Evening Star Newspaper, March 30, 1935, Page 16

0.0 CANEREPORT 1S BEING DRAFTED FOR HOUSE ACTIO 20 Days Expected to See Completed Proposals for Legislation. WRITTEN STATEMENTS TO SUPPLEMENT DATA Hazen to Present Views in De- tail—Parole Board Hit by Last Witness. BY JAMES E. CHINN. With formal hearings completed, the Bpecial Crime Committee of the House turned its attention today to prepara- tion of & comprehensive report for the House. ‘Two months of investigation have produced a mass of information about conditions in Washington, and from this, the committee will draw its recommendations for improvements in the law enforcement and prosecution machinery. Special legislation will be required to carry out many of the proposed changes the committee plans to recommend. The report will be drafted by John R. Fitzpatrick, who has served as com- mittee counsel. He hopes to have it completed within 20 days. To Secure Statements. ‘The hearings were brought to an abrupt close late yesterday by dwin- | dling appropriations, but the com-| mittee plans to call on some of the witnesses it expected to hear for writ- ten recommendations. Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen, who testified twice during the investigation, also is to be asked to submit a written statement'| outlining his views on needed improve- ments. Among the final witnesses was Chief | Justice Alfred A. Wheat of the District Supreme Court, who recommended abolition of the District Parole Board and repeal of the indeterminate sen- tence law. Justice Wheat expressed the belief that the indeterminate sentence law should be replaced with the previous law which was similar to the Federal plan, and that all parole cases should be handled by the Federal Parole Board. The indeterminate sentence law with its minimum and maximum fea- ture, Justice Wheat testified, deprives judges of performing their proper duties. “We should allow the judge to give the sentence which he thinks is the proper one within the scope of the law,’ he declared. “The sys- tem in effect before was the proper one. A definite sentence was imposed and the prisoner then became subject to parole.” | Jury System Discussed. Justice Wheat also defended the District courts which were charged be- fore the committee with undue delay in the trial of criminal cases. “I don't want the impression to be at large,” he said, “that there has been a break- down in the trial of criminal cases. I think our position is as good as that of any criminal court of similar size in the country.” Questioned about the jury system, Justice Wheat declared he did not believe women should be forced to serve if they don’t care to be brought in contact with the “seamy” side of life. “I can't help thinking,” he de- clared, “that there’s superiority in a ‘woman.” Gus A. Schuldt, presiding judge of Police Court, followed Justice Wheat, and stressed the necessity of a new building for that court. He also op: posed the proposal for a magistrate court system to handle minor police and traffic violation cases. James M. Hepbron. managing direc- tor of the Baltimore Criminal Com- mission, representing 21 civic and business groups, described that or- ganization’s continuing record sys- tem for following felony cases from the time of indictment to final dispo- sition of the case. “If there are any shenanigans,” he said, “there is always an unoffi- cial body to check up on it. Our only weapon to correct the situation is public opinion.” “Flash Probes” Eliminated. Hepbron also said his organiza- tion had eliminated the so-called “flash in the pan” investigations of police departments, which result only “in a few heads being chopped off.” As the hearings drew to a close Chairman Randolph issued a state- ment expressing his gratitude to offi- cials, residents and newspapers for their co-operation. It follows: “The hearing -this afternoon con- cludes the formal hearings of the spe- cial committee investigating crime conditions in the District of Columbia. The committee will now proceed with the task of carefully efamining all of the evidence, testimony, the ideas and recommendations which it has gathered during its two months of in- | Vestigation. It is the purpose of the committee to complete its study of the | evidence and other material and draft | its' report for submission to Congress At the earliest possible date. “It seems appropriate at this time to express the gratitude of the com-- mittee for the spendid co-operation it has received from officials, citizens &and the newspapers of the. District of Columbia. The assistance thus ren- dered has in effect been a valuable contribution to the well-being of the Capital of the Nation.” Frank T. English, clerk of the Jury Commission, who took the stand after Randolph’s ~ announcement, recom- mended several improvements, one of which he said, should vest in the commission authority to summon pro- spective jurors for a preliminary ex- amination to weed out the undesir- ables and those legally qualified, He also suggested that the commis- sion be reduced from three part-time officers to one full-time officer. This one commissioner, he said, should be responsible for interviewing the pro- spective jurors and drawing the names from the jury box. Among the other recommendations of English were these: Two jury boxes, one for civil and the other for criminal cases, and a in the age limit for jurors frém 21 to 65 to 25 to 70. CLUB TO MARK BIRTHDAY Dinner Tonight to Celebrate 16th Anniversary. The sixteenth anniversary of the Returns From Galapagos Isles Dr. Waldo M. Schmitt Ignorant of Incidents Involving Baroness. Visited Islands With V el- ero Il in Search of Specimens. Dr. Waldo M. Schmitt, biologist of the National Museum, has just re- turned to Washington from a voyage to the Galapagos Islands—scene of the sensational disappearance of the Baroness von Wagner and one of her male companions in the desolate “Eden,” which the Austrian noble- woman tried to establish there. Dr. Schmitt was a member of the party on the Velero IIT, yacht of Capt. G. Allan Hancock of San Diego, Calif. It was his second visit to the desolate Charles Island, or the first of which he made the acquaintance of the bar- oness and her two companions, as well as that of the two other tiny Euro- pean colonies who were seeking free- dom from the economic struggie of their home lands. These three colonies, on the first visit of the Velero III in 1932, were grouped about the only three springs on the island. The first consisted of a Dr. Karl Ritter, a Berlin physician, and a female companion. Dr. Ritter, who published a book in Germany on his experiences as a modern Rob- inson Crusoe, is since dead and his companion has been taken to Ecuador. The second colony was that of the baroness which consisted originally of four persons—herself, an Ecua- THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C. SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 1935. National Museum Biologist DR. WALDO M. SCHMITT. dorian student who was employed by her, and two male companions. The third colony was that of a respect- able German family named Wittmer, who are still there. Engaged in collecting biological specimens, Dr. Schmitt gathered no details of the strange incident which brought an end to the colony of the haroness, and he said today he was vnable to discuss this phase of the voyage. The affair still is under in- vestigation by the Ecuadorian gov- ernment. The desolate Galapagos Islands, Dr. Schmitt said, by no means are aban- doned territory since the Ecuadorean government maintains a governor and his staff on Chatham Island, the only one of the group with running water and a rich vegetation, SAFETY N TRAFFIC DRIVE IS PLANNED Educational Campaign to| Start April 12 and Last Until July 1. —_— An intensive educational campaign to impress on all Washington the | seriousness of the toll being taken | here in traffic accidents will be started April 12 under plans prepared by Commissioner Hazen. It is to con- tinue until July 1. Public schools, churches, civic and | | business groups, as well as public | | officials, have been asked to partici- | | pate in the program. Selected speak- ers will outline traffic matters before meetings of various bodies and there will be newspaper and radio publicity. | William A. Van Duzer, traffic direc- tor, was appointed general chairman of the campaign at an organization | meeting yesterday. Maj. Ernest W. Brown, superintendent of police, was named general vice chairman and Wallace B. Robinson, chairman of the Traffic Committee of the Board of Trade, secretary. Thirteen subcommittees were named to prepare various phases of the pro- gram. The chairmen will name mem- bers of their own groups. Elwood Street, public welfare direc- tor and Dr. W. Hayes Yeager were placed in charge of the Speakers’ Committee; Dr. Benjamin W. Meeks is chairman ana Dr. Allan A. Stock- dale and Rev. Edward P. McAdams vice chairman of the Committee on | Churches; Dr. Frank W. Ballou, su- | perintendent of schools, and Dr EI- | mer Newton, Committee on Public Schools; Rev. L. J. Sheehan, Com- | mittee on Parochial Schools; George | W. Offutt, chairman, and Mrs. Harvey W. Wiley, chairman in charge of civic organizations and clubs: Charles P. Clark, in charge of publicity; Sylvan King, in charge of radio participation; A, Julian Brylawski, in charge of mo- tion picture co-operation; Normal Kal, billboard and newspaper advertising; John Marshall, superintendent of in- surance, in charge of insurance groups; Richmond Kezch, in charge of utility concern co-operation; District Auditor Daniel J. Donovan, in charge of cam- paign finances, and George W. Beas- ley, vice ‘chairman, to represent the | Federation of Civic Associations. MASS SLATED AT 2 AM. Knights of Columbus and Their Guests Will Attend. The first 2 o'clock mass at the Church of the Immaculate Concep- tion, Eighth and N streets, tomorrow morning will be attended by members of the Knights of Columbus and their guests who tonight will be at the open house and bingo party at the club Louse. Members of the Curley Club have been invited to attend the open house and will also view “Old Heidelberg,” the new recreation room. HEALTH WILL BE TOPIC National Forum Program Tomorrow Afternoon. A national health day program will be presented by the Civic National Forum tomorrow at-4 pm. in the Odd Fellows' Hall, Ninth and T streets. Speakers will include Drs. Kath- leen Jones-King, Alma D. Johnson and Julia Doute Brown. Music will be furnished by Carlton Dorsey, ‘George Butcher and A. W. Cox. Dr. E. Otho Peters, jr., will be mas- ter of ceremonies. The public is in- Civic | be tried in the lower court and it was "NUMBERS” RAIDS CASES CONTINUED Evidence Against Eight Men [Way Be Presented to Grand Jury. The cases against eight men arrest- ed in a series of “numbers” raids by the police vice squad yesterday were continued in Police Court this morn- ing until April 15, so they may be presented to the grand jury, possibly avoided further action by the lower court. Some of the charges. however will indicated by defense counsel that jury trials would be demanded in these. The raids were the first numbers | forays for some time, members of the | squad having prepared their evidence through the purchase of numbers slips. Lunch Room Owner Held. In a raid on a lunch room in the | 400 block of C street, just around | the corner from police headquarters, | police arrested Bradley A. Burkhart, proprietor, shortly after Harry Abram- ovitz, 3500 block Thirteenth street, is alleged by police to have made a col- lection at the lunch room. Abram- ovitz was arrested in his automobile two blocks away. Police say marked money and siips were found on each man. They were charged with oper- ating a lottery. A raid on the second floor of & building in the 1400 block of H street northeast resulted in the arrest of four men and the seizure of a quan- ity of alleged numbers slips and other paraphernalia. Howard R. Talbert, | living at the place where the raid | was conducted, and Herbert L. Hook, 1300 block of East Capitol street, were charged with setting up a gaming table and selling lottery tickets. Wil- | liam Herbert, 700 block Thirteenth street, and Leonard Johnson, 1600 block Kramer street, both colored, | were charged with selling lottery tickets. | Two Seized in Automobile. ! ‘The other two men, Thomas A. Allen, 100 block Fourteenth street | southheast, and Charles L. Gear, Capitol Heights, Md., were arrested in an automobile in the 200 block | Pennsylvania avenue southeast. Each was charged with selling iottery tickets, Police said they recovered a quanity of slips, one of which was & bet made by a policeman, and also the marked money paid by the police- man. Sergt. George C. Deyoe, assistant chief of the vice squad, led the raids. U. S. TO PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATION PARLEY Accepts Czechoslovakia's Invita- tion to Send Delegates to Commercial Copgress. The United States Government has accepted an invitation extended . by Czechoslovakia to participate in the Sixth International Congress on Com- mercial Education to be held in Prague the first week in September. Dr. John W. Studebaker, U. S. Com- missioner of Education, in making the announcement, said an official dele- gation of prominent university and secondary school commercial educators and business men interested in com- merciai education would represent this country. Each delegate will pay his own ex- penses since no Federal funds have been appropriated for the trip. Thirty-three nations were repre- sented at the last commercial educa- vited. The fixing of traffic tickets would be frankly recognized and officially sanc- tioned—up to some certain, but as yet undesignated, limit—under a plan being developed by Commissioner Hazen. ‘While not yet committed on the point, he suggests selection of some one in authority as the official and re- sponsible ticket fixer. “I believe we are going to do it,” he said today. Hazen will confer with Corporation Counsel Prettyman and Police Supt. Brown on the matter. Hazen Considers Plan to Allow “Limited” Traffic Ticket Fixing Railroad Square Club will be observed| The Commissioner said he was this evening by a dinner at the-Ma- | startled at the revelation before the sonic Temple, Eighth and P streets | House Crime Committee that 4,427 northeast, at 6:30 p.m. traffic tickets had been fixed in the John Love Wilkes, president of the | nine-month period ending March 1. Jacksonville Terminal, and Orrie J.| Hazen said he knew tickets were Rider, general accountant of the Bal- | being fixed, but was surprised at the timore & Ohio Railroad, will be guests ©of honor. number. He declared he was in favor u.muwuwu-l tion congress, held in London in 1932. ing in minor cases, but does not want the system abused and will discuss that point with Prettyman and Brown. He insisted, however, he does not pro- pose to make any “investigation” du- plicating the work of the Crime Com- mittee. Hazen declared he was against fix- ing of tickets given to automobile owners who nersistently violate rules in parking their cars overtime in re- stricted zones. Any system of ticket flxll:( has its dangers of favoritism, he said. “If a vhysician, we will say, is on an emergency call and parks overtime for a short period in a restricted zone,” Hazen said, “I do not believe he should be penalized or made to waste time going to court, Or if some reputable citizen forgets to get his operator’s permit renewed 1n time, he should not be required to pay the fine. ButJ am against fixing of tickets in serious U. S EMPI.UYMENI BUNFEREES m Afl Presides at Class IN DISTRICT GAINS ON NON-RESIDENT 1,134 INFEBRUARY| ITEM IN AUTO BILL, Total Increase Over Coun- try Is 5,500—680,546 on Rolls. N.R.A.AND T. V. A. SHOW GREATEST ADDITIONS Sharp Drop in Permanent Force Disclosed in Post Office, With 508 Let Out. Federal personnel showed an in- | erease of more than 35,500, one-fifth of which was due to expansion of ac- tivities in the District, the personnel report for February issued today by the Civil Service Commission showed. Locally, the additions included 828 to the permanent or emergency force, which now totals 87,969, and 308 ‘o the temporary, which now is 7,584. This makes the aggregate employment in the District 95517. In the fleld the net gain in per- manent-emergency forces was 1427, for a total of 504456, and in tem- porary 2,988, for a total of 80,573. The fleld force totals 585,029 and the aggregate District-field, 680,546. Differences Arise Over Plan to Absolve Out-of-City Persons of Liability. SENATE PASSES FOUR .DISTRICT MEASURES Three Await White House Action and Fourth Is Sent to House. ‘The automobile safety responsibility bill was sent to conference by the Senate late yesterday, at the request of Chairman King of the District Committee, in hope of ironing out would deprive Washingtonians of the opportunity to collect damages from non-residents in accident cases. Senators King. of Utah, Copeland of New York and Capper of Kansas {were named Senate conferees. It is expected Chairman Norton of the House District Committee will head the House conferees, to be named early next week. | the change made by the House which | Pay Roll Up Again. Concurrently, the pay roll which in January had dropped about $3.000.000, to more than $97,000,000, again started upward, amounting in February to $08,217,485. Conference Deemed Importamt. The importance of sending the measure to conference for further dis- cussion of the non-resident question was emphasized yesterday when local > HARRY W. DOWLING, President of the Class of 1886 of the ol on O street, between Sixth and Seventh. will preside at the banquet to be given by the class at the Raleigh Hotel Banquet DECISION ON D. €. SUPPLY BILL DUE BY NEXT TUESDAY Subcommittee Ready to Act. Thomas Backs Tax Sys- tem Change. SAYS MEMBERS FAIL TO WEIGH ASSESSMENTS Change in Law Would Be Neces- sary to Reduce Value Estimates Under New Plan. The District Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee will meet Tuesday morning to take action on the various amendments for which civic groups have asked during nearly three weeks of hearings on the 1936 local supply bill. Senator Thomas, Democrat, of Ok- lahoma, who feels that Washington's tax burden is misunderstood by mem- bers of Congress and others who come here, beceuse of the exceptionally high basis of assessment which results in a low rate, is ready to work for a change in this system, but is inclined to be- lieve the proposal will have to be han- dled by the District Legislative Com- muttee, presided over by Senator King. Democrat, of Utah. The Oklahoman was gratified today | over the support given such a change | in the assessment and tax rate by civic | leaders, who appeared before the Ap- | propriations Subcommittee yesterday | to urge Congress to return to a more equitable apportionment of the cost of d Washington High School, formerly at 7 o'clock tonight. More than 60 The figures are for the executive branch of the Government only, ex- cluding legislative, judicial and armed forces. The largest gain in the permanent force here was at the N. R. A, which picked up 151. The Treasury was next with 103 and there were other lesser gains in more than a score of other establishments. At the same time, however, the tendency generally was to reduce the temporary forces. While there were a number of gains, such as Treasury, 325; Commerce, 140, and Agricultural Adjustment Administration, 102, there were a number of sizeable losses, in- cluding 145 at Interior, 82 at Agricul- ture, the same at the Government Printing Office and 70 at the War De- partment. T. V. A. Increases. In the field, the Tennessee Valley Authority had perhaps the largest permanent increase, with 390. The T. V. A. also added 772 temporary. Other large permanent increases were Interior, 273: War, 260; Treas- ury, 251; Interior, 228 for emergency conservation work: Panama Canal, 189: Home Owners' Loan, 186; Pub- lic Works, 137, and Housing Admin- istration, 102. There was a sharp slash in perma- nent employment at the Post Office, 508 workers being dropped, and Farm Service cut off 184. In temporary employment. the usual large shifts were shown in In- terior and War, where labor on engi- neering projects always fluctuates and the Labor Department showed a net loss of 1,033 of temporary. The report carries the notation that the War Finance Corp., a World War agency, no longer has any paid em- pioyes. PR PICTURES OF NAVY INACTION SHOWN Henry Roosevelt Says Sea Force Ready for War—Bigger Fleet Seen. A close-up of the American Navy | at work and at play was afforded in movies presented by Assistant Secre- tary Henry L. Roosevelt last night before the National Geographic So- ciety in Constitution Hall. “The Navy is always on a war foot- ing; that is, it does, in peace time, everything that it will do in war, ex- cept fight,” the Assistant Secretary told his hearers. Measures are being taken to replace units that are obsolete, Roosevelt said. He described the new construc- tion to bring the Navy up to London treaty strength. He epitomized Amer- ica’s need in the words: “Our re- quirement is a Navy second to none, and we are on our way.” Roosevelt also described the life of the average officer and enlisted man. Sports of all kinds have their de- votees in the Navy, he said, for the service sponsors base bal boxing, swimming, rowing, wrestling and other games, peculiar to naval men. A free-for-all boxing match on roller skates, with six men entering the ring and endeavoring to remain up- right long enough to trade blows, is one of the favorites on shipboard, he said. On the screen, the audience saw the operation of the Yangtze River patrol of the American Navy in China. On that assignment. The gunboats keep the great waterway free from the ravages of pirates as far as Chungching, 1400 miles inland from Shanghai. The Assistant Secretary told of the grand review of the fleet held last year off New York Harbor before President Roosevelt and Sec- retary Swanson. Dr. Gilbert Grosvenor, president of the National Geographic Society, in- troduced Roosevelt. NAVAL BUILDING URGED Admiral William H. Standley. chief of naval operations, speaking last night before the American Society of Naval Engineers, stressed the need of bringing the American Navy up to|Joh treaty strength “at the earliest prac- ticable date consistent with the time required to produce fighting units of the most modern and effective design that the combined engineerihg talent of this country can devise, and effec- tively maintaining it there.” The address was delivered at the Willard Hotel. CLASS REUNION HELD officials pointed out that 24 per cent of the accidents here last year in- volved out-of-town chines, includ- ing a considerable number from Maryland and Virginia. Both of those States, it was pointed out, have finan- cial responsibility laws with the non- resident clause included. | The Senate yesterday afternoon also | passed four bills, three of which have passed the House in the same form and are ready for White House action. These three are: Defining court procedure to con- serve and settle the estates of ab- sentees and absconders. Changing the name of Leffler place to Second place. Relating to the incorporation of Trinity College, giving it charter pro- | visions similar to those provided for other universities here in the past. Bar Bill Awaits Action. The fourth bill, which awaits House action, is the King measure to pro- hibit persons from engaging in the | general practice of law unless they | are members of the bar of District ; Supreme Court. Special provision is | made for persons engaged in special- ized practices before Federal agen- cies and commissions in Washington. The new small loans bill was post- | poned until a later date. ' | ADMIRAL ROBINSON TO BE TRANSFERRED Capt. Harold G. Bowen Will Be- come Bureau Chief With Rank Increase. Rear Admiral Samuel M. Robinson | will be detached as chief of the Bu- | reau of Engineering about May 29 to go on duty as inspector of naval ma. |teriel in the Schenectady, N. Y. | district and naval inspector of ma- | chinery at the General Electric Co., ithe Navy Department announced today. When the admiral’s term expires as chief of the bureau, he will be re- lieved by Capt. Harold G. Bowen, now assistant chief, who will attain the rank of rear admiral. field of marine engineering design and particularly in connection with the electric propulsion of ships. He contributed to this through many years in the design division of the Bureau of Engineering. Admiral Robinson has headed the Bureau of Engineering for the past four years and he makes his home here at 2859 Twenty-ninth street. Capt. Claud A. Jones will succeed Capt. Bowen as assistant chief of the Bureau of Engineering. He lives at 3104 Cathedral avenue and prior to coming on duty here was aide on the | Divisions, Battle Force. —— \DRIVER WHO HIT CHILD GIVEN 3 TO 15 MONTHS Alexandrian, Convicted by Jury, Was Accused of Being Drunk at Accident. Lester E. Athey, middle-aged Alex- andrian, convicted of manslaughter for killing a child with an automobile, was sentenced to serve from 3 to 15 months in jail by Justice James M. Proctor in District Supreme Court yesterday. Athey was accused of being under the influence of liquor when he struck Floyd, C. Jacksén, 12, on Bladensburg road on November 13. He was con- victed by a jury several weeks ago. The first day his case was called he was intoxicated and unable to appear, and the trial was held up 24 hours. S Births Reported. Rex and Frances Rof . girl. Bt P Redhose, i 5 n Kathryn Blair. boy. Chaffraix and Harriot Lé Long. sirl. James and Edith Yates. girl. George and Helen Haddock. girl. Teddy and Lillian ‘Ferguson. girl. Gharics dhd AT RIOGES, o1, sl argaret ne. boy. R ; Raloh 24 Dorot 5. girl. George and Nettie Williams, sirl. Jefery and Roberia, Neat girl " Frederick and Saran Cook, girl. Ceopes dnd Ellle, Cook: girl m Sames atid Beuiah Woodaed: af am. boy. Jonah and x Representative Kinzer of Lancaster, T Pa., and 18 fellow members of the 1891 graduating class of the Lan- caster Boys' High School, celebrated their forty-fourth annual reunion with a dinner last night at the Wash- ington Hotel. The dinner also marked Repre- sentative Kinzer’s 61st birthday anni- versary. Four members of the origi- nal class of 24 have died, and the others, with the exception of one who | g, was not able to attend, last night gh‘l‘r'l::nl.gufl’;be Parki bo: D va Parker. Harold and Minnis Felix and Saran Soner s 5 Samuel and Rhod Ravmond and Facine Wi Courie ano. Fanale-deninesbo nnie Jennings. boy. Leroy and Emima Stewart. boy. . Leroy and Louise Getzendannei. boy. otty and 'Virginia ~Becton. boy. £ nddlsuue Amfl boy, Admiral Robinson is eminent in the | staff of the commander, Battleship | membfrs of the class are expected to attend. —Star Staff Photo. Year-Old By the Associated Press | The mistress of the White House has no light housekeeping job, but Mre. | the trouble, she told a radio audience last night on her return from New York. Her task is complicated by a dou- ble system of bookkeeping, in which all personal food and laundry is | charged to the President’s personal . purse; all official food and laundry to | | the Government. Since she was shown through the | ‘White House by Mrs. Hoover before inauguration, Mrs. Roosevelt said she found out: About rats and mice— “In a building over 117 years old maintenance becomes a constantly in- creasing item. Strange though it may | seem, pipes will leak at frequent in- tervals, and rats and mice like old -buildings, regardless of tradition.” Painting Is Major Task. About repairs— “Practically every two years the White House has to be completely | painted, and this is no task to be | undertaken lightly, and is a tremen- | dous expense.” | “We found. to our horror. the first | year that we occupied the White | House, that the stone cornice was | loose all the way around, and for the Mrs. Roosevelt Tells of Trials | Of White House Housekeeping | 'Rats; Double-Bookkeeping System and ' Repairs Complicate Task at 117- Roosevelt finds it well worth | Mansion. | safety of those who might walk be- low, it was absolutely necessary that | it be repaired.” | | Al the little economies practiced in | any private home are practiced in the | White House—curtains are turned, rugs which are worn are sent to be | rewoven or mended and much darn- ing and general repair work goes on | in the sewing room on the third floor.” All Gifts “on Approval” About all gifts being “on approval,” | | Mrs. Roosevelt said: “Gifts are frequently sent to the White House, furniture or china or | hangings or rugs or paintings, and these are at once referred to the Commission of Fine Arts, for if they | are to be permanently placed in the White House they have to be ap- proved by the Commission of Fine Arts and accepted by an act of Con- gress. “Hams, game, fruit, etc., sent in as presents are all passed on, of course, by the Secret Service, and nothing is | allowed to come to the President’s | table which has not been carefully gone over.” Mrs. Roosevelt indicated it was all worth the trouble—*“there is a certain pride in doing it all in a manner which will conform with the dignity of traditions and at the same time preserve the simplicity which should | exist in a democracy. 'FORCE DISCHARGED BY LUMBER CODE | Authority “Folding Up Tent” Despite New Drive for Enforcement. By the Associated Press. | Despite a Presidentially-authorized | drive for N. R. A. enforcement, and in the face of official declarations that its code was still in effect, the Lumber Code Authority has discharged most Kcl its employes and apparently is de- termined to fold up its tent. Angered because the Justice De- partment dropped its appeal to the Supreme Court in the most promi- nent of lumber code violation -eases, David T. Mason, executive officer of the Lumber Code Authority, asserted “the withdrawal of the Blecher case, in effect, if not in fact” meant sus- pension of tfe code. Although N. R. A. officials declared to the contrary, the authority ap- peared determined to carry out recommendations that the lumber code be suspended. The discharge to employes was made effective April 15. ‘Peace offerings from N. R. A. in the form of promised amendments to the code failed to quiet the resent- ment over the Justice Department’s action. The general opinion at | authority headquarters was that the | Government has “washed its hands” of even attempting to enforce the code in its present form. | GIRL MARIN.ERS TO SAIL Scout Group to Go to Fort Wash- ington for Picnmic. The Girl Scout Mariners of Wash- ington, recently organized, will make a picnic trip to Fort Washington this afternoon in a Navy motor boat as- signed by the Washington Navy Yard. The party will be accompanied by Richard Miller and Robert Phafler, Sea Scouts, who have been acting as instructors in sea lore to the newly formed girls’ group. Deaths Reported. Georgia_V. Granger. 84 1438 Kennedy st Milard P. Donaldson, 84. st. George . Moore, 8 13th st. gfl“lmvy. B!nl"«h. —:1. 1; jer ;‘DSDD‘:IL Nlecolr'fl ovic, 71, St. Elizabeth Hospital. William ylor. 69. Sibley Hospital. Salomea Breitwieser, 68 702 Quincy st. Isaac Hamilton, 67, Soldiers’ Home Hos- ital, / Lula Lewis 68. Gallinger Hospital Boble G. Mandul. 47, 931z F st. s.w. Mary E. Brown. 40. Gallinger Hosital, Lillian Dock. 34, 1228 “3th st. Rudolph_Mco: TPreedmen’s Hospital. Albertg McCr Gallinger Hospital. Nellie Da 4th st. Génevieve Campbell. 24, Gallinger Hos- 'PATRICIA SIMPSON | GIVES TESTIMONY Well Treated by Mother and | Grandmother, She Tells Court. | By the Associated Press. TOPEKA, Kans, March 30.—Pa- tricia Gaylord Simpson, 8-year-old | pawn in a court hearing over her | custody, testified she received good | treatment both while with her mother | and maternal grandmother. | The grandmother, Mrs. Mary Ped- |roja, Buffalo, Kans.; the child’s | father, Dr. George Gaylord Simpson, New York naturalist, seek custody of {the child from her mother, Mrs. Lydia Simpson, on the ground the mother is not competent to care for her. school last month at Buffalo, where | she was living with Mrs. Pedroja, As the child witness stepped down from the stand yesterday she gave District Judge Otis Hungate a piece of candy. The judge placed it on his desk. He had stepped from the bench to watch Patricia testify and to test her competency as a witness. | Most of Patricia’s answers were | “yes” or “no.” ‘Rarely did she at- tempt to amplify her replies. “Who has made you mind at your grandmother’s?” she was asked. “Grandmother.” “Who has made you mind since you came to Topeka?” “Mother.” She answered in the negative to questions whether she had heard her grandmother or her mother swear. The hearing is expected to be con- cluded Monday. TENNIS GROUP PROTESTS The. mother took her from | maintaining the National Capital be- tween the Federal Government and local community. Copeland Seeks Data. Senators Copeland of New York and Tydings of Maryland joined Thomas yesterday in developing data from the District Commissioners on the subject. A change in law is nec- essary to carry out the plan, because Congress some years ago required the District to assess property at full value. With other cities throughout the country assessing at various per- centages less than true value, the tax rates are correspondingly higher. In Washington, with assessments up virtually to 100 per cent of true value. the rate is lower. Members of the Senate group point out that persons who hear of this rate, without giving due consideration to the high basis of assessment to which it is applied, get a wrong impression of Washing- ton's actual tax burden. They believe the proposed change would eliminate som~ of the difficulty of consider- ing what the Federal Government's share of National Capital expenses should be. Backs $8,317,000 Share. While Edward F. Colladay was pre- senting yesterday the appeal of the Citizens’ Joint Committee on Fiscal Relations Between the United States and the District of Columbia for an increase in the Federal share, he was asked what he thought would be a . fair lump-sum payment for next year. As the bill came from the House, it held the Federal lump sum down to this year’s figure of $5,700,000. Colla- day said he thought the recommenda- tion the Commissioners made last Summer for $8,317,000 wou'd be a fair compromise. This is approximately the average of the various lump sums that have been made since the lump-sum prac- tice began 10 years ago. The Citizens’ Committee called attention to the fact that the 60—40 substantive law of 1922 has never been repealed and urged a more equitable payment as long as an- nual lump-sum departures from the fixed ratio law are continued. Cab Petition Filed. Before closing the hearings yester- day the subcommittee received a peti- ticn from Carey E. Quinn, represent- ing the Cab Dnivers’ Protective Union, opposing the ijouse provision which seeks to prevent the Public Utilities Commission from taking steps toward installation of meters in cabs. It would prevent funds of the commission from being used for any purpose in connection with taxicabs, except to establish a uniform zone rate system. Quinn’s organization, which is affili- ated with organized labor, asked for some system with rates based on the cost of operation of cabs and a fair recompense Sor the drivers. The peti- tion stated that to leave the House provision in :he bili is to argue that there is no need for a utilities com- mission, or that it cannot be left to exercise its juties. — D. W. BELL’S FATHER EXPIRES SUDDENLY Was in Good Health Until Few Days Ago—Burial to Be in Illinois. Daniel Morgan Bell. fathér of | Daniel W. Bell, acting director of the Budget Bureau. died yesterday at the home of his son, 3322 Seventeenth street. Mr. Bell had resided here with his son for several years. He was in good health until a few days ago, when he suddenly became ill. The body left Washington today for Kinderhook, Ill., where burial will take place tomorrow afternoon. THREE PERSONS HURT IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS Women's League Asks Substitute Henry Park Facilities. Officers of the Women's Tennis League of the District and its 90 mem- bers are “extremely anxious” that the courts at Henry Park, slated to be abolished in the Mall development, “be preserved at least until substitute facilities have actually been com- pleted,” they announced today. Officials of the group pointed out that the league each year conducts several tournaments, at least one of which is usually played on the Henry Park Courts. They said, the league plays 90 matches a week, or more than 800 matches during the season, almost all of them on public courts. Pastor to Lecture. KENSINGTON. Md., March 30 (Special) —Rev. Allen Spurr of Los Angeles will give an illustrated lec- ture, “Around the World With Christ,” at the 8 o'clock services to- morrow night in the Kensington Bap- Lo Pedestrian Receives Fractured! Skull When He Walks Into Side of Moving Auto. H Three persons were injured, one’ seriously, in traffic accidents late yes- terday. E. Frank Toombs, 45, of 1110 Fifth street northeast, received a fractured skull and other injuries when he js; said to have walked into the side of ' & moving automobile operated by Lemine Knotts, 23, colored, 1846 Ken- ' yon street. The accident occurred’ at First and H streets northeast. ‘Toombs was taken to Sibley Hospifal. The others hurt were Henry J, Hor- ner, 49, of 1209 Fern street, who was treated at Emergency 1 for injuries to his face after he lost control of his car during a fainting spell in the 4500 block of Sixteenth street, and Mrs. Mary J. Hughes, 69, of 1631 S street, whose foot was in- jured when she was styuck by an automobile driven by Edwin K. Le-' fevre, Bethesds, Md, at. Vermont venue and K street, . \ .