Evening Star Newspaper, July 2, 1933, Page 11

S / oo ] The Samilny Shap [ | POTONAC DRAGGE NEAR ENPIY AUTD OF MISIG TELER Wilfred E. Aiken, 31, Leaves; Note Showing Worries Over Finances. PERPETUAL LOAN BOOKS . APPEAR TO BE IN ORDER! Association Officials Declare Hur- | ried Examination Has Failed to Show Anything Wrong. Police last night were drageing the Potomac for the body of Wilfred E. Aiken, 31, of 6306 Eighth street, whose car they found abandoned about half a mile north of Key Bridge, on the Vir- | ginia side Aiken, a teller at the Perpetual Build- ing & Loan Association, left a note in- dicating that he was harassed by financial worries. Officials of the as- | sociation last night, however, said that preliminary examination showed his accounts were in perfect order. The note was addressed to “Helen,” his wife's name. It said: “My dearest Helen “This Jooks like the easlest way out— the bank—moratorium—just about let me out—Take it easy— “Some one should look after you for | & year or more until you can get ad- usted to my going on, but this is life, oney i “Make the kids think good of me. (Signed) “WILFRED." Suit Left in Car. In Aiken's car police found a suit of men’s clothes and the note. Police said that they had learned that an extra sult of clothes and a suit case were missing from Aiken’s effects at home. | Mrs. Aiken would not confirm this. but emphasized she could account for all of Aiken’s shoes. Mrs. Aiken said that the last seen of her husband was at his home at 8:30 o'clock Friday night. He did not come home Friday night nor did he report for work at the building association yesterday. She had no idea of what ! had happened until the police notified her yesterday that the car had been found. She said that prior to his disappear- ance he was in perfect good spirits, ex- cept that perhaps he was a little nervous. Aiken's mother, however, said that he appeared “blue” for the pre- vious two days. She is Mrs. Lillian| Berger, 136 R street northeast. Each | said that she knew of no reason that | would account for either his disappear- ance or his suicide, whichever it might turn out to be. | i Mother Sees Him Leave. i ng at | n he | Mrs. Berger said she was visil ¢ son’s home Friday night wt |that no certificate would be issued | pending further investigation. ness and would be back in a short | while,” she said. “He always gave Fri- day and Saturday evenings to me and he said he was particularly sorry he would have to leave them.” _She sald that she did not know what had happened until yesterday morning when Mrs. Aiken telephoned to say her husband had not come in Friday night. “Even then I was not worried,” Mrs. | Berger said, because I knew he was | member of the Indian Spring Country ( Club and often played bridge there or | at the Manor Club until very late.” | Aiken had been an employe of the bank for 10 years. He attended Mc- Kinley Technical High School for two | years and started to Work when he was | 14. He joined the building association’s staff when he was 20. THREE MEN HURT IN AUTO ACCIDENTS Lewis Atwatter Reports Loss of $75 After Being Knocked Down by Car. | i \ i Three men suffered minor injuries in automobile accidents yesterday af-| ternocn. Knocked down by a car at Sixteenth | and Harvard street, Lewis Atwatter, 48, 1673 Columbia road, was taken to| Emergency Hospital, where he was| treated for several cuts over the right eye and bruises to his face. He later com- | plained to police that he lost his wallet | containing $75 either during the acci- dent or on his way to the hospital. The car which struck him was driven by Willie Brandt, colored, 1000 block of Twenty-first street, | Hurrying out of the way of a street | car, William_Battle, colored, 60, 802! Rhode Island avenue, was struck by another trolly car at Ninth and F, streets. At Emergency Hospital it was| said he had sustained only minor in- juries. The car was operated by W. C. Caldwell, 4500 Thirteenth street. | Confused by the traffic at Third and | Virginia avenue southeast, James M. Johnson, colored, 48, was knocked down by a car driven by Mary E. Famons, | 31, 600 block of Virginia avenue south- cast. He was treated at Providence | Hospital for contusions. MAJ. BAGLEY HERE Engineer W;‘Be in Charge of In- telligence Section. Maj. James W. Bagley, Corps of En- gineers, has reported for duty in the office of chief of Engineers, relieving Capt. Willlam H. Crosson, in charge of the inteligence service. Since 1929, Maj. Bagley has been sta- tioned at Detroit, Mich.. in charge of the lake survey, including the Great Lakes and the navigable waters of the New York canals. He has specialized in mapping, both on land and in the air, and has superviced many important projects for the Engineer Corps. Maj. Bagley is 52 years old and a na- tive of Fayetteville, Tenn. PARKED CARS LOOTED Property Valued at $600 Stolen in Capital Area. Property valued at about $600 was stolen from automobiles parked on the streets yesterday afternoon. James C. Fields of Baltimore report- ed that his car, parked near the Ar- lington Hotel, was broken into and Fadio equipment valued at about $510 stolen. The second victim was Harry Silber- stein, Brooklyn, N. Y., who told police a camera and pair of binoculars and clothing valued at slightly less than £100 were taken from his car near Linth street and Peansylvania avepus. { Monument Grounds. | nue, last night. |a cell, when he told his mission. | by a silken cord, such as is used on a | having ‘ Speaker | l I l | SENATOR WILLIAM H. KING, Who will be guest speaker at July 4 ceremonies Tuesday evening on the LFEBYHANEING Mrs. Lillian Steed’s Friend | _ Gives. Alarm—Faces Drunken Charge. Mrs. Lillian Steed, 32 years old. a waitress, ended Her life by hanging, in her apartment, 2137 Pennsylvania ave- The body was discovered shortly be- fore 7 o'clock by John Heafer, 25, a chauffeur of the 300 block Shepherd street, a friend. He went to the third precinct to inform the police, and, it was said, raised a disturbance upon his entry, and was about to be plltcd}i{n e was then locked up and charged with being drunk. Pvt. R. W. Hepkins, going to the apartment to investigate, found Mrs. Steel's body suspended from a transom dressing gown. A small stool, over- | turred, lay nearby, indicating that the woman had stood on it and kicked it from under her. £ Hopkins cut her down, and sent in a call for Emergency Hcspital. Mrs. Steed was pronounced dead on arrival of the ambulance. Police found a penciled note left on a table by the woman. It read: “Good-by. John. I can't stand any more. I have tried, but things have gone too far. Best of luck. Lillian.” Acting Coroner A. Magruder Mac- Donald said suicide indications were so clear that no autopsy was planned, but Mrs. Steed iIs divorced from her hus- band, and has a 12-year-old daughter living hece with a sister. DURIG LETTER ASKS ROOSEVELT'S AID “Some Protection” Sought by Sculptor Recently Evicted From Studio. Prof. Ernest Durig, who was evicted ' from his studio at 1536 Connecticut: avenue Friday. appealed to President Roosevelt yesterday for “some protective action on the part of the United States.” The appeal was made in a letter sent to the President by registered mail. Re- ferring to his mysterious disappearance on May 23, the 37-year-old Swiss sculp- tor said: “Recently events in my artistic life became very discouraging, causing me to leave Washington, indignant over the shameful defamation of character made by a fellow countryman.” Prof. Durig offered to present to the President his latest creation, “Disarm- ament and World Peace,” now stored in the basement of the Mayflower Hotel. Describing some of his other work, he declared his progress in the world of art had bheen impeded by “injurious tales.” “I am very proud,” he continued, “in completed many busts and groups during my two-year stay in ‘Washington, the acdomplishment of which has given the American people the opportunity of knowing that Swit- zerland produces not only Swiss cheese, watchmakers, hotels and yodelers. | * * ¢ T am proud to have completed my | work without renumeration.” SUBCOMMITTEE ON TAX DUPLICATION TO MEET Senator King Calls Conference of Group to Study Federal and State Sources. The subcommittee of the Senate ) Finance Committee appointed to study duplication of tax sources in Federal and State revenue laws, has been called by Chairman King to confer in execu- tive session tomorrow morning to out- line a plan of procedure to be followed during the recess of Congress. Senator King already has requested the Governcrs and other State officials W ASHINGTON, D. C, SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 2, 1933. =* KING WILL ADDRESS PATRIOTIC RALLY TUESDAY EVENING Speech to Climax Day of Fes- tivity in All Parts of Wash- ; ington. JUDGE R. E. MATTINGLY TO READ DECLARATION Committee Reports Heavy Advance Demand for Seats at Ceremony. Senator William H. King, chairman of the Senate District Committee, will be the guest speaker at the Independ- ence day ceremonies at the base of the Washington Monument, it was an- nounced yesterday by the Citizens' Comumittee in charge. Climaxing & day of festivity in all parts of the city, the celebration will} be featured by a patriotic concert by the Marine Band and a fireworks dis- lay. Senator King will be introduced by Claude W. Owen, chairman of the Citizens’ Committee, who will preside. Massing of the colors at 7:45 o'clock will be the opening function, followed by an invocation by Rev. Joseph R. Stzoo. Senator King's speech will be broadcast over a Nation-wide hook-up from 8 to 8:15 o'clock. Will Read Declaration. The Declaration of Independence will be read by Judge Robert E. Mat- tingly of Municipal Court. Miss Grace Mary Collifiower, who recently won second place in the Tenth National Oratorical Contest, will deliver a short oration on “Thomas Jefferson, Father of Constitutional Democracy.” The Victory Post Drum and Bugle Corps of the American Legion will as- |sist in the ceremonies, playing for the presentation of the colors and “Retreat.” The Marine Band, conducted by Capt. Taylor Branson, also will render pa- triotic music. A great advance demand for seats, the committee said, is noted at hotels and other agencies, including the American Automobile Association and the Young Men's Christian Association. Six thousand chairs will be placed to- morrow in preparation for the cere- monies. A rehearsal of all participating groups in the massing of the colors will take place Monday evening under the direc- tion of Col. Peyton G. Nevitt, assisted by Maj. Sidney Morgan. Maj. Willlam T. Roy will be in charge of the forma- tion and massirg of the colors on Tues- | day, and will be assisted by Lieuts. M. D. Reich, L. B. Hastings and E. W. Humphreys, all of the District National Guard. Polo Matc™ Scheduled. Among the events of the afternoon will be a polo match arranged under the auspices of the Committee on Contests and Carnivals of the Citizens’ Commit- tee, with Winfree E. Johnson as sub- chairman. The match will be played between the War Department team, and the team representing the Fauquier- Loudoun Polo Club. The game will be played on the Potomac Park Polo Field under the direction of Maj. H. H. Fuller, U. . 8. A. A joint celebration will be held by the citizens of Takoma Park, D. C., and Takoma Park, Md., starting at 9:30 . with a parade from Ethan Allen and Carroll avenues to Eighth and Dahlia streets. Capt. Joseph C. Morgan, com- mander of sixth precinct, police and a detail of District and Maryland officers will accompany the procession. Lewton of Takoma Park, Md, will be the grand marshal. A collection of flags presented to the Maryland town by the allied nations in the World War and first exhibited in the inaugural parade last March 4 will be carrled. MARINE LIEUTENANTS! COMMISSIONS SCARCE Two Out of Class of Eight in Non- Commissioned Group Likely to Be Rewarded. Only two of the non-commissioned officers now studying for commissions as second lieutenants in the Marine Corps, at the Marine Barracks here, are likely to receive the desired reward for hard study, next Spring, according to present indications. Eight members now form the class, some being college graduates and some sons or' relatives of Army and Navy officers. The present situation is brought about, officials said, by the surplus of Naval Academy grad- uates, only half of this year's graduat- ing class receiving probationary com- missions. Some went into the Marine Corps and are now taking a special course at the Philadelphia school. ‘The law requiring that Marine Corps vacancies be filled first from Naval Academy graduates and then from de- serving non-commissioned officers, who jqualify by examination in December and January. The class now undergo- ing instruction here has been advised | that appointments will be governed by the strength of commissioned person- nel of the Marine Corps about January 1 next. This means that if a great number of Marine Corps officers die, ! resign or are taken away from the service through other causes, they may all be commissioned, if successful in to send the subcommittee data on State tax laws, which the subcommittee will compare with the Federal tax laws to |see to what extent the same sources of { revenue are being used by both the na- | tional and State governments. STAB WOUNDS FATAL James Monroe, Colored, Dead. Charles Thomas, Colored, Held. James Monroe, colored, 45, 900 block of Third street, was stabbed to death yesterday afternoon shortly after 4 o'clock in a quarrel with another colored man at Fourth and K streets. Police later arrested Charles Thomas, colored, 22, first block of L street, and held him pending a coroner’s inquest. They said he admitted stabbing Monroe and | said they both had been drinking. $1,901 Strong Box Stolen. The theft of a steel strong box con- taining $1.901 some time between Tues- day and Priday from 403 Ninth street was reported to police last night by George D. Horning, who conducts a pawnshop in nearby Virginia. The their mental and physical tests. Taking the course at present are: Corpls. Michael S. Currin, Emest R. Gayler, Reynolds H. Hayden, Lund F. Hood. William M. Hudson, Edward L. Hutchison, Charies A. Miller and Frederic A. Ramsey. =, MUST SERVE 5 YEARS Escaped Convict Is Captured at Home in Capital. Six months after he escaped from a Georgia prison camp, Willlam Killebrew, 27, 400 block of H street, was arrested this afternoon near his home by De- tective Sergt. A. D. Mansfield and turned over to United States marshals to serve a five-year sentence for white slavery on which he had been paroled here. Killebrew was convicted in District Supreme Court more than a year 2g0,ocal chapter and these included the for violation of the Mann act, but was | :;-cn urul%.enl and founder of the In- placed on parole. Later he left the Jurisdiction #nd shortly thereafter was arrested in Georgia as an accomplice in a robbery there. He was sentenced to e Ninth street address is used as a store- | ten room. Police began an investigation immediately, but late last night had unearthed no clues, = automatically and made him __{ the inventor of theJisperanto language, Mayor | 1 the depression is being loaded into the HE depression has hit dogdom— | and what a howl the pooches are raising about it down at the District pound! | | It is “over the hill” to the i dog pound for many a faithful dog whose owners find themselves unabic to buy tags or food or both for their pets, according to Poundmaster W. k. | Smith. | Thus. the economic slump has had| the anomalous effect of increasing busi- ness at Mr. Smith’s South Capitol street haven for homeless hounds. ! *Yes, sir,” declared the veteran mas- ter of the municipal pound as he ar- | rived with a wagon load of yapping, | purps yesterday, “many dogs are feel- ing the effects of broken-up homes, sal- |ary cuts and the like. Folks sadly | bring their pets to us and beg us to find a good home for them—that is, for | | the dogs. | “That is what we try to do in every ! case of strange dogs picked up on the! street, too. Find a good home for 'em. | | hospital and haven down here, rather than a slaughter house. When a dog comes in sick I give him medicine and treat him until he gets well again. I've even put splints on broken legs—in cases of really fine dogs. We always DISTRICT T0 SEEK S0 LS. AD Amounts to Third of Total| Spent Here for Second Quarter. Petition for a grant of approximately | $170,060 out of the $50,000,000 national iemergency relief fund under the Lewis- ‘Wagner act is expected to be forwarded (this week by the District Commission- | ers to Harry L. Hopkins, Federal emer- |gency relief administrator. This would amount to one-third of the sum of public money spent here for | emergency relief during the second quarter of the current calendar year, as lp‘mivided for under terms of the legis- | tion. Exact Figures Unavailable. The exact figures on expenditures | during April, May and June as yet have not been compiled, but will be in the next day or two, it was announced late yesterday by George S. Wilson, di- rector of the District Board of Public Welfare, who said the request would Tun to about $170,000. The District now is using an allot- ment of $140,000 out of the national relief fund which was granted on the quarter of 1933. Demands for relief here have in- creased in recent weeks, although it had been hoped warm weather would | bring a decline, principally due to low- ering of housing costs resulting from an end of fuel bills. Whereas the week- {ly outlay for relief in earlier periods ranged between $30,000 and $40,000, the report of the week ending June 17 showed an expenditure of $48,000. 10,000 Families on Rolls. ‘There now are about 10,000 families on the District government relief rolls and in recent weeks there have been applications for ‘an additional 500 cases. Unless the second grant is made from the national fund, it is estimated the District's available relief resources | will be exhausted early in January. For the fiscal year beginning yester- day, the District budget contained an item of $1,300,000. District officials jestimate the outlay during the first | i quarter of the fiscal year will amount | to $500,000 and that for the second quarter the figure will be $650,000. This would leave but $150,000 available on January 15 next. ROOSEVELT SUPPORTS ESPERANTO MOVEMENT Local Chapter of Association Hears President’s Letter Read at Outing. President Roosevelt believes in en- couraging Esperanto as an aid to in- ternational relations, the local chapter of the Esperanto Association of North America was informed yesterday at its outing in Rock Creek Park. Gerald F. Small, the group’s corresponding secretary, read a letter from the Presi- dent, supporting the movement. Prom- inent associations likewise sent com- munications, which were read. New members were initiated into the ternational Club in George Washing- ton University, C. C. Nagac; Margaret Shea, Agatha Shea, Simon 3 Dorothy Wells, Mary J. Raymond and Mary L. Hurley. Esperanto songs were sung and H. B. Hastings delivered an address on the life:and career of Dr. L. L. Zamenhof, | about 25 a day. iWhy, I'm trying to make this a dog basls of expenditures during the first | " Hard Times Hit Dogdom DEPLETED FAMILY FUNDS SEND MANY PUPS TO POUND. Poundmaster Smith is shown watching as one of the canine victims of pound truck. —Star Staft Photo. try to save a good dog—and usually we find a home for him.” At present the pound has about 71 dogs on hand. The wagon and indi- viduals bring them in at the rate of This is a_noticeable increase over other years, Mr. Smith said, but fortunately the number of persons desiring to “adopt” dogs at the pound also has increased, so that the | balance has been maintained. “We are holding dogs longer than | we used to, in order to give owners more time in which to reclaim them,” the poundmaster said. “If the owners do not want them or cannot be founu, we make every possible effort to find another owner. Dogs can be released by any one promising a home and willing to pay a $2 license tag fee and the pound fee of §: Al dog tags expired yesterday. More ' than 22,000 dogs were licensed in the District during the past fiscal year, and unless the depression hits too severely this number will be greater during the new year. Tag records show that revenues from dog tags and pound fees have increased from $16,682 in 1919 to $45,243 during the fiscal year just ended. Dog_licensing and dog catching has proved to be a profitable enterprise, and if the depression keeps up real pros- perity in the pound business may be achieved. VETERAN'S FRIENDS WILL AID CHLDREN Three Left Homeless When Blind Ex-Soldier Takes Own Life. The Government and friends already | have taken steps to arrange for the future of the three small children of Lewis E. Hodges, 63, blind veteran, who shot himself to death at his home, 476 H street southwest, yesterday morning | while the children slept. Ellen, 13; Louis, 9, and Robert, 8, are 1at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harry ' Ogle, 312 N street southwest, who for years have been close friends of the children’s father and mother. On behalf of the Government, an application blank for a claim to be submitted on behalf of the children has been mailed to the Ogle home, to fa- cilitate the filing of the claim. While the question of how much the children might get from the Government on ac- count of the death of their father, who |served in the Army, could not be an- }swexed last night, it was predicted that {in all probability there would be some {money forthcoming to the children in the form of monthly payments. Hodges also was said to have had a “soldier’s | bonus.” | | Child Heard Shot. At the Catholic Charities it was said | that previous efforts had been made to help the children in the family, and | further offers would be extended. If there is no other place, it was ex- plained, there will be room for them to be adequately cared for in Catholic orphanages. Ellen, the eldest, was the one to de- scribe the tragedy. She was awakened by a shot, she said, but thought it prob- ably was a firecracker and went back to sleep. She was awakened by a visi- tor, she said, and when she went to summon her father, found him dead, a bullet hole in his head and a pistol in his hand. She screamed and the police were called. Dr. A. Magruder Mac- Donald later issued a certificate of sui- jcide, and the body was removed to the | morgue, where it awaited last night disposition by the family. Hodges, according to records of Ar- |lington County, was indicted by the grand jury on a charge of arson, a re- sult of the burning of the Alcova Heights home of the family. It was said to be the second time a house at Hodges owned the property. Served 28 Years. Mrs. Hodges, from whom Hodges had been divorced, rushed to their children from the Wardman Park Hotel, where she is employed in the service of a family living in an apartment there. She indicated she would expect “the Government” to take care of her chil- But up to last night no final plans had been made. Hodges served in the Army about 28 years, having retired December 9, 1918. He had received a retired pay check Friday. His service included six years in the Pleld Artillery, six years in the Coast Artillery and some time in the 12th Cavalry and Engineers. He re- tired as a staff sergeant of the 2nd Engineers. He was in Cuba, the Philip- %nes and overseas during the World ar. Lo st Ll Prisoner Bites Policeman. ‘When Policeman James L. Rochford, 45, of the third precinct tried to arrest ‘William Mitchell, colored, 25, last night at Twenty-first and M street, the col- ored man bit the officer'’s finger. He that location had been burned since |ton of | after the Athe age of 64 THOMAS T0 BACK FIXED RATIO FOR - DISTRICTEXPENSES Chairman of Senate Subcom- mittee Will Work for Agree- ment in Fall. CONCURS IN PROPOSAL BY SENATOR COPELAND Believes Federal Government Should Be Liberal in Treatment of Capital City. New hope that the next session of Congress may give attention to the ques- tion of fiscal relations between the Fed- eral and District Governments with a view to arriving at a definite and equi- table settlement of the problem was seen yesterday, when Senator Thomas, Dem- | ocrat, of Oklahoma, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on District Appro- \ priations, expressed willingness to co- operate toward that end. Senator Thomas, who was placed at the head of the District Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee at the last session, indicated that he would prefer some fixed ratio basis of apportioning the annual expenses of the National Capital between the Fed- eral and District Governments, instead of the practice which has prevailed in | recent years of providing a lump-sum ! figure each year as the United States' share. Senator Copeland, Democrat, of New | York, head of a subcommittee on tax | problems for the Senate District Com- mittee, had voiced the belief Friday | ithat the next session should seek a | determination of the fiscal relations | issue, and indicated his intention of taking up the problem in the Fall Senator Thomas Concurs. Commenting on Senator Copeland’s | views, Senator Thomas seid he would | be glac to join in such an effort. The Oklahoma Senator suggested, however, the advisability of having a Senate and House Committee, chosen possibly from Economy Cuts Out Lighting at Night on Memorial Highway | Officials Believe Accidents Will Not Increase as Result. For the first time since it was placed in full commission, the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway last night was in darkness because the Federal Govern- ment lacked sufficient funds to illum- inate it. The appropriation for the Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks was so slashed by Congress that Lieut. Col. U. S. Grant, 3d, the retir- ing director, decreed that the highway left in darkness with the start of the new fiscal year. His successor, Col. James A. Woodruff, has sanctioned this policy. This decision was reached after the assistant chief of the park division, Albert Clyde-Burton, was ordered to| make a special inspection trip to New York State to observe the effect of putting out the lights on park high- ways there. Mr. Clyde-Burton reported | that officials of the Empire State told him that no untoward effects were ob- served as a result of cutting off il- decreased. The authorities pointed out that at the “islands” in the Mount Verncn Me- | morial Highway automatic reflectors | ere illuminated by motorists’ head- | lights, illustrating the danger points. BATTLE EXPECTED AT GAS HEARING Figures of Companies and| Commission Widely Apart on Valuation. A battle over the decision as to what is the present value of the properties of the Washington and Georgetown Gas Light Cos. is expected to develop when hearings in the case are resumed before the Public Utilities Commission a week from tomorrow. It was revealed late yesterday there the Appropriations Committee, to con- fer with District officials to try to work | out a ratio basis of payment. Discussing a fixed ratic method, Senator Thomas pointed out that i jder such a plan, “when it is decided {how much the total of the city budget i should be, we would know automatical- |ly how much the Federal Government | would have to pay and how much the { District would have to meet.” Senator Thomas reiterated the view he expressed when he became subcom- mittee chairman, that as long as the { Federal Government exercises _exclu- slve control over the Capital City he believes it should be liberal in Jts | treatment of the District. Ratio Changed in 1925. The fixed ratio method of apportion- |ing the obligation of maintaining the i National Capital between the United | States and the local community was followed by Congress for nearly half a | century before the present practice of {lump sum Federal contribution was re- sorted to in 1925 at the instance of the House. From 1878 to 1920. ‘nclu- sive, the 50-50 ratio fixed in the Dis- trict’s organic act was adhered to. For the fiscal year 1921 this was changed to make the District’s share 60 per cent and the United States 40 per cent, and in June of 1922 Congress wrote into the 1923 District appropriation act the language “that annually, from and after July 1, 1922 the expenses of the District should be apportioned on the 60-40 basis. Although the House in 1925 departed from this fixed ratio by introducing the lump-sum practice, and continuing it from year to year since. the provision i in the act of 1922, written in terms of substantive law, has never been re- pealed. The lump-sum Federal contri- bution has been placed in each appro- priation bill for one year at & time. Jouse Sought Repeal. The House has endeavored to bring about the repeal of the substantive 60-40 provision in the act of 1922, but the Senate has never agreed to its re- peal. When the nrszh lutxlx:gp-fim de- parture was proposed by use_as a rider to the 1925 appropriation bill the Senate fought against it, but, in order to avoid failure of the supply bill in the closing days of that session, the Senate was forced to agree to a com- promise lump sum of $9,000,000, the House having started out with a figure of $8,000,000. For a number of years| the annual Federal lump sum remained at $9.000,000, despite the fact that dur- Ing that period the total required an- nually for the District was mounting steadily, the increase in expenses falling entirely on the local taxpayers. For two years the Senate succeeded in hav- ing the Federal sum raised to $9.- 500,000, but Jast year, because of the) demand for economy in all Government expenses, the Federal share of the Dis- trict bill was cut back to $7,775,000, and for the fiscal year which started yes- terday the Federal share has been further cut to $5700,000. During the entire period that the lump-sum prac- constantly recurring difficulty between the two branches of Congress in the enactment of the annual appropriation bills, the House seeking to hold down the size of the lump sum and the Sen- ate endeavoring to bring it up closer to an equitable relationship to the total of the city’s requirements. NAVY YARD HOLIDAY LONG 3,700 Employes Off Until Wednes- day Without Pay. ‘The 3,700 employes the Washing- Navy Yard are having a lengthy Independence day holiday—from noon yesterday until Wednesday morning. But the fly in this holiday ointment is that those without the necessary leave due them have the time off without pay. Those who have 2ccrued leave to their credit have the holiday time taken out of their allowance. In any event, the employes are paying for the time off. GEN. FULLER GETS LEAVE tice has been followed it has led to|POS! | She attzained an honorary membership is a wide difference between the claims iuf the gas companies and the figures | compiled by commission experts, said ‘to range between $8,000,000 and $9,- 000.000. | Commission officials have not made public their latest figures, but it was said authoritatively the total would | not vary greatly from the estimate of $20,700,000 as of December, 1932. When the present valuation hearings were started last March gas company }cmcmx_s said they would claim a joint | valuation of about $30,000,000. There is said to be little difference between company and commission ex- perts as to facts as to costs of physical properties. Most of the contests then would be over various intargible value claims. The first commissicn valuation of | the gas company properties dates back | to December 31, 1914, when the value | of the Washington company was set at $8.820.000. and that of the George- | town company at $775,000. These de- cisions were appealed and the case never was finally settled. A second valuation proceeding was started in 1927, but was left unfinished because of a claim the 1914 valuation still was in litigation. Last December the values were fixed at $18,488,888 for the Washington com- pany and $2,257.493 for the George- town company by taking the former valuation and adding allowances for :imtprovemenu and betterments of later | date. 'FORMER D. C. WOMAN | . GETS RENO DIVORCE Mrs. Courtney Letts Borden Is Granted Decree From Chicago 0il Operator. A decree of divorce has been granted at Reno, Nev., according to an Asso- ciated Press dispatch received here last inight, to Mrs. Courtney Letts Borden, daughter of Frank Letts, 2342 Massa- | chusetts avenue, from John Borden, | prominent Chicago oil operator, sports- man, explorer and big-game hunter. The dispatch asserted that the custody of ment had been fixed May 16 and that cruelty was given as the ground for the divorce. The couple was married here March 14, 1925. Recently, it became known that Mrs. Borden had established a temporary | residence at Reno to prosecute the di- vorce. At that time, Associated Press dispatches from Chicago asserted that Mr. Borden said he would not contest the action. In 1924, in Paris, Mrs. Borden was divorced from Wellesley H. Stillwell and she married Borden in the following: year. The oil operator was likewise mar- | ried formerly, his ex-wife becoming the | wife of John Alden Carpenter, the com- er. Early in June friends of the Bordens expressed surprise when it became known that divorce was contemplated. On many of his hunting expeditions Mrs. Barden accompanied her husband. ‘With hi mshe went into the Arctic, aboard the Northern Light, a schooner. in the Society of Woman Geographers for her account of the Borden-Field Museum expedition into Alaska. A ranch at Grenada, Miss., was maintained by the Bordens, in addition to their Chi-| cago home. FOREST SERVICE GROUP BEING SHIFTED TODAY Transfer to Victor Building in Pro- cess to Hasten President’s Program. The emergency that demands that reforestation go forward today is caus- ing the Public Buildings Commission to work on Sunday, in moving part of the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture from the Atlantic Build- Bwanson Approves: Marine Chief’s Absence for Chicago Trip. ‘Maj. Gen. Ben H. Fuller, commandant of the Marine Corps, is going on two months’ leave tomorrow. This has been approved by Secretary of the Navy Claude A. Swanson. In the comman- dant’s absence, Brig. Gen. John H. Rus- sell will take over his duties. Gen. and Mrs. Fuller will go to Chi- cago, visiting their son-in-law, who has charge of the marine exhibit at the Century of Progress Exposition. Later they are to go to Leesburg, Va., where, friends say, they are to reside 's retirement from the service next March 1, when he reaches Fears, G % !to the Victor Building, at G street and ing, at 930 F street, around the corner Grant place. Harold A. Candland, the commission’s executive secretary, announced that this new group will form the nucleus of the organization that will acquire for the Government new areas to be given over to reforestation. Due to week-day traf- fic congestion around Ninth and F streets, today’s move was decided upo Mr. Candland likewise pointed to in m of the transfer, so that thc Service may get to work with- out delay on this phase of the Presi-: dent’s recovery m. lumination and that accidents actually,I their one child and property arrange- | PAGE B—1 STREET CAR CHIEFS FIGHT BUS THREAT AS MERGER NEARS Stockholders Vote Tomorrow on Unity, but Now Fear New Competition. MOTOR LINES ;!gEKINfi SHORT-HAUL BUSINESS Traction Companies Fear Precedent in Allowing Service Along In- terstate Routes. Guaranteed protection against com- petition by the street car rierger reso- ution, the traction companies, it de- velcped yesterday, have been forced into the position of defending them- selves against the efforts of two inter- state bus lines to “cut in” on tner business. The irony of the situation is that tomorrow the stockholders of the car companies will vote on -the merger agreement, the result of which will definitely détermine whether there is to be a consolidation or a conti of the existing independent operaticns. The impending fight of the railway companies against the . of competition involves the applica- tions of the Alexandria, Barcroft and Washington and Arlington-Fairfex bus |lines for authority to an intra- state business. These, as interstate lines running into Washing. ton, are not now permitted to L intrastate passengers. Hearing Set Friday. - A hearing on the applications will be held by the Public Utilities Comm sion Friday, at which time the car companies are expected to Tegister a vigorous protest against the plan and |cite the guarantee in the merger |lution as one of the principal points | of objection. The applications of the two inter- state bus lines are viewed at the Utili- ties Commission as a move to get some of the passengers of the car companies who work at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the Department of Agriculture. Both lines operate busses past these Government departments. The car companies. however. it was said, not only resent the move, but fear if the applications are granted, it wiil pave the way for other interstate lines to follow the same procedure, and fur- ther curtail their business. The ballot boxes for the stockholders® vote on the merger agreement tomor- row will be open from 11:15 am. to 12 noon. In view of the serious finan- cial condition of both companies, re- sulting from a continuous loss 1n reve- nue, public utility experts at the Dis- trict Building predict_gpproval of the agreement. Ballots to Be Checked. A close check will be made vn the | ballots at the utilities commission 1o | ascertain the number of shares voted { by the North American Co., which has ia controlling interest in the Washing- ton Railway & Electric Co. and owns, according to last reports, 26 per cent | of the voting stock of the Capital Trac- tion Co. The resolution to be voted on by the stockholders reads as follows: “Whereas, by the provisions of & joint resolution of congress, approved January 14, 1933, as amended Febru- ary 16, 1933, ‘to authorize the merger of street railway corporations operat- ing in the District, and for other pur- poses,” it is provided that a form of agreement therein described as ‘uni- fication agreement’ shall be submitted to the stockholders of the Capital Trac- tion Co. and Washington Railway & | Electric Co. for their action within six months “after its approval by Con- | gress: and, ; “Whereas, such form of agreement has been culy submitted to this meet- ing for action: “Now, therefore, be it resolved; That the said form of agreement be and the same is hereby approved; and “Be it further resolved, That the proper officers of this company be and they are hereby authorized to negotiate for a proper distribution of the securi- ties of the proposed new company as provided in said form of ‘unification agreement’ and any and all other mat- ters left for adjustment between this company (Capital Traction). and the Washington Railway & Electric Co, and to submit a definite contract em- | bodying the same in due form to a | further meeting of the stockholders of this company, to be held pursuant to the terms of said joint resolution.” Agreement Weighed. The agreement which the stockhold- ers must approve provides: 1—That the new company shall be known as the Capital Transit Co., which shall take over all of the proper- ties of the Capital Traction Co. and all of the transportation properties of the Washington Railway & Electric Co. 2—That the board of directors shall consist of 15 members, seven of whom shall originally be nominated by the Capital Traction, seven by the Wash- ington Railway & Electric Co., and one by the 14 so chosen. 3—That the new company will be au- thorized to acquire the stock of and merge with the Washington Rapid Transit Co., its only local motor bus competitor. 4—That after the consolidation is ef- fected no competitive street railway or bus line may be established, without the finding by the Public Utilities Com- mission that such new line is necessary for the convenience of the public. 5—For the assumption by the new company of all of the liabilities of the Capital Traction Co., and the exchange of stock in the new company for stock in the Capital Traction-Co., followed by liquidation of Capital Traction. The agreement, however, does not contain any of the important details as to the financial set-up of the new com- pany. These now are being worked out by committees representing each com- pany, and when agreed upon will be submitted to the stockholders at a later date for approval. i | Congressional Car Tags Taken. The theft of his congressional auto- mobile tags from a car parked in front of the Capitol Park Hotel yesterday afternoon was reported to police by Representative Francis H. Shoemaker of Minnesota. Pockets Picked at Market. James Rusell, 226 Bryant street, was robbed of $46 in cash and a $20 money order yesterday when his pocket was picked as he shopped at Central Mar- ket, he reported to police. Garden Club to Meet. 3pecial Dispatzh to The Star. VIENNA, Va., July 1.—The Ayre Hill Garden Club of Vienna held its June meeting at the home of Mrs. Ashtey Money at Colvin Run. Arrangements progra The Government l:.u I’Im ‘he.om%leted leasing arrangement ictor Building, . were made to give a lawn party on the grounds of the Vienna Public Library July 6 at7:30 o'clock.