Evening Star Newspaper, May 27, 1940, Page 23

Washi Experts Unable To Agree on a D. C. Tax Plan But Forum Is in Accord on Need for More Federal Help A group of tax experts, participat- ing in a forum on District revenue problems broadcast, from the Dis- trict Building yesterday afternoon, couldn't agree on a new plan to se- cure additional revenue, but on two points they were in full accord. ‘They agreed that a greater share of the cost of the municipal gqvern- ment should be borne by the Fed- eral Government and that real es- tate and personal property are now heing taxed sufficiently. Three methods by which the Dis- trict might raise the additional rev- enue needed during the next fiscal year were suggested by members of the panel composed of William E. Hayes, chairman of the Tax Com- mittee of the District Bar Associa- tion; Sefton Darr, former president of the Bar Association; Herbert S. Wood, senior technical adviser to the Commissioner of Internal Rev- enue; John E. McClure, prominent tax practitioner, and E. Barrett Prettyman, former corporation counsel of the District and one-time general counsel of the Internal Rev- enue Bureau. Mr. Darr and Mr. Wood, the only ones to agree on a new tax plan, suggested retention of the present personal and corporate net income levy, and vigorously opposed a sales tax. Other Tax Plans. Mr. McClure recommended a plan embodying a general 2 per cent sales tax, restoration of the tax on in- tangibles and a two-cent increase in the gasoline tax, while Mr. Pret- tyman advocated the Pond plan, which calls for a combination sales- income levy. Declaring he believed an income tax is the “fairest and most eg- uitable means” of raising additional revenue for the District, Mr. Darr said he favored that and opposed a sales tax because the levy on in- comes is based on ability to pay, while the sales tax “ignores the tax- payer’s financial ability and requires payment by the poor in equal pro- portion to the rich.” He contended, further, that the income tax is eas- ier to collect and is so elastic that it can be made to raise as much or as little as is needed from time to time. “If additional tax burdens are necessary,” he said, “it is far better that in a democracy the burden shall be shouldered by those best able to bear it. I'm unalterably op- posed to a sales tax because experi- ence has demonstrated that it will impose a heavier burden on those least able to pay it.” Mr. Wood said the income tax should be amended to apply to every one who actually lives in the District, except elective officers who are required by law to maintain their homes elsewhere. In opposing | a sales tax, he said: “It seems in- credible that legislators should be 80 perverse as to turn to a plan for raising revenue that swells idle in- vestment funds by exemption from taxation and cuts down markets by taxing expenditures for tangible goods. I submit this is worse than economic folly. It is attempted na- tional economic suicide. Let us| have none of it in the District.” Tax Non-Residents and Tourists. Mr. Prettyman explained that, generally, he was an advocate of an income tax, but that because of the District's peculiar situation, he favors a tax program that would hit every one—residents, non-resi- dents and tourists. He suggested an income tax on the higher brack- ets (incomes above $10,000), a 5 per cent tax on corporate net in- comes and & 2 per cent sales tax. He declared that when an attempt is made by the District to raise money by the income tax method, many difficulties are encountered. Persons domiciled elsewhere pay their tax in their home towns and take credits against the District tax, and the District gets nothing from them. In addition, the District either must have an enormous force to collect the tax or simply let those who want to pay it, “and that is bad government anywhere,” he said. Contending that an income tax invites all sorts of ways to delay collection, Mr. McClure proposed a sales tax, reimposition of the in- tangible property tax and a 2-cent increase in the gasoline tax as a program “so simple to administer as to prevent tax dodging.” In the discussion that followed presentation of the formal address, Mr. Wood declared he could see no reason why a person who lives and makes his livelihood in the District should be exempt from taxes based on “domicile” simply because he maintains a “voting residence” in his home State. The panel discussion was the first of a series of four arranged by the Public Relations Committee of the bar association. It was broadcast by Station WJSV. Mother-Daughter Banquet A mother-daughter banquet will be held by the Sadie Bowen Phila- thea Bible Class of the Clarendon Baptist Church, Arlington, Va., to- night. Incorporated Town Now Has Population Of Half Dozen By the Associated Press. ARUNDEL - ON -THE - BAY, Md,, May 27.—Elizah Wells no longer can claim he is the only year-round resident of Arundel- on-the-Bay, Maryland’s small- est incorporated town. Mrs. Doris Stallings, Gov- ernment census enumerator, counted noses recently. In ad- dition to Mr. Wells, who has lived here many years, she re- ported as year-round residents Walter Tyler, Mr. and Mrs. Wil- liam Sevier and their two chil- dren. Officially, the town’s popula- ngton News ! WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION bening Star WASHINGTON, D. C, MONDAY, MAY 27, 1940.° AS AMERICA LOOKS SKYWARD—Navy officials and manufacturers’ representatives look on at a preview of a new type of radio-controlled night landing lights at the Naval Air Station as the National Aviation Forum claims attention throughout the country. Elderly Couple Found 1 Dead in Gas-Filled Aparimenf . Bodies Discovered After Members of Family Become Alarmed An elderly married couple was found dead here today, victims of gas that had filled their home after a flame on their kitchen range had gone out. The bodies of the victims, Paul Laiefsky and his wife, Ida, both 72 years old, were discovered about 9:30 o'clock after members of their family began to worry because they had not heard from them. They lived at 4522 Seventh street N.W. Coroner A. Magruder MacDonald said they had probably “died a very, very slow death.” Mr. and Mrs. Laiefsky were last heard from Friday, when they talked to neighbors. They apparently pre- pared for bed late that night, but before retiring had started to pre- pare some coffee. Two Burners Turned Low. Mrs. Laiefsky went to bed, while her husband put on his pajamas, went into the front room and sgt in an easy chair. Members of the family said Mr. and Mrs. Laiefsky, who were Orthodox Jews, were pre- paring their food for Saturday, their Sabbath. Two burners on the stove were lighted and turned down low. One went out and gas began to seep through the apartment slowly. Mr. and Mrs. Laifsla did not go to the synagogue on Saturday as was their custom and members of their family could get no answer to the tele- phone calls to the home. Coroner MacDonald said they were probably unconscious—but not dead—on Saturday, as the gas slow- ly supplanted oxygen in the apart- ment. The gas was escaping so slowly that the family which occu- pies the second floor of the house did not detect the odor. Nothing was heard from them yesterday and this morning Irwin Kaplan of 6 Noyes drive, Silver Spring, Md. a son-in-law, tele- phoned the family which occupied the apartment on the second floor and asked them to look in on the Lafefskys. Mrs. Rose Rabinowitz entered the apartment, found the bodies and summoned Mr. Kaplan. Police Are Called. When police arrived, they found Mrs. Laiefsky's body in bed and Mr. Laiefsky’s body in the chair in the front room. The gas was still coming from the stove, while an- other burner was lighted. A kettle of water on that burner was still warm. Police said that if the concentration of gas in the house had been higher the lighted burner probably would have caused an explosion. Mr. Laiefsky was a retired mer- chant, members of his family said. The couple had been married for about 50 years and had six children. Coroner MacDonald said he would issue certificates of accidential death. Concrete to Ce Poured At Airport Tomorrow The first pouring of concrete in the runway system at Washington National Airport, Gravelly Point, will be made at 10 a.m. tomorrow at & ceremony to be attended by mem- bers of the Aviation Writers’ Asso- ciation in connection with the Na- tional Aviation Forum. Members of the association will leave their headquarters in the Raleigh Hotel at 9:40 am. in cars provided by the Civil Aeronautics Authority. Following the inaugura- tion of runway construction, mem- bers of the association will inspect details of the new airport under the leadership of C. A. A. officials. The runway construction contract is the largest single paving contract ever awarded in this country. It is to be completed by July 4. Hotel Greeters to Take Potomac Cruise Tonight ‘The Washington Charter of Hotel Greeters of America will sponsor a “show boat cruise” on the Potomac, leaving the Seventh Street Whart at 8:30 o'clock tonight aboard the S. Mount Vernon. Among those invited are District Commissioners Melvin Hazen and John Russell Young, former District Commissioner George E. Allen and Police Court Judge Hobart Newman, tion“is.now six. Lewis G. Jackson is general chair- man of arrangements, 2 5 The new Transcontinental and Western Air Stratoliner, largest transport plane in the world, was an object of interest at Bolling Field yesterday, This huge ship, to be placed on the transcontinental run between New York and Los Society and General ‘This crowd is watching the District National Guard’s Coast Artillery unit operate an anti- aircraft gun at Bolling Field. This is one of the aviation forum exhibits which was open to the public. Tribute fo War Dead |Nudists Seem to Have Haven In Fairfax for 2 Years at Least No Law Bars Their Camps, and No Attempt At Legislation Is Indicated Before 1942 Paid by Thousands At Services Here Bishop O'Hara Warns of Menace of Nationalism, In Arlington Address Tribute to the war dead of the United States brought thousands of Washingtonians to Arlington Na- tional Cemetery and other scenes of memorial services yesterday. At Arlington, the Knights of Co- lumbus, with 55 other Catholic or- ganizations co-operating, sponsored the second annual solemn memorial military field mass with the Right Rev. John F. O'Hara, Auxiliary Bishop of the Army and Navy Diocese and former ,president of Notre Dame University, as principal speaker. Bishop O'Hara warned that ma- terialism “has thrown Europe into chaos” and added that the present menace of materialism has affected American life “to a dangerous ex- tent.” Speaking of the war, he said that “nation after nation after a con- quest of its enemy, falls victim to the new vices it learns from the vanquished foe.” > o “We must leave to God,” he as- serted, “the judgment of those who provoke an unjust war.” Wreaths Placed at Tomb. After the mass, which was cele- |- brated by the Rev. Patrick N. Mc- Dermott, national chaplain of .-the American Legion, representatives: of- the Catholic organizations -gathered at the Tomb of the Unknown Sol- dier to lay wreaths at its .base. Members of the Fourth. Degree Knights of Columbus stood at at- tention with sabers glistening while “taps” was sounded by an Army bugler and the green-coated Knights of Columbus Band played the na- tional anthem. Meanwhile, at the memorial serv- ice sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars at Cedar Hill Ceme- tery, Representative Sasscer of Maryland asserted that America’s soldiers did not die in vain in the last war, because the Nation learned the lesson that “as far as Europe is concerned, we cannot keep the world safe for democracy.” “We cannot control the greed and seifishness of forejgn nations,” he asserted, “but we can and must control and safeguard our own re- sources and defenses, Every ele- m of our economic and social ic must speedily co-operate toward building our defenses so strong that no nation -would look with con eyes toward our shores as a possible conquest.” Gearhart Speaks. The present conflict was also the theme of Representative Gearhart of California, speaking at memorial services for the war dead in Jewish cemeteries sponsored by the Jewish War Veterans of the United States, Washington Post, No. 58, and Ladies Congrega- 8.| Auxiliary, in Adas Israel tion Cemetery. “ Nudist camps which have sprung up in Fairfax County, Va. ap- peared today to have found a haven where they may operate in safety— for two years, at least. County officials said this morning that Fairfax has no law relating specifically to such cults, which in recent years have tried vainly to gain a foothold in other communi- ties bordering the Nation's Capital. However, Delegate Francis Pick- ens Miller declared he will sponsor a law of that nature if he is still & member of the Virginia General Assembly when it convenes again in 1942. His term expires in 1941, Police admitted that two nudist camps have located in the county, one near Floris and other other near Navy. Both are attended by a number of Washingtonians, they stated. Sheriff Eppa P. Kirby said, though, that they are situated on private property and so long as the mem- bers remain on private grounds there is no statute under which he could take action against them. ““We have no law specifically relat- ing to nudist camps” Common- wealth's Attorney Paul E. Brown asserted. “Unless they create s nuisance by congregating where the public can see them we can do nothing about the nudists.” . Mr. Brown added that he has re- ceived no complaints and said, “While I have not seen them I understand they don’t go in for com- plete nudism; that they do wear some clothing.” Police said that mercharits whose stores. are located near the camps attest to the good reputation of the campers, explaining that “they al- ways are dressed” whenever they go to the stores to purchase, supplies. “They always behave themselves so far as we can ledarn,” officials stated. “Nobody has ever seen them except when they were dressed.” The statement that' Washing- tonians attend the camp was based on the fact that automobiles bearing District license plates have been seen entering the grounds, they de- clared. will continue as the home of democ- racy, and I feel certain the world will be made a safer and better place for democratic nations to live and flourish after this terrible situation is over.” Mrs. Ann T. Cherkassky, accom- | panied by the Navy School of Music Band, sang “There Is No Death.” Rabbis from four congregations par- ticipated in the service. Illinoisans Conduct Service. Tllinoisans conducted a memorial service for their late Senator, James Hamilton Lewis, and placed upon his grave a wreath from the Vet- erans of Foreign Wars post in Chicago named for him. Senator Lewis died April 9, 1939. A delegation from the District of Columbia Police and Firemen's V. F. W. post assisted. Senator Slat- tery, Democrat, of Illinois, eulogized the late Senator. An Illinois State Society delegation, led by Repre- sentative Arnold, the president, at- d tended., Senator Lewis had served in both the Spanish-American and World Wars during his colorful lifetime. He was & staff officer in Cuba and Puerto Rico in the former. In the first World War he did reporting service in France for President Wil- son and Gen. Pershing. He was & member of the Military Order of the World War. Among the many other memorial services yesterday was one sponsored by the World War Veterans of the United States Merchant Marine. The organization placed & wreath on the Navy-Marine Memorial on Columbia Island. Admitted to Maryland Bar Wwilliam F. McKenna, attorney in the Reconstruction Finance Corp., has been admitted to the Maryland bar by the Oourt of Appeals at An- napolis, it was announced today. A ‘Yale ‘graduate, Mr. McKenna for- East Pofomac Park Pool Will Open Thursday The East Potomac Park swimming pool will open at 9 am. Thursday, it was announced today by R.’ J. McCarthy, director of pools for the Welfare and Recreational Asso- ciation of Public Buildings and Grounds. New equipment this season will enable visitors to play shuffle- board, deck checkers, bourice ball, paddle tennis and medicine ball With a water plant adequate for 2 | city of 15,000 to 20,000 population, the pool should have one of the best sanitation ratings in the coun- try, Mr. McCarthy said. The water supply, taken from the city’s mains, is further filtered before being turned into the tank. Facilities will supply fresh water three times a ay. ‘The staff of life guards was trained by Robert H. Duncan of the Red Cross, assisted by W. C. Nealey and Elmer Hipsley. Bill Reinhart, foot- ball coach at George Washington University, will be pool manager. The pool will be open from 9 am. until 11 pm. throughout the sum- mer, weather permitting. Motor boat ferry service from the Harbor Precinct Wharf across Washington Channel to a point near the pool will be resumed when schools close. This service will be free to children and adults will be charged 5 cents. Diplomat’s Auto Is Stolen and Smashed The smashed remains of a car be- longing to Baron James Baeyens, second secretary of the French Em- bassy, were returned to the diplo- mat today. The automobile was stolen yester- day from in front of 84 Kalorama Circle NW. and was found later near Oxon Hill, Md. The thief had abandpned the car after running into & tree. ) i Baltimore Man Slain Seeking fo Profect Girl From Attack Escort Bursts Bonds Only to Fall From Bullet in Heart By the Associated Press. BALTIMORE, May 27.— Police sought today an assailant who, Miss Anna Petersen reported, shot and killed Frank A: Scheihing, her 25- year-old escort, last night when Mr. Scheihing fought to protect her from an attempted assault. Mr. Scheihing was shot in the heart. g Miss Petersen, 24, told Lt. Henry J. Kriss that the man fired several times when Mr, Scheihing, who had broken loose from wire bonds, fought with him. She said the man accosted them as they were walking to her home, forced them down an embankment, and bound them. The man fled when Mr. Scheihing fell, she said. Miss Petersen was treated at a hos- pital for lacerations of the face. Circumstances of the case were similar to the unsolved slaying of John K. Waterbury, 25, by a trio of bandits in a “lover’s lane” holdup last March 13. Mrs. Rose Whyte Dies; Was Acfive in D. A. R. Mrs. Rose Isabelle Riddle Whyte, widow of Thomas D. Whyte and an active member of the D. A. R., died today in George Washington Uni- versity Hospital after an illness of three weeks. Mrs. Whyte, a native of Howell, Mich,, had lived here for more than 50 years. She had her home at 1649 Hobart street N.W. Mrs. Whyte was a member and former regent of Continental Chap- ter of the D. A. R. and served on various State committees. She was & member of the State Officers’ Club. She also was an honorary member of Troop 83, Boy Scouts of America. She attended Gunton ‘Temple Presbyterian Church. Surviving are two sons, Clifford R. and Russell I. Whyte, both of ‘Washington. . Funeral services ‘will be held at 1:30 pm. tomorrow at the home. Burial will be in Howell. Miss M. Brooke Bright Funeral Set Today Miss M. Brooke Bright, 79, daugh- ter of the late Richard J. Bright, one tilme sergeant at arms of the Senate, died Priday in a local hos- pital. A District resident since 1879, Miss Bright for many years made her home at 3735 Oliver street N.W. Funeral services and burial will be held at 3 pm. today in Rock Creek Cemetery. Miss Bright was a native of Madison, Ind, and once was & member of the Cheyy Chase Wom- en’s Club. ‘ Surviving are two brothers, Frank 8. and Richard R, Bright, both of this-city. - Angeles, will travel at 20,000 feet, with the eabin specially conditioned for the extreme height. The four-motored Stratoliner on Page A-2) 33 passengers.. (Btory ~—Star Staff Photos. Dr. Harris Addresses U. of M. Graduates On Opportunities Baccalaureate Services Start Program For June Week By the Associated Press. Dr. Frederick B. Harris of the Foundry Methodist Church advised the University of Maryland gradu- ating class at the baccalaureate serv- ice yesterday to “seek opportunities where you are, don’t waste time and effort searching all over the world for what is often right at your very doorsteps.” Speaking on “Fatal Fallacies,” the minister said the right way is the “way of Christ.” The place of the “acres of dia- monds that you seek is often not half a world away but in your own back yard,” he said. “Beware of telescopic vision and look into the splendors around you.” Dr. Harris declared the time for “heroic deeds is now, and not yes- terday or tomorrow. Opportunity is ever with us.” The services started the Jine week program for the 720 graduates of the Baltimore and College Park branches of the university. Graduates of the College: Park branch will receive approximately 500 of the degrees, and professional school graduates from Baltimore will receive 225 at the commencement exercises Saturday at 11 am. in Ritchie Coliseum, College Park. Degrees will be distributed to grad- uates of the various colleges and schools as follows: Arts and sciences, 105;. education, 95; agriculture, 60; engineering, 56; commerce, 43, and home economics, 44; graduate school, 94 (76 masters and 18 doc- tors degrees); medicine, 100; law, 50; pharmacy, 34; nursing, 30, and dentistry, 14. Prince Georges Hunts Man Who Beat Woman Police in Prince Georges County, Md., today were searching for a man who beat Mrs. Julia Patricia Gregory, 30, of the 200 block of First street S.W. and threw her from his automobile on the Marlboro pike near Meadows Saturday night. The woman, a Federal Govern- ment employe, who was found in a dazed condition by the county fire- man, was questioned by Sergt. R. Arnold Naylor at Casualty Hospital yesterday. Mrs. Gregory, who suffered in- juries of the back, right hip, face and right arm, was said by hospital attaches today to be improved. She was in a serious condition when brought to the institution. Mrs. Gregory told squad members she is -4 widow. B’nai B’rith Meeting The last meeting of the Y)le‘;h- ington Lodge of B'nai B'rith before the summer recess will be held at the Jewish Community Center at 8:30 pm. Wednesday. Henry Salus, president, promises a speaker of na- tional prominence. Reports of dele- gates to the Roanoke convention of the District Grand Lodge will be heard and plans made for the sum- mer outing. J 2D.C. Residents Die in Virginia Auto Accident Head-on Collision On Lee Highway Also Injures Three The names of two more Wash- ington residents have been added to the list of those killed in traffic accidents over the week end. Russell Campbell, colored, 1121 Sixth street SE., was killed in- stantly, and Janie Strother, colored, of 4200 Benning road NE., died in Alexandria Hospital of injuries re- ceived in a head-on collision on the Lee Highway, 2 miles east of Gainesville, Va. Three in Hospital. ‘The accident occurred early yves- terday and put three other persons in Alexandria Hospital with serious injuries. They are Annie Hagans, colored, of 1113 Fifth street N.E.; Raymond Bain and Harry Bain of Shenandoah, Va. One of the cars involved, Virginia State police said, was driven by Fred Strother, colored, of 4200 Ben- ning road N.E,, while the other car was operated by either Raymond or Harry Bain. Those killed were pas- sengers in Strothers’ car. An accident on Saturday night at Connecticut and Nebraska ave- nues raised the District’s traffic toll to 25 for the year. Vincent Bergin, 23, of 3218 Wisconsin avenue N.W., was the victim. Injured at the same time was his wife, Mrs. Kay Bergin, 21, reported in a serious conllition today in Emergency Hospital. Miss Alice Erickson, 24, of 1832 T street N.W., driver of the car which struck the couple, was held for action of the coroner. Six Hurt in Crash Today. In a crash early today, six persons were injured on Atlantic street and Valley- avenue S.E. Police say the accident occurred when the auto- mobile left the road on a curve and crashed into a tree. Silas Littles, 27, colored, of 928 F street S.W., driver of the car, was admitted to Casualty Hospital. The others hurt were dismissed after being treated. Eleanor Gantt, 25, colored, of 105 H street SE., was under treatment at Providence Hospital for injuries received when she was struck by a car yesterday while standing in a safety zone at Third street and Pennsylvania avenue N.W. Joseph Jackson, 16, colored, of 924 Third street S.W., was being treated at Casualty Hospital for in- juries received yesterday when run over in the 800 block of Fourth street S.W. At Gallinger Hospital, Julius G. Cox, 38, colored, of 2505 Sherman avenue N.W., was receiving treate ment for injuries sustained in an ;ccident near Waldorf, Md,, yester- ay. Cox Discounts Danger 0f Armory Sabofage Brig. Gen. Albert L. Cox, com- mander of the District National Guard, today asserted there is little danger of theft or sabotage of ar- mories, since virtually allsheavy arms and ammunition are guarded care- fully at Camp Simms, on the Dis- trict-Prince Georges County (Mary- land) line. Insufficient District appropriations prevent more adequate night protec- tion, Gen. Cox said. “We've asked for money in the two years I've been in charge, but we've met with prompt refusal. There's nothing to get excited about in the situation here, though. If there were any- thing to be alarmed about I would be the first to be alarmed. After all, it's my responsibility.” Gen. Cox was asked about protec- tion of the armories here after re- ports from New York indicated that the watch over National Guard .sugglies there was being strength- ened. Sibley Hospital Class Graduates Tomorrow Twelve Sibley Memorial Hospital student nurses will be graduated at ceremonies at 8 p.m. tomorrow in Metropolitan Memorial M. E. Church, Nebraska and New Mexico avenues N.W. Mrs. Frederick C. Reynolds, of Baltimore, member of the Board of Trustees of the Woman's Home Mission Society of the Methodist Church, will be chief speaker. Graduates are Esther Grace Henry, Grace K. Williams, Dorothy A. Gwynn, Virginia M. Kinsey, Coral Wirtena Fraser, Mabel Marie McKinney, Helen Rittenhouse, Eliza- beth T. Spencer, Melda Elizabeth Beitzell, Charlotte E. Jenkins, Eve- lyn W. Hutzell, and Mrs. Inella G. Buie. Dr. Horace E. Cromer, former president of the Washington Feder- ation of Churches, spoke at the baccalaureate service yesterday in Emory Methodist Church, of which he is pastor, Dr. John M. Orem, acting president of Sibley Hospital, attended. Trnffié Record The traffic record, as revealed at police headquarters for 24- hour period ending at 8 am. yesterday. Fatalities, 1, a pedestrian. Accidents, 37. Motorists injured, 6. Motorists arrested, 380. Pedestrians injured, 5. Pedestrians arrested for viola- tion of pedestrian control regu- lations, 10. The traffic record for 24-hour period ending at 8 a.m. today: Fatalities, 0. Accidents, 29, Motorists injured, 7. Motorists arrested, 151, Pedestrians injured, 0. Pedestrians arrested for viola- tion of pedestrian control regu- lations, 2.