Evening Star Newspaper, February 28, 1935, Page 21

Wash SOCIAL SECURITY BILL FOR DISTRIGT WILL BE SPEEDE Hearings on Chairman Nor- ton’s Measure to Be Started Saturday. BLANTON PROMISES NOT TO BLOCK PASSAGE Amendments Made to Bring Pro- posal in Line With Na- tional Program. BY WILL P. KENNEDY. Bpeedy action by Congress on an | eld-age pension law for the District was promised today by those in charge of District legislation in both Senate and House. Hearings on the bill introduced by Chairman Norton of the House Dis- trict Committee are to start Saturday at 10 am. before a subcommittee headed by Representative Jenckes of Indiana. This bill is identical with the measure sponsored jointly by Benators Copeland, Democrat, of New York and Capper, Republican, of Kansas. The bill was passed by the Benate last session, but was blocked in the House through a filibuster by Representative Blanton, Democrat, of Texas, who has announced he will not oppose the measure this year. Amendments Considered. Amendments to bring the old-age pension law for the District in line with President Roosevelt’s national security program were considered by Mrs. Norton at a conference yester- day with Corporation Counsel Pretty- man, Mrs. Richard Hogue of the Council of Social Agencies and Mrs. Elizabeth Sullivan of the Federation of Citizens’ Associations. ‘These amendments were offered last year by Mrs. Norton, but at that time were opposed by some of the social agencies. The bill carries an age minimum requirement of 65 years and provides for administra- tion by the District Commissioners through whatever agency they may designate. Representative Ellenbogen, Demo- erat, of Pennsylvania, who previously announced he would introduce a mod- el old-age pension measure for the! District, stated today he will withdraw in favor of Mrs. Norton as chairman and have submitted the provisions of his bill for her consideration in con- nection with the measure she is spon- soring. Will Offer Changes. Mrs. Norton will offer an amend- ment, reducing the required residence in the District from 10 to 5 years, and will propose to eliminate the $35- a-month pension limitation. She also | provides for repayment of all pen- sions with interest from estates, if any, left by the pensioners. She also will recommend provision for review of rejected applications by the Dis- trict Commissioners. ‘The repayment provision states that after the death of the last survivor of & married couple the court shall rec- ognize liens against the estate cov- ering the entire amount paid the couple in pensions plus 3 per cent in- terest, with the Federal Government allowed first claim and the District second against the estate. The'money thus recovered would be deposited in the Federal Treasury to the credit of the District. Authorization also is proposed for the Commissioners or their agents to take charge and man- age property of pensioners -whenever it is evident that the property is not being properly cared for to the detri- ment of both the pensioner and the Government. If there is time, the Jenckes Sub- eommittee also will consider two bills providing for demolition of dangerous and insanitary buildings. - HEART ATTACK IN CAR KILLS RETIRED WORKER Benjamin Seabourne, 52, a retired storage company foreman, died today ! of a heart attack while sitting in his car in an alley at the rear of 714 Fleventh street southeast. He previ- ously had suffered occasional attacks, relatives told police. Mr. Seabourne had driven from his home, 540 Eleventh street southeast, with his brother-in-law, Nathan Lewis. to buy food to take to his mother's farm, near Croome Station, Md. Lewis went into a bakery, leaving Mr. Sea- bourne in the car. When Lewis re- turned he found his brother-in-law unconscious. He died before a Casu- alty Hospital ambulance arrived. The body was taken to the District Morgue. Surviving Mr. Seabourne are his ‘widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Seabourne, and his mother, Mrs. 8. J. Seabourne. Mary R. Rinehart Quits Washington ToLivein Gotham Plans to Stay in New York Apartment a Year. Although she still regards Washing- ton as her home, and will not give up her residence at 2419 Massachusetts avenue, Mrs. Mary Roberts Rinehart has taken s Park avenue apartment in New York, and probably will live there for about s year. The noted writer left for New York Tuesday. Mrs. Rinehart has made Washing- ton her permanent home since she eame here in the Fall of 1921 to cover the Disarmament Con!eunué’ sn: captivated by the beauty an e'h':rm & the Capital and decided to Temain. ‘The writer’s husband, the late Dr. Stanley M Rinehart, who died in 1932, eame here as a consultant for the Vet- erans’ Bureau. Mrs. Rinehart’s son, Allan M. Rine- is himself a writer and makes home at 2020 Massachusetts ave- nue, only a few blocks from his ‘mother’s residence, [J IS ington News he Eening Shar WASHINGTON, D. C, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1935. \Mrs. Dorsey Found Guilty Judge Bentley Fines Her for Presenting Girl Pianist. ' Defense Counsel Lynch Immediately Files Appeal. Mrs. Dorothy Hodgkin Dorsey, con- cert burean manager, was found guilty in Juvenile Court today of violating the District child labor law on Jan- uary 22, when she presented Ruth Slenczynski, 10-year-old pianist, in concert at Constitution Hall. Judge Fay Bentley fined Mrs. Dor- sey $25 and Robert E. Lynch, defense counsel, immediatey noted an appeal. All facts in the case were agreed upon and the appeal was taken to test the law, the interpretation of which has been in dispute between the corpora- tion counsel and the Board of Educa- tion, charged with enforcement of the act. Judge Bentley overruled all three defense contentions: (1) That the em- ployment did not involve “work” in- asmuch as Ruth Slenczynski enjoyed playing; (2) that it was not a “gain- ful occupation” in that Mrs. Dorsey suffered a deficit, although Josef Slenczynski, the child's father, re- ceived $1,400 from the concert; and (3) that the presentation of the child artist did not constitute the “type of evil” intended to be corrected by the child labor law. Judge Bentley’s Decision. “The broad intent of child labor legislation to prevent the exploitation of children by their parents or oth- ers,” Judge Bentley held, “can be ac- complished only if the word ‘work” be construed broadly. * * * “A binding contract made April 3, 1934, for the child to play at a speci- fied place and hour on January 22, 1935, would seem ta me to indicate ‘work’ rather than ‘play’ and dash any impulsive spontaneity that char- acterizes the play of childhood.” Judge Bentley also held that the fact that Ruth’s father had collected $6,000 in a year from the child’s con- certs raises the question whether the playing is “incidental to her educa- tion.” Judge Bentley thus held that her employment was “gainful.” “Taking the present child labor law in its historical setting,” the court | decision continued, “I cannot feel that ; Congress intended the court to pass {an opinion in each case, on whether the public and profitable performance {of a particular child was or was not detrimental to health, or was or was not a mere incident in an educa- In Child Labor Test Case MRS. DOROTHY H. DORSEY. tional program, No one expects to find the lucrative infant prodigy de- prived of educational facilities or neglected in matters of health as the less fortunate exploited child gen- erally is.” Violation of Law. Judge Bentley held that the pres- entation of the young pianist was a violation of both “the letter and the spirit” of the law. As soon as Judge Bentley concluded reading the formal decision Lynch noted the appeal and made arrange- ments to post the appeal bond later in the day. Thomas Gillespie Walsh, assistant corporation counsel, who prosecuted the case, was present. He had agreed in advance to an appeal regardless of the court’s verdict so that the law itseelf may be reviewed by the District Court of Appeals. ‘The test case had its beginnings before the first of the year when E. Barrett Prettyman, corporation coun- sel, submitted an opinion to the Board of Education interpreting the law in which he differentiated between the types of employment of children, making some allowances for public appearances that might be made as part of an educational program. Three lawyer members of the board— President Hayden Johnson, Henry I. Quinn and Henry Gilligan—disagreed. The board, Prettyman and Mrs. Dorsey then arranged to make a test immediately after Ruth Slenczynski's concert. The trial was delayed for several weeks because of Lynch's recent ill- ness and was put off again last week for the convenience of the two attor- neys in the case. 22 NEW SCHOOLS Estimated Cost Set at $2,- 986,000 in Dr. Stude- baker’s Report. ‘Washington needs at least 22 new buildings in its public school system, to cost an estimated sum of $2,986,- 000, in order to meet current needs, John W. Studebaker, United States commissioner of education, has re- ported to Secretary of the Interior Ices, public works administrator. ‘The 22 projects here are included in a total of approximately 13,000 new construction jobs needed in 45 States. Commissioner Studebaker placed the estimated cost at $625,999,022, Independent Inventory, The data collected by Dr. Stude- baker is independent of the inventory of public works projects being made by P. W. A and the National Re- sources Board. All types of projects, including playground facilities, re- pairs, new equipment, etc., number close to 60,000 at an estimated cost of $8,500,000,000. ‘The Office of Education singled out only the new buildings actually need- ed now to house pupils in those areas where present facilities are wholly in- adequate. More than half of the schools constructed in 1934, Dr. Studebaker pointed out, were financed by P. W. A. E The report supports a similar sur- vey recently made by the National Education Association, which was pre- sented to Congress and the P. W. A. as the basis for an argument for an appropriation from whatever public works funds are suthorized by Con- gress. Construction Dropped. “From 1930 to 1933 school con- struction dropped 73 per cent,” Dr. Studebaker said. “Lack of money since 1930 to make necessary repairs on school buildings, many of which were obsolescent before that date, has increased the dangers of postponing needed school building construction. While the $125,000,000 allotted by P. ‘W. A. for school buildings helped the situation 1n a number of places, it has only made a beginning in catch- ing up with the need.” The State departments of educa- tion for Maryland and Virginia esti- mated their needs as: Mary] 8 - 799.000{“”‘ projects, to cost $3, Virginia, 75 projects, to cost $3,- 134,000, e b AGENTS TO AID PUBLIC IN MAKING TAX RETURNS Deputy Colectors Will Be Sta- tioned in Banks Starting on Monday. To assist the public in making out income tax returns, several deputy collectors and Internal Revenue agents will be stationed at banks throughout the city, beginning Mon- day, it was learned today. These men will be equipped with blank returns of all kinds and with expert knowledge to advise on all phases of the complex job of making out a return. They are also commissioned to accept the oath of the taxpayer so that no notary pub- lic's seal will be necessary. These men also can receive one-fourth or more of the tax itself, whichever the taxpayer is ready t0. D, N HELD NEED HERE WAGE RULE URGED ON PRIVATE FIRMS Federal Workers Want Plan Applied to All Doing Busi- ness With U. S, BY J. A. O'LEARY. The prevailing wage issue, which brought about the deadlock in the work relief program, cropped up in another quarter today when the Amer- ican Federation of Government Em- ployes askegd the Senate Commerce Committee to apply that wage rule to all contractors doing business with the Government. The Commerce Committee is-con- sidering the Clark bill to require all governmentsl agencies that produce or manufa¢ture ‘supplies in competi- tlon with private industry to set up a cost-accounting system that would enable Congress to compare the cost of such Government work with the private cost. ‘The bill also would require all Fed- eral sgencles to prepare annual re- ports for public record, showing all costs entering into any work under- taken or article produced. Babcock Offers Amendments. ‘When the committee met to resume hearings on the bill today E. Claude Babeock of the American Federation of Government Employes offered a series of amendments designed to re- quire from private contractors doing business with the Government all of the procedures, reports and other rules which the bill seeks to lay down for the governmental agencies, including the prevailing wage. One of Babcock’s amendments would require that all contracts entered into by a Federal agency would have to stipulate that the pri- vate contractor would pay all his em- ployes the prevailing wage rates pre- scribed by trade ulions in the locali- tles involved. Another amendment provides that the wage rates of the private contrac- tors also could not be less than the prevailing wage rates for Govern- ment personnel doing similar work. Wage rates would have to be sub- mitted with all bids for governmental work. Seek to Prevent “Kick-Back.” Senator Copeland, Democrat, of New York, asked Babcock if some of these amendments would tend to pre- vent the so-called wage “kick-back” practice. Babcock said that was one of the purposes.of the amendments. The committee also is hearing a number of Government officials in opposition to the bill. The bill would prevent Govern- ment agencies from expending funds NEW ORLEANS, February 28 ().— Federal Judge Wayne G, Borah in the District Court here yesterday issu NATION IN NEED OF CO-OPERATION, SAYS PRESIDENT Interstate Assembly Told Difficulty in Taxation and Other Fields. CO-ORDINATED EFFORTS CONSTANTLY REQUIRED Federal, State and Local Problems Discussed in Message to Legislators’ Session. “Better co-operation” between Fed- eral, State and local governments in taxation and other fields was urged today by President- Roosevelt in a message to the second interstate as- sembly of the American Legislators’ Association as it opened a three-day convention at the Mayflower Hotel. “It is apparent, I think, to all stu- dents of Government that there is urgent need for better machinery of co-operation between Federal, State and local governments in many flelds,” the President wrote. “Both the Congress and the execu- tive departments of the National Gov- ernment are constantly confronted with problems whose solution requires co-ordinated effort on the part of the States and the Federal Government. “Two notable instances are the co- ordination of law enforcement and the inter-relation of fields of taxation. This latter question has long seemed to me one of prime importance. “Only recently I directed the Secre- tary of the Treasury to undertake a study of source of taxation with par- ticular reference to the matter of con- flict or overlapping of Federal, State and local taxation. When this study is complete it should furnish the basis of discussion of the problem involved with representatives of the States. ‘Tax Experts Attend. Undersecretary of the Treasury Thomas Jefferson Coolidge and prom- inent taxation experts from all 48 States attended the opening session. The sasembly represents the first| COUrt. The speedier action could be of its kind to be held since adoption of the Federal Constitution in 1789, according to officials of the assembly. purpose assel allowing the coroner to commit per- | mu every t:"o ;he:n u"&"fim‘.’;h.'fu‘; sons to either of those courts when the intimate, direct, ,'“mm"c com- | the coror_n'er'c jury decides “negligent munication and relationship between homicide” has been committed. | the States and to harmonize their activities of government with the Government. It also is designed to consider ail suitable subjects—such as crime pre- ventian, public health and other mat- ters affésting interstate relationships. Dr. Rebert Murray Haig of Colum- bis University, former. president of the National Tax Association, speaking at the assembly this morning, recom- mended -establishment of an impar- tial, disinterested commission of the highest possible dignity and standing, to be headed by Chief Justice Charles Evans Hughes, to represent the people 2‘! the United States in taxation mat- TS, For Formulating Policies. This proposed commission would formulate policies, but would not be a negotiating or administrative body. It would investigate and deliberate. “The commission would invite a submission of testimony from every competent source and would publish the evidence in full. It also would be provided with technical assistants for prosecuting in- dependent studies on its own initiative. The other two members of the com- mission suggested by Dr. Haig would be A. Lawrence Lowell and Edwin R. A. Seligman. Dr. Haig said no active politician would be allowed to serve on the commission. Henry W. Toll, director of the Council of State Government_, told the convention “We may smile at the fact that the States have developed s tendency to take over the functions of the county. In other .words, the counties are 3,000 little fishes, which are being swallowed by 48 large fishes | probably and the large fishes are being swal- lowed by one whale. Co-operation of States. “If we are not to be subjected to extreme federalization within a short time it can only be because the States are on the verge of co-operating with each other as they have never co- operated before. The fallure of the States to harmonize their govern- mental activities during the last cen- tury and a half has been inevitable because the States.have not had the machinery of Government which was necessary for harmony.” Advocating a general sales tax, Mark Graves, president of the New York State Tax Commission, said his experience with New York State’s re- tail sales tax convinced him that this form of levy was not suited to State use. Tax recommendations to be pre- sented to the Assembly include: ‘That persons paying State personal income taxes be permitted to offset the amount against the Federal in- come tax; that the Federal Govern- ment repeal its tax on gasoline; that Congress enact the amended Harrison sales tax bill and that local units of Government refrain from placing heavy taxes on beer except for regu- latory purposes. TAX PAYMENTS MISSED, IRVIN ABRAMS IS JAILED Probation of Former Oil Dealer Revoked When He Fails to Meet Debt. Judge John P, McMahon in Police | | | | - Attending Legislators’ 'Meeting' M OEATH | BL I FFERED Senator King Presents Measure Intended to Speed Prosecution, A bill intended to speed up the prosecution of motorists in fatal traffic accidents was introduced in the Sen- ate today by Chairman King of the Senate District Committee at the re- quest of the District Commissioners. Under present law traffic death cases are treated as manslaughter, which, being a felony, necessitates grand Jjury proceedings. Would Establish New Offense. The bill would establish a new offense known as “negligent homi- cide,” similar to the law in Michigan. It would be a misdemeanor and punish individuals “who, by the op- eration of any vehicle at an immod- erate rate of speed or in a careless, reckless or negligent manner, but not wilfully or wantonly, shall cause the death of another.” ‘These cases could be taken either into Police Court or District Supreme obtained by first fixing the punish- ment at imprisonment for one year | and a fine or both, and second by Seek to Speed Cases. ‘The Commissioners told Senator King they felt there is too much delay 4nd uncertainty in grand jury pro- ceedings for the purpose of obtaining & charge of manslaughter in these cases. THe new bill algo would allow the jury to return a verdict of “negli- gent homicide” even though the charge on which the defendant was being tried was manslaughter. It also provides that the speed of the vehicle should be considered in relation to surrounding circumstances at the time, thus not exeusing an individual mere- ly because he happened to be pro- ceeding at a rate of speed allowed by regulations, — NEW BUS CENTER INSPECTION ASKED Representative Patman and Traf- fic Subcommittee Invited. Representative Patman, Democrat, of Texas and members of his Traffic Subcommittee of the House District Committee were invited today to in- spect the new bus center on Pennsyl- vania avenue between Sixth and Sev- enth streets. The bus center is under considera- tion as one of the terminals for Wash- ington’s interurban busses, which will be forced by the Pub- lic Utilities Commission to find off- street parking faciltties. A large in- terstate line now terminates there. The commission will hold & pub- lic hearing Monday on a proposal to require class B and class C busses to establish off-street terminals. Class B business are those operating into nearby Maryland and Virginia within the so-called metropolitan area. In class C are busses operating within the District exclusively. Class A, or interstate busses, were compelled some time ago to provide off-street ter- minals. ‘The: invitation to visit the bus cen- ter was extended to Patman and his subcommittee by E. J. Smith, manager. To Patman he wrote: “You and your subcommittee ars cordially invited to visit and inspect our new bus center, which was offi- cially opened February 2. It is the largest bus bureau of information on all types of transportation, & lounge room, a news- stand, a first-aid room, a soda foun- tain, a dining room, barber and valet shops, checking facilities, a number of stores and a gift shop. It is equip- ped with an air-cooling system and public speaker for the purpose of an- nouncing all departures and arrivals of coaches. We can handle 500 arriv- als and departures daily entirely off street and under cover. “Inasmuch as the bus problem is now before your committee, we feel this information will prove both in- teresting and helpful to you, and we FAIR, WARMER WEATHER FORECAST FOR DISTRICT Temperature of 22 degrees Expect- od 'll'o_nuht—-lmm—y Drops to 15 in Early Morning. Continued fair and somewhat Society and General PAGE B—1 ilNIERIl]R BUILDING | EXCAVATIONS BUE 0 BEGIN N JUNE Park Heads Suggest Earth | Be Used for Flood-Con- trol Dyke. PLANS FOR PROJECT ARE GIVEN APPROVAL Treasury Department Proposes tc Call for Bids May 1—Of- fers Face Delay. ‘The supervising architect’s office of. ithe procurement division of the | Treasury Department expects to Start | excavation for the new Interior De- ! partment Building, at Eighteenth anc E streets, in June. This announce- ,ment today brought from park offi- | cials the observation that the earth | to be removed can profitably be used | n constructing the flood-control dyke | in the region of the Lincoln Memorial 4| and Washington Monument to protect Speakers at the opening session of the second interstate assembly of the American Legislators’ Association at the Mayflower Hotel this morning. Above, left to right: Dr. Robert Murray Haig for president of the National Tax Association; Mark Graves, president of the New York State Tax Com- mission, Treasury. and Thomas Jefferson Coolidge, Jr., Undersecretary of the Below: Miss Jerrye Embrey pins a delegate badge on Joe G. Gentry of Huntington, W. Va. RULARD SURVEYS NEW HEALTH 08 Syracuse Physician Takes Over Work—Discusses Tuberculosis Problem. Dr. George C. Ruhland, who will be sworn in tomorrow as the District's new health officer, indicated today he might seek to place the troublesome tuberculosis problem under control of a single specialist. He said modern health departments throughout the country have found it advisable to centralize control of tu- berculosis under one qualified officer. Problem Serious Here. “T understand the tuberculosis prob- lem here is very serious,” said Dr. Ruhland, “but of course I cannot say definitely just what my plans will be I must confer first with the depart- ment chiefs, and in advance of taking office it would not be proper for me to make a statement.” Ruhland, former health officer at Syracuse, N. Y., was offered the health post here after the retirement of Dr. William C. Fowler recently. He is recognized as an authority on city health problems and is expected to reorganize the District Health De- partment along more modern lines. ‘The rapidly rising death rate from | tuberculosis, brought to the public's attention by the Medical Society of the District of Columbia, which con- ducted a detailed investigation into the situation last Fall, roused consid- erable criticism of the Health De- partment and the failure of Congress to provide adequate funds to fight the dread disease. Sanatorium Occupied. Since then, the children’s tubercu- losis sanatorium at Glenn Dale has been completed and is now occupijed, and funds have been made available by the P. W. A_ for construction of a n‘ev adult hospital on the Maryland site. ‘The Medical Society report on tuberculosis recommended centraliza- tion of tuberculosis control under a Survey First Task. One of the first tasks to be assigned to Dr. Ruhland will be to make a survey of any needed reorganization of the services of the Health Depart- ment, Commissioner George E. Allen announced today. - “We have what the Commissioners believe to be a most ably qualified physician and administrator as the new health officer,” Allen said, “and it is my hope, and I am sure it is Dr. Ruhland’s hope, to obtain the very best public health service that is pos- sible under the limits of the District health budget.” Marriage Licenses. . 29, and Rebecea Levin, oS i pnee: Rev, Morris 3. Coben. 50 L st. se. 8 e e o L " Gliford Allder. 29. 4121 4th st and B ioa P McCioskes, 2600 Bl u'.'."-!’b"-rqmuu"‘?'sz sum n; -uw rle 3. ‘Harris, 2016 rd.s _ Jol - N . 31, Youngstown. Ohlo. mel S S R0 Nathan . 28. 1537 15th st. and Mg Belged 35 1507 &% Re'R g'g D irh W Gordon, sr.. 48. 2700 11th at. mamlflgn Wliner Taylor, 47. 3709 Buths Baicom 24 B35 0 sy and_Mary Jones. 23, 132 Reeves pl; Rev. Ermest Hen! 3 1 Hospital, D emnecine ¢ Plens 36, 190G . ne.! Rev. L. 8] Affed Saunde S 28 3¢ Flortdn ave._and Lucille- Clark. 25, 927 . 8. D. Jiggitts 3 1l k- ot . gt 8T 0 2 Eepied wison, 22 ixavn.&w | i ~—Star Staff Photos. | DR. GEORGE C. RUHLAND. PRODUCE DEALERS’ MOVE IS DELAYED | Merchants Granted Right to Stay in Farmers’ Market Until | Stock Is Sold. Produce merchants who have been ordered to vacate temporary quarters ‘Washington by Monday, will be given some extra time if they can show they will lose their produce on hand, District officials said today. The Dis- trict has awarded contracts for the | on the block bounded by F, G, Tenth 1lnd Eleventh streets southwest. The order for the merchants to move, approved Tuesday by the Commis- merchants by George M. Roberts, su- perintendent of weights and measures. Many immediately raised vigorous protests, claiming they had not been given sufficient time, and if moved by Monday their supplies would be wasted. Assistant Engineer Commissioner Paul A. Hodgson said work would proceed as scheduled, but that eny merchants facing loss would be allowed to move to another portion of the square. KAISER MUST DIE IN CHAIR APRIL 26 Former Navy Yard Machinist Must Pay Penalty for Murder. Harrison McKinley Kaiser, 45, for- mer Navy Yard machinid will in the electric chair on April 26 for the murder of James F. Morgan, whom he shot to death September 29, 1932, Kaiser was sentenced yesterday afternoon in District Supreme Court by Justice James M. Proctor, before whom he was convicted a week ago. “I have nothing to say,” Kaiser answered quietly when the court asked if he wished to make a state- ment before the sentence was passed. Kaiser shot Morgan, an official of his union, whom he blamed for his dismissal at the yard. He fled, but ‘was recaptured in West Virginia. The shooting took place in front of Mor- &A0's homs &t 3425 Jocelyn siveet., in the Farmers’ Market in Southwest erection of modern market she!ben‘pnm-mm. District corpor: sioners, was served yesterday on 30 | the public buildings. Some 200,000 cubic yards of earth will be excavated when the new work {1s Initiated and of this 65,000 cubic yards are needed for the flood-control program. The balance would be used in the George Washington Memoria! |Farkway, near Columbia Island, be- |tween the Key and Arlington Me- | morial Bridges, if park officials secure the earth. Planning Board Approves. The National Capital Park and Planning Commission has already ap- | proved plans for :he flood-control measure submitted by C. Marshall Finnan, superintendent of the Na- tional Capital Parks. Under this ‘program a permanent dyke, a maxi- mum of 31 feet high, would be con- structed in the rear of the Navy and | Munitions Buildings. The elevation of the Washington Monument grounds near Constitution avenue would be raised 6 feet and there would be no formal dyke there. Park officials consider this as an important under- taking, as in the event of a seriousr flood, these measures are calculated to save the Government buildings from flooding—particularly the new Department of Commerce, Labor De- partment, Government Auditorium Interstate Commerce Commission and Bureau of Internal Revenue. The Treasury Department proposes to call for bids about May 1, under tentative plans, but at least 30 days will have to elapse’ before prospective contractors’ offers are opened. This means it will be June or July before the steam shovels actually start “to work. Considering the comparatively short distance from Eighteenth and E streets to the rear of the Navy and Munitions Buildings and the Washing- ton Monument grounds, park officials believe this is a golden opportunity to get the excavated earth for the flood control system at minimum cost. Dyke Is Turned Down. Instead of building a dyke across Seventeenth street eastward from the Tear of the Navy Building, sandbags would be placed in the highway, in the event of a serious flood. The National Capital Park and Planning Commission turned down a proposal submitted by the United States Engineer Office here to have a dyke about 9 feet high in the line of Independence avenue, fearing that this would throw out of all propor- tion the features of Potomac Park. Mr. Finnan's plan was adopted to have a practically unobtrusive dyke at the rear of the Navy and Muni- tions Buildings, with the raising of the level of the Washington Monu- ment Grounds, little altering their character. PRETTYMAN VISITS BALTIMORE COURTS | Studies District Police System With View of Establishing Them Here., | Special Dispatch to The Star. BALTIMORE, February 28—With | the idea of establishing a system of | district Police Courts in Washington | similar to those here, E. Barrett ation coun- i sel, and Williem F. Seals, secretary to | & special committee of the House | making a study of crime, visited | Police Commissioner Charles D, | Gaither here today. Prettyman and Seals also spent lmm’ time with Magistrate James R, Cadden of the Central Police Court, end sat in on hearings of cases in |the Traffic Court, where Magistrate John A. Meyer was presiding. In Washington, it was explained, there ;s no separate court for traffic cases. | Commissioner Gaither and his sec- ! retary, George Brennan, explained the <Dlsmcc Police *Court system to the | two visitors, and Magistrates Meyer and Cadden also outlined the meth- ods employed in their courts. The Washingtonians arrived too late to witness a morning session of the Cen- tral Police Court, but they were able to see Magistrate Meyer dispose of | & number of traffic violation charges. PEACE GROUP NAMED Jewish Juniors Appoint Miss Adele Ritzenberg Chairman. A committee to carry on a “peace movement” was appointed at a meet- ing of the Council of Jewish Juniors die | last night at the Washington Hotel. Miss Adele Ritzenberg was named chairman It was announced that the Balti- more-Washington Council meeting will be held March 31 at the Wash- ington Hotel. The next meeting of the lo¢al council will be held Thurs- day night. Ladies’ Aid to Give Supper. SANDY SPRING, Md., February 28 (Special).—The Ladies’ Aid Society of Ashton Church will give an oyster and chicken salad supper in the Sandy Spring Fire House tomorrow from & 1o 8 pam, 4