Evening Star Newspaper, April 10, 1937, Page 2

A—2 #x» COURTPLANISE NTEXASELEGTION 8 Candidates to Succeed Buchanan Are Divided Over Proposai. [ B the Assoctated Press. AUSTIN, Tex., April 10.—The first official hint of voting sentiment on President Roosevelt’s Supreme Court proposal was watched in the special congressional district election here today. Six of the eight Democrats in the race to succeed the late James P. Buchanan of Brenham, House Appro- priations Committee chairman, who died in Washington in February, in- dorsed the President’s plan. Two op- posed it. Polk Shelton, World War veteran and one time assistant district attor- ney here, explained his stand: “This is R campaign of issues and great prin- ciples. The question is clearly in my platform against the change in the court.” State Senator Houghton Brownlee of Austin did not stress the issue but voted for a recent resolution con- demning the court plan. In the forefront of candidates for the plan was Lyndon Johnson, former State director of the National Youth Administration. He said: “President Roosevelt says the court as it stands menaces his whole pro- gram, his program which has been operating for all classes—not for just the farmer, the laboring man, the busi- ness man, the old, the young, but for everybody. I believe he is right.” Merton Harris of Smithville, another candidate, said: “The opposition to the Supreme Court plan claims that President Roosevelt is attempting to ‘pack’ the court. I'd like to call at- tention to the fact that we Americans live under a democracy. Landon wasn't elected last November as I re- call.” Other entrants included C. N. Avery of Austin, Buchanan's campaign man- Ager for many years, County Judge Sam V. Stone of Georgetown, Ayres K. Ross of Austin, Townsend old-age pension advocate, and Edwin Waller of Sen Marcos. * Spain (Continued From Pirst Page ) vigilant in the days “just ahead,” add- thg: “We have started something.” With the prospect of new major dnslaughts at a moment’s notice, de- iltory fighting continued through the ight. The sound of battle, more dis- tant than yesterda: was heard at tervals from midnight to dawn. Aside from the seizure of the bridge N yesterday’s combat, government ommanders summed up their successes follows: * 1—Government troops gained con- trol of one of the dominant positions fon a slope of Las Perdices Hill in the 2—Miaja’s men, penetrating the apacious park, Casa de Campo, once A playground of royalty, reached EI Aguila Hill and sought to form a circle around Carabicas Hill—two of the most important elevated positions held by insurgents close to Madrid proper. Both were subjected to terrific punishment in aerial attacks. The vegetation near the crests was burned black from bombs and shellfire. Four important positions were in Carabanchel, the southern uburb, but capture of a military hos- pital had not been officially confirmed. (Government forces were said previous- v to have stormed the building, gain- ing & foothold, after more than a dozen bombs were dropped on it. Houses Blasted, Killing 200. Government dynamiters blasted & group of houses along the Extrema- dura road, skirting Casa de Campo, on the south, killing 200 insurgent #oldiers who were defending them. ‘The fighting assumed such ferocity that in one case government artillery fired on the enemy at a range of only 60 yards. The fall of insurgent positions m Casa de Campo would put the Univer-~ sity City besiegers at the complete mercy of Madrid's troops, it was said. For months Franco's besiegers have clung to their fortifications in the “‘model” educational suburb. The age- worn walls of its edifices have been chipped and broken by bombs and khells. TROOP ARRIVALS REPORTED. Jtalians Said to Have Reached Cordoba Province Front. ANDUJAR, Spain, April 10 (#).— Fresh Italian trcops to bolster an army of 15,000 insurgents which the govern- Jment already has described as pre- dominantly of that nationality were reported today by the Febus (official Spanish) News Agency to have reached the Cordoba Province front. The new troops, the agency declared, ‘were rushed to vital points along the Cordoba-Penarroya road where the insurgent force was said to have been nearly cut off from the Cordoba City base and fated with slaughter or dis- ruption and flight into the mountains. GERMAN SUBS LEAVE. Leave Kiel to Reinforce Patrol. KIEL, Germany, April 10 (#)—Two German submarines departed for Spain today to reinforce the German neutrality control fleet in Spanish waters. They were the U-25 and U-27. REICH CHARGES VIOLATIONS. Spanish Only Three Nations Declared Observ- ing Non-Intervention. BERLIN, April 10 (#).—Diplomat- ische Korrespondenz, mouthpiece of the German foreign office, charged to- day only 3 of the 27 nations in the “hands-off-Spain” agreement — Ger- many, Italy and Great Britain—are observing the neutrality regulations. “It is wrong to assume that the ‘world can stand idly by as the non- l intervention problem drifts into chan- nels having nothing in common with the conditions under which the na- ‘tions agreed to join the committee,” ‘Korrespondenz stated. “It would also be a mistake to be- Jieve that Germany could remain in- ‘different to the threatening danger of ‘bolshevik development or expansion.” BASQUES MAY EVACUATE. Government Reported Planning to Leave Bilbao. HENDAYE, Franco-Spanish border, April 10 (®).—Insurgent Spanish quarters reported today the semj- autonomous Basque government is considering evacuataion of Gijon, &antander, or Bayonne, France, in the face of insurgent Gen. Emilio Mola's advance on Bilbao. £ Washington Wayside Random Observations of Interesting Events ‘WUNDERSCHNAUSER. R. FRANK MILLER of 220 M of the century, or else the man should be president of ing pooch is really & fishing dog. All he has to do is show up around the goes tearing out in the yard and be- gins to dig up worms. this one,” says Mr. M. “Took him hunting one day last Fall to show him yards in front of us. I hold up one finger. One bird fiies up. I hold up I hold up one finger again. This time it's a single. Would you believe it, waiting to release em on order.” The answer is, naw, Mr.Miller, we Tales and Things. Hamilton street owns the dog the Ananias Club. He says this hunt- house with a fishing pole and the dog “Got another hunting dog that beats off to a friend. He marks & covey 10 two fingers. Two birds fly up. Then that dog had his paws on the birds, wouldn’t. RESCINDED. Because somebody decided that giving away a second cup of coffee gratis with Post Office Department breakfasts was encouraging the employes to loaf around the cafeteria, an efficiency expert has had a new order posted. It notifles one and all that after 9 a.m., the second cup of coffee may be had for cash, and loafing done at your own expense. * ok kK LARGE ORDER. HILE our classified advertising department has long been proud of its ability to dispose of anything from a second-hand elephant to a historic marble orchard, we thought they outdid themselves & bit the other day in offering an “est. trade maga- zine with 10,000 readers for sale.” Could we make a down-payment and have the readers delivered about 10 at a time? * ok K % IRON HAT. APEOPOS of nothing, a fellow sat down the other day and told us the long, sad story of his efforts to resemble a big business man or a man about town by wearing a derby hat. Said he bought his first one last Summer. Starting off one Sunday morning to go to church, he opened the door and in flew a wasp. He made a mighty swipe at it with his kelly, impaled the same upon the bow and arrow of a bronze statue which adorned the newel post. Later, in the Fall, he tried a new one. Wearing it to the office upon & certain morn, he stopped in the room of the departmental telegrapher. Leaned over to take a drink of water. Hat tipped off backward, fell into a battery solution. By night it was coated with crystals and gleamed like 2 Roman helmet. He tossed it out the window. This Spring, unwilling to cry “uncle” in his grim pursuit of the bowler, he acquired another one. The very first day he entered his office through the shipping department (he does get into | the strangest places) and came off second best in a collision with a load of lumber projecting beyond the end of a truck. Today he is up at a photographers, having his picture taken wearing a tweed cap with rooster feathers spurt- ing from both sides. * k% ok ARTISTS. 'WO gentlemen who wield the re- touching brush and artist’s pen at this office have about decided to stop shopping around basements of downtown stores. Went into one the other day and a man walked up to them in the book department, sald “Do you know where I can find such and such?” “No,” they said in unison. “Don‘t know much about your jobs, do you?” the fellow snorted and stalked away. Abashed, they fled to the flower department. Been there about two minutes when a large lady approached and said: “You got climintis (probably mean- ing clematis) 2" “No,” said our visionaries, “rheuma-~ tism,” and fled into the clean, un=- troubled air of the first floor. CHISELER. Tazicab driver picked up a slightly intozicated gent emerging from a night spot the other evening and drove him home. “How much izzat?” said the fare. “Thirty cents,” said the driver, The inebriate handed over three quarters. “Thanks,” said the driver. “For what?” “For the tip.” “What tip?” “The ride was 30 cents. gave me 75.” ““Oh, a chiseler, eh? Listen, you can’t chisel me. I'm an ole chis- eler myself. Gimme a dime and be quick about it,” shouted the fare, and staggered off into the night., * ok K % DREAMER. A ROMANTIC reporter we know was staring out the window of & Government building the other day, watching & handsome lass park an expensive car. He was dreaming we know not what when suddenly he realized that she had left the machine smack upon & fireplug and that s policeman was approaching a mere half block away. Quick like & gazelle our hero dashed down into the street, released the brake of the car, pushed it into & space that had just been vacated (this makes it even' more of a fariy story, but didn’t we warn you?) and then ambled back upstairs again to resuaae his wistful reveries about the girl who would never, never know. You THE EVENT CAROL'S BROTHER WITHOUT A NAME Former Prince Nicholas of Rumania Shorn of Tjtles for Marrying. BY the Assoolated Press. BUCHAREST, Rumania, April 10, —The man, NOW nameless, who was NG King Oarol's brother Nicholas until the Crown Council ceremoniously read him out of the royal family, started this day, his first a4 a commoner, in search of & name. ‘Without title or legally recognised connection with the ruling house—a role he chose in & showdown with the King—the alender, gay 3¢-year-old ex-prince began s new life with his oommoner wife, the former Helen Dumitriscu, and their 2-year-old son. 8he ll. & former divorcee. Elopement in 1931. He chose life as & commoner with his blond wife in preference to life as & pringe without her. Their elopement and marriage in 1931 was in violation of the royal family law. King Carol refused to senction it and the royal oourt declared the union invalid. The final decision shearing him of princely titles and privileges was an- nounoced shortly after midnight today by Premier George Tatarescu after a three-hour meeting of the Crown Council. His wife helped him with the job of name selection. The most likely possibility was they would decide to be plain Mr. and Mrs. Brostenau, which is the name of his largest and favorite estate. Nicholas evoked sympathy through- out the country and much applause for his “sacrifice for love.” It was gen- erally agreed he had been obliged to bow to the family law and that Carol had no choice but to apply it firmly. The difference between the brothers seemed wide, despite .ffortg by the dowager Queen Marie to effect a recon= ciliation. They last met at her bed- side when she was seriously ill last month. Political Possibility, It was reported in some quarters there was even a possibility Nicholas would enter politics with the Fascist [ron Guard, an organization which has EX-PRINCE NICHOLAS. provided constant irritation to Carol’s regime. Nicholas, sportsman and aviator, was popular with a wide circle of friends, but both he and his wife have been slighted by a section of the aristocracy. According to one report circulating in Bucharest, the couple was unfriendly with Carol's friend, Mme. Magda Lu- pescu. On the surface there was not the slightest suggestion of any friction, but one version had it that Mme. Lu~ pescu had opposed Nicholas’ wife's aspirations to be a princess. It was stated in circles near the court, how- ever, that Carol's friend was little concerned by relations between the brothers. TRAFFIC SERMON ON CANVAS BOUGHT Grant Wood's Painting Removed From Corcoran Gallery of Art Exhibit. “Death on Ridge Road” a traffic sermon on canvas by Grant Wood, American artist, has been purchased by an undisclosed admirer and is being removed from the Fifteenth Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary American Oil Paintings at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. ‘The striking picture, showing one sautomobile passing another on the crest of a steep hill, as a large truck looms over the hill from the opposite direction, has attracted much atten- tion at the exhibition. Sale of the painting was negotiated through & New York art dealer, it was sald today at the gallery. Because the purchaser agrzed to take the picture on condition that immediate delivery be promised, the gallery agreed to let the exhibit go, rather than stand in the way of & sale. The amount involved in the trans- action was not made public. Gallery officials said 867 persons visited the show during the apecial free period last night. VAN DEVANTER BACK Justice Van Devanter, who has been slightly indisposed with a cold for a few days, was sufficiently recov- ered today to attend the regular Sat- urday conference of the Supreme Court. For four days he remained &t home, but worked in his study there. Congress in Brief TODAY, Senate: In recess. Commerce Committee opens hear- ings on Maritime Commission nom- inations. House: In recess. Labor Commitiee considers ship~ building investigation. Scratches Bowie— Clear and heavy. Third race—Brief. Fifth raeo—Jackie D. v STAR, WASHINGTON, D. (., SATURDAY, A beautiful scene charmed earl; display is promised tomorrow. APRIL 10, 1937. y visitors to the Tidal Basin this morning as the famed cherry blossoms began to open in full glory. Tonight at 7:30 p.m. the city will stage a colorful festival to celebrate the blooming of the trees. An exceptionelly fine Star Staff Photo. BETRAYAL OF GRL DENIED BY CULTST Hunt, Follower of Father Divine, Gives Up, Ending Two Weeks’ Search. BY the Associated Press. LOS ANGELES, April 10.—John Wuest Hunt, portly white follower of Father Divine, prepared today to prove himself innocent of the charge that | he betrayed a 17-year-old girl, telling her she was to be “Virgin Mary,” mother of a new redeemer. Pree under $10,000 bond, doubled be- cause of the delay in his appearance, the 33-year-old Hunt said he will | plead not guilty at his arraingment April 22 on charges of violating the Mann act by transporting Delight Jewett here from Denver for immoral purposes. He emphasized that Father Divine was not to be linked with his troubles and that the Harlem “god” had taught him to live after the spirit, not after the flesh, “That's the way I've tried to do,” he explained, “since I've felt his great in- fluence for good upon my life.” Search of 2 Weeks Ends. ‘The chubby self-nominated “John the Revelator” surrendered unexpect- edly to Federal authorities late yes- terday. They had searched for him for two weeks. He spent 40 minutes in jail before his bond was perfected. Asked about Miss Delight's Virgin Mary story, he said: “Well . . . T can’t control what she has to say, you know. She can say one thing and I can say another, but after all, we'd just be talking.” Two hours before Hunt showed up his brother Warren and Father Divine's West Coast attorney, Hugh MacBeth, offered to “surrender” him, provided he did not have to appear until trial time. Warren displayed $5,000 in cur- rency. United States Commissioner David Head summarily rejected the guarantee offer. The fugitive later appeared with Warren, MacBeth, a colored lawyer, and s friend, Dr, Charles 8. Benson of Brentwood Heights, a suburb. Commissioper Becomes Angry. A Federal deputy district’ attorney asked bail of $10,000. MacBeth ob- jected that Head several days ago agreed to $5,000. This nettied Head. “Yes,” he rejoined heatedly, “at that time—if Hunt came in, but it seems that since then there's been an effort to conceal him.” MacBeth shouldered the blame and mentioned other matters he had on hand. “Now, listen,” the aroused commis- sioner exclaimed, *“for four or five days there has been & delay. Furthermore, there’s been a lot of telephone calls to my office which in themselves have been an annoyance. Bond is set at $10,000.” When he was fingerprinted, Hunt had $375 in his pockets. Asked if he was wealthy, he said: “I'm no millionaire, if that's what you mean. In fact, I even owe some bills, come to think of it.” Court (Oontinued From First Page.) but they were anxiously awaiting the effect of the court’s verdict on the labor relations act. The decision may be announced Monday. ‘The Wagner decision was not the only uncertain factor. Almost =& dozen Senators still were uncommitted, and their colleagues were puszled over which way they would swing. Even on the Judiciary Committee, which has been conducting hearings for more than a month, there were still enough doubtful votes to make it possible for both sides to claim ulti- mate victory in the report to the Senate. The hearing will resume Monday with a “Texas day” featured by a dele~ gation of 50 representatives of the Pexas Supreme Court Defense Asso- ciation. The witnesses will be L. L. James, chairman of the delegation; O©. B. Patterson of the University of Texas and John H. Crooker, Houston attorney. The showdown on how long the bearings will be allowed ta continue is expected early next week. Adminis- tration spokesmen have forecast they will bg elosed by the end of the week, r but opponents are talking of going on indefinitely. An indication that the hearings were nearing an end was seen in a revival of speculation over what strategy will be followed when the committee goes into executive session. Oppose Compromise Amendments. Opposition leaders were talking of opposing all amendments to the bill which tend toward compromise in order to force the issue on the meas- ure as it stands. They contended that to add two members to the court would be as much a violation of principle as to 2dd six and that 1t would be easier to beat the six proposed in the Presi- dent’s bill. Attempts to approve a constitutional amendment ahead of the court bill were still being discussed, but some committee members forecast these would meet with little success. At yesterday afternoon's committee hearing Dean William E. Masterson of the University of Missouri School of Law said the bill would mean an “autocratic state.” The committee earlier had received & letter from James R. Angell, presi- dent of Yale University, saying the bill | involves a “ravaging of the court” and that “no judiciary made up of politteal ‘yes’ men could maintain public eon- fidence and respect.” Meanwhile, the court issue bobbed up on the floors of both houses of Congress. Many Delays Requested. In the Senate, Austin of Vermont, making one of the first Republican attacks on the bill, said many of the delays in the procedure of the Su- preme Court were requested by the Justice Department and hardly re- sulted from congestion of the docket. In the House, Representative Eaton, Republican, of New Jersey spoke re- sentfully of a statement which he at- tributed to *“St. James Farley” that “we will call the roll after the Senate and the House get through talking.” Members of the House, he added, will get orders to “vote the way you are commanded or else.” He asked that the House ‘cease being a rubber stamp.” About the same time, Postmaster General Farley, in a talk with re- porters, reiterated a previous predic- tion that there will be enough votes to pass the President’s bill without compromise. Last night Representative Drewry of Virginia, chairman of the Democratic Natlonal Congressional Committee, de- livered a radic speech saying the bill Wwas “neither necessary nor expedient, and, in addition, it establishes a dan- gerous precedent.” Representative Scott, Democrat, of California, in another radio speech, said the court propesal of the Presi- dent would result in “a Supreme Court composed of men enlightened enough to see the power that the framers put into the Constitution.” Masterson Outspoken. Masterson proved one of the most outspoken witnesses to appear in the committee's five weeks of hearings. “The President wishes a court whose mind will go along with him,” he said. “If he is given the power that he now seeks he will be in a position, for the most part, to create such a court. It cannot be denied that he will be able to place six men on the Supreme Court whose minds will go along with his if they are not actually pledged to do so. Likewise, a Senate that would Fools Bandit:— VICTIM SAYS ROBBERS GUESSED WRONG. il ¥ LOUIS BRODSKY. —Star Staff Photo. Manager of a filling station at 300 K street, who scared off two armed col- ored bandits early today with a quick movement of his hands. He modestly explained his hands were merely shak- ing. but the fact remains that the rob- bers thought he was making a quick movement to draw a gun—and fled. The bandits fired three shots as they scurried away, but police said that either their aim was terrible or else they were using blanks. Any- way, Brodsky, who lives at 7420 Geor- gia avenue, didn't obey their com- mand to open the cash register. give him the power to appoint six Jjudges would be able to confirm six judges whose minds would go along with the President's. “The new judges would find it em- barrassing, if not difficult, to avoid doing the very job they were selected to do. The President would have con- trol over the court as ‘reorganized.’ Other cases raising the validity of the laws that have been held uncon- stitutional or new laws strikingly similar to them would be brought up to this court again and would now be held ‘constitutional. “Party measures bearing the seal of a subservient Congress could now be rubber stamped by the majority of the ‘reorganized’ judiciary. The Ex- ecutive would have dictatorial powers. The real issue that confronts the American people in this crisis, there- fore, is, shall we place the Executive in a position to bring this process of lawmaking into play? Thus, the issue cuts across party lines. No question 1 of party allegiance is presented.” BOY HURT BY TRUCK Robert Rucker, jr.,, 6, of 115 Upsal street southeast, was bruised about the head and arms yesterday when he walked into the side of a truck at Fifth street and Nichols avenue southeast, according to & report to police. He was treated at Children’s Hos- pital and then sent home. The driver of the truck, police said, was Alonzo D. Bolden, colored, 24, Chapel Hill, Md. | monies starting at 7:45 o'clock. Blossoms (Cortinued Prom Pirst Page ) of the blossoms. Not knowing of the second . post- | ponement of the festival throngs gath- ered at the Tidal Basin last night, many of them remaining to stroll be- neath the flowered trees before re- turning home. Fear for the health of Queen Sakiko Saito, her attendants and others scheduled to participate in the pag- eant, was & major factor in the can- cellation of plans, it was said. The 10-year-old Queen, daughter of the Japanese Ambassador, will be crowned tonight, however, in cere- Her sister, Masako, 8, and Barbara Cald- well, 10, daughter of Mr. and Mrs, Lewis G. Caldwell, will attend her. The coronaticn ceremonies will take place on the Queen’s float at the north end of the Basin, following & concert by the Marine Band. Queen Sakiko will circle the Basin in a spe- cially - constructed, flower - bedecked swan boat. Afterward the Evelyn Davis group will dance. A fireworks display will conclude the program. The late cancelation of plans had hundreds of puzzled visitors and | Washingtonians flooding the Greater | National Capital Housing Committee with phone calls. Five operators were kept busy for some time. It was at first announced the blos- som fete would not be held until “some time next week.” This was changed, however, after the committee made & visit to the Basin. | The Wheatley School Children’s | Dance Festival, in which nearly 400 youngsters will perform beneath the cherry trees, will be held at 4 pm. Monday. It was originally planned for the same time yesterday, but was held over because of the weather MID-ATLANTIC PAROLE CONFERENCE ORGANIZED Executives of Four States and D. C. Meet Here—G. C. Jennings Permanent Chairman. Parole executives of Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey met at the Justice De- partment yesterday to organize the Mid-Atlantic Parole Conference. Wil- bur LaRoe, jr., chairman of the Dis- trict Parole Board, presided. “The conference was a distinct suc- cess,” sald LaRoe. “It was especially helpful to our board because we have not yet brought our system in the District to the state of efficiency that has been obtained in other jurisdic- tions.” George C. Jennings, chief parole of- ficer of New York State, was elected permanent chairman, and St. Alban Kite, assistant parole director of New Jersey, secretary. The organization is one of & number of regional groups co-operating with the American Parole Association and the American Prison Congress. Vari- ous phases of the parole problem were discussed, with special reference to uniform practices by the several boards regarding supervision of parolees from other jurisdictions. Prominent Masons Visit Court Siz high officials of the Masonic organization, four of whom are from the British Isles, are shown above leaving the Supreme Court Building yesterday after a short visit with Chief Justice Hughes. They are (left to right) Paul B. Cromelin, grand master of the Grand Lodge of Masons; Brig. Gen. E. C. W. D. Walthall, deputy provincial grand master of Derbyshire, England, J. Claude Keiper, grand secretary of the Grand Lodge of tgte District of Columbia; Viscount Traprain, sub- stitute grand master of ti grand master of Worcestershire, E: Grand Lodge of Scotland; Gen. Sir Francis John Davies, provincial land, and T. G. Winning, and secretary of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. The foreign members of the group came to this country to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Grand Lodgeof South Carolina. by local Masons during their two-day stay in Washington. §¢ They are being entertained i —Star Staff Photo. the District, | BELGIUM FAGES POLITICAL CRISIS Premier Van Zeeland Is Op- posed by De Grelle for Seat in Chamber. By the Assuciated Press. BRUSSELS, Belgium, April 10.— Final lines were drawn today in a small bye-election which may decide the political destiny of Belgium. Battling for a seat in the Chamber of Representatives, Premier Paul Van Zeeland closed his election compaign against youthful Leon de Grelle, mili- tant leader of the Rexists, party of the extreme right, while police pa- trolled the city to prevent disorders previous to the voting Sunday. De Grelle challenged the 42-year- old prime minister to the contest when the resignation of a Rexist member left a Chamber seat vacant. Every one of Brussels’ 368,506 voters must declare themselves, for voting is compulsory. Non-voters are punish- able by fines. Van Zeeland, in a campaign he con- ducted quietly, accused De Grelle of promoting “Hitlerian Fascism” and offered voters the choice of his own “clear and definite path, marked by institutions centuries old,” or De Grelle’s “adventure fraught with perils.” The Rexist leader, campaigning with his customary vigor, declared Van Zeeland as leader of the Catholic party was in league with Communists engaged in forming a “Popular Front government.” In one of his final speeches, De Grelle offered what political observers termed a truce with the Catholic party, one of the most powerful blocs supporting Van Zeeland. Most observers predicted Van Zee- land’s election. It was believed the size of the vote each candidate amasses will provide an index to the political tide in Belgium. D. C. Building (Continued From Pirst Page.) able to raise $15,000,000 & year to finance the five-year program. Announcement of the program, made ~ | yesterday by Commissioner Hazen | to the Tidal Basin today for a glimpse as he emerged from a White House conference with Marvin H. Mclntyre, & presidential secretary, came in the form of a sharp surprise. Many Projects Included. Included in the program, Hazen said, would be such projects as the kng-delayed Municipal Center, the group of court buildings, additions to the District penal institutions, school buildings and other emergency needs for which P. W. A. funds in some in- stances had been sought in previous years and congressional approval in others. Hazen emphasized the point, how= ever, that the Commissioners are proposing the building program on the basis of yearly Federal sums to defray an equitable share of the cost. “We ought to have monumental buildings, the finest possible, in keep- ing with the requirements of the National Capital,” he said. “The Fed- eral Government ought to contribute & proportionate burden of the cost. The District could not do it alone, of course.” What the proportion of cost would be for the Government, naturally, is one of the most important hinges on which the whole program would swing and a matter that may require long and careful consideration. Hazen did not say yesterday what he re- garded as an equitable ratio Although the District needs only $6,000,000 from the proposed new tax- increase program, he pointed out that if Congress insisted on approving the Collins bills in their entirety, the ad- ditional $6,000,000 that would be ob- | tained therefrom might be used 1o | start the building program. Approval First Requirement. “But legislative approval of the five- vear plan must be obtained first be- fore anything else can be done.” Hazen said. “We are going to start on that right awsy, press for ap- proval at this session, if we can.” He explained that the Commis- sioners proposed to go about it as they do in the case of the five-year school program. That contemplates for the coming fiscal year an appropri- ation of $30,000,000 at the rate of $6,000,000 a year. Hazen left the plan in the form of a memorandom for the President, With Corporation Counsel Elwood H. Seal, he had been called a second time to the White House for a con- ference on District matters. He did not get to see President Roosevelt when he called the second time, late in the afternoon. Neither he nor Col. McIntyre divulged any of the matters that were discussed. The latter explained merely that they were “some minor details” concerning the District. President’s Attitude Undisclosed. No intimation was given by McIn- tyre as to the probable attitude the President would assume on the huge building program for the District, which dwarfs any prior proposal that has been made. Hazen sald, however, that if, and when, legislative approval is obtained, the Commissioners would submit a priority list for each of the five years covering the essential building needs of the District. The $75,000,000 cost, he said, had been arrived at &s a result of & “rough estimate” prepared by various officials of the District government. Embodied in the whole program, he sald, were such projects as the Munic- ipal Center, a Juvenile Court building, & building for the recorder of deeds, & new District Jail, additional build- ings for the Lorton, Va. work house and reformatory; the proposed Penn- sylvania avenue bridge across the An- acostia River, estimated at $2,000,000; six Health Department centers at $250,000 each; public school buildings, branch libraries, playgrounds and s general highway widening program. He cid not go into further details at the time, but said that plans will have to be considered and worked out. “It will take time, a long time perhaps,” Hazen explained. The task of drawing up and intro- ducing the required legislative ap- proval act, he indicated, was an imme- diate one for the Commissioners. The District government some time ago acquired title to the land in the vicinity of Judiciary Square for the proposed Municipal Center out of a $6,000,000 surplus fund. Immediate and detailed informa- tion is available in the five-year school program, from 1937 to 1943, drawn up by the superintendent of schools. Hazen did not explain, however, the relation of this school program in con= nection with the general building plan he is now proposing.