Evening Star Newspaper, January 9, 1935, Page 17

Washington News RATES AND ZONES MEASURE SOUGHT District Appropriation Bill Will Carry Clause Regu- lating Business. PROVISION WOULD KILL COMPETITIVE SYSTEM Four Existing Zones and Varying Prices Face Definite Discard. ‘The House Subcommittee on Ap- propriations, it was learned at the Capitol today, has taken definite steps to establish uniform zones and rates for the various groups of taxi- cabs operating in Washington. Into the 1936 District appropriation bill, soon to be reported to the House, the subcommittee has written a pro- vision which, in effect, tells the Public Utilities Commission to abolish the four existing zones, and the four differ- ent rates of fare, and put the taxi business on a non-competitive basis. The provision carefully drawn to prevent its elimination on a point of order in the House is designed pri- marily to clear up the long pending legal tangle over the taxicab situation which grew out of the two-year-old non-enforced order requiring taxicabs to carry meters. The secondary purpose of the pro- vision is to eliminate public confusion over the various existing rates and zones. Order Long Troublesome. The commission’s taxi meter order has long been a troublesome one. Twice it was contested in the courts and both the District Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals upheld its validity. But Congress in the last two District appropriation acts forbade its enforcement. And to make the situ- atlon more confusing, the courts in upholding the validity of the order recognize the right of Congress to pr%srlbe 8 ban on meters. e commission consequently h; hwnmnmemmluwegowrzpr:f ceed. Out of this situation has grown & hodge-podge of rates and zones. A majority of the cabs, however, operate on a zone basis with rates of 20, 30, 50 and 70 cents. Others have different zones with rates of 20, 40, 60 and 80 cents. A third group has ,:{%eo nfiufof 35, 60 and 95 cents and -30. ourth group operates on meter basis. o B Confusion Criticized. The confusion over these rates was subjected to severe criticism at re- cent hearings before the subcommit- tee, on the 1936 District estimates. One member pointed out that recently he took a cab at the Capitol and rode to Eleventh and F streets for 20 cents, and the following day in the cab of another company he was forced to pay 40 cents for the same trip, The uniform rate and zone pro- vision. members of the committee pointed out, will not result in removal- of the existing restriction on the use of meters. The 1936 bill, it was said, carry this prohibition as in pre- Vi years, and to it will be added the new provision. The commission in recent weeks made an effort to avoid some of the confusion over rates by issuing regula- tions, to become effective tomorrow, requiring cabs to carry a rate schedule on the windshield. These rate cards are to be distinctive for each class, so the public at a glance can tell whether the cam charges 20 or 35 cents for the first zone, or whether it operates on a meter basis. Bill to Go to Printers. ‘The subcommittee has completed its work on the appropriation bill and it will go to the Government Printing Office within the next several days. Chairman Cannon plans to report it to the House as soon as the inde- pendent offices supply bill is out of the way. General debate on that measure started today and it prob- ably will be passed by Friday. In the District bill, the subcommittee followed to a large ex- tent the recommendations of the Budget Bureau and indications are that the measure will carry appropria- tions. totaling about $41,000,00. DR. SIMON TO SPEAK “How 0dd of the Jew” Will Be Topic Friday Evening. Dr. Abram Simon will present a companion lecture to last week’s ad- dress on “How Odd of God” in the 8 o'clock services PFriday evening in the Washington Hebrew Congregation, 816 Eighth street. He will-speak on “How Odd of the Jew.” In the services at 10:30 a.m. Satur- day in the synagogue, Rabbi Simon will speak on “Let My People Go.” CITY NEWS IN BRIEF. TODAY. Dinner, Knights of Columbus Edu- cational Committee, Mayflower Ho- tel, 6:30 pm. Lecture, Dr. George S. Duncan, Grace Lutheran Church, Sixteenth and Varnum streets, 8 pm. Meeting, Wheatley Parent-Teacher Association; speaker, Senator Royal S. Copeland of New York. Montello avenue and Neal streets northeast, 8 pm. ™ Dinner, Craftsmen Club Board of Governors, Lafayette Hotel, 6 p.m. Meeting, Young Democratic Club of , Carlton Hotel, 8 p.m. Dinner, Wisconsin congressional delegates, Hamilton Hotel, 6 p.m. Dinner, Wi Medical So- clety, University Club, 6:30 pm. TOMORROW. Luncheon - meeting, ©lub, Carlton Hotel, 12:30 pm. Dinner, Medical Arts Society, Uni- versliy Club, 7 p.m. Oard party, benefit Washington Re- treat House, 4000 Harewood road, 8 pm. d Dance, Almas Temple, Mayflower Hotel, 9 pm. ALEXANDRIA JUDGE FOUND IN D. C. HOTEL. The ; WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1935. UNIFORM TAXIEAB | [ Desd 1 B it 55 o EI ICKES | UNTR LATER DATE Allen Suggests Postponing Meeting Until Federation Can Go on Record. '||OPPOSITION ATTITUDES JUDGE FREDERICK G. DUVALL Of the Alexandria Police and Civil Court, who died at Emergency Hospital last night from effects of poison, believed to have been self- administered in his room at a Capital hotel. ALEXANDRIA JUDGE DJES FROM POISON Duvall Believed Suicide. Found in Washington Hotel Room. By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. ALEXANDRIA, Va, January 9.— Apparently despondent over financial difficulties, Judge Frederick G. Du- vall, 50, of the Alexandria Police and Civil Court, died at Emergency Hos- pital in Washington last night from effects of poison believed to have been self administered. The judge was found late yester- day afternoon in a semi-conscious condition on the floor of his room in a Washington hotel by Detective Sergt. Edgar Sims of the Alexandria police, whom he had called from this city. He had been missing since Satur- day, and had not occupied his bench since Friday morring. Called Detective. Judge Duvall called Sims at 4:30 pm., asking if he would do him a or by coming to the hotel, the officer said. When he arrived at the hotel a half hour later, the jurist told him he had taken a whole box of 25 poison tablets, and intimated finan- cial difficulties as the reason for his act, Sims stated. Sims called a doctor and the Emergency Hospital ambu- lance. Duvall died at the hospital at 8:15 pm. The jurist had registered at the hotel as “R. S. Scott, Baltimore,” on Monday morning, having no baggage and pay- ing in advance for his room, the clerk said. Judge Duvall started his second term as police justice on January 1. 1934. He came to this city shortly after the World War from Louisa, Va., where he had been practicing law, as assistant district attorney of the United States court for the eastern district of Virginia. first elected to the Police Court bench, serving for four years. At the expiration of his first term, Judge Duvall continued to practice law here and acted as referee in bank- ruptey until he was re-elected to the bench in 1933. He leaves his widow, Mrs. Gertrude Flournoy Duvall, of near Louisa, and three daughters, Anne, Catherine and Caroline. He was a member of the choir of historic Christ Episcopal Church, and lived at 910 Cameron street. Funeral arrangements are not complete. Kennedy on Bench. Acting Judge Harry P. Kennedy, ‘who has ocoupied Judge Duvall’s bench since PFriday, was on the bench this morning. A judge to fill the unexpired term of three years will be appointed by Judge Willam P. Woolls of the Corporation Court. Indications are that either former Judge Willlam S. Snow or Acting Judge Kennedy will recaive the appointment. MRS. GEORGE LASHER FUNERAL TOMORROW Native of District Dies of In- juries Sustained on Auto- mobile Trip. Puneral services for Mrs. George Starr Lasher, who died from injuries | Teceived in an automobile accident at | Cocoa, Fla, while on her way to Miami, will be held tomorrow after- noon at St. Margaret’s Church. In- terment will be in Glenwood Ceme- Mrs. Lasher was with her husband, who was to have presided at a Theta Chi convention as the national presi- dent, and two daughters, Mary Eliza- beth and Dorothy, when the accident occurred. Mrs. Lasher was born in the Dis- trict and graduated from Western High in 1912 and attended the Amer- ican of Dramatic Art in New York City. She was the great- | great-granddaughter of Sarah Sids dons, the English actress, and took a very active part in District dramatic circles. i Upon her return from New York | Poli she was secretary to her father, Judge Frederick L. Siddons, who at' that time was associate justice of the Dis- trict Supreme Court. After her mar- riage she went with her husband to his post as a faculty member of the University of Michigan. They later moved to Athens, Ohio, where Mr. Lasher became professor of the School of Journalism of Ohio University. She was a member of the Athens Dinner, Reciprocity Olub, Masy- | flower - Hotel, 6:30 pm, ALREADY EXPRESSED, Library and Education Boards Oppose Plan to Give Veto Rights to Commission, ‘The public hearing on the proposed bill to give the Commissioners author- ity to direct and veto acts of all Dis- trict boards and agencies, originally scheduled for next Wednesday, prob- ably will be postponed until after the ' meeting of the Federation of Citizens' Assoclations January 19, to allow that organization to act on the matter. Commissioner George E. Allen said this morning he would recommend the postponement and felt sure the other Commissioners would agree. No def- inite date was suggested. ‘When the hearing is held the Com- missioners are expected to have be- fore them statements by the Board of Education and the Board of Trustees of the Public Library. The school board meets this afternoon. Its mem- bers have expressed strong opposition to the bill. Dr. George F. Bowerman, librarian of the Public Library, in- formed the Commissioners the Board of Library Trustees will meet tomor- row and discuss the measure. La Roe Files Protest. i The latest protest received at the District Building against the bill was from Wilbur H. La Roe, member of the Parole Board. He wrote: “Our unanimous opinion is that the Parole Board must be completely independent and that such inde- Ipendence is indispensable to the suc- |fi{ul working of the parole sys- Le Roe consistently has opposed outside interference in the functioning of the Parole Board. Opposition to giving the Commis- sioners enhanced powers over the commission on licensure healing arts practice act, which controls the prac- contained in a leter received from Dr. Edward J. Schwartz, secretary- treasurer of the commision. Congress Passed Act in 1929, He recommended that “inasmuch as the act governing the healing arts is one enacted by the Congress in 1929 and that it is now functioning with satisfaction, that no change be made.’ Elwood Street, director of public welfare, on the other hand, heartily approved the bill. “I can see no reason,” he said, “why the Commissioners should not appoint the school and library boards. I be- lieve that where public funds are pro- vided, there also should public re- sponsibility lie.” This suggestion goes even farther than the present draft of the bill, in the appointment of the school or library boards. \SUSP_ECT JAILED, TEAR GAS SEIZED {Two More Are Sought After Flight Through Capitol Grounds. ‘While his two companions are sought, Leroy Jenkins, 25, of Cam- den, N. J., is being held by police fol- fled, according to police, from & stolen automobile that crashed into the car of Solomon Rubin at New Jersey ave- nue and D street southeast. Rubin, who lives at 1541 C street southeast, | to was treated at Casualty Hospital for Detective Watson Salkeld, who cap- tured Jenkins near the scene of the accident, found a loaded .38 which fence car, identified as Warrington Motor 44 call- stolen teenth —EE § §E g i E® 83% & i did passenger left the machine. | ! BARONESS DISCUSSES PORTRAIT PAINTING i “The Relation of Changes in Por- msmmwmmmt" CITY CONTROL BiLL HEARING MAY WAIT| tice of medicine in the District, was ' 5 7 View of Pierce Mill, in Rock Creek Park, showing how the reconstructed water wheel will look when completed. The wheel was drawn into the photograph from plans furnished by the superintendent of National Capital Parks. Below: A part of the old turbine, unearthed by workmen digging a new flume, which will divert water from the creek above the dam to turn the mill wheel. WEATHER DEFERS ELEGTRIFIED TRAIN Runs To and From New York on Pennsylvania Lines to Start in February. Unfavorable weather has held up the inauguration of the Pennsylvania Railroad’s new electrified train service between Washington and New York City and it now looks as if-this will be deferred until some time in Feb- ruary, J. G. Nettleton, the carrier’s representative here, said today. Some unlooked-for technical diffi- culties experienced in installing elec- trical circuits along the right of way also have caused delay, Nettleton said. The exact time in February when the new service will start has not been determined. Originally, the railroad hoped to begin running electrified trains between the two cities on Jan- 1. Work Train Makes Run. A few days ago, Nettleton declared, a work train was run over the electri- fied lines as far as Baltimore, but none has yet come to Washington over the In 1921 he was| which does not provide for a change ' new system. Some of the major trains will be cut in on the electrical cir- cuits first, the raflroad’s spokesman here said, and then gradually all pas- senger trains will be shifted over to the new program. Electrification of the freight lines will come later, 60 to 90 days after the passenger system has been electrified. The Pennsylvania Railroad has just started construction at its Altoona, Pa., shops of 23 additional pairs of two-unit trains, to meet the needs of local service between Baltimore and W and around New York Some of are already in York area and said the railroad, that in serv- ice between Baltimore and W: ton, and also to increase service in and out of New York, when electrifi- cation is completed. ANTI-FASCISTS HERE TO HONOR MODIGLIANI Italian Group Will Dine Former Socialist Leader in Parlia- ment Tomorrow Night. Denounced by Trotsky for his fight against Bolshevism, Senor Modigliani comes to Washington prepared to give & lecture at Typographical Temple Friday night at 8 o'clock, sétting forth recent developments in European af- fairs—with a background of Hitlerism, Fascism and Bolshevism. The lecture will be open to the public, free of ad- —Star Staff Photos. FINES IN TRAFFIC WAR TOTAL $3.500 Revenue Since December 31 Mounts as Court Rushes Cases. With traffic fines since December 31 already exceeding $5,600, motorists | continued to be haled into Traffic Court today before Judge Isaac R.| Hitt. Within an hour and a half | Judge Hitt disposed of more than 50 cases, a large number of which were for speeding and violation of parking | regulations. Today’s collateral list showed a total | of 58 persons released on 67 charges with 5 others locked up. Thirty-six cases of parking violations were sched- uled for arraignment, 20 speeding cases, 1 each for bad brakes and pass- ing *stop signs and 2 for passing red lights. The case of Hazel G. Edgar of the Highlands Apartments, on a reckless driving charge, was continued until January 15, Convicted on Three Counts. | Judge Hitt fined Ray Loudenlager of Maryland $25 for speeding, $5 for driving on the wrong side of the street and $10 for driving with three on the front seat of his automobile. The latter fine was later dismissed, when Loudenlager sald he only had $30 with him. Personal bond was taken on the one charge. In well over a dozen speeding cases only $5 fines were imposed, as recom- mended by corporation ceunsel’s office. Some of these were Edward A. Smith, ‘Thomas O. McCoy, Lorraine E. Jones, James E. Moffett, Robert A. Dugan, bening Sk " WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION ¥% Society and General ses at Pierce S 2 MARSHALL FINNIN, su- perintendent of the national capital parks, expects to have the restoration of Pierce Mill in Rock Creek Park completed by May, so that Wash- ingtonians will be able to see the old-fashioned mill race in operation. Thomas T. Waterman, architect, and Malcolm Kirkpatrick, landscape archi- tect, of the branch of plans and design of the National Park Service, Interior Charles C. Vittum, Isaac Howard, | De) Julian Perry H. Pulley and Herman Jackson, colored. Maryland Fines Heavier, Heavier fines were levied on Mary- rebuilt in stone about one-third of this, Await Old Machinery. Necessary repairs to the building have been accomplished and the authorities are waiting for the ac- cumulation of the olden machinery. The Fitz Water Wheel Co., of Han- over, Pa,, is associated with the Na- tional Park Service in the restoration of machinery. The firm salvages old machinery from obsolete mills and aids DOCTOR’S PARKING PROBLEM STUDIED One of Two Charges Dropped as Traffic Director Inves- tigates. Dr. Edward Comstock Wilson hunted a less controversial parking space to- day while the traffic director’s office weighed the possibility of allowing physicians special privileges on re- ‘The charge against Dr. Wilson, who was given a ticket last Thursday for driving his automobile through a hedge and leaving it on the lawn in front of his residence at 2723 Con- necticut avenue, was dropped yester- day without going to court. Judge Isaac R. Hitt took his personal bond in restoring these venerable structures. In the restored Pierce Mill, the machinery will be of wood, officials ex- plained today, and machinery that has reposed in the building will be taken out and placed on exhibition for the public. The mill is to be restored as of the 1820 period. Only One in Section. Secretary Ickes, who made $18.000 of Public Works Administration monz operators of the mill handled corn, wheat and rye, park authorities said. ‘The reconstructed Pierce Mill, in inasmuch as there will not be a similar mill in operation in this section of the country. ‘The great wooden wheel is known to architects as an “undershot” wheel and will be 14 feet in diameter. MORE BELTSVILLE SHIFTS EXPECTED Shake-Up Due to Continue at T. S. Farm as Result of Probe. As a result of the tangled Beltsville experimental farm situation and ex- cessive expenditures, one veteran of- ficial of the Department of Agricul- ture has resigned, another has been | Jying ahd Rose Honikuan. girl demoted and three subordinates sus- Fulion ‘sa Ethel Dixan. gitl for one month without pay. “reconstruction period” at Beltsville, | W which Undersecretary Tugwell plans to make & model farm, and that other Hana ‘and Te personnel changes are likely. changes resulted from an audit of the books at Beltsville and an investiga- tion by P. W. A. officials. B. F. Brandon, superintendent of husbandry division to a minor position | Gustav and Ethe] Do; Carl and Evel; office of the Bureau | GaTl and Evelvn Yix in the hil | PAGE B—1 MAY JUDGE DISPOSAL PLANT IN NEW DISPUTE McCarl Attack on Partial Treatment of Sewage Made Public. FULL MONEY VALUE FOR CITIZEN ASKED Protest Brings Issue to Acute Stage, Commissioners Having Signed for Plans. Public Works Administrator Ickes may be called upon to settle & fresh dispute that has arisen between Con- troller General J. R. McCarl and the District Commissioners over the cost and efficiency of the sewage disposal plant at Blue Plains, to be financed by a $4,000,000 P. W. A. loan ana grant. McCarl attacked the proposal of the Commissioners to build a partial treatment plant in a four-page letter made public today, protesting that “the citizens of the District are not getting full value for their money” it the Commissioners insisb on going ahead with plans for a primary plant which will give only 30 per cent treat- ment. The Commissioners already have signed an agreement with Met- calf & Eddy, Boston architects, to design such a plant within the limit of funds. King’s Argument Similar. ‘The protest of McCarl brought t! issue to an acute stage, since Senat King, chairman of the Senate Distric Committee, recently advanced simil: arguments in opposition to the Com- missioners’ proposed plans. Secretary Ickes was keeping “hanc off” the controversy today, P. W. A. officials claiming that the Commis- sioners must settle the question them- selves. Indicating, however, that he may be forced to take a hand in the matter eventually, Secretary Ickes said his chief concern is to “see that the District gets its money's worth.” P. W. A. engineering officials are fully informed about all matter con- nected with the dispute and Mr. Ickes is watching developments closely. While the matter is considered one for the Commissioners to determine, it was pointed out that the public works administrator must approve any contract before work is to be done. Controller General McCarl contend- ed that other cities have built full treatment plants of similar size for the same price, and that a full treate ment plant could be built for $4,000,- 000 and operated at approximately $144,000 a year cheaper than that de- signed by the Boston architects, Basis of Allegation. His allegation was based mainly on facts submitted to him for a full treat- ment plant by M. X. Wilberdiug, chairman of the Sewage Committee of the Washington Board of Trade and 2 member also of the local archi- tectural firm of Wilberding, Dorsey & Norcross. To this claim Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen made a sharp rejoinder, de- claring that “the District of Columbia does not care to gamble $4,000,000 upon a treatment process which has not ,demonstrated its efficiency in plants of similar size, but which at present represents nearly a hope or possibility of success.” The determined stand taken by the Commissioners apparently puts the su assistance, and h submitted to Secretary Ickes and a.. the District Commissioners the. plans for a full treatment plant t. cost $4,000,000. They claim, an. likewise McCarl, that the design pre- pared by the Boston firm would cos M,Ot:o,ogo to give eventual full treat ment of sewage at an operating cc of $394,000 per year, * Births Reported. Joseph and Hazel Nelson. boy. Emanuel and Marietta Barba. boy. Charles and Pauline Nelson, girl. John and Ellen Martin. girl. John and Eleanor Nunn. girl 1} Carl and Elizabeth Day. gir Bichard and Prances Tasior. girl. john and Alma ‘Speise. S, Hardy and Hazel Harris. boy, Mildred J rt and e ard and 1 John and Vera. Gould. boy. Harold and Mary Bowen. girl. Charles and Mary Murphy, harles and Edna Ridgway. ellington and Pauline Gril Philip and Marguerite Pratt. gir! Mayme Brand. gir) Grace Stewart girl, wrence and Esther Cox, giri. al or. itk - e ‘Carrignan. gir! Dean_boy. na Allen. boy. Mona Dulin. boy. berger. boy e, g jes and es and es and ucH jam and Annie boy. A §i{".'1"l."' 3 Patilne Turner. lal and obn and Ads Bavoy. girl. Y-‘n'fla Mamie it 'w and Helen White bo: