Evening Star Newspaper, March 6, 1935, Page 19

Washington News WOMAN INDICTED IN AUTO DEATH, 8 ON GAME CHARGE Driver Faces Manslaughter Count on Failure to Halt in Mishap. GAMBLING TRUE BILLS ARE BASED ON 2 RAIDS Man Also Accused of Murder and 10 of Violation of Liquor Tax Act. A woman was indicted on & man- slaughter charge in an automobile death and eight men on gambling counts in a list of 45 true bills re- turned by a grand jury in District Supreme Court today. The jurors ignored charges in 14 cases. ‘The woman is Miss Mary K. Mere- dith, 28, of the 800 block of Varnum street, accused as the driver of a car which fatally injured Frederick Treudley, 81-year-old ecucator®of 820 Connecticut avenue on the night of February 20. He died the next day. Accused of Not Stopping. Evidence presented to the jurors in support of the indictment was that Miss Meredith did not stop after Treudley was struck, at Pennsylvania avenue and Thirteen-and-a-half street. She was apprehended shortly after- ward at Fourteenth and G streets. The gaming indictments were the result of two raids. In one, in the 1100 block of Fourteenth street, where the Kayeucka Athletic Club was en- tered February 14, the vice squad held six men after reporting the seiz- ure of gambling equipment and $230 in cash. Those accused here are Howard Benjamin Hill, 35, of the 1600 block of Harvard street; Henry Edwin Sykes, 49, of the 1400 block of Co- lumbia road; Adolph Olewack, 28, of the 300 block of Sixth street south- east; Morris Ewalt (Dutch) Irwin, 58, of the 1600 block of Allison street: ‘Warren Washburn Davis, 31, of the 1000 block of Sixth street northeast, and Edward J. Gibson. Brothers Taken in Raid. In the other the men accused are Michael Sesso, 28, and Anthony Sesso, 26, brothers, taken in a raid on a barber shop basement in the 1100 block of Eighth street sousheast, which was led by Capt. J. C. Morgan of the fifth precinct February 19. This place is near the Navy Yard, and reputedly was the scene of numbers game operations. The jury returned a first-degree murder indictment against Albert Preston. 38, colored, of the 2200 block of Eighth street, accused of shooting to death Clarence Yancey, 29, colored, 2000 block of Sherman avenue. The shooting took place February 2 and the victim died the next day. Ten indictments were returned for alleged violation of the liquor taxing act. Among the charges ignored was one of false pretenses against Charles Ris- ton Schroth alias C. Riston Schroth. List of Indictments. ‘The indictments included: Leon Shore, non-support; Oscar Dukes, George §. Walker and James Powell, joy-riding; Clinton Oswald ‘Toliver, Lilly Miller and Phillip Santa- gata (alias Phillip Sande), grand lar- ceny; James Jumper Joseph J, Luizzi and Swanson Gunter, housebreaking and larceny; Rudolph Robinson, house- breaking and housebreaking and lar- ceny; John G. Foster, John W. Gardner (alias John W. Daugherty), Joseph Brooks, Carroll Hughes and Daniel Wood, housebreaking and lar- ceny; Norman Carroll, housebreaking and larceny from the District of Co- umbia; Robert Smith (alias Harry rner Smith), housebreaking and larceny; Robert Smith (alias Harry T. Smith), assault with dangerous weapon and assault with intent to commit robbery; Steve Swift, Gussie Beasley and William Washington, assault with dangerous weapon. Alfonzo Simpkins, assault with in- tent to kill and assault with dangerous ‘weapon; Richard Burris, assault with ntent to commit rape; Thomas Fields, Sinclair Mitchell, Robert Dixon (two counts), John P. Wood, James B. ‘Owens, George D. Hobson and Leon- ard S. Brooks, robbery; Pritchard L. Reeves (alias Pritchard L. Reaves), robbery and assault with dangerous weapon. Liquor Act Defendants. Theodore Dorsey (alias E. W. Dor- sey), Charles Scott. Bernice Williams, James Smith, William D. Lindsay, Cecil Robinson, Richard T. Carter, Creed J. Caldwell, Raymond Digas, William Parker and Wililam H. An- derson, violation of liquor taxing act of 1934, : Cases ignored included: Paul E. Washington, joy-riding; Gaston Battle, housebreaking and lar- ceny; Rufus Jones, housebreaking; Gertrude E. Selby, assault with dan- gerous weapon; David T. Long, house- breaking and larceny; George De- vinon, Andrew Jackson, John Holly and Izell Banks, assault with dan- gerous weapon; Edward Cunningham, Daniel Brown and John Robinson, vio- lation of liquor taving act of 1934, and Elsie Bush (alias Mrs. Steven Bule- bosh), larceny after trust. - NUN WHO HEADED TRINITY COLLEGE DIES Sister Julia of the Passion, Supe- rior of California Province, Here From 1807 to 1911. Sister Julia of the Passion, superior of the province of California, and president of Trinity College here from 1907 to 1911, died yesterday at Santa Clara Convert in San Jose, Calif. Born in Worcester, Mass., in 1865, as Anna M. Overend, Sister Julia en- tered the novitiate of Notre Dame in Massachusetts in 1880. She began as a teacher in the Notre Dame School there, later occupying the position of superior in various cities in Massa- chusetts and Ohio. Funeral services wilk\be held Frid | District’s Safety Causes Concern to he b WASHINGTON, D. C, Bill Delay fficials Measure to Rid Washington of Irre- sponsible Drivers Again Up for Discussion on Capitol Hill. How long will delay continue to balk the District’s “public safety bill No. 1” for the elimination of irre- sponsible drivers from the accident- ridden streets of Washington? District officials, alarmed by a mounting traffic death rate, asked themselves this question today as the six-year-old safety measure again came up for discussion on Capitol Hill Last year the bill passed the House and died in the Senate. This year it passed the Senate and seems destined for delay in the House. The bill has passed one legislative branch or the other at almost every session for at least half a dozen years. Provisions of Bill. It provides that drivers who default lnn their legal liability in accidents be deprived of their permits, along with drunken or hit-and-run motorists who are unable to post surety against fu- ture responsibility. Only drunken, defaulting or other wise irresponsible drivers would be af- fected by the measure, which never- theless has encountered considerable j opposition from a minority group of | to a| taxicab operators, according statement today from the American Automobile Association. . District officials this year did not include a recommendation‘for com- pulsory liability insurance for taxi- cab operators in their legislative pro- gram, since the measure was defeated in open session last year. This year's safety measure is aimed at irre- sponsibles among taxicab drivers and motorists alike. Among the strongest advocates of the bill are Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen and Corporation Counsel E. Barrett Prettyman. Hazen Cites Conditions. Commissioner Hazen pointed out to the Senate District Committee, which approved the bill, that “the serious traffic condition existing in the District is well known. The num- ber of fatalities and the number of accidents are a matter of grave con- | cern. “Thus far financial responsibility laws have been adopted in 21 States iand six provinces of Canada. It is generally agreed among traffic au- thorities that the vast majority of accidents are caused by & very small proportion of drivers. “The Commissioners respectfully urge the passage of this bill.” Prettyman said yesterday that the traffic situati in the District has become eve :h critical. “Every one is agree "least one point,” Prettyman said. “that something must be done, and that as soon as possible. “The Police Department and the Washington Board of Trade inaugu- rated a traffic safety educational cam- paign. A police car equipped with a loudspeaker argued safety while cruis- ing the streets and a secret citizen committee of traffic spotters was ap- pointed. “This campaign Wwas vigorously pressed, and no doubt prevented some accidents. But the vast majority of the type of motorists who cause acci- dents remained unimpressed. The death toll continued to mount. Massachusetts Situation. “In Massachusetts the only State law for compulsory liability insurance is in effect. Years of operation have proved that it is unsatisfactory in that it encourages carelessness on the part of those motorists who feel that re- sponsibility for the life and limb of others on the highway is vested in an insurance company rather than in themselves. The accident rate there has not declined, and there is consid- erable opposition to the law. “The safety bill which the District propases is aimed wholly at the little group of wild drivers who are respon- sible for the bulk of the accidents. It would remove from the streets only those drivers who have proven their irresponsibility.” On the other hand, the bill is op- posed by several groups of taxicab op- erators, including the City Cab Asso- ciation. Earl Klein, manager, and Arthur S. Harder, a member of the assooiation, declared they objected to the measure because it required re- sponsibility after and not before an accident. Amendment Suggested. Klein and Harder suggested an amendment requiring insurance of taxicab operators but not affecting the operators of other vehicles. They con- tended that under the new bill the whole responsibility for an accident, in which an “irresponsible” driver is involved, would be thrown upon the owner of the cab should the driver de- cide to quit his job. Klein and Harder declared the pres- ent bill will create unemployment in the business and ultimately make it possible for the large companies to monopolize the field. In the A. A. A. statement, Ernest N. Smith, executive vice president, said: “‘Opposition to the safety-responsi- bility measure comes from only a small minority of taxicab operators—many of the larger companies have expressed approval of the bill in preference to any other form of legislation. “The selfish purposes that actuate opposition to the pending measure by a minority of taxi operators become arrantly mischievous when they inter- fere with passage of a measure so urgently needed to aid in correcting the traffic ills of the National Capital. “Entirely aside from the merits or demerits of compulsory cab insurance, it should be recognized once and for all that this problem should not be allowed to confuse or hamper the prin- cipal issues of safety responsibility. Any measures providing special treat- ment for taxicabs should be given separate consideration and should be contained in a separate bill. Aware of Special Interest. “Fortunately, sponsors of the safety-responsibility measure in Con- gress are aware of the special interest that_has given rise to most of the i g o Sl o i bili f#lairos of this n}:’mlty no more weight than is due - them. “The District of Columbia safety- responsibility bill, with only a few minor changes to provide for local conditions, follows exactly the model bill which was drawn up in 1928 by a committee of the A. A. A, and which has been adopted in whole or in part in 21 States. The District of Colum- bia measure has the united backing of the District government, of or- ganized motordom and of all those interested in traffic safety for the Na- tion’s Capital. Its principles have been approved by President Roosevelt i;\ his plea for uniform motor legisla- ton. “With all these forces pressing for early passage of the safety-responsi- bility bill, it is unbelievable that a fractional group of taxi operators, for reasons which they know best, can any longer be successful in retarding favorable action on this all-important measure.” D. C. Firm Indicted For Underselling Gasoline Code Rate Accused of Asking 3V Cents Per Gallon Less Than Regular Price. Alleged to have sold gasoline at 312 cents per gallon less than the oil code price plus the tax, the Amato Coal Co., Inc., 1218 Fourth street, to- day was indicted under the national recovery act, by a grand jury in Dis- trict Supreme Court. An oil code in- dictment also was returned against the Esseno Auto Supply Co., Inc., 801 H street. According to the evidence laid be- fore the grand jury, the Amato com- pany, on February 8, sold gas to one purchaser for 11 cents a gallon, when the price should have been 117z cents plus 3 cents tax. On three occasions in July, August and October, purchases of oil were said to have been made from Esseno at 5 cents per gallon under the code price, 20 and 30 cents having re- putedly been charged when properly th> rate would have been 25 and 35 cents. D. C. JOB INSURANCE HEARINGS TO RESUME District Commissioners’ Office and Welfare Director Expected to Be Heard. Expecting testimony from the office of the District Commissioners and from Director of Public Welfare El- wood Street, the subcommittee con- sidering the Ellenbogen unemploy- ment insurance bill for the District will resume hearings tomorrow at 9:30 am. Other witnesses also are expected, some in favor and some opposed to the measure. After hearing favorable comment yesterday from several, including Sec- retary of Labor Perkins and Dr. Edwin E. Witte, executive director of the President’s Social Security Commit- tee, the hearings for the day were concluded with Representative -Ellen- bogen's admission that new taxes may be necessary to enable the District to make its contribution to the insur- ance pool. The bill provides for pay- ment by the District government of 1 per cent of total private pay l'qll each year. AUTOBILL ACTION ON MONDAY SEEN Mrs. Norton Predicts Pass- age in House of Respon- sibility Act. Passage by the House Monday of & bill providing for the financial re- sponsibility of owners and operators of motor vehicles was predicted today by Chairman Norton of the House District Committee. Mrs. Norton pointed out that Mon- day is District day in the House, and the financial responsibility measure has a preferred status on the cal- endar “The automobile financial responsi- bility bill passed the House in the last Congress,” Mrs. Norton. declared, “and I believe it will be passed again.” The Senate already has passed the measure. Pension Bill Delayed. Mrs. Norton made her prediction after the close of the regular weekly meeting of her committee. At the same time, she expressed keen dis- appointment over failure of the Sub- committee on Health, Hospitals and Charities to make a favorable report on her old-age pension bill. She was particularly anxious to have that bill placed on the House calendar in time for consideration Monday. The Subcommittee on Health, Hos- pitals and Charities, headed by Rep- resentative Virginia Jenckes, Demo- crat, of Indiana, decided yesterday tb delay its report on the old-age pen- sion bill until Congress had disposed of the Wagner-Lewis social security measure and the bill providing a pen- sion for the District’s needy blind. Mrs. Jenckes said the subcommittee feared some provisions of the Norton bill might be in conflict with the pro- posed social security legislation and its passage might be jeopardized by hasty action. Mrs. Norton, however, declared amendments had been made to her bill to preclude any conflict with other similar legislation and she believed it would receive favorable House action. Two Measures Reported. The District Committee ordered favorable reports on two minor bills— one providing for demolition of con- demned buildings which can not be Tepaired at 50 per cent of reproduc- tion costs, and the other, giving the Commissioners authority to order the Temoval of dangerous wfl&n and ‘WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION IN CRIME INQUIRY House Committee Resumes D. C. Probe at 1:30 P.M. Tomorrow. KELLY LIKELY TO LEAD PROCESSION TO STAND Inspector Stott Is Subjected to Close Questioning on Trial Board Procedure. With the spotlight of investigation again turred on the Metropolitan Po- lice Department, the Special Crime Committee of the House planned to- day to call the first of a group of precinct captains. ‘The hearings will be resuined tomor- row at 1:30 pm, but the committee has not yet definitely decided which of the precinct commanders will be placed on the witness stand. It is believed, however, that Capt. Edward J. Kelly of the third precinct will be among the first. Conferred With Fitzpatrick. Capt. Kelly is one of the officers John R. Fitzpatrick, committee coun- sel. has conferred with in private, laying the foundation for the precinct investigation. He also has held a private conferente with Capt. Rhoda Milliken, head of the department’s ‘Woman's Bureau. ‘The only witness before the commit- tee yesterday afternoon was Inspector William G. Stott, property officer of the department and chairman of the Police Trial Board. He was questioned chiefly about Trial Board procedure. Stott disclosed that in 20 cases han- dled by the board in the last year a mandatory penalty of dismissal had not been carried out. In 15 of these the Commisisoners set aside the Trial Board's recommendations and sof- tened the penalty to fines, while the board itself showed similar leniency in the remaining five. Day Case Is Cited. A ripple of laughter greeted Stott's revelation that one officer, James P. Day, had been convicted three times | on charges of intoxication off duty and is still a member of the force due to the intervention of the Com- missioners. Stott said the béard felt Dgy was “impossible” as “® police officer. The officer recently was shot by his wife and still is in Sibley Hospitai. Although the penalty for intoxica- tion is dismissal, Day on the first con- viction was fined $25 and repri- manded, Stott said. For the second offense his removal from the force was ordered, but the Commissioners set aside the verdict and fined him $200. The Trial Board in the third instance, according to Stott, again di- rected Day's removal, but the Com- missioners ordered his restoration to duty. Representative Schulte, Democrat, of Indiana, asked Stott if the Com- missioners had ever sustained the Trial Board’s findings. “Yes,” he replied, ‘4f we ever made a recommendation for leniency.” Later, however, Stott explained he did not mean his answer that way and pointed out that the Commis- sioners had “never found fault with the Trial Board.” Explains Provisions of Manual. Stott exvlained that the provision in the police manual calling for man- datory dismissal upon conviction on a charge of intoxication was inserted during the prohibition era and he be- lieved it should now be modified. There are particular cases involving mitigating circumstances, he said, where dismissals should not be re- quired. Stott also voiced his objection to legislation designed to substitute a civilian trial board for the present board of police officials. “No one,” he declared, “is better fitted to judge the actions of the police than the officers who have gone through the various grades. The only point to a civilian board is that favoritism might be removed.” Schulte asked Inspector Stott why an efficient officer like himself had been placed in charge of the Police Department’s property office instead of being assigned to more important work. He replied he had not asked for the position. Schulte also inquired whether a civilian could not handle the position of property officer and Stott said he did not think so. Stott also was questioned about two bills pending in the House, authoriz- ing restoration to the force of two former policemen, Clifford J. Gary and David R. Thompson. He declared the restoration of former officers prob- ably would have a bad effect on the morale of the department if they had been dismissed for a serious offense. Schulte and Representative Reed, Republican, of Illinois, introduced for the record a resolution from the Policemen’s Association opposing a civilian trial board as well as any change in the present civil service rating system for the promotion of officers. —e Egyptian Envoy to Speak. Nicholas Khalil Bey, charge d’affaires of the Egyptian Legation, will be the guest of the Civitan Club at the regu- lar evening meeting in the Hamilton Hotel at 8 pm. Tuesday. He will give an illustrated talk on Egypt. —_— excavations and assess the cost against the owners. Before the meeting, the committee received from the National Capital Park and P Commission a favorable report on -a bill authorizing the Commissioners to use P. W. A, loans for the construction of the long- proposed Municipal Center Court Building. The commission said 1t considered this proposed legislation meritorious. ' Another report was received from the Commissioners opposing a bill to exempt from taxation property in the District of the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War. The Com- missioners told the committee there is already $109,000 of tax-exempt prop- erty of that character inthe District mddbecluu of the: presént nmau:: situation they could not W bill, WEDNESDAY, POLICE CAPTANS - ACTIN PROMISED | TOBE SUNMONED | WITHIN WEEK ON GRAVELLY POINT Randolph’s Subcommittee to Make Recommendations by Next Wednesday. 9 YEARS OF TESTIMONY REVIEWED IN SESSION[ Closing ‘of Military Road Expect- ed to Be One Point in Report to District Committee. Definite action on the nine-year-old ! District airport question will be taken | prior’to next Wednesday's meeting of the House District Committee, it was announced today by Representative | Jennings Randolph of West Vlrgimli after an executive meeting of his sub- committee which for several weeks has | been at work on the Smith Gravelly | Point airport bill. “I cannot say yet what our report will be,” Randolph said, “but I can promise that we will act. This airport matter has dragged too long and it is the unanimous opinion of members of the subcommittee that it must be solved as soon as possible.” The subcommittee at today’s session went into the voluminous testimony it has gathered this year and which was I gathered by other congressional bodies over a period of nearly a decade. Expected to Close Road. It is believed that whatever other action the subcommittee may take it will reccommend the immediate closing of Military road to eliminate the seri- ous hazards existing to both airplane and automobile traffic at Washington Airport. Chairman Randolph said it is the purpose of the subcommittee to submit its legislative recommendations in time for consideration by the full District Committee at next week's regular ses- sion. Another meeting of the sub- committee is to be held, probably Monday or Tuesday morning, at which final action will be taken. The West Virginian said the in- adequacy of the present Washington Airport was forcibly impressed upon him Monday when he flew from the local airport to Elkins, W. Va.. to participate in the inauguration of a | new municipal airport thete and the opening of air transport service be- tween Elkins and Washington. Elkins Airport Better. “Up there in the mountains,” he said, “the public-spirited citizens of Elkins have constructed a splendid airport, a better airport by far than ‘we possess in the Nation’s Capital.” Mountaineers drove to Elkins from 25 and 30 miles away to attend the airport opening and watch the first air transport arrivals and departures, Randolph said. “When those people appreciate the importance of air transportation suffi- I f l like that at Elkins and to gather from beginning of operations,” Randolph said, “it is evidence of interest in air transportation on the part of the people of the United States sufficient to justify action toward establishment of a safe, adequate airport for Wash- o MURDER CHARGED TO RAILWAY CHEF Seaboard Air Line Employe Held After Fatal Cutting of Former Friend. MARCH 6, ciently to build a mountain airport | miles around as they did to watch the | David Meadows, 35, colored chef for the Seaboard Air Line, is being held at the second precinct police station on a murder charge, outgrowth of a cutting affray early today. Meadows is charged with having slashed an artery in the leg of Alfred Jordan, 27, also colored, who died later in Freedmen’s Hospital. ‘When arrested by Lieut. C. J. Weber, the chef readily admitting stabbing his erstwhile friend. A carving knife which figured in the affray was sur- rendered to police. Meadows, according to a story told the police, resided in the home of Jordon’s mother. The two men are said to have quarreled over a family affair. It is claimed that Jordan knocked Meadows down last night after the argument near Florida ave- nue and R street. Incensed, Meadows is said to have gone home and secured the knife which figured in the killing. Two women are reported by police to have witnessed the slaying. They are Juanita Jordon, sister of the deceased, and Ethel Tucker, who resides at the Jordon home. FINGERPRlN'I.'S INCREASE Nearly 3,000 Records Here Dalily. Fingerprint records are being re- ceived at the rate of nearly 3,000 a day by the Division of Identification, Bureau of Investigation, of the De- partment of Justice, said L. C. Schil- der, head of the division, in an ad- dress at the regular luncheon meet- ing of the Civitan Club yesterday. Schilden said the system now has records of nearly 5,000,000 persons, so indexed that any card can be located in from fhree to five minutes. Seven thousands points have been estab- lished for the recording of informa- tion for the division's files, he said. SIGNS BRING ARREST Bay State Motorist Arrested Here for Car Placards: Thomas T. Connoly, 46, of Arling- ton, Mass., is being held for investi- gation today after his arrest last eve- ning at Seventh and H streets, where attention was attracted by numerous signs attached to his automobile. The placards assailed members of Con- and Government officials. He told police he had been em-< ployed as a machinist m‘the Boston Navy Yard at one time. Arrive ening St 1935. *¥% PAGF B—1 Maj. B. S. Somerville of the Army Engineer Corps and Engineer Com- missioner Dan I. Sultan shown toda; Committee hearing on the Washington water front. y at the House Rivers and Harbors —=Star Staff Photo. SOUTHEAST PLANS FIGHT FOR TREES Ridge Road Hollies Only Re- | maining Esthetic Asset, Congress to Be Told. Unsuccessful in their protests to | National Capital Parks officials to | save what they term “the only re- | maining esthetic assets in Southeast Washington,” irate Southeast citizens | today were making plans to appear be- | fore Congress to protest the remo\'a]; of half a dozen fully grown holly trees from Ridge road southeast. The trees, which are located on & property formerly known as 109 Ridge’ road southeast, recently were ordered transplanted to Rock Creek Park. Three or four already nave been ex- cavated and are ready to be moved, according to Adelbert W. Lee, presi- dent of the Randle Highlands Citi- zens' Association, who was the. first to note the “abduction.” For “Better Protection.” The reasons for the removal, the citizens were told when they pro- tested to park officials. were that the trees would receive better police pro- tection in Rock Creek Park and that they would be better appreciated be- cause of the thousands of people who | Hula Dance Barred As Entertainment In House Building By the Associated Press. Hawaiian hula dancing is barred by Speaker Byrns as a form of entertainment in the House Office Building. For a celebration “Hawaiian night” by the Little Congress (a group of congressional secre- taries) Delegate S. W. King of Hawaii arranged last night for Miss Libana Furtado, a Hawaiian graduate student of Columbia University, to interpret the hula dance of those islands, accom- panied by a Hawaiian orchestra. At the last minute word came from the Speaker's office that Miss Furtado's act was out. The music was permitted, however, and King delivered an address on Hawaiian life and customs. CAPITAL OBSERVES BEGINNING OF LENT Episcopal and Catholic Churches Hold Ash Wed- nesday Services. All christendom today metaphori- cally donned sackcloth and ashes for pass through the park. “They are adding insult to injury,” Lee declared today, pointing out that the removal of the trees was ordered at a time when Southeast Washington is waging a vigorous fight for “our share of civic improvements.” “Of course, the trees now would be better appreciated in Rock Creek Park,” he said, “but if more money was spent to improve Southeast Wash- ington, more people would visit this section, too. As far as better police protection is concerned, I never saw any tree vandalism in the Southeast.” ‘Trouble Threatened. R. B. English, vice president of the Southeast Business Men's Association, another leader in the protest, declared: “This is going too far, and if we as citizens and taxpayérs have any legal rights left it's going to get somebody into trouble.” Lee said the removal order had come so suddenly the various civic organizations have not been able to register concerted protests. He as- serted, however, he is sure the pro- tests made by Southeast leaders will receive the full support of the civic groups, The citizens plan, at an early cate, to appear before congressional com- mittees in charge of appropriations for parks. ‘The holly trees are almost 50 years old and have grown to a height of 20 feet, the maximum growth for holly. | D. C. BILL HEARINGS TO START TUESDAY Senate Subcommittee Will Con- sider Changes Proposed by House. With a variety of proposed changes to be considered, the District sub- committee of the Senate Appropri- ations Committee will start hearings at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday morning on.the 1936 District appropriation bill. It passed the House more than a month ago, carrying a total of $39,308,000. Although the House bill represents | 40 days in observance of the beginning | of Lent, which will last until noon on | April 20, the day before Easter. | In Washington, as Ash Wednesday | dawned, the tolling of church bells | announced the advent of the period of | fasting and penitence as the faithful | were called to worship in all Catholic | and Episcopal churches of the city. ‘Washington Cathedral was the focal point of worship for persons of the Protestant faith, while Catholic ob- servance was held in all churches. Holy Communion Held. Observance of the season began at 7:30 a.m. at the Washington Cathedral with holy communion. This was fol- lowed by a service of morning prayer, penitential and litany in the great choir at 11 o'clock. At 4 o'clock the administered to a class of young men from the National Cathedral School for Boys. Following the confirmation, the Right Rev. Philip M. Rhinelander, former Bishop of Pennsylvania and warden of the College of Preachers, will give a lenten address. In the Catholic churches all over the city priests anointed the fore- heads of the faithful with palm leaves. The Right Rev. James E. Freeman, Bishop of Washington. who delivered the sermon at the Washington Cathe- | dral, said: “Lent comes to us this year at a time when its appeal is more urgent than in any recent period. The very fact that these days are so full of con- fusion, trial, widespread suffering and privation makes such a season in- tensely valuable and practically useful. Did it but afford us a brief space for more of quiet and reverent contem- plation for getting a clearer view of life's purpose and its real values, it would be amply compensating.” In Foreign Languages. Several services in foreign languages have been arranged in many of the churches in observance of the Lenten season. Services in French will be conduct- York avenue Presbyterian Church, be- ginning tomorrow. The services will be conducted by Rev. Andre Frank Liotard, assisted by Dr. Florian Vur- & net increase of about $1,215,000 over appropriations for the current year, the House held the Federal share of the new bill to the same lump-sum figure for the current year, $5,700,000. One of the questions to be con- sidered by the Senate subcommittee is whether to restore the estimate for character education work in the schools, left out by the House. ‘The Senate subcommittee also will find that the Highway and Water De- partment improvements in the House bill wil not utilize all the gas tax and water revenues, and, since these funds can be used only for highway and waterworks, balances would lie idle in these special tax funds. Oldest Inhabitants to Meet. ‘The Association of Oldest Inhabi- tants will meet tonight at its monthly session at the Old Union Engine House, The speaker will be Miss Louise Moore ofp the Washington Talking Book Cosimittee. pillot, honorary pastor of the French congregation. ‘The religious work department of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion has asked a group of men active in the Y. M. C. A. to join in a “fel- lowship of prayer” during the Lenten season, To members of this group were distributed copies of a pamphlet on “The Resources of Christian Liv- ing,” containing suggested prayers for each day of Lent, EHAPEL ORGAN STOLEN Thieves Take Instrument From Harmony Cemetery. ‘Thieves last night entered the Har+ mony Cemetery chapel, Rhode Island avenue and Ninth street, and took the church organ, it was reported today. Lewis Cornish, superintendent of the cemetery, told “police the mahogany organ, valued t $50, was missing when he came t% work this morning. sacrament of confirmation was to be | ed each Thursday from 4:45 to 5:30 | | p.m. in the Lincoln Chapel of the New 51,630,000 5 URGED 10 IMPROVE RIVER AND D. C. WHARVES Col. Sultan and Others Cite Needs Before House Committee. WATER FRONT IS HELD MOST UNSIGHTLY AREA Commercial Aspects of Project and Beauty Stressed at Hear- ing on Measure. Engineer Commissioner Sultan to- day declared before the House Rivers and Harbors Committee that “of ail the publicly-owned property in the City of Washington the water front is the most unsighty area.” Col. Sultan and a contingent of officials and citizens appeared before the committee asking for the ex- penditure of $1650,000 for the im- provement of Washington Harbor and deepening of Washington Channel. Led by former Representative John Small, a member of the Georgetown Citizens’ Association, an array of wit- nesses brought out the fact that Wash- ington at present has perhaps the dirtiest and most dilapidated water front on the American Continent— comparable to the slums ot Port Said. D. C. Would Contribute. Under the proposed legislation the District Government would pay ap- proximately 20 per cent of the cost of improving the water front; that is $389.000. Col. Sultan in kis testimony stated the sought-after improvements are strictly for beautification pur- poses. He said that its present condition mars the beauty of the park on the other side of the river. If the ap- propriation goes through. the District would continue to operzte the fish market and wharf and the police and harbor master facilities. Thomas S. Settle, secretary of the National Park and Plauning Com- mission, also made a plea for the beautification of the water front. Set- ; tle said it was time the Government i did something about the 3.000 acres { of water in Washington J:arbor, using | them for recreational fa:uities. Testimony by other witnesses | brought out the fact that Washington would be benefited commercially if the water front were improved. Officials | of the American Power Boat Associa- kuon stated that many more yachts and boats would come tq Washington ! if dockage were given tbem. Channel Need Explained. Maj. R. W. Crawford of the En- gineer Division. U. S. A.. was called to the stand and explained Washington needed a 24-foot channel The chan- nel, he said, is now 20 feet. He also recommended widening of Water street to 160 feet—and the removal of ; all shacks on the water front. He said that if proper wharfage was placed here, lumber from the West Coast could be shipped into Washington in great quantities. Maj. B. S. Somerville spoke for the office of the chief of Engineers, U. 8. Army. He said the presert project | has been under consideration for 10 years. “The chief finds it is a wortay project,” Maj. Somerville caid. He also stated the chief of Army En- gineers refused to make any estimate of how the financing of the project should be proportioned between the District and the Federal Government. Finnan Joins Request, C. Marshall Finnan, superintendent of the National Capital parks, made a »lea for the beautification of the wa- ter front and deepening of the river. Others who appeared today were J. A. Remon, secretary of the Presi- dent’s Cup Regatta Association; L. Gordon Leach, official timer for the regatta; J. S. Bardwell, F. W. Bush, i G. A. Clark, V. B. Connelly, Ed Costi- | gan, Charles E. St. John, Dr. Lyman D. Sexton of the ~American Power Boat Association, and Harry S. Wen- der, representing the Federation of Citizens' Associations. In another capacity, Wender rep- resented the Southwest Citizens' As- sociation. As one who knew the ter- ritory under discussion, he presented an emphatic plea for the improvement. —_— MILK BOARD PLAN DROPPED BY ALLEN ;Proposal Abandoned in Face of High Court Ruling—Prices Must Be Met. Because of a recent decision of the United States Supreme Court that milk is not a public utility, District Commissioner George E. Allen has abandoned the proposal to set up & Milk Control Board here. Allen first suggested making'milk a public utility when the Maryland- Virginia Milk Producers’ Association recently raised the price, which re- sulted in a 3-cent increase in the quotation on milk for families on re- lief. The Commissioner instructed the office of the corporation counsel to draft the necessary legislation to set up a control board, but Elwood Seal, assistant corporation counsel, who has made a study of the milk situation throughout the country, informed the Commissioner of the Supreme Court decision. Only in an emergency, he * said, could such control be estab- | lished, and the attorneys agreed that no such condition exists here at present. Allen also suggested a proposal to import milk from sheds beyond the jurfddiction of the District health offi- cer, but that plan also was found to be not practicable. As a consequence the District will be forced to meet the advanced price in purchases for needy families. K. of C. Official Honored. Walter I. Plant, District deputy of the Knights of Columbus, was pre- sented a leather armchair in recog- nition of his work as chairman of the Automobile Committee of the Knights of Columbus Kermess Committee at an informal dance and -saengerfest last night at the Knights of Colum- bus club hot