Evening Star Newspaper, November 15, 1936, Page 23

[ | The Sunilay Shar HEAD OF HOSPITAL AND WALLACE JOIN FIGHT ON ABATTOIR Delano Also Attacks Gobel Co. Plans in Reply to Attorney. PARKS CHAIRMAN SEES FLAWS IN BLUEPRINTS Agriculture Secretary Bases Op- position on Desire to Protect National Arboretum. Opposition to the Benning abattolr grew yesterday as Secretary of Ag- riculture Wallace and Dr. Edgar C. Bocock, superintendent of Gallinger Hospital, came forward to back the Commissioners in their intention to reject the application of the Gobel Co. for a building permit and to “fight it out” in the courts. Coming to the defense of the Na- tional Arboretum, which is under his administration, Wallace based his opposition to the possible conversion of the Benning area into a slaughter house district on the same pgemise as President Rooseveli and Secretary of the Interior Ickes, who seek pro- tection for Federal park developments. For similar reasons and because the odors from such a plant would be wafted, possibly, to the hundreds of patients and attendants at Gallinger, Dr. Bocock declared that “the hos- pital feels it would be highly unde- sirable for an abattoir to be con- structed in close proximity to its back door.” “Washington's city hospital,” he , “occuples one of the finest sites| Department involving five detective | | ;ld‘n’ txc:;‘atuflon!in any city of the | sergeants and seven lower nnun‘% and Exchange Commission yesterday | country, and it would be most un- fortunate to mar this situation by permitting such an industrial activity as its near neighbor, with the re- sulting unfavorable conditions that must inevitably accompany such an establishment.” Delano Replies to Gardiner. ‘The most damaging assault an the Gobel plans, however, came yesterday from Frederick A. Delano, chairman of the National Capital Park and Planning Comission and also of the Committee of 100 on the Federal City. He re-entered the controversy by mak- ing public a reply to W. Gwynn Gardiner, a former District Commis- sioner and attorney for the Gobel Co., who had defended the proposed abat- toir plant as a model one, approved by the Bureau of Animal Industry and subject to its inspection. Delano answered the arguments ad- vanced by the abattoir attorney, criti- ciged the proposed operations as larger than conducted Tormerly and pointed to alleged fanits in the building plans whiich, he sald, could not prevent the escape of objectionable odors. He de- manded also, in a vein of sarcasm, if the stamp of Federal approval on the meat product would “prevent the sick- ening amells of a slaughter house drifting into the wards of Gallinger Hospital, or into business or residen- tial sections?” He alap made five demands upon the company for essential information regarding certain operations in con- nection with the abattoir, including measures for disposing of “the non- condensible gases which, we are in- formed by competent authority, form the most violent odors.” | Additional significance was attached | to Secretary Wallace’s entry into the | controversy because of the approval | of the Gobel plans formerly given by | his inspectors. Officials of the Animal | Industry Bureau, however, pointed out recently that their approval in no way was concerned with the abattoir site, | which was a matter of local regula- tion, Legal Fight Mapped. ‘Wallace sent a letter to the Com- | missioners early yesterday as legal aides were considering the action they ‘must take in fighting the Gobel suit for & writ of mandamus to compel is- suance of a permit. He stated in | part: | “Those in charge of the Arboretum | inform me that the character of the | srea in that vicinity is likely to be aversely affected by the presence there of a slaughter house, and I am calling this back to your attention, feeling that the general indirect results of this | kind will be an important considera- | tion in your handling of the applica- tion for a permit.” Federal and District legal aides have not decided definitely on their course | of action in the United States District Court following the Commissioners’ board meeting tomorrow, at which it was expected that the Gobel applica- tion for a permit will be formally re- Jected. This would serve to bring the mandamus test to a head and the ar- guments on the suit have been set for ‘Tuesday. ‘The “nuisances” which Mr. Delanto assails in his letter to the Gobel Co. and references to the need of preserv- ing the character of the Federal City are particularly pertinent in view of the impending court arguments. Text of Letter. b:. letter to Gardiner reads as fol- “r‘hnk you for your very informa- tive letter of November 10 regarding the proposal of the Adolph Gobel Co., (See ABATTOIR Page B-3) —_—— HEADLINERS’ PROGRAM " TO INCLUDE BROUN Cotumnist to Present Special { Feature at Ball in Press Club Friday Night. Besides artists from the stage and Fadio, the entertainment at the Head- SHIFTINVOLVES 12 ON POLIGE FORCE Five Detective Sergeants on List Announced by In- spector Thompson. A shift in the Metropolitan Police | officers will take effect tomorrow under an order made public last night by | Inspector Bernard W. Thompson. Thompson indicated the personnel change was an effort to sharpen the department’s efficiency in preparation for the crime increase usually at- tending the holiday season. He denied the shifts had any rela- tion to a recent list of robbery cases marked closed. It was found that in | several of the cases listed as closed because the complainant could not be located, the complaints later responded to telephone calls. Thompson sald clerical errors in addresses probably were responsible for inability to locate the robbery victims. Considered About Month. He added that he had had the changes under consideration for about a month and that the recent death of Detective Sergt. A. T. Fihelly, attached to the robbery squad, had made the change ‘even more necessary, The shift in personnel changes the position of detective sergeants as fol- lows: E. E. Thompson from the twelfth precinct to the robbery squad: Earl L. Baker from the robbery squad to the ninth precinct; Van D. Hughes from the robbery squad to the twelfth precinct; L. M. Wilson from the ninth | to the eleventh precinct, and J. D. | Fletcher from the eleventh precinct to the clothing squad at headquarters. None of the officers’ rank or pay is altered. - Christian Promoted. In the other changes, Precinct | Detective William V. Christian of the third precinct was promoted to de- tective sergeant attached fo the rob- bery squad; Precinct Detective R. E. | Talbot was changed from the seventh to the third precinct; Precinct Detec- tive M. B. Moore, a plainclothes man at the seventh precinct, was promoted to full-time precinct detective at the same station; Pvt. R. J. Felber of the first precinct will go to the pub- lic relations bureau at headquarters; H. H. Carper, a driver of the head- quarters cruiser, will go to the seventh precinct as a plainclothes man and Pvt. John H. Major of the twelfth precinct will become driver of the headquarters cruiser, DR. SACHAR T0 TALK AT JEWISH CENTER Director of V’'nai B'rith Hittel Foundation to Talk in Forum. Dr. Abram L. Sachar, director of the Bmai Brith Hittel Foundation, will speak on “The Present Crisis in Jewish Life” Wednesday at 8:15 pm. at the Jewish | Community Cen- | ter. His lecture | 1s under the sus- | pices of the Na- |tional Jewish | Forum of the | center. | Dr. Sachar, the | author of “The | History of the | Jews,” has trav- jeled recently | throughout sev- ieral European countries. Louis Ottenberg will preside at the | meeting. Members of the Educational Committee in charge of the forum series are Simon Hirshman, chair- man; Dr. Abram Simon, Isidore { Hershfield, Abe Shefferman, Mrs. Isa- | dore Kahn, Judge Nathan Cayton, Jeanne Porton, L. V. Preudberg. Mrs. A. L Dembitz and Mrs. Harry Bernton. CONCERT TO BE GIVEN Mannergesangverein to Be Host to C. & P. Club. achar. Jolnt concert to be givenby the two or- ganizations at the Mannergesangve- rein headquarters, 313¢ Fourteenth street. the host speiety will present s silver loving cup to the visiting glee club as & token of esteem. Inc, German | - WASHINGTON, D. C, SUNDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 15, 1936. L CEMETERY PROFIT BARED FORS.ELC. W. H. Harrison Tells Hear- ing He Realized $53,000 Last Year. W. H. Harrison, who has sold cem- etery lots 21 years, told the Securities | | that profits in his cemetery business | soared to $53,000 last year. This represented an all-time high for Cedar Hill Cemetery, on Suitland road in Prince Georges County, just Although only about 6,000 white persons are buried each year in and near the District, Harrison said his 40 salesmen sell grave sites in large blocks for future use. “We have sold 40,000 graves alto- gether,” he told John H. Small, the 8. E. C. trial examiner, “and we ex- pect to put in 25,000 sites this year.” Harrison was the eighteenth witness to testify during the commission’s three-day hearing called to determine whether another cemetery across the road from Cedar Hill, run by Wash- ington National Cemetery Corp., would do enough business to justify its of- fering a $225,000 mortgage bond issue. Charles €. Koones, a real estate broker employed by R. Marbury Stamp & Co., who made afi appraisal of the Washington National's property for the S. E. C., figured the 65 acres are now worth $1,250 an acre and could net $962,500 for its operators in 50 years. Washington National obtained the ground from Lincoln Memorial Cemetery in return for $150,000 in notes, payable in 10 years. Charles William Banker, a New | Yorker, took charge of the corpora- tion in September. He convinced Col. William C. Lancaster, chief engineer of the Transit Commission of the City of New York, of the worth of his finan- cial judgment, and Lancaster yester- day told the S, E. C. he would invest | across the District line, Harrison said. | Here are some representative eramples of works by 350 artists in the mural show whith opens he Corcoran Gall of Art, under auspices of the Treasury Depar: UGy 6f e oo .o No.2is a n’t’uml sketch by Edna Reindel for com- Projects. No. 1 is "Golf,",bydPacuI Cudmu.:. b ittee room of the Stamford, Conn., post office. n grarf/zord. N. J.’. post office. No. 4 is by Frank Long for the Louisville, Ky., post office. he Cleveland housi: roject. RyERBrles CRAPORL Jorathe " -p-g;mtoa by Courtesy of Treasury Departmegyt. Auto Show Crowd of 4,000 Double 1935 Opening Record his money in any project Banker sug- gested. CITY ALLOTTED SUM FOR POWER PLANT P. W. A. Lists $2595000 for High Point, N. C., to Erect Public System. BY the Associated Press. ‘The Public Works Administration allotted $2,595000 to High Point, N. C,, yesterday for a publicly-owned hydro-electric plant. The allocation was made only a few days after Supreme Court argu- ments on the Duke Power Co.’s chal- lenge of the validity of a P. W. A, grant for a similar project in South Carolina. The High Point project would fur- nish electric power for distribution | over a city-owned transmission sys-| tem, for which current now is pur- chased from Duke interests. In announcing the High Point al- lotment, the P. W. A. said it antici- pated the right to build the plant would not be subject to litigation, since the city's application contained the statement the power company’s franchise specifically provides it shall not sell power in opposition to the city. The Duke company challenged the validity of the allotment, to Green- wood County, 8. C, on grounds the pro,osed publicly-owned plant would compete with existing private facili- ties. MERIDIAN HILL PARK DECLARED COMPLETED 24-Year-Old Project Has Assessed Va.!.nntum of $2,579,000, & Says Finnan. A final report on the evolution of Meridian Hill Park was forwarded by IC. Marshall Finan, superintendent of project has now been completed. pos- sessing an valuation of $2,- 579,000 On the upper terrace, Finnan said, provision has been made in nu::: for a e e renditions. No funds are this and detailed el Safety, Comfort and Beauty Empha- sized by Exhibits of Score of Manu- facturers—Buying Brisk. A crowd nearly double that of last year turned out yesterday and last night for Washington's 1937 auto- mobile show in what appeared to be | 2 “buying” mood. The visitors inspected 100 gleaming | examples of American inventive genius with something more than idle curiosity. Salesmen were called on for order blanks as well as oratory. More than 4,000 prospective buyers had crowded Calvert Exhibit Hall at 2701 Calvert street when the doors closed on the first day of the exhibition | at 11 o'clock Iast night. The show will be open today from 3 to 11 pm,, and will continue through next Saturday with 11 a.m.-11 p.m. hours. Almost a score of manufacturers are showing their 1937 models. The emphasis is more on safety, comfort and beauty than on speed and power. Engines, generally speaking, have been moved forward somewhat, bodies are wider and roomier and the fronts of the cars have been rounded off to simplify their streamline. Many sales talks were based on the safety features of bodies constructed over welded steel frames. An innovation this year was the trailer exhibit. Three of these houses on wheels attracted an unusual amount of attention.-.Lines formed at the doors while spectators filed through to inspect the interiors of trailers equipped to meet living con- ditions on the road. One trailer on display is being manufactured by the makers of an expensive automobile. It has a weld- ed steel frame built to withstand the impact of a collision and is covered with aluminum, insulated on the in- side against sudden temperature changes. The wheels of the trailer are equipped with hydraulic brakes connected to the brakes of the auto- mobile, Thus the mototist can apply brakes at the same time to his car and to the trailer behind. Manufacturers of trailers estimate As a prelude to the show opening, some of the oldest living relics of the motor age wheezed around town yes- terday morning in a “gas buggy derby” staged by the American Automobile Association. B Some of the surprised spectators that witnessed the procession of an- tique automobiles from Sixth street and Constitution avenue to the exhi- bit hall must have thought for a mo- ment that time's hourglass had been turned back to the early part of the century, when the *horselesss car~ riage” was a fearsome, and unreliable luxury. A sound truck playing phonograph records—they were gramophone discs in the once upon a time of the cars in the procession—gurgled sentimental melodies of yesteryear as a bicycle built for two wheeled smartly up Con- necticut avenue, followed by 17 con- traptions that were the last word in. the motor world around 1905. The old cars, as if possessed of & human determination not to become museum pieces, put on a noble per- formance. Hitting a pace that would have caused every horse along the streets of 30 years ago to rear in fright, they rolled in a single file from start to finish in less than three- quarters of an hour. Only two balked, one at the get- away and another, a 1903 model with 2 rear entrance like a pony cart, en route. The first casualty regained its power somewhere along Connecti- cut avenue and finished well toward the front, preserving the best tradi- tions of Henry Ford’s first flivvers. The other cripple came to grief trying to keep pace with the 15-mile- per-hour speed demons. It boiled, it clanked, it groaned and expired. A tow car came to the rescue. ‘The scene changes from 1906 to 1936. The first show spectators file into the exhibit hall to inspect a gleaming array of 1937 automobile models. It is determined then that the automobile has indeed come to stay, but its evolution has made it a far different looking creature than its ancient granddad out in the street (poor fellow, how the curious mem- bers of a new generation snicker at his “exterior plumbing”). LECTURE TUESDAY W. D. Strong Will ‘Address An- No. 3 is a mural by tment Art Gerald Foster for the No. 5 is BALLOU SIDESTERS ISSUE WITH GLASS Won’t “Enter Controversy” With Senator Over Non- Resident Pupils. Dr. Frank W. Ballou, superintendent of schools, declined yesterday to “en- ter a contsoversy” with Senator Glass, veteran Virginia Democrat, over his stand in the Lois Kemp case, in which Dr. Ballou barred the girl's enroll- ment in Gordon Junior High School because she does not reside in the Dis- trict. Glass, on Friday, called Bal- lou's position “ridiculous,” as- serted that “for 16 years” the super- intendent had sought repeal of the non-residential law that permits the enrollment here of children whose parents are employed in the District. Dr. Ballou, on the other hand, as- serts he had not originated any re- peal proposal. He said all such pro- poals had originated in the House when the Appropriations Committee was faced with the problem of pre- viding more money for the Disirict Dr. d During the pendency of the Kemp case, in which John 8. Kemp, father the present law is “permissive” rather “mandatory.” That stand wus on the strength of a formal unwilling to give up a $240,000 appro- priation to offset the results if the non.resident law were repealed. “I would prefer to say nothing at all,” Dr. Ballou said. “In fact, if TRACTINCHANE PRONES BATILE Rival Citizens’ Groups to Appear-on Takoma Service Hearing. Spokesmen for two groups of citi- zens’ associations will be arrayed against each other tomorrow, when the Public Utilities Commission holds a hearing on the proposal of the Capital Transit Co. to substitute | busses for the street car service along | Third and Kennedy streets to Ta- koma. The commission has been advised that three associations favor reten- tion of the street car service and that four other associations are supporting substitution of busses. The company, after months *of study, recently asked the commission to approve elimination of the street car tracks beyond Fourteenth street and Colorado avenue. It proposed to substitute an all- day bus service from Takoma to downtown Washington, to establish a shuttle bus service from Takoma to the proposed new terminus of the Fourteenth street car line, at Colo- rado avenue, and to make some changes in the route of the Chillum Heights bus line. In connection with the proposals two new items have appeared. Resi- dents in the vicinity of Grant Circle have protested to the commission against routing busses through Fifth street on the grounds that addi- tional hazards would be created for school children who must cross the street t0 the Barnard and St. Ga- briel's Schools. Another group, represgnfing Ninth street residents, have proposed that Takoma busses be routed through that street to take the place of street car service, already abandoned. CROWDING ALARMS TRAINING SCHOOL D. C. School Is Foroed to Turn Away Many Feeble- Minded. Numerous feeble-minded children are being denied admittances to the District Training School at Laurel, Md., because there is no room for their care, the Board of Public Wel- fare was advised yesterday by Dr. James Lewald, superintendent. He reported the institution is “seri- ously overcrowded” and that there is & long waiting list of children who should be given treatment. The daily average population at the institution during October was 540, compared with 520 a year ago, he told the board. Dr. Lewald added that the institu- tion was seriously crowded in October of last year and that no facilities had been added in the meantime. The board was informed also that the number of patients at the Chil- dren’s Tuberculosis Sanatorium at Glenn Dale, Md, was increasing steadily. Dr. Daniel L. Finucane told the board the quarters assigned to col- ored children were filled, and that space allotted to white children have been turned over to colored children because of the demand. Y ALLEN REPORTS THREAT BY WORKERS’ ALLIANCE ‘Warned of “Dire Consequences” in Family to Reply to De- mands, He Says. Commissioper George E. Allen yes- terday reported he was threatened with “dire consequences” when he declined to make immediate answer to the first of a long list of demands ‘Sports—Pages 10to 15 | B NEW HOUSE CAST WILL HANDLE BILL ON DISTRICT FUND Only Two Members of Old Group on Appropriations Likely to Serve. JOHNSON IS IN LINE FOR CHAIRMANSHIP, But West Virginian Is Undecided Whether He Wants Post. The 1938 District appropriation bill —the most vital piece of legislation Congress will have to enact for Washe ington at the coming session—is dese tined to be written by a House com- mittee composed almost entirely of new members. Even the chairman of the commit« tee may be a new member—a member not only unfamiliar with the District, its problems and its needs, but also lacking a background of the compli«. cated budget-making procedure the financial estimates of the Commise sioners must undergo every year. Representative Johnson of West Virginia is in a position to head the committee that will frame the supply bill by virtue of the fact that he is the only remaining Democrat of the group that wrote the 1937 measure. But Johnson has not decided yet whether he wants the assignment. Neither is he certain that Chairman Buchanan of the Appropriations Committee wants him to have it. “I haven't given the matter se- rious thought,” Johnson declared yes- terday. “It’s still too early to do any- thing about it. In the first place, I want to talk with Chairman Buchanan before reaching a decision. Maybe, Mr. Buchanan wouldn't want me to serve as chairman of the subcommit- tee. He knows I'll work anywhere he puts me.” Johnson and Representative Ditter of Pennsylvania are the only mem- bers of the committee that framed the current appropriation bill who are likely to form the nucleus of the new group at the coming session. Ditter, of course, can't have the chairman- ship, because he is a Republican. Two new Democratic members must be added to the committee before hearings are started on the bill. One will replace Representative Blanton, chairman of the committee at the last session of Congress, whose 20 years of congressional life was abrupte ly ended last August by Texas voters in a run-off primary. The other va- cancy was created by the death of | Representative Jacobson of Iowa. Chairman Buchanan is expected to fill the two vacancies as soon as he returns to Washington. An effort is being made to have him appoint Chairman Norton of the District Leg= islative Committee to one of the posts, but'it is doubtful if she would accept. Mrs. Norton, it is known, would like to serve on the appropriations sube- commjittee that handles the District bill, But she would be forced to give up the chairmanship of the legislative committee to take the appointment, She feels the sacrifice would be too great —relinquishing a committes chairmanship to become a member of another committee, even though the Appropriations Committee has more prestige and a higher status among committees. 1§ Johnson declines the chairmane ship of the subcommittee in charge of the District bill, there are reports that Representative Cannon, Democrat of Missouri, might be “drafted” to take the assignment for one year. Can- non was chairman of the subcommit tee for several years, but now heads the more important subcommittee in charge . of the agriculture appropria= tion bill. He also is & member of the subcommittee in charge of deficiency appropriation bills. Attaches of the Appropriations Come mittee feel that the chairman of the District subcommittee should at least have had some previous experience with the city’s supply bill, especially at the coming session, in view of the action to be taken on the recommen= dations of tne special committee ape pointed by President Roosevelt to settle the perplexing fiscal relations problem. The amount of the approe priations for the coming fiscal year will depend largely on the Federal paye ment toward District expenses. The Commissioners have transe mitted to the Budget Bureau estis mates for the next fiscal year calling for the appropriation of $47,800,000 out of District revenues. Even if all proposed Capital improvements are eliminated, as well as requested ine creases in personnel and other ope erating costs, present District reve enue sources would fall short by more than $3,000,000 of meeting the bill. If Congress approved the proposed new expenditures for improvements and services, the expected District revenues in 1938 would be nearly $7,« 500,000 less than the sum required. For these reasons the Commissioners have divided the budget into two sece tions. The first part covers only ope eration costs, plus necessary cone tractural obligations. The second” part, dependent entirely on either an Increased Federal payment, or higher taxes, or both, provides what the Commissioners believe to be the mini~ mum needs for new improvements and enlarged municipal services. CORONER’S JURY HOLDS -CAR DEATHS ACCIDENTS .| Two Drivers Are Exonerated by Department yesterday. Henceforth the shaft will be open from 9 am. to 4 pm. Officials said it will be closed on Christmas day. Verdicts in Recent Fatalities Due to Traffic. Inquests by a coroner’s jury into two recent traffic fatalities resulted yes- terday in a verdict of accidental deata in each case. Mrs. Dorothy W. Halbach, 30, of 2747 Macomb street, was absolved of any blame in the death Thursday of Charles W. Hurley, 40. Hurley was- said to have stepped from between parked cars into the path of Mrs. Hal- bach’s automobile at Fourteenth and G streets last Saturday. The other driver exonerated was Arthur T. Park, 32, Glen Echo, Md, whose machine struck and fatally in- jured Elijah Willbanks, 55, colored. M