Evening Star Newspaper, November 19, 1935, Page 17

Washington News JURY HEARS . §. ACCUSE MNEIL OF EMBEZZLING PLOT Lone Survivor of Indicted Park Savings Trio Goes on Trial. PROSECUTOR SAYS TWO GOT MORE THAN $26,000 Federal Attorney Claims Dummy Accounts Shielded Alleged Fraudulent Operations. Benedict M. McNeil, once assistant cashier of the defunct Park Savings Bank and only survivor of three men indicted two years ago after its col- lapse, went on trial today before Jus- tice P. Dickinson Letts in District Supreme Court. The two others charged with Mc- Neil were Robert S. Stunz, vice presi- dent of the bank, who committed sui- cide just before it closed, and the de- . fendant’s father, Alexander McNeil, a real estate man. The elder McNeil died last year after pleading not guilty to the charge against him. The three were charged with con- spiring to commit larceny of $50,000 of bank funds and with conspiring for Stunz to embezzle the same $50,000. Four on Jury Lost Money. 1In his opening statement to the jury of 10 men and 2 women, four of whom said they lost money in the financial crash of 1933, Assistant United States Attorney John J. Wilson said he expected to prove the alleged peculations took place over an eight- year period, beginning February 1, * 1925, and ending with the bank holiday March 3, 1933. Outlining the Government’s case, Wilson charged that Stunz and Mc- Neil, who resigned as assistant cashier August 14, 1929, systematically with- drew various sums totaling $26,030 up to a month before the time McNeil severed his connection with the bank. McNeil and Stunz devised a system of o debit and credit memoranda to cover these withdrawals, Wilson charged, al- | leging that the account of a depositor was credited with exactly the amount withdrawn so as to make the books | balance. ! Both McNeil and his father's real estate company, which went under | the name of J. McNeil & Co., main- tained accounts in the bank, Wilson stated. He then proceeded to give the Jury a lengthy lesson on technicali- ties of bank bookkeeping. Charges Dummy Accounts. Wilson charged two dummy ace «ounts were used to cover up the withdrawals. Both were opened by | Stunz with large overdrafts, he de- | clared. | Cards for these accounts were found by Department of Justice investiga- tors in the bank vault in a sealed en- velope marked with McNeil's name, Wilson said. George E. Walker, chairman of the board of the bank when it closed, was the first witness. His testimony con- cerned the bank’s set-up and identifi- cation of its officers. The jury was selected with com- paratively little delay, the prosecution challenging only one juror and the defense six. All the jurors were asked by De- fense Counsel James F. Reilly whether they had lost money in the closing of any of the local banks. Six replied they had, and four of these were al- lowed to remain on the panel. Asso- ciated with Reilly in the defense is » Attorney Robert E. Lynch, formerly an assistant corporation counsel. McNeil has been at liberty on bond. CAR LEFT ON SPAN, POLICE DRAG RIVER Envelope on Auto Floor Carries Name of Benny Henderson, 411 G Street. Harbor police were dragging the Po- tomac River today following the dis- covery of an automobile abandoned in the center of Key Bridge early this morning. The automobile, police were told, had been borrowed by Benny Hender- son, an employe of the Congressional Country Club, from M. F. Peters, an- other employe of the club. An anonymous telephone call short- iy after midnight informed the police a man had jumped from the bridge, and the automobile was discovered ‘when police arrived on the scene. An envelope on the floor of the car bore the name Benny Henderson and the “address 411 G street. Ownership of the car was traced by license numbers to Peters, who said he had loaned the car yesterday to Henderson. Officials at the club said they had not seen Henderson since noon yesterday. He was not found at the G street address, —_— .MRS. AGNES S. BURBANK DIES AT AGE OF 86 Deceased Was Widow of Head of Foreign Division of Post Office. Mrs. Agnes Stailey Burbank, 86, widow of Daniel N. Burbank, and a resident of this city since she was a child, died yesterdey at her home, 2147 F street, after an illness of several months. Her husband, who died in 1929, was for many years head of the foreign division of the Post Office Department. Mrs, Burbank is survived by a daughter, Miss Maude R. Burbank; & son, Dr. Caryl Burbank, and two grandsons, Richard W. and Daniel M. all of this city, and a brother, Frank L. Stailey, Vallejo, Calif. Funeral services will be held to- morrow at 2:30 p.m. at Hysong's fu- .Deral parlors, 1300 N street. Rev. Dr. J. Harvey Dunham, pastor of Western Presbyterian Church, will officiate. ml will be in Congressional tery. Considered by Immediate reduction of gas rates in the District by $350,000, in addition to the present temporary discount of $500,000, and adoption of a sliding- scale plan limiting the basic net re- turn to 6.5 per cent will be considered by the Public Utllities Commission at a public hearing to be held within two weeks. Proposals for the rate slash and the new method of annual rate correc- tions were submitted to the commis- sion late yesterday by the Washing- ton, Georgetown and Prince Georges Gas Cos. after many weeks of confer- ences with counsel for the commis- sion and People’s Counsel William A. Roberts. The plan now proposed deals with rates of the companies applied within the District anc does not affect those for nearby areas of Maryland and Virginia, which are served by subsidi- arles of the Washington company, of- ficials explained. Doubts Cut in Maryland. A spokesman for the Washington and Georgetown Gas Light Cos. today expressed doubt as to whether the utilities could volunteer a reduction in rates in Maryland communities, de- claring the subsidiaries in recent years had not been able to pay dividends and that interest on borrowed funds had been met only in part. Rates of the gas company and other utilities in Maryland communities are subject to control by the Maryland | State Public Service Commission | rather than by the District Public | Utilities Commission. The sliding scale proposal submitted to the District commission contains provision for an annual “allocation” of gas company properties as to the extent to which they are used in Dis- trict or non-District gas companies’ service, but the gas company spokes- man said he did not believe this would | alter the situation as to suburban rates. | Plan Is Submitted. Recommendations for adoption of | the proposals were submitted to the commission by People’s Counsel | Roberts, Corporation Counsel E. Bar- rett Prettyman and Special Assistant Corporation Counsel Hinman D. Fol- som, as well as by President Marcy L. Sperry of the gas companies. The plan is predicated on adoption of a new rate base of $21,000,000, plus a working capital allowance of $750,- 000, making the agreed rate base as of June 30, 1935, $21,750,000. The proposed rate slashes would be- come binding December 1. They con- sist of two phases. First, the tem- porary rate discount of 8.5 per cent which has been in effect since August, 1932. This now amounts to some $500,000 a year, it was computed. Sec- ond, an additional 5 per cent cut, Inmounflng to about $350,000. Just how the proposed December 1 rate cuts will be applied to various classes of customers of the Washing- ton and Georgetown companies would be determined by the commission after the public hearings, presuming the plan is adopted, as is expected. Distributed Among Users. It is expected a considerable sum would be applied to household cus- tomers, another considerable slice to g0 to house-heating customers and other cuts to various commercial users of gas. ‘@he Epening Star WASHINGTON, D. C, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1935, $350,000 Gas Rate Reduction To Be Weighed at Hearing Cut Is in Addition to $500,000 Discount. Sliding Scale Plan Also Will Be Commission. The company is said to be desirous of making use of what it calls “pro- motion rates” in certain schedules. This is designed to promote the use of gas. Rate at which gas is sold to the District and Federal Govern- ments is fixed by Congress at 70 cents per 1,000 cubic feet. Study of a proposed sliding scale was initiated last August by People’s Counsel Roberts, in a move to end the protracted battle before the commis- sion over the valuation and rates of the Washington and Georgetown com- panjes. The proposed basic rate of return to be allowed the companies under the sliding scale plan—or 6.5 per cent— is less than that now allowed the Potomac Electric Power Co., which is a base of 7 per cent. The commission, it will be recalled, however, has or- dered an investigation of the rate of return allowed the power company under its sliding scale, and & hearing will be held prior to the annual ad- justment of power rates in January. ‘This move by the commission has been interpreted as an indication it may consider a reduction of the basic return allowed the power company. Company Sets Year’s Profits. ‘The proposal now made for annual adjustment of the gas rates means, as does the power company sliding scale plan, that the company be allowed to keep all its profits for any one year, re- gardless of what is the amount of the “excess” of returns over the basic rate. But certain portions of the excess would be considered as the sum to be ordered for rate reductions in| the succeeding year. ‘The gas company sliding scale plan would work in this fashion: If earn- ings are in excess of 6.5 per cent on the agreed valuation, or rate base, and less than 7.5 per cent, one-half of the excess would be the sum to be calcu- lated for rate reductions. If earnings are 7.5 per cent and less than 8.5 per cent, further future re- ductions would be in order and a new element would come into the picture. The amount calculated for rate re- ductions would amount to three- fourths of earnings in excess of 7.5 per cent. To this would be added a sum equal to one-half of 1 per cent of the agreed rate base. Official Explains Plan. One official figlired this phase this way: Suppose the companies earned $1,000 over and above 7.5 per cent return on the valuation of $21,750,000. Then three-fourths of the excess earn- ings above 7.5 per cent on the base would amount to $750. To this would be added $108,750, or one-half of 1 per cent of the rate base of $21,750,000. If the companies earned 8.5 per cent or more, rates would be reduced by five-sixths of the excess earnings above 8.5 per cent and one and one- fourth of the rate base. 8hould earnings of the companies fall below the allowed rate return of 6.5 per cent, there would be no in- crease in charges to customers until after the expiration of two years. Rates then would be increased. If the rate of return was between 5.5 and 6 per cent the increase would be three-fourths of the difference be- tween the actual return and the agreed 6.5 per cent return; if 5.5 per cent or less, the amount available for increase in charges would be five-sixths of the | difference between the actual return| and the agreed 6.5 per cnt. CLARIFIED RULING ONREDS” SOUGHT School Heads Expected to Ask McCarl to Clear Up Confusion. The Board of Education tomorrow is expected to ask Controller Gen- eral McCarl to clarify his recent decision to withhold pay checks from any school employe who admits teaching or advocating Communism in the classroom ‘“‘or elsewhere.” ‘The McCarl ruling will be brought formally before the board by Super- intendent of Schools Frank W, Ballou, who has prepared a lengthy analytical statement indicating he belleves the Controller General has not changed the status of the educational program in the schools—that teachcs may tell of the facts of Communism in accordance with the opinion of Cor- poration Counsel E. Barrett Pretty- man. Several board members, however, are said to believe McCarl should be asked to interpret his ruling in view of the confusion and uncertainty it has caused. The McCarl order went beyond the scope of the Prettyman opinion by requiring all school employes before being paid to sign a statement each month that they have not either “taught or advocated” Communism. He did not define the word “teach.” Privately, some school and District officials believe McCarl went beyond the intent of the law, especially in view of the statement of Representa- tive Cannon, Democrat, of Missourl, author of the anti-Communism rider in the 1936 appropriation act. Cane non has said he did not intend to prevent teachers from reciting the facts of Communism or other forms of government and pointed out that & child’s education would not be com- plete without that information. Dr. Ballou has taken the position that since McCarl did not define the word “teach,” school employes can follow the Prettyman ruling and sign the statement required by McCarl’s order as long as they do not advocate the communistic form of government. Former Publisher Dies. PORTLAND, Me., November 19 (). —Charles Locke, 65, a former part owner of the Toledo Blade, and son of the paper’s founder, David R. Locke, died at his home here last night. He had been ill more than a YF. 2300 D. C. WOMEN 10 BE GIVEN JOBS Additional W. P. A. Projects Are Indorsed by Roosevelt. $400,000 Available. Approximately 2,500 women on the relief rolls here will be given employ- ment on some of the additional W. P. A. projects approved by the President yesterday, for which $400,000 of W. P. A. funds will be made available. The purposes for which this new allotment may be used are: Providing SIREH CAR KILLS M. U. Students Back Byrd for President BALTIMORE MAN, S7TH . C. VICTIM Visitor Struck Down Cross- ing Pennsylvania Avenue. W. P. A. FIELD AGENT IS FATALLY INJURED Eugene Golsen of Washington, Former G-Man, Hit by Truck While Fixing Tire in Jersey. Struck by a street car as he at- tempted to cross Pennsylvania avenue to a loading platform, Harry A. Bald- win, about 50, of Baltimore, was al- most instantly killed last night. His death was the ninety-seventh to occur in the District from traffic accidents since January 1. Baldwin was rushed to Emergency Hospital from John Marshall place, where the mishap occurred, but he died on the way from a fractured skull. The motorman of the car, John Southworth, 59, of 914 Sixth street northeast, was released in custody of an attorney for appearance at an in- quest. Washingtonian Killed. According to police, Baldwin was crossing the street on a diagonal line when he walked into the path of the oncoming car. A Washington man was killed in a New Jersey crash and several other , persons were in- . jured here in ac- cidents. Eugene Golsen, 31, special fleld agent for the ‘Works Progress Administration and a former Georgetown Uni- versity foot ball player, died at Bound Brook, N. J., early today from injuries re- ceived when struck by a truck as he changed a ® Eugene Golsen. tire on his car. An Associated Press dispatch quoted police as saying Golsen had pulled over to the shoulder of route 29 and was working on the tire when a truck, driven by a Newark man, struck him. He was dragged 100 feet. The driver, Lawrence Meyer, was held on a tech- nical charge of manslaughter. Former “G-man.” Golsen, who lived with his wife, Mrs. Florence Golsen, at 2900 Con- necticut avenue, had left the W. P. A. office here about a week ago. His duties consisted of investigating crim- inal irregularities in works projects. He formerly was connected with the Bureau of Investigation, Justice De- partment. ‘While at Georgetown Golsen played center on the eleven, being graduated in 1925, Mrs. Mamie Lawrence, 55, of 1335 D street northeast, is in Casualty Hospital with chest injuries and brain concussion, received when an auto- mobile in which she was riding col- lided with another at Ninth street and Massachusetts avenue northeast. Anna Sohm, 21, of 610 Irving street was treated at Georgetown Hospital for possible internal injuries after she was struck at Ninth and G streets by an automobile said to have been driven by Charles Bontfele, 39, of 26 Logan Circle. MWCARL HALTS PLAN FOR ADVISORY FORCE Large Staff for Rehabilitation Projects Was to Have Been Employed. A plan of the Resettlement Adminis- tration to employ “a very large staft” for supervisory activities in connection with rural rehabilitation projects to cost $91,000,000, has been halted in midair by Controller General McCarl who has called for justification of the school lunches; sewing circles for women on relfef; clearing and improv- ing the grounds of the District Home for Aged and Infirm; playgrounds and other facilities for the Children’s Tu- berculosis Sanatorium at Glenn Dale, Md.; for continuing the Logan Circle students’ lodge, and for packing and distributing surplus commodities for those in need. Although these projects were ap- proved, their total cost was estimated by District officials at $2,000,000. The fact only $400,000 is to be made avail- able at this time means that Com- missioner George E. Allen, District W. P. A. administrator, will have to de- termine the relative importance of the projects and how much should be ap- plied to each. The District will still have about 1,500 persons, mostly in the white col- lar group, who have been on relief, ARTIST TALKS TONIGHT Miss Ella Barnes Will Speak on “Environment” at Center. and Park View Center, Priday, b e ST Head of Festival Dies. expenditure. This was disclosed today in a deci- sion settling certain questions the Re- settlement Administration had raised in connection with the projects. In presenting its case, the administration said it was spending $44,000,000 for making loans and grants to 525,000 in- dividual families and to co-operatives and explained that this “involves a very large staff of case supervisors, farm management advisers and other personnel of this character.” “The functions of such personnel,” the administration continued, “are to furnish advice and supervision to the individual families and co-operatives.” McCarl responded: “It is not apparent under what au- thority of law it could be held that any funds ‘appropriated under the emergency relief act of 1935 are avail- able for the employment of personnel ‘to furnish advice and supervision to n:f individual families and co-oper- atives.’ ” —— D. C. TOURIST INCREASE LARGER THAN RESORTS Belief that the 1935 increase in ‘Washington tourist trade was larger than the average for resort hotels was expressed today by Curtis Hodges, ex- ecutive director of the Greater Na- tional Capital Committee of the Wash- ington Board of Trade. It was reported at a meeting of the American Hotel Association in At- lantic City, Hodges said, that the business increase at resort hotels this year was 16 per cent. Washington tourist figures, with the same increase for November applied to December, show an increase this year over last of 22 per cent, Hodges said. The number of tourists in Walhing- ton from January 1 to November 1, 1935, was 2,281,843; the total indicated for the year at the same rate of in- crease would be 2,533,878. The 1934 tourist figure was 2,076,225, » Some of the 800 Maryland University students who yesterday signed a petition calling for appointment of H. C. (Curly) Byrd as president of the college. Holding the petition is Routh Hickey, while Betty Quirk is signing. Waiting to affix their signatures are, front: Loretta Dolan and Dolores Piozet. Back: Sam Leishear, Nancy Anders, Mary Henneis and Pete King. DRUNKARDS' FARM PLANS ARE PUSHED Commissioners Ask Laws Be Drafted as Survey Shows Repeaters. The Commissioners today carried forward the plans of Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen for development of a “drink cure” farm for habitual inebriates. They asked Corporation Counsel E. Barrett Prettyman, Judge Gus A. Schuldt of Police Court and Chair- man George W. Offutt of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to prepare enabling legislation which will permit inebriates to be sent to a rehabilitation farm instead of a penal institution. Near Workhouse. Officials advised Commissioner Hazen the proposed farm should be developed near the District Work- house at Occoquan, where inebriates now are confined when lengthy court sentences are imposed. Police Supt. Ernest W. Brown and Wilbur La Roe, jr., of the Board of Indeterminate Sentence and Parole, were asked to develop ideas and sug- gestions as to best methods of operating the proposed farm. They will contact police departments and parole officials in other jurisdictions concerning the suggestion. Gets Repeater Figures, Commissioners Hazen and Sultan will proceed with plans for construc- tion of an institution to care for the habitual drunks. Some weeks ago Hazen was con- vinced of the advisability of a special farm for cure of inebriates when rec- ords showed that numerous persons here had been convicted time and again on the charge of being drunk. He consulted with welfare and other officials and was told that in many cases repeated arrests for intoxication indicated that the persons involved | were victims of a “sickness” rather than being deliberate violators of the law. OFFICER CRUSHED, 3 D. C. MEN HELD Alexandria Policemen Accuse Trio of Jamming One Between Autos. By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. ALEXANDRIA, Va., November 19.— ‘Three Washington men, alleged oc- cupants of an automobile used to jam Policeman George Embrey against the running board of an Alexandria police car as he stepped from one machine to the other to armst the men last night, are being held here pending a hearing in Police Court tomorrow on charges placed against them. Officer Embrey sustained possible internal injuries and a mashed hand and arm when caught between the two cars. He was removed to the Alexandria Hospital for treatment. The Washington machine drove away after pushing Embrey against the scout car and its alleged occupants were arrested early today in Wash- ington by District police. Police charged Paul Sanford, 21, of the 400 block G street, Washington, alleged driver of the machine, with felonious assault. They listed the other men as Carlyle C. Kirk, 24, 100 block New York avenue, and Edward McGee, 23, 1700 block H street north- east. The three were wanted here on disorderly conduct warrants sworn out by Orlando Pulzone, 25, of 211 West Peyton avenue. ‘The incident happened in the 400 block Mount Vernon avenue, a short distance from Pulzone’s home. Of- ficer William Bayliss, driver of the police car, said he moved his car as the other machine came against it, to save Embrey from worse injury. “SERGT. DAVIS” HUNTED Police Warn Business Men on Bogus Fund Collection. Business houses were warned by po- lice today to be on the lookout for a man using the name “Sergt. Davis,” who is attempting to get money by collecting for the “Fireman’s Christ- mas Club.” The man usually calls first by telephone, and then if a do- nation is promised, he will call and collect the money. The man is about 28, of medium height and has & ruddy complexion and dark hair, Democratic Club to Meet. To consider organization plans in Mother Is Granted Custody of Child After Long Fight Mrs. Maggie Faulconer Once Alleged to Have Kidnaped Son. Once arrested for allegedly kidnap- ing her 9-year-old son, Warren, from Spottsylvania, Va., where he had been left by his father, Mrs. Maggie M. Faulconer, 508 Rittenhouse street, to- day was awarded legal custody of the child in District Supreme Court. Justice Jennings Bailey also granted a request from Mrs. Faulconer’s at- torney, John J. O'Brien, that the father, Yelverton B. Faulconer, be required to pay $25 monthly for the child’s support. The long fight over custody of the boy, youngest of four children, began shortly after divorce litigation was initiated several years ago. Mrs. Faul- coner was arrested last October when she brought Warren here from Spott- sylvania. She was never prosecuted, however. Two grown children were not involved in the custody dispute and a daughter is in legal custody of the father. MAN FOUND DEAD LOGKED IN RoOw 'Robert J. Lewis, Writer, Be- lieved to Have Died 12 Hours Before Discovery. Locked in his room for two days, Robert J. Lewis, 46, free lance news writer, who was described as coming from a prominent Kentucky family, was found dead last night at his apart- ment at 1901 N street. Empty bottles which had contained 200 headache tablets were discovered near the body, police said. understood to have been injured in an accident in South America about five years ago, and since had been troubled with severe headaches, The man’s wife, Mrs. Dorothy Lewis, an employe of the State Department, said she had gone to visit friends sev- eral days ago, but returned home yes- terday when she became alarmed at not being able to get her husband on the telephone, With the help of a locksmith, she entered the apartment and found her husband sprawled across the bed, police said. Physicians said he apparently had been dead 12 hours. An envelope police said they found in Lewis' parked car contained this brief message: “I am Robert J, Lewis. Notify my wife, Dorothy Lewis.” De- tectives refused to divulge the con- tents of other notes Lewis is said to have left. The homicide squad and the cor- oner’s office are investigating. An autopsy was to be performed today to determine the cause of death. Police were told Lewis was last seen by a resident of the apartment house who saw him enter his apartment Sunday. Another resident, with whom Lewis MENINGITIS VICTIM Earl Atkins of Alabama Dies in Hospital Here. Earl Atkins, 55, of Reform, Als., died today of spinal meningitis in Gal- ospital, where he was taken i Credit Administration, also will be a A former civil engineer, Lewis is| —Star Staff Photo. FARM GROUP HEAD PRAISES CHANGES Tells Land Grant Colleges| A. A. A. Bringing Agri- culture Equality. Agriculture “has made itself a place in the sun” through agricultural ad- justment programs and the organiza- tion of progressive farm co-operative | bodies, Edward A. O'Neal, president | of the American Farm Bureau Fed- eration, said here today. O'Neal, speaking before the forty- ninth annual convention of the Asso- ciation of Land Grant Colleges and Universities at the Willard Hotel, said agriculture has made more progress | in the past few years than has ever been accomplished before in the his- tory of man. “The agricultural adjustment pro- grams are bringing about equality for agriculture,” he said. “We are seeing that agriculture is being brought under such control that it will receive its fair share of the national income and be able to hold its own with the other organized groups of society.” Game Project Related. I N. Gabrielson, newly appointed | chief of the Bureau of Biological Sur- | vey, described the “Iowa experiment” under which farmers contract with the | State for the production of game. On the basis of this experiment, Gabriel- son urged extension services of the State colleges to give serious considera- tion to this new fleld of effort and an opportunity for producing additional | income on the farm. Chester C. Davis, administrator of the agricultural adjustment act, will talk on the subject of “The Grass Revolution” at the meeting tonight. Dr. W. 1. Myers, governor of the Farm speaker on tonight's program. Wallace Urges Broad View. Becretary of Agriculture Wallace last night urged the delegates to re- gard establishment of a permanent “long-term and economically sound " a8 a national problem. He said in order for the program to suc- ceed the farmer must look beyond his own problems and consider the welfare of his neighbor, his region and the Nation. “Unless the farmers can learn to make the necessary mental and emo- tional adjustments, we are licked be- fore we start,” the Secretary sald, and then launched into a forecast of an era of regional planning by farm lead- ers during the coming Winter. The emergency programs put into effect in 1933 had serious shortcom- ings, Wallace asserted, but added that “we are at last approaching the agri- cultural program as we would have then if there had been time.” High Interest Hit. Cut-thiroat interest rates charged farmers before they became aware they were eligible for credit with the Farm Credit Administration were de- plored by Farm Credit Governor Myers in a statement read at the convention.- He sald these interest charges ran as high as 42 per cent. Necessity for improving the farm- ers’ purchasing power was stressed by Secretary of Labor Perkins before a home economics sectional meeting last night. TRADE BOARD TO HONOR FLEMING FOR ELECTION Government, Business, Industrial and Civie Life Wil Be Represented Friday. ‘Washington’s government, business, industrial and civic life will be rep- Society and General PAGE B—1 FIVE-YEAR POLICE PROGRAM MAPPED BY CHIEF BROWN Continued Efficiency During Future Years Sought in Plea for Data. INCREASED DEMANDS ON PERSONNEL SEEN Suggestions of Administrative Aides to Include Use for Added Men on Force. A comprehensive five-year program designed to help the Police Depart- ment maintain its efficiency and ef- fectiveness in the face of increasing demands, was planned today by Supt. Ernest W. Brown. The plan is far-reaching in its scope, embracing improvements in personnel, equipment, possible changes in the territorial boundaries of pre= cincts or the creation of new pre- cincts. It also contemplates an over= hauling of laws and regulations to determine whether some have be- come obsolete and whether new ones are needed. Maj. Brown has called on his ad- ministrative assistants and command- ing officers to aid him in preparing the program. Excerpt From Memorandum. In a memorandum to these officers, he said: “The department is preparing a five- year program for the activities of the Police Department, having as its ob- Jective improvement in police service to meet the increasing demands as a result of increased population, in- creased motor vehicle registration and an increase in the number of out-of= town visitors to the Nation's Capital. “You will submit, not later than December 15, 1935, suggestions for ime provement in the police service in the way of increased personnel, improvee ment in equipment, changes in the boundaries of the precincts, additional precincts, bureaus or units, additional laws or regulations, or modifications or changes in the existing laws, also changes in the.existing manual gov- erning the force, having in mind the development of the highest degree of efficiency in the department.” Maj. Brown said he envisioned many needed changes in the coming five years to keep the department at maximum efficiency, and that the primary purpose of the program is to develop a general outline to follow, Each year he proposes to make cere | tain improvements, giving precedence to those of an urgent nature, Need More Police. The most important need at the present time, Maj. Brown pointed out, is an increase in personnel. For two years, he has pleaded with the Commissioners, the Budget Bureau and Congress, to allow appropriations for a substantial addition to the uni- formed force. Maj. Brown also believes some of the physical equipment of the department has outlived its usefulness and should be replaced. Actual formulation of the five-year program will start after December 15, when the administrative officers and precinct commanders have submitted their suggestions for necessary im- provements. FUNERAL TOMORROW FOR J. M. RIORDON Services for Retired Banker to Be at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. Brief funeral services for John M. Riordon, 65, of 401 Sixth street southe east, retired executive vice president of the Bank of Commerce & Save ings, will be held tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. at the Lee funeral home and will be followed by services at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Second and C streets southeast. Burial will be in Cone gressional Cemetery. Honerary pallbearers, representing banking groups here, will be as fol lows: Representing the Bank of Comse merce & Savings, Maurice D. Rosene berg, Joseph Sanders, Thomas J. Groom, Dr. Clarence A. Weaver, A. S, Gatley and Harry E. Mayer; repre= senting the District Bankers' Associae tion, Charles H. Doing, Maurice D, Rosenberg, Howard Moran and Vice tor Deyber; representing the Eastern Bullding & Loan Association, Clare ence F. Donohoe, William N. Payne, jr.; Willam H. Harrison and James J. Hayes. Charles J. Walker, not Tepresenting any group, also will be an honorary pallbearer. Mr. Riordon's nephews will be active pallbearers. They are Dr. Custis Hunt, Paul Hunt, Donald Hunter, Russell Riordon, Robert Riordon and resented at the November meeting of the Washington Board of Trade, to be held at the Willard Hotel Friday night. The meeting will be in tribute to Robert V. Fleming, immediate past president of the Board of Trade, in honor of his election as president of the American Bankers' Associa- tion. Mr. Fleming will be the principal y | speaker at the meeting. Officials of CITIZENS TO MEET Chevy Chase Association Will ‘Hear Reports Tomorrow. the organization anticipate that this will be the largest gathering of the year. —_— WATERS HEADS POST Named Commander of George E. Killeen Group of Legion. A. H. Waters has been elected com- mander of the George E. Killeen Post, No. 25, American Legion, it was announced today. Other officers elected were Richard Curtin, senior vice commander; M. Callahan, junior vice commander; Leon Buscher, finance officer; Joseph Westlein, adjutant; H. Jefferus, judge . | advocate, and H. E. Knott and James preparation for the coming presidential| Hege. elections, the Democratic Club of the District of Columbia will meet at 8:30 o'clock tonight at the Mayfiogrer Hotel meet tonight. Collins, color bearers. The post will hold an oyster feast at noon Sunday at 1245 Wisconsin avenue to launch sagemberehip drive, Dr. Ernest Smith. e SAILOR’S HUNGER STRIKE IS ENDED BY POLICE Family Drops Out of Sight After Taken From in Front of White House to Navy Department. By the Associated Press. The hunger strike a discharged sailor and his family began yesterday in front of the White House was short-lived. Lewis V. Farrell of Philadelphia, who sat on a curbstone in front of the Executive Mansion, with his wife and two children, and announced his intention of remaining there until he starved to death or got a job, was taken into custody by park policemen, ‘When Farrell complained he was hindered in finding work because of & “slanderous statement” in his naval discharge, police took him to the Navy Department. After that, he and his family dropped out of sight. Naval officials said his papers showed only that he had displayed “an ineptitude