Evening Star Newspaper, February 25, 1935, Page 17

he Foening Skt WASHINGTON, D. C, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1935. Approved Plans for New Adult Tuberculosis Hospital * Society and General PAGE B—1 GRINE QUE EARS] o] SODMDISSOLGHT]_Approved P 1. WAL OFFICL OF GANING RAIDS ONU. 5. WARRANTS Police Prosecutor Claims Expediency Rules in Ob- taining Authority. CITES 4 P.M. CLOSING OF COURT BUILDING Kindleberger Turns on Fitzpat- rick Under Steady Questioning on Absence of Records. Karl Kindleberger, assistant United States attorney in charge of Police Court prosecution, told the House Crime Investigating Committee today that “expediency” was the only rea- son he knew for the police vice squad procuring some of its warrants for gambling raids from the United States commissioner instead of at his office. John R. Fitzpatrick, counsel for the committee, who formerly was assigned to the Police Court office when he was an assistant United States attorney, questioned Kindleberger several times about the gambling warrants. Each time he declared he knew of no rea- son other than expediency, pointing out that his office closed early in the afternoon and that the Police Court Building itself was usually locked up about 4 o'clock, Kindleberger was called to the wit- mess stand in place of Police Inspector William G. Stott, who had previously been summoned. Chairman Randolph said the police official would be ques- tioned later, The committee intends to discuss with him various Police ‘Trial Board cases in the last several vears. Stott at present is chairman of the board. Turns on Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick first questioned Kindle- berger about records of the issuance of warrants and he admitted none had been kept because about 99 per cent of those applied for are granted and that he and his assistants could re- member the remaining ones. Kindleberger insisted he had not ordered the keeping of records because 1t had never been done. “You were there, you ought to know,” he said to Fitzpatrick. “I'm asking the questions.” Fitzpat- rick replied. “It always was done.” “Where are the records now?” in- quired Kindleberger. “They're in the court house now, or should be there,” Fitzpatrick answered. “There were no records in my office when I took it over,” sajd Kindle- berger. i Says No Complaints Made. Fitzpatrick next questioned Kindle- berger about the attitude of the Police Court judges toward his office, and he said he had never heard a com- plaint. Several judges, he explained, had suggested changes in charges of so-called “borderline” larceny and as- sault cases, and as a result they were sent to the grand jury instead of being prosecuted in Police Court on infor- mation. In one month last year, however, Kindleberger pointed out, 22 of these “borderline” cases sent to the grand Jjury were ignored. He explained this situation as the fault of witnesses who “soften down” after making charges. “I have had cases in which wit- nesses are very anxious to prosecute,” he said. “They testify before me very positively, but when they go before the grand jury several days later they gon't tell the same story. The soften own.” Cites Case to Illustrate. As an illustration, Kindleberger cited | the case of two Army officers as- signed to a C. C. C. camp, who were | arrested on complaint of two colored women on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying con- cealed weapons. The grand jury ig- nored the assault charge, he said, on the theory that the officers were tey- ing to “pick up” the women and had no intention of robbing them, as at first believed. He said he nolle prossed the concealed weapon charge when it was shown the officers were authorized to carry weapons. “On the morning after the men Wwere arrested,” Kindleberger declared, “the women were angry and wanted to prosecute. Three or four days later, when the case went before the grand Jury, there had been a cooling time.” Kindleberger said his basic salary is $3,800 a year, and he said he engaged in private practice to a limited extent, as well as several other assistants in his office. He pointed out that this is permitted in the judicial code. Peters Case Comes Up. Just before the luncheon recess, Kin- dleberger was questioned about the so-called Peters case involving him- self, a Washington policeman and Edward Buckley, a former Central High School foot ball star, who is now engaged in the practice of law. Kindleberger said he would tell the complete story just as he had to a Mr. Hickey of the Department of Jus- tice and United States Attorney Leslie C. Garnett. The committee, however, recessed befere he had an opportunity to indicate the nature of the case. ‘The entire afternoon session will be devoted to this case. Kindleberger had proceeded to tell how he met Buckley and had taken a trip to Pittsburgh with him in the automobile of a friend, Paul Mec- Hallum, whom he met in ‘the French Ambulance Corps, when the commit- tee recessed. —_— SIX GO TO TRIAL TODAY ON HANDBOOK CHARGE Prosecution Is Commenced Under Justice Proctor in District Supreme Court. KARL KINDLEBERGER. —Star Staff Photo. PERSONAL NOTICES IN LEVIES URGED Court Suggests City Heads “Individualize” Assess- ment Methods. Property owners should be notified personally when it is proposed to im- prove or pave streets or alleys for which they must bear the cost, even though such procedure is not required under the law, the Court of Appeals of the District told the District Com- missioners today. This admonition came in a decision upholding an assessment for $480 for alley paving, protested by Mrs. Marie C. Carusi, widow of Charles F. Carusi, former president of the Board of Edu- cation. Through Attorney Godfrey L. Munter. Mrs. Carusi had argued that the notice of the assessment was in- sufficient to give an opportunity to contest it. and that the levy itself was discriminatory. The majority opinion said that the notice, which it described as a “maze” of verbige, complied with the law, and | denied the plea of discrimination. In a sharply-worded dissent Justice Hitz attacked the sufficiency of the notice, which he called a “puzzle.” Issues Word of Caution. In the opinion of the court, written by Justice Van Orsdel, it was pointed out that in levying assessments, the District government relies on a notice published twice a week for two weeks to inform those affected. In the cur- rent instance, it was amplified, the as- sessment to which the Carusi property would be subject was made known in one sentence in a column and a half notice. However, sustaining this as within the law, the opinion said: “We feel justified in issuing & word of caution to the Commissioners in issuing notices of this kind in the future. The notices should be so printed and the properties so individualized as to readily attract the attention of the owners. Better still, though not re- quired by the statute, in addition to the statutory notice, would be the service of personal notice upon own- ers of property along which it is proposed to improve or pave streets or alleys.” Justice Hitz Dissents. To this Justice Hitz added: “I am unable to agree with the conclusion of the court in respect to the sufficiency of the published notice, which was a mere travesty of a notice, theoretically complying with the letter of the statute while wholly diregarding its spirit. “The property in question had stood on the tax records in the same name and ownership for many years, and 1 by a slight actual effort actual notice icould have been brought home to the jowner. If the Commissioners dis- regard their obvious opportnities to give actual notice and rely wholly lon the statute, they should be held {to a reasonable and effective com- i pliance therewith, and not to a merely | colorable and technical compliance by | the publication of a puzzle.” | CONTEST HEARING SET | St. Marys Delegate Fight Before Magistrate March 2. Special Dismutch to The Star. LEONARDTOWN, Md., February 25. —The contest over the House of Dele- gates seat of Dr. Charles V. Hayden, Democrat, and Capt. A. J. Lomax, Re- publican, from St. Marys County launched by J. Allen Cecil of Great Mills, defeated Democratic candidate, will be heard before Magistrate Rob- ert S. Burroughs of Mechanicsville, March 2. Dr. Hayden was elected by seven votes over Cecil and Capt. Lomax was elected by 12 votes. Three Arraigned For Providence Hospital Thefts {Much Loot Discovered in Homes, Officer Declares. A series of thefts from Providence Hos‘t’x‘:;“ over a period of several months resulted in arraignme - 1c J John P.l‘c&;fi:uh Police Court today, of Carrie Heath, Laura Lattimore and Dessie Heath, all ::nmeaoobmummmmm- 'l'i‘ two women, employed as at the hospital, ¢ Six men accused of operating 8 ‘was held for action of ‘handbook in & cigar store in the 1700 | on a charge of receiving stolen prop- block of Pennsylvania avenue went on strial before Justice Proctor in District Supreme Court today. They are Thomas Ryan, Peter Thomas Pape, Francis J. Smith, John ‘Middolo, Frank Pape and Joseph \Castell. %" The first four named were in court waiting trial October 8 last as a re- ult of a raid when the same officer ponsible for their arrest—Joseph D. hrin—went back to the establish: ent and picked up the other two. erty. Detective Sergt. A. T. Fihelly, who ’nrresud the trio, told the court that in the homes of the defendants were { found sugar, “by the barrel,” a large amount of coffee, 25 pounds of butter, several chickens and a quantity of towels, linens and glass and china ware, all of which, he claims, were identified at having been taken from the hospital. ‘The detective said the women told him they had purchased the goods. 10 REPLAGE OLD SCHOOL FURNACES | Supplemental Estimate Sent Budget Bureau by D. C. Commissioners. ACTION IS HELD REAL ECONOMY BY DONOVAN Move Is in Keeping With Pro- posal Made Last Year by Hazen. ‘The Commissioners have sent to the Budget Bureau a supplemental estimate of $100,000 for replacement of the antiquated furnaces in 16 of the public schools. The regular 1936 estimates, now awaiting action in the Senate, con- tain an item for replacement of four school heating plants. Real Economy Seen. A strong argument for approval of the sum was made by Maj. Daniel J. Donovan, District auditor, in a state- ment to the Budget Bureau justifying the request. The old plants have been a constant source of trouble and criti- cism, he said, explaining that the purpose of real economy would be served by approval of the program for replacing the hot-air furnaces. He asked that the requested sum be approved and made immediately available so that work can start promptly. The above is in keeping with a pro- posal made last Fall by Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen, who declared the thing to do was to ask Congress for a sum sufficient to make possible re- placement of all of the antiquated heating plants at one time. Parents at the Blair School last Fall threatened to stage a strike, taking their children out of the build- ing unless the heating plant there was replaced. This was called off when the Commissioners ordered im- mediate repairs. There are 24 schools which do not have modern steam-heating plants, Of these, 23 have old-style hot-air equipment and one is heated by stoves. This list does not include old-style heating arrangements used in the portable school buildings. Needed Replacements. The Commissioners listed the heat- ing plants they wish to replace in the order of their priority. First on the list is the Van Ness School, built in 1909, which has a furnace of the same “vintage.” The others, in order, are Amidon, built in 1882, with a furnace dating back to 1895; Pierce, built in 1894, with & furnace dated 1900; Webb, built in 19800, with a furnace of the same age; Van Buren Annex, built in 1881, and heated by six stoves of unrecorded age; Gage, 1902, with a heating plant two years older; Blow, built in 1906, with a heating plant manufactured two years earlier; Fairbrother, built in 1910 and with a furnace built in 1908; Trues- dell, built in 1908 and having a furnace made in 1906; Giddings, built in 1887, with a furnace dating 1900; Bunker Hill, 1911, with & furnace manufactured three years earlier; Berret, 1889, with one furnace dated 1908 and two others manufactured in 1887; Reservolr, built in 1887, with a furnace that has no date; Rossell, built in 1897, having a furnace built two years earlier; Garfield, 1910, hav- ing a furnace six years older; B. B. French, 1904, with a furnace four years older; the old Adams, 1888, with a furnace built in 1916; Blake, 1887, with a furnace built in 1916; Stan- ton, 1903, with a furnace three years older, and the Reno, built in 1903, with a furnace dated 1900. The four plants which would be re- placed under the regular 1936 esti- mates are those in the Blair School, manufactured in 1895; the heating plant in the Hayes School, built in the same year; the Hubbard, built in 1898, and the Langston, built in 1900. o WORK IS DELAYED ON SKYLINE DRIVE Readvertising for Bids on First Seven Miles of Extension Necessary. Special Dispatch to The Star. LURAY, Va., February 25.—Con- struction of the southern extension of the Skyline drive in the Shenandoah National Park will be delayed indef- initely as the result of the necessity of readvertising for bids for the first 7-mile stretch. Bids were opened for this stretch, which extends from the original drive to Simmons Gap in the direction of Waynesboro, on February : 7. There were eight bidders, the lowest being Keeley Construction Co. of West Viagl:ot;. its bid being something over According to information received on good authority, the Government considers the bid too high. It was said here that not only is it higher than for any other 10-mile stretch, but that it is higher than the Government en- gineer’s estimate. Engineers at work on other projects, who refused to be quoted, say, how- ever, that the cuts will of necessity be much deeper and the yardage in earth | the removal about twice as much as on other stretches. However that may be, construction of the first 7 iniles gll.b: delayed and all stretches may vertised simultaneously, plans having been ready for some time. About 35 miles, or one-third of the Front Royal. The original drive was 38 miles. —_— TAX RATE REDUCED By the Associated Press. FARMVILLE, Va. February 25— Citizens of Farmville are entering the new tax year with a reduced tax rate. The rate has been lowered 10 cents from $1.25 to $1.15 for the year. The budget for the year has been estimated by the Town Council at $88,- 775. In this amount is provided a sum of $5,000 set aside in the sinking fund, while a balance gf $1,200 15 to be left in the tressury. TWO SENTTO JAIL FORDRUNKDRIVING $100 Fines Also Meted Out | to Drivers by Judge Ralph Given. Four persons faced Judge Ralph Given in Traffic Court today on| charges of driving while drunk. Two of them were convicted and stiff sen- tences imposed. They were William Maharney, 1300 | block of Thirteentn street, who was | sentenced to serve 60 days in jail and ‘ pay a fine of $100 or serve an addi- | tional 30 days, and Edgar K. Hodge, a taxi driver, who was sentenced to serve 30 days in jail and pay a fine of $100 or serve arother 30 days. Maharney was also charged with having no operator’s permit, which accounted for the heavier sentence, Arrested After Collision, John A. Johnson, first block of T street, was charged with driving while drunk and leaving after colliding. He was arrested at Maryland avenue and ‘Third street southwest, following a collision on Pennsylvania avenue. Johnson demanded a jury trial. A case of driving while drunk against Samuel L. Watkins, 1900 block of I street, was eontinued to March 13, Watkins was arrasted after his auto mobile is claimed by police to have stryck a loading platform at Four- teenth and U streets. He was cap- | tured a short distance away by Police- | man G. W. Patton. A fine of $25 was imposed on Men- | dal E. Smith, 100 block of Q street, on a charge of driving on the wrong side of the street. He was arrested by | Policeman S. F. Gravely of the fourth | precinct, who claims he saw Smyh’s | car zigzagging on the street. 1 Reckless Driving Charged. Russell Sonadey, 1400 block of Co- | lumbia road, was arraigned on charges | of reckless driving,.leaving after col- liding and no permit after he is al- leged to have struck an automobile operated by Francis B. Myers, 5600 | block of Thirty-second street. Two second offense speeding cases were heard. Glenn C. Benjamin, 1100 | block of Abbey place northeast, was : fined $25, and Donald L. Carter, 2900 block of Ashby place, was fined $15. FIVE PERSONS HURT IN AUTO ACCIDENTS Colored Woman Seriously Injured Stepping From Loading Platform. Five persons were injured in traf- fic accidents in the Capital over the week end, one of them seriously, ac- cording to police. Mrs. Rosa Page, 60, colored, 2013 Q street, was badly injured when she was struck by a car driven by George C. Peacock, 63, 1304 S street, when she stepped from a street car load- ing platform on Connecticut avenue early last night. She was treated at Emergency Hospital for a severe in- jury to her head. a fractured right hand and internal injuries. Harvey Fritter, 646 I street south- west, was also treated at Emergency for a slight head cut received when his car was in a collision with one driven by James E. Murray, 334 Thirteenth street northeast, at Sev- enth street and Maryland avenue southwest yesterday afternoon. Winfield S. Dampier, 19, 2923 Yost place northeast, was treated at Freed- men's Hospital for injuries to his head and right knee, after he was in a collision at Second and T streets with a car driven by William Mahar- ney, 19. Maharney was arrested and charged gwith driving while intoxi- cated and having no driver's permit. William T. Pinn, 60, 930 Twenty- third street, was slightly injured yes- terday when he lost control of his machine in front of 1321 Foxhall road and collided with & porch. Mrs. Delicia Buckingham, 3500 Fourteenth street, was injured when the taxicab in which she was a pas- senger turned over after a collision with another cab at Ninth and R streets last night. CAPT. WELLS IS NAMED HOSPITAL BOARD HEAD Capt. Chester Wells, U. 8. N., re- tired, was elected president of Colum- bia Hospital at a recent meeting of , succeeding Joseph: M. Himes, former Representative of Ohio, who retired to devote more time to his duties as president of the new Group Hospitalization, Inc. | Princeton, who spoke at the Town | tion that the depression was not Capt. Wells is head of the Boy Scouts in the District of Columbia, & director of the Hamilton National Bank and & leader in social welfare work, Mr. Himes had been president of the hospital for the last two years and, prior to that time, served as a member of the board. Other officers elected for a year’s term were George Hewitt Myers and Attorney Paul E. Lesh, vice presidents, and Wayne Kendrick, treasurer. Live Stock Perish in Fire. FREDERICK, Md., February 25 (Special).—Fire that destroyed a barn on the farm of William H. McKinney had left six horses and 18 head of cattle dead today. Damage was esti- mated at $10,000. Forty tons of hay, 50 bushels of wheat and chinery were B | morrow night. Architect’s drawing of the new adult tuberculosis hospital, the plans for which were approved Saturday by the Fine Arts Commission. The hospital and the addition to the nurses’ home (shown in lower sketch) will be erected at Glenn Dale, Md., under a public works loan and grant of $1,500,000. The hospital will have a capacity of 396 beds. MONEY EXPANSION URGED AT SESSION Public Ownership and Con- trol of Banks Also Plea of Utilities Speaker. Extensive expansion of the currency | and public ownership and control of all banking facilities were advocated by speakers today at the Public| Ownership Conference being held at | the Willard Hotel. Former Senator Robert L. Owen, | author of the Federal Reserve act of 1913, told the delegates there is only | one way to recovery from the depres- sion and that is to put more money | in the pockets of consumers through | expansion of the currency. | He took Dr. Edwin W. Kemmerer, professor of international finance at Hall last night, to task for his asser- caused by a lack of money, and said | that any one “with common sense who | has the temerity to get up and tell | intelligent people that money did not cause the depression must be the in- | strument of those persons seeking to | keep the country on an unsound eco- nomic basis.” “Staple Price Level.” Owen said that in framing the Fed- eral Reserve act of 1913 he included a provision “to promote a staple price level,” which he interpreted to mean the Federal Reserve should issue money in accordance with price fluc- tuation. 3 “If we ever expect to whip this de- pression, we must replace the money destroyed as if by fire in this country,” Owen said. “The stock market crash of 1929, destroyed property values of 200 billion dollars, but a greater de- struction was that of confidence by the American people.” Another plan far expansion of the currency was submitted by C. B. ‘Whitnall, secretary of the Public Land Commission of Wisconsin, who ad- vocates a national municipal currency. He said his plan would be comparable to national bank currency, but that the currency under his plan would be issued by municipal governments, backed by national credit. He said although the Government is the only body authorized to issue currency, it never has issued any to Mself or to any of its subdivisions— States, counties or cities. Under the plan the bonded indebtedness of com- munities would be definitely limited and all bond issues would mature serially in 20 years, which would mean that 5 per cent of the indebted- ness would be redeemed each year, such maturing bond or bonds being sent back to the city by he United States Treasury each year, the credit against the municipality being called in and canceled. Portland Official Speaks. J. E. Bennett, city commissioner of Portland, Oreg., discussed the depres- sion, its causes and remedies. He laid the whole blame for the depression on the withdrawal of appropriately $46,- 000,000 in credits, limited money in circulation and the tightening up by banks of credit. Bennett said we are really not in a depression, but that the conditions are a result of an unsound money and banking system which will become per- manent unless proper remedies are applied. The conference, which opened last Thursday, will be climaxed by a ban- quet at the Willard tonight, at which Chairman Frank R. McNinch of the Federal Tariff Commission; Rev. Msgr. John A. Ryan and Carl D. Thompson will be speakers. J. D. Ross of Seattle will give a lecture illustrated by mov- ing pictures of what is being done by public ownership in Washington. Ed- ward Keating will be the toastmaster. T Six Couples Obtain Licenses. FAIRFAX, Va. February 25 (Spe- cial) —Marriage licenses have been is- sued in the offices of the clerk of the Circuit Court as follows: Edwa~d Hare, 31, and Iva Axt, 29, both of Baltimore, Md.; John H. Cline, 30, and Frances E. Butterworth, 27, Falls Church, Va.; Malcolm Mstheson, jr, 21, R. F. D. Va, and Emma Henry Tompkins, 21, Washington; John Ewell, jr., 24, and Lillian Duncan, 15, both R. F. D.,, Manassas, Va.; Wilbur W. Kern, 21, Baltimore, Md., and Prances W. Yinger, 23, Frederick, Md., and John F. Balenger, 26, Colvin Run, Va., and Anita Sauveur, 15, Vienna, Va. 0dd Fellows Dance Tomorrow. CLARENDON, Va, February 25 (Special) —Arrangements are being completed for a dance to be given for benefit of Arlington Lodge of Odd Fellows in Odd Fellows n;n here to- ! Page Diogenes Man Hit by Auto | Cpnfesses Fault | Absolves Motorist on! Removal From Under Automobile. Diogenes can throw away his lantern—for the honest man. has been found! Yesterday while hundreds of cars packed the area around the Wash- ington Airport, the screech of brakes, the screams of women and the cries | “A man has been run over” filled the air. Traffic was tied up for several minutes while motorists deserted their cars where they stood to lift the front end of the car and pull the man out. As soon as the weight had been removed from his chest, a well-dressed young man got up, dusted the road grime from his clothes, shook hands with the driver of the car, adjusted his glasses a little more firmly on his| nose and walked away with the| remark: “No damage at all—it was all my fault, anyhow. Just forget it." When asked his name, he said it did not matter. The driver of the car, a man in sailor uniform, also declined to give his name to ques- tioners. He told bystanders:. “Gee, he's a swell guy—not a squawk out of him.” RULING THURSDAY | prominent citizens as ONCHILD PIANIST Appeal to Test Law Planned Despite Decision by Judge Bentley. After several delays that have kept the case on the Juvenile Court docket since January 22, Judge Fay Bentley has set Thursday to deliver her deci- sion in the case against Mrs. Dorothy H. Dorsey, concert manager, charged with violating the District child labor law by presenting Ruth Slenczynski, 10-year-old pianist, in concert here. The case will be appealed regardless of Judge Bentley's findings, it has been agreed by counsel, in order to test the District law. In fact, the last postponement- of the decision was made at the request of the lawyers so that proper papers for the appeal could be completed. Mrs. Dorsey, represented by Attor- ney Robert E. Lynch, pleaded not guilty and contended that since she made no profit on the concert, she had not violated the law. Thomas Gillesple Walsh, assistant corporation counsel, in prosecuting the case contended the child pianist is being exploited in violation of the law and cited that her earnings sup- port the members of her family. When the case was heard Judge Bentley took it under advisement for a few days and then granted a second continuance for the convenience of lawyers. FALSE ALARM ADMITTED Arrested on the complaint of fire- men after they answered a false alarm at Connecticut avenue and S street early today, Howard K. Baker, 30, 1700 block of Twentieth street, and Thomas O’'Malley, 2200 block of Massachusetts avenue, pleaded guilty to turning in & false fire alarm when arraigned be- fore Judge Isaac R. Hitt in Police Court today. In continuing the case until Sat- urday for the imposition of sentence Judge Hitt told the defendants to re- turn on Saturday with “plenty of money.” They told the court that the alleged offense occurred following a ! member of the Board of Education, | who will speak for the Community | $12,350: drainage installations, includ- MEETING T0 PLAN PROGRAM OF PLAY l Round-Table Conference on! Recreation to Be Held Under F. A. Delano. A round-tabie conference, under leadership of Frederic A. Delano, | chairman of the National Capital Park and Planning Commission, is slated | for tomorrow afternoon at the Interior Department to iron out Washington’s wrinkled recreational problems. The object of the meeting, to which spokes- | men of the three major groups dealing with recreation here have been invited, is to reach a unified program. Invited to the meeting are Commis- sioner George E. Allen, who will rep- | resent the District government and | its Playground Department; Henry I. Quinn, prominent attorney and a Center Department, and C. Marshall Finnan, superintendent of the Na-!| tional Capital parks. Delano has been able to arrange his | calendar so as to hold the session earlier than anticipated. Originally | it was scheduled early in March. The National Capital Park and| Planning Commission is to hold its regular meeting late this week and Mr. | Delano hopes to be able to tell his col- leagues a unified program has been | agreed upon. The District Commis- sioners have appointed a group of an advisory council upon recreation and this or- ganization is expected to report shortly. It has been hearing the views of spokesmen for various recreational agencies and will report its findings to the Commissioners, with recom- mendations as to what should be done. The Planning Commission sponsored the study on recreation, which was made by Lebert H. Weir of the Na- tional Recreation Association, and this report was made public in November. It suggested four plans to achieve unity in recreation here. BOY, 15, ATTACKED BY ROBBERS IN HOME Pair Escape With $21 in Cash After Finding Youth Alone. Finding young Robert Hans, 15, alone in his home at 509 Third street southeast late yesterday afternoon, two unidentified men slugged him and ransacked the house, escaping with $21 in cash. ‘The boy, who lay unconscious in the hallway of his home, when found shortly afterward told his mother, Mrs. Catherine Hans, and his_ sister, Mrs. Catherine Jennings, that he answered the door bell and when he told the men there were no others at home he was attacked. Robert was treated by the family physician and his injuries are not re- garded as serious. Police today are searching for two colored men who forced Meyer S. Cohen, 70 K street, into an alley near First and Fenton streets Saturday night in an attempt to rob him. Cohen screamed for help and ran. The thugs fired two shots at him as he fled. Ollie Brown, 45, colored, 1527 Sev- ent street, was robbed of a $5 gold piece and severely beaten by two col- ored men who held him up in an alley near Seventh and T streets early yes- terday morning. Brown received sev- eral fractured ribs, a broken collar- bone, a dislocated shoulder and a pos- sibly broken nose. Edward Fortune, 400 Ninth street | southeast, told police he was held up ! and robbed of $7 early yesterday morn- ing by a young colored man who ap- URGES ENLARGED AIRPORT FOR CITY Present Conditions Deplora- ble, Cisler Tells House Subcommittee. INCREASE IN PLANE SCHEDULES ARE CITED Present Site Can Be Made Accept- able for $385,000, New York Adviser Says. Declaring that conditions at Wash- ington Airport are “deplorable” Stephen A. Cisler, general superine tendent of Railway and Airmail Serv- ice, Post Office Department, today told a House subcommittee that increased airport facilities here are urgently needed. The Post Office Department is con= stantly increasing its airmail schedules and the local airport is not sufficiently large and is without sufficient facili- ties to handle the growing traffic, Cis= ler \estified. “I feel it is most unfortunate Wash- ington has not a better airport,” he said. J. M. Donaldson, Deputy Second As- sistant Postmaster. General, told the committee that the: Post Office De- partment, although interested in bete ter airport facilities here, does not in- tend to express any opinion as to & definite site for the airport. Adviser Offers Plan. ‘Washington Airport can be made into a model air terminal at & cost of only $385,000 for improvement of the landing area itself, the subcom- mittee was told by Daniel H. Reed, airport adviser to the City of New ‘York, who has taken part in planning 50 or more airports throughout the country. Reed, who admitted he was hired by Washington Airport officials for the purpose, submitted detailed estimates of cost for improvement of the local field. He said the work could be completed within six months with= out interruption to air transport oper= ation. His estimate included hydraulic fill- ing of the lagoon, $43,500: spreading and rolling of the fill, $22,500" removal of Military road and construction of a substitute road connection to Co- lumbia pike, $12,000; construction of 1.800 feet of drainage culvert, $63,000; water lines, fire lines and sewers, ing 14,000 feet of tile, $42,000, and paving of five runways, $189,650. Reed told the committee sufficient filling material can be obtained from u_ne new Intericr Department excava- tion to raise the level of the airport to 10 feet, without cost to the Gove ernment. He said if the jobs are car- zied on simultaneously, the contractor will be willing to spread and roll the fill at the airport if relieved of the cost of finding a dumping place for the material. Needs Varied. C. R. Smith. president of American Airlines, told the committee that not only is air transport business grow- ing rapidly in Washington, but that different types of planes now being used requires enlarged airport fa- cilities. “It is quite apparent to every one in the industry that Washington needs a better airport,” Smith said. “The present airport is very well lo- cated and it should be possible to make a good terminal there without great loss of time.” Testimony in favor of the Gravelly Point site was being given by John Nolen of the National Capital Park and Planning Commission when the committee adjourned. Nolen said hazards existing ‘around Washington Airport and the impossibility of con- trolling construction of future hazards had always influenced his commission against the present airport. Although the committee had hoped to finish hearings today, 8 number of last-minute witnesses applied for time and two more days probably will be required to complete the work of hearing witnesses, which began three weeks ago. . COMMITTEE FAVORS STRONG NAVY BASES Bill for $38,000,000 Projects, In- cluding Pear] Harbor Improve- ments, Approved. By the Associated Press A measure to authorize the Navy Department to proceed with strengthe ing naval bases, chiefly on the West Coast and in Hawaii and the Canal Zone, was approved today by the | House Naval Committee. The project would cost more than $38,000,000, of which nearly $15,000,« 000 would be expended at the navy yard and submarine and air bases at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The largest single item is $10,000,~ 000 for a gigantic floating drydock at Pearl Harbor, capable of handling the Navy's largest fighting craft. Substantial amounts also would be used at Balboa and Coco Solo, Canal Zone; the Pensocola, Fla., air station, and at Mare Island, Calif., and Pue proached him as he sat in his parked automobile on Sixteenth street. Mencken Too Generous, Speaker Says, With Mar yla'ul Liberty Federal Employes Against Dirk- By the Associated Press. BALTIMORE, February 25—H. L. Mencken’s freedom with the Free State’s free speech had been indicted as too free today. ‘The Baltimore writer last week in- vited little Commonwealth College of Mena, Ark., to come to Maryland and receive “an unconstitutional guaran- tee of free speech.” But this one of mr‘yh::l'ln;l‘o&- most principles” shoul Willlam Ed’sudo. ent of the Senior Evening of the George- town University School of Foreign Service, Washington, said at a na- tional defense meeting here yesterday. Regarding Mencken's assertion that | in Maryland, the school, whose teach- ings are under legislative fire, could teach “spiritualism, vegetarianism, , Calvinism or cannibal- ism, or all of them together,” Sardo demanded: “Are you going to allow freedom of speech to tear away the very base and foundation of our republic? Is our State of mnd,tf be an incu- bator for get Sount, Wash., navy yards. The committee ordered the bill re- ported to the House, 14 to 1, with a recommendation for passage. RENT BILL APPROVED sen Resolution. Approval of the Ellenbogen rent con- trol bill, which declares the existence of an emergency and would provide for establishment of a commission to regulate rents in the District, today was voiced by the District of Colum- bia Federation of Federal Employes’ Unions, through William 8. Kinney, chairman of the Committee on Rentals l::fl Home Ownership for the feder- ation. In a statement issued today, the fed- eration declared it did not favor the Dirksen resolutiog for “freesing” rents at the January 11934, level,