Evening Star Newspaper, April 18, 1937, Page 23

~-.\@ series of special tax broadcasts. KENNEDY 10 SEEK REVENUE WITHOUT D. G. INCOME TAX House Subcommittee Head to Start Collins Bills Hearings Tuesday. GIRKSEN FOR LEVY ON BUSINESS SPACES Also Believes Motorists Should Pay Small Fee for Curb- stone Parking. BY JAMES E. CHINN. Chairman Kennedy of the Special Tax Subcommittee of the House Dis- trict Committee revealed yestefday an effort would be made to raise $6,000,- 000 in additional revenue to offset the anticipated budget deficit in the coming fiscal year without adopting the proposed income tax. Kennedy is personally opposed to &n income tax and believes the needed $6,000,000 can be accumulated from other sources. Kennedy made the disclosure as he prepared to start public hearings Tuesday on the Collins tax bills—a study that threatens to go far beyond the scope of the program involved in the Collins measure. The bills are to form the nucleus of the study, but several members of the subcommittee, including Chairman Kennedy, already have advanced some new and some- what revolutionary taxation plans that are to be given serious consideration. Representative Dirksen, Republican, of Illinois, for instance, has an idea businessmen might be required to pay & fee for exclusive shipping entrance reservations at the curb in front of their establishments. He also believes additional revenue might be raised by making motorists pay a small fee for “ the privilege of curbstone parking | such as is done in cities which have | adopted the parking meter system. Curbstone Data Sought. Traffic Director William A. Van Duzer is to be asked by Dirksen to fur- nish data showing how much curb- stone space is allocated to merchents for shipping reservations, and how | much curbstone space is available in the so-called congested area for park- ing of private vehicles. Dirksen also said he intended to find out if real estate is bearing its fair share of the tax load and whether real estate assessments are being kept up to date—reflecting the changing conditions in Washington. This in- formation is to be sought from Tas Assessor Fred D. Allen, who has beer summoned among the first witnesses | to appear before the subcommittee. Kennedy, on the other hand, has an WASHINGTON, D. C, Fourteen-months-old Tony Matan, son of Joseph Matan, 3000 Connecticut avenue, takin from his scooter near the Tidai the air and Spring sunshine Basin yesterday. f o ] CLEAN-UP WEEK' WILL BEENFORGED Police to Be Ordered to “Crack Down” When Law Is Violated. “Clean-up .weeks." starting tomor- row and continuing through April 30, stration of civic co-operation. While citizens are called on to do idea an excess profits tax should ‘be placed on real estate investors, not so | much as a means of raising revenue, but primarily to keep rentals under control. Estimates of the yield from an in- come tax have ranged from $4,500,000 | to $6,000,000. Since the Collins in- | come tax bill proposes to repeal the | existing levy on intangible personal | . property with the adoption of an in- | come ta®, the net revenue increase | would be from $2,000,000 to $2,255,000 | less. Kennedy's opposition to an income | tax is based on a fear it would impose &n undue burden on Government em- | ployes. If the tax was aimed at the | wealthy and persons in the high in- | come brackets, Kenmedy thdicated it | might meet with approval. In that | connection, Chairman Norton of the | House District Committee has declared | she would not oppose an income tax if it carried an exemption of family incomes up to $3,500. Chain Store Tax Bill. Aside from the Collins tax bills, the | subcommittee has before it for con- sideration a measure introduced by Representative Schulte, Democrat, of Indiana, to tax chain store corpora- tions. The scale of taxation would be graduated according to the number of stores in a chain. Kennedy pointed out, however, that the object of the subcommittee would be to formulate a program of taxation designed to raise $6,000,000 and no more. He, as well as Dirksen, and Representative Nichols, Democrat, of Oklahoma, another member of the subcommittee, are definitely opposed to imposing taxes on the District that would build up a surplus in revenue. The initial hearing is scheduled to start Tuesday at 10 a.m. In addition to Tax Assessor Allen the first wit- nesses will be Commissioners Hazen, Allen and Sultan, and Maj. Daniel J. Donovan, auditor and budget officer. Arrangements are being made by the National Broadcasting Co. to broadcast a portion of the first hear- ing, as well as important sessions that follow. Members of the subcommittee, as well as Chairman Collins of the House Subcommittee on District Ap- propriations, also are to be invited to speak over WRC and WMAL during CUMMINGS T0 URGE SECURITY ACT RULING Review of Boston Case by Su- preme Court at This Ses- sion Is Sought. BY the Assoctated Press, An early Supreme Court ruling on the social security act became the ob- jective of the Justice Department yesterday. Attorney General Cummings an- nounced he would seek immediately a high court review of the Boston Cir- cuit Court of Appeals opinion that the act’s old-age benefit provisions are unconstitutional. - “This will bring promptly to the Bupreme Court the first case involving old-age benefits,” Cummings said. ‘The department, he announced, will not appeal the Boston court’s decision that the unemployment insurance pro- visions also are unconstitutional. This question is already -before the court, Cummings explained. . His decision to appeal the other opinion at once opened the way for & review before the Supreme Court's Summer recess. A ing alleys and lots, Commissioner Hazen, in discussing plans several days ago, said the police would be ordered to “crack down"” on offenders wHo wilfully violate sanitation laws. The period devoted to cleaning up and painting was set aside by recent proclamation of the Commissioners. Citizens were asked to beautify their premises, if possible, and recondition their homes or repair their property. ‘With so many “unemployed employ- ables” in dire need of work, Elwood Street, director of the Public Welfare | Board, urged residents seeking repairs or yard work to apply for labor at the United States Employment Serv- ice. Most of the employables are regis- tered there and classified according to jrades, so the Employment Service is able to simplify matters for the house- holder by supplying carpenters and other workers on short notice. Washington’s civic and trade bodies are co-operating in the general cam- paign to tidy up the city. SHANNON CRITICIZES D. C. CHERRY TREES Favors Removal of “Caponized” Plants to-Make Way for Jef- ferson Memorial. Washington’s loudly proclaimed Japanese cherty trees were character- ized as “caponized trees—trees that bear no fruit and the blossoms of which have no scent,” in an address delivered last night in Reading, Pa., by Representative Shannon, Democrat, of Missouri, speaking before the Young Men’s Democratic Association of Berks County, Pa., at the annual Jefferson day dinner. He urged that the Thomas Jefferson Memorial be constructed here forthwith, despite the trees that may be affected at the Tidal Basin. Nothing that Jefferson ever said or did “indicates that he would bemoan the prospect of destroying a few of the cherry blossom trees so highly publi- cized,” declared the Representative. “Let us analyze these trees,” said he. “They cannot be correctly called cherry trees, because they bear no cherries. Once a year they blossom forth, but their blossoms have no fragrance. They are beautiful, per- haps, But as an eye witness I will say that there is not a peach orchard, nor an apple orchard, in this country that does not put them to shame in grandeur and beauty, and the latter bear fruit in addition to being beautiful. “I say that Jefferson would waste no time lamenting the loss of capon- ized trees—trees that bear no fruit and the blossoms of which have no scent. “The work on the memorial to this great man should not be delayed by such flimsy objections,” said the Missouri Representative, FRAUD CHAI.RGE DENIED Toll Bridge Company Stock Transfer Involved. ‘WILMINGTON, Del,, April 17 (). — The American Toll Bridge Co. of Cali- fornia filed a denial in Chancery Court today to charges of fraudulent stock transfer brought by three stockholders, T. E. Birbeck, Joseph Mondonse and R. M. Price. They claimed stockholders’ voting rights were abridged by the transfer of stock to Oscar H. Klatt in the pur- chase of the Rodeo Vallejo Ferry Co. the District Commissioners said yes- | terday, will be more than a demon- | their duty in keeping trash from liter- | ACTION ON RELIEF | -~ AWAITS HEARING |Senate Subcommittee to Consider District Supply Bill This Week. , | With reports in hand indicating | no improvement in relief and unem- | | pldyment conditions, the Commis- | sioners are waiting for word from the Senate appropriations sub-com- mittee in charge of the District bill | |80 they can make e final plea Xor“ an additional $1,000,000 to provme; more adequately for relief during the 1938 fiscal year. | The Senate sub-committee may be SUNDAY ready to start hearings on the local |- 4 | supply bill before the end of this | week, but a definite date has not| | been set. That the load of unemployable | families on relief is remaining con- stant was shown by the March re- | port of Miss M. Alice Hill, director | of the Public Assistance Division. | Except for old-age assistance, which | increased 207 cases between February and March, or from 1,772 to 1,979, other forms of public relief are al- most the same for the two months. The machinery of the Board of Public Welfare to take care of some of the 3,000 “unemploed employables” until deficiency funds are available ts not yet ready to set in motion. The $25.000 available to spread over May and June will not do very much, it was admitted, to alleviate suffering. Commissioner Allen said he was hopeful of obtaining an emergency ap- propriation of $130,000 in the defici- ency bill to provide for the immediate needs of this large group during the remainder of the fiscal year. Without this much, or a major portion of it, the burden of their care will have to fall almost entirely on the shoulders | of hard-pressed private relief agencies and the churches. The old-age assistance cases are increasing in number, it was reported, because the public assistance division staff is working its way through the large list of cases which are pending investigation. Appropriation of at least $100,000 a month for the remainder of the pres- ent fiscal year to meet relief needs was advocated in a resolution adopted by the civic section of the Woman’s City Club yesterday. The resolution calls for expenditure of the fund under direction of the Board of Public Welfare. It also was advocated that a permanent appropri= ation of at least $1,000,000 be made available to the board, to be used in its discretion in meeting relief needs. The resolution was adopted at a meeting of the section at which the local relief needs were discussed by William H. Savin, director of _the Family Service Association, who said there now are 11,000 cases in the Dis- trict of employables needing help and 6,000 cases on direct relief. There are about three persons to a case, he said, making a total of more than 50,000 persons on relief or in need of aid. Job Going Begging For Assistant to D.C.MorgueMaster 24-Hour Schedule Is Called for With Pay of $1,440. A job is going begging at the District Morgue. . ‘The work—that of assistant morgue master—is somewhat arduous, since it calls for a 24-hour schedule. The vacancy was caused by the resignation of William Estes. ‘The position pays $1,440 yearly and the duties include driving the morgue ambulance to bring in bodies and assisting at inquests. Although the assistant morgue master does nob actually work 24 hours & day, he must be on hand all the time. MORNING, APRIL 1 8, 1937, This artist, Louis F. Hayes, did not lack for an audience when he sought to transpose the tints of the cherry blossoms to his canvas. — Comely Cleta Walker of 1425 Chapin street pedals her bicycle beneath the cherry trees, a popular recreation these days. —Star Staff Photo. New Traffic Ticket System Goes Into Effect Tomorrow Precinct Commanders-to Assume Task of Setting Collateral and Triple-, Check Will Be Made on Reports. Under stern orders from headquar- ters to avoid ‘“ticket-fixing,” police precinct commanders tomorrow morn- ing will take over the task of setting collateral in traffic cases and pacifying motorists who contend they should not be penalized. A triple check system of keepin tab | on all tickets issued by. policemen will be instituted, and detailed records will be kept and inspected weekly by Po- lice Supt. Ernest, W. Brown of the cases of motorists who are “let off with & warning.” Under a new general order rescind- ing departmental traffic ticket policies in effect since January, 1932, precinct commanders are “cautioned to be ex- tremely careful not to dispose of traffic violation notices in such a manner &s to indicate they are being fixed.” Adjustment Office Abolished. Members of the force, the order says, “are strictly enjoined from attempting to fix traffic violation notices.” ‘The central traffic ticket adjustment office, clearing house for complaints of all “ticketed” motorists since 1932, is abolished, effective tomorrow morn- | ing. When the new order was issued, Inspector L. I. M. Edwards, assistant superintendent of police, was conduct- ing an investigation of reported “irregularities” on the part of one officer formerly stationed in the central adjustment office. The alleged “irregularities” involve the “adjustment” of approximately 50 tickets, it was learned at police head- quarters. Denies Complaints Responsible. Inspector Edwards denied that com- plaints of the alleged irregularities, which came from a source outside the department, played any part in formulation of the new traffic ticket policy. Decision to abolish the central ticket adjustment office and restore, with stronger safeguards against fix- ing, the policies in effect before 1932 was reached early in March, Inspector Edwards said. Under the new program, policemen must keep a detailed record, not only of every case in which a ticket is | issued, but also of cases in which metorists receive a yerbal warning. Before collateral is accepted, the record of the-offending motorist must be consulted, the order says. Com- manding officers will be allowed to use their own discretion in determin- ing whether the motorist was arrested without cause or whether he should be let off with a warning, Inspector Edwards said. ¢ause under it they will be allowed ta deposit collateral in the police station house most convenient to them, in- stead of driving to the Traffic Bureau. All complaints and appeals for leniency must be made to the com- manding officer of the precinet in which the alleged offense occurred. Policemen are warned in the order to exercise extreme courtesy in their contact with the public, but never to resort to the excuse that they are making an arrest or handing out a ticket because their commanding officer directed them to do so0, or be- cause they are acting on complaint of a citizen. The scale for collaterdl in trafSe cases will range from $2 (for overtime parking) to the amount of the maxi- mum fine allowed by law in extreme cases. STORE MANAGER SAVES $700 BY “NERVOUSNESS” Unable to Open Safe for Bandit. $300 Taken From Cash Register. Because he was “tog nervous” to work the combination of his safe con- taining $700, Morris Wolf, proprietor of a liquor store at 2157 K street, salvaged at least that much last night in spite of the fact an armed ban- dit forced him, an attendant and two customers into a back room and robbed the cash register of more than $300. ‘Wolf #aid the robber forced him and the three other persons into a rear room. Sighting a safe, the bandit commanded that it be opened. Wolf said he tried without success to open the safe and finally told the robber that the sight of a gun made him “too nervous.” Apparently satisfied, the thief left after looting the cash register. LA XS RE S POLLARD HAS RELAPSE Condition of Former Virginia Gov- ernor Reported Critical. ‘The family of former Gov. John Garland Pollard of Virginia said last night his condition continued eritical. A slight relapse was reported yes- terday after some improvement from rest and nourishment. The former Governor, now chairman of the Board ©of Veterans’ Appeals, has been ill for several months and last week his condition became eritioal. 1 FIDELITY OFFICIALS WILL BE OPPOSED Meeting Tuesday to Air Pro- test Against Places in New Set-Up. The movement to oust all former officers of the Fidelity Building & Loan Association from any official | connection with the proposed new | Federal Savings & Loan Association will come to & head at a public hear= |ing Tuesday afternoon held by the | | Federal Home Loan Bank Board. | The hearing is on a petition for a }chaner to set up a new association to buy assets of the Fidelity and make available 85 per cent of funds. Representatives of a certain group of shareholders of the Fidelity already have filed official protest against having any Fidelity officials partici- pate in the organization of the new | Federal Savings & Loan Association. | The protest will be considered by the board at the hearing in Room 7321 |of the new Post Office Department, Twelfth street and Pennsylvania avenue, at 2 pm. Tuesday. If a sufficient crowd shows up, however, the hearing may have to be moved to | the Departmental Auditorium on | Constitution ~avenue, between the | Interstate Commerce Commission and | the Department of Labor. The hearing is on the request for 2 charter filed by 12 men, including some who had former connection with the Fidelity. Protest Not Aimed at Plan. Proponents of the plan as it now stands will be represented at the hearing by Walter M. Bastian, attor- ney for those who are asking for a charter for the new Federal asso- ciation. Identity of the opposition to the | Fidelity members on the organizing board has not been disclosed. It is understood the protest will not be aimed at the general plan to set up a new Federal association. The objection is to be leveled at the principle of having any one officially connected with the new association Who was formally associated with the management of Pidelity. Originally the hearing was scheduled to be held before the “Review Com- mittee” of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, but it was uncertain today whether this committee itself will sit alone. A possibility has de- veloped that some members of the board itself may sit on the case. Advocates to Be Heard. Oscar Kreutz, chairman of the Re- view Committee, will take a prominent official part in the hearing, and may preside. Proponents of the plan will be given the first opportunity to be heard Bastian probably will be the spokesman After proponents have been heard, objections will be asked for, and it is then, according to present prospects, that the protest now on file will be brought officially out into the open for tihe first time. Who will appear for the protestaflts has not yet been disclosed. Public notice of the hearing was published as a “special notice” ad- vertisement, on April 6 in The Eve- ning Star. It stated that the hearing would be held at the place and date specified, “upon the petition of the undersigned for a charter for & Federal savings and loan associa- tlon to be organized in the District of Columbia. “Any intsrested party,”‘read the advertisement, “may appear in per- son or by attorney and submit any evidence at such hearing pertinent to the questions at issue, provided he shall have given notice of in- tention to appear, and shall have filed specific objections at least five days before the date of the hearing. In lieu of such appearance, evi- dence may be submitted in writing.” Bears Signatures of 12. The special notice was signed by the 12 men Whose names are on the petition for a charter: George L. Berry, Ralph W.'S. Bonnett, Marcus Borchardt, John L. Fletcher, Carl Henning, Edwin Jacobson, W. D. Jamieson, John C. Koons, Harry J. Miller, P. J. Schardt, H. P. Somer- ville, Thomas Somerville, 3d, and ‘Walter M. Bastian, attorney. Koons died recently, leaving & va- cancy on the list of applicants. His piace has not yet been filled, L] SCHROEDER'S POST UNFILLED AS YET Successor Not to Be Picked for Week or 10 Days, Officials Say. Appointment of a successor to Maj. Rudolph W. Schroeder as assistant director of air commerce and com- pletion of the reorganization of the Bureau of Air Commerce, which began March 1 with the resignation of Di- rector Eugene L. Vidal, will not be possible for at least a week or 10 days, in the opinion of Commerce De- partment officials. Schroeder’s resignation, to become a vice president of United Air Lines, | took officials of the department en- tirely by surprise, it was learned yes- terday, and no consideration had been given to a successor. It is understood that heads of the Commerce Department are consider- ing seriously the appointment of a successor to Schroeder from the ranks of the Bureau of Air Commerce. It has been recomemdned by aviation organizations and members of Con- gress that the bureau be freed from political appointments and be es- tablished as a “career service,” with appointments and promotions based on technical qualifications and effi- ciency. The fate of the recommended career service, at least for the immediate future, will be determined in large part by the manner of selection of Schroeder’s successor, it is believed. Bureau officials also are considering furtfier reorganization of the bureau, necessitated by the consolidation of the posts of assistant directors in | charge of air navigation and of regu- lation into the single post now heldl 2 1 The two posts were | limiting the right of the court to call by Schroeder. held by Rex Martin, director for navi- PAGE B—1 CHANGES OFFERED AS SMALL CLAIMS COURT IS ARGUED Senate Committee Takes Bill to Set Up Tribunal Under Advisement. ONE PROPOSAL CUTS - SCOPE TO $50 CASES King Announces Executive Ses- sion Will Consider Action After Study by Members. BY J. A. O'LEARY. The Senate District Committee took under advisement late yesterday the bill to establish a small claims and conciliation branch in Municipal Court after hearing further argu- ments for and against the measure at a second helring, lasting more than three hours. Supporters of the proposal sub- mitted a series of amendments to meet objections raised at a previous hearing, one of which would reduce the jurisdiction of the small claims branch from $100 to cases involving $50 or less, Opponents of the bill, however, in- cluding representatives of the District Bar Association, contended the mease ure is unnecessary. Chairman King of the Senate com- mittee announced an executive ses= sion will be called to consider what action to take after all members have had time to study the hearings. Supporters Are Heard. Among those who appeared in sup- port of the bill yesterday were Judge Pelham St. George Bissell of the New York City Municipal Court; former People’s Counsel William A. Roberts, Judge Armond W. Scott of Municipal Court, Harry S. Wender of the Southe west Citizens’ Association and Law- rence Koenigsberger and Phillip W. Austin, lawyers. Charles L. Norris, acting chairman of the Law and Legislation Commit= tee of the Federation of Citizens' As~ sociations, said his committee was preparing to submit a report to the federation last night, recommending the bill with the amendments sug- gested at yesterday’s hearing, plus an additional change to provide that the rules of evidence be not waived in the small claims branch. Those who appeared against the bill | yesterday included Henry I. Quinn, | president of the District Bar Associa~ | tion, and Attorneys Ward B. Mc- | Carthy, George E. Sullivan, Leonard J. Ganse and Arthur J. Hilland. Free Legal Service Argued. After reciting objections to detalled features of the bill, Quinn urged the committee not to recommend the measure until the association’s plan of keeping one of its members at Municipal Court every day to give free legal service to litigants who need it has been thoroughly tested. He argued the bill goes further than re- lieving indigent litigants Supporters of the bill contend, how- | ever, that the volunteer legal aid serv- | ice now being furnished by the asso- | ciation is not an adequate substitute | for legislation to provide an informal | method of settling small financial dis- putes. | Earlier, . former People's Counsel | Roberts had * presented the list of | amendments supporters of the meas- | ure had agreed to. In addition to re- | ducing the scope of the new plan to | claims of $50 or less, the changes in- ‘cluded: Elimination of the power of | the judge to assess costs, up to #25, | 8gainst any one setting up a frivolous | or false claim or defense; striking out the ban against ‘attorneys taking part | in the efforts of a judge to settle cases by conciliation in advance of trial; a person back once a month for exam= gation, and J. Carroll Cone, director | ination as to his financial ability ta for regulation. Martin now is in|P8Y & judgment pending against him, South America and Cone in Europe | 'he amendment would limit th.s power in the capacities of aeronautical ad- | t0 cases involving wages-or services, visers to the Commerce Department. Completion of plans for the pro- posed reorganization, which had been | | Several other changes were propesed. | Lawyers’ Fears Discounted. After declaring his experience as delayed because of demands made on | people’s counsel convinced him of the the, time of Director of Air Commerce Fred D. Fagg, jr, by congressional committees in connection with consid- eration of Commerce Department ap- propriations, was further delayed by announcement of the unexpected Schroeder’s resignation. D. C. MAN IS KILLED IN FALL FROM TRUCK World War Veteran Was Hitch- Hiking in Pennsylvania, Officers Report. John Dorsey Smiley, 36, of 1519 ‘White place southeast was killed yes- terday near Slippery Rock, Pa., when he and two boys fell from a truck as it was rounding a corner. C. O. Uber, deputy coroner at Slip- pery Rock, said Smiley, & World War veteran, and the two boys, Albert and Daniel Kiger of Flushing, Ohio, were hitch-hiking and had caught a ride on the truck. Neither of the boys was reported seriously injured. Smiley's sister, Mrs. Ida May Al- bright of the White place address, said her brother had left Washington the first of this month in search of work. BILL TO BALK BLINDNESS IN BABIES IS APPROVED Senate Committee Orders Favor- able Report—Juvenile Court Action Near. The Senste District Committee or- dered a favorab® report yesterday on the House bill to prevent blindness in infants by authorizing the Health Department to furnish physicians or others attending child-birth cases with a solution to be used in treating new-born babies. ‘The committee is expected to hold an executive session within a few days to take action on the proposed new Juvenile Court, on which hear- ings were concluded some time ago. Other committee work has delayed action on the Juvenile Oourt measure. s need for a small claims court, Rob- erts concluded by declaring, “I think 8 good many lawyers are affected by the idea they are going to lose soma business. I don't think they are going to lose much that is worth anything.” Quinn desgribed this as “one of the most unfounded assertions ever mads to a committee.” Declaring it has be- come “a popular indoor sport to lam- bast the lawyers” and to ascribe selfish motives to them when they oppose anything, Quinn asserted there is n¢ Jjustification for such an attitude. Criticizing the section directing the judge to do substantial justice in small claims cases without being bound by statutory rules of procedure, pleading or evidence, Quinn called it one of the serious features of the plan, and in- .quired whether hearsay evidence would contribute to justice. Judges Favor Bill. Judge Nathan Cayton of Municipa! Court, who took the lead in proposing the small claims plan last year, testi- fled for the bill at a previous hearing (See_COURT, Page B-5.) GLEN ECHO OPENING ATTENDED BY 10,000 Dance in Spanish Garden Ball Room Closes Events of Day. Glen Echo opened for the 1937 sea- son yesterday with more than 10,00¢ patrons on hand to try out the 50-od¢ amusement devices. Although the actual opening wai set for 1 o’clock, early arrivals werq on hand by 10. The Spanish garden ball room started last night at 9 o’clock, with Dave McWilllams directing his 12« piece orchestra. . The auto parking lot at the north end of Glen Echo has been mad¢ available for free parking this year The park can be reached in 1 minutes by the new Massachusetty avenue extended route, or 25 by Cone duit road. Street car service is 4( minutes from downtown. [