Evening Star Newspaper, January 12, 1942, Page 19

Washi ngton News he Fn WASHINGTON, WITR SUNDAY ‘MO&NING EDITION D. C, MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 1942, RN B-1 Funds for D. C. Homes for War Workers Sought Palmer Hopes to Get Lanham Act Money For Projects Declaring that the housing situa- tion in and near the District is “very serious,” Federal Housing Co- ordinator C. F. Palmer today ap- pealed to Chairman Randolph of the House District Committee to aid him in having the Lanham Defense Housing Act amended so some of the $300,000,000 appropriation it author- izes can be used to build homes for Government war workers. Mr. Palmer pointed out that fam- fly housing accommodations are virtually negligible, and that even with the help of the private build- ing industry, it will not be possible to meet the housing needs of the steadily mounting increase in Gov- ernment employes. Meanwhile, citizens planning to answer the Commissioners’ appeal | to rent living quarters to war work- | ers were advised to wait until next | Monday before listing their vacant | rooms with the District Defense Housing Registry. | Lawrence E. Williams, chairman of the Housing Committee of the | District Defense Council, said the | registry expects to be established by that time in new quarters con- structed especially for it in front of the District Building at Fourteenth ;‘Lreet and Pennsylvania avenue Palmer’s Letter Quoted. In a letter to Representative Ran- dolph, Mr. Palmer said: “1. Employes now flocking into the District for essential war duties cannot be provided for under the Lanham Defense Housing Act. Al- though such a provision was in- cluded in the War Housing Act of 1918, the present act, as applicable to governmental employes, only covers employes of the Navy and| War Departments assigned to duty at reservations, posts or bases, such as the Navy Yard, Walter Reed | Hospital and similar stations, but| excludes the tens of thousands of workers at the War and Navy De- partments’ headquarters, as well as those in other governmental agen- cies. “The Senate version of H. R. 6128, | now pending before the Conference | Committee, seeks to include ‘all em- | ployes of the United States whose! duties are essential to the national | defense,’ as was done in the World War. I understand that some mem- | bers of the House, while recognizing the urgent need, feel disinclined to adopt this simple amendment which | would permit us to make appro- | priate plans. “2. After careful and continuous study of housing needs in and about | the District of Columbia, we have produced a report, recently ap- proved, which indicates that for the 18 months ending July, 1942, 60,000 new governmental employes will have come to Washington, which, with the expansion of non-govern- | mental employment, will mean an | influx of 75,000 workers, of whom approximately 30,000 will bring their families and the remainder will be single persons. These estimates | were based upon figures gathered prior to the existence of a state of | war and do not give effect to un- doubted further expansion of nu- merous governmental war agencies. Vacancy Ratio Under 1 Per Cent. “As against this tremendous in- creased demand, and in spite of housing construction during 1940 exceeding all previous records, rental i vacancies have declined to less than 1 per cent, with a total of only 760 family rental units available for rent. As you know, a gross vacancy ratio of under 5 per cent is generally regarded as indicating an acute housing situation. The vacancy ratio in Washington indicates that avail- able family housing accommodations are practically negligible. “Our program contemplates that, | by the utmost effort and co-opera- tion between private building in- dustry and the Government, 18,500 | units may be produced during the | 12 months starting July, 1942, which figure represents the maximum potential capacity of the private home building industry, and is ap- proximately the same figure as was | produced the previous year, which, | as stated before, far exceeded any | previous similar period. | “We further contemplate the con- | struction of 7500 family dwelling | units and 1,500 units for single per- | sons (primarily girls) by Defense | Homes Corp., a subsidiary of R. F. C. “There still remains, even after | this huge effort, a need for approx- imately 4,500 dwelling units for the rental ranges that can only be sup- plied by governmental funds. The Lanham Defense Housing Act is an existing and appropriate instrument for this purpose.” 3 Rent Regisiry Busy. Anticipating a greatly-increased rolume of business to result from the OCommissioners’ special appeal, the fHousing Committee is doubling the present telephone facilities for the new registry office so that listings ma~ be handled efficiently. he registry has an ample supply of vacant room listings to take care of requests received this week, but is not in a rosition to handle a heavy rush of new listings at its present quarters ot 45 avenue N.W., Mr. Wiliizia; explained in requesting home o to post- pone calling until next Monday. Coincident with the opening of the new headquarters, the Housing Committee plans to inaugurate an intensize campaign in co-operation with the Office for Emergency Man- agement and the defense housing co-ordinator’s office to add to its vacant room listings. 7,000 to 10,000 Goal. From the more than 250,000 hous- ing units—apartments and homes— in the District, the registry hopes to get a minimum of 7,000 to 10,000 additional rooms to rent to defense workers expected to be added to the Government force during the next eeveral months, Mr. Williams said. Officials also are looking to the 8,000~ odd single-family units under con- :;rucunn to help the housing situs- on. L) BAD WEATHER FOR DUCKS—The poor duicks are having trou- ble finding places to get their feet wet. Frczen water is no good for them. Dozens of the fowl huddle together in a hole in the ice at the bird sanctuary near Gravelly Point, while others hover 7 Board Receives 38 Petitions fo Adjust Rents All But One Seek Permission to Charge Higher Rates Although the first batch of com- plaint forms were mailed out only Saturday, 38 formal petitions for adjustments under the District rent- control law were awaiting Rent Ad- ministrator Robert F. Cogswell when he arrived at his office today. All except one of the petitions came from landlords seeking per- mission to charge rents higher than the maximum fixed by the order freezing rentals at the January 1, 1941, level. The other complaint was filed by a tenant. The landlords' pleas for adjust- ments were based on a variety of reasons—increased services, repairs about waiting their turn—or perhaps getting their bearings for a quick trip south. —Star Staff Photo. Civil Defense Chiefs Emphasize Need for More Volunteers ‘Brass Tack’ Meetings -Jo Speed Proteetive Program Get Under Way Civilian defense officials were try- ing today to straighten out snarls in the protective program described last night at the first of a series of “brass tack” meeting, held in the board room of the District Building. At the meeting, called by Commis- sioner Young as defense co-ordina- tor and attended by chairmen of defense committees, it was brought out that more volunteers and greater speed in organization were needed in certain sectors. Dr. John A. Reed, chief of the medical service, said he needed more stretcher bearers to aid medical field units already fully organized. Each of the 65 zones will be asked to furnish 12 stretcher bearers. Dr. Reed said 21 District hospitals had been equipped as emergency base hospitals. A few areas have failed to organ- ize emergency feeding squads. Miss Mary Mason, chief of that service, said, and she urged chairmen of these zones to get them under way at once. Housing Setup Half Complete. Randolph Bishop, chief of Emer- gency housing, said the personnel of this branch was only 50 per cent complete. The service should be fully organized at the end of the month, he said, so that every area will have a file of temporary hous- ing available for citizens who might be bombed out of their homes. Householders are being asked how many persons they could care for in an emergency. Mrs. Dorothy Bourne, executive secretary of the Civilian Volunteer Office at 501 Pennsylvania avenue N.W. asked community chairmen to send to her office names and qualifications of all volunteers en- rolled in the neighborhoods, so that the central bureau would have a complete file. Col. Lemuel Bolles, director of civilian defense for the metropolitan area, advised volunteers to “tighten their belts and prepare for a long, hard, heartbreaking pull.” Col. Bolles stressed the responsi- bility of each community for its defense organization, pointing out that the local Office of Civilian De- fense intended only to exercise gen- eral supervision and it was up to each zone to plan effectively for the protection of its homes. Distribution of Work Urged. Most of the lagging results when “one poor, overworked individual has been assigned too many tasks,” he added, urging that the work be distributed, fairly. Col. Bolles said Fire Chief Stephen T. Porter still was in urgent need of additional volunteers for the auxiliary fire fighting service. Per- haps, Col. Bolles suggested, some were deterred by the 50 hours of training required for this branch, but none the less volunteers could perform a vital duty here. The series of meetings, of which this was the first, he added, will be just the opposite of a mutual £d- miration society. Criticism end suggestions will be welcome, he as- sured the defense leaders. Conrad Van Hyning, chief of vol- participation work, explained thdt his organization planned to handle diverse activities affecting morale and welfare. The effects of tire rationing, adequate recreation facilities for soldiers on leave and additional hospital and school facil- ities will be among the matters teken up, he indicated. The other meetings will be held from time to time for specialized groups of defense workers. 4 Mile o’ Dimes Drive To Be Gpened Today By Mrs. Roosevelt Infantite Paralysis Fund Canvpaign-Will Featur: Broadcasts ‘With Mr:. Roosevelt scheduled to |be the honyr guest at the opening ceremonies. Washington's fourth annual Mile o’ Dimes campaign was to get unde; way this afternoon. The President’s wife was to_lay the first dime on tre track at the stand at Fourteentt. street and New York avenue, where funds are gathered yearly to ad the battle against in- fantile par;lysis. She also will take | part in a 15-minute broadcast over Station WAL at 4:45 p.m. Commissoners Young, Mason and | Kutz will j»in Mrs. Roosevelt in the | broadcast ‘rom the Mile o' Dimes | stand, whizn will be open in front | of. the Trass-Lux Building 24 hours |a day untl the end of the cam- | paign. Canpaign Inclusive. The Mile o’ Dimes campaign has | all Washington newspapers and ra- dio station: at the request of Com- | missioner Young, chairman of the local compnittee for the celebra- tion of the President’s birthday. The three prevous annual drives have | been sponsyred by The Star and the ‘!Natlonal Eroadcasting Co. Tomorrox, entertainers from stage show: at the Capitol and Earle Theaters will appear at the stand | to enterta’n at the 12:15 and 4:45 “ p.m. broad:ast periods. | On subseguent days between now | and the Fresident’s birthday anni- | versary January 30, when the Mile 1 o' Dimes dnve ends, leading Govern- ment offirials, entertainers from | stage and radio shows and movie | stars who :ome here for the Birth- day Balls yill appear at the various | broadcasts | Radio Programs Daily. There will be at least three or four, radio programs daily fram the Mile o’ Dmes stand over Stations WMAL ard WRC. The tentative schedule icludes broadcasts from 9:55 to 1¢ a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday over WRC; 12:15 to 1230 p.m. Monday through | Friday on WMAL; 4:45 to 5 pm. Monday trrough Friday on WMAL, !and 9:15 t» 9:30 am. and 1 to 1:15 | pm. on Sa‘urdays over WRC. Eve- | ning broaccasts also are’planned. | Last yesr the Mile o’ Dimes grew to more tkan three miles as contri- butions ov the track and in the bottles representing States of the Union swe ied the infantile paralysis fund to ayproximately $27,500. Star Carriers Sell Totcl of 193,000 10c ‘W ar Stamps | . Evening Star newspaper boys, who | have been serving as Defense stamp salesmen ‘or Uncle Sam since De- cember 5, s0ld 193,000 10-cent stamps. during the period ending January 9, a checkug disclosed today. Many ¢ the 1,200 carriers, cover- ing the (ty and suburban areas, earned spwcial awards in the form of bronze shilds, silver and gold bars. Bronze shields, given to those who sold at leist 187 stamps, were won by 210 bo's. Sixty-one others were awarded, in addition to bronze shields, tie silver bars given for selling at least 562 stamps. Gold ba's, which require the sale of at leas’ 750 stamps in addition to those ‘or which the bronze and silver awsrds are made, were won by 18 car-ers. At the nead of the honor roll is Billy Sutton, who earned three gold bars, as well as the bronze and silver awards, Ly selling 4,684 stamps. 4 | been exterded this year to include | The Washington Police Academ: I aimed at eos- T tted ineffisiencies in thé Metropolitan Police Department that were brought out in the Con- gressional investfgation last summer. The first day was given over largely to ceremonies inaugurating the course. Interested spectators were | Commissioner Young,. Chairman O'Mahoney of the Senate Subcom- mittee on District Appropriations; Chairman Mahon of the House Sub- committee on Appropriations, and United States Attorney Edward M. | Curran and Earl Godwin, radio commentator. Senator O'Mahoney, in a brief talk, told the policemen the ad- vanced training school “will enable you to meet the challenge of more difficult duties in the perilous davs ahead.” Pointing out that their uniform is the symbol of law and order, he said “you represent the power and dignity of the greatest government on the face of the earth.” Wants Academy to Be Model. Commissioner Young, urging that | the academy be a model for the rest of the country, told the policemen they should look on their work as a “career and not just another job. If you don't like police work, get out of it” he said. “But there are cp- portunities for advancement for men who do take an interest in their work.” Representative Mahon said the people of Washington will owe academy students a debt of gratitude for every benefit they receive in the course. Mr. Curran said he welcomed the course because it will enable his office to improve the prosecution of cases and Mr. Godwin urged that the policemen concentrate on their studies. Maj. Edward J. Kelly, super- intendent of police, presided at the brief exercises. Course Is Intensive. The school opening found 28 Washington policemen and two from nearby Maryland and Virginia ready to undertake 107 hours of instruc- tion on 85 subjects. Those taking the course will hear 65 lecturers dur- ing the intensive training. Capt. John H. Fowler, command- ing officer of the Academy, said the course should aid materially in mak- ing the Washington department “the best in the country.” All Are Veterans. The students, policemen of the rank of sergeant or higher, and pri- vates of more than six years’ ex- perience, are attending classes on the Police Department’s time. Capt. Fowler said this was in line with The school opening found 26 the idea of Maj. Kelly to make the course as “painless as possible.” Calling for criticisms and sug- gestions, Capt. Fowler said that “the majority will rule” in the class when changes in the study courses or methods are made. Lt. Willam T. Murphy of No.-#§ precinct, ranking officer in the grofip of students, was designated senior member of the class. Courses of Study. ‘The course includes study of criminal investigation, public re- lations, traffic control and court work, as well as many other sub- Jects related to police work. Classes will meet in the morning and early afternoon six days a week. Those taking the course will spend the remainder of the day with various squads of the detective bureau. Members of the class will take ex- aminations at the end of each week and at the termination of the course, but Capt. Fowler told the students “not to get frightened—the exams will not be too hard.” Al & Police Academy Opens Course | Aimed at Ending ‘Inefficiencies’ 28 Veterans Will Take 107 Hours of Study On 85 Subjects, Hear 65 Lectures | Mayo, will be graduated regardless of their sxaminatiorngrades,-he said. Those Enrolled. . Besides Lt. Murnhy, those taking the course include Lt. Mary C. Gainey of the Woman's Burea Sergts. Richard F. McCarty, Ha old E. Moore, Thomas ‘Rasmussen, | Thomas C. Kuleher, Charles J. Sul- livan, Walter Vogelsang and Jere- | miah Flaherty; Precinct Detective | Daniel J. Slattery, Pvts. Bertis A.| Lemon, John B. Monroe, Harold C. Huffman, Samuel Creech, Dewey H. | Bedford Spittle, Theodore Richardson, Park H. Sams, Albert B. Nicholson, Leonard M. Johnson, | Francis G. Pilkerton, Fred D. Hil- liard, Howard F. Smith, Arthur T.| Davis and Francis Morple, Sergt. | Henry T. Magarity of the Fairfax | County Police and Corpl. John F.} Dent of the Prince Georges County | Police. Lectures begin tomorrow. Speak- ers will be Inspector Richard H. Mansfield, assistant police superin- tendent commanding the Detective Bureau; Mr. Curran, Inspector Leo A. DeWaard of the postal inspection service, Coroner A. Magruder and Robert Duncan of the American Red Cross. Meanwhile, the Civil Service Com- mission today announced the exam- ination for the $3,600-a-year “super- detective” to be added to the police force. Applications will be received until February 24, and a requirement is experience as an investigator in a Government or criminal investiga- tive agency, or for a railroad or other large industrial or commercial corporation. | The pay_for this position is equal | to that of a captain and $600 more than that of a detective sergeant. Halifax Recovering i Viscount Halifax, the British Am- bassador, is on the road to recovery from an attack of influenza, Brit- ish Embassy officials reported today. However, he will have to remain in Fenfon Fad;Iey, Hurt In Fall From Horse, Remains in Coma Concussion and Internal * “Injuries Suffered by “Star Equesttiun Fenton M. Fadeley, jr., prominent horseman who was injured serious- | today they have denied the appeal | !!Geographic Sbciety Tax Appeal Denied By Commissioners District Heads Hold . Tp Degision Only Library Is Exempt ‘The Commissioners announced and remodeling, increased taxes and | increased operating costs. | First complaint opened by the commission was one from Robert E. Lynch, a former assistant corpora- tion counsel, who sought authority | to charge higher rents to 13 tenants. | The residences involved are in the Turin Apartments, 1924 Seventeenth | street N.W., and an apartment house at 1618 Twenty-first street N.W. Refusal to Supply Heat Charged. Meanwhile, Ernest F. Henry, gene eral counsel of the Rent Commis- sion, received the first complaint which may result in Police Court action against a landlord. The com- plainant in this instance contended that her landlord has refused to supply heat for her room this winter, thus decreasing the services which | the tenant had been receiving on | January 1, 1941 | __The tenant was referred to Milton | Korman, assistant corporation coun= sel at Police Court, to determine whether the landlord in question can be prosecuted for violation of the Rent Control Act. The act states that if a person willfully violates | the act, he shall be prosecuted by | the corporation counsel's office on | information filed in Police Court. Conviction in such violations car- ries maximum penalty of $1,000 fine or one year in jail, or both. Will Go to Examiners. Mr. Cogswell said the respondents named in the petitions filed today will be given duplicate copies of the | complants and allowed time to file answers. Each case will be assigned |to one of the three examiners to be named sometime this week. | The rent administrator said he | was gratified by the way in which ! the complaint forms had been filled ‘out. He said those who have filed | applications so far appeared to have | included all pertinent information | needed to decide their cases. ‘While the complaint forms are 1y in a fall from his 3-year-old colt | of the National Geographic Society | not required by law, their use will yesterday while riding in North Chevy Chase, Md., still was in a coma at Georgetown University Hospital early today, but is expect- ed to recover. Fadeley was found to be suffering from concussion and several inter- nal injuries, the extent of which have not been revealed fully. But acquaintances of the 44-year-old coal merchant looked for the husky, healthy rider to pull through. It was on the estate of Dr. F. Larmour Oyster, 116 Inverness drive, over which Fadeley was training his mount that the accident oc- cured. A moment before the ani- mal bolted, throwing him to the ground, Fadeley had shouted to Dr. Oyster: “Look how quiet she is.” The horseman was removed to Georgetown Hospital by the Bethes- day Rescue Squad after first aid had been given by the Chevy Chase Fire Department. Fadeiey has been a keen horse- man since the early '30s. Probably his best-known horse is Lacquer Lady, which has won blue ribbons in countless shows and captured the Jjumper championship in the Inter- American Show in 1936. Fadeley’s son, Merceér, is one of the better young riders in this vicinity. Wesleyan Guild to Meet The Wesleyan Service Guild of the Memorial Methodist Church of Hyattsville will meet at 8 o'clock tonight in the home of Mrs. Arthur H. Curtis, 6909 Oakridge road, Hyattsville, to hear Mrs. Joy Elmer Morgan, president of the Baltimore Conference Women's Society of Christian Service. Mrs. Kenneth Fessenden will preside, the pastor, bed for several days more. the Rev. W. Clark Main, announced. | for complete exemption from the District real estate tax as an educa- | tional institution. The protest by the society was | against earlier action of the city heads in placing all of the society’s | local properties with exception of the library on the tax rolls. This was done on recommendation of a special committee, headed by Dis- | trict Budget Officer Walter L. Fowler, which has been investigating all tax-exempt property to determine | if it is properly exempt. | Acting on an opinion by Corpora- tion Counsel Richmond B. Keech, the Commissioners reiterated their denial that the society uses its properties, except the library, for educational purposes within the meaning of the law. The society was incoporated in 1888 for 100 years and then re- incorporated in 1920 to give it per- petual existence. It is located in the 1100 block of Sixteenth street. ‘The language on which the society relied in its protest was the section of the District Code which provides, in part, that “property used for educational purposes that is not used for private gain shall be exempt from taxation.” The society has no capital stock structure, and no div- idends have been or can be paid. It also had a net operating deficit for the calendar year of 1940. Mr. Keech's opinion, after finding the property is not used “for educa- tional purposes” within the meaning of the code, declared: “On that ground alone we con- clude that the property is not entitled to exemption from taxa- tion. Accordingly, it becomes un- necessary to examine the question as to whether or not the property is conducted for private gain.” TOWARD A BETTER POLICE FORCE—Shown looking over notes taken by two police officers at the opening of the Washington Police Academy at police headquarters today are (left to right) Police Chief Edward J. Kelly, Senator O'Mahoney of Wyoming, chairman of the Senate District Subcommittee on Appropriations; Commissioner Young, Representative Mahon of Texas, chair- man of the House District Subcommittee on Ap propriations; United States Attorney Edward M. Curran and Earl Godwin, radio commentator. The two seated cfficers are Sergt. Howard V. Covell (left) and Lt. William T. Murphy. A —Star Staff Photo. |lead to uniformity in hearings, Mr., | Cogswell emphasized. | {Mink Coat and—JeTeIry 'Sunday Thieves Loot A mink coat valued at $1.200 and $200 worth of rings and watches were among the thefts reported to police yesterday. Mr. and Mrs. Carlton Koepke of | Ohio said the mink coat and other garments were removed from their | car parked near Sixteenth and M | streets N.W. while they were visiting friends. The thieves apparently | pried open the ventilation window | to force the front door of the locked | car. | ._The window of a jewelry store at 1220 Wisconsin avenue N.W., was | smashed and $200 worth of rings and | watches stolen, William Miller, pro- prietor, reported to police. John I. Stovant, 2540 Fourteenth street N.W., told police he was set upon by three colored men who robbed him of his billfold containing $7 and personal papers as he was en- tering his home late Saturday night, Mrs. Florence M. Carter, 227 Up- shur street N.W., reported she was waiting for a streetcar at the cor- ner of Emerson and Fourteenth streets N.W. late Saturday night when a youth grabbed her purse and ran. She said the purse contained $4 in cash and her wedding ring. Death Toll in D. C. Fire Increased to Six The death toll of the fire at 607 Tenth street N.E. Thursday was raised to six yesterday when Mrs. Geneva Bunch, colored, 38, died at Casualty Hospital. She had suffered a broken arm and injuries to her hip, back and leg when she leaped from a second-story window to es- cape the flaming interior of the dwelling. In addition to the six deaths, five other persons, including a fireman and a policeman, were injured in the fire, which was thought to have started from an overheated kerosene stove. Roosevelt, Jr., Gives His Shirt To Hotel Man By the Associated Press. NORFOLK, Va., Jan. 12—He took off his shirt and gave it to a friend because he liked him. ‘That was the act of Lt. Franklin D. Roosevelt, jr., Naval Reserve, last week when he was stopping at a local hotel. Lt. Roosevelt was ready to retire and A. J. Colb, assistant manager of the hotel, was saying good night to the son of the President at his room. “I'll give you anything you want,” Mr. Colb quoted Lt. Roosevelt as saying when he related the story today. “All right,” Mr. Colb replied, “give me your shirt.” Yesterday, Mr. Colb pushed up his coat sleeve to display the gold mono- gram “F. D. R, jr.” on the sleeve of s white shirt. “He’s a swell chap,” Mr. Colb ex- plained.