Evening Star Newspaper, May 16, 1937, Page 25

HEARINGS PLANNED ON BILL REQUIRING AUTO INSPECTIONS Mnouncement by Capper. Time Will Be Fixed in Few Days. -$UVENILE COURT BILL £ ACTION DUE TOMORROW «Menate Agrees to Consider Any » Measures That Can Receive & Unanimous Consent. £ BY J. A. O'LEARY. % Hearings on the question of requir- fng mechanical inspection of all mo- tor vehicles in the District annually @ semi-annually in the interests of safety will be held at an early date, it was announced yesterday by Sen- ator Capper of Kansas, chairman of & special subcommittee on the subject The time is expected to be fixed Within a few days. Meanwhile, the Senate may act to- « Borrow on the proposed new Juvenile Oourt law for the District, which has the House. It was reported from the Senate committee a week &go with amendments. The Senate Bas agreed to consider tomorrow any Wpeasures that can be taken up by unanimous consent. The Juvenile @ourt bill is the only important local bill ready for Senate action. < Believing it will help to reduce * secidents, Senator Capper said yes- terdsy he favors the principle of au- temobile inspection. With two sepa- rate plans pending, however, he re- frained from discussing the detailed provisions that have been suggested until the hearings are held. % King, Lonergan Sponsor Bills. One of the inspection bills is spon- sored by Chairman King of the District Committee, the other by Senator Lonergan of Connecticut. Both have the same general objective, but differ a8 to detailed requirements. The King bill calls for semi-annual inspection, but the fee would be col- , locted once a year, at the time the oar is registered. For the first year 1t would be $1 and thereafter it would be reduced to 50 cents a year. The Commissioners would be empowered to make any regulations necessary to carry out the inspection system, and to fix reasonable penalties for enforce- ment, ‘The Lonergan plan calls for inspec- tion snnually, or whenever a car changes ownership, and following any accident involving personsal injury or substantial property damage. The 4 police make brake tests now when- ever aocidents eause personal injury. ‘While the Lonergan bill fixes the napection fee at not to exceed 50 cents, it also would direct the Com- missioners to reduce the fee whenever the revenues from this source exceed the cost of the inspection service. Junk Authority Is Sought. Another added feature of the Lon- ergan plan provides that whenever the inspectors find a vehicle so dilapidated as to be incapable of effective repair, they would have authority to sell it for junk, without expense to the owner, and turn the proceeds over to | Jthe owner. ‘The other members of Senator Cap- per's subcommittee to consider the subject are Senators Tydings of Mary- land and Overton of Louisiana. ‘The Juvenile Court bill seeks to bring the existing law here into line with more modern and advanced methods of dealing with juvenile de- ‘linquency, by giving the tribunal more of an equity than a criminal type of procedure. Revision of the existing law has been advocated for a number of years. BRIDGE CONTRACT MAY BE LET SOON Coinmiuionen Would Require 'Small Additional Sum for i Chain Span. Gontract for construction of & new Chain Bridge probably will be let within a few days by ‘the Commis- sioiers but the prospects are they will have to ask Congress for approval of a relatively small additional sum for completion of the project. Opening of bids yesterday-revealed that the Tuller Construction Co. of Red Bank, N. J, had submitted the lowest price offer, of $342,529. The appropriation act for the present year place the limit of cost at $350,000 and about $10,000 already has been allgtted for preparation of plans an ‘ ons, it was said. . CoL. Dan I. Sultan, Enginner Com- miasioner, said the contract probably #ld be awarded to the Tuller Co. and that this wéuld cover the cost of “~%hée whole project except construction of and improved approaches to idge. e 1937 appropriation act pro- $250,000 for starting of con- ion of the bridge and the budget fofsthe next year now carries an itellp Of $100,000 for completion-of the Span. During the last year, since the orig- insl estimates were made for the fdge, construction costs have in- ased to an extent that District en- * were not surprised that the lowsst bid for the bridge was not well \ within the $350,000 authorized i RAMSPECK TO BE HEARD nd{l‘u Rules Group to Consider ' #Marriage Clause” Bill. House Rules Committee is ex- to give a hearing Tuesday to an Ramspeck of the House Bervice Committee on the bill o' vhcate the “marriage clause,” the only surviving remnant of the econ- omy ‘act, which, it is claimed, has worked a great hardship on many Government workers. K Ramspeck'’s bill places a salary limitation where .both husband and wife are in the Government serv- ice. He is seeking privileged consid- eration for the measure on the legis- Iatips program. | the others from Pittsburgh, All are | WASHINGTON, D. C, The Board of Trade staged its own Preakness yesterday, but it was a one-horse affair. Edgar Massey is attempting to make Ride ‘Em Lil run as Dave A. Holmes prepares to “clock” the steed. CONTEMPT TRIAL READY T0 START Against Audit Official Be- gins Tomorrow. ‘Trial of L. Douglas Rice, one of the six Railway Audit & Inspection Co. officials under indictment for failure to appear last August 21 before the La Follette Civil Liberties Committee of the Senate, will begin tomorrow before Justice Peyton Gordon in District Court. All six are charged with contempt of the Senate, which carries a pen- alty of $100 to $1,000 fine and im- prisonment from 1 to 12 months. Each has demanded a separate trial, which means that only one can be tried a month, since there must be a new Jury for each case. Rice {s vice president and general manager of the concern. It was he who applied to the District Court on the date scheduled for appearance of the Railway Audit officials before the committee for an injunction prevent- ing them answering the subpoenas. ‘That suit still is pending, under &n agreement by both sides not to push it, since the committee no longer de- sires the testimony of the six officials. The committee’s records -vere turned over to United States Attorney Leslie C. Garnett, who obtained the indictments last Fall. Besides Rice, those accused of con- tempt are W. W. Groves, president of Railway Audit; W. Boone Groves, J. C. Boyer, James E. Blair and | Robert S. Judge. Rice is from Phila- delphia, Judge from New York, and charged in two counts, the first alleg- ing that they failed to appear and the second that they failed to produce required records. They were subpoenaed in connection with the committee's investigation of | labor espionage and coercion. The charges against Rice will be prosecuted by Crampton Harris, for- mer law partner of Senator Black of Alabama, who has been appointed a special assistant to United States At- torney Garnett, and John J. Abt, committee counsel. Abt said yesterday the trial prob- ably will consume two or three days, with the Government calling not more than six witnesses. Rice will be represented by Attor- neys Leonard Weinberg of Baltimore and Alvin L. Newmyer of Washington. Newmyer said he expects to use six or eight witnesses. D —— THREE INJURED HERE IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS Albert Talbert, 6, and William Hannan, 60, Are Hit by Cars. Albert Talbert, 6, of 623 Pennsylva- nia avenue southeast, received head and leg injuries last night when knocked down by an automobile as he attempted to cross D street southeast, between Sixth and Seventh streets. The driver, Phillip M. Bailley, 68, of Forestville, Md., took the boy to Provi- dence Hospital for treatment. While crossing Seventeenth street near Rhode Island avenue, Willtam Hannan, 60, of 1521 Seventeenth street, was struck by an automobile driven by Nicolas A. Argerakis, 42, of 2523 Fourteenth street. Hannan was treated at Emergency Hospital for scalp cuts and a possible skull fracture. Dorothy Roane, 23, colored, 14338 Q street, received a sprained back when her car collided with another operated by Raymond Quigley, 28, also colored, 929 Twenty-sixth street, at Tenth and V streets. «She was.treated at Garfleld SCHOOLS MAY TRY OCCUPATIONAL AID Senate Civil Liberties Case |Ballou, Back From Tour of Systems, Says Survey May Be Taken Soon. Occupational education in the Dis- trict schools and the opportunities for its improvement may be surveyed in the near future, Dr. Frank W. Ballou, superintendent of schools, indicated yesterday. Back from a two-week tour of eight cities, In company with 12 other superintendents who co-operated in preparing & report of their job study to the National Occupational Con- ference, Dr. Ballou said the revised report, to be ready early in June, will contain techniques which can be used as the basis of such a survey. The occupational education pro- gram aimed at, he said, covers skilled counseling and guidance for every pupil, occupational training in school or on the job, or through supervised apprenticeship and placement on the Job with follow-up contacts to see that the young worker is in the occupation to which his abilities are best suited. “We find placement service a vital part of the modern school program,” continued the superintendent. “In some of the cities visited, the schools operated employment offices of their own; in others, the work is handled entirely by State and Federal junior employment offices. Still others use & combination or co-operative plan. We felt the co-operative plan the best from the standpoints both of service and of administration because we regard placement as essentially an educational process.” The experience gained on the trip was ‘“very valuable,” Dr. Ballou added. Each city visited was an example of some particular phase in occupational education and the party advised what to expect by an expert who joined the party in advance of its visit to this city. While in Washington the school- men observed work dealing with oc- cupational education in the Labor and Interior Departments. COMMITTEE MAPS JULY 4 CELEBRATION Chairmen of Groups Will Report to Hazen at Meeting Tomorrow. A meeting of all committee chair- men will be held at 12:30 p.m. to- morrow in the Harrington Hotel to hear reports of progress to date in plans for Washington's 1937 Fourth of July celebration. Call for the meeting was issued by Commissioner Hazen, chairman of the Executive Committee in charge of arrange- ments. This year’s observance and official program in the evening will be held at the Watergate and will be climaxed by a brilliant display of fireworks. Other celebrations, athletic events and patriotic meetings will be held during the day. The Sponsoring Committee is com- posed of Commissioner Allen, Dr. Frank W. Ballou, Arno B. Cammerer, Senator Capper of Kansas, Represent~ ative Collins of Mississippi, Senator Copeland of New York, Frederic A. Delano, Stephen T. Early, C. Marshall Finnan, Admiral Cary T. Grayson, Senator King of Utah, John T. Lam- bert, Marvin H. McIntyre, Lowell Mel- lett, Eugene Meyer, Representative Norton of New Jersey, Newbold Noyes, Mrs, Eleanor Patterson, James Roose- velt, Col. Dan I. Sultan and Col. J. M. Wainwright. The three vice chairmen of the Ex- ecutive Committee are Edgar Morris, Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle and George W. Offutt. Mrs. Elizabeth K. Peeples, Hospital. NEW GAUGES TRIED OUT Strain Testers Used to Record Vibration-Impact Effects. Important improvements in con- struction of strain gauges used for measuring vibration and impact effects on structural materials and other ma- terials have been completed by W. M. Bleakney of the engineering mechanics section, Bureau of Standards, the Commerce Department announced yes- terday. ‘The improvements include a means of compensating deformations in the gauges. themselves, under the pressures generated in the tests. These deforma- tions in the past have seriously af- fected the reading of the gauge and in sqe oases resulted in serious errors. director of the Community Center Department, is secretary of the Execu- tive Committee. ORATORY WINNER 15 Bolling Bell of Bech Defeats Bal- . timore and Richmond Rivals. Bolling Bell, 15-year-old Tech High School student of 62 K street, won first honors last night in an oratory contest at Baltimore for the sixteenth district of the Optimists’ International Club, defesting boys representing Richmond and Balti- more. As the representative of this dis- trict, he will go ‘to Cincinnati June 20 to participate in the Optimists’ national contest there. In the Bal- timore regional contest he was:the representative of the Washington SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 16, 1937, * PAGE B—1 Frivolity Marks Forty-third Annual Shad Bake of Board of Trade Gov. Harry W. Nice awhile. < 1,300 Guests Vote Shad Bake Best in History of Trade Board Distinguished Political Leaders Attend 43rd Annual Event at Bay Ridge. Gov. Nice Pays Short Call. Where cool breezes blow off Chesa- peake Bay, the famed Potomac shad was glorified as never before yesterday when the Board of Trade held its annual Spring outing. From the first arrivals early yester- day morning down to the last few remaining die-hards who held forth into the night, it was unammously agreed—without a reesrd vote—that the forty-third edition of the shad bake, held at Bay Ridge, Md., was the most successful in the history of the event. Billed as “The Coronation of Thelr Chesapeake Majesties, King Shad and Queen Roe,” the affair was one con- tinuous round of pleasures and enter- tainments. For the more than 1,300 tired busi- ness men and their guests—a new record—the day started when a cara- van of buses and cars left the District Bufiding at 9 &:m. From that moment on, hundreds of cars poured a steady stream of traffic into the Maryland resort. By the time the first dinner bell rang at 11:30, nearly 1,000 were on -hand. Some ate then, others ate at 2 pm—but they all ate shad—1,400 pounds of it served on green oak and hickory slabs and prepared by mem- bers of the Mayflower Hotel staff, who had arrived earlier to prepare the pits and charcoal. Amount of Food Consumed. ‘They consumed other things, too, such as 100 gallons of clam chowder, 40 gallons of peas, more than 700 pounds of potatoes, 50 gallons of cof- | fee, 200 bunches of radishes and the same amount of Spring onions, 1,400 bottles of beer, 50 gallons of soda and an inestimable number of hot dogs. The only lull in the day—if it can be said there was a lull—came at ¢ o'clock, when they ate again. Maryland dropped in for | with Edward F. Colladay, president of of Shad was the order ready to dig in. Ashurst, Edward F. Colladay and Senator &Green ge of the day. Senator Hem?/ F. ting 4 As the first dinner got under way, the board, presiding, the diners paused long enough to applaud as Robert W. Davis, chairman of the 1936 shad bake, was introduced. Then followed the introduction of distinguished guests, among them Representative Ross Col- lins, chairman of the House Subcom- mittee on District Appropriations; Senator Henry F. Ashurst of Arizona, Senator Green of Rhode Island, Sen- ator Gillette of Iowa and Chief Jus- tice Alfred A. Wheat of District Court. During the meal Leon Brusiloff’s Orchestra played and an entertain- ment program of dance and comedy was presented by vaudeville artists and a clown from Ringling Bros.’ circus. Athletic Events Held., For the tired business man who felt like exerfing himself, the energetic Entertainment Committee, headed by Christian Heurich, jr., had arranged 8 series of athletic events. No one felt hardy enough to plunge into the cold bay waters, but they found plenty | of room for base ball, horseshoe pitch- ing, quoits, tennis, shuffieboard and boxing matches. But no scores were kept. In the middle of the afternoon, Gov. Harry W. Nice of Maryland dropped in on the festivities and chatted with Colladay and others. He didn't ar- rive in time, however, to hear the ren- dition in the guest house of the well- known “Das Schnitzelbank” by a hastily assembled chorus which in- cluded Representative Shafer of Mich- igan, Traffic Director Willlam A. Van Duzer, C. Melvin Sharpe, executive assistant to the president of the Po- tomac Electric Power Co., and others, Large souvenir bags filled with arti- cles donated by members of the trade body were distributed to all. Official in Charg At Capitol Has Roses as Hobby By the Associated Press. William Frederick works at being superintendent of the Capitol Grounds; his favorite sport is grow- ing roses at home. For 21 years he has coaxed along the grass and trees and shrubs on Capitol Hill. He has 100 workmen to help do this job and maintain the Botanic Gerdens. They have 120 acres to watch over but Frederick can give a full ac- count of the health, history and habits of every shrub. “Now that old boy has been trying to strangle himself to death,” he said briskly, standing straight-backed, in- dicating & George Washington elm. He tugged his light gray hat down almost to his horn-rimmed, thick- lensed spectacles. “See the root half way out of the ground there, sort of girdling the trunk? It cut off circulation and caused decay in that sector of the tree. We had to put in a concrete filling. You see it's healing nicely now. “We've just fed it.” He pointed to a newly-filled ditch circling the tree directly below the outer branches. That, he explained, is where the feeding roots are. The elm is the oldest tree on the grounds, but Frederick said it prob- ably is not old enough to support the story that Washington sat in its shade discussing plans for building the Capitol. Despite its age and ail- ments, he called & good for another 50 or 75 years. The limbs are chained together a couple of feet above the point where they spread -eut from the trunk, to keep the tree from splitting up. ' A dozen all but invisible cables criss- cross throggh: the Boughs to brace them sgainst winds from any direc- tion. 3 Nearby was & sick elm dripping sap drainage tubes left in its side after an operat, said, was to prevent the formation of gas in the trunk. “Over there are the two most per- fect specimens of American and Eng- lish elms I ever saw together,” he said. “The English, typically informal and without symmetry of growth, makes a fine contrast with the Ameri- can, which has a perfect vase shape.” “No wthat'’s a fine plant,” Frederick went on, calling attention to & young Japanese maple with leaves the red of sunset glow. “They are hard as e of Grounds the deuce to grow. I picked that one up at & nice bargain.” Other growing treasures included flowering erab apples from South Rus- sia, with purple and pink blossoms; broad-leafed magnolias, just about to put on a show for tourists; little pink dogwoods that bore signs of depreda- tions by small boys. The ¢ ounds are especially popular with children on hot Summer nights when the irrigation system is going. Every inch of the space can be wa- tered with the twist of a lever. Thou- sands of gadgets pop open and begih to spray. “We're rather proud of our land- scaping around the Supreme Court,” Frederick said, calling by their proper Latin names the six varieties of yew that make up most of the black-green shrubbery setting for the marble edi- fice. “The little trees are oaks, which in years to come will be massive to match the building,” he said. As to himself: “I was born and raised in s jlant nursery, like my father before me; it's all I know.” He went to work in his father's green house at 15, for the National Park Service at 21, and knocked off at 27 to study landscape design and engineering for three years at Cornell. DELANO BACK AT DESK AFTER LONG ILLNESS Park Commission Chairman In- spects Quarters in New Interior Building. Prederic A. Delano, chairman of ‘the National Capital Park and Plan- ning Commission and vice chairman of the National Resources Commit- tee, was back at his desk yesterday, following a two-month absence from Washington due to {llness. One of the first things Delano did was to inspect the newly oe- cupied Interior Department Building at Eighteenth and C streets, in com- pany with John Nolen, jr., director of planning of the National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Delano was particularly interested in the planning commission’s new quarters on the top' floor of the building, along the C street side. Delano also visited the new offices of the National Capital Parks and conferred with Washington’s park chief, C. Marshall Finnag | 88 the probable choice to succeed NEWMANIS SEEN HITTS' SUCCESSOR Justice Department Attor- ney Slated to Become Po- lice Court Judge. Hobart Newman, Depatrtment of Justice attorney, was being mentioned in administration circles last night Judge Isaac R. Hitt on the Police Court bench. At the same time it was learned that Judge John P. McMahon, whose term expired several months ago, has virtually been decided upon for re- appointment. Attorney General Cum- mings, who has been designated by President Roosevelt to investigate the qualifications of the 20 or more can- didates for the two posts, is understood to be well satisfled with Judge Mc- Mahon'’s 18-year record. 2 Judge Hitt, it was said, was elimi- nated from consideration beczuse he is a Republican. McMahon is a Dem- ocrat and was appointed by President Wilson. At one time it was thought Karl Kindleberger, an assistant United States attorney, led the list of eligibles to succeed Judge Hitt, but in the past week or so Newman appears to have forged ahead. William L. Houston, colored, re- cently retired from the faculty of Howard University, also is considered in the running and has strong sup- port. He is a native of Illinois, but has lived in Washington for r-.any years. Newman is 34 years old and 1s in the Justice Department’s claim section. He was appointed to that position last February. In 1928 he was named by United States Attorney Leo A. Rover as an assistant prosecutor. He re- signed in 1928. Later, he served in a legal capacity at the Radio Commis- sion and in April, 1936, was appointed special attorney in the Justice De- partment in connection with Federal insurance litigation. ‘With the return of President Roose- velt from his fishing trip, a decision on the Police Court appointments is ex- pected shortly. CHURCH SESSIONS OPEN TOMORROW Opening Meeting of Disciples of Christ Group Set for 2P.M. Delegates to the sixtieth anniver- sary convention of the Capital Area Disciples of Christ, comprising churches in the District, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, will hold their first ses- sion of a three-day meeting at 2 p.m. tomorrow in the Columbia Heights Christian Church, convention head- quarters. The program tomorrow afternoon will include scripture reading, special music, a sermon and the announce- ment of committees. At 4 pm. the delegates will go to Rockville, Md., where the State society of the organi- zation was founded, for brief com- memorative services. A banquet will be held at the church at 6:15. pm. ‘The program Monday evening will begin at 8 o'clock. < A special breakfast for ministérs and laymen will be given at the Four- teenth street Sholl's Cafe Tuesday at 8 am. At the same hour ministers’ wives will have a breakfast at the church. The morning program at the church will end with a brotherhood luncheon. Regular programs will be held throughout the day, continuing on Wednesday. The conference will end Wednesday night. —_— D. C. APPROPRIATION BILL HEARINGS OPEN TUESDAY Officials and Civic Groups to Pre- sent Data Before Senate Group. District officials and- civic organisa- tions are preparing for the Senate hearings on the 1938 District appro- priation bill, which will get under way at 10 am. Tuesday before the District Subcommittee, headed by Chairman Elmer Thomas of Okla- homa. Senator Thomas sald yesterday he hopes to expedite completion of the Francis Carroll provid- ing entertainment. —Star Staff Photos. REVISIONS SOUGHT IN HEALTH LAWS Welfare Board Seeks Pro- gram to Cut Poor’s Hos- pital Needs. Revision of the District health laws to provide for compulsory examina- tion of all persons having contact with known cases of tuberculosis has been recommended to the Commis- sloners by the Board of Public Wel- fare. This is one of 40 proposals made by the board in suggesting a com- prehensive program aimed at a re- duction in the needs of the indigent for hospital services. The report, re- leased yesterday, is one of a series discussing means of reducing the costs of welfare services. ‘The board proposes expansion of many present services as a means of reducing the causes of disease and broken health among the poor, be- living this eventually would lower the needs for services. Supervised Isolation Urged. The welfare officials urged that there be a requirement of supervised isolation or hospitalization of tu- berculosis cases until the patient no longer could communicate the disease, and also recommended heavy pen- alties be provided for failures to re- port discovered cases of the disease. The cost of care of the indigent sick, including mental and physical cases, the board found, now emounts to about $3,700,000, or much more than twice the sum expended for the pur- pose 10 years ago. In 1926, only 13,272 indigent persons received medical and hospital treatment at public expense, whereas during 1936 “the number of admissions had increased to the stag- gering total of 28,969,” the board said. In spite of the great boost in the cost and the number of patients given free care, the board said “it cannot be overlooked that Washington has been decidedly backward as compared with other cities in providing commonly accepted necessary requisites to meet this demand in accordance with mod- ern standards.” Disease Prevention Plans. Some of the disease prevention plans, the board said, “involve even further and more extensive use of institutions, such as for tuberculosis and venereal disease; in others, im- proved community hygiene is a prime necessity, while still others are based upon public education, and the co-op- eration of the medical profession and other private welfare agencies.” As to communicable diseases, the board recommends effective “rehabili- | tation” including the follow-up and placement of patients who have re- ceived hospital care and whose dis- eases become arrested or cured; ex- tension of the public control facili- ties of the Health Department, in- cluding more nurses and new health centers, and development of improved housing for the poor to such an ex- tent that most, if not all, the in- habited alley dwellings can be va- cated. Facilities Called “Makeshift.” ‘The board held that Gallinger Mu- nicipal Hospital now has only “make- shift” facilities for tuberculosis pa- tients, poor accommodations for chil- dren and essentially none for the treatment of social disease, which it held is responsible for 10 per cent of all insanity, 18 per cent of all dis- eases of the heart and blood vessels, and for many of the still births and deaths among babies in the first weeks of life. The board declared that even with the opening of the adult tuberculosis hospital at Glenn Dale, Md., the Dis- trict still would have a “totally inade- quate” bed capacity for treatment of adult tuberculosis patients. In suggesting means of attacking the prevalence of mental disorder cases, the board proposed extension of the physical plant and the personnel of Gallinger Hospital and the procure- ment of “intensive and complete” co- operation by the Police Department to make possible the detention of drug addicts for s sufficient length of time to bring about temporary or perms~ nent cure. COonstruction of a pavilion for ve- nereal diseases at Gallinger also was proposed by the board to provide a place for isolation of communicable cases. 'The board also proposed that social disease tests be given to all ward patients at public and private hospitals. Naval Hearings to Continue. Hearings are to be continued to- morrow before the House Naval Af- hearings, but added -that all civic | groups will be given opportunity to present their* views on proposed changes in the meagyre. WOMAN IS SOUGHT FOR QUESTIONING IN KEENE MYSTERY Norfolk Police Ars Seeking Passenger on Missing Man’s Boat. LINE OFFICIALS TOLD SHE HEARD NOISE D. C. Man Went Overboard Near Smiths Point, Officers : Think. Norfolk police investigating the dis- appearance and possible murder o Charels F. Keene on the Norfolk Lin steamboat District of Columbia wer reported last night to be seeking ai interview with a woman said to hav “heard something” while occupying cabin adjoining that of the elder]; real estate broker. Keene’s son, Charles F. Keene, jr of New York, who came here to aic in the investigation, was informed tha the woman passenger telephoned th office of the steamship company a Norfolk Friday and indicated she hac information to give officials. 8he asked to speak to the manager and hung up on being informed h was not available. Police learned th- Wwoman’s name from the passenge list, it was said, but were unable t locate her in Norfolk. It was believed she might hav heard a muffied explosion coming fror the direction of Keene's cabin. Nigh Watchman William Bowden reporte hearing a noise about 1 a.m. Frida) but was not sure it was a gun-sho He heard no more noises and did nc investigate. Last Seen in Salon. It developed yesterday that Keen- was last seen at 11 p.m. Thursda when he bought two bottles from : soft drink stand in the salon. Th empty bottles later were found in hi cabin, which was strewn with hi clothing and contained several blooc stains. Investigators think it probable tha Keene either fell or was thrown over- board near Smiths Point, Va., wherc the Potomac empties into Chesapeak: Bay. Shifting tides at this point ma; have swept the body a considerabl distance. Keene's window looked directly ou on the water and there were blood; handprints on a handrail outside anc on the deckrail about 10 feet aft. I would have been easy for an intrude to walk along a ledge outside the shi) from the afterdeck to Keene's window it was pointed out. No Money Found. It was developed yesterday, however that Keene could have had little mor: money with him than his expenses He was on his way to Norfolk to closc a real estate deal, he told his wifc and associates here. He apparently was dressed only in trousers and un- derclothing when he disappeared. Hi: pocketbook was not, found, and ¢ 5-cent piece on the floor was th only money in the cabin. Murder, with robbery as a motive or suicide were possibilities under in- vestigation. Ship's officers suggestec Keene might have gone ashore un- noticed, perhaps because of a mental daze, either in Old Point Comfort or Norfolk. His disordered cabin was discoverec by a maid after the boat docked & Norfolk. The door apparently hac been locked from the inside. Washington detectives went aboarc the boat when it returned here yes- terday morning, but were unable to develop information other than tha obtained by Norfolk detectives. The cabin had been cleaned up anc Keene's effects turned over to Norfolk police. It was said Keene's broken eyeglasses and wrist watch were founc in the cabin. Keene had been in real estate work here for the last 20 years and num- bered many wealthy persons among his clients. He specialized in the sale of suburban homes. WOMAN MAY WIN WAGE BOARD POST Hazen Also Suggests Employer and Labor Representatives Be Appointed. Suggestion that one woman, a rep- resentative of labor and a representa- tive of employers be appointed to con- stitute the District’s Minimum Wage Board, was advanced yesterday by Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen. He said the Commissioners as yet have no prospective members in mind for the three posts, but indicated he would recommend that one member be a woman not affiliated definitely with either the employing or working classes. The present plan is to appoint a board in time to begin administration of the law by July 1. The first step, it was said, will be to seek inclusion in the District’s 1938 budget of an item to cover the necessary adminis- trative expenses and personnel. The figure is not expected to be large. The Commissioners during the last week named a committee of District officials to recommend the amount of administrative funds that would be needed. Hazen yesterday called on the committee to act speedily, so that operations may begin by July 1. Members of the committee are Judge Fay Bentley of Juvenile Court, Welfare Director Elwood Street and Health Officer George C. Ruhland. e RESERVES APPOINTED Appointment of three District men as officers in the Organized Reserves of the Army has been announced by the War Department. All three have accepted the appointments, it was announced. 2 They are Leo Willlam Dufault, 649 South Carolina avenue southeast, ap~ pointed a first lieutenant in the Med- ical Reserve; Woodrow Nelson, Gal- linger Municipal Hospital, first lieu- tenant, Medical Reserve, and Jerrell Raymond Powell, 500 East OCapitol street, second lieutenant, Coast Ar- tillery Reserve.