Evening Star Newspaper, April 23, 1935, Page 21

Washington News SLUN AREA FEAR NODEL HOME RENT WL BE T00 HH Southwest Section Tenants Claim Project Mdy Make Them Homeless. 8 T0 10 IN FAMILIES NOW LIVING IN SHACKS CW: Expected to Range From $5 to $10 Per Room—Ickes Negotiates in Secret. BY NELSON M. SHEPARD. Property owners and residents of 2 small slum area in Southwest Wash- ington are torn between hope and despair by efforts of the Federal Gov- ernment to establish a model low- rent housing project in the area. This is the proposed settlement for 600 colored familles on which Secre- tary Ickes’ Housing Division is pre- pared to spend $2,487,000, at latest quoted figures, in erecting sanitary brick dwellings that would, cost pro- spective owners from $5 to $10 per room a month. Construction is con- tingent on the Government’s securing title to about five blocks of real estate in the vicinity of the Washing- ton Barracks. The proposed housing site is bounded on the north by M street, on the south by P street, east by Half street and on the west by a section of the old drainage canal ex- tending between First and Second streets. But it develops on inquiry that sev- eral hundred colored families now re- siding in dilapidated frame houses and shacks in this area would be un- able to pay even the moderate monthly rent the Government would demand for its model homes. Scores of them are now paying $15 & month or less, it was said, for homes accommodating eight or ten persons. Few Own Homes. For familles such as these, who comprise at least half of the com- munity, the proposed housing project would fail of its purpose unless they Tecelve substantial Federal aid. Few of them own their own homes, it was claimed, and all face the prospect of being ousted to seek shelter in other slum areas without assurances of bet- tering their condition. The section is preponderantly col- ored. Some of the mare favored could well afford to pay Government install- ments on three and four room family homes. Others obviously could not do it. There are some landlords, resident or absentee, it was said, who are puoyed by hopes that they can squeeze a fancy price from the Government for their holdings. If they do entertain this hope they reckon without ap- parent knowledge of how Secretary Ickes operates. P. W. A. officials say he would drop negotiations for this Southwest Washington site like a hot coal if he finds land values too high o build and operate a housing project at a moderate cost. The problem that confronts the Housing Division in the Southwest area is comparable to the same diffi- culty experienced in the alley clear- ance plans. That problem is to find suitable homes for the families living in the area to be demolished. In the proposed housing project the Govern- ment no doubt would have to find ‘homes elsewhere for scores of fami- .lies unable to avail themselves of the new model homes, even at the low Tents planned. Other Operators Quit. Other complications have arisen in this section, however, which are a source of to many residents in view of the uncertainty that involves the Government’s own plans. The Public Works Administration is not at all sure that this project wil be POLICEMAN MONTGOMERY. POLICEMANISHURT SUBDUNG TENANT Robert S. Montgomery, Pa- trol Driver, Seriously In- jured From Attack. Robert S. Montgomery, 36, a patrol driver in the District Police Depart- ment, was seriously injured early this morning as he aided three other of- ficers and the janitor of an apartment building in subduing a tenant of the apartment. ‘The prisoner, giving him name as Elmer Tangen, 38, and telling police that he was a former Marine and an ex-lumberman, was being held at No. 10 station at noon, booked only for investigation until the condition of the most seriously injured officer could be determined. Injury Held Serious. Montgomery, his brother officers and the prisoner all were treated for kicks and bruises at Freedmen’s Hos- pital, but the latter’s injury was con- sidered so serious that he was re- moved to Emergency Hospital for fur- ther observation. The trouble started this morning when a police scout car in charge of Officers L. H. Legg and R. F. Good- win was called to an apartment house in the 2500 block of Seventeenth street, where a man was said to be beating his wife. Arriving there they summoned & patrol wagon from No. 10, Officers D. J. Murphy and Mont- gomery responding. These four, aided by Janitor Earl Cotton, then atempted to remove Tangen to the wagon. Described as Intoxicated. Described as ntoxicated and ex- tremely powerful, however, the latter refused to go peacefully. In the en- suing melee all suffered kicks, punches and bruises, but the offender finally was subdued: Upon reaching the po- lice station they were sent to Freed- men’s Hospital for treatment, all but Montgomery returning to the station. Montgomery became a member of the force in 1925, serving with the traffic squad until suffering an injury & few years ago. Since then he has been stationed at No. 10. FOUR PERSONS HURT IN TRAFFIC MISHAPS None Believed to Have Been In- jured Seriously in Yester- day’s Accidents. Four persons were injured in traffic accidents late yesterday after- noon and last night, but none was believed seriously hurt, -according to ce. built. They hope and expect it will | poli materialize, but as long as there is the chance that the Government will do_ something, private builders are fighting shy of new construction in ihe area. No one would be so rash as ’10 &‘x?pl;:fm:y?m the Government n , & real estate operator ®nd builder informed The Star. A privately constructed low-rent housing project was erected & few years ago on Half street, bordering on the Government-planned site. This con- #sists of rows of neat brick dwellings, ‘which rent for prices believed to be very little outside the range of the Pproposed Government prices. There is good reason to doubt ‘whether the Government can build its own model homes any cheaper than these privately constructed houses, especlally when many structures would have to be bought and torn down within the site. The houses which the Government ‘would like to build in this southwest area would be carefully planned and as carefully built. They would con- tain all the modern conveniences— electric lights, hot and cold running water and heating plant. Such family units in P. W. A. projects usually con- tain from three to five rooms. * For this reason tenants of many of the old frame houses, many of them lacking any conveniences, simply can't see how they can afford to pay ithe $15, $20 or $30 monthly payments for the new homes which the Gov- ment would amortize over a period of 30 years. Fear Stores in Area. The section is an eye-sore in that of Washington. It abounds with ancient brick and frame struc- project. P. W. A. officials have long refused to disclose the site and are reluctant even to discuss the proposed plans. They admit, however, that none the property has been bought nor & single taken up. But a few Joseph B. Simms, 23, of 3633 Van Ness street, suffered & sprained back and cuts and bruises when his motor cycle struck a parked car about mid- | i night at West Virginia avenue and Queen street northeast. He was taken mnl;nnergency Hospital but later sent e. A police broadcast for the arrest of an Army officer was sent out after Edward Cohen, 9, of 6645 Geofgia avenue was knocked down by an au- tomobile at Georgia evenue and Rittenhouse street late yesterday. The Army officer is charged with failure to report the accident. The boy was not seriously injured. Frank Ludlow, 65, of 633 Lexington place northeast, was taken to Casu- alty Hospital after he was knocked down by a car on Seventh street northeast late yesterday. He was picked up by the car that struck him. Physicians believe he may have a fractured shoulder. Benjamin Williams, 43, colored, of 812 Half street southwest, was knocked down but not seriously hurt when struck by a car at Fourth and H streets southwest about 9 o'clock last night. He was treated at Providence Hospital. $22.50 THEFT REPORTED Man Tells Police Pocket Was Picked at Traffic Bureau. Smith Townley, 731 Rock. Church road, visited the Traffic Bu- reau yesterday to renew his driver's permit. - He had $2250 in his purse when he arrived, he told police. y ~@he Foening SHtar WASHINGTON, D. C, TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1935. EARLY GRAND JURY INQUIRY PLANNED IN LYDDANE CASE State’s Attorney Anticipates Call by Ordering List of Jurors. SECOND CONSPIRACY WARRANT DISMISSED Charge of Plotting Death of Mrs. Josephine Beall Dropped After Hearing. (Picture on Page A-3.) BY W. H. SHIPPEN, JR,, Staff Correspondent of The Star. ROCKVILLE, Md,, April 23.—Mont- gomery County authorities today were considering calling the grand jury into early session to hear murder conspir- acy charges against Mrs. Anne Lyd- dane and three alleged ccnfederates held under $10,000 bonds following Police Court hearings yesterday and Saturday. Should the jurors not be summoned early, State’s Attorney James H. Pugh said today they will receive the case on their next regular reporting date, May 20. The State’s attorney sent for the list late yesterday in event the special call is decided upon. A warraat charging Mrs. Lyddane with conspiracy to assissinate Mrs. Josephine Beall, 38, wife of a Darnes- town garage man, Arthur Beall, was dismissed late yesterday by Judge Donald A. DeLashmutt. At the same time the judge held under $10,000 bonds two men jointly accused in the warrant—John H. Carnell, Rockville bartender and former Washington bootlegger, and Edwin J. Davis, 31, who has been convicted several times in Washington for liquor law viola= tions. Held in $10,000 Bond. Mrs. Lyddane, 29-year-old bank sec- retary and member of a leading Mont- gomery County family, and John Mar- tin Boland, 42, described by police as a former W: n gambler, were held under $10,000 bongs“el:;l at a preliminary hearing urday on charges they conspired to murder Mrs. Lyddane’s husband, Francis Lyddane, employe of a Montgomery county lig- uor dispensary. In dismissing the second warrant against Mrs. Lyddane, Judge De Lash- mutt explained the evidence con- vinced him that only one conspiracy, if any, existed, and that he had or- dered Mrs. Lyddane held on Sat- urday. Ca’ly'nen, who told the court he had been promised immunity, waived pre- liminary hearing yesterday and took the stand as a State witness. - lated how he had acted as “contact man” for Mrs. Lyddane, bringing Davis to Rockville and introducing him to Mrs. Lyddane. According to Davis, who voluntarily took the stand, despite the court’s warning that “anything you say may be used against you,” Mrs. Lyddane told him she had a woman she wanted “taken care of.” Says $1,000 Promised. Davis testified Mrs. Lyddane drove him to Darnestown in her car, pointed out a house near a filling station and then a woman entering the house who was “to be done away with.” He said he received $26 from Mrs. Lyddsne and the promise of $1,000 when the job was completed. Davis denied he intended murder. “That’s not my business,” he said. A taxicab driver who drove Davis to Rockville testified Davis told him he intended to “shake the woman down.” Quizzed by State Senator Stedman Prescott, chief of defense counsel, re- garding his identification of Mrs. Lyd- dane, Davis said the woman who took him to Darnestown was dressed in a dark coat and fur piece, a dark hat and drove a “black or dark” blue auto- mobile about two years old. He could not describe the automo- ile further or give other details re- garding the woman's appearance and voice. ; Carnell Denies Key Mentioned. On the stand yesterday, Carnell, self-styled “contact man” in the plot, again denied he had heard any men- tion of a bank key which Mrs. Lyd- dane had been accused of offering for @ robbery as a further “pay off” in the alleged plot. Mrs. Lyddane’s defense at both hearings has been that she was the victim of a blackmail plot engineered by Carnell, who knew about her as- Arthur Beall. much attention from the spectators. His wife, the mother of his three children, while remaining away from the hearings, has afirmed her faith in him, Several years ago Mrs. Beall sued her husband for divorce, naming Mrs. Lyddane as correspondent. The suit was withdrawn upon a settlement in which Beall transferred property i EE 1 iy fees Fg° i § i i ; i il 444 g g EE i eekt ! i £ 3 i 5 ! i i = f ¥ , Some New Types of Races in the Horse Country 14 At top: The fleld getting into a tangle in the pig race at the Warrenton gymkhana yesterday afternoon. Miss Sally Appleton (left) and her charging steed took the lead,at this point, but Gordon Barnewell, whose pig is crossing in front of Mrs. Albert Pierce, jr., eventually won. e 'TProbe Ordered of Guard Band PRUESM e Ordcd of Gl Bend Members Who Did Not Appear for i Parade Are Called Before Officer for Inquisition. WARRENTON FETE Bewildered Horses Join in Fun in “Chair’” Games at Benefit. BY ROBERT B. PHILLIPS, JR. About 30 horses munching their oats down at Warrenton last night were more or less firmly convinced that their owners have gone completely dotty, an opinfon the candid observer might have supported yesterday after- noon, had he been without a clue to the cause of all the strange gyrations on Stuyvesant horse show grounds. There men, women and children galloped around the ring on horse- back and suddenly tumbled off and scrambled for chairs, where they sat— if they could find one—looking as as 50 many Cheshire kittens. All at once the whole troop would pop up, remount the horses, set off at a gallop again, and then, at the blast of a whistle, roll off once more, haul puzzled nags behind them in the rush for chairs. This elaborate and diverting non- sense is called “Going to Jerusalem,” “Musical Chairs” or “Don’t Send My Boy to Willlams,” depending on how you feel about it. The explanation, therefor, yesterday afternoon, was & combination gymkhana, free-for-all, bank holiday and bear-baiting festi- val, arranged by a group of industrious Warrenton women for the benefit of the Fauquier County Tuberculosis As- sociation. We have always maintained Warrenton boasts about as many sports, per hundred population, as any community in the United States, and the spirit displayed by the em- broiled populace yesterday certainly was evidence for our brief. FEF SoCiety and General PAGE B—1 LI PROPOSED . ONFEDERAL S TONEINFAMILY lflamspeck Plans to Seek Below: The mothers do their share in the mother and daughter race, another exciting part of the program. Mrs. George Sloan (right) sprints into the lead, with Mrs. Robert C. Winmill just behind her and Mrs. Amory Carhart, next to them, settling into full stride in the middle of the field. —Star Staff Photos. Because so few bandsmen showed up they were unable to play a note in the recent Army day parade squad of musicians of the 121st Engineers Band of the Naticnal Guard in the District of Columbia tonight will face an inquisition before an officer of the Guard at the armory at Sixth street and Pennsylvania avenue. Lacking some of their key instru- mentalists, the organization followed Leader Meyer Goldman over the route without cnce trying to play & tune. Appearance Ordered. Orders for the were sent out by Capt. Charles E. Smithson, adjutant, and the individuals were charged with violation of the sixty- first article of war, this section deal- ing with regulations for attendance at drill. Acting at the direction of Col. J. W. Oehmann, officer, the orders instructed the men to ap- pear before Lieut. Cooper B. Rhodes for questioning. In explaining their absence some of those involved have asserted they were unable to obtain leave from Govern- ment departmental positions to join the band, another governmental group. Others, professional musicians, de- clare that previous engagements pre- vented their appearance, adding that absence from the commercial activi- ties would jeopardize their livelihood. Inquiry Held Necessary. As far as the Guard is concerned, Col. Oehmann explained today that the inquiry is necessary to maintain some semblance of regularity in op- eration of the band. “Summoning & man to explain ab- sence from drill or other ordered function is not an unusual occur- rence,” he said today. “If the charges are sustained the men are lable to a fine of a few dollars. The duties of membership in the Guard take prece- obtain leave it will be disposing of the cases. voluntary enlistments. they cannot attend regular other functions they du.htcvl':me or be placed on an ALLOTMENT INCREASED $08,757 Additional Granted for ‘Work at West Point. Additional . allotments of $98,757 to the War Department for construction projects of the United States Military Academy at West Point, were an- nounced today by the Public Works Administration. They were necessary in view of un- foreseen foundation and excavation p- | conditions, The allotments include tured by Evans Pancost (first heat) and Gordon Barnewell, after two bril- liant exhibitions of driving, pushing, coaxing, cajoling, pulling, punching $40,136° for officers querters $37,126 for ‘a‘quartermaster warehouse, $13,- and ratiocination. Pancost and his | ghe sturdy War Profiteer, a son of the i E ikif 1 E % 188 gsgg, g- Sy cEE E%Ega E | . i ¢ EEE 7 it § E %e g s Egd E i a : E i : : . i i i R MORE EVIDENCE DUE IN GAMBLING TIP-OFF Commissioners’ Inquiry Will Seek More Testimony on Raid That Failed. Additional testimony on the alleged tip-off of a gambling raid made in the fifth police precinct will be taken by the Commissioners’ investigating com- mittee before it formulates its recom- mendations, Corporation - Counsel Prettyman, .chairmsn, said today. The-committee now is awaiting re- ceipt ‘of the report and:transcript of testimony taken by the House Crime Committee on this and other phases of the police department situation. GROLP HOSPTAL PLANIS POPULAR 1,000 Sign Each Month for Benefits, President Re- ports at Meeting. Group hospitalization which, it is claimed, will enable the average citi- zen to afford better medical care for his family, has proved popular in ‘Washington,, Joseph H. Himes, presi- dent of Group Hospitalization, Inc., told members of that body at their first annual meeting -in the United States Chamber of Commerce Build- ing last night. “The popularity of the plan is in- dicated by the fact that we have signed up approximately 1,000 persons each month since the inauguration of the plan last July,” Himes said. “There is no reason to believe we can- not continue to win the support of the people of the District because of the many advantages given to those who Join the group.” ‘Through Group Hospitalization, Inc., the average citizen, the head of a family with small income, can so budget his hospital bills over long periods that he can afford the best treatment for his family, Himes said. ‘The - organization is non-profit making and has attracted the atten- tion of the medical profession as well as those who must have medical care, he said. After a short business session during which policies for the coming year were outlined, resolutions were passed and several speakers made short talks on the possibilities and the accomplishments of the organiza- tion, the group elected 15 trustees to serve for the next year. The trustees elecied were Admiral Cary T. Grayson, national chairman of the American Red Cross; Mrs. Daniel C. Roper, Himes, Henry P. Blair, Herbert D. Brown, Mark Lans- burgh, Dr. Arthur C. Christie, Wal- ter B. Clarkson, William 8. Corby, Mrs. Joshua Evans, jr.; Gen. Frank T. Hines, Dr. Earl B. McKinley, George H. O’Conner, Sidney F. Talia- ferro-and Dr. Charles S. White. E. J. Henryson, director of the activities of the group, made & report on the progress of the work and outlined his plans for the coming year. BUS ROUTE CHANGED The route of the Sherman Circle Amendment to Civil Service Statute. MARITAL STATUS LAW AGAIN HIT AT HEARING Witnesses Before House Commit- tee Declare Rule Sets Up Barrier to Marriage. BY J. A. FOX. A proposal to amend the civil serv- ice law to limit original appointments in Government service to one to & family instead of two, as now pro- vided, loomed today as a possible de- velopment of hearings before the House Civil Service Committee on the bill by Representative Celler, Demo- crat, of New York to repeal the mari- tal status law. Chairman Ramspeck of the com- mittee proposes to make such a sug- gestion as a complement to the re- peal legislation. ‘The chairman’s statement was made informally after a succession of wit- requiring of either husband or wife in necessary reductions of force was producing grave social consequences, in setting up a barrier to marriage. Ramspeck said he was against any law which kept young people from getting married, but that he thought the law governing original appoint- ments should be changed. He was not attempting to bind the committee nor to forecast what action eventually would be taken. He did say, however, he found sen- timent in Congress against repeal of the marital status law and that he had received many letters from Gov- ernment workers themselves who are opposed to it. Hearings Near End, The Celler bill would repeal the law by amending the civil service act. Ramspeck said he would conclude hearings tomorrow. Today's testimony was largely a repetition of that which has gone be- fore. The first witness was E, Claude Babcock, president of the American Federation of Government Employes, who said his organization was “defi- nitely opposed to the law.” He attacked the law on the ground first that it takes no account of com- petency—the same point emphasized earlier in the hearings by Luther C. Steward, president of the National Federation of Federal Employes. Going then into the social conse- quences, Babcock said the “sad cases of young people who want to get married and don't dare is pitiful.” “Many of them,” he continued, “are living together actually; a lot are overlooking marriage; a lot are going through with secret marriages.” Blames Law for Divorces, Mrs. Edwina Avery, president of the Women'’s Bar Association of the Dis- trict, who is an editorial employe in the Bureau of Plant Industry, as- serted that the law “in many cases has driven husbands and wives apart.” She said that its effect was being felt by the older employes who could not m: !‘Ie'l start, and she added further it “its influence is being felt through the States.” x5 1t was while Mrs. Avery was testify- ing that Chairman asked her if she wouldn’t favor amending the law to cut original appointments to one in the family. She refused to agree. Ramspeck interjected that he thinks “it’s a serious question if we should not reduce the number of orig- inal appointments.” This one-job-to-a- flmel? principle has recently been in- Y?lm ?o the fermemncy agencies by ctions om the Emergent Council. = Representative Dunn, Democrat, of Mississippi, indicated he believed that the Ramspeck suggestion was hardly practical in that it would tend to re- duce local employment, asserting “our people don’t want to come to Wash- ington for the salaries they pay.” Starnes Disagrees. “I haven't found it that way,” Rep- resentative Starnes, Democrat, of Ala- bama, said. Mrs. Page T. Kirk, a Western High School teacher, representing & group of teachers’ organizations, also ap- peared in opposition” to the law, be- cause of its effect on married teachers. Mrs. Kirk was a victim of its opera- tion, being forced to resign because her husband also is a Government em- ploye, and then being brought back into service because there were no eligibles on the teachers list to teach her subject—mechanical drawing. Despite the fact that Mrs. Kirk's absence from the school was during & holiday period, Controller General Mc- Carl held that she could not come back on her former pay basis, and as & result she suffered a material reduc- tion in salary. Mrs. Margaret Hopkins Worrell, president of the American League of Civil Service, was the final witness. She sald the law had worked some injustices. She also was critical of married women who work and allow thirchfldrenwbeeuedforbym- ant —_— P. W. A, ALLOTS $24,200 Two Public Buildings Here Given Improvement Funds. The Public Works Administration today alloted $24,200 for improvements in two public buildings in Washington. Alterations and repairs to the Navy Building at Eighteenth street and Con- stitution avenue will take $20,000 of the amount. Another $4,200 will be expended to make soundproof the radio room of the Army’s Signal Corps, in the Munitions Building. Edwards Back on Duty.