Evening Star Newspaper, June 28, 1937, Page 21

Washington News FORBUSH INDICTED ON FOUR DISTRICT ROBBERY CHARGES “Blackface Gang” Member Faces 60-Year Total if Convicted. ALCATRAZ IN OFFING, OFFICIALS INDICATE Prisoner in D. C. Jail After Be- ing Caught in Baltimore Police Trap. Arrested in Baltimore June 20, after an affray with police in which his eompanion, Martin J. Walsh, was shot to death, Walter H. Forbush, 24, mem- ber of the notorious “Blackface Gang,” was indicted here today on four charges of robbery. Officials have indicated that should Forbush be convicted or plead guilty, he might be sent to Alcatraz Island Prison. Walsh, who vlas 35, and Forbush " escaped from the Lorton Reformatory April 22. The two were serving six- year terms for robbery. Walsh was killed as he resisted arrest on a Bal- timore parking lot, where police had t & trap for the fugitives. Forbush fled during the shooting, dropping & pistol as he ran, but was captured after a five-block chase. 60-Year Total Possible. Maximum sentences totaling 60 | years might be imposed should For- bush plead guilty or be convicted. Two of the hold-ups charged today $0 Forbush allegedly were committed by him and Walsh the night after they escaped from Lorton. At 11:15 o'clock that evening they are said to have held up the Sterling Liquor Co., 429 Fifteenth street northeast, and escaped with approximately & ~0 taken from the cash register and the pockets | of employes. Only half an hour 1ater‘ they walked into Smith’s Liquor Store, 609 Eleventh street southwest, and forced the clerk, Eddie Smith, to turn over $174 in cash, the indictment eharges. Smith is quoted as saying they also took a $25 adding machine. As the robbers drove away, Smith seized & revolver hidden behind the eounter and fired seven shots at them, spparently without effect., ‘The next robbery the pair is alleged #0 have perpetrated was at the Transit Hamburger Shop, 1906 Fourth street northeast, at 4:30 am, June 18, when they allegedly got $31. Connecticut Avenue Robbery. “The last indictment charges Forbush With robbing the Little Tavern Shop, 3628 Connecticut avenue, about 3:43 am,, June 30. Only Forbush is al- Jeged to have entered the store, Walsh waiting outside, The loot amounted So $51.30. After serving 17 months at Lorton, ‘Walsh and Forbush made a successful dash for freedom. They slipped into a guard's automobile in the prison ga- rage and drove it at high speed out of the grounds, smashing the car through a barricade between two guard sowers. Forbush is being held in the District Jail. GIRL HELD IN “RIOT” PUT ON PROBATION Not to be Returned to National Training School, Says Police Judge. Agnes Thomas, colored, 17, one of two girls held in connection. with a recent “riot” at the National Training Bchool for Girls, was placed on proba- tion for one year today on an intoxi- cation charge, by Police Judge John P. McMahon. The sentence followed a series of eonferences with officials of the school and the Women's Bureau, during which it was stated that the probation officer at the school would find a job for the girl. She will not be returned to the school, Judge McMahon said. The other girl, Frances Mack, 17, colored, who was held on a chargs of assaulting Willie Mae Benjamin, 17, will have a hearing Wednesday before Police Judge Walter J. Casey. LEVIES ARE APPROVED * " FOR RAILWAY PENSION B the Assoclated Press. The Senate Finance Committee ap- proved today special taxes on railways and their workers to finance the re- Vised railroad retirement act. The measure, passed last week by the House, would impose graduated Jévies on pay rolls, shared equally by the roads and employes, starting at 513 per cent for three years and increasing to 7Yz per cent by 1949. Beparate legislation to revise the 1935 retirement act was signed last week by President Rooseveit. Appendix Lost By Scout Here For Jamboree Bedford Raley of Texas, First Casualty, Is Recovering. “The first casualty of the jamboree occurred yesterday, when Bedford Ra- ley, 14-year-old Scout from Lubbock, Tex., was rushed to Naval Hospiu.\ wflh acute appendicitis. Bedford developed what he thought ‘was just a bad stomach ache, but when usual treatment failed to help him, oamp physicians examined him and found him in urgent need of surgical Hit-Run Driver The ¥ WASHINGTON, D. C, MONDAY, JUNE 28, Injures Puppy As Girl Leads Him Across Street Dorothy Deering, 9, of 524 Ninth street southwest watches Milton A. Bosley, Sixth street veterinary, while he examines Tim, her pet dog, victim of a hit-and-run driver this morning. —Star Staff Photo. OROTHY DEERING, 9, and her playmate, Betty McCrea, 12, were bound for a grocery | D store today to buy the younger girl's police puppy, Tim, his breakfast. As they crossed the street near Dorothy's home at 524 Ninth street southwest, the dog bounded along at their heels, wagging his tail in happy anticipation of the feast to come. Suddenly there was a loud screech- ing of automobile brakes. Both girls | turned to see their pet beneath the Wwheels of a car. The motorist, Dorothy said later. “drove off without even waiting to see what he had done. And,” she added bitterly, “he looked as though he'd have backed over Tim again if Betty hadn't yelled at him!" “I"thought sure he was a goner,” said Betty, who lives at 609 Ninth street southwest. “And so did 1" Dorothy agreed. Both girls wept as they awaited an Animal Rescue League ambulance. They “knew” the dog had a broken back, and they were equally sure he would have to be chloroformed. “Do you think they're going to have to ‘disclose’ him?” Dorothy kept ask- ing. What she was trying to ask was, of course, if the puppy would have to | be disposed of. Because the Rescue League has no hospital service, the dog was taken to | the office of a veterinarian. The chil- dren—still crying—held their breath as the doctor X-rayed the animal. Finally— It's only a broken leg,” said the veterinarian. “It'll be healed in a couple of weeks.” SLOW TROLLEYS LAID TO POLICE Citizens’ Group Official Hits Traffic Enforcement for Transit llls, Failure of District police to ex- pedite the movement of public trans- portation vehicles was criticized today by J. R. Manning, vice president of the Chevy Chase Citizens' Associa- tion, testifying before the Public Utili- ties Commission. Appearing at hearings on the pe- tition of the Capital Transit Co. for an increase in its token fare rate, Manning said he believes citizens are not so much interested in the amount of the fare, as long as it is reasonable, as they ave in the type of service rendered by the company. Unlike other civic representatives who have criticized the company, the management and felt it had not received the co-operation it is en- titled to from District officials. “I believe citizens should give greater attention to methods of re- ducing the high cost of public trans- portation,” Manning said. “One of the most important factors in reducing that cost is securing co-operation from District officials to give public trans- portation vehicles right of way over private and commercial vehicles. Delays Make Costs High. “Obviously, we do not have the type of traffic enforcement we should have and the delays forced upon the com- pany by trucks parked double and automobiles blocking its rails con- tributes more than anything else to the high costs of transportation. “I cannot understand why the Dis- trict Commissioners and the police and traffic officials and the commis- sion do not do something about this situation.” Manning said he did not believe it would be possible to maintain adequate transportation service at fares lower than those now charged. Louis I. Obergh, representing the Federation of Business Men's Asso- ciations, joined Manning in criticizing police for failing to expedite movement of street cars in rush hours. , William McK. Clayton, repre- Senting the Federation of Citizens' Associations, said a committee of the federation has appealed repeatedly to “the proper authorities” to expedite the movement of street cars. Promises Not Kept. “Interference with the movement of street cars is worse now than it ever has been,” Clayton said. Manning estimated that the fleet of street cars could be increased from 10 to 30 per cent if tracks were kept clear, but E. D. Merrill, president of the Capital Transit Co., said this esti- ‘mate was excessive. The transit company head said he thought street car speeds might be advanced one mile an hour during rush hours if tracks were kept clear. Harry N. Stull, president of the Stanton Park Citizens’ Association, followed Manning to the stand and declared the transit company has not kept the promises it made to the pubd- lic when it was seeking permission to merge. Stull said the company promised better service and reduced fares, but neither has materialized. POWER RATES CUT Study of 132 Cities 8hows Large Reductions. attention. He was reported resting comfortably today. A number of boys used their own first-aid kits to treat the usual run of A report that one Scout had de- euts, scratches and the like. veloped mumps could not be substan- tlated. An investigation was under way. Many consumers enjoyed cuts in electricity rates during 1936, the Fed- eral Power Commission reported todsy. It studied 132 American cities and announced that the public in 66 per cent of them had lower rates to pay January 1, 1937, than on January 1, " Manning said he sympathized Wwith | ATLANTA PASTOR TAKES POST HERE Rev. Peter .Marshall Ac- cepts New York Ave. Pres- byterian Ministry. Rev. Albert Evans, minister in charge of New York Avenue Presby- terian Church, announced at the morning service yesterday that Rev. Peter Marshall, young Atlanta (Ga.) clergyman, will be the church's new pastor. Rev. Marshall will arrive here Oc- tober 1 to take over his duties as successor to Rev. Dr. Joseph Sizoo, who resigned the pastorate in April, 1936, to become minister .of the Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas, in New York. The new minister was the unani- mous choice of members of the church council. Frank E. Edgington, chair- man of the church’s Pulpit Supply Committee, said Rev. Marshall made known his decision to accept the post last week, when he and his| wife stopped here on their way to' Scotland, where they will visit Rev. Marshall's mother. Rev. Marshall came to this country to pursue an engineering career after attending Coatbridge School of Tech- nology in Scotland. After he ar- rived, however he turned to the min- istry, —matriculated at Columbia ‘Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ill, and graduated with highest honors. Four years ago he accepted the pas- torate of the Westminister Presby- terian Church in Atlanta and has been there since. is deeply interested in young people and youth problems. He was offered the local pastorate several months ago, but declined at that time, saying he felt his work at Atlanta was not yet completed. MINE SWEEPER SINKS; BEING TOWED TO COAST Sanderling, Decommissioned Ves- sel, Sprang a Leak on Trip From Hawalii. The decommissioned mine sweeper Sanderling sank Saturday while being towed from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, to the West Coast by the U. 8. Cuyama, the Navy Department announced today. There were no casualties. A leak which could not be con- trolled developed on the Sanderling and she was abandoned. The vessel was built during the World War and in May, 1922, was decommissioned at Pearl Harbor. The Cuyama left Hawaii towing the Sanderling last Tuesday. Lieut. Comdr. Leonard B. Austin commands the Cuyama. A. . 'I‘. ir Conditio RIGINATED in the dim days before history by honeybees and used first by man in an- cient Egypt, air conditioning today 'is one of. the fastest-growing industries, Harry R. Daniel reveals in his latest weekly Commerce Depart- ment broadcast on American in- dustries. One of the most amazing stories of nature is that of the air condition- ing of bee-hives, which xist on the basis of a system of artificial ventila- tion, Daniel said. Working in re- lays, squads of female bees provide air circulation by rotating their wings rapjdly in opposite directions, creat- ing two separate currents of air, one of which removes foul air and the other draws in fresh air from t' = outside. If an odor objectionable to the bees is blown into the hives, aquads of ventilating workers will ap- Church officials said Rev. Marshall ening Shap WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION CHANNEL IS HAILED BY GIVIC LEADERS Army Engineers Expecting to Get Funds Soon for Start. RECREATIONAL OUTLET ENVISAGED BY REMON Cup Regatta Official Believes Boat- ing Will Lure Many to D. C. Water Front. With Army Engineers expecting to get funds with which to start work immediately on improvement of the Washington Chatinel water front, old- time river men find it difficult to believe that a change is due at last. Civic leaders, however, are delighted that victory appears at hand. John A. Remon, chairman of the Rivers and Harbors Committee of the Washington Board of Trade, char- acterizes the anticipated improvement as “one of the greatest beautification projects for Washington ever under- taken.” Construction of the yacht basins will afford the man of moderate means a recreational outlet, he says, for—contrary to popular opinion—one does not need to be a muitimillionaire to enjoy a sailing boat or a small motor boat. Popular use of the water front has increased tremendously in the last fe'v years, Remon says. As one of thed leaders in the President’s Cup Regatta, he is in a position to speak, for he recalls that five years ago there was | practically no sailboating here. Now,| however, that recreation has grown | by leaps and bounds. Boats as Cheap as $35. ‘The bulk of the people using the boating facilities of the water front, Remon declares, are women and men of moderate means. The New York boat show exhibited small sailboats for as little as $75 and $100, he ex- plains. He is warmly enthusiastic concerning the use of boats for recrea- tion, dating from the days when, as a boy, he sailed in the historic harbor of Salem, Mass. While millions of dollars have been spent in recreational facilities on land, through the National Capital Parks and the Playground,and the Com- munity Center Departments and fine layouts have been provided, Remon declares nothing has been done for the 300 acres of water lying at Wash- ington's front door. Expenditure of $1,600,000 fer im- proving the Washington Channel water front will be “the cheapest in- vestment you could have says the Rivers and Harbors Committee chair- man. With this sum, he says, a vista will be produced, with fine Colonial- type buildings and improved com- mercial piers, and up-to-date facili- ties for yachtsmen, in keeping Wwith the beauty of East Potomac Park, across the channel, to achieve which millions of dollars have been expended. The Washington Channel baautifica- tion, Remon pointed out, is linked up wjth the deepening of the navigational | channel, which is now underway, and with the studies going forward on water pollution. Robert J. Cottrell, executive secre- tary of the Washington Board of Trade, likewise is glad that the long- sought program is about to be el “I think it is highly desirable,” he | said. “We have been fighting for it for a number of years now. That water front is a disgrace and is quite contrary to the rest of the beauties of the National Capital. This will work with the proposal of the National Resources Committee to establish the Potomac Valley as an experimental pollution and flood control area. The whole thing fits in very well. Trade Board Led Fight. “The Washington Board of Trade led the civic fight for the past decade and more. We are glad that the campaign is about to be crowned with : success.” The Federal Government owns all the property along the channel. Op- eration of this is now divided between the United States engineer office, the Treasury Department and the Dis- trict government. The Treasury De- partment some years ago took over the area at the head of the channel as the site for a central heating plant. Some piles were actually driven, but the project was later abandoned and now the central heating plant is lo- cated near the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. ‘The District government operates the bulk of the water front property, having more than the Army engineers and the Treasury put together, offi- cials said. DISTRESS SIGNAL Forestry Service Offers Sugges- tion for Universal Call, The Forestry Service suggested to- day that the universal call letters of distress for persons lost in the woods be: Three shrill whistles, three smoke signals, three small fires or three flashes from an electric torch. pear instantly and go to the task of accelerating the changing of the air. Long before the days of Christ, Danfel said, homes in Egypt were constructed with curiously-shaped wind tunnels on the roofs which caught fresh air and blew it down into the houses. The Mogul emperors of In- dia placed water-soaked matting in the path of dry, hot winds to moisten and cool the air admitted to their buildings. Continued mining operations in the world’s deepest mine, the Robinson Deep, in South Africa, were made possible by air conditioning. At 8,000 feet below the earth's surface the mine had become too hot for human endurance until American air-condi- tioning equipment was installed. Alr eonditioning of the British Nowse of Commons was attempted 1937. WORK TO IMPROVE| [ Eree Ferry’s Trip Back an Anti- Climax Two Péssengers Open Service to Swimming Pool, But Get No Swim, Disappointment, as portrayed by, left to right, Frank Kidwell, 12, of 718 Sixth street south- west,; southwest. ODAY was the day for the kids to start gefting free rides across the Washington Channel to the swimming pool in East Potomac Park. The National Capital Park and- Planning Commission’s new ferry service for the youngsters was to open at the harbor police wharf at 8:30 am., and it did. Two kids showed up before 8 o'clock despite the slow drizzle of rain. They sat nervously fumbling their bathing suits and watched a gray- haired colored fisherman pull perch and catfish from the murky, mist- covered water. Finally, a small launch, - labeled “Survey, Department of Interior,” pulled alongside. The boys jumped to their feet. “You kids ready for a swim?” A. W, Luistro hollered. “Oh, boy!"” they shouted, clamber- ing aboard. And so the ferry service was inau- gurated with two passengers. But by the time the first “‘boat load” was half way across the channel the wharf was cluttered with late comers shouting, “Don’t forget us!"” Luistro rushed his first two passen- George Elliott, 14, of 7141, Sixth street southwest, and James Duggan, 14, of 487 H street —Star Staff Photo. gers full speed to the opposite dock and made about. The pair of “pioneers” ran the re- maining 200 yards to the pool. “Last one in's a rotten egg!" they shouted as they made a dive for the dressing room. They stopped suddenly, however, at the voice of the pool manager, Bill Rinehart. “There'll be no swim today, fellow: .he announced now. Besides, you don't want to go in in weather like this.” It was a quiet trip back across the channel. TWO PLEAD GUILTY INNAJJUM DEATH Admit Manslaughter and| Second-Degree Murder in Slaying. The two youths indicted in con- nection with the slaying, February 6, of James Najjum, S54-year-old insur- ance agent, pleaded guilty today be- fore Justice F. Dickinson Letts in Dis- trict Court. The accused are Lawrence N. Ricker, 24, of the 1500 block of Rhode Island avenue northeast, Public Assistance Division worker, and Robert W. Mein- zer, 23, of the 3100 block of Seven- teenth street northeast. Both were indicted on a first-degree murder charge. Ricker, however, was allowed to plead guilty to manslaughter and Meinzer to second-degree murder. Justice Letts said he would impose, | sentence Thursday. The two young men and Eunice Constance Gerardi, pretty 19-year-old blond, were held at a coroner’s inquest for grand jury action. The girl, how- ever, was not named in the indict- ment, Najjum was found lying on the rain- soaked . ground alongside Chapel road in Capitol Heights about 1:30 a.m. on January 21 by a passing motorist, He was revived and taken to his home, 1809 North Capitol street, where he lived with his wife and son. Later he died in Sibley Hospital, presumably from a cerebral hemorrhage. Ricker, Meinzer and Miss Gerardi said Najjum had been drinking and that they picled him up in their auto- mobile to go for a ride. TAXI INSURANCE - BILL CHANGE URGED Owner Asks Amendment to Per- mit Blanket Bond of $50,000. Harry C. Davis of the Independent Taxi Owners’ Association today urged a special subcommittee of the House District Committee to amend the com- pulsory taxicab liability insurance bill to permit taxi organizations to file a blanket $50,000 bond with the Public Utilities Commission, rather than carry separate policies on each vehicle. Compulsory insurance for all types of vehicles was advocated by Mrs. Margaret Hopkins Worrell, president of the Columbia Heights Citizens’ As- sociation. She said she had observed that certain classes of drivers, especi- ally those on trucks, are more reckless than taxi operators. ‘The subcommittee, headed by Repre- sentative Nichols, Democrat, og Okla- homa, will hold another hearing on the bill Thursday at 9 a.m, more than 100 years ago, but the system was eventually discontinued, Daniel said. The first industrial use of air conditioning in this country was undertaken by Stuart W. Cramer in Southern cotton mills to’ improve the quality of cotton textiles, which were found to be exceedingly sensitive to excess or deficiency of humidity. Physicians speedily discovered that the employes in an air-conditioned mill at Gastonia, N. C., were far less subject to sickness than those in an- other mill just across the road. This discovery, 25 years ago, marked the begnining of air conditioning as a means of conserving human health, Daniel said. He described progress of the art of sir oonditioning, especially in the field of disease control. Wndnn( of air admitted to buildings, he seid, re- Bomber Is Ordered To Anacostia Base For Test Flights Flight tests of a new Seversky dive- bomber, which has proved its ability to stand a 15,000-foot power dive at more than 500 miles per hour, are to begin within a few days at the Flight Test Section, Anacostia Naval Air Station. The plane was ordered to Anacostia following contractor's tests Saturday at Farmingdale, Long Island, during which James B. Taylor, jr.. socialite test pilot, dived the ship 12 times to terminal velocity. It will be put through performance tests at Ana- costia and sent to Dahlgren, Va., for its official terminal velocity diving tests. Taylor, who considers power dives the supreme thrill in life, was laced into a corset of leather to hold his internal organs in place during the dives, according to an Associated Press dispatch from Farmingdale. He made the twelfth dive from an altitude of 20,000 feet and pulled out in 2,000 feet less than a mile above the ground. Experts said the sensa- tion must have been similar to driving a car at 50 miles an hour into a brick wall. RETAILER ROBBED, SHOT BY BANDITS Bernard Cohen, Merchant, | in Critical Condition After Attack. Bernard Cohen, 28-year-old Wash- ington merchant, remained in a critical condition in South Baltimore General Hospital today while police along .the entire Eastern Seaboard sought four youths who shot him in the back and robbed him of $700 after driving him several miles in his own car Saturday night. Cohen, whose home is in Baltimore, owns the French Shoppe, a women's apparel store at 704 Seventh street. He gave Baltimore police a detailed description of the bandits, but had lapsed into unconsciousness today and his condition was pronounced grave. ‘Cohen was putting his car in a garage near his home late Saturday night when the four young men ac- costed him and one thrust a pistol against him. He was forced to re- enter the car, and the bandits drove him to a lonely spot at Linthicum Heights, where they robbed him, shot him and tossed him out. ‘The victim told police he did not resist and the bandits evidently de- oided to kill him so he could not identify them. His cries attracted a passing motorist, who took him to Ferndale, 5 miles south of Baltimore. Ferndale police called an ambulance and notified State and city police. A description of the bandits and Cohen's car was broadcast all over the East. ning Began With Bees Rotating Wings movese disease germs and hay fever pollens and so aids in the prevention and cure of influenzs, typhoid fever, infantile paralysis and other infec- tions. It is estimated, Daniel said, that at least $100,000,000 worth of air- conditioning equipment will be scld in the United States during _937, as compared with half that amount last year. “I am told that before long it may be possible at the turn of a switch to manufacture different kinds of air, such as mountain air or sea air,” he said. “Air-conditioned airplanes w:ll be able to speed through the rarefled atmosphere many miles above the earth with perefct comfort for the passengers. For air nondmemn; really means the final conquest of alr” U.S. RELIEF ASKED INCLEANING STRIKE Delegation to Demand Fed- eral Aid for Workers in Walkout. A delegation representing 400 work- ers, whose walkout last week closed 12 wholesale dry cleaning plants here, store concerns said to be accepting work from strike-bound plants. This program was planned at a meeting of strikers yesterday afternoon in a hall at 920 U street. Meanwhile, union leaders said they would confer today and tomorrow with owners of various closed plants on the demand of strikers for a 40-hour week and an $18 minimum wage. Strikers yesterday claimed the sup- port of 200 independent retail tailors, who were said to have voted to with- hold all business from the wholesalers un_m they sign agreements with the union. The tailors also voted $100 to the strike fund and promised further | financial aid. The meeting was held | yesterday morning at 1502 Fourteenth | street. Mrs. Julia Katz, union organizer, said a labor delegation has reported two dry cleaning companies for al- leged violations of the 8-hour day law for woman workers in Washington. Strikers today were picketing the plants and retail stores of at least one “chain atore” dry cleaning establish- ment accused of “unfair” practices, These practices, it was said, con- sisted of attempts to form a company union, acceptance of work from the closed plants, and the alleged lock-in of employes at the lunch hour to keep them from mingling with pickets out- side, C. U. SUMMER SESSION ENROLLMENT AT PEAK Greatest Number of Students on Record Is Listed, With Time Still Open. Enrollment for the Summer session at Catholic University is the largest in the history of the institution, it was announced today. The current enrollment is more than 100 above that of last year at the same time, 1,226 having registered tc date, as compared with 1,113 in 1936. Sev- eral days still are open for new regis- trations. Although more students come from the District of Columbia than from any other single place, 42 States are Tepresented in the enrollment. Five foreign countries also are represented. The Summer session opened yester- day with a high mass celebrated in the National Shrine of the Immacu- late Conception by Rev. James J. Brennan, 8. S, chaplain of the ses- sion. “Where else can the solidarity for Christ be found that will make this Nation peaceful and truly great than in gatherings like this before the altar of God?” Right Rev. Joseph M. Corrigan, rector of the university, asked in a sermon during the mass. CRASH DAMAGES DENIED D. C. Not Held Liable for Garbage Truck Accident. ‘The District Government is not liable for injuries to citizens caused by its garbage collection trucks, the United States Court of Appeals held today in a suit brought by Rebecca Loube for injuries sustained when a garbage truck collided with a street car on which she was riding, December 31, 1935, ‘The court said the collection of gar- bage is & governmental function neces- sary for the public health and that the ‘Juries caused in this performance. ~ “We washed the pool | out last night and it's only half full | planned today to demand Federal re- | lief for the strikers and to picket chain | ‘Society and General PAGE B—1 PERSONNEL PLAN IS AMPLIFIED BY BROWNLOW GROUP Special Report Argues for Civil Service Board Replacement. PRESENT COMMISSION SUBJECT OF CRITICISM Excessive Delay in Performance - of Important Functions Is Point of Attack. The personnel administration sece tion of the governmental reorganizae tion plan submitted in January was amplified today in a special report by the Brownlow committee, whose reca ommendations in substance have been incorporated in the administration bill | introduced in the Senate this past week by Senator Robinson of Arkansas, majority leader. The report was prepared by Floyd W. Reeves of the University of Chi= cago, chairman of the President's Committee on Vocational Education and former director of personnel for the Tennessee Valley Authority, and Paul T. David, at present director of studies for the Committee on Voe cational Education. It constitutes ale most in its entirety an argument in favor of the Brownlow committee proposal to replace the Civil Service Commission of three members with a single personnel administrator flanked by a part-time civil service board of citizens. The commission comes in for a series of criticisms. “In general,” the report says, “the commission is often criticized and ap- parently with some merit for excese sive delay in the performance of even its most important functions, for lack of sufficient initiative in meeting new problems and for failure to compre- hend and to give adequate assistance in meeting many of the important needs of the operating services in connection with personel administra= tion.” It also concludes that “it is not at all certain that the funds now availe able to the commission are being spent a8 effectively as they might be” and describes “parts” of civil service rules as “archaic” and in need of general revision. Quarterly Meetings Urged. The proposed civil service board— which was not provided for in the Robinson bill—would attract the “most eminent and public-spirite* citizens,” the committee believes, explaining it should meet at least quarterly “to assist the President in the protection, improvement and extension of the merit system, and in general to rep- resent the public interest in the merit system.” The committee would vest this board with unusual powers, at the same time radically changing appointe ive procedure for higher bracket poe sitions. It would name examiners to hold the tests under which the adminis- trator is selected (the Robinson bill makes this a presidential appointe ment); approve (1) the membership of other special examining committees to hold open competitive and promo- tion examinations to fill vacancies in the highest civil service po | tions in the various denanmen s and agencies, and (2) panels from which boards or committees could be chosen when the need arose to deal | with mediation and personnel rela- | tions. In this connection the repory says that as an initial step in ime proving personnel relations through- out the service “a statement of policy should be prepared and issued clari- fying the right of employes to or- ganize and to designate representa- tives. Such a statement of policy should give clear recognition to the principle of majority rule in the de« termination of representatives.” Ad= ministrative officials should be re- quired to confer with employes when requested, the report says, proposing further that a ‘“part-time Federal service personnel relations commit- tee” be set up to adjust factional dis putes between employes over the ques- tion of representation. Reorganizing Council Urged. As a further step toward bettering personnel administration the report suggested that the Council of Person= nel Administration, composed of ad- ministrative officers in departments and independent agencies, “be reor- ganized to serve as a professionally competent advisory committee” to the personnel administration. The report repeats a former recome mendation for extending the merit system, and making Government serve ice a career service. “Special consideration,” it says, “should be given to the administra- tion of high administrative positions. All high administrative positions in the various establishments should be divided into two groups, one defl- nitely policy forming in the poe litical sense and the other purely ad- ministrative and non-political. The non-political group in each departe ment or similar agency should be | headed by & well-qualified non-politi= cal executive officer equivalent in rank to an undersecretary.” The President, the report says, “needs restriction upon his appointing discretion over large numbers of po- sitions. The existing number of po- litical appointments appears to be far greater than that required for po- litical leadership. The number should be reduced as rapidly as feasible by extension of the formalized competi- tive examination procedure. This implies a considerable extension of the classified civil service. The reform is needed not only to give the Chief Executive a buffer against political pressure in the performance of as large a part of his administrative task as possible, but also to prevent the enormous wastage of his time and strength that now occurs in making appointments open to political cone siderations.” Charles Fellon, Actor, Dies. HOLLYWOOD, June 28 &). = Charles Pellon, 66, stage and film ac- tor, died Saturday night of heart disease. He had played supporting roles to the late Will Rogers and Shire the | city therefore may not be sued for in- | ley Temple before he became ill 18 months ago