is greater now due to lower prices. McGrady said he did not think the question of patriotism entered into the accepting of pay reductions. “The fact that the Government is Tunning behind $5,000,000 a day is noth- ing to be alarmed at,” McGrady de- clared. “The trouble is we are getting Ppanic-stricken.” McGrady argued that the United | 25, and Bennie Zedd, 19, all of the 1200 ! States 15 perfectly solvent, and that if it continues to encourage the holding down of salaries, the effect will be to reduce purchasing power, and that will result in a paralysis of business. He said private industry is encouraged to cut salaries every time the Government cuts. The cost of living, he said, may fluctuate overnight, but that it takes years to get salary levels back when they are reduced. Claims Imported Labor. When members of the committee in= quired abcut the effect of the publie building program in Washington, Mr. Coleman pointed out that a large per- centage of the workmen are brought in by the out-of-town contractors. this connection, Senator Bing- ham. Republican, of Connecticut sald another factor is that a considerable part of the expenditures on these build- ings goes into various States of the Union for materials and supplies. James H. Windsor of the Pressmen’s Union explained objections of employes in the Bureau of Engraving and Print- ing to the economy law. Clyde M. Mills of Columbia Typo- graphical Union presented the plea of Government Printing Office employes re- garding accumulated leave printing of- fice workers garned during the fiscal year 1931-32, but were unable to get the benefit of under the economy act in this fiscal year. He explained that the law for the printing office requires em- ployes to accumulate leave for an entire year before taking it. He asked for an amendment to take care of the last fiscal year. He also advocated a pay differential for night work. BILL WOULD SPEED SMALL ESTATE CASES Mrs! Norton Presents Plan to Pre- vent Congestion in Property Clerk’s Office. Chairman Norton of the House Dis- trict_Committee at the request of the District Commissioners today introduc- ed a bill to prevent congestion in the office of the property clerk, regarding custody of small estates and the hold- ing of lost or stolen property. This bill seeks to amend Section 416 and 417 of the revised statutes relating to the District. Under Section 416, amended in 1896, if the value of an estate exceeds $50, it is necessary that letters of adminis- tration be securcd before the property clerk can turn over the estate. In many cases, the entire estate is kept in the jurisdiction of the property clerk and the cost of securing letters of adminis- tration would practically wipe out the | estate, The amendment proposed is to decrease the number of cases, which are handled by increasing the value of the estate so held from $50 to $100 and thus expedite the disposition of this class of property. The i{nendmcnt to Section 417, is in- tended Yo reduce the holding of lost or stolen property received by the property clerk of the Police Department from six months to three months, thus saving considerable administrative work and effecting a saving to the Government, through reduction in requirements of storage space. COMMITTEES TO DISCUSS POTOMAC IMPROVEMENTS Chamber of Commerce Bodies to Take Up River Plans at Joint Meeting. ‘Three committees of the Washington Chamber of Commerce, having to do with harbors, parks and playgrounds and_transportation, will hold a joint meeting soon to discuss plans for the * improvement of the Potomac River, it was decided at a meeting of the Tran- portation Committee yesterday. George E. Keneipp, chairman of « group, said plans to hold such a me ing already had been approved by Jol . H. Small cha of the Parks and unds ttee, and Thomas chairman of the Harbors Committs After a discussion of enforcement of , Mr. Keneipp ap- pomnted three subcommittees to study the problems of stop signs, speed limits corpus. and traffic lights. ¢