Evening Star Newspaper, April 22, 1940, Page 19

Washington News Senate Hearings Begun on 1941 D. C. Supply Bill Library and Sewer Division Asks That Funds Be Restored BULLETIN. Any increase in the real estate taxes to meet the probable deficit in local revenues during the next fiscal year was opposed by District Assessor L. A. Dent as Senate hearings on the $48,- 276,717 supply bill got under way today. Mr. Dent is understood to have told the Senate subcom- mittee, presided over by Chair- man Overton of Louisiana, that real estate is already bearing its fair share of the local tax burden with the $1.75 rate per hundred on the present high basis of as- sessment. By J. A. O'LEARY. Senate hearings on the $48,276,717 District supply bill for the next fiscal year began today, with officials of the Free Public Library and the Sewer Division asking for restoration of items cut from the budget es- timates in the House. Moving ahead rapidly, the sub- commiittee continued in session past the noon hour, with public school officials presenting testimony in sup- port of a variety of comparatively small increases throughuut, the school budget. In view of the fact thnc the bill as it passed the House was regarded as likely to exceed the city’s revenue collections under the present tax structure, the Commissioners entered the Senate hearings prepared to ask for a total of only $633859, about half of the reduction the House made in budget figures. One of the first witnesses called this morning by Chairman Overton of Louisiana, was Dr. George F. Bowerman, librarian of the Free Public Library, who explained the need for restoration of part of the reductions made in the House. The Commissioners asked the Senate to raise the library’s book fund from $72,500 to $80,000 and the binding fund from $17,500 to $20,000. A small increase in the maintenance fund also was requested. ‘The higher figure for the book fund would leave the item for orig- inal stocking of the Southwestern Branch at $25,000, but would make $55,000 available for the Central|. Library and other branches. This would still be $10,000 less than the current book fund. Several changes in the sewer pro- gram were asked by J. B. Gordon, sanitary engineer. To extend storm- water and trunk sewers into newly developed areas, the aubcommm,gel was asked to add $25,000 to the House figure of $300,000. Calling attention to increased building activity, officials also asked that the appropriation for assess- ment and permit sewers be raised from $275,000 to $300,000. Parking Meter Failures Rid Four of Tickets Because the meters at their park- ing spaces were out of order, two District motorists had their parking tickets canceled and two were let off with warnings last week. They were among the 75 persons who escaped traffic fines. Of this num- ber, 19 received cancellations of tic- kets, including four members of the German Embassy « ‘The four who gave parking meter failure as an excuse for parking| overtime are James P. McFarland, | 1208 Madison street N.W.; Bowdeni Findley, 1118 West Virginia avenue SE.; Imogene H. Putnam, 3200 Highland place N.W. and George R carrlgnn 1509 Sxxteenth street Joshuu B. Eggleston, 1325 Wallach | place N.-W., was warned after park-) ing abreast. He claimed he was on an official errand for Representative Fish, Republican, of New York, at the time of the traffic violation. A letter from Representative Schwert, Democrat, of New York to Maj. Ernest W. Brown, superintend- ent of police, resulted in a warning being given R. M. Dietrich of Ham- burg, N. Y, for parking overtime between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. instead of‘a fine. The Rev. Thomas C. McGowan, 487 Michigan avenue N.E. chaplain of the District Jail, received a warn- ing for violating the no-parking be- tween 4 pm. and 6 p.m. regulation after he explained he was on an emergency call. N. C. Barnhart, 3013 Military road N.W, said he was tied up on a hung Jury and was warned for parking between 4 pm. and 6 p.m. at the request of Assistant Corporation Counsel M. J. Keane, Card Party Is Slated The spring card party for the benefit of the Shrine of the Secred Heart Church, sponsored by the League of the Secred Heart, will be held May 8 in the church hall. Mrs. E. E. Werner is chairman of the Arrangements Committee. Traffic Record The traffic record, as revealed at police headquarters for 24- hour period ending at 8 am. Sunday: Fatalities, none. Accidents, 58. Motorists injured, 13. Motorists arrested, 346. Pedestrians injured, 9. Pedestrians arrested for vio- lation of pedestrian control reg- ulations, 2. The traffic record for 24-hour period ending at 8 a.m. today: Fatalities, none. Accidents, 44. Motorists injured, 7. Motorists arrested, 122. Pedestrians injured, 7. Pedestrians arrested far viola- tion of pedestrian control regu- lations, 3. m‘n SUNDAY MORNING EDITION e v The Foening Shap WASHINGTON, D. C, MONDAY, APRIL UNOFFICIAL GUN CARRIAGE—Earl F. Sutter, an Arlington Cemetery workman, shown with 600-pound cannon which was being transported from old Fort McPherson by two colored boys. The problem was to get the cannon out of the jslopy into which the colored boys had lifted it and back onto its base. Mazie Smith, 19, of Dover, N. J., ing. (Story on page A-1.) Symphony Directors ' Act on Compromise With Union Today Two-Year Contract, Sliding Scale of Pay Reported Provided BACKGROUND— During its nine-year career, National Symphony Orchestra several times has faced threat of dissolution because of dispute with Musicians’ Union or failure of sustaining fund campaign. Most serious threat came this year after collapse of megotia- tions between union and orches- tra association over musicians’ wages for next season. New hopes for settlement of controversy arose Saturday, when union ac- cepted new compromise formula. The Board of Directors of the National Symphony Orchestra As- sociation was scheduled to meet early this afternoon to act on the latest compromise formula for set- tlement of its dispute with the Mu- sicians’ Protective Union over a con- tract for the 1940-41 season. Already agreed to by the musi- cians’ union, the formula was ex- pected to receive the directors’ ap- proval. Details of the plan have been withheld pending action by the or- chestra association board, but it is understood to provide a two-year contract and a sliding scale of pay. Philadelphian Aided Actively. The latest compromise plan was developed last Tuesday at a meet- ing between Dr. John R. Steelman, director of conciliation of the Lahor Department; Samuel Rosenbaum, vice president of the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, and repre- sentatives of the union and the or- chestra management. Both parties to the negotiattons and the conciliation service gave chief credit for the proposed set- tlement to Mr. Rosenbaum, who vol- ] is shown by the empty mount- —Star Staff Photos. unteered his services in an effort to end the six-month controversy. The musicians accepted the new plan at a meeting of the union mem- bership Saturday afternoon. After the meeting Dr. Steelman forecast the formula also would be approved by the directors of the orchestra association. Original Parleys Broke Down. Negotiations between the musicians and the management broke down shortly before the close of the current season a week ago yes- terday. The union originally had de- manded an increase from $50 to $60 in the minimum base pay and lengthening of the senson from 23 to 27 weeks. Former commissioner George E. Allen and Dr. Cloyd Heck Marvin, president of George Wuuhmgton University, were among those who attempted to mediate the dispute, but failed. It was Mr. Allen, how- ever, who urged the Labor Depart- ment’s conciliation service to try to find a solution. Medical Society Head Will Speak Wednesday Dr. John H. Lyons, president of the Medical Society of the District, will deliver his presidential address Wednesday night' at the society headquarters, 1718 M street N.W., at an open meeting, to which the wives and guests of members of the society have been invited. Dr. Lyons will speak on “Prog- ress «and personalities in Early French Surgery.” Prior to his address, the society’s subcommittee on child, welfare will present a preview of a health filim, “When Bobby Goes to School.” The motion picture will begin promptly at 7:30 pm. Argo Lodge to Meet Argo Lodge will meet Wednesday at 8:30 pm., at the Jewish Com- munity Center. Speakers will fn- clude Rabbi Ely Pilchik, director of the Hillel Extension Unit at the University of Maryland, and Jack Phillips, president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, University of Maryland, Parley Called Tomorrow on D. C. Merger Committee Seeks To Get Bill Before House May 13 By JAMES E. CHINN. The House District Committee to- day decided to hold a special execu= tive session tomorrow at 10 am. to consider the latest revised edition of the plan to modernize the municipal government. The meeting, it was said, will be held at the request of Representa- tive Kennedy of Maryland, chair- man of a special subcommittee in charge of reorganization legislation. Recent changes made by the sub- committee in the original reorgani- zation plans for revamping the mu- nicipal machine were outlined to the full committee at an executive session today by Mr. Kennedy. He is anxious that the full committee approve the legislation so it can be placed on the House calendar in time for consideration May 13. As finally approved by the sub- committee, the reorganization plan does not provide for any changes in the top setup of the municipal gov- ernment, but calls for the reshuffling and consolidation of various munici= pal agencies into 11 departments. In addition, it provides for an ad- ministrative assistant to the Board of Commissioners, whose duties would be to keep a close check on the activities of the departments and report the need for any further shifts in the interest of efficiency and economy. John Russell Young, new Dis- trict Commissioner, today pledged his full’ and close co-operation to the committee. Making his debut as a Commis- sioner before the committee at the invitation of Chairman Randolph, Mr. Young said he realized its mem- bers had a hard job legislating for the disfranchised residents of the District and he wanted to be helpful. “You can count on me as a close, co-operative worker,” he declared. Commissioner Young was intro- duced to the committee members by Representative Randolph and oc- cupied a seat of honor at the com- mittee table adjoining the chair- man. Introduced by Randolph. In introducing the new Commis- sioner, Chairman Randolph pointed out he had long been intimately identified with the civic life of ‘Washington and that his father at one time had been a member of the House. The committee subsequently ap- proved two bills. One of the bills favorably reported already has passed the Senate. It| would amend the life insurance code an “oversight” in the original life insurance legislation. The other au- row $500,000 from the P. W. A. to erect a new building for the Record- er of Deeds. Loan Already Authorized. Representative Nichols, Democrat, of Oklahoma, author of the latter bill, said he did not believe the legislation is really necessary since the Commissioners already have authority to borrow funds for con- | struction of the new building. But. | he explained, passage of the bill at | this time would forcibly impress on | the Commissioners “it is the will of | Congress” that the building be | erected. Miss Winifred Crosby, committee tive Shafer, Republican, of Mich- igan, who is convalescing at his home in Three Rivers from a serious automobile accident. Although still in a cast, Mr. Shafer said he hoped to return to Washington before ad- journment of Congress and resume his activities on the committee. Band Concerts By the United States Navy Band Symphony Orchestra tonight at 8:15 o'clock in the Marine Corps audito- rium. Lt. Charles Benter, U. 8. N,, conductor; Charles Brendler, assist- ant conductor. By the United States Army Band tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock in the Army Band auditorium. Capt. Thomas F. Darcy, leader; Karl Hubner, assistant leader. to remedy what Corporation Coun-: sel Elwood H. Seal described as| thorizes the Commissioners to bor- | clerk, read a letter from Representa- | cipal W. B. Marks watches. Pen Women's League Meets Mrs. Roosevelt At Reception Today Members Will Hold Drama and Radio Banquet | Tonight at Willard The National League of American Pen Women, holding their biennial | ! convention at the Willard Hotel, will meet Mrs. Roosevelt at a White House reception at 4 o'clock today. ‘The convention opened this morn- |ing with greetings from Audrey ‘Wurdemann, general chairman, and reports from national officers. To- night members will hold a “drama and radio banquet” at the Willard. Sarah Truax Albert, national drama chairman, will preside and C. An- ing importance of juvenile play. Anne Darlington of Washington will receive the Francesca Falk Miller prize for* her “Children of the Harp.” Florence R. Kahn of Balti- more, who placed second in the Nation-wide contest, will give an interpretive reading of her “shadow on the Sun.” be held, with Lulu Gabel, national radio chairman, presiding. Speak- ers will be Neville Miller, president of the National Association of Broadcasters, who will discuss “De- velcpment of Music for Radio”; Elinor Lee, director of women's programs of WJSV, who will discuss “Backstage in a Radio Studio as It Affects Women's Programs,” and Mary Mason, director of women's programs of WRC, who will speak on “Writing Good Radio Script.” A 15-minute radio play by Miss ‘Wood will be presented. League members attended a re- ception yesterday at the home of Mrs. Eugene Meyer. Later they at- tended the formal opening of the National Art Exhibition at the Pen Women’s Studio in the Grafton Hotel, where they heard a song re- cital by Stella Westenberger and Josephine Craven Horner. The convention will through Friday. continue COMMISSIONER YOUNG’S FIRST HEARING—The newly ap- pointed District Commissioner, John Russell Young, is shown at left as he pledged co-operation with the }‘Iouse District Com- mittee, which he appeared before for the first time today in his | official capacity. He was introduced to committee members by Representative Randolph of West Virginia, at right. —=Star Staff Photo. 22, 1940. toinette Wood will discuss the grow- | the one-act | At 9:15 pm. a radio forum will | % — 'School Broadcasting System 'Reaches Pupils Students at the new Takoma Park- | silver Spring (Md.) Junior High | School keep up to the minute on current events, whether the latest bit of school news or word of a new offensive on the European battle- ground, by means of their own private broadcasting system, the | first installed in a Montgomery | | County school. | Promptly at noon the student. an- nouncers go “on the air” to tell their ‘schoolmabes the latest developments | in the news world in a 10 to 15- mintue broadcast. The “radio” broadcast goes over the inter-room communicating sys- be connected with any or all of the | classrooms, or a program can be broadcast from one classroom to all the others. If need be, the| broadcasting can be switched? from one room to another as easily as | the announcer on a national net- | work can switch his audience from tem, built so that the “studio” can | Society and General SCHOOL FOR BROADCASTERS—A broadcasting “school” at the Takoma Park-Silver Spring Junior High School is “on the air” daily. Above, left to right, Helen Gibson, staff announcer; Chief Announcer G. J. Womack and Shirley Noonan, sports announcer, at the “mike” as Prin- A music class broadcasting to the other classrooms, left to right, Claire Thomas, Betty Lou Turnage, Betty Jane Abercrombie, Mary White, Frances Lundquist, Betty Burke and Ruth Curtis. —Star Staff Photos, in Rooms New York to Hollywood, J. R. Small, faculty adviser, explained. chief announcer and Eleanor Wickes assistant chief. They head a staff composed of Helen Gibson, Alice Richards, John Cocoras, Canmella | Savarese, Shirley Noonan, John Gawler, William Rose and Nancy Croney. All have passed through their baptism at the “mike” to qual- |ify for a regular turn on the daily programs. The programs have become so popular that 24 listeners have been taken with the urge to become an- | | nouncers and have filed applications for tryouts. After auditions by Mrs. Margaret Tepper, a member of the \hculty they are given an oppor- {t\.muy to “spell” the regular staff members. Success in three broad- casts automatically qualifies “student announcer” to a place on the regular staff, Principal William B. Marks said. Daughters of 1812 'Open Convention Sessions Tonight 500 Delegates Expected To Attend Meetings Of Patriotic Society Members of the National Society, United States Daughters of 1812, gathered from all sections of the country today for the opening of the 48th Associate Council. More than 500 persons are ex- pected to register before the first session at the Willard Hotel tonight at 8 o'clock. Members of the Officers National Club of the society met at its national headquarters, 1461 Rhode Island avenue N.W. yesterday morning, with Mrs. John Prancis Weinmann of Little Rock, Ark., president of the club, and afterward attended a memorial service at the Church of met at supper last night with the Association of State Presidents and Charter Members in the Willard for & business session and a talk by Mrs. Henry M. Robert, jr., president general of the D. A. R., which closed its convention last week. The Executive Board of the society met this morning with Mrs. Arthur J. O'Neill, president natioral, of Chicago. A recepticn will be held at national headquarters from 3 to 5 pm. Chief speaker tonight will be Rear Admiral P. S. Rossiter, retired sur- geon general of the Navy, whose subject, is “What the United States in 1940 May Learn from 1812.” Mrs. O'Neill will call the associate council to order after a processional march by the United States Marine Band, Mrs. Henry Dickson Bruns, cnaplain national, of New Orleans will give the invocation and the Ammnscreedwlnbeludby Tyler Page, its author. Diflanbfich of Akron, Ohio, t.hh'd vice president nnloml. and Col. Fregderick Gilbert Bauer, president gl;e.zll:l of the General Society, War The meeting will adjourn Wed- nesday. Americans Will Hear Churchill Tomorrow Winston Churchill, first lord of .the British Admiralty, will be heard in the United States tomorrow when he makes a radio address in London at the annual St. George's day luncheon of the Royal Society of 8t. George. His speech will be broadcast over Station WMAL from 8 to 8:26 am. 4 Civil Rights Parley the | B—-1 Cret Named To Fine Arfs Commission Philadelphia Architect Identified With Many Structures Here By JOHN C. HENRY, Btar Staff Correspondent. WARM SPRINGS, Ga., April 22. —President Roosevelt today ap- pointed Paul P. Cret, Philadelphia architect, to be a member of the Commission of Fine Arts. Identified with the best-known decorative struc- | tures, the Phila- 4 delphian recent- ly was awarded the gold medal of the American Institute of Architects. This will be his in- itial appoint- ment to the agency which has advisory jurisdiction over Mr. Cret. Federal buildings and properties in the District of Columbia. Mr. Cret is best known in WasH= ington as architect of the Pane * American Union Building (with Al bert Kelsey) ; the Folger Shakespeare Library, the Central Heating Plant, the Federal Reserve Board Building on Constitution avenue and the Calvert Street Bridge. Educated in French Schools. He was born at Lyons, France, October 23, 1876, and was educated in Prench schools of architecture, among them the Lycee of Bourg, the Ecole des Beaux Arts of Lyons and the Ecole des Beaux of Paris. He won the Paris prize in 1896, the Rougevin prize in 1901, the grand medal of the Ecole des Beaux Arts of Paris in 1901, the gold medal of the Salon des Champs Elysees, 1903; the medal of honor of the Architects’ League of New York in 1931, the Bok Prize in 1931 and the dis- tinguished award of the Washington Society of Archiecture. He was a member of the Architectural Com- mission for the Chicago Century of Progress Exhibition in 1933. Mr. Cret came to the United States | in 1903 as professor of design at the G. J. Womack has been named | University of Pennsylvania, a post which he held until 1937, when he | became professor emeritus and a ‘trustee. He became consulting | architect for the American Battle wMonumems Commission after the | World War and has served in a similar capacity for Brown Univer- {'sity and the Universities of Texas, | Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. ‘When the World War broke out, Mr. Cret. returned to France for war | service. When the United States | entered the war, he applied for transfer to the United States Army and served in the 1st Division, | American Expeditionary Force. He was made an officer of the Legion of Honor and received the Croix de Guerre. Mr. Cret is an associate of the | National Academy of Design, a fellow | of the American Institute of Archi- tects and a member of the American Philosophical Society of New York, the Institute of Arts and Letters, the Societe Architectes Diplomes of Demands Suffrage For District Probe of F. B. |. Asked; Poll Tax and Dies Inquiry Assailed Full national and local suffrage| for the District was urged last night in a resolution adopted at a town hall meeting closing the two-day Conference on Civil Rights at the Washington Hotel. Earlier, delegates passed a dozen resolutions, chief among which were those asking the Attorney General to investigate the Federal Bureau of Investigation, condemning the poll tax as “undemocratic and dic- tatorial,” demanding that the Pres- ident and the Department of Jus- tice cease using the Anti-Trust Acts “to prasecute trade unions,” oppos- ing all amendments to the Wagner the Epiphany. The club members! ACt and asking the House of Repre- sentatives to dissolve the Dies Com- mittee. Convention to Be Sought. Howard Ennes, chairman of the Washington Youth Council, who spoke at the town hall meeting, said his group planned to seek legisla- tion providing for a constitutional convention for the District. Such & convention might result in the District securing the franchise by February of 1941, he asserted. Charges that the real estate inter- ests in the District kept appropria- tions down to such an extent that an insufficient number of building inspectors were provided were made by Sidney R. Katz, secretary-treas- urer of the Washinglon Industrial Union Council. White Court Case Cited. He referred to building laws viola- tions in the White Court Apartment, which was destroyed by fire three ‘weeks ago, and declared “real estate interests control the city.” Besides Mr. Katz and Mr. Ennes, the panel included Miss Frances Rice of the Washington League of ‘Women Shoppers, Miss Alice Bar- rows, Washington Committee for Democratic Action; Miss Susan B. Anthony, grandniece of the pioneer suffrage leader; Representative Fries, Democrat, of Illinois, and Charles 8. Duke, chairman of the Industrial Union Council Housing Committee. Mrs. M. O. Lorenz, president of the Voteless District of Columbia League of Women Voters, was moderator. Beta Theta Pi Luncheon A luncheon meeting will be held by Beta Theta Pi Alumni Associa- tion at 12:30 pm. Thursday, at the Viking room of the Earle Restaurant. E France and the Societe of Beaux | Arts Architects. Seven Bills Signed. Mr. Roosevelt also took time this | morning to affix his signature to seven pieces of legislation. Included in this grist was a meas- ure to amend the judicial code to give to citizens of the District and of Hawaii and Alaska the same rignt to bring suits in a Federal District Court of any State, on the ground of diversity of citizenship, as now obtains in the case of citizens | of the States. Approved also was a bill author- izing payment to Floyd H. Roberts of Bristol, Va., of $5,166.66 as sal- ary for his services as Federal judge of the western district of Virginia from August 1, 1938, to February 6, 1939. Judge Roberts received a recess: appointment to the post in 1938 and his nomination was sent to the Senate early in 1939. Be- cause of objections raised by Sena- tors Glass and Byrd, Democrats, of Virginia the nomination was re= jected and Judge Robert's service ended on February 6, 1939. Retirement Provisions Approved. Mr. Roosevelt also approved a measure designed to “correct cer- tain deficiencies” in the Retirement Act for foreign service officers. Credit for fractional years of serv- ice and several retirement options are provided in the bill, enactment of which was requested by Secretary of State Hull. House and Senate reports stated that it wonld call for no additional Federal appropria- tions. Another bill approved today would authorize appropriations for death expenditures in cases of Navy and marine personnel, making such au- thorization uniform with that now extended for Army personnel. . With the weather turning clear and warmer here the President yes- terday went for a long afternoon ride with Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Roosevelt and some other friends. Aides reported that a flood of congratulatory telegrams and let- ters has poured in since his Satur- day night speech attacking the Re- publican party’s past and present tactics and calling for a pair of liberal nominees and a liberal plat- form for the Democrats. Picking Cherry Blossoms Costs Two Visitors $10 Two gentlemen from out of town picked flowers yesterday and paid $10 for their bouquets. Benton Bradford, sr, 42, of Camden, N. J, posted $5 at the third precinct station for picking John D’Avola, 27, of New York City, posted $5 at the same station for violating the cherry blossom regulations. Both men elected to forfeit. n