Evening Star Newspaper, July 31, 1935, Page 19

Washington News D.C. GAS RESERVE 15 24HOURS ONLY, WTNESS REVEALS Break in Line Would Cut off Supply Quickly, In- quiry Shows. SEVERAL COST ITEMS OF FIRM UNEXPLAINED Roberts Seeks Change in Method of Manufacture as Hearing on Rates Continues. An admissior that Washington has only a 24-hour reserve of gas for business and residential use in the event of a serious breakdown of equipment was drawn from a Wash- ington Gas Light witness today at the gas rate hearing before the Public Utilities Commission. Counsel for the commission ques- tioned A. C. Klein, Stone & Webster expert, about the possibilities of a break in the 360-mile transmission through whict the District obtains gas from Kentucky. In such a case, Klein stated, within 24 hours the supply of gas for domestic use would be cut off. He said, under further questioning, that the gas holders are large enough to provide only a 24-hour supply of gas. Manufacturing Change Sought. William A. Roberts, People’s coun- sel, was conducting his line of inquiry in an endeavor to establish it would mean a cheaper rate for the consumers if the Public Utilities used a larger proportion of natural gas with that manufactured. The present ratio is 30 per cent natural gas. Klein, questioned about the change in the ratio, said it would involve con- siderable expense, since it would re- qQuire adjustment of the plant. Several expense items taken from the gas company's record excited the nterest of the commission counsel. One was a $3.30 lunch item sub- mitted by M. L. Sperry, president of the company. This was in connec- tion with an examination of a new gas holder at Chillum, Md. The in- cident was laughed off by both sides. Other Items Unexplained. Klein was unable to explain other items, one for $7,377 and another for 810,914 Questioned abcut these, he replied he simply did not know. Inquiries about the gas holder at Chillum revealed a $200 account paid to E. C. Rouzee as a fee for valuating the land. This gas holder is used ex- clusively for the Washington ' com- pany. . The item interested Roberts because Rouzee at one time had been employed by the Public Utilities Commission in making certain valuations. There was no connection, however, between the two services. ALTEMUS TESTAMENT IS FILED FOR PROBATE | Bulk of $276,000 Estate Is Left | to Widow—Realty Valued at $259,000. Leaving the bulk of his $276,000 estate to his widow, the will of Frank E. Altemus, local merchant, was filed for probate in District Supreme Court today. A petition for probate, filed through Attorney John J. Wilson, informed the court he owned $259,000 in real estate and '$17,717 in personal property. Mr. Altemus, who died at the ball park July 22, left $5,000 in trust to his son, Frederick E. Altemus, direct- ing that the income be paid to his sister, Mrs. Mary A. White. After her death the principal will go to the son, who also was given real estate at 3506, 2508, 2510 and 27556 Fourteenth street. The balance of the estate was left to the widow, Mrs. Parthenia E. Altemul. COLORED ELKS’ FUND RATED EMERGENCY House Action on Resolution to , Provide $39,000 for Policing J Convention. Emergency action must be taken by the House to get through special Tesolutions carrying a total of $39,000 for police protection and other ex- penses incident to the conventions here of the colored Elks and colored Shriners, the first of which starts August 16. Acting Chairman Palmisano of the House District Committee said today that as soon as the two resolutions these appropriations reach he Foening Hhar WASHINGTON, D. C., WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1935 Y It is to do away with crowded and unsatisfactory conditions like these that District officials and civic leaders have recommended construction of a municipal center to house Traffic Court and other branches of the city government. Public Works Adminis- trator Ickes recently turned down an application for a loan for such con- struction. Left: A view of the crowded Traffic Court. Photo taken from the bench of Judge Gus A. Schuldt, with rooms, corridors, stairways and other parts of the building thronged with defend- ants, witnesses and officials. The room is only 22 feet long and 26 feet wide, with an 8-foot ceiling, not as large as a parlor in some resi- dences. Right: The crowded hallway outside ‘Traffic Court, with a crowd waiting to enter. Note the narrow corridor, which at times is jammed so that one can scarcely move. Lower: The corporation counsel’s of- fice, where police and accused confer with officials. It is only 20 feet by 9 feet, with a 9-foot 3 The dimensions of the other rgoms follow: Witness room—9x16x9 feet. United States attorney's room— 20x9x9 feet. —Star Staf Photos. IAMBORE HEADS | DEBATEPARALYSS Seek Health Conference as New Case Is Reported at Local Hospital. Boy Scout officials will meet with Surgeon General Hugh S. Cumming and local health officers this after- noon to discuss the possible effect of the infantile paralysis situation on arrangements for the coming Boy Scout jamboree. As final arrangements for the con- ference were being made a new case . This is the nineteenth case reported in Washington since Janu- ary 1. There have been four deaths due to the disease here this year. Public Health Service officials said that they will act merely in an ad- visory capacity at today’s conference and that determination as to the course to be pursued in connection with the jamboree will be left to Boy Scout officials. Among those summoned by the sur- geon general to the conference are Dr. 1 C. Riggin, State health officer of Virginia; Dr. R. H. Riley, State health officer of Maryland; Dr. George C. Ruhland, District health officer; Dr. M. E. Chichester, Arlington County health officer; Dr. Haven Emerson, medical adviser to the Boy Scouts of America; other Scout officials and heads of the Public Health Service. Public Health Service charts show the occurrence of the disease appar- mberateuuolu:gdmuhereh about the average for any year, that there is no cause for alarm. EPIDEMIC THREAT LACKING. No Gause for Fear Found in Mont- gomery County. LAWVERS REEET ROOSEVELT AP {Commercial League Group Elects Colorado Man President. Delegates to the Forty-first Annual Convention of the Commercial Law League of America broke into their business sessions today with a sports | program, after rejecting resolutions critical of the Roosevelt administra- tion. ! The resolutions, prepared by the Special Committee on Commerce, were expected to precipitate warm words when brought up last night, but were brushed aside without discussion. Denverite New President. Only the formality of nomination was necessary last night for the elec- As expected, George Dexter Blount of Denver, president of the Denver Bar Association and a leajue member 23 opposition, are: George Burns, Roches- ter, N. Y., vice president; Thad M. Talcott, jr., South Bend, Ind. treas- urer, and John M. Niehaus, Peoria, Il recording secretary. was going on at Ward- Balloting man Park Hotel todsy for Executive ttee members. Two of the , - Cincinnati, and Tyree G. Newbill, Kanses City, Mo. The convention last night approved tween the United States and Canada during “these days of war talk and preparation.” S 3 Young Trio Bested by Taxi Driver in Hold-Up Attempt Attack with Brick Turns to Rout for Pennsyl- vania Visitors. Nichols Fights Back and Transients Are Landed ] in Cells. SAD, a very sad story indeed, is that of three would-be rob- bers who picked the wrong hacker early today and then, having two wrong ways to run, se- lected both of them. 4 Elmer Ackerman, 17; Donald J. Bach, 16, and Walter J. Nottle, 19, Transient Bureau residents from Pennsylvania, have confessed, police say, that they made several mistakes. They made the first one about 1:30 a.m. when, at Pennsylvania ave- nue and Madison place, they decided upon Hacker George F. Nichols of 704 Third street as their victim. Attacked With Brick. The youths made s second mistake shortly after they hailed Nichols and, ordering him to drive east on Penn- sylvania avenue, pounded him over the head with a brick as the cab entered the Capitol grounds. The mistake became apparent when Nichols shook the blood from his eyes and went into action with his fists. In the meantime the cab had come to a halt and Nottle, seated beside Nichols, slipped under the wheel. Nichols, however, was making it so hot for the two in the back seat that they fled in one wrong direction while Nottle, & moment later, took the other. Nottle’s direction led him toward 0. . Nt in At the precinct, Policeman E. 8. heard sounds of the chase and joined in with enthusiasm. TINY_COACH MODELS WILL GO ON DISPLAY Exhibjtion Will Be Held Friday _ln )htunl History Building of Smithsonian. GEORGE F. NICHOLS. ~—Star Staff Photo. Having run by a police station, Nottle took anotber tack, which led directly toward an excavation for the new Acacia Life Insurance Building. Nottle, as you must have guessed, tumbled in without more ado. Another Route to Station. ‘While police were booking Nottle for investigation and giving the hacker first-aid for the wound on his scalp, Ackerman and Bach were merely on their way to the station by another e BRANCH HITS YOUTH Boy Injured While Watching Azmen on Father’s Farm. * BYRNS ASSURES LEAVE BILL VOTE {House Action by Early Next Week Seen After Delay Yesterday. Speaker Byrns gave definite assur- ance today that an opportunity will be given, probably early next week, to pass the two leave bills in which all Government employes are vitally in- terested. They provide for 30 days annual leave instead of 15 as at present, and for 15 days sick leave, both cumulative up to 120 days. Action on these two measures, under special rules adopted by the Rules Committee a week ago, was expected yesterday when the bills would un- doubtedly have passed but the all-day fight of Representative Hoeppel of California, against the Army promo- tion bill consumed an unexpected amount of time. Delay Continued. Toward the close of the day, Chair- man O'Connor of the Rules Commit- tee endeavored to expedite procedure 50 that those two measures could be passed. However, Representative Blanton, Democrat, of Texas made a point of no quorum forcing a roll call vote on the Army promotion bill, which consumed more time. When the effort was made to call up the leave bills under unanimous consent, Representative Young, Democrat, of Ohio objected. Representative Blanton is not op- because the motor truck transportation bill which is for consideration today is on the President’s “must” program and must be passed before Congress adjourns. With the general demand on Congress to close up shop as soon as possible, 1o other legislation will be allowed to interfere with or delay action on any measure on the “must” program. However, the Speaker said, he feels POTOMAC SAVINGS REVIEW PETITIONED Bank Receiver Asks Supreme Court Ruling on Share- holders’ Liability. The United States Supreme Court been asked to review the decision £ 2 g H | : ¥ I i g ] E ; t i i E : € i £ i il i I gik g t g g i E £ 2 ¥ i | | i i i F E £] g { 4 i i £3 e | | : % ¥ i il ] %géés EFE HARMATI T0 PLAY 5 OF OWN WORKS Repeat Performance to Be Given by Conductor This Evening. Five new songs by Guest Conductor Sandor Harmati and the appearance of Miss Winifred Cecil, New York so- prano, will feature Harmati’s repeat | performance at the Watergate “sunset | symphony” concert at 8 o'clock to- night. Miss Cecil will sing the five songs, one of which is to be heard for the first time in public, and the National Qrchestra will play one of Symphony. z:nmu’l orchestral compositions, ttle Caprice.” Chorus of 45 Will Sing. Another feature of the program will be a group of familiar songs sung by a chorus of 45 voices from the Depart- ment of* Agriculture. At least a thousand employes of the department | will attend in the first of a series of concerts arranged for Federal em-| ploye groups. Harmati’s repeat appearance was ar- ranged following the enthusiastic re- ception tendered him here last Sunday night. In response to many requests, the popular Strauss waltz, “Tales of the Vienna Woods,” will be included in tonight’s program. Seats may be obtained at Gar- finckel's Department Store and after 5 o'clock this afternoon at the Water Gate box office. Program for Tonight. The complete program follows: “Symphony No. 7 in D Major”_Brahms (Intermission.) “Hornpipe™ Millay). “Rain in the Night” (Sara Teas- dale). “Sacred Heart of Notre Dame” (Ruth Owen). 2 4 “To Jane” (Percy Bysshe Shelley). “The Owl and the Pussycat” (Edgar Lear). Miss Winifred Cecil. ) “Little Caprice” .. -Harmati “Hungarian Dance No. -Brahms Two pleces from “Damnation of Faust” Ber! “Dance des Sylphes.’ “Tales of the Vienna Woods”__Strauss DETECTIVE BRAGG GETS YEAR'S LEAVE Will Recuperate on Alabama Farm Following Operations. Kenney to Retire. Detective Sergt. Thomas C. Bragg, attached to the headquarters check and fraud squad, has been granted & leave of absence for a year, effective & 3 ! tomorrow, to re- . cuperate from a series of opera- tions for stomach trouble. ‘Tomorrow also ‘will mark the re- E. Kenney, whose arm Was para- by a fellow officer who mistook Ken- " ney for & robber hunting in a vacant 42 Bragg, who is 42 years old, has police force since 1921, Society and General PAGE B—1 AUTO LIABILITY - APPLES TONGHT ADS SHFETY WAR Reckless and Irresponsible Drivers to Lose Per- mits Under Law. FIVE HURT NEW LOW FOR 24-HOUR PERIOD 310 Arrests Include 70 for Speed- ing, as Supt. Brown Issues Eleventh Order. The District's new automobile op- erators’ financial responsibility law goes into effect at midnight tonight, placing in the hands of the authori- ties a new weapon to combat reckless and irresponsible drivers. Bristling with penalty provisions, the Jaw will augment the police cam- paign of the past 11 days to reduce the number of traffic fatalities and automobile accidents. Meanwhile, today records showed a new low, in combination, of persons injured and number of accidents for 2 24-hour period since the campaign started. A total of 5 persons were injured in 18 accidents from 8 a.m. yesterday to 8 am. today. Only one of the injuries may prove serious, it | 1s said. Eleventh Order Issued. Today Police Supt. Brown, in his eleventh special order since the start of the campaign, instructed members of his command to enforce the law requiring motorists to keep to the left in passing other vehicles. The order also instructed police to make slow- driving motorists keep in right-hand traffic lanes. Arrests for the 24-hour period end- ing at 8 am. today totaled 310. Of these 70 were for speeding, 16 for passing red iights and 2 for reckless driving. As police continued to press their campaign announcement was made that the Board of Revocations and Restorations had revoked the drivers’ permits of 201 District motorists dur- ing the two-week period, June 15 to June 30. In addition, 17 other motor- ists operating on other than District licenses were forbidden the privilege of driving automobiles in the District. While the number of revocations sets a new record for permits actually revoked in a two-week period, the offenses causing the revocations oc- curred over a period of from two to three months, it was said at the traffic records office. Many Drunk Cases. Driving while drunk figured in & large number of the revocations. In addition to 39 motorists having their permits taken away for driving while drunk here, 21 District residents had them revoked for driving while drunk in Maryland and another 20 for driv- ing in other States while under the influence of liquor. More than 60 of the revocations were for speeding. Other causes for revocations included reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident without making identity known and misrepresentations in ob- taining permits. -One permit was re- voked because of a motorist being of unsound mind. Combinations of of- fenses played their part in other revo- cations. The new financial responsibility law provides for immediate suspension of the operator’s permit and registration certificate, and surrender of license tags of any motorist convicted of op- erating an automobile while drunk or under the influence of narcotics, leav- ing the scene of an accident without | making known his identity, where there has been any one injured, or if any motorist fails to settle within 30 days damages of $100 or more obtained against him. Once in such a difficulty a motorist cannot get back his right to drive until he has made good any damages and taken out insurance to the amount of $5,000 where a person has been killed or $10,000 insurance where two or more persons were injured or killed in the accidents in which his car was involved—the sum to insure responsibility in the event of another accident. Reciprocal agreements will be in force between the District and 21 States which have financial respon- sibllity laws. Traffic Director William A. Van Duzer today estimated that some- ‘where around 500 motorists a year will have to show financial responsibility. The extra work to be placed on his department in carrying out the new law will be handled, he said, by clerks already on hand, aided by emergency relief clerks in ‘the office. Congress has made no additional ap- propriation for Traffic Department personnel in connection with the new law. From experience in States where the law is in operation Mr. Van Duzer said he expects about one-third of the motorists involved under the new law will take out the necessary insurance again to drive their auto- mobiles, while the other two-thirds probably will quit driving. Ice-Pick Vandal Punctures Tires On Forty Autos Policeman ' in Precinct Among Victims of Marauder. An otherwise perfect morning was ruined for some 40 motorists in the southwest section yesterday when they