Evening Star Newspaper, October 6, 1936, Page 21

| the Board of Education submitted to ! the District Commissioners today by i OPERATION COSTS OF D.C. SCHOOLS INCREASE IN 35| A $10,416,885 Total, Gain of $611,058 Over 1934, Is Reported. $1,086,048 IS SPENT ON NEW BUILDINGS Maximum Enrollment for 1938 Put at 100,808 by Dr. Ballou. Cost of operation of Washington's public school system last year totaled $10,416,885.46, an increase of $611- 058.15 over the year ended Jume 30, 1935, according to the annual report of Dr. Prank W. Ballou, superintendent. In addition, the Board of Education spent $1,086,048.95 in capital outlay for new buildings, land purchases and new: equipment. These two sums together amount to $11,502,934.41, which represents the total cost of the school system for the year. Although the cost of operation in- ereased by $611,058.15, the capital in- vestment for the year was smaller by $414,439.19, making the net increase for the year over 1935 only $192,619.96. Construction Costs. The bulk of last year's capital in- vestment was in the construction of the Anacostia Junior-Senior High School and the Woodrow Wilson High School, for which $900,218.50 was spent. Land purchases in 1936 totaled only $38,361.40. Equipment for new build- ings cost $81,944.66, and additional equipment for buildings already in the system, cost $65,524.39. Dr. Ballou’s report also showed that the maximum enrollment for 1936 was 100,908, as compared with 99,722 for The enrollment the preceding year. ‘was divided as follows: ‘Teachers colleges, 1,101; senior high schools, 16,890; junior high schools, 19,053; junior-senior high school, 457; vocational schools, 2,034; elementary achools, 61,373. Non-resident pupils, at present ex- cluded from all junior high schools in the eity because of overcrowding, last year totaled 1,974, or 1.96 per cent of the total enrollment. In 1935 there were 2,246, or 2.25 per cent of the total. Gain in Personnel - A gain in personnel of 211 em- ployes was made last year. The teach- ing personnel increased from 2,906 to 2,985; community center employes jumped from 291 to 367, and custodial employes increased from 674 to 710. ‘Together they operated 175 schools and 135 additional school units. The} additional units represent extra build- | ings under the supervision of a single principal. Dr. Ballou also announced the dates for coming holidays and the opening of school next Fall. The Christmas- New Year holiday will extend from December 24 to January 1, inclusive. Inauguration day, January 20, will ‘be the first holiday of the new year, and the first semester will end nine | days later, January 29. The new term ‘will begin February 1. Washington's birthday anniversary, February 22; bags. NEW SCHOOL HOUR 10 BE CONSIDERED Board Also to Take Up Naming Administrative Officers. Appointment of three administra- tive officers in the senior high schools, and a contemplated change in the hours of opening the public schools, are expected to be taken up by the Board of Education at its regular meeting tomorrow afternoon. Dr. Frank W. Ballou, superintend- ent, has not indicated when he will make a recom- mendation to A1l the principalship at Central High School, an as- sistant principal- ship at Roosevelt, and name a new head of the de- partment of science in the white high schools. A meet- ing of the Per- sonnel Commit- tee of the board, however. is plan- i ned immediately before the board session. The Central post has been vacant since last July, when Dr. Harvey A. Smith was promoted to be an as- sistant superintendent. Lawrence G. Hoover, assistant principal, has been in charge since. He and Frank Wood- ward, principal of Gordon Junior High School, have been mentioned in- con- nection with the post, and it is un- derstood several other applications are Easter, March 26 to April 2, inclusive, | under consideration. and Memorial day, May 31, will com- plete the list of holidays. Schools will close June 23 to re- convene next September 20. SAMUEL WILL OPEN JEWISH FORUM “The Changing Jewish Horizon” ‘will be the theme of the 1936-7 sea- son of the National Jewish Forum, ‘which begins its eleventh year at the Jewish Community Oenter October 25 and will continue through the ‘Winter. The program will present a comprehensive picture of the Jewish situation at home and abroad and em! & discussion of a construc- tive plan for contemporary American Jewish living. Some of the out- standing Jews in the country will speak. Maurice Samuel, author and lec- turer, will open the forum series with e talk on “The Latest Word from Palestine,” his first report on the Jewish-Arab conflict since his return from that country last week. Abram L. Sachar, director of the National Hillel Foundations, will lec- ture November 18 on “The Jewish Orisis in Europe,” while Dr. Morris Pishbein, editor of the American Med- ical Assotiation Journal, will have the floor December 16. Others scheduled for appearance PEANUT VENDER, FINED, GETS $63 ANONYMOUSLY -wishers have mailed Davis to_ Retire. At Roosevelt High School particular significance has been given the selec- tion of a new assistant principal, since Alan Davis, the principal, is expected to retire December 1. Davis, who has been a principal in‘the system for 46 years, will reach the retirement age of 70 on November 14. Under the law, he will be permitted to finish the month and then automatically- retire because of age. Already, Miss Mae P. Bradshaw, who has been Davis’ assistant for several years, is being supported for the prin- cipalship. If she is promoted to that post she will be the only woman prin- cipal of a senior high ool in the city. The new in tha t, it s would step up to Bradshaw’'s t CONSUMERS’ COUNCIL MAPS WINTER PROGRAM The Foening Stap WASHINGTON, D. C, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1936. Steve Vasilakos, whose peanut cart stands in front of the White House by special dispensation of Mrs. Roosevelt, yester- day aided the Red Cross roll call by contributing his entire receipts for the week end. Miss Helen Beattie of the Red Cross staff, is shown receiving the donation in one of Steve’s peanut —Underwood & Underwood Photo. 1 RED CROSS DRIVE ENROLLS 22,123 One-Third of Qouta Reached as District Workers Push On. Showing a substantial gain for the last 24 hours, the Red Cross enroll- ment drive for 65000 members in the District today had passed the one- third mark. Campaign auditors revealed the total enrollment stood last night at 22,125. This represents an increase of 6,738 members over Saturday’s figures and tops all other daily reports so far. By ndon today, the total had swelled to 23,709, of which 1,134 represented memberships among Works Progress Administration employes. Dean Brimhall, chairman of the W. P. A. solicitation division, said his canvass- ers had reached about half of the W. P. A. personnel. ‘With 5,447 persons enrolled yester- day, the Government Djvision, head- ed by Brig. Gen. Fred W. Boschen, continues to lead all campaign units. Yesterday’'s reports show other groups are slowly gaining on the leader, how- ever, To date, Robert V. Flemifig’s finan- clal workers have enrolled 1,108 per- sons; the utilities group, D. A. Skin- ner, chairman, 1,042; professional, un- der Dr. A. C. Christie, 1,085; business, John Saul, 787; residential, Mrs. Cary T. Grayson, 340, and miscellaneous, 610. The Government total is 17,162. Professional Group Gains. Marked progress was made yester- day by the professional group, which enrolled 530 members. Utilities in- creased by 167, residential by 142 and | business by 121. The apartment house unit reported 267 memebrs in partial returns from 15 of the 65 apartment dwellings being covered. In a message delivered to every student in Washington public schools, called on members of the Junior Red Cross in the District to play their UTILITIES BOARD *kkE UUSTER IS URGED Women Prominent in Charity Work Have Month’s Grace to BY LABOR UNIONS Central Body Charges Mem- bers Ignore Interests of the Public. ONE-MAN CAR EDICT IS BASIS FOR ACTION Body Petitions President Roose- velt to Ask Resignation of Commissioners. Charging the Public Utilities Com- mission had “totally ignored” the in- terests of the public, and of employes of the Capital Transit Co., in author- izing the extension of one-man cars here, the Central Labor Union last night petitioned President Roosevelt to ask for resignation of members of the commission. A barrage of criticism was cut loose on the commission at the meeting, led by W. W. Keeler, veteran chair- man of the Public Utilities Committee of the central body, whose name led the list of signatures on the resolu- tion. The action of the commission was “condemned.” Keeler branded it a utilities commission!” leaving out the word “public.” The Central Labor Union heard a comprehensive analysis of the work of the District Unemployment Com- pensation Board, by its director, John A. Marshall. He predicted that within about 30 days each of about 90,000 employes listed by the board would re- ceive in the mail communications which will lead to each employe re- ceiving an identifying number under the new law. Marshall outlined the broad scope of the board’s activities, explained that “mistakes” might be expected in operation of the law, but asked for tolerance on the part of all concerned until it could be made to function smoothly. Marshall praised employers gen- erally for their co-operation here, and said most of the difficulty in collect- ing the 1 per cent pay-roll tax was due to ignorance or misunderstanding on the part of small firms employing only a few persons. He called on working people to help the board keep an accurate check on firms which should report. John A. Locher, presi- dent of the Central Labor Union, sald that as labor's representative on the Unemployment Compensation he had insisted on organized labor paying its full share of the tax for its own employes. Million Already Cellected. About $1,000,000 already has been collected from the pay-roll tax here, Marshall explained, and has been i placed in the Treasury for meeting claims which can be paid beginning January 1, 1938. The benefits, he ex- plained, will be based on the amount of work performed prior to that time, and will run up to 315 & week, for a maximum of 16 weeks. Under local law employers make all the cash contribution and the employes make no cash contribution, Marshall explained. In answer to questions, he emphasized that it is against the law for an employer to try to pass the tax on to the em- ploye. He said the only two instances where employers had attempted to pass on the tax had apparently been due to ignorance of the law. Answering further questions, Mar- shall said so far the board had re- ceived “excellent co-operation” from hotels, but the complicated matter of extra work at banquets, and over- time for waiters and other employes was being worked out. He welcomed co-operation on this matter from the business agent of the hotel employes’ union. Employes will receive credit for their work in the District of Columbia if they move to another State having an unemployment compensation law, Marshall explained, but details for providing the necessary interstate credentials had not yet been worked out. On motion of Clyde Mills, vice presi- dent of the Central Labor Union, Mar- shall was extended not-only the “ap- preciation” of the organization, but the offer of its “co-operation,” in . | helping the board to administer the terpret the spirit of the Red Cross in service to humanity. In the roll call, the Juniors are the messengers and outrunners of the organization. They carry the Red Cross name to every household and prepare the way for & successful enroliment of the adult members of the family. “As your chairman, I call upon you to play your part under the roll call organization direction in widening the acquaintance of the people with the great mission of the Red Cross.” Tonight, Janet Clapper, 12, daughter of Raymond Clapper, newspaper col- director, Social Service, Public Assist- ance Department, was scheduled to speak this morning before a' group of workers in - the District playground department. -Miss Hankins formerly was director of Red Cross activities in Mount Alto Hospital. She has long been associated with the organization. CONDITION IMPROVED Miss Tuckerman, Hurt in Fall From Horse, Is “Better.” Miss Phyllis Tuckerman, promi- nent Boston L law. Commission Attack Caustic. The Public Utilities Commission came in for caustic attacks in the long resolution adopted by the central body. It recited that President Roose- velt had emphasized that “human in- terts are paramount to the material interests,” and had called on indus- tries to help relieve the unempioy- ment situation. The Public Utilities Commission, ac- cording to the resolution, “ignoring the interests of the public and hu- manity have ceased to be of service to the public.” “The interests of the citizens of the District of Columbia can best be served,” it stated, “by the resignation of the present commissioners.” The resolution “condemned” the action of the commission and peti- tioined the President “to ask for the Commission, that in the above action they have forfeited the confidence of the public.” Besides Keeler, other signatures on the reso- lution were B. H. Ashley and James P. Googe of the committee. Frank J. Coleman, secretary of the Employes, Lodge No. 18, Library of Congress, said he could mot oppose such an a of Redeem House. The Colt home at 7 West Kirke street, Chevy Chase, Md., which yesterday became the prop- erty of the Home Owners’ Loan Corp. WO sisters born in the days of Reconstruction, and willing givers all their lives to Wash- ington charitable institutions, sat on their porch with three frierds yesterday afternoon and heard an auctioneer knock down to the Home Owners’ Loan Corp. the Chevy Chase, Md., house which has been theirs since September, 1907. After the sale, conducted in default of a $9,551.86 H. O. L. C. loan, Misses Katharine Gideon and Alice Ely Colt retired to their dining room for tea, served by Charles, their faithful col- ored retainer, who came to Washing- ton in the late '80s as the coachman of John W, Foster, President Benjamin Harrison’s Secretary of State. He ad- mits he is older than the sisters. They have a month’s grace in which to find the money that would enable them to keep the 10-room house at 7 West Kirke street. “We can only turn to the Lord,” said Miss Alice over her tea. Both sisters smiled pleasantly and talked with animation to their guests, hiding their hurt at the pros- pect of deserting the house in which VALIDITY OF ORDER ON CARS DOUBTED Ruling on Immediate Pur- chase of 300 Transit Units Held Unlikely. Doubt that the Public Utilities Com- mission could issue an order which would stand the test of law requiring the Capital Transit Co. to make the immediate purchase of 300 new-type street cars was voiced today by People’s Counsel William A. Roberts. He said, however, the commission now has evidence in its files on which it could order the prompt purchase of at least 20 new street cars and per- haps as many as 100. ‘The statement was made in com- ment on the request Saturday of the Pederation of Citizens’ Associations for an order for the immediate pur- chase of 300 cars, which Roberts esti- mated would cost $4,500,000. Roberts explained the commission must base its finding on the question of “adequate and safe” service. The compariy, itself, he said, had provided evidence of the need of replacing as many as 20 cars. their father and mother died, and with which all their later memories are associated. For years the Misses Colt were among the staunchest parishioners of fashionable St. John's Episcopal Church, and since the mid-'80s Miss Kate, who was born here in 1868, has attended the meeting the first Tues- day of every month of the Washing- ton Orphan Asylum. She is a member of its Board of Governors. Helped by Charch. In more recent times, however, be- cause of the collapse of their invest- ments, they have been the recipients of aid. After a Winter spent without heat except from a few open fireplaces, St. John's joined with friends in pro- viding them with a new furnace. One by one they have sold their jewels and their old books, many of them handed down from their grandfather, George Sailes Gideon, who was one Washingtor.'s earliest publishers. William D. Colt, their father, a dis- tant relative of the Hartford, Conn., | arms manufacturers, had the exciting —Star Staff Photo. duty during the Civil War of carrying huge sums northward from Washing- ton to the paymasters of various Union Army encampments. “He wasn't a man who did much talking,” Miss Alice recalled, “but once he told his family that on occa- sions he had with him as much as $5,000,000 and $6,000,000 at once. And he was not given to exaggeration. He rather understated things as a rule.” Father Came Here in 1862. Colt came here in 1862 and on the advice of Salmon P. Chase, President Lincoln’s Secretary of the Treasury, went to work for Jay Cooke, the finan- | cial giant of the times. He had left their employ, however, by the time of the panic of 1873 and the subsequent difficulties of the Cooke house. In Charles, their servant, the sisters yesterday found their chief prop. Tears ran down his face at the completion of the auction. Since his mistresses lost their wealth he has worked during the day for others to return in the evening to provide the Misses Colts with the elegance of service to which they were long accustomed. Warrant Notice In Traffic Case Sent to Shanghai Young Woman Replies to D. C. Police to Say She Is Sorry. ‘The police will have to go to Shang- hai, China, if they serve a warrant for overtime parking on Miss Mildred Smith, an employe of the Standard ©Oil Co. A letter from the young woman reached the Traffic Bureau yesterday, explaining she was now a permanent resident of China. She received the ticket several months ago while living at the Broadmoor Apartments. Miss Smith was notified by mail that the warrant had been issued, and the letter was forwarded to China. She said she was sorry about the war- rant, but neglected to mention col- lateral. Meanwhile, police will keep the war- rant. . INQUEST IS ORDERED AFTER FATAL FIGHT -| Unidentified Middle-Aged Man Sager did not say when all these cars must be provided to maintain “ade- quate and safe” service, Roberts based his suggestion that as many as 100 new cars might be ordered on testimony that many of the cars now in service are worn out. Meanwhile, Roberts notified the Commission & formal petition for re- hearing on its recent decision per- mitting the use of additional one-man cars will be filed this week. Roberts’ action will be taken at the request of the Federation of Citizens’ Associations, which voted Saturday night to take the case to court, if necessary, to prevent the extension of one-man car service. If Roberts’ petition for rehearing is denied by the commission, the legal pathway will be cleared for court ac- tion, and he has pledged to fight the case to the end. erate 20 ‘“President’s Conference” type cars as one-man vehicles. KENILWORTH CITIZENS URGE CAR REHEARING Group Will Particjpate in Down- town Halloween Celebration, Dies of Injuries to Head. An inquest was ordered for tomor- row or Thursday in the death of an unidentified middle-dged man who was fatally injured Sunday night during a fist fight in the first block of I street. Police were holding Carroll Henkels, 19, of 59 I street, for the inquest. An autopsy disclosed yesterday that the man died of head injuries. He was known as “McCrary” and police have been able to learn little about him. Police say Henkels found McCrary lying under a bed in the former’s home and evicted him. There was an argument on the sidewalk and Mc- Crary was said to have been knocked down, his head striking the pave- ment. McCrary, about 40, was believed to have come here from North Carolins. FATHER AND SON HELD FOR JORY Two Plead Not Guilty in Theft of Collection of Antiques. William Anderson Price, 65, retired cotton broker, and his 18-year-old son, William Carroll Price, pleaded not guilty to grand larceny charges and were held for grand jury action today when arraigned before Police Court Judge Walter J. Casey. ‘The charges grew out of the theft of a valuable collection of antiques, family heirlooms and historical sou- venirs from the home of Mrs. Arthur MacArthur, 1854 Kalorama road, sister-in-law of Gen. Douglas Mac- Arthur, former Army chief of staff. Tells of Sale. ‘The services of an interpreter were found necessary when Thomas Gon- zales, s former butler at the Spanish Embassy and now an antique dealer, took the witness stand at the hearing. He testified the younger Price sold him a large number of the articles, later identified by Mrs. MacArthur as part of the collection stolen from a closet on the second floor of her home. Gonzales said the youth offered “the first of numerous” articles on May 27 and at one time took him to the Mac- Arthur home to show other valuable pileces. Mrs. MacArthur told the court the Prices leased her home for a year dur- ing her visit to Gen. MacArthur, now military adviser to the Philippine com- monwealth, The lease expired Octo- ber 1, she said. Neither the elder Price nor his son took the witness stand. They were represented by Attorney Joseph A. Donovan. ‘Their bond was fixed at $5,000 each. GRAND CANYON IS TOPIC Donald E. McHenry, park natural- ist, will tell “The Story of the Grand Canyon,” at the camp-fire meeting Friday at 8 pm. in the Pierce Mill picnic grove in Rock Creek Park un- der the auspices of the National Capi- tal Parks. Domestic Workers Organize To Lift Standards and Pay That most ancient but least organ- ized craft, the domestic worker, like the proverbial worm, has turned at last. Organized into the Domestic Work- ers’ Union, with headquarters at 717 Florida avenue, a group of cooks, maids and household workers have undertaken fo raise the standards of 1, : -2 H ; EEé I : 2 ] z from the American Federation of Labor.” In Washington, the union member- ship will consist mostly of colored do- mestic workers, as the 1930 census shows more than 18,000 of the 21,000 persons in that classification here are colored. In other sections, however, the union, of which there are several locals, is composed of domestic workers of various races and nationalities. Because of several newspaper arti- Society and General COSTS T0 DISTRICT SHOWN IN REPORT Data Will Be Revised Before Submission to Roosevelt’s - Fiscal Expert. INFORMATION COVERS MANY LINES OF DUTY Motor Cycle Escorts for President and Expense of Policing Bonus Marchers Among Items. Services provided the Federal Gov- ernment, which cost the Police De- partment thousands of dollars and, at times, nearly utilized its entire force, were pictured in a report completed to- day for the special group of tax ex- perts appointed by President Roose- velt to determine the fair contribution by the United States toward District expenses. Details of the report were not made public, but District officials who read it declared it would materially aid the case they are building up to show the injustice of the present $5,000,000 con- tribution. Report to Be Revised. ‘The report will be revised somewhat at the direction of Maj. Daniel J. Donovan, District auditor and bud- get officer, before it is turned over to J. L. Jacobs, Chicago efficiency en- gineer and tax authority, who is di- recting the President’s fiscal relation study. Maj. Donovan said the Police De- partment’s report, along with 12 others in process of preparation by municipal department heads, would be ready to submit to Jacobs by the end of the week. Jacobs already has received 15 similer reports from de- partment heads, all showing the rami- fications and the cost to the District of services provided the Federal Gov- ernment over a period of 12 years, Shows Various Services. ‘The Police Department’s report cov- ers a varied character of services pro- vided the Federal Government. It shows, for instance, the cost of motor cycle escorts for the President when he travels in the District; the cost of details at foreign embassies and lega- tions as well as the detail assigned to the Senate wing of the Capitol when Congress is in session. In addition, it shows the cost of providing police protection for presidential inaugural ceremonies and an estimate of the cost of policing the bonus march and the so-called “hunger marches” of re- cent years. These events are charged up to the Federal Government on the ground they would not have been held in Washington if it was not the seat of the Government. The cost of policing the “hunger march” of 1933 alone runs into thou=- sands of dollars, it was said, because virtually the entire force was used at that time while off-duty firemen patroled the streets. Seeks Additional Data. As soon as Jacobs receives all re- ports from District department heads, he wants organizations interested in solution of the long troublesome fiscal relation problems to submit data which will aild him and his advisory com- mittee. He requests that reports from these organizations be filed not later than October 12. Representa= | tives of the organizations will be given a public hearing October 23 and 24. A number of organizations already have requested a hearing. These in= clude the Citizens’ Joint Committee on National Representation, the Fed« eration of Citizens’ Associations, the ‘Washington Board of Trade and Washington Real Estate Board. PEACE CONVENTION OPENS TOMORROW The National Council for Preven= tion of War will open its ninth annual convention tomorrow at 10 am. at the Lee House, with the initial ses- sion scheduled as an open forum to consider peace legislation to be presented by the council before the next Congress. Representatives of organized labor, organized farmers, religious groups and school organizations are expected to be present. Among the speakers listed for to- morrow are Stephen Raushenbush, chief investigator for the Senate Mu= nitions Committee; Henry F. Grady, former chief of the trade agreements section of the State Department; Wil- liam T. Stone of the Foreign Policy Association; Mauritz Hallgren of the Washington staff of the Baltimore Sun; Dr. Philip C. Jessup, professor of international law at Columbia Uni- versity, and Dr. Belmont Farley of the National Education Association. Delegates to the conference will be divided Thursday according to the field which they represent. The vari- ous groups will consider methods by which they as individual units can secure enactment of the council’s pro- posed legislative program for world peace. —— ey PROBE OF SHOOTING IN FIGHT CONTINUED Donald E. Mersch, 39, shot twice in an argument over money Sunday night, was still in a critical condi- tion in Emergency Hospital today, while police continued their investi- gation of three men arrested in & car shortly after the shooting took place on Eleventh street, near E street southwest. Mersch was shot in the chest and left shoulder. One of the men being held with- out charge, Frank H. Acton, 35, was reported by police to have said he shot Mersch in self-defense. The others under investigation are Jesse E. Jones, 18, driver of the car, and Bella A. Stramer, 23, who was with Acton in the rumble seat when they ‘were arrested on a description given by witnesses. Both Mersch and Acton are said to have police records, Ac- ton’s dating back to 1917. A revolver with four empty shells 'was found in the car by police. ‘