Evening Star Newspaper, February 3, 1933, Page 17

CARPENTERSFAT EHPLOYERS OV To G PAY STALE Urion Carries Bacon-Davis Law Dispute to Labor Department Heads. CONTRACTORS CHARGE WAGE HERE HAS DROPPED These Doing Federal Work Say Union Mcmbers Accept $8 Per Tay cn Private Buildings. Carpenter; employed on six large Gov- errmcnt building projects today carried to the Fedoral Government their fight al of subconiractors fc: a reduction in their wagos. Dotermined to battle virgorously #gainst the slash, representaiives of the Carpenters’ Union were understood to have conferred at the Department of Labor this morning with Federal officials. \ The controversy today apparently hinged on the Bacon-Davis law which provides that contractors on Govern-; ment jobs must pay a prevailing rcale of wages in the lccality where the work 1 1s being done. The contractors, following a long series of conferences and investigation, took their united step toward cutting carpenters’ wages last night by posting & public notice on the six jobs con- cerncd. Taking the position that $3 a doy is ncw the prevailing scale of wages for carpenters and will be paid on and efter February 9. Officials of the carpenters’ unicn were uncerstood to have corferred at the Department cf~Labor today with the officials there and plan to go forward with their fight to maintain the $11 scale. | Meanwhile, a declaration that $11 a day for carpenters working in the Dis- trict is no longer the “prevailing wage for such mechanics was made today in a statemont issued by the Bullding Trades Employers’ Association of Washington, an organization of local contractors. Charges Perversion of Law. The contention also was made by the body that the Bacon-Davis “pre- vailing wage” law has been used in efforts to hold labor wage scales above what the prevailing wages are in real practice. ‘This, it is contended, in the statement issued by George W. Gates, acting secretary of the association, is & perversion of the law. R. A. Dickson, president of the Cen- tral Labor Union, said today that the contractors wcre evidently trying to make it a test case, and. that union officials would move to take up the question with the proper authorities to have the Bacon-Davis law enforced. He explained that conferences likely would be held with officlals of the Treasury Department, which let the contracts for most of the jobs concern- ed. Any question involving a strike, he said, was in the hands of the local carpenters’ unions, as the Ceatral La- bor Union does not call strikes. George Myers, business agent of carpenters’ local No. 132, conferred for some time cn the matter teday with Hugh Kerwin, director of conciliation of the Department of Labor. Mr. Ker- * win explained afterward that it would be necessary for the union to take up the matter with the Government con- tracting officer and attempt to settle the matter there first before the Secretary ©f Labor could rerfer a decision. In a previous wage case involving painters, the Secretary of Labor held that the union scale was theprevailing | scale of wages in the District of Co- lumbia. pending strongly on this decision s a precedent to uphold their contention that the union scale for carpenters here is the prevailing scale under the Bacon-Davis law. The Government buildings on which notices were posted last night include the Congressional Library, the Depart- ment of Agriculture and four separate jobs in the Federal building triangle— the Archives Building, the Department of Justice, the Post Office Department |,¢ and the connected buildings which are to house both the Department of Labor and the Interstate Commerce Commis- sion with a Government 'udiwrluml between. The action to reduce the union car- nters’ wages was taken by subcon- ractors on the jobs concerned. They have set forth their position in a state- ment, which reads in part as follows: “There has been a meeting of the contractors who employ a large number of carpenters in the performance of their work to determine the prevailing scale of wages existing in the District of Columbia and accepted by locals No. 132, 1694, 528 and 1665. “It has been established beyond any doubt that the carpenters are being paid at the rate of $1 an hour or $8 a day on work throughout the city. It has been further established that his wage has been accepted by members of the locals mentioned above inasmuch as notices have been publicly posted on the job, stating that $1 an hour, $8 & day wage is in effect and being paid. “A copy of a letter dated April 30, 1932, was sent by the H. W. McCord Co., Inc., contractors, to the Commis- sioners of the District of Columbia, establishing the rate of $1 an hour on certain District work, and this has been accepted by the Commissioners of thei District of Columbia. This letter, and oté‘er investigations, are the factors in arriving at our decision. We lay special stress on the fact that this wage scale has been posted in.the offices of varfous jobs and this wage has been paid and accepted by members of the carpenters’ union logals numbered as ahove. Other Employers Met. “Purthermore, members of the under- signed group have met with other local contractors who are employing carpen- ters of locals numbered as above at the present time in the city, and the conditions show that these men are accepting this rate of $8 a day for eight hours’ work with the knowledge of the local unions. “We are posting a notice on all jobs to the effect that the undersigned con- tractors, on and after February 9, 1933, will put into effect the $1 an hour, $8 a day scale of wages, which is the prevailing ccale of wages for carpenters in_the District of Columb:: The statement was signed by W. R. Mason of the United States Fireproof- ing Co., having a contract on the partment of Labor and Interstate Com. Commission _buiidings; J. E. Newling, jr., of Littlejchn, Bolling & Morris Co., on th Bulil Herbert R. Helsing of Easthom-Melvin - nnh‘t’:m f_George P[:vz“rsz George of 5 Inc., on the Justice Department; R. G. on the partment, an ©. Weber of George B. H. Macomber Co., on the Post Office Department Butlding. WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1933. Child Passenger Flies Alone MARTHA ANNE SEES WASHINGTON ON WAY SOUTH. left here for Knoxville, Tenn. oove. g Martha Anne Moore, 4 years old, with UMMING nursery tunes, 4-year- old Martha Anne Moore rode southward today aboard a big pacsenger airplane, traveling | alone except for her favorite | doll. | Martha Anne, almost speechless with surprise, was met by news cemera men | this morning when she landed at Washington-Hoover Airport, en route | frem her home in Paterson, N. J, to| Pilot Charles Carneal just before they visit relatives in Knoxville, Tenn. The young passenger, who became the charge of Pilot Charles Carneal when | they, took off from here, said she en- joyed the ride down from Newark “very much.” She added that her doll—Martha Anne also—enjoyed flying “even more.” Martha An: mother turned her over to the Ludington Air Lines rather than have the child travel the longer time reguired by train. WILL QUIZ SUSPECT FIVE CYPSIES HELD IN SIMIMS SLAYING gD. C. Detectives Go to Acco- ;Suspects Detained=in Phila- mac to See Man Believed | to Be Joseph Goodman, ! i Detective Secgts. John C. Dalglish and Jerry Flaherty left for Accomac, Va. this motning to question 2 man | tentatively identified as Joseph Good- | man, under indictment here for first- degree murder in the slaying of Willism Simms, 65, cclored watchman at the Dickey Bros. feed store, Kenilworth | avenue and Benning road northeast. Goofman was named as an accom- plice in the killing by George McKin- ley Pittmond, 33, colored, who also is | under indictment for first-degree mur- der in the case. Pittmond was ur-l rested by a Baltimore & Ohio Rail- Toad detective about eight hours be- | fore Simms’ body was found in the | feed store office. The watchman had | been shot and his head crushed. Pittmond pleaded guilty to the in-| dictment when arraigned before Justice | Daniel O'Donoghue in District Supreme Court today. He was informed, however, a guilty | plea could not be accepted in a first- degree murder case and the court clerk entered a not guilty plea for him. A similar notaticn was made by the clerk in the case of Edward Henry Jones, colored, charged with the murder of | Thurber J. Battle last December 31. Jones also attempted to plead guilty. Testifying at an inquest into Simms’ death, Pittmond declared Goodman | struck the watchman on the head with a hammer and then shot him when he resisted an attempt to rob the fe2d ctore safe. The men subsequently rtolo | about $40 from the safe, accorcing to | Detective Sergt. Harry K. Wilson, chief | of the homicide squad. The man_ believed to be Goodman was arrested Saturday while allegedly attempting to burglarize a house in | Accomac. Authorities there discovered | his description tallled with the fugi- tive’s, as given on a circular sent out by Inspector Frank S. W. Burke, chief detectives. A portion of the pris- oner’s right thumb also was missing, as was Goodman’s, according to Pitt- mond’s description of him. Dalglish and Flaherty, it was said at police headquarters, took with them copies of Goodman's fingerprints, on file at the Department of Justice, for comparison with the prisoner's. CHILDREN’S .CONCERT IS THIRD OF SERIES ‘The National Symphony Orchestra, | directed by Hans Kindler, will play| the third in its series of children’s| concerts tomorrow at 11 a.m at Central | High School. Dr. a lecture and demonstration of brass | instruments to the young audience. | The program will be made up of American and Hungarian folk music. including Brahm's “Hungarian Dances,’ Nos. 5 and 6, “Natchez on the Hill, the latest orchestra composition of John Powell, noted Virginia composer, and “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny.” | The last two numbers were requenbed| by 150 Virginia school children who regularly attend these National Sym- phony concerts, the first of which was heard by 1,500 children. Advance seat sales for tomorrow's concert indicate the Central High School auditorium will be packed. Kindler will give | | five gypsies who robbed Mrs. Demetro | | nue. | mounds and ruins this year. | enjoyable treks to | Summer time and hieing back to warm INATTACK INQUIRY delphia Pending Efforts to Identify Them Here. Incpector Frank S. W. Burke, chief of detectives, today was awaiting re- ceipt of protographs and descripticns of half a dozen gypsies arrested in Philadelphia yesterday in connection | with an attack on Mrs. Tinker Demetro, 50, and her 18-year-cld daughter Rosa. | If any of the pictures are identified as those of members cf the band of | of $490 after tying her and her daugh- ter to a partition, Inspecior Burke said, detectives will be sent to Phila- delphia. Philadelphia police arrested the gyp- sies, according to an Associated Press dispatch, fcllowing receipt of a look- out broadcast by the Detective Bureau | here. They were riding in a high-priced ! car of the same type as that described | in the lookout, it was sald. i Mrs. Demetro and her daughter were | attacked, they told police, as a result | of a “marriage market” feud. Mrs. Demetro was dragged from her bed, in which she was nursing her 10-day-old daughter, she declared, and bound and gagged. With her hands tied tcgether, she added, she was suspended from a rartition in her home, 810 Florida ave- Her daughter was tied to another partition, it was said Search for Relics Upheld as House Rejects Fund Cut McClintic Declares Smith- sonian Has Too Many Now. By the Associated Press. Smithsonian anthropologists found defenders in the House who voted down a proposal calculated to keep most of the scientists away from therr beloved Representative McClintic, Demoerat, of Oklahoma proposed cutting the ap- propriation for ethnological studies from $61,482 to $25,000. “Some of the bones and relics the ethnologists have dug up,” he said, “have to be stored in the garret and some in the cellar. They have too many now.” He pictured the scientists as making ent ruins in the and comfortable quarters with the ap- proach of Winter. In quick succession, Representatives ‘Wocdrum, JDemocrat, of Virginia, Boy- lan, Democrat, of New York and Hast- ings, Democrat, of Oklahoma defended ethnology, anthropology, the Smithso- nian Institution and its scientists. “They have collected and are collect- ing priceless relics that gold and silver cannot replace,” Woodrum said. But McCumh;l ‘nt\bmt:l;ll believe w: ht to stop hunting these es & e - His amendment was defeated, 33 to 19. AUTOMOBILE DEALERS TO ACT AS OWN COOKS AT BANQUET Private Oyster Bar, When the Washington Automotive Trade Association gives its annual din- ner tonight at Harvey's restaurant in honor of the Baltimore Asscclation, the guests will cock their own dinner, open thelr own oysters and be their own waiters. A special tap room with grills and a private oyster bar has been set up on the third floor, where the guests will be shown the “latest wrinkle” in cafe- teria service, Instead of the usuaP “soup and fish,” the guests will be at- tired in cooks’ caps and aprons. After dinner, members of the two as- sociations will attend the automobile show in the Washington Auditorium, where & new high in attendance was marked Fred oL. Haller, presiden$ of the Washington association, disclosed 1o~ day that the majority of cars being Caps and Aprons Provided for Annual Dinner Tonight. offered in trade on new models being displayed at the show are from three to five years old, indicating a great many owners have been holding on to their machines throughout the depres- sion, but nuwhruun- :he'y can no longer Ppostpone cement. Ma thl:;: e’vf:rm wommenmhave heemwe an important factor year’s buy- ing, it was said, being attracted not only by the new color it- ments, but manifesting an intelligent interest in the new automatic power brakes and other me features which in the past have been of mmm;:mw%min' Sunday, with an oW close Sunday, announcement of the five recipients SUNDAY MORNING EDITION INAUGURAL BIDS AGCEPTED BY 22 DISTRIGT WELFARE BOARD INCREASES | '|Gathering of Governors Here on March 4 to Be Greatest in History of Nation. ONLY NINE HAVE SENT REJECTIONS UP TO DATE Demand for Choice Seats Indicates Only Early Applicants Will Get What They Want, Roper Says. The greatest gathering of Governors of States ever to come to Washington for-an inaugural will witness the inau- guration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, it was assured today with the announce- ment of the Inaugural Committee that 22 State executives have signified their intention of attending. Other accept- tances are expected within the next few days. To date, according to Rcar Admiral Cary T. Grayson, chairman of thz In- augural Committee, only seven Gov- ernors have declined the invitation to attend the celebration. The six additional acceptances re- ported today, bringing the total to 22, were received from Governors Clyde Herring, Iow3; Oscar K. Allen, Louis: ana; Joseph B. Ely, Massachusett Floyd B. Olson, Minnesota; George White, Ohlo, and Mrs. Miriam A. Fer- guson, Texas. Of the 19 Governors who have not yet bcen heard from, accepte ances from at least half are expected. Record Already Broken. All available records of previous in- angurals show the number that alrcady has acccpted the invitation to the Rocsevelt inaugural is the greatest number ever to attend such an event. Admiral Grayson and his committee to- day were regarding the widsspread in- terest of the Governors as an indica- tion of the lively interest with which the rest of the country is following the preparations for the ipaugural and making arrangements to come to Wash- ington to join in the celebration. The large number of Governcrs will greatly he'shten the work of the In- augurel Committee on Reception ef Governors and Distinguished Gu»st-, of which Ray Baker is chairman. Mr. Baker, with a committee of approxi- mately 200 prominent Washingtonians, is making elaborate preparations for the entertz2inment of the Statz Execu- tives, providing them with automobiles while they are in Washington, and at- tencing to their comforts and to the wants of their staffs. The principal entertainment so far planned for the Governors and their aides is the reception which will be held the night of March 3, at the Pan-American Building. Justice James M. Proctor of th: District Supreme Courf is chairman of the Committee on Entertainment of the aides, and has drafted many citizens to serve with Ticket Demand Heavy. Daniel C. Roper, thairman of the Grandstand Ticket Sales Committee, to- day ennounced that only early applica- tions will assure.ticket-seekers of choice locaticns. The &mand for the better seats, he said. has been so heavy that many of the best sections have already been taken. He also pointed out no reservations would be held after Feb- ruary 15, and payment must be made on all applications by that time or the tickets will be turned back inio the general pool and disposed of to the gen- eral public. There was a lull today in the con- troversy between the Carpenters’ Union and contractors building the inaugural stands over the wages paid men work- ing on the stands, while the union awaited an answer to a telegram sent yesterday to President-elect Roosevelt at Warm Springs, Ga., charging the contractors with being unfair in pay- ing carpenters $8 when the union scale ‘here is $11 a day, and the contracts for the work called for employment of union labor. The contractors reiterated today that they are hiring only men with union cards who are willing to work for $8 a day, and claimed this wage has been paid for private construction in Wash- ington for some time, despite the fact that under the Bacon-Davis law, which applies only to public construction, carpenters on Government projects are receiving the union scale of $11 a day. Private Funds Used. The Central Labor Union has drop- ped the matter, it was announced to- day by Richard A. Dickson, upon re- ceipt of information that private funds | ha end not Government appropriations are being used to construct the inaugural stands. The Central Labor Union has been active in the controversy for the past few days and its officials have been insisting that the contractors on the inaugural stands should pay the $11 union scale, instead of the $8 scale adopted by the builders. Since learn- ing that private funds were being used for the work, however, the central labor body withdrew its support of the Car- penters’ Union. This does not affect the activities of the Carpenters’ Union, however, Mr. Dickson said. George H. Myers, business agent of the carpenters’ union, has announced that the union intends to fight the matter through to the finish, and al- ready has suspended from the union some carpenters who have refused to quit work on the stands. Work on the stands was continuiny at the normal pace, however, with al the men needed turning up for work and scores of others standing by each to accept work at the $8 Get Amplifying System. Chairman Grayson announced last night that amplification equipment, by which the Inauguration day pre can be carried to thousands, hag been loaned the Inaugural Committee the Columbia Broadcasting National ,fl,fle Lo ipment, it was an- will take care of amplification of the ceremonies at the Capitol, when Mr. Roosevelt will be sworn in as Pres- A the line of march of the parade, and at the Court of Honor, on Pennsylvsnia avenue, in front of the ‘White House. ms: nounced, streets. these freililles the public informed of L:» p nounce! cruising wutomobiles throughout the area in which the of- ficial inaugural events will taske place. Three Are Appointed. Grayson today ennounced Mina S. Adams of the free automobiles. The award of gram the cars will be by a radio round-up and a hour concert by Maxim Lowe's Shoreham = Hotel lifyin ‘Th will and appoin tic controls, echanical Will Spend $30,000 Per Week and Modifies Resi- dence Rule to One Year. CONDITIONS GROWING WORSE, TALIAFERRO SAYS 7,237 Now Being Cared For, With 75 New Applications Being Made Daily, Report Shows. ‘The Emergency Relief Committee cof the Board of Public Welfare at a meet- {ing lat night decided to increase ex- penditures for unemployment from $25,000 to $30,000 per week at least during the remaining Winter weeks. The committee also decided to extend who could show residence in the District for cne year from the date of applica- tion. ‘The previous rule hes been that the applicant must show that he has been a resident for a year prior to July 1. 1932. The policy of not affording a! to men without families to support was inot changed. The increzse in the amount distributed will not materiaily affect the rate of acsistance, which will | remain apprcximately $3.65 per week | per family. E 7,237 Families on Roll. A Halbert is now caring for 7,237 fami- lies, and new applicants are appearing the rate of about 75 each day. The eneral conditions of distress,” accord- ing” to a statement issued after the than they have previously been.” ‘The statement, signed by Sidney F. Taliaferro, chairman of the committee, said: “The Emergency Relief Committee of i the Board of Public Welfare had a | lengthy special meeting tonight to con- sider the increasing problems due to | unemployment and questions specifical- ily raised by the Associated Charities and several other organizations in re- !spect to the scope of the emergency Public Welfare. Conditions Held Worse Now. “The general conditions of distress, due to unemployment, are at this time |;uch worse than they have previously en. “The committee recognizes the re- | spcnsibility of the Board of Public Wel- fare, under the law, to deal with all cases of distress among residents of the District of Columbia due to unemploy- | ment, but its activities have been, and still must be, necessarily limited by the funds at its command. Some enlarge- ment of present-rules was determined apon at this meetng, particularly in [pannmg to deal with any case of a family who have been residents of the District for at least one year prior to !the date of application. It was also determined to increase the amount for emergency relief to $30,000 per week for the next few weeks, due to the ex- treme conditions of distress and the ‘Winter. season.” The board is administering a fund of $625,000, appropriated out of District money by Congress to care for unem- ployed persons herd during the first six months of the calendar year. POLICE STILL GUARD iProwIer Who Pointed Shotgun at Window Wednesday Night Is Sought. ‘The home of Senator George McGill, 3009 Thirty-fourth street, still was un- der police guard today as detectives continued their efforts to learn the identity of the prowler who pointed a double-barreled shotgun at & window of the residence Wednesday night. ‘Thus far, the only clues discovered by the investigators are a number of footprints in the soft earth beside the house. The footprints, it was said, are unusually large, and they dotted the ground between the window and the front door. Despite the fact the Kansas Senator scoffed at the theory the prowler may his prohibition activities, Detective C. tivities as a prosecuting attorney in Kansas years ago prompted the visit. The prowler knocked at the Senator's door twice, in an apparent attempt to lure him outside. Then, hearing a rap on a dining room window, the Senator pushed back the draperies and saw the gun pointing at him. He dropped the draperies back into place, turned off the lights and sum- moned police. His wife and daughter were in the room with him. b e i S, ELECTORAL COLLEGE INVITED TO INAUGURAL Members Called, Unofficially, to Meet in Washington for First Time in History. By the Associated Press. ‘The members of the electoral college have been called to meet in Washington for the first time in history and then only for an unofficial session—to at- tend the. inaugural. ‘There are 531 presidential electors, all Democrats except from those six States President Hoover carried. The relief administration under Leroy | / meeting, are “at this time much wvr:e' | relief work being done by the Board of ; HOME OF M’GILL! - @he Foening Shar l | I | | | | | ve been motivated by disapproval of | that the United States was paying us. C. Brown, eighth precinct prohibition |ation: The Treasury authorities finally officer, was assigned to the case. The |decided that they could not go through Senator also ridiculed a rumor his ac- | with the | might be written into the appropriation {aid to any otherwise qualified applicant | pprop! j Municipal Center project were based. O Society and General | * DONOVAN AND RICHARDS URGE NEW REALTY TAX SALES LAW $300.000 Taken in This Year on $1,000,000 STATE EXECUTIVES) JOBLESSPAYMENTS| - Detinguent Levies n District House Subcommittee Is Informed. ‘The need for a new law covering sales of real estate for delinquent taxes in the District was emphasized by Dis- trict Auditor Daniel J. Donovan and District Assessor William P. Richards during hearings, made public today, be- fore the subcommittee drafting the Dis- trict appropriation bill. Such a bill submitted by the District Commission- ers is now awaiting action before Houge and Senate. Both the auditor and assessor pointed out that on delinquent tax sales an out- sider buying the property for taxes charges 12 per cent interest during the two-year period in which tne owner is allowed to redeem the property. When the District government bics it in the owner is charged 8 per cent. Mr. Richards said that this year the list of delinquent taxes is greater than ever before. With about $1,000,000 worth of overdue taxes, where ordinar- ily there is approximately $800,000 real- ized from the sale only $300,000 was | taken in this year. Representative Blanton, Democrat, of Texas suggested that language act to correct this situation, but was advised that study had shown an en- tirely new act was preferable. Assessor Richards pointed out to the committee that, outside of Government construction, very little new building which would increase real estate taxes is under way. “The sale of small properties is dead,” he said. “Where properties are put up for sale dwellings to sell for $14,000 or ;gm have been sold for $10,000 or “During the last year we have had appeals on a great many pieces of prop- erty in which they asked for about a 20 per cent reduction because of the decrease in building costs. We have allowed from 9 to 10 per cent reduc- tions. These changes affected 1,541 pleces of property assessed at $118.- 000,000, and the amount of reduction was about $12,000,000.” Mr. Richards also was acked to ex- plain’ whether rents are being decreased and what requests have beea for re- duction in assessment ‘on that account. Mr. Richards said there was not a general decrease in rentals, but scat- tered throughout the District there have been many decreases, oariicularly in parts of the business section. He pointed out that 40 per cent of tne taxable property in the District is busi- ness property. MUNICIPAL CENTER L0SS IS CLAIMED D. C. Has Spent $6,500,000’ and Now Can’t Sell Pres- | ent Building to U. S. ' | | ‘The Municipal Center development ! has been held up indefinitely, with an | investment of $6,500,000 in the site, re- moving that much valuable property from taxation, because the Treasury De. partment has decided that the District | has 1o right to sell the present Dis- | trict Building to the United States Gov- | ernmen without further legislation by | Congress. ‘This was disclosed in testimony of | District Auditor Daniel J, Donovan fore the House Subcommittee drafting | the District appropriation bill. Expected to Get $5,000,000. Plans for going ahead with the Mr. Donovan said, “on the belief that we would be able to sell the present District Building to the United States Government for about $5,000,000. That deal fell through. We are six and a | half million dollars out of pocket for | the purchase of the four squares. We | have no money to go ahead with the construction of any buildings on that site, and may not have for many years, and in the meanwhile, the property is | off the tax roll. “The expenditure has been made for the ultimate benefit of the District, al- though considerably beyond what we had originally anticipated that we ought | to expend for that p 2 | Auditor Donovan exolained that the | present Municipal Building was con- structed out of appropriations payable 50 per cent by the United States. The Treasury Department raised the ques- tion: “We have an equity in that build- ing of one half of its value, one half the purchase price and only Congress | can release that equity to the District of Columbia.” | Treasury Wants Rent. Mr. Donovan told the subcommittee that a second complication was when the Treasury Department “proposed to charge us 5 per cent cf the purchase Frice a year as a rental. Now, at the | very best, it would have been 7 to 10 years befcre the second unit could be constructed. “Of course, we realize, and I think the Treasury Department people did too, that at this time it would be rather difficult to get legislation through Con- Fm for an appropriation of $5,000,000 ’:r‘thepurchmo“hemmctxmld “The second unit would take care of the general administrative offices of the District government, and they are the offices in the present District Building. 'Wé figured out that by the time we got out of the present building and into the new building in the Municipal Cen- ter we would be giving the United States back about one-half the money “So it resolved itself into this situ- e transaction until further leg- islation - was obtained from Congress respecting this question of the Federal equity and respecting this question of the District paying a rental for the occupation of the present building.” GARNER RU.LE BROKEN Mrs. Eslick Introduces Celebrity to House in Session. ‘While Speaker Garner was absent from the chair yesterday, Mrs. Willa B. Eslick, newest woman Representa- tive, broke a rule he had laid down last’ year and introduced to the House Mrs. Charles Henri Fisher of New York president general of the National Society of Colonial Descendants of America. Fisher was seated in the gallery Mrs. Fisher at the time of the introduction. RADCLIFFE DIRECTS CAPITAL GIVIC FUND Former Head of Chautauqua System Becomes Officer of Organijzation. Appointment of William L. Radcliffe, founder of the Radcliffe Chautauqua System, as director of the National Capital Civic Pund was announced yes- terday by the officers of the fund, fol- lowing a meeting in the office of Wil- liam Montgomery, its president. Mr. Radcliffe, who has for many years been interested in social welfare work, will assume his new post imme- | diately. He said today he contemplates a program of increased activity for the organization during the coming months. ‘The fund, which was established three years ago to promote and foster ccmmunity celebrations and festivals, withdrew this year from the Community Chest of its own accord, believing that due to increased unemployment Chest funds should be devoted to rellef for the needy. Founded Chautauqua Service. Mr. Radcliffe has maintained an in- terest in this type of work since he was 15, when he established a social club among youths employed in cotton mills in his boyhood home town of Petersburg, Va. Since then Mr. Rad- cliffe, who is now 63, has been active in social welfare work in many com- munities. He was secretary of the Harrisonburg, Va, Y. M. C. A, for four years and secretary of the Cumberland, Md., Y. M. C. A for 12 years. In 1914 he established the Radcliffe Chautauqua System, designed to bring to rural communities the lectures, concerts and other entertainments at that time con- centrated in urban centers. \ “The advent of radio and increased use of automobiles, however, has markedly decreased the need for this gaw of service,” Mr. Radcliffe said to- y. ‘Was Band Manager. The new director was for 20 years manager of the United States Marine also has acted as manager for Victor Herbert’s Orchestra, Mme. Johanna Orchestra and the New York Philhar- monic Orchestra. The headquarters of the National Capital Civic Fund will henceforward be at 907 Sixteenth street, where Mr. Radcliffe maintains his office. The fund expects to support itself by raising money through memberships. Dr. George C. Havenner is chairman of the Membership Committee, The fund, Mr. Radcliffe said, expects to co-operate closely with the Com- munity Center Department and other groups sponsoring community celebra- tions. The conducting of the July 4 celebration'and various festivals at the Sylvan Theater were among the activ- itles of the fund last year. SCRUGGS HELD TO JURY IN $500 CHEST LARCENY Man Brought Back From New Jersey May Be Placed Under Mental Observation. John A. Scruggs, 29, of the 1700 block De Sales street, charged with lar- ceny of $500 from the Community Chest, was held for grand jury action today under $1,000 bond by Police Court Judge Gus A. Schuldt. He pleaded guilty. S Scruggs was brought back to Wash- ington from Absecon, N. J., yesterday by Detective N. L. Hodkinson, after he had given himself up to police there and announced the larceny. Assistant U. S. Attorney Michael Keogh told Judge Schuldt that probably will be placed under mental observal The $500, according to information given police, by Elwood Street, chest director, was taken from receipts of a dinner at Wardman Park Hotel by rep- Tesentatives of the organization. loss was covered by insurance. BOUND OVER AS HOUSE RAZER, WITH AIM OF SELLING MATERIAL Colored Man Arraigned in Police Court, Denies Guilt. Put Under $3,000 Bond. g 1 i ; 535 i o f o Eéfifigsi_ g | E § Shoie inspector had crdered repairs. An srchitesi hod drawn p:: . when workmen wert to put them into effcct, they found ik buildizg almost totally destroyed. g;;ns fcr the remodeling cf the | PAGE B—1 DONOVAN TESTIFIES 2° GAS TAX MORE THAN MEETS AIMS House Subcommittee Given Auditor’s View in Fiscal Bill Hearing. $1,993,996 PAID D. C. INCREASE OF $343,000 Highway Burden Declared Eased for Realty Owners—Economy Act Called “Life-Saver.” ‘The present 2-cent gas tax is yielding more than enough revenue to fulfill the special purpose for which it was im- posed, District Auditor Daniel J. Donovan testified before the subcom= mittee drafting the District appropria= tion bill, some of the hearings on which were made public last night. The Mapes bill, passed by the House, proposes to double the gas tax, and the Senate District Committee recommended split- ting the difference and making it three cents. 4 District automobile cwners paid $1.- 993,996.10 in gasoline ‘taxes during the fiscal year that closed June 30, last, according to Auditor Donovan's testi- mony. This was an increase of $343,000 over the previous year and established a record for gasoline tax revenues. The District’s “streets are in a far better condition than ever before,” he testified, and the increased gasoline tax revenue has enabled the municipal gov- ernment to do $1,000,000 worth of street improvements and $130,000 wcrth of highway construction and repair work. This burden was lifted from the real estate owners and put on the automo- bile owners, he pointed out. Use of Excess Tax. Auditor Donovan, when asked by Chairman Cannon of the subcommittee for his advice regarding the surplus gasoline tax, whether the tax should be reduced or part of the levy should be applied to other District requirements, recommended that the excess should be used for general highway construction. ‘The economy act of last year, impos- ing a compulsory furlough, without pay, on Government employes, saved the District government from a deficit of approximately $869,000, Mr. Donovan testified. “The economy act is in a way a life= saver for the District,” testified Mr. Donovan. “The savings under the economy act amounted to $2,135,704. While the total of our appropriations exceeds our revenues by $877.000 we may have at the end of 1933 a small baldnce of $8,195.” Members of the subcommittee headed by Representative Clarence Cannon, Democrat, of Missouri, showed a deep interest in the operations of the econo- my act in the District Government, and iin the reorganization of the engineer's office whoch resulted in dismissals, re- , ductions and a few increases in salary to those who were promoted. Drop in Collections. District Commissioner Luther H. Reichelderfer and District Assessor Wil- liam P. Richards testified that there had been a serious falling off in revenue collections, both on real estate and on intangibles. Owing to the number of appeals for reduction in assess- ments, Mr. Richards warned the come mittee that it will be difficult to maine tain real estate valuations. He said he would prefer a District income tax to a tax on intangibles. Chairman Cannon said the subcom= mittee drafting the appropriation bill is faced with the necessity of either levying an income tax or decreasing i the cost of operation and decreasing |Band and manager of the United |the appropriations for maintenance of | States Navy Band for five years. He | the city. “We would have about $8.000,000 to ‘the good.” said District Auditor Dono= | Gadski, Evan Williams, the Pittshurgh | ¥an, if all unpaid taxes could be col- {lected. These taxes are on both real estate and intangble personal property. Commissioner Reichelderfer said: “The Commissioners believe that there is opportunity for further reduc- tions in maintenance and operating costs in the District Government, and it is their intention that the Economy Committee during this year shall make further investigations into the various mnches n{m} aer}\;i:es of the District ernment for the purpose of accom= plishing this result. STOREKEEPER SHOOTS WOULD-BE BURGLAR Brodie H. Coakley, After Watch of Nearly Month, Surprises Intruder, Who Escapes. A watch kept by Brodie H. Coakley at intervals for more than a month since a man tried to break into his cigar and ccnfectionery store, 201 Fif- teenth street southeast, was rewarded early today when a colored intruder smached the glass in the door and en- | tered. Sitting in the rear of the store, Coak- ley waited until the would-be burglar got well inside and then fired five shots. The colored man yelled and crawled hurriedly thrcugh the opening in the door in which he had broken the glass. Police were making a check of the hos- pitals to see if the man applied at any of them for treatment. A total of $18 was obtained last night in two hold-ups and a pocketbook smatching. The hold-up victims were Nathaniel The | Payne, colored, who reported he was forced into an alley at Delawere avenue and M street southwest by two colored men and robbed of $3, and Chester Waddell of 920 G place, who was held up at the point of a knife by a colored man while i the basement of a recreation building in the 900 block of G street and robbed of $1. Edna Gardner of the Cairo Hotel had her pocketbook, containing $14, snatched by & colored man while she was walking on Seventeenth near Swan street. GIVES PERMIT, WARNING Van Duzer Cautions Motorists to Renew Drivers’ Licenses. A vtz hu.--,'w !:t3 that there are aj tely 10,000 persons driv- ing mwm with invalid permits and that the number of such cases have in Police Court was issued to- Traflic Director William A. Van Van Duzer advised drivers to check their permits as to date of expiration. He p»int24 ouvi'that the law provides a maximum 2lty of $300 fine or 180 +deys in J or both, for persons coR~ victed ci Criviog with an expired per-