Evening Star Newspaper, April 27, 1937, Page 23

WCARRAN URGES FIGHT TO PREVENT SLASHINU. 5. PAY Fears Blanket Cut in Appro- priation Bills Will Hurt Workers. NOTE TO LABOR HEADS CONTAINS WARNING Higher Level of Prices Cited by + Nevada Senator in Moving to Stop Proposal. BY J. A. O'LEARY. Expressing fear that the 10 per cent eut in all appropriation bills proposed recently in both branches of Congress would lead to a reduction in Federal salaries, Senator McCarren, Democrat, of Nevada, today wrote to heads of the country’s leading labor organiza- tions, urging them to oppose such a move before it gets a start. Although proponents of the per- centage cut in supply bill totals have not specified personnel, McCarren said that if he construes the move- ment correctly, its most serious effect would be on the low-paid employes. The Nevadan sent letters on the subject to William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor; John L. Lewis, head of the Committee on Industrial Organization; Luther C. SBteward, president of the National Federation of Federal Employes, and John J. Barrett,"head of the United National Association of Post Office Clerka. Text of McCarran Letter. ‘The letter to each read as follows: “For the past several days my at- , vention has been especially drawn to some very positive statements appear- ing in the press, purporting to come m Congress leaders, and evincing a determination to bring about # flat 10 per cent reduction in all appropria- tions. « “If I construe this movement cor- vectly, its most serious effect would be & 10 per cent reduction in the salaries of Federal employes. There may be o strata of Federal employes who could, without great hardship, endure a re- duction of 10 per cent in their salaries. Buch a reduction might entail only the elimination of some of the luxuries %0 which they might be accustomed. “But what I am concerned about is the effect of such a blanket reduction on that great group of Federal em- ployes who are today receiving only at best a living wage, and many of whom are indeed receiving much less than a . living wage. The effect of a reduction on this group, in view of the present eost of living, would bring about un- told, and in my judgment unwar- ranted, hardship, suffering and priva- tion. “More than this, T am interested in the indirect effect of a reduction in the salaries of Federal employe., which indirect effect would be a reduction in the income of the wage earner in pri- vate industry. This result, I fear, would follow, based upon the example set by the Government. “I am addressing myself to you as » the head of one of the Nation's great- st groups of wage workers, both in private industry and in Federal em- ploy, to the end that you may send the word of alarm through your vari- ous agencies, that we may stop this conflagration before it gets started.” Elaborating on the letter in an in- terview, McCarran said he is opposed to applying a percentage cut on the appropriation bills because of the ex- perience with the former departmental economy drive of 1932 and 1933, and also because prices are now at a higher level. In 1932 the economy movement started with proposals for a 10 per eent cut in the total of certain ap- propriation bills. After extended de- bate on the floor, however, it led to the drafting of the first economy act, based on the furlough plan, which was followed later by a larger precentage cut in compensation, veterans' pay- ments and other personnel restric- tions. McCarran recalled today the prolonged effort to bring about grad- ual repeal of the ecanomy provisions. Benator Copeland, Democrat, of New York, said today he plans to ask heads of each Government depart- ment coming before the Appropri- ations Committee from now on to tell the committee what the effect on their agencies would be if the 10 per eent cut in total of each bill should be adopted. The New York Senator said that while he is sympathetic to- ‘ward efforts to save money, he thinks Congress should know what the re- sult would be if the percentage plan prevails. 8ince five of the nine regular appro- priation bills already have passed both House and Senate, any effort to apply the general percentage theory would have to be done through a separate resolution or a general amendment to some remaining bill. One plan being discussed is to order 10 per cent taken from che total of each bill, leaving discretion with de- partment heads to determine what items to reduce and with authority to transfer funds from one bureau to an- other. It is generally agreed that some items, such as interest on Gov- ernment obligations, could not be in- cluded in the precentage reduction. WOMEN’S LABOR GROUPS SPONSOR SYMPOSIUM ‘The Women's Trade Union League and other women's labor groups will sponsor a symposium on “Labor and the Threat of War” tonight at 8 o'clock in Barker Hall, Y. W. C. A. Building, Seventeenth and K streets. Speakers will be Senator Frazier of North Dakota, who will discuss “Why Wars a.« Waged”; Representa- tive Allen of Pennsylvania, “The Menace of Fascism,” and Marion H. Hedges, research director of the In- ternational Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, on “Labor and the Inter- national Crisis.” Miss Jeanette Rankin, first woman 4 Representative in Congress and fa- mous for her vote against United Btates entry into the World War in gg. will be chairman of the ting. D.C.AIRPORTUNIT EAPECTED TOCALL SESSION SHORTLY Long Delay in Action for Plane Terminal May End This Week. JOINT USE OPPOSED FOR BOLLING FIELD King Discusses Possibility of Com- bining Commercial and Military Operations. The congressional log jam which has held up action on the District airport problem for nearly four months may be broken this week, it was learned today as preliminary arrangements were made for a meet- ing of the District Airport Com- mission, possibly before the end of the week. The exact time of the meeting will be determined by action on the Presi- dent’s court program, which has pre- vented Chairman King of the air- port group from giving his time to the local matter, and by the return to Washington of Frederic A. Delano, chairman of the National Capital Park and Planning Commission and member of the commission, recently discharged from the hospital after a long illness. Commission members, however, hoped to be able to get a quorum together during the latter part of the week. The commission has been given s fund of $10,000 with which to obtain options on an airport site or sites to hold the property until Congress can act on the 10-year-old problem of providing an adequate air terminal for Washington. No official in- formation has been given out as to sites under consideration. Objections to Combination Field. It is understood that Senator King has discussed with aviation people the possibility of combining local military and commercial operations at the new Bolling Field, soon to become one of the finest landing fields in this part of the country. It is also understood that he had encoun- tered a great deal of opposition to the plan on the ground that it would create dangerous congestion, espe- cially in bad weather. The commission also is understood to be considering the advisability of establishing two airports, one close to the heart of the city for ordinary air transport operations, the other a larger field further out for use in bad weather to provide ample room and good approaches for instrument landings. The commission, created more than & year ago to settle the airport con- troversy, was expected to report to Congress last January. its recom- mendations for a local airport site, accompanied by suggestions as to size of landing area, facilities and equipment. Because of the court fight and other national legislation, however, action was put off. Baltimore Terminal. While the local airport program has been in abeyance, however, an army of 1,000 men has been at work with a fleet of 25 trucks, 5 steam shovels and a pile driver construct- ing at Baltimore a complete fiying boat and land plane terminal, which is expected to be one of the finest in the country. This terminal is to serve as one of the American bases for trans-Atlantic air transport op- erations to be inaugurated jointly by Pan-American Airways and British Imperial Airways this year. Wash- ington was one of the strongly con- sidered possibilities for this terminal and would have been chosen had it possessed the necessary facilities at the proposed Gravelly Point site, it was said. The Baltimore terminal, like Grav- elly Point, is being made on filled ground on river flats. Gravelly Point now is being filled as a part of the new channel-deepening pro- gram, which is expected to create approximately 100 acres of made land there before the end of the Summer. The transoceanic terminal at Balti- more is expected to be ready for trial flight operations by May 16 and to be ready for formal dedication by January 1, WARNING ON STOCKS TO BE CIRCULATED By the Assoclated Press. Civil Service Commission spokes- men said today the commission wanted President Roosevelt's letter warning Government employes against market speculation “brought to the attention” of every employe. Commission members will confer soon, the spokesman said, to determine what action is necessary to effectuate the policy outlined in the letter, but meantime copies will be sent to the head of every executive branch in the %rebr:mekm and each administrator asked to call his employes’ at- tention to it. il The letter, addressed to Harry B. Mitchell, chairman of the Civil Service Commission, said it would be “a sound policy” for Federal employes not to trade in stocks, bonds or commodities for speculative purposes. The Presi- dent suggested speculative activity be considered a factor in retaining or pro- moting employes in the Government service. U. S. .POSITIONS OPEN Four examinations were announced :;):ly by the Civil Service Commis- n. The Indian Arts and Crafts Board, Interior Department, wants a market- ing specialist at $3,200 annually, and a production advisor at $2,600; the Quartermaster Corps, War Depart- ment, a senior superintending marine engineer at $4,600, and the Internal Revenue Bureau an estate tax exam- iner at $3,200. Applications will be received at the commission, Seventh and F streets, until May 24 from States east of Colorado and until May 27 for Colo~ rado and the West. he WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION Foening Staf WASHINGTON, D. C., TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 1937. At the turn of the century when tne Potomac River became muddy and swollen as it is today, unfiltered water from the city’s mains became unfit to drink and citizens came from miles to water from the deep well 197 feet below this venerable pump in the 1400 block of Maryland avenue northeast. pump is the plaything of children. Charles Jourdant, 7, of the 1300 block of Maryland ictured drawing a bucket of water to make mud pies. avenue northeast, is MARYLAND EXTRA SESSION STALLED Attendance Cut Short by Floods and Quorum Is Lacking. BY JACK ALLEN, Btaff Correspondent of The Star. ANNAPOLIS, April 27.—The task of enacting an adequate program for so- cial security and unemployment relief in Maryland today stood virtually where it was when the State Assembly convened in special session five days ago. Members of the Legislature, who shut up shop and left on a week end holiday just 25 hours after they gath- ered in response to Gov. Harry W. Nice's call, failed to turn a wheel toward achieving their objective last night. ‘The House was unable to produce a quorum and adjourned until 1:20 p.m. today after 25 minutes spent in vain endeavor to locate absentees, only a few of whom were prevented from reaching Annapolis because of flood conditions. Only 18 Senators answered to their names in the upper branch of the State's lawmaking body and business was confined to perfunctory matters and the introduction of two relatively unimportant measures. Sixty Maximum in House. ‘Thirty-eight Delegates were present when the House was called to order by Speaker Emanuel Gorfine at 9:05 p.m. Sixty were in the seats when the roll was called again eight minutes later, but at 9:25 pm., when a third roll was taken, there were but 59. ‘With 61 required to constitute a quorum, Delegate Kent R. Mulliken of Prince Georges County, majority floor leader, expressed doubt that a sufficient number would be secured and moved that the House adjourn until this afternoon. The House—under the terms of the Constitution—can adjourn from day to day when no quorum is present without actually losing a Ilegislative day. It will still be meeting under the order of last night's business when it meets this afternoon. The House Ways and Means Com- mittee also was unable to meet because of absentees and no action was taken on the matters before that group. Relief Survey Sought. Business in the Senate was confined in the main to the introduction by Senator Raymond Kennedy of Balti- more City of a bill requesting Gov. Nice to appoint a committee to study the whole relief question and report back to the Assembiy in 1939, and the presentation of a local bill from Alle- gany County. Senator J. Allan Coad of St. Marys County, chairman of the Senate Fi- nance Committee, told newspapermen last night that but for “so much pride of authorship” in a dozen or so pro- posals being prepared for the Legisla- ture the relief problem could be dis- posed of by tomorrow. AMBASSADOR DAVIES PRESENTED DEGREE Presbyterian College Honor Con- ferred Here by Secretary Hull, and Ceremony Broadcast. Joseph E. Davies, United States Ambassador to Soviet Russia, was un- able to make a scheduled trip to Presbyterian College at Clinton, 8. C., yesterday, but that did not prevent him from receiving the honorary de- gree of doctor of laws from the in- stitution. The degree was presented in Davies’ Shoreham Hotel apartment by Sec- retary of State Hull, who acted for the college president, William P. Jacobs, 2d, and the Bosrd of Trus- tees. The presentation and Davies acceptance speech, broadcast by the Columbia Broadcasting System, were arranged to coincide with a gathering av the college at which Senator Byrnes of South Carolina and Dwight Austin of New York also received honorary degrees. Willism P. Jacobs, 3d, grandson of the founder of the college and son of the president, placed the vestment on Davies. The citation read by Secretary Hull said the degree was conferred upon Davies as a “distinguished jurist, out stending leader in the field of in- ternational relations, statesman, Dhflu«:&hfl andy damommwnc draw pure Now the city’s mains. pump. Twenty-flve years ago, Water Depart- ment records show, residents of the 1200 block of M street complained that they were unable to sleep because the old pump shown above was kept in action 24 hours a day by thirsty citizens, who preferred well water to that which came from the But prejudices against the “city water” gradually died away and now the M street well has dried up and work- men are preparing to dismantle the old Christ Child Society Marks Golden Jubilee Tomorrow A woman whose scorn for her own suffering made her the benefactor of thousands of underprivileged Wash- ington children today celebrated silently the work wrought by her 50 years of unselfishness. ‘Tomorrow Archbishop Michael J. Curley of Baltimore and other Catho- lic notables will gather in the Raleigh Hotel to mark publicly the golden Jubilee of the Christ Child Society, and at her home Miss Mary V. Mer- rick, founder of the organization, will revolve in her mind possible new undertakings the society might launch to alleviate the lot of the poor. In 1886, when Grover Cleveland was President, Mary Merrick was a “half- grown girl” (she will not divulge her age), living in the fashionable resi- dential area in the 1300 block of F street. Began Making Layettes. She was an invalid, unable to raise her back or her head from her bed. But she was thoughtful, hopeful and sympathetic with the plight of others, and to fill her moments she began making layettes for Washington fam- ilies who could not afford adequately to clothe their babies. Thus was born the Christ Child Society. Today it is active in 33 cities. Here it distributed 235 lay- ettes last year. It brought Christmas to the homes of 2,348 Washington children. At its convalescence home it provided 11,960 days of care for 170 ill children. It maintains a settlement house on Massachusetts avenue, a year- ‘round dental clinic, a Summer fresh- air camp for girls, an open-air farm for boys at Rockville, a Summer camp for colored children, a boys' club and an opportunity shop to provide good clothes cheaply to the needy and to help pay the society’s funded debt. Keeps It Going Now. Miss Merrick started it and Miss Merrick, able now to sit in a wheel chair while a metal frame supports her neck, developed it and keeps it going, but she is modest enough about the magnificent accomplishment. “I couldn’t have done the work without the splendid corps of volun- teers who help us out,” she said yes- terday. “They are half the whole story.” On Sunday Miss Merrick is to meet these volunteers, many of whom she has never seen. She spends most of her time in her home, at 2 East Mel- rose street, Chevy Chase, Md., and when she attends a reception in her honor Sunday at the Christ Child Settlement House, 608 Massachusetts avenue northeast, it will be her first appearance at a public function. On the day before the reception a mass will be said at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament at 8:30 a.m. to commemorate the founding of the society. After it Miss Merrick will entertain at her home at break- fast for members of the Chrisi Child Board. Pictures to Be Shown. The chief feature of the meeting tomorrow night will be a series of pictures, both still and moving, de- scribing the S0 years of service the society has provided the children of the District through its facilities for recreation, health, relief and char- acter building. Mrs. Frederick Altemus, who be- came active in the society when she was a little girl named Florence Mills and is now a member of its board of managers, will speak of the organi- zation’s work as the pictures are flashed on the screen. This Raleigh Hotel meeting is to begin at 8 p.m. Active helpers of Miss Mary Mer- rick in her venture have been her four sisters—Mrs. George Hamilton, Mrs. Martin L. Ramsey, Miss Mildred Merrick and Miss Margaret Merrick. Others Are Official Aides. Her official aides include thzee vice presidents, Mrs. Arthur Mullen, Mrs. D. C. Stapleton and Mrs. James Emery; Mrs. Charles P. Neill, corre- sponding secretary; Miss Borredell Gower, recording secretary; Mrs. Rob- ert Cahill, assistant secretary; Mrs. Charles Semmes, Mrs. Lewis Watkins, assistant treasurer; Mrs. James Dud- ley Morgan, chairman of finances, and Mrs, D. J. Callahan, Mrs. J. P. Tum- ulty, Mrs. T. J. Sheridan and Mrs. T. F. Keane. Miss Anna J. Keady is executive secretary and resident head social worker at the Massachusetts avenue settlement house, which was the first building ever constructed as a settle- ment house in Washington. At this building the society has a large gymnasium to pay for which the Opportunity Shop was opened at 1417 Wisconsin avenue in 1931. Mrs. Sheridan is director of the shop. The society is a member of the Community Chest, but Miss Merrick pointed out that the Chest pays only for maintenance and the society itself must raise the money to begin what- ever new ventures it undertakes. NEW PRISON HEAD DIFFICULT TO PICK Welfare Board Deadlocked Effort to Select Barnard Successor. The Board of Public Welfare today was in & deadlock over the selection of a new superintendent for District penal institutions to succeed Capt. M. M. Barnard, whose retirement for age becomes effective next Sat- urday. Board members were said to be divided on the issue of recommending a local or outside man for the job. Adhering strictly to asecrecy, they hoped to be able to reach an agree- ment before Saturday. Chief among the local men con- sidered for the post are Col. W. L. Peak, former District Jail superin- tendent and now head of the Lorton Reformatory, and Paul L. Kirby, as- sistant welfare director. It was re- ported also the board members are eyeing an official attached to the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. Unless the Board of Public Wel- fare can come to an agreement this week, it was anticipated in some circles that Kirby would be named acting. superintendent. in BAND CONCERT. By the Soldiers’ Home Band in Stanley Hall at 5:30 p.m. John 8. M. Zimmermann, bandmaster; Anton Pointner, assistant. Program. March, “Loyal Comrades,” Blankenberg Overture, “Peter 8chmoll”_Von Weber Entr'acte (a) “A Scotch Lullabye,” Kunits (b) “Dreaming”..__Richard Strauss Grand scenes from the opera “Car- men” (request) ... Sandman”._____ Waltz suite, “Love Thoughts,” ‘Waldteufel Finale, “Ole Virginny”. _ “Ths Siar Spengied 3 RAILS LAST LONGER HERE, SAYS EXPERT Absence of Industrial Trucking Aids Traction Maintenance, New Yorker Asserts. The life of street car rails and special track work in the District is greater than in other cities because of the absence of industrial trucking, the Public Utilities Commission was told today by a witness for the Cap- ital Transit Co. as the street car val- uation hearings were resumed. The statement came from E. M. T. Ryder, engineer of way for the Third Avenue Railway System of New York, which has the underground conduit system, such as that employed here. His purpose was to show that even the older rails, yokes and other under- ground supports employed here should last longer than in cities where there is more heavy trucking. Ryder said he had spent nearly three weeks making a personal in- spection of the tracks throughout the transit system, a matter of about 157 miles. He said he walked the length of the track except when he found a long section all laid at one time. In such cases he made a spot check and rode to the next unit. Counsel for the commission and the company agreed today to econ- omize on the cost of the hearing rec- ord by limiting the number of maps for certain exhibits. TYPHOID WARNING Well Water S8hould Be Boiled After Rain, Doctor Says. ANNAPOLIS, Md., April 27 (#)— Dr. William J. French, health officer for Anne Arundel County, warned county residents who use water from ting | wells or springs to boil it if the recent rains had washed surface water into these springs or wells. He said there was always danger of oid fever after such heavy storms. daily into the city’s mains. at the plant. it is clear. RUST WILL AIDS 1 INSTITUTIONS $30,000 Divided Among Them—Relatives, Friends Get $135,000. Seven religious and medical institu- tions were substantial beneficiaries under the will of Dr. Thomas Locke Rust, 2102 Connecticut avenue, promi- nent dentist, who died a week ago, it was disclosed today in District Court when his testament was filed. Bequests totaling $135,000 were made to relatives and friends, and another $30,000 was divided among six institutions. All the rest of the estate was given to Washington Cathedral for & memorial to Dr. Rust’s mother and father, David Newton and Mary Locke Rust. The court was not informed con- cerning the size of the estate, which will be evaluated later. Christ Church of Alexandria, where George Washington once worshipped, was left $5,000, and like sums were given to the vestry of St. Paul's Prot- estant Episcopal Church, Washing- ton; the Protestant Episcopal High School of Alexandria, which Dr. Rust once attended; the relief fund of the American Dental Association, Episco- pal Hospital and George Washington Hospital. Bequests of $15,000 each were made to Dr. Rust’s three broth- ers and three sisters, David N. Rust of Leesburg, Robert N. Rust, Alex- andria; James S. Rust, Washington; Mrs. Mary R. Shule, Guernsey, Chan- nel Islands; Mrs. Sue K. R. Lee, Towson, Md, and Mrs. Lucy R. Sin- clair, Waterbury, Conn. A cousin, R. Maude Hodgkins, Rock- ville, Md., was left $15,000, as also was a friend, Miss Natalie S. Ostlund. An- other $15,000 was left in trust for James S. Rust, one of the brothers, who will receive the income for life. At his death, the principal will be di- vided among the other brothers and sisters. Dr. Rust’s uncle, Harry L. Rust; & friend, Harry D. Crampton, and the First National Bank of Alexandria were named in the will as executors. A bachelor, Dr. Rust was a member of several exclusive clubs here. At one time he was president of the Dis- trict Dental Society. ‘The will was filed by Attorney Ben- jamin S. Minor. MAKES “BED” IN PARK Refusal of Andrew Silk to leave his “bed” in the Smithsonian grounds resulted in his appearance before Police Court Judge John P. McMahon today to answer charges of intoxica- tion and vagrancy. He was ordered to pay $10 on the first charge and to give & bond of $100 or serve 30 days on the second charge. Park Policeman A. Kreuger told the court Silk was sleeping in a trash container and refused to move when workmen who were cleaning up the grounds asked him to do so. An engineer at the Dalecarlia filtration plant turns on a new centrifugal pump capable of pouring 6,000,000 gallons of pure water There are eight other pumps like this It was not until 1905 that Washington could depend ufmn receiving pure, filtered water from its mains. plant, which embodies the most modern water filtration machinery was completed in 1928. So improved is the machinery that engineers find it is easier to purify water when the river is muddy than when Until 1905 citizens kept filtering jars in their homes to Strain the mud from water that came through their faucets. The Dalecarlia —Star Staff Photos. CHEST CAMPAIGN DIRECTORS CHOSEN Randolph G. Bishop, Native of Southern Maryland, to Begin Plans. Randolph G. Bishop, veteran man- ager of financial campaigns in vari- ous parts of the country, is the new p campaign di- rector of Washe ington's Commu- nity Chest. His appoint- ment was nounced today by Herbert L. Wil- lett, jr., director of the Chest. Bishop served the Chest as assist- ant director 1928 and 1929. He is a resident of Washington, whose native R. G. Bishop, R e G ston, near La Plata, in Southern Maryland. He was educated at Ran- dolph-Macon Academy, University of Maryland and Wesleyan University of Connecticut. Bishop has spent 13 consecutive years in the management of financial campaigns, 10 years with the firm of ‘Tamblyn & Brown of New York. In 1924 he was made secretary to the national commander of the Amer- ican Legion and the following year became national field secretary of the Legion endowment fund. He has been engaged in the management of 33 financial campaigns, in which $30,- 000,000 has been raised. Among them were those of the Hotchkiss School, American Society for the Control of Cancer, Yale University Endowment fund, numerous other educational in- stitutions, the Motion Picture Re- search Council and the State Charities Aid Association of New York. His recent Washington campaigns include Goodwill Industries in the Fall of 1935, the Church of St. Stephen and the Incarnation and the current campaign of Goodwill Industries. Bishop will devote his entire time to campaign work for the Chest. He will start immediately building an or- ganization in preparation for the drive next Fall. BOULDER kILLS MAN MARION, N. C, April 27 (#)— J. R. Janiero, 34-year-old contractor of Grantville, W. Va., was crushed to death yesterday when a boulder, weighing several tons, rolled over him as he watched progress of work on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Janiero was a native of Pousada, Spain, but had lived in this country 16 years. He was a partner in the Grantsville Construction Co., which has the contract for stone masonry work on the parkway. He is sur- vived by his widow and a son, who live in Spain. Studies Made to Preserve Life Of Rare Government Papers The life of important Federal rec- ords, on paper and on film, and of rare and valuable library collections and files may be greatly prolonged as a result of studies now being completed by the Bureau of Stand- ards. These studies, made with the finan- cial aid of the Carnegie Foundation and National Archives officials, cover means of preserving not only books and documents, but also of motion picture films, now being used to & great extent for reproducing record material. A summary of the results of the studies has been completed by A. E. Kimberly and B. W. Scribner of the Bureau of Standards. This report covert the effects of fumigants, inks, gases from heating plants, light and other influences on the life of such records. It has been found that further studies must be made to determine the resistance of the emulsion on films to wear. Becsuse of the rapidly growing use of motion picture films for reproducing records material, either as a preservative measure or for more general accessibility, this phase of the research is regarded as of the utmost importance. All of the eensus of the United States now are being recorded on film. All of the fumigants used by the National Archives in the treatment of records of the United States were found by the bureau to be harmless to paper. It was found that ordinary types of writing ink are distinctly injurious to all types of record papers. Studies were made of & special type of ink which may be used without harmful effect. Light, temperature and the humid- ity and purity of the air must be carefully controlled if deterioration of stored records is to be minimired, it was found. Air acidified as a result of combustion of fuels was found to be harmful to library col- lections, but it was proved by in- vestigations in the Folger Shakes- peare Library that library air can be completely cleansed of such gas. It was recommended as good library practice that diffused illumination be used and as little of that as feasi- ble, and that air conditioning be resorted to to maintain constant temperature, humidity and purifica- tion of the air. Choice of paper for permanent record use should be based upon purity of the fiber rather than its source. Protective coatings for pa- pers were studied, and both transe parent cellulose ting and Jap- anese tissues found suitable. an- | in | Society- and General PAGE B—1 DIRECTED.VERDICT FORMRS. KRIEGER, FROOKS REFUSED Defense Closes Case With- out Placing Woman on Stand. MOTION IS OVERRULED BY JUSTICE LETTS New York Lawyer Tells Story, Denying Part in Alleged Blackmail. Justice F. Dickinson Letts today re- fused to direct a jury in District Court to render a verdict of acquittal for Mrs. Mary Krieger, former teacher, and Samuel L. Frooks, New York law= yer, on trial for alleged blackmail of the late Carroll Pierce, Alexandria banker. Justice Letts acted after the de- fense had closed ite case without placing on the witness stand the blond, 35-year-old former Oklahoman, who, the Government charged, ate tempted to extort $2,500 from the el= derly banker The other defendant, Frooks, told the jury he acted merely as lawyer for Mrs. Krieger in pressing an alleged claim growing out of Pierce’s failure to employ the woman for ilfe in his bank. Motions for a directed verdict in favor of the pair were made just bes fore the luncheon recess by John J. McGinnis, attorney for Mrs. Krieger, and William R. Berkson, counsel for Frooks. They declared in support of the motions that the Government has failed to show that the defendants made any threats to expose Pierce’s alleged intimacies with Mrs. Krieger “if any such existed.” Motions Overruled. Justice Letts overruled the mo- tions without hearing objections of United States Attorney Leslie C. Gare nett and his assistant, Roger Robb. Letts also refused defense motions to strike from the record testimony concerning Mrs. Krieger's alleged ine volvement in two other cases. The jury was excused during the argument over the motions and dure ing later consideration of prayers for instructions to be given the jurors. Frooks was called back to the stand briefly this morning to deny asser- | tions by Government witnesses that | he had given permission to officers to | look in his brief case following his arrest last September. Frooks ear- lier had claimed that several papers vital to his defense were missing from the brief case after it had been exe amined by Robb and Detective Sergt. | Earl P. Hartmann. Hartmann, called in rebuttal by the Government, denied seeing in the brief case an affidavit which Frooks testified contained Mrs. Kriee ger's “claim” against Pierce, Testifies for Frooks. The final defense witness was John P. Griffin, New York attorney, who asserted Frooks is “one of the high= est and most honorable practitioners before the bar in New York.” Mrs. Krieger had been reported extremely anxious to testify, and her attorney said late yesterday he plane ned to call his client for questions ing. Garnett was under the impression at the close of yesterday's session that the defense did not intend to place Mrs. Krieger on the stand, and he began the Government’s rebuttal on that premise. Four “character witnesses” testified yesterday afternoon for Frooks. They said he had a good reputation. Among them was James E. Van Zandt for- mer national commander of the Vet- erans of Foreign Wars. Questions Rebuttal Witnesses. The Government questioned rebuttal witnesses yesterday aftere noon. Clifton M. Hodgson, night manager of the Willard Hotel, denied that Robb or Hartman removed papers from Frooks’ brief case following the latter's arrest. Stephen P. Haycock, clerk in the district attorney's office, told of con« ferences with Frooks and Mrs. Kriege: he witnessed at Garnett's office the night the pair were arrested. D. S. C. AWARDED DEAD WORLD WAR PRIVATE Awarding of the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously to Pvt. Lee Pearman, jr, Company E, 112th Infantry, 28th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, for extraordi= nary heroism in action during the Meuse-Argonne offensive September 30, 1918, was announced today by the War Department. Pvt. Pearman was born in Balti- more and enlisted at Kane, Pa. His father now lives at De Young, Pa. “When the advance of the platoon was being held up by enemy machine- gun fire, Pvt. Pearman left his place of comparative safety and succeeded in getting close enough to the ma- chine gun nest to use a hand grenade, which proved very succesful, killing four and wounding one of the enemy, thereby breaking up the nest com- pletely and enabling the platoon to advance,” it was stated in the cita- tion. In the performance of his act, however, Pearman was killed ine stantly. ROBERTS IS INVITED BY LAW JOURNAL STAFF Associate Justice Owen J. Roberts of the United States Supreme Court was invited as the guest of honor to address the 25th anniversary dinner of the Georgetown Law Journal staff at 8 p.m. today in the Carlton Ho- tel. His attendance, however, is un- certain, owing to a recent death in his family. Approximately 80 guests are ex- pected at the dinner. Capt. Joseph D. Dillon, U. 8. A, editor in chief of the Law Journal, will be toast- master. The Journal is the official publication of the Georgetown Law School, and appointments of students on its staff aze made on a lasis of scholarship. two