Evening Star Newspaper, June 12, 1935, Page 21

Wash BOARD WL SEL TAX CERTIATE WALKER 0B OFE Montgomery Heads Call for Par Bids on Anticipa- tior Series. LIQUOR MANAGERSHIP STILL LACKS APPOINTEE Coughlan Adamant on Selection of Viers—Post Becomes Vacant Saturday. By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. ROCKVILLE, Md., June 12,—Nego- tiations were to be opened by the Board of Montgomery County Com- missioners today for the sale of $200,000 worth of tax-anticipation cer- tificates to replenish current operat- ing funds. The certificates will be re- tired in 90 days with proceeds from new tax year beginning July 1. County banks are to be requested to bid at par for the certificates, and the bank offering to accept the issue at the lowest rate of interest will re- ceive the award. It was said there is nothing to prohibit several banks | Joining in making the bids. The issue was authorized by the ecommissioners yesterday at a meeting which was also marked by a renewal of attempts by the Republican State Central Committee to swing Commis- sioner Paul M. Coughlan in faver of James Viers for appointment as man- ager of the liquor dispensary system. Coughlan Adamant. Members- of the committee con- ferred with the Fusion party com- misioners for nearly an hour, Coughlan remained adamant, and the board again failed to appoint a suc- cessor to the post from which John C. | ‘Walker is to retire on Saturday. The conference delayed the board meeting for 45 minutes, and strenuous objections to the delays caused by re- peated conferences over the Viers matter were voiced by Commissioner Robert D. Hagner, Democrat, when the full board finally assembled. Richard H. Lansdale, the other member of the Democratic minority group on the board, then proposed that Walker, who submitted his resig- nation last week, be retained until January 1. Fusion Commissioners Frank H. Karn, Charles E. King and Coughlan voted down the motion, | 3to2 Appeals to Be Heard. The board sef June 20 at 10 a.m.semi-skilled laborers. . | for hearing appeals on néw assess- ments. It ‘was further announced that while no vacancies exist at pres- ent, an examination of applicants for positions on the police force will be conducted here June 22 and that ap- | plications must be filed with the State but | ington News Agrees to Seek In an effort to get early action by the House District Committee on the bill passed by the Senate for extend- ing grounds for absolute divorce, con- ferences are being held at the Capi- tol today between Representatives Car- penter of Kansas, who introduced the measure; Palmisano of Maryland, chairman of the Judiciary Subcom- mittee, who is opposed to certain pro- visions, and George C. Gertman, sec- retary of the District Bar Association. ‘The present law grants absolute di- vorce on grounds of infidelity. The proposed bill would extend this to in- clude cruelty, drunkenness, desertion, conviction of a felony, separation for five years and insanity for five years. Representative Palmisano has been holding up the bill because he is op- posed to the cruelty provision and ar- WASHINGTON,' D. C, WEDNESDAY, .JUNE 12, 1935. House Leaders Meet to Spur Action on D. C. Divorce Bill Palmisano, Objecting to Cruelty Basis; Compromise on Liberalizing Grounds. gues for a limited divorce on grounds of cruelty. Gertman, accompanied by Eugene Boardman, lawyer, conferred today with Carpenter and Representative Brewster of Maine in an effort to get subcommittee action on the bill, but Palmisano continued his objections. Carpenter proposed an amendment using the language “cruel and inhu- man treatment, which would endanger life, limb and health.” Palmisano still protested this, but agreed to participate in the confer- ences in an effort to work out a com- Boardman explained that the amendment proposed by Carpenter would not change the principle of the bill because that is the construction or interpretation placed on cruelty by the local courts. 100000 ASKED TOASSSTACTORS National Relief Project Is Proposed to Promote Plays on Tours. Intervention by President in Doubt—Guffey Bill Delayed. Promotion of the drama on a Na- | $1.000,000 in relief funds to provide | jobs for unemployed actors in touring companies is under serious considera- tion by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, it was disclosed today. Representatives of producers and actors recently asked for funds to { remove jobless actors from the relief rolls throughout the country. No formal application for the allotment has been made, it was said, but the matter has been the subject of serious consideration by relief officials. Un- der the old F. E. R.-A. funds were allotted for development of local drama companies for performances in Civilian Conservation Corps camps. Recreational Survey Sought. It was announced also today that ‘33.444.132 from the work relief fund | had been asked to make a survey of the Nation's recreational needs. The request was made by the Na- | | tional Parks Service, which esti- mated the study would provide jobs | for 4,696 persons, including 3,872 | -~ The information to be led was | requested by the National ources | | Board as a means to help in co- | ordinating the land programs of the /€. C. C, the Public Works Admin- | istration and other Federal uenci.’ -The Resources Board, the parks of- | | tion-wide basis through the use of | By the Associated Press. The outlook for heading off the threatened strife in the | fields Monday was dimming today. | There was a suggestion that inter- | vention by President Roosevelt might keep the miners at work, but there | | was no sign the President intended | to step in. Labor chiefs also sug- | gested that enactment of the Guffey | coal bill, designéd to set up a “little | | N.R. A" for the industry. also might | be helpful, but the legislative situa- | tion in Congress offered no hope on | | this score. Meanwhile, John L. Lewis, pres- ident of the United Mine Workers of America, declined to answer when asked if orders issued for the walkout | might be withdrawn. Principal developments in the issue yesterday were: | (1) The Pittshurgh Coal Cuv. | interest of the wealthy Mellon fam- ily and one of the largest coai pro- | | ducers in the country withdeaw its support of the Guffey bill, J D A. Morrow, president, said counsel be- Jieve the measure ur.constitutional. (2, The Ccommittee against Guffey bill, and Western preducers, announced it would challenge the measure’s con- thé stitutionality in court “when, s and | employment officer by June 18. Can- | ficials sald, “has recommended that, in | if the bill .or any revision of it is didates must reside in the county and are required to be able to ride a mo- tor cycle. A 1 to extend Sixteenth proposa street to Brookeville pike, a distance | of approximately 3,200 feet, was in- dorsed by the board. The Montgomery County Civic Federation, park and planning officials and numerous civic bodies in the Silver Spring area are Mdvocating the State extend the street | with the new Federsl funds to be made available shortly. TWO ARE CONVIGTED OF OPERATING DUMP Fines of $25 Each Against Pair, in Arlington Are Sus- pended. By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. ARLINGTON COURT HOUSE, Va., June 12—Two men were cenvicted in County Court today of maintaining | |FEDERAL LAND BANKS & dump in violation of a county ordinance, and were fined $25 and costs by Judge B. M. Hedrick. Pay- ment of the fine, however, was sus- pended. These were the first prosecutions gince enforcement of the law against dumping was resumed recently after a wave of civic protest against burn- ing dumps in the country. : Those fined were Will Kemp and Charles Parker, who admitted dump- ing trash on land in Nauck, on a ereek which connects with Four-Mile Run. i . G. P. 0. JOBS OPEN Bxaminations for Bindery Oper- atives tc Be Held. Examinations for bindery operatives, $oth hand and machine, to fill places st the Government Printing Office, Will be held by the Civil Service Com- mission. Applications will be received &% the commission, Seventh and F gtreets, until July 1. The pay is 60 eents an hour. . The commission also will receive #bplications until July 1 for examina- tion for farm loan register at $4.600 and deputy, $3,500, for the Farm Oredit Administration. TODAY. . ‘Meeting, Izaak Walton League, jaleigh Hotel, 8 p.m. . :Meeting, Zonta Club, Y. W. C. A, Beventeenth and K streets, 1 pm. Meeting, Sigma Delta Kappa Fra- fernity, Carlton Hotel, 8 p.m. ! TOMORROW. Luncheon, Kiwanis Club, Mayflower Hotel, 12:30 p.m. 1 Luncheon, Washington Trade Asso- elation, Carlton Hotel, 12:30 p.m. /| Luncheon, Cosmopolitan Club, Carl- ?n Hotel, 12:30 p.m. . Meeting, Real Estate Mortgage and nty Co., Carlton Hotel, 2 pm. | . Dinner, Gonzaga Alumni Associa- Meeting, Psi Lambds Tau Sorority, M)eigh Hotel, 8 pm. | $269,020,440 in 4!, per cent bonds was | the readjustment of land use, the area | of land devoted to recreational use be ! increased from 16,000,000 to 80,000,000 acres, including national, State and local parks, private recreation areas and bird and' game refuges.’ Roads Occupy 500,000, Meanwhile, the Public Works Ad- ministration made public a report | claiming more than 500,000 men were | given employment on road jobs dur- | ing the two-year program, costing | $579,000,000. P. W. A. also said that more than ! $200,000,000 worth of bridges, subways | | and other engineering structures were | completed in the two-year penod.f The Indian Bureau said it had spent $12,500,000 of an allotment of $19,- | 488,050 during the same period. Active new developments in the work-relief program today, however, were at a standstill, with the Presi- dent and his three key men absent from the Capital. Secretary Ickes and Harry L. Hop- kins are both in Chicago and Frank C. Walker, application chief, is at his home on Long Island, where he went yesterday to recuperate from a seri- ous throat infection. WILL RETIRE BONDS $260,020,440 in 4% Per Cent Securities Called as of July 1. Py the Associated Press. | A call for retirement on July 1 of issued yesterday by the 12 Federal land banks. The announcement, made by the Farm Credit Administration, said the securities were due in 1943, 1953, 1954 and 1955, and that arrangements were being made for & new issue of con- solidated bonds to provide funds for {‘edempflon of the 4% per cent securi- es. W. I. Myers, governor of the F.C. A., said retirement of the callable bonds and issuance of new consolidated bonds with a lower rate of interest “is in keeping with the policy of the Federal land banks and the Farm Credit Administration to make long- term first mortgage funds available to the farmers at rates as low as the in- vestment market will warrant.” STRICKEN % ON TRAIN .Dr. T. E. Ross, 55, of Hattiesburg, £ general of Treasury Exchange Offer Closed. Becretary Morgenthau has ordered subscriptions closed tomorrow night on the Treasury exchange offer of notes June 15. and $353,865, 1% per cent notes August 1. One Couple Licensed. passed by Congress.” (3) The National Conference of Bituminous Coal Operators tfavor- ing the Guffey bill) approved its Leg- islative Committee’s agreement with ihe United Mine Workers to s-ek an amendment to limit the measure to four years, to back the provision for Federal purchase of margins' coal and as a reserve ana to delay for 18 months the tax or the operators to pay for this purchase. The working contract of the ininers expires at midnight Sunday, and op- erators and union have been unable to get together on a new agreement. LEWIS WILL SPEAK ON COURT POWERS | Authority to Reverse Acts of | Congress to Be Topic in House Discussion. By the Associated Press. Representative Lewis, Democrat, of Maryland is planning to address the House next week with a dissertation on the authority of the Supreme Court to invalidate acts of Congress. ‘The Marylander will speak in favor of the resolution of Representative | Sisson, Democrat, of New York. pro- viding for an inquiry by the House Judiciary Committee into the court’s authority in this respect. Lewis. a pioneer in the field of so- cial welfare legislation, has in the past frequently attacked “contractionist” interpretations of the Constitution, holding the framers of the document intended to give Congress wide au- thority to deal with problems sffect- ing the welfare of the people. He is of the opinion that in actu- ality the Constitution was intended to give Congress blanket authority “to provide for the common welfare,” but that a copyist’s error in placing a comma where a semi-colon should have been has resulted in an inter- pretation of this clause as being only one of the purposes for which Con- gress may levy taxes. e e U.S.W.V. Encampment Saturday. The 36th departmental encampment of the United Spanish War Veterans will be held at Pythian Temple, 1012 Ninth street, Saturday at 2:30 p.m. An evening session also will be held, the time to be announced later. Tom D. Binckley, department commander, Brings Ban on Use Of Senate Chamber By the Associated Press. Charles West, former Repre- HOPES FOR PEACE INCOALSTRIE DY soft-coal | an | sepresenting Soathern | RETIREMENT PAY RULES ADOPTED BY CITY HEADS Increases to Conform With 1935 Grades and 1930 Compensation. —_ REGULAR EXAMINATIONS REQUIRED UNTIL AGE 55 Veterans’' Administration Scale of Disability to Be Used by Controlling Board. Revised regulations governing dis- ability retirement of police and fire- men, increasing their compensation to conform with the grade they would have reached had not the economy act intervened, and giving them the benefit of the pay boost of 1930, were adopted today by the District Com- | missioners. The new regulations also specify retired members of the departments must appear before the Board of Po- lice and Fire Surgeons and the Retir- ing and Relief Board every two years until they reach the age of 55 years. This provision will permit maintaining retirement pay commensurate with current disability. In its consideration of the degree of incapacity, the Retiring and Relief Board will use the Veterans' Adminis- tration’s schedule of disability ratings. The new regulations affect the Met- ropolitan, Park and White House Police Forces and the Fire Depart- ment. They were recommended by & special committee composed of Cor- poration Counsel E. Barrett Pretty- | man, District Auditor Daniel J. Don- | ovan and Rolsnd Brennan, secretary | to the Commizsioners. When the economy act went into | effect July 1. 1932, all pay step-ups | were denied both police and firemen. | With its repeal effective April 1 of | | this year, the prohibition on salary increases ended. Accordingly, the Commissioners have agreed that mer retired for disability between these two dates shall receive compensation based on that would have been paid them at the date of their retirement but for operation of the economy act. Privates retired prior to July 1, 1930, will receive compensation based on present rates of pay corresponding creases went irto effect on that date. The Commissioners also decided to retirement to include any extra com- detective work 'CONTRACT AWARDED FOR UNION SQUARE 1$78,105 Development Is Let, Snl-r ject to Approval of Sec- retary Ickes. Subject to the approval of Secretary Ickes, Corson & Gruman, contractors of Thirty-third and K streets, have been awarded a contract for $78,105 for improvements in Union Square. This was announced today by C. National Capital Parks, who said the work entailed construction of side- walks, granite platforms, a water sup- ply_and sprinkling system, drainage, grading and topsoil. At the other end of the Mall, at Fourteenth street, Finnan said, an in- teresting experiment is being con- ducted with the sidewalks that are to be built, running through the Mall, to insure that the concrete will be as dark as the roadways. Carbon black is being utilized to give the desired effect and a number of shades are be- ing produced. Sidewalks are being built in the Mall from Third to Four- teenth street, and the work, Finnan said, is being done by the local con- tractors, Easthom Melvin Co., 1424 H street. Arno B. Cammerer, director of the | National Parks Service, today entered | into a contract with C. Jennewein of New York City, the sculptor, for ex- ecuting the great shields, emblematic ! of the Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard, that will be placed at the hemi- cycle at the east end of Arlington Na- | tional Cemetery. SCIENTISTS PAY TRIBUTE TO DR. MARY J. RATHBUN Letters of Felicitation Are Given to Honored Guest in Bound Volume. Scientists from far reaches of the world joined in a tribute to Dr. Mary J. Rathbun, associate in zoology at the National Museum, when friends gathered here last night to celebrate her 75th birthday, sending letters of felicitation incorporated in & bound volume presented the honor guest. The observance was held at the aquarium, Bureau of Fisheries, where several of her fellows extolled the _ Graduates From Tulane. Otis Franklin Gay, 3910 Ingomar street, is a member of the graduating class in medicine at Tulane University, who will receive his degree of doctor of medicine at the annual commence- ment exercises in New Orleans tonight. Purdue Graduates D. C. Man. Robert H. Kirkwood, 3626 Windom place, is the only Washingtonian among the 700 graduates of Purdue received their degrees Kirkwood received de- the salary | to their length of service. Pay in-| construe salarv received at time of | pensation then being received, such a$ | additional pay of privates detailed to Marshall Pinnan, superintendent of | ] program funds are made available, EVENTEEN nurses on the staff | of Columbia Hospital fo: Women, Twenty-fifth and L | streets, are forced to live in an old, dilapidated and condemned building that antedates the Civil War. | The ancient frame structure, located | | on the hospital grounds, and entered | only through the hospital proper, is | “little better than a slum.,” according | to David Lynn, Capitol architect, ex- ening Shar LIS cept that the nurses do their best to keep it clean and at least are able to maintain clean linens and rooms. It is equipped with a Smgle bath room and only two lavatories. Origin of the building is obscure, ac- cording to hospital authorities. The hospital itself was founded during the Civil War and the earliest photographs ever taken of the insticution show the old bullding was standing then. The cld nurses’ home at Columbia Hospital, antedating the Civil War, which would be replaced if works —Star Staff Photo, Lynn yesterday filed a request with the division of applications and in- formation of the works program for | | $300,000 for a modern nurses' home, | with a capacity for at lcast 70 nurses. | He pointed out that the old frame building has been condemned both by sanitary and fire authorities repeatedly | during the past 15 years, and that 45 | members of the nursing staff are | forced to reside away from the hospital 0., VOTE STUDY FAVOEDBY CLLRS Women’s Federation Reso lution Hailed by Friends of Representation. | Special Dispateh to The Star. DETROIT, June 12.—The General Federation of Women's Clubs, in tri- ennial convention here, adopted a res- olution yesterday recommending to all affiliated State federations and inde- | pendent clubs a survey and study of | national representation for the Dis- trict of Columbia. The resolution, | adopted without a dissenting vote, has behind it the united force of 39 Sfafe ! federations. Mrs. Horace J. Phelps of Washing- | ton, legislative chairman of the Dis- | trict of Columbia delegation to the General Federation, hailed the unani- | mous action of the delegates as a major step in the fight for representa- tion in voteless Washington. ‘The national representation study resolution, as it is called, was intro- | duced. by the Federation of Women's | Clubs of the District of Columbia. Text of Resolution. ‘The text of the resolution follows: “Whereas the Government of the United States of America is a repre- | sentative form of government, with its very foundations deeply rooted in the principle that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed: and “Whereas the half-million Ameri- cans of the District of Columbia, the only citizens in all the expanse of | continental United States without rep- | resentation in the National Govern- ment, pay national taxes, obey na- tional laws, go to war in the natios defense and are as patriotically inter- ested in the national welfare as the other citizens of these United States; and “Whereas, there is pending in the Congress of the United States S. J. Res. 12 proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to give Congress the power to admit to the status of citizens of States, the residents of the District for the pur- 1 pose of representation in the Congress and among the electors of President and Vice President and for the pur- pose of suing and being sued in the courts of the United States, and “Whereas this proposed amendment does not disturb the power of Con- gress to exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever over the seat of Government of the United States, but empowers Congress to give to the residents of this .District the same voice in thelr national Government that is granted to all other citizens of the States: Therefore be it “Resolved, That the General Fed- eration of Women's Clubs in conven- tion assembled, June 11, 1935, recom- mend that a study be made of the proposed amendment to the Constitu- tion of the United States empowering Congress to grant to the residents of the District of Columbia voting rep- resentation in the Senate and House of Representatives and among the elec- tors of President and Vice President and the same access to the courts of the United States as is enjoyed by the citizens of a State.” Adoption Hailed. | 8 5ot §§E§ it if 53§ i §i% 11 all necessary materials for a study of the proposed amendment. It was pointed out today to the assembled delegates .hat Washington world without representation in its national government. “S8o many people in this Nation are un: e of our status,” Mrs. Phelps declared. “We have a population of voting age greater than 10 other indi- vidual States, and while visitors to beautiful buildings they never stop to think that the taxpayers of the Dis- trict have to help pay for them and that full credit should not go to the Federal Government. In fact, we pay more per capita in Federal internal revenue taxes than in most of the There are 400.000 people in the Dis- trict of Columbia who have no power to use a ballot. That is not fair.” Mrs. Pheips stated after the adop- tion of the resolution that at th council meeting the General Federa. tion in 1936 a resolution wili be asked i for the indorsement of the proposed amendment giving votes to persons in the District D.C.DEN — Resolution Backs Ruhland and Commissioners in Effart to Restore Slashes. ‘The District Dental Society adopted a formal resolution last night in sup- port of Health Officer George C. Ruh- land and the Commissioners in their efforts to secure additional funds for disease prevention work here. resolution. urged Congress to restore | funds cut from the Health Depart- ment budget estimates. At the meeting Dr. Stephen C. Hop- kins was automatically advanced to president of the society and Dr. Albert Smith was named president-elect. It was the society’s final meeting of the season. “Drastic reductions,” in health ap- propriations “will react to the detri- ment of the health of our citizens,” the society’s resolution said. Declaring Dr. Ruhland an outstand- ing public health official, the resolu- tion praised him for having asked for an increase in the appropriation. Copies of the resolution were or- cered sent to President Roosevelt, the Senate and House District Commit- tees and the Commissioners. COMMITTEE TO ACT Dropping of Charges Urged by Representatiye Miller as Report Fails. By the Associated Press. Early action by the full House Judi- clary Committee on whether Federal Judge Halstead L. Ritter of the South- ern Florida district should be im- peached was foreseen yesterday as a subcommittee failed to agree on a Representative Miller, Democrat, of Arkansas, subcommittee member, filed with the full commitiee a recom- mendation_that the charges of im- proprieties in office be dropped. Simultaneously, Representative Tar- ver, Democrat, of Georgia, subcom- mittee chairman, was reported by Miller to have recommended that the judge be impeached, stating he “has been guilty of high crimes and misde- meanors warranting the preferment in proper form of articles of impeach- ment.” i ller added that Ritter had showed judgment” in certain instances, but in his opinion had not been guilty of corruption in-office, as charged. 'PATRON HURLS GLASS AND CUTS BARTENDER 4 iy Artery. in Wrist Is. Slashed. ‘Washington Man Arrested for Assault. By a Staft Correspondent of The Star. GREATER CAPITOL HEIGHTS, '|Md,, June 12—Patrick Cross, 28, of | the pocket, glass, 1300 block of Eleventh street, ‘s the only national capital in the | Washington frequently rave over our | other States. Yet we have no vote. | TAL SOCIETY | ' ASKS HEALTH FUNDS The | IN JUDGE RITTER CASE| VANGUARD OF 44 160 Register for Ninth En- campment—Represent 1,000,000 Others. Boys ané girls representing nearly 1,000,000 youthful farmers and far- merettes converged on Washington today for the ninth naticnal 4-H Club encampment. About 160 delegates already have registered at the Depariment of Ag- iculture, which overlooks a city of tents on the Mall at Fourteenth and B streets southwest. The encamp- ment opens officially tomorrow. The boys and girls, most of them about 15 years old, will hear talks by many of Washington’s pfominent men and women and will have an oppor- tunity to see first hand the activities of the department. Club activities are foctered locally by farm men and women, successful farmers and homemakers “who have the young 4-H Club members strug- gling to produce a prize calf, a ton litter of pigs, a profitable five-acre field of corn, or to plan and prepare a well-balanced meal, make a school costume at little cost, or any of the many other problems the 4-H Club members tackle.” 062, the department announced. The girls’ clubs showed an increase of 5.537 members last year but the boys’ during the same period. ROBERTS REVEALS HEARING PROCEDURE Will Reserve Gas Rate Cross- Questioning Until Firm's Case Is In. Continuing his efforts to prevent disclosure of the Public Utilities Com- mission’s case until the gas company has put in all its evidence in the cur- | William A. Roberts announced today he w'll reserve his cross-examination of Byers McK. Bachman, commission expert, until after the company’s testi- mony is presented. Bachman went on the witness stand at the resumption of the hearing this morning after the commission had given assurances he would testify only concerning revenues and expenses. ‘When Bachman entered his balance sheet on which the first item was fixed capital, Roberts said if he attempted the cross-examination on such a mat- ter he would reveal his case. Meanwhile, Stoddard M. Stevens, jr., company counsel, announced the com- pany’s presentation regarding original cost will be delayed two or three weeks. He said P, 8. Kosters, chief account- ant of the company, has informed him several members of his staff are in Texas working on a valuation case there, and their presence is necessary for a complete showing of facts. FIVE POCKETS PICKED DURING SHRINE PARADE Police Pleased at Minimum of “Dip” Operations at Large Spectacles. five DFEEATES HEE given their advice and help freely to | Memberthip today 1= exactly 916, | clubs enrclled 11,440 fewer members ' rent rate hearings, People’s Counsel | PAGE B—1 TAX DISPUTE DUE 10 ENTER COURTS ONPLEA FOR WRIT Recreational Association to Be Made Defendant in Mandamus Action. OMISSION OF SIGNATURE CAUSES SHORT DELAY Corporation, Said to Be Mnking Big Profits, Denies Right of D. C. to Assess It. ‘The Welfare and Recreational Asso- ciation of Public Buildings and | Grounds, Inc., will be named defend- ant today in a petition for a writ of mandamus which will be filed in the District Supreme Court requiring the | association to show cause why it should not be compelled to file a District personal tax return. ‘The petition will be filed in the name of the District Commissioners by Cor- poration Counsel E. Barrett Pretty- man, his principal assistant, Vernen | E. West, and Assistant Corporation Counsels George D. Neilson and James W. Lauderdale. The petition was to have been filed at about noon, but it was discovered that the signature of Commissioner Dan I. Sultan had been omitted. Con- | sequently the papers were rushed back to the District Building for his signa- ture, It is alleged by the Commission: that the association, although ope: | ated only on Government property, is | s private institution, incorporated |under the laws of the District and | operated for profit. The latest in- formation reaching the corporation | counsel's office, it was said, is t the association is making large profits and has considerable surplus. | Case Is Old One. Consideration of this case has bec under way for several years, duringz which time officials of the association were heard by the Commissioners While association officials have nct had an opportunity to answer the mandamus, it was stated some years ago in & letter to the Commisisoners from Lieut. Col. U. S. Grant, 3d, then | head of public buildirigs and public | parks, that the District was withov | authority to levy a District tax. In support of this he contended | that the cafeterias, swimming pools and other activities carried on by th> association are all on Federal pr erty, that the funds are deposited ‘uu Treasury of the United States and that the activities of the associa- | tion are of great benefit to the resi- jdents of the District of Columbia, particularly to those who are em- ployed by the Federal Government, jand who make use of what was de- | scribed as the lower prices and better service offered by the cafeterias in the various Government buildings The corporation counsel’s office con- | tends the association is not one of | those institutions which is exempted from the payment of personal prop- erty tax in the District, the law on the subject exempting only libraries and benevolent and scientific institu- Hons which are not conducted for pri- ate gain. The association holds it is a benevolent organization. Competition Causes Complaint. Another bone of contention has arisen over claims of the owners cf privately operated cafeterias that th Government competition is robbng them of their living, despite the fact that they, and not the associatior are required to pay personal propert: taxes in the Distriot. Capt. F. W. Hoover, general man- ager of the association, which main- tains headquarters in the Navy Build- ing, today described the mandamus proceedings as a “friendly suit” sug- gested by his organization more than & year ago, In contending the association is not answerable for personal taxes, Capt. Hoover pointed out the association has no stockholders and there is no dis- tribution of profits to any private in- dividual. The filing of the mandamus pro- ceedings, Capt. Hoover said, was no surprise. A hearing was held some time ago before the District Com- missioners, and Capt. Hoover said he himself suggested presenting the problem to a court for definite deter- mination. The courts have never ruled on this point, he said, although there have been protracted negotia- | tions with the tax collector of the District of Columbia. Incorporated in 1927, The association was incorporated in 1927. The law is that 50 per cent of the net proceeds of the association go into the Federal Treasury and any surplus remaining is turned back into the business, being utilized for the purchase of equipment and the open- ing up of new units, the general man- ager declared. The outcome of the mandamus pro- ceedings will make no difference to any of the officers or employes of the association personally. Some observers said merely that if the Distrjct gov- ernment does collect taxes, there will be less net proceeds to be turned into the Federal Treasury. R. F. Martin, chief clerk of the general accounting office, is president of the association and various chief clerks of the Gov- ernment departments are on its Board of Trustees, Arno B. Cammerer, di- rector of the National Park Service, being a leader in the association’s ac- tivities, —_— 185 ROOSEVELT HIGH STUDENTS HONORED Principal Allan Davis Presents Annual Awards to Leaders in Various Activities. One hundred and eighty-five stu- dents of Roosevelt High School were honored in special ceremonies in the auditorijum today when Principal Allan Davis presented annual awards to student leaders in various activities. The largest single group honored were efficlency awards in the cadet corps, 51 boys having attained honor standing. Athletic, mu- will | sical, literary, dramatic and artistic awards also were e. Allen and Jean Gorbach r| received honers for general