Evening Star Newspaper, March 5, 1937, Page 19

Wash HEALTH CONDITION IND.C.ASSAILEDIN FUNDS DEMAND Répresentative Engel Urges Slum Eradication as One Major Step. WOULD EQUIP RUHLAND WITH ADEQUATE POWER Subcommittee for Study of Report. House District Clears Decks Jacobs BY JAMES E. CHINN. | Describing health conditions in Washington as “rotten,” Representa-| tive Engel, Republican. of Michigan, announced today he would seek in- creased appropriations for the Health Department in the coming fiscal year | so it can undertake a vigorous fight against tubercuiosis and the breeding | places of disease. Engel, a member of the House Sub- ington News tommittee on Appropriations in charge of thé 1938 District supply bill, has| taken an active part in the hearings | on the measure which have just con- cluded. | Information given the subcommittee, together with his own personal knowl- edge of health conditions, Engel said, | has convinced him the policy of ap- propriating funds to combat tuber- culosis and other serious diseases after they have developed has been extra- vagant, and that steps should be taken to prevent their inception. | Urges “Ounce of Prevention.” “Washington has an excellent health officer in Dr. George C. Ruhland.” said Engel, “and I am sure if he is| given sufficient funds and an adequate staff, he can do much to reduce the city’s high mortality rate. If that had been done years ago, I am sure funds | would not have to be appropriated to | build and maintain expensive tuber- | culosis hospitals. I believe in the old adage that ‘an ounce of prevention is | worth a pound of cure.” | Engel was particularly critical of | slum conditions in Washington—con- ditions, he declared, which breed dis- ease as well as crime. “Get rid of these slums, and give Dr. Ruhland adequate funds to fight disease,” he said, “and I am sure the mortality rate will be reduced, and the taxpayers of Washington in the future will not be required to build expensive hospitals to care for the crippled or the victims of some serious disease.” ? Praises Boys’ Club Work.” ‘ Engel also believes that slum dir- | dance will serve automatically to re. duce crime. He said Supt. of Police | Ernest W. Brown is doing “remark- able” work in that connection through the police boys clubs, and he proposed | to recommend to the subcommittee an | increase in the appropriation for ex- | tension of these clubs. | “These clubs are taking the boys off | the street and leading them away from | any temptation that might carry them on to a career of crime,” he declared. *“That's what I believe to be sincere crime prevention work.” * Engel is known to have the support of Chairman Collins in his fight for increased appropriations for both the Health Department and the boys’ clubs. Except for a study of the Jacobs fiscal relations plan on which the 1938 budget is predicated, the sub- committee completed its work on the appropriation bill late yesterday after hearing more than 30 civic representa- tives make pleas for a varied assort- | ment of public improvements. In ad- dition, a delegation representing or- ganizations affiliated with the Council | of Social Agencies urged an increase | of at least $1,000,000 in the $1,465,000 emergency relief item in the 1938 budget. Analyzes Report Monday. The subcommittee will undertake its analysis of the complicated three- point fiscal relations formula of J. L. Jacobs, Chicago efficiency engineer, | Monday. Jacobs will be the first wit- ness. He will be followed by Geurge‘ Lord, Detroit tax expert, who aided the special Mapes committee of the House | make an exPaustive fiscal relations | survey more than five years ago. Two special subcommittees of the | District Legislative Committee of the House appointed to study various fea- tures of the Jacobs plan will sit with the appropriations subcommittee dur- | ing its examination of Jacobs and | Lord. Among the witnesses who appeared before the Appropriations Subcommit- tee at its final hearing was Mrs. Bur- ton K. Wheeler, wife of Senator Wheeler, Democrat, of Montana. She urged that funds be included in the appropriation bill to complete the stadium at the new Wilson Senior High School. C. E. McGhee, president of the City Pirefighters’ Association, appealed particularly for an increase in the uni- form allowance for firemen to a min- imum of $35 a year, pointing out that the clothing problem in the Fire De- partment is so acute some men are forceq to wear the uniforms of fire- men who have died. He also recom- mended that firemen be relieved of elerical work. School Accommodations Asked. Increased public school accommo- dations and especially an addition to the new Anacostia Junior High School, was requested by Dr. H. K. Butler and Vernis Absher, representing the Boutheast Washington Citizens’ Asso- clation. Mrs. Andrew Snow of the Chevy Chase Recreational Council appealed for an increase in the appropriation for playgrounds. The Washington Board of Trade, through Cooper B. Rhodes and Col. L. C. Crawford, urged increased funds for the public schools and the Police Department to provide additional school buildings, more teachers and more traffiic offi- cers. Larger appropriations for the High- way and Police Departments were re- quested by Washington I. Cleveland of the District Motor Club of the American Automobile Association. Other witnesses included E. J. Read of the Congress Heights Citizens’ As- sociation, Dr. Edward E. Richardson, president of the City-wide Playground Council; Rufus 8. Lusk, president of the Washington Taxpayers' Associa- P | building to another. WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1937. Raccoon Goes to mSchool Agitated by Stares of Children, Paulasse Bites Master’s Hand. Fernando Cuniberti entering the Jackson School with Pau- lasse, his pet raccoon, on his shoulder. ‘Paulasse thought he could escape inquisitive eyes by scam- pering up a ladder leading to the loft. Here he's coming back down. —Star Staff Photos. AULASSE, the raccoon, went to school yesterday, but, crotchety at being held and stared at by children and teachers alike, bit his master’s hand and did the rounds of the classes by himself. Entering the Jackson School, 3048 R street, on the shoulder of his master, Fernando Cuniberti. 3224 R street, Paulasse was meek as a lamb, chortling to himself and kissing his master's ear. He was scheduled to make the rounds of the class rooms so the children might see wild life in the flesh. Unused to being in the limelight, he descended his " master's back and started leisurely on his way through the rooms. Childreri were warned by their teachers not to move or touch him while they Paulasse’s antics. Bites Master’s Finger. Attempts to catch him for a pose with the children resulted in a bitten finger for Mr. Cuniberti, who patient- 1y tracked him from one part of the Climbing on the drinking fountain to the book | shelves, his wanderings finally brought him to a low table, where the children of the fifth grade had placed a bowl of water containing a magnetized needle. Into the bowl went Paulasse for his morning ablutions. Then out and up a ladder leading to the loft of the school. Eyes a-gleam at this possible avenue of escape, he scampered nimbly up to where a trap door barred his way and he was forced to return to his waiting admirers. Seeing the coon was beyond con- trol and would not “act nicely for the | kiddies.” Cuniberti cast about for pos- | sible means for his capture. Finally, ;his eye lit upon an oilcloth type- | writer cover dnd Paulasse was borne | homeward snapping and snarling, to ! be put in the “dog house,” literally ! and figuratively speaking. Had Prospective Mate. A New Jersey farmer sent Paulasse to Cuniberti last Spring. At the time he had a prospective mate, Pierrasse— | prospective because both still were babies. Cuniberti told today of how he had trained the pair and how they looked on with | climbed on the table while the family | jay.offs in some measure upon the | mingled surprise and amusement at| Was eating, poking their paws into | Nayy's letting out the jobs for engines everything that caught the eye. Both took a fancy to rats, but were not fast enough to catch them. Cuni- berti puts traps and poison in the cel- lar of his house to catch the rodents, but Pierrasse, the little girl coon, ate some of the rat poison and died. “At home he never acts like this,” | tables and inspecting everything from | said Cuniberti. “He frisks like a puppy, and, although he is sometimes bad, | gnaws through the door of his house and climbs two stories to awaken me !and Mrs. Cuniberti in the night, ne has never bitten me before. This is all strange to him, I guess he feels cornered in here and instinct tells i him to fight.” 1702 YEARS GIVEN IN BUST SWINDLE Alfred Layton, Who Pro- moted Pershing Hoax, Receives Sentence. Alfred Layton, who pleaded guilty two | weeks ago to two mail fraud charges growing out of the notorious Pershing bust swindle, was sentenced in District Court today by Justice James M. Proc- tor to from one to two years imprison- ment on each count, the sentences to run concurrently. A fugitive for two and one-half years after discovery of his scheme to ob- tain money through subscriptions to a fund for purchase of a bust of Gen. John J. Pershing, Layton was arrested last July 30 in Atlantic City. Among his victims were inany of the ' ‘ation’s best-known financial and political leaders. He represented to them that the Pershing bust was to be munted to the National Gallery of The indictment against him con- tained six counts alleging use of the mails to defraud, but Layton was al- lowed to plead guilty to two of the counts with the understanding that the others would be dropped. The maximum sentence possible on each count was five years’ imprison- ment or $1,000 fine, or both. tion; Mrs. Edward Chapin of the As- sociation of University Women; Earl W. Cooper, George E. Keneipp and George E. Diffenbach of the Chevy Chase Citizens’ Association, E. H. Rosengarten of the Associated Gen- eral Contractors of America, Woolsey W. Hall, president of the Federation of Civic Associations, and Jerome B. Osborne and A. S. Pinkett of the Pleasant Plains Citizens’ Association. \Instead of Client, Lawyer Is Denied Right to Use Car Mix-Up in Names Makes Him Butt of Police Court Jokes. A mix-up in the names of an attor- ney and his client placed Thomas M. David, lawyer, in a most embarrassing position today. As matters stand, ‘Thomas finds himself without the right to operate his automobile. He insists upon doing something about it right away. David recently represented a man who was convicted on a serious traffic charge, and his permit was revoked by the Board of Revocations and Restora- tions. The client appealed to the District Commissioners, and today the attorney received a letter from the District Building informing him that his appeal from the Revocations Board had been denied. David was made the butt of numer- ous jokes in Police Court today, but it was expected the error would be quickly corrected. . DISCUSS SECURITY ‘The application of the social securi- ty act to employers was discussed yesterday before the members of the Cosmopolitan Club by Ralph B. Har- ris of the Washington field office of ;he Federal Bureau of Old Age Bene- ts. e Citing what he termed the “racket” started by certain people to sell em- ployers so-called “official” social se- curity records, Harris declared that there is no such thing as an official record, and that the Social Security Board and the Bureau of Internal Revenue do not care how the records are kept just so the desired informa- tion is available. ening Stap WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION NAVY DEPARTMENT 10 DROP WORKERS IN MANY YARDS Layoff Over Country Will Be Gradual and Over Long Period. 300 TO BE AFFECTED IN CAPITAL ON MAY 1 Labor Leaders Indicate Assistant Secretary Edison Will Hear Vigorous Protest. Thousands of navy yard workmen |over the Nation will lose their jobs, | due to the descending curve of em- ployment on construction, the Navy 3Depnrtment. disclosed yesterday, in saying that 300 workers at the Wasn- ington Navy Yard will be laid off May 1. Officials made it clear that the lay-off over the country will be grad- ual and extend over a long period, | with the indication that more work- | ers will be dropped here later as work slows down. Assistant Secretary of the Navy Charles Edison, who has charge of | navy yards, will hear a vigorous pro- | test from labor leaders, they indicated | yesterday. The Navy is blaming the faflure of Congress to pass the $225.- 000,000 naval auxiliary construction | measure for the lessening of the work |load, which officials insist was fore- | | seen a year ago. Rear Admiral Harold R. Stark, chief | of the Bureau of Ordnance, Navy De- | | partment, announced the lay-off of 300 here to the Secretary’s round- | table conference of his bureau chiefs | yesterday. Officials were unable to | give a definite figure representing the | total lay-off all over the country, but |said that it would amount to “thou- | sands” as time goes on. Boston, Mass.; New York, Philadelphia, Norfolk, Va.; | Charleston, S. C., and Mare Island, | Calif., will be affected in varying de- | | grees by the lay-offs. Lack Bidders for Work. The slackening of employment at | the navy yards is blamed. in part, on the inability of the service to secure | needed construction materials, due to | the lack of bidders on these essentials, |a condition that is attributed to the Walsh-Healey 40-hour-work-week leg- |islation. Had the keels of six destroy- ers and three submarines, to be built at navy yards, been laid on time, through the securing of steel on sched- ule, the work load could have been so arranged as to save the jobs of many of these men who now face the loss of their pay envelopes, the officials contended. The prospective construction of two new battleships will afford little im- mediate relief, officials said. Money for | these must be secured from Congress | before the Navy can go into produc- tion on them and detailed plans cre- | | ated. | | N. P. Alifas, president of District | No. 44, International Association of Machinists, and its general legislative | agent and chairman of the Legislative Committee of the Metal Trades De- partment of the American Federation | of Labor, said that he and his col- leagues will take the lay-off problem up with Congress, as well as with the | Navy Department. He blamed Lhei for submarines and ships’ boilers to | | private contractors, instead of building them in the Government's own yards. Favors More Construction. Alifas wants the Government to place the men to be laid off on pre- | | ferred employment lists; transfer those | ’nvniluble to other jobs in Government | ‘estnbl\shments. and to make provision | | for no repetition of this problem in | the future. He favors the construc- | tion of more naval vessels in navy | yards, instead of letting out the jobs | !to private concerns. By this placing | of contracts with outside firms, Alifas | contended, the Government has to lay | off men in its own navy yards. Dis- | charges can be avoided, he asserted, | if the Government will only do more | work in its own plants, he said. | The naval auxiliary construction program comprises the building of | 3 destroyer tenders, 2 store ships, 1 hospital ship, 2 repair ships, 1 oiler, 15 minesweepers, 1 minelayer, 4 sea- plane: tenders, 7 patrol plane tenders, 1 survey ship, 1 submarine tender and 10 fleet tugs. Congress has thus far failed to pass this measure, although naval officials insist that the present and prospective lay-offs were foreseen 12 months ago, because of the antici- pated dropping off of the work load. ks e S, ‘Woman Explorer to Lecture. Strange creatures and customs of Angola, West Africa, will feature an illustrated lecture by Laura Boulton, woman explorer, tonight before the National Geographic Society at Con- stitution Hall. Justice Peyton Gordon of District Court, had under advisement today a motion for a new trial for Dr. Francis E. Townsend, who was compared by his attorney in court yesterday to the long-suffering Job of the Bible. The lawyer, Elisha Hanson, con- tended that evidence should have been admitted in the aged physician's recent contempt trial to show he was justified in walking out of a hearing of the House Committee investigating old-age pension organizations. “For three days—May 19, 20 and 21 —Dr. Townsend submitted to the ques- tions of the committee, and must have said like the prophet Job ‘How long will ye vex my soul and break me in pieces with words,’” Hanson told the court. “Then, when he could stand no more, he left. “I have been appearing before con- gressional committees or representing them for the past 25 years, but never have I seen a proceeding which could compare with it for violation of an individual’s rights.” FH¥ Veterans of Capitol Hill Celebrate . Garrett Whiteside and Senator Borah Mark 30 Years’ Service at Luncheon Given by Idahoan. Two 30-year veterans on Capitol Hill, Senator Borah of Idaho and Garrett Whiteside, secre- tary to Senator Haitie Caraway of Arkansas, celebrated a joint anniversary yesterday over a luncheon at which Borah was host in the Senate Restaurant. 4, 1907 ARRETT WHITESIDE not only saw history in the mak- ing, but helped to make a | Wilson delivered his message at night | “ to the Senate and House in joint ses- ‘ bit himself in the 30 years he completed yesterday as a congres- sional secretary. In a reminiscent mood. the dean of Capitol Hill secretaries was the lunch- eon guest yesterday of another 30- year veteran, Willilam E. Borah of Idaho, who entered the Senate on March 4, 1907, the same day that Whiteside took over his new duties. ‘Whiteside. who now is secretary to Senator Hattie Caraway of Arkansas, took occasion to recall, among other things. that he typed out America's declaration of war against Germany as dictated over his shoulder by the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the British Ambas- sador. Most Dramatic Episode. That was perhaps the most dra- matic episode of Whiteside's career. President Wilson had summoned the new Congress into special session on April 2. 1917 to hear his message | concerning the crisis precipitated by the Imperial German government's unrestricted submarine warfare on neutral shipping in European waters. Germany's new policy of sinking neutral ships without warning had been put into active practice. Both began their service March —Star Staff Photo. Another American ship had been no idea of the importance of the docu- | | sunk a few hours before President sion. Whiteside then was secretary to the late Representative Otis Wingo of | Arkansas, and clerk of the House En- rolled Bills Committee. He had heard Wilson recommend that Congress de- clare “the recent course of the Im- perial German government to be, in fact, nothing less than war against the Government and people of the United States,” and had returned to his desk in the committee room to finish some extra work. Flood Did Dictating. It was about 11 o'clock at night, ‘Whiteside said, when the late Repre- sentative Hal Flood of Virginia, then chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, came in with the late Sir Cecil Arthur Spring-Rice, then British Ambassador to the United States. “Can you use a typewriter?” White- side was asked by Flood. Whiteside replied that he formerly had been a court reporter and would be glad to take the dictation, He put a carbon between two sheets of plain paper and inserted them in his typewriter. Flood and Sir Cecil Arthur came and . stood just behind him. Whiteside had ment he was about to type. He said that Flood did most of the dictating, but that the British Ambassador made several suggestions and they were in- corporated in the brief declaration of about a half page. Passed Almost Verbatim. Whiteside said that to the best of his recollection the declaration he typed that night was passed almost verbatim on April 6 as a joint Senate and House resolution, and signed the same day by President Wilson. He gave both copies to Flood and the Ambassador, and has regretted since he did not make a third copy to keep as a memento of the occasion. Whiteside, who came here from Nashville, Ark., at the age of 22 as secretary to Representative Ben Cravens of Arkansas, has seen many statesmen come and go in his term of office. The only ones he can recall who were serving in 1907 and who are still in Congress are Senators Borah and Sheppard of Texas. Whiteside became Representative Wingo's secretary after leaving the employ of Cravens, and in 1921 was chosen secretary to the late Senator T. H. Caraway of Arkansas Whiteside went to work for Mrs Caraway when she succeeded her hus- band following his death in 1931. | Whiteside is 52 years old Looks Up Cost Precedent After Adven- ture With Green Lady. VERYBODY knows the story of E Sir Walter Raleigh, the pud-i dle of mud and the fine new | coat he spread in the path of | his queen to save her from distress But Representative Paul Kvale of Minnesota, who is something of a Sir Walter Raleigh himself, is wonder- ing whether Sir Walter ever got his coat cleaned and pressed after the queen stepped on it, and, if so, whether Sir Walter or the queen paid the cleaner for the job. Mr. Kvale paid, not for his coat but for his hat. It has received, he says, a most thoroughly beautiful cleaning. It looks brand-new. But he paid the bill, and he would like to know whether there is precedent for such charges or whether the Sir Walter Raleigh act is more expensive these days than it used to be. How Mr. Kvale played the role of Sir Water Raleigh at the Willard Ho- tel last Monday night, when the ladies of the press and their distinguished guests were dining, has not been given the publicity to which so gallant an act is entitled. Mr. Kvale, himself, always an honest man, is willing to admit the facts, but he has not been telling the world about it. But what else was there for a gen- tleman to do? There stood Mr. and Mrs. Kvale waiting for an elevator. Townsend Long-Suffering Job, Attorney Tells Court in Appeal Hanson argued that since Townsend was charged with “wilful” contempst, which implies an “evil” intent, he should have been afforded an oppor- tunity to present evidence that his de- flance of the committee was justified. “The nature of the inquisition itself would justify any one in leaving,” Hanson declared. He said he was ready during the trial to offer the committee's minority report and the testimony of one mi- nority member to the effect that Dr. Townsend was not asked to testify on any possible subject of legislation. United States Attorney Leslie C. Garnett replied that Townsend was advised by counsel to leave the com- mittee room as a publicity move, and that his lawyer was present through- out the hearing, ready to advise him if any question tended to violate his constitutional rights. Justice Gordon said he would study authorities submitted to him and rule on the motion at 3 p.m. Tuesday. And there, at the point of passing into a swoon, was a lady who was obviously feeling very green. Mr. Kvale, with others, assisted her to a seat. The lady was becoming most uncomfortable. There was that same telitale expression which shines from ! the eyes of seasick passengers as they dash for the rail. There was no rail. There was no ocean. But there was Mr. Kvale, a perfect gentleman, with his hat. Mrs. Kvale, it is reported, said she was glad. She was tired seeing Paul wear that old hat and he ought long ago to have bought a new one. But Mr. Kvale is proud of the hat. He | turned it over, instead, to the hotel | cleaners. He paid the bill. But he wonders. That is why he is looking up Sir | Walter Raleigh precedents. 'GUNMAN LOOTS TILL Manager Locked in Back Room of Establishment After Hold-up. An unshaven hold-up man this morning robbed the cash register of the Sanitary grocery store at 1929 Ninth street of $20 and locked Ernest’ H. Bowie, 29, the manager, in the back room, Mamie Jones, colored, 1830 Ninth street, entered the store 20 minutes later, heard the cries of the imprisoned man, and summoned a passerby to re- lease him. Bowie said the bandit, about 40, pointed a rusty nickel-plated revolves at him and asked for the money. The robber wore a brown topcoat, a trown suit and brown shoes. Theft of three platinum rings set with diamonds, valued at $1,500, from the wash room of a downtown hotel was reported to police yesterday by Mrs. Florence Lilewellyn of Rector- town, Va. Three white men held up Otis Wal- ter Melvin, 439 Twelfth street south- east, taxicab driver, on G street south- east near Benning road early today and robbed him of $5 and his cab. He had picked the men up as passen- gers at Eighth and G streets. Another hacker lost his cab and 50 cents in a second hold-up in the same neighborhood. George V. Aitsas, 608 Maryland avenue southwest, told po- lice he picked up two white men at Third and G streets and took them to Forty-seventh street and Benning road southeast, where he was robbed. A AT GROCERY STORE| 100 OFFIGIALS AD ORCHESTRA FUND | Secretary Perkins Sends 1 Message to Leaders | of Drive. A committee of more than 100 Gov- ernment officials. headed by Secretary of Labor Perkins, has been organized to assist in the National Symphony Orchestra’s campaign for a $110,000 sustaining fund. it was announced to- day. In a message to leaders of the drive. Secretary Perkins said: “It is a splendid thing for the thou- sands of Washington residents who are identified with the Government de- partments that your symphony con- certs are made available at such a nominal cost that no one need deny | himself the great satisfaction of hear- | ing good music. | helping to organize a committee which | will accept financial contributions to | your sustaining fund from those Gov- ernment officials and employes who may care to help support the work. We are deeply interested in the suc- we can to further it.” Richardson Saunders, assistant to the Secretary, has been named vice chairman of the committee. Mrs. W. S. Kunkel is secretary. Members of the Government com- mittee are: Shipley Mrs. Ruth La Farge. Harry A. Carusi. Ugo Dotson. Floyd E. | Stockberger. W. W. Libbey. E. W. | Hull. Wilitam C. | Stamm. Lillian K. Wilbur, Mary H Brown. Harold M. Johnson. Otis B. Nutting, Mrs. Lillian Galt. A’ R Nagle. Robert L. Nielson. iee Taylor. Perry Costigan _abel C. 3ray. Kinae Schuman. Capt. R. W. . Chase. Guy G McKnew. R. G. Harris. Collas H. Pierson_Warren Lee Smith, Edwin 8. Revnolds. Johr B. Mitchell. W. L. 0. Havenner. Dr.G.C. Lally. Miss Josephine ard R. ar. Harry Nestor, Henry C. FAIR AND WARMER’ DUE FOR TOMORROW Mercury Reaches 67 in Brilliant Sun—36-Degree Low Pre- dicted for Tonight. The predicted vacation for “Old Man Sunshine” was postponed today as the Weather Bureau forecast a hearty “fair and warmer” for this afternoon and tomorrow. After shining brilliantly throughout yesterday, sending the temperature to the extraordinary high of 67 degrees. much to the chagrin of successful ad- vocates in changing the inaugural date from March 4 to January 20, the sun was due to hide its face today and give way to chilly weather and occa- sional showers. But the latest reports indicate there has been a reconsidera- tion in favor of clear skies with a 50- degree maximum predicted for this afternoon and a 36-degree low in store for tonight. Bureau officials said today the 67- degree low at 2:30 p.m. yesterday hardly is a record, but was “excep- tional.” The average of 52 was 13 degrees warmer than the March 4 normal of 39. The low this morning was 43. England Imports Gum Arabic. England is importing gum arabic from the Sudan to make postage stampes stick. “I am glad to assist your efforts by | | cess of this movement and will do all | Society and General PAGE B—1 THIRD DEATH MARS SAFETY CAMPAIGN CNLY 3 DAYS 0LD Employers Asked to “Call on Carpet” Drivers Held for Traffic Offenses. JUDGE MAKES ANOTHER TALK AGAINST SPEEDING Doles Out Stiff Fines to Offenders. District Employes to Be Dis- ciplined if Arrested. George A. Neal, 64, of 3425 Eastern | avenue, Mount Rainier, Md.. died early ‘u)da_v in Emergency Hospital, the | thirty-second victim of traffic acci- dents in the District this year and the | third since Commissioners launched their safety campaign three days ago. The traffic toll on this date last year was only 17. Meanwhile, Judge John P. Me- Mahon continued to fine motorists on first-offense speeding charges, having assessed 24 of them $10 each yester- day, while the Commissioners sought | to stem the tide of fatalities by ask- ing employers to “call on the carpet” any workers arrested for speeding, reckless driving or other serious traf- fic offenses. Judge McMahon delivered from the bench his second denunciation speeders in two days. He let only six first offenders escape with $5 fine: Three second-offense speeders werc fined $15 each and a fourth driver was assessed $10. Speed, the magistrate declared, is one of the greatest contributing fac- tors in the city’s ever-increasing traf- fic death toll, and speeders will be shown little leniency. The Commissioners issued their re- quest to employers as the latest effort to force compliance with their cam- paign for “a month without a traffic killing.” D. C. Officials to Set Examples. Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen said the District government is “going to bear down on all municipal employes who are found guilty of willful traffic offenses, and we think it would be helpful if private employers did like- wise.” At the same time he warned “jay-walkers” and pedestrians who fail to cross intersections on the “go” sign. He stressed the need for an educational campaign and promised employers of large numbers of work- | ers to furnish speakers if they would | call meetings of their employes. Neal walked into the side of an automobile at Ninth and D streets Wednesday night. The driver—Wil- | liam A. Sperber of 333 N street south- | west—who took Neal to the hospital, was not held. He will be summoned to an inquest, however. The thirty-first fatality was record- ed last night when Rubin Stroman, 17, colored, 5536 Jay street northeast, died |in Casualty Hospital of a fractured skull suffered when he was struck by an automobile near Ninth and K streets northeast. | Police investigated Stroman’s death !this morning and announced their first impression that he was victim of a hit-and-run driver apparently was erroneous. They issued an appeal at noon for the driver to report to them in order to clear up the case Officers learned Stroman and an- other colored youth were playing on Ninth street when the automobile ap- proached. The driver, believing a boy had been struck, got out of the car to look and left the scene after seeing a boy running up the street. Evi- dence gathered from witnesses indi- cated the second boy—Stroman—had been carried along on the bumper of the car for a short distance. Witnesses said the driver apparently didn't see Stroman in the street and drove slowly away from the scene. First Setback Yesterday. The “month-without-a-death” cam- | paign received its first setback yester- day with the death of Jesse Jones, 42, of 1201 N strect from injuries received when he was hit by a street car. An inquest into his death will be held at the District morgue at 11:30 am. to- MOrrow. A truck driver was treated for in- juries and later charged with reckless driving after his vehicle collided with a street car at the corner of Sixty- first and Dix streets northeast early today. He is Arthur Edward Bivens, 34, of 2234 F street southeast. Floyd Little, 203 C street, was motorman of the street car. Bivens was taken to Casualty in the eleventh precinct patrol and, after treatment for cuts on his head, was transferred to the station, where he was booked on reckless driving charges. James Joseph Raum, 29, of 2235 Prout street, passenger on the truck. also was treated for cuts on the head. Barbara Shaffeir, 33, of R. F. D. No. 2, Anacostia Station, Md., was struck by & hit-and-run driver at Eleventh and M streets southeast yesterday. She was taken to Providence Hos- pital, suffering from shock and pos- sible internal injuries. Police, meanwhile, arrested a pas- senger in the car that hit her, William Myers, 49, colored, 811 Third street southeast, and sought the driver, who ran from the scene. Other mishap victims yesteday and last night were Edward Rosenthall, 65, of 1779 Lanier place, struck by an automobile at Eighteenth street and Columbia road; John Turner, 54, col- ored, 118 G street southwest, hit by a car at Delaware and Virginia ave- nues southwest, and John J. McCarty. 29, of 638 D street, hit by a street car at Thomas Circle. Their in- Jjuries were not serious. GEN. HATCH RESIGNS LAUREL, Md., March 5—At the meeting of the Laurel Welfare Asso- ciation this week the resignation of Gen. E. E. Hatch, who was elected president at the annual meeting, wa® received and accepted with regret. A successor will be elected at the next quarterly meeting in May. Mrs. Regina Hobbs was appointed director of relief, with Mrs. V. D. Cockey to take Mrs. Hobbs' place on the Board of Trustees. Mrs. Walter Lanahan was tentatively named as- sistant director. ¢