Evening Star Newspaper, April 9, 1937, Page 25

Age Secrets Burden Schools Musty Records Invoked to Solve Security Act Dilemmas. HE social security act has caused the employes of the District schools no little trouble— all because some of the “old-tim- ers” about town don't know exactly how old they are. Incidentally, the Census Bureau also is being swamped with inquiries from prospective .or actual beneficlaries of the old-age benefits provisions, who want to know when they were—or will be—65, the qualifying age. The bu- reau has detailed 50 research workers on this task. Most of the Board of Education queries are from persons born else- where who came here as children and attended loeal schools. As a result the pfMice of vital statistics does not know | their birth dates. At Jeast once a day, and sometimes | four or five times, according to Charles B. Degges, secretary of the board, by phone, by mail or in person, some one from “old Oskosh county, where they take a fellow’s word for how old he is,” wants to establish his age for social recurity purposes, remembers he went to school here at one time or another, and wants a little private sleuthing done in the old enrollment records of the system. The two flies in this particular oint- ment, Degges explained, are finding out when the people attended school and then finding the correct records. Most of the inquirers know only that ‘they went to school—when and where they don’t remember. There is nothing left for the clerks to do but begin the cross-examination. Do they recall any | event that happened while they were in school, the names of any teachers, janitors? Who was President at the time? Sometimes this method gets some- where; more often not. When suc- cessful, however, the next step is to find the records. There formerly were 13 divisions in the local system, but under reorgani- ration many of these have been elimi- Sem'eme’y a wouns FORTY Fuve i 3 nated and their records stored away— where, nobody but Louis Monroe knows. Monroe, a former clerk in the Board of Education offices for 42 years, who retired about three years ago, was characterized by Degges as “a walking encylclopedia.” He is contacted by phone and tells just in which corner of which attic of which school the rolls can be found. The only redeeming feature, to clerks, is the occasional humor that comes up. There was, for example, the case of the old colored man whose age was to be investigated. “Do you remember who was Presi- dent when you went to school? Was it Lincoln? queried a clerk. “Oh, no. no, no, that was way befo' mah time,” was the reply. An exhaustive chronology of post- Civil War Presidents followed without getting anywhere. The answer was always in the negative. Patiently the clerk decided to start at the very beginning: “Was it Wash- ington? George Washington?” “Well,” mused the old thoughtfully, *“he may have fellow no attention to him.” The school force has been playing this game of “how-old-am-I?” for some time, Degges disclosed. There | have always been such cases where About 300 birth date requests are received daily, census officials said, and the staff is 20,000 requests be- hind. Census records are about the only source for establishing the ages, for birth registrations in most States go back only 20 or 30 years. William L. Austin, census director, has asked Congress for an extra $25, 000 to finance social security research into the Nation's 8,700,000-page “fam- ily Bible.” Austin said one Congressman had just handed him the names of 150 constituents who wanted quick proof that they were 65. He put the aver- age cost of an age record search at $3, explaining the names are listed geographically instead of alphabetic- ally. ‘The bureau is micro-filming its rec- ords to facilitate research. | | A $3000000 Works Progress Ad- | ministration project in St. Louis has indexed the entire 1900 census re- | turns on 50,000,000 cards. Austin said | this would reduce the cost of a cer- | tificate of age to a few cents. | | “These documents are literally | | priceless,” Austin said. “We are the | only Nation in the world that has a | complete record of its people, men, women and children, from its organi- zation up to date.” |40 PCT. UNDER STRENGTH Standard of 1920 National De- fense Act Cited by Col. Gruber in Address. The Regular United States Army and the National Guard are only 40 per cent as strong as allowed under | the 1920 national defense act, Col. | Edmund L. Gruber said yesterday at a special Army day luncheon meet- | ing of the Kiwanis Club at the May- [ flower Hotel. Col. Gruber is at. | tached to the operation and train- | ‘i.ng branch of the Army. | ol Gruber pointed with pride, | however, to the fact appropriations | for research and modernization of | the Army have grown gradually from | a low point of $4,000,000 to the cur- | rent figure of $70,000,000. The Army learned its lesson from the World ‘War, he said The Reserve Officers’ Corps, Col. Gruber said, “has well | Justified itself, and any curtailment would create a deplorable situation.” | The speaker was introduced by Alvin Hall, vice chairman of the En- tertainment Committee. President George Mangan presided. | 9000000000000 0000000000e * ICE CARNIVAL $ Starring Evelyn Chandler | Training THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 19317. RAIL-TRUCK CRASH BLAMED ON DRIVER Wreck Fatal to Two at Dorsey, Md.—Cause Set by U. s. Responsibility for the grade-cross- ing wreck at Dorscy, Md., February 15, which cost the life of a Baltimore & Ohio engineer and a truck driver, was placed on the latter today in the report of W. J. Patterson, director of the Bureau of Safety of the Inter- state Commerce Commission. The engineman who lost his life was Elmer C. Pope, 58, of Ridgeville, Md. The truck driver was Sol Eli, 28, of Baltimore, employed by the Davidson Transter & Storage Co. The fireman, Claude Beard, 44, of Frederick, anld five passengers were injured. “This accident was caused by a motor truck being driven upon a highway crossing at grade directly in front of an approaching train,” the report said. The accident occurred in midafter- noon and involved a passenger train eastbound from Washington. Mrs. Cordley Authentic Antiques Important Liquidation Sale Mrs. Cordley is retiring from the Antique business and is offering her entire collection for immediate sale at price reductions too important to overlook. Georgian Silver, Period Fur- niture and all other pieces in this important collection of - fered at large discounts. 1319 Connecticut Ave. Phone DEcatur 4150 & _\: Coming April 19 g 1:{ the Shoreham’s s * * * * 90000900000 0000000000000 been | runnin’ round town, but I never paid | L.Frank Co. 12th and F Streets people taking out insurance, or for | civil service tests or passport pur- poses, have sought the date of their birth through the school records, but never has it reached the proportions of today under the social security act. The large demand for school service in age determination brought the mat- ter to the attention of Supt. Frank ‘W. Ballou, and the result was a cir- cular requesting supervising principals and others to file notice of what records they possess so they will have some sort of organization to meet the | demand. He suggested that W. P. A. workers assigned to schools should be | used in this work. Until this is done there is con- siderable speculation as to the re- Romance in These Open ROV BONNETS Crown sulting chaos if anything should hap- | pen to Monroe. You'll Like It! Breexy Beige Sheer STREET DRESS $18.95 Designed with tucked skirt and Roman striped chiffon trimming. Also in navy and black . . “in sizes 12 to 20, Skeiched at Zirkin's! Dress Dept., Second Floor ZIRKIN 821 14th Street N.W. Washington’s Oldest Furriers These Two Styles Illustrated in Fine Fur Felt $3.98 These picturesque pokes and rolled back brims frame your face and the open crowns show part of your crowning glory. They're gay, bright and young. Millinery Shop—Main Floor Large figure: Gay design of stripes in blue and black and white and other color combina- tions. Scroll flower print on black cotton shantung with white pique bands. In other color combina- ions. Blue open-stitch cotton with huge white flowers. Navy grosgrain sash and bow. Multi - colored flower design on white waffle pique, PROFESSIONAL WOMEN ELECT NEW OFFICERS Special Dispatch to The Star. GREENWAY, Va, April 9.—Miss Mary Walton McCandlish of Fairfax has been elected president of the Fair-~ fax County Business and Professional Women's Club. She succeeds Miss Hazel Davis of Burke. Other officers included: Mrs. Wil- liam J. Cleveland of Seminary, vice president; Mrs. Miriam GCrille, Falls Church, corresponding secretary; Miss Elizabeth Matheny, McLean, re- cording secretary, and Miss Bessie Galner, Fairfax, treasurer, The newly- elected officers were inducted into of- fice by the retiring president. Mrs. Clifford Durr of Seminary, representing the League of Women Shoppers, addressed the group on the objectives and accomplishments of her organization. I . Frank Co. I12TH AND F STREETS Presenting the Two-in-One Wear it up Breton-fashion—or down Bonnet-wise— either way it's slated to be outstanding and belongs in your hat wardrobe. Fine felt, in Black—Brown—Har- ness—Beige—-Navy—Copen—Aquu'onkMaiu——Grey ~—Thistle. Millinery shop Sizes 2172 to 23. Main floor SATURDAY AT 9:30 AM. cottonville opens Our entire second floor will be in bloom. Gay cotton prints will rule in a blaze of festive color. Featuring A SPECIAL COLLECTION of 1,000 Youthful New Splashy, Dashy, Big, Bold COTTON PRINTS 3.00 Color on white or white on color. Piques, waffle piques, novelty cot- ton crashes. Smart detail on the dresses, contrasting hems and edg- ings, frills and tailored bows, inter- esting buttons to catch the eye. Many styles in Misses’ and Junior Misses’ sizes. FASH'ON AND QUALITY FIRST, LAST and ALWAYS in Your A trustworthy and dependable symbol, backed by a quarter of a century’s leadership. On clothes in the mood and mode of this smiling season, with correct style and fabric details. Stitched edges, tucked slim woist, interesting pockets . . . ell identify this shetland suit (sketched left) as an exceedingly promising member of the class of ‘37. Soft scarf and leather belt. Beige, toast, thistle and black, sizes 12 to 18 Montrose cheviot, made in Great Britain, is used in @ versatile three- piece suit (sketched left). Wear the topper with the neat jacket suit, with the skirt, or other Spring and Sum- mer clothes. In grey, brown, and blue, sizes 12120 $49.75 * 4 Opulent collor of pastel fox, to frame the face with flattery, on @ cosual coat (sketched above) of soft wool. Self-fabric ascot, ond full sleeves tapered to narrow wrists. Beige, rose, blue, grey, ond rust, sizes 2to1 L858 Wooden beoded bags, te camy now and ofi through Summer. \ 3 Mutticolor or Sk 2 % selid white, brown R ond navy $3 A coat that you con weer oll during Spring and Summer (sketched above). Soft, fleecy fabric, seamed to an attractive ond eosy-to-wear silhouette. Aqua, sizes 12 to 18__$29.75 An adaptation from Molyneux (sketched below). All possible chic in the dress, with its white band down the front and white poppies at the throat. The glamorous cape is white lined and reversible. Navy and black, sizes 12 to 20..$22.75 Miss ensemble of lace (sketched above). The dress has shiny white but- tons and a wide belt of grosgrain. Flaunting a 11 to 14.95 Amusing litthe “dance of the flowers” priut ‘jocket dress. Drawstring seckline on the dress, and white:pique flowers churge Account on the lapekiof the peplum 5 i jocket. Navy.’green and S q Pay in 30 d!y!x-x-. black, sizey 12.19:20. g or use our - B $16.95 | TENDED PAY- Open a MENT PLAN. ! i RALEIGH HA%ERDASHER v THE WOMEN'S SHOP 1310 F STREET