Evening Star Newspaper, December 8, 1935, Page 27

.. OFIEE NOVE FROMD.C LOOHS Big Consolidated, Building Units Need of Scat- tered Agencies. Large consolidated building units to house Government agencies, now scat- tered through a multitude of office structures, apartment houses and for- mer private homes are the primary need for solution of the Federal rental problem in Washington. Lack of such consolidated units in the Capital led to recent rumors some bureaus might be moved away to Bal- timore, Philadelphia or Richmond. A canvass of the situation yesterday, however, revealed Secretary Ickes and Interior Department officials in charge of Government space have no present intention of removing whole bureaus away from the District. With Uncle Sam now leasing about 2,500,000 square feet of space here, offices remain available only in scat- tered buildings, while authorities hold it is necessary for good administration and efficiency to have the units housed not merely in the same structures, but on the same floors. Some Units May Be Moved. Officials have heard that if the space pressure continues, such self- contained groups as the Patent Office and the Bureau of Mines might be moved trom Washington. They could function elsewhere almost as well as here, according to some observers. The National Park Service, however, s not placed in that category, as it has dealings with the Bureau of Public Roads of the Department of Agriculture, the National Capital Park and Planning Commission, the Fine Arts Commission, and other agencies here. Some building authorities indicated that within two years the Social Becurity Board would need a building as large as the Veterans' Administra- tion. While there is no immediate relief in sight for the public housing situa- tion, there is hope of easing the crowding. The new Interior Depart- ment Building is to be completed just a year hence. That will take care of the Office of Education, the Indian Office, and other Interior Department | agencies which now occupy the whole of the Hurley-Wright Building. Secretary Ickes has recently allo- cated $3,600,000 for the new Apex Building, at the eastern tip of the Triangle. Officials say this should be fnished, if the work is pushed, about this time next year. Into that building the Federal Trade Commis- sion will be moved, releasing space elsewhere. In the interim, the Division of Gov- ernment Space Control of the National Park Service, in charge of Clay J. Guthridge, is making ready to move the Trade Commission out of the temporary structure at street and Constitution avenue into three buildings—The Rochambeau, The Premier and 1624 I street, the floor space of which totals 102,000 square feet. The present site of the Federal Trade Commission Building | will be occupied by the new Federal | Reserve Board Building. Another factor in relieving pressure for space will be the remodeling of the old Pension Office Building in Judici- ary Square, occupied by the General Accounting Office. Plans were pre- pared for constructing wings on the buildings, but this program was in | conflict with the ideas of some of the other governmental agencies. The project is linked with the development | space to be kept spic and span of the Municipal Center. Previous plans have been to construct the new Police, Juvenile and Municipal Court Buildings and the Recorder of Deeds’ Office in Judiciary Square, and there | has been some talk of shifting the General Accounting Office by con- structing & new building along Penn- sylvania avenue, in the vicinity of the Municipal Center development. The Procurement Division of the Treasury Department is now arranging for the remodeling. Expansion Program Studied. ‘The National Capital Park and Planning Commission and the Fine Arts Commission have been studying a program for expansion of Govern- ment buildings in the Northwest Rec- tangle, bounded by E street, Seven- teenth street, Constitution avenue and the Potomac River. Into this area are slated to go the new War and Navy Departments and the new In- terior Department is a unit in a pro- posed new group of public buildings designed to balance the triangle de- velopment downtown. Other buildings to go into that area are the Pan-Amer- ican Union Annex and the Federal Reserve Board Building. The Navy Department hopes to secure funds for a new Naval Hospital here to replace the present ramshackle buildings, and it is considered likely Congress may grant around $3,000,000 for this work. | Uncle Sam rents space in 103 build- ings here, and he has some 12,000,000 | square feet in 101 Government-owned buildings, Secretary Ickes says. The Secretary’s own department is scat- tered in 14 different buildings here, which makes difficult good adminis- | The War Department is in | tration. 16 different buildings, the Resettle- ment Administration in 15 buildings | and the General Accounting Office in | 10 Government-owned buildings, while the Works Progress Adminis- tration is scattered in 10 buildings. Secretary Ickes said: “Several of the more recent build- ings acquired have been hotels and apartment houses, but it is the policy of the Department of the Interior to lease residential space only as a last resort, and only after a thorough survey of available buildings that have adequate space to meet the im- mediate requirements of the Govern- ment.” —_— RED CROSS AUTO CORPS HELPS GIFT COLLECTION The motor corps of the District Chapter, American Red Cross, has Joined forces with the Good Samari- tans for collection and delivery of toys, clothing, furniture and other gifts for Washington’s needy. Persons desiring to make gifts may call the Good Samaritan organization, which will collect the donations, regardless of the amount of reconditioning necessary. Mrs. Fanny B. Ingram is chairman | of the Red Cross motor corps. Having agreed to drive Samaritan trucks are: Mrs. Howard Krinbill, Mrs. Blanche Mackenzie, Mrs. L. E. Harris, Mrs. R. D. Gardner, Mrs. Violet E. Palmer, Mrs. Frederick Neithamer, Mrs. Carl Schmitt and Mrs. Blanche Higgins, ‘who is a member of both organizations. Mrs. John Allan Dougherty of the Natidnal Committee, volunteer service, American Red Cross, is & member of the board of the Good Ssmaritans. ‘The Good Samaritans’ headquarters is located at 639 D street, - |} Twentieth | |and blind pension laws, which will 'BTAR, WASHINGTON, D. ¢, DECEMBER §, 1935—PART O i for Job for BY DOROTHEA LEWIS. Chandeliers in the Capitol will glow | with a particular brightness when Congress comes back to town in Jan- | uary. | They ought to, indeed. For two and one-half months a force of 12 women has been cleaning them. Each of the thousands of precious crystal prisms has been removed and washed in a solution of scap, water and am- monia. The women who have done the cleaning are expert at the job, selected for two qualities they par- ticularly possess. The first is care, the second agile fingers. Time has made the chandeliers precious things, some of them more than others. The one in the Senate Appropriations Committee room is among the most revered. It used to hang in the | White House. The breakage of one| of its many prisms would be a major tragedy to members of the Capitol | cleaning staff. A serious-minded, responsible group is this one, which keeps the Capitol spic and span. They move, not among the fitments of a husiness office, but among the ghosts of the great. They move quietly and care- fully, conscious of a responsibility | larger than that of merely chasing dirt. Divided Into Three Zones. The Capitol is divided into three cleaning zones—the House wing, the Senate wing, and the no-man’s land between, which includes the Rotunda and Statuary Hall. Of course, there are also 1,950,880 square feet of floor in the three office buildings, and two subways, each 1,600 feet long. Even the subway floors and walls are painted, once a year. In the Capitol proper, Chief Jani- | tor Martin cleans the Senate side; | Chief Janitor Stephen J. Paul, the House. And the midway is directly | under the supervision of the office | of the architect of the Capitol. David Lynn, who is boss of the whole busi- ness, Janitor Martin says there’s “noth- ing amusing about this job. It kinda gets your goat,” but he is really better off than Janitor Paul of the House. Martin has about 28 colored labor- ers and some charwomen to clean the marble and marble stairs. They work in two shifts, one force from 7:30 in the morning until the day’s Capitol Chandeliers Polished, Ready for Congress Next Month Precious Crystal Prisms Are Cleansed With Great Care by Women Chosen | because I'm a showman and have | Miss, some of them don’t even bother | statues and dust and wash them very Speaker Joe Byrns will find a completely new set of furniture and lighting fix offices in the Capitol when he returns from his trip abroad. Workmen are getting the in anticipation of his impending arrival. 0 - Their Skill. session ends, and the other trom | midnight “until they get through.” Over on the House side, Paul has only 12 men. He says he has tried for years to get some charwomen to help but “they never get around to me.” Can’t Work in Shifts. Don't mention shifts to him unless you're & sadist. “Why, Miss,” he says, “how can you work in shifts when you've only got 12 men? How can you?” He adds, “Miss, T do as well as I do ideas.” “And, Miss,” he expostulates, “it's the public that makes our job so hard. Why, Miss, you wouldn't believe it— the things the public will do. Why, people throw ham sandwiches in the corners of the visitors’ galleries. Why, to throw them in the corners.” He sends a man through every hour to pick up papers and things and they are not a bit surprised to find broken whisky bottles on the gallery floors, or to catch boys climbing clocks to steal the hands for souvenirs. Other favorite keepsakes are pieces of leather cut off the chairs or splinters of wood whittled from chair arms. His laborers are colored and get about $1,260 a year. When first ap- pointed they get the job through pat- ronage, but since most of them stay for years and years, Paul says it isn't really “regular paronage.” One has been on the job for over 40 years. Congress Votes Pay. Their pay roll money comes through acts of Congress, and “that,” says Paul, “is what makes it tough, Miss.” Windows in committee rooms are washed about once a week, but if it rains, the cleaning is skipped. The workers go after moths in the carpets with sprays over week ends, when Congressmen are safely out of the way. In Statuary Hall, the charwomen get pretty fond of some of the carefully indeed. Certainly it's more fun to dust a soldier’s nose than to spray for moths. We couldn't find out just who gives baths to the statue of the three woman champions of equal rights, which is hidden in the basement of the Capi- tol—maybe an ardent feminist char- woman. We hope so. It would be nice. DISTRICT PENSION PLANS REQU ESTED Commissioners Direct Welfare Board to Prepare Policies and Regulations. The Board of Public Welfare was directed yesterday by the Commis= sioners to prepare as soon as possible policies and regulations for the ad- ministration of the District’s old age become effective as soon as Congress appropriates needed funds. Ending protracted debate over what agency should be given direction of these two phases of the social security program, the Commissioners Friday named the Welfare Board as the di- recting head. There had been argu- ments for merging this work with that of the District Unemployment | Compensation Board. | The subject already had been under | study by Elwood Street, director, and other officers of the Welfare Board. Selection of that agency was in keep- ing with views voiced by spokesmen for several private welfare groups. Questions still to be settled are whether the Welfare Board will need additional supervisory staff, an in- vestigation staff and legal and medi- cal assistants. By the Associated Press. SWARTHMORE, Pa., December 7. —Mor» than 600 candidates for 32| Rhodes scholarships to Oxford Univer- | sity, England, will be interviewed dur- ing the State nominations this week. For choosing the nominees, the committee in charge divided the coun- try into eight districts of six States each. Each State nominates two candidates. Dr. Frank Aydelotte, American secretary of the Rhodes trustees and president of Swarth- more College, announced today that 12 nominees in each district will ap- pear before district commitiees De- cember 16. The district meetings will be held at Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chi- cago, Des Moines, New Orleans, San Francisco and Spokane. Four students will be chosen in each | District’s liquor law so *“Saturday night | o'clock deadline on the sale of liquor 600 Students to Be Interviewed For 32 Rhodes Scholarships DIRKSEN WILL SEEK D. C. LIQUOR CHANGES Plans to Introduce Bill Permit- ting Sale Until 2 A.M. on Sundays. Representative Dirksen, Republican. of Illinois, announced yesterday he proposes to introduce at the next ses- sion of Congress a bill to liberalize the drinkers will have a little more free- | dom.” He said he is opposed to the 12 Saturday nights at restaurants, night | clubs and other places having on-sale | licenses. His bill would authorize the | sale until 2 a.m, Sunday. | Dirksen, a member of the House District - Committee, sponsored at the | last session of Congress legislation | which permitted the so-called “hidden | bars” to come into the open. “We are trying to make Washing- ton a more livable city,” Dirksen de- clared. - “A 12 o’clock limit for serving drinks on Saturday night is perhaps all right in Western cities where ac- tivities begin early in the evening, but in Washington, where people do not begin to go out until 9 or 10 p.m., a midnight dealine works a distinct hardship on pleasure-seekers.” district for the 32 scholarships al- loted the United States. The scholar- ship carries a stipend of £400 an- nually, with privilege of renewing the scholarship the third year. Candi- dates must be between 19 and 25 years old and unmarried. The fund which supports the schol- arships was established in the will of Ceci! John Rhodes, pioneer in South Africa, who attained great wealth in tures in his suite of “house cleaning” done —Harris-Ewing Photo. 10 PCT. OF PRINCETON SENIORS SECURE JOBS By the Associated Press. PRINCETON, N. J., December 7.— ‘Ten per cent of the seniors of Prince- ton University have jobs waiting for them after graduation in June, but 60 per cent do not know what they'll do after receiving their diplomas. Richard W. Warfield, director of the Bureau of Appointments and Student Employment, announced the figures today. Of those who have reached a decis- fon, 100 plan to continue with ad- vanced studies. Coftee Table Club Chair Deep seat and back. Re- Dainty is its seat Drum Table A most attractive piece.__. Pitted with service glass- T O W Bridge Set and four chairs ‘Wainut and gumwood. or walnut, fitted. Large neered Canterbury spindles. Mahogany Spring seat; design Choice of mahogany or finish; handsomely ve- neered front eeececeeeceees Furniture the diamond fields. ~ Just for Protection. AURORA, Ill. (#).—Safety-conscious r “of Merit PROBE SUGGESTED ‘OF SHIP BIDDING Senator Bone Skeptical of Offers on United States Lines Project. - By the Associated Press. A suggestion that the Senate Muni- tions Committee might scrutinize bids for a new ‘liner opened in New York yesterday by the United States Lines ‘was made last night by Senator Bone, Democrat, of Washington. He contended the bidding apparent- ly was in line with evidence previously developed by the Committee of Col- | Opens lusion among major shipbuilding com- panies. The Newport News Shipbullding & Drydock- Co. of Newport News, Va., submitted what company officials said was the best of four bids. It offered to build and partially decorate a b~ stantial duplicate of the liner Wash- ington for $11,600,000. December 16 Deadline. Che United States Lines has agreed w forfeit $1,000,000 to the Govern- ment if a contract for the new liner is not let by December 16. This agreement was entered into when the lines obtained Government permission to decommission the Leviathan. Among the letters opened by the ship operators was one from the Fed- eral Shipbullding Co. of Kearney, N.J. It expressed regret that pressure of existing business prevented submis- sion of a bid. ‘The New York Shipbuilding Corp, of Camden, N. J., approximated their bid at $11,188,000 for a ship without decoration or furnishings. This firm said the price would depend on what the Government required. The Fed- eral Shipping Board and the Navy Department must approve the con- tract. Bethlehem Propesition. ‘The Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp said it would build a liner of the Washington type at a price 15 per cent higher than that for the original. Solid Walnut or Mahogany, ssss removable glass tray ceececee 5144 versible spring-filled Cushion. Boudoir Chair chintz coverings: Choice of patterns. Spring 35,95 Tip Top Table Duncan Phyfe Console type. A simple turn makes it a card 311.50 Smoker’s Stand Two styles—solid mahogany 59.95 “I'm going to remember this,” Bone id. “I'm going to call it to the at- » will choose easily—and satisfactorily. you wonderful results here—at the climax of our Golden Jubilee Year. Solid waluut or mahogany. 51750 Liquor Cabinet In two designs, mahogany finished. 2250 Made of heavy gauge steel—table that $7.75 Booktrough Table Rectangular top; fluted legs. 33.39 always walnut veneer, relief carving. —with either Winthrop Desk size, with four drawers. Walnut or Mahogany ve- SBJS, Magazine Stand style — turned Solid Walnut— 36.50 Occasional Chair upholstered back; Colonial Secretary ‘walnut 52450 Seventh and E Boy, 9, Whispering About Fire, Laughs Last at Teacher He Has to Stay After School—Until Jan- itor Arrives. By the Assoclated Press. ALBANY, N. Y, December 7.—The sound of passing fire apparatus so ex- cited 9-year-old John Hourigan as he sat in school that the teacher heard him whisper, “I think there’s a fire.” John was kept after school. “Before you can go home you must write ‘I think there’s a fire’ 100 times,” the teacher said. With John's job half done, a door ed. An excited janitor a L “You'd better get out,” the janitor said. “There’s.a fire in the chemistry laboratory.” Firemen put it out. TRAGEDY STRIKES UNIONTOWN, Pa. (#).—Cecelia Gil- more, telephone ‘operator at the Un- jontown Hospital, answered a call that an automobile had killed a man Quickly she sent an ambulance. It returned carrying the body of her father, John Gilmore, 63. | tention of Senator Nye, Republican, of | North Dakota and Senator Clark, Democrat, of Missouri, members of | the Munitions Committee, and we may | stick our proboscises into that busi- | ness.” Bone said one reason he wanted the Government to construct its own | ships in its own yards is that it is the | “only thing to do with those fellows | | and keep from getting rooked.” | | “There is a lot of damned hooey | and funny work in this whole business.” NEW GROUP OPENS WAR ON SALES TAX Montgomery Business Men Qrganize to Fight All Trade Levies. BY JACK ALLEN, Staff Correspondent of The Star. BETHESDA, Md., December 7.— The nucleus of a State-wide organi- | zation that will wage a vigorous cam- paign against any movement to con- tinue taxation of mercantile trade as a means of financing Maryland’s un- employment relief has been formed in the suburban area of Montgomery County. Branch units of the parent body, known as the Maryland Anti-Sales Tax Association, will be established immediately in all sections of the State in preparation for the drive against adoption of a trade tax at the State Assembly’s forthcoming re- lief session. ‘The assoclation, opposing both a re- | adoption of the gross receipts tax that | has been in effect | for nearly a year, or passage of a| direct sales levy, contends that| the so-called| “border line” communities ad- | joining non-sales | tax States will suffer a heavy loss of business. Four Chiefly thesda Chamber of Commerce Com- mittee currently making a study of the effect of sales taxes, today said it is his belief that the Maryland relief program can be handled adequately without any special levy. He declared that, in his opinion, the Pederal Government's widespread relief schedule, together with econoinies which the Maryland Legislature is em- powered to make, would enable the State to dispense with all except a very small meas- ure of the direct relief now ex- tended. The remaining work could be turned over to the counties, Bachrach assert- Cites Results Elsewhere. 1t was said by Bachrach that every State that has adopted a sales tax has suffered a great loss of business to adjacent communities that are not burdened with trade levies. He pointed out that in New Jersey, which repealed its sales tax four months after its adoption, business slumped 22 per cent with an identical increase showing up in the stores of nearby New York and Pennsylvania. George P. Sacks. ] HOTEL TRADE ACTIVE Greeters’ Auxiliary Leader An- nounces Record Since 1920. Hotels generally are enjoying the best business since 1929, Mrs. Eva C. Ruff, international president of the Women'’s Auxiliary, Hotel Greeters of America, announced upon return from Active, Four county business men| . Nk conceived the idea of organiz-| ing the new association and are di- | Walter a promotional trip which took in At- lantic City, New York City, the New England States, part of Canada and Detroit ‘The Hotel Greeters of America is sponsoring and financing a Nation- The Munitions Committee has made | recting the creation of the auxiliary | wide “See America First” campaign, | an extensive investigation of increas- | bodies in other communities. They and also an educational program !ing costs of naval construction in| are George P. Sacks of Chevy Chase, | whereby organization members may private yards. | president of the Bank of Bethesda; | obtain information leading to solution Administration policies in connec- | Walter K. Bathrach of Chevy Chase | of front-office and managerial prob- ‘(lon with the retirement of the Le- | viathan were criticized some time | ago by Ewing Y. Mitchell, ousted Assistant Secretary of Commerce. You only pay the advertised price. Nothing added for credit. Bedroom Suite Of that rational, conventional design that is Handsomely matched iS5 good form. 4 pieces anel or poster bed. Illustrated Above. ve Streets. 8433 nd Phil D. Poston of Silver Spring, real estate operators, and Fred L. Waters, Silver Spring merchant. Bachrach, who also heads a Be- OU will be heartily thanked for making a selection of “Furniture of Merit” the bearer of your Christmas greetings—whether to the family—or to a friend. Ithas been our endeavor to gather an assortment of suites and the great multitude of occasional pieces which add so much to the enjoyment of living—from which you You'll find your Christmas money giving Living Room i won't disappoint. London Cl ering. Sofa and Chair. Illustrated Below. HOUSE £ HERRITIAT 35 Georgia Aven It has that sumptuously comfortable look that web base; genuine Mohair Frieze cov- lems. Decided improvement in inter- est, membership and enthusiasm in the hotel organization since last year was noted by Mrs. Ruff. uite ub style; sagless si19 Gifts That Please uc