Evening Star Newspaper, January 27, 1942, Page 17

Cayton Issues Decisionsin 11 Rent Cases Nine Won by Tenu.nts; Disputes Are First Under New Law Judge Nathan Cayton in Munici- pal Court today handed down 11 memorandum opinions in the first decisions under the District Rent Control Act, which became effective January 2. He ruled favorably for the tenant in nine cases; one was settled by consent, and one was found in favor of the landlord. In the latter case, the tenant defendant failed to ap- pear at the hearing. Administrator Robert F. Cogswell, at the rent control office, explained that all these cases originated in court and are not appeals from his decisions. They were all instituted, he said, by landlords who desired to evict tenants. Pointing out that the act does not empower him to order evictions, Mr. Cogswell said the law sets forth four ways by which a landlord may re- cover use of his property through appeal to court. They involve: (1) ‘Violation of an obligation of ten- ancy, committing a nuisance or use of property for unlawful purpose. (3) Property to be used for land- lord’s own occupancy. (3) Where the landlord wishes to sell property and the purchaser wishes it for his personal use. (4) Where the land- lord wishes to carry out substantial alteration or remodelling of the property. In the one case handled by Judge Cayton in which a landlord wished to evict a tenant because of refusal to pay a rent increase, Mr. Cogswell said the landloard should have come to his office in his appeal for more rent. The law specifically provides that no tenant may be evicted be- cause of refusal to pay an increase in rent, he pointed out. Eviction Plea Rejected. Judge Cayton aired his views on the Rent Act in his first opinion involving General Realties, Inc., plaintiff, vs. David Alper, defendant. Pointing out that one prime objec- tive of the law is to prevent chaos in the housing situation here and to safeguard tenancies of law- abiding citizens, he said: “This court certainly will not countenance an effort to twist remedial legisla- tion into a weapon of oppression.” In the case, the landlord sought to evict the tenant because his sons made noise. However, a neighber- ing tenant who had originally com- plained of the noise, admitted at the hearing that while the young sons “fight like boys will do,” there was really never any noise after bedtime. This, the judge said, is| not sufficient cause to evict. Judge Cayton commented: “I wish to make it plain that I regard this as a frivilous claim, and that it does not even come close to making out a tase of ‘committing a nuisance’ within the meaning of the Rent Act.” In the rent raising case E. M. Aiken, Inc., sought to increase the rate from $27.50 to $30.50 for the month ending January 10, and based the claim for possession of prop- erty in the 600 block of Forty-fourth street N.E., on the point that Vera B. Gant defaulted in paying the increased rate. Planned Renovations. In another case the plaintiff, | Mary C. Lindenau, is in South | America, and her property in the 1800 block of Kenyon street N.W., is under lease and used as rooming house with “the full knowledge of plaintiff’s attorney in fact,” the de- cision said. ‘The wife and brother-in-law of the plaintiff contended they wanted the house for their own personal use and planned considerable renova- tions, estimated to cost $2,500. How- ever, Judge Cayton held there was insufficient evidence to show that the landlord wanted possession of the property for immediate and per- sonal use. The judge ruled that, although a notice of eviction was served prior to the effective date of the act, the act is effective if the 30-day notice | extended past January 2. He found | for Mrs. Stanley Herb, in a case| brought by J. C. Weedon Co., Inc.| ‘The jurist declared as long as she paid rent and does not violate other provisions of the Rent Act she re- mains in possession of the property. In the lone decision favoring the landlord the court was told that two boys, sons of the defendant, broke a door lock and called him names. ‘The judge asserted “this does not constitute the committing of nui- sance or presents sufficient reason for ousting the tenant” * * * “but since the defendant did not appear I assume that she prefers to offer no defense and is not interested in asserting her rights or remaining in possession.” Non-Payment Case. The conciliation case involved | claim of non-payment of rent for December. The defendant com- plained of faulty equipment and a! general run down condition of the: place and that the owners refused to remedy them. After a lengthy hearing the court, by consent of both parties, found for possession by Robert A. Humphries, effective to the end of this month, at which time the defendant agrees to vacate the premises. ‘The Metropolitan Life Insurance, Inc, was denied power to evict a tenant from the Stoneleigh Court Apartments on the claim that the property was used “for other than living or dwelling purposes.” The occupant, Mrs. Suzanne Schmidtman, admitted she took in roomers, but claimed it was with knowledge and consent of the land- lord. She also admitted she used letter heads and business cards in her business as a modiste, but con- tended this also was known to the management. Judge Cayton ruled against Henry Merz, who wanted to recover a house property in the 1300 block of Sixteenth street N.W. on bonds. The F . WASHINGTON, GIVES TO RED CROSS—Miss Lena Layman, secretary of the Professional Group of the District War Fund, hands receipt for $100 donation to Mrs. Louise H. Schlachter, secretary of the Concordia Club. The latter organization, composed of Americans of German birth or descent, also bought three $1,000 Defense Mrs. Walter Reed (center) observes the ceremony. —S8tar Staft Photo. Shifts in Man Power ToMeet Conditions General Federation Is Warned by Shirer Not To Underestimate Axis Pointing out that the number of workers in defense industries must be doubled or tripled, Brig. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey, director of Selec- tive Service, last night said that the Nation’s man power may have to be redistributed to some extent from time to time. Gen. Hershey spoke at the closing dinner session of the annual mid- winter board meeting and National Defense Forum of the General Fed- eration of Women’s Clubs at the Mayflower Hotel. Both women and men will be called on to serve in defense indus- tries as those fit for Army duty are called, he said, adding that “bridge as usual is out of the window just like business as usual.” Shirer Warns Audience. A second speaker was William L. Shirer, radio commentator on for- eign affairs, who quoted a German general as telling him a year ago that if Germany did not win in the summer of 1941, a 30 years' war would effsue. “We must learn to stop underesti- mating our enemy,” Mr. Shirer said. “You'll remember that it was only a few weeks ago that we were hear- ing what miserable pilots the Jap- anese were and what obsolete planes they had.” Mr. Shirer warned that the “in- as bad as some of us would like to think.” He attributed a “fair pro- portion” of the stories of dissension among the Nazis to Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's propaganda minister, who is probably trying to create the false impression that Germany is far weaker than she really is. Urging that the people not count on an internal collapse in Germany any time soon, Mr. Shirer said they can hold out in food almost in- definitely, although cotton and woolen clothing is getting scarce and oil supplies are limited. Mrs. John L. Whitehurst of Balti- more, president of the federation, presided. The United States Navy Band Orchestra played following the speaking. House Sharing Advocated ® In a forum on health defense yes- terday afternoon, Dr. Thomas Par- ran, surgeon general of the United States Public Health Service, point- ed to the health hazard in poor housing for workers who must op- erate at top efficiency. Declaring that a part of the need for housing could be met if citizens living in decent, comfortable homes would share their quarters, he sug- gested that Washington would be a | good place to start such a demon- | stration. Dr. Parran, calling attention to the large number of men rejected from service in the armed forces because of syphilis, said latest re- ports indicate that not more than half have been brought under treat- ment in their home communities. Many of these, he warned, are young men_ with the disease in an infec- tious form. New Plant Planned WATERBURY, Conn,, Jan. 27 (®). —The Waterbury Clock Co. an- nounced today it would start con- struction soon of a $700,000 plant here for assembling precision instru- ments for the Army and Navy. Be- tween 600 and 1,000 workers will be employed at the new plant, which will contain 100,000 square feet of floor space. Hershey Sees Periodic' ternal situation in Germany is not Tire Theft Felony And A. D. A. Bills Stalled in House Randolph Plans New Effort This Week for Bills Blocked by Objections House action was blocked late yes- terday by two members on bills au- thorizing the District Alley Dwelling Authority to borrow money from either Federal or private sources to carry on its-$15,000,000 program of low-cost housing and making the theft of tires or other automobile accessories in the District a felony punishable by a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment. Consideration of the A. D. A, leg- islation was Held up by Representa- tive Holmes, Republican, of Massa- chusetts, who said he wanted time to “look into it further.” Repre- sentative Shannon, Democrat, of -Missouri prevented consideration of the measure to make theft of tires, tubes and other motor vehicle acces- sories a felony. Unanimous Consent Necessary. Chairman Randolph of the Dis- trict Committee attempted to call up both bills under & unanimous con- sent agreement, and due to the ob- Jections the 8 was unable to consider either of them. ‘The House passed without debat a bill to aulhiorize the vestry of Creek Parish to utilize for b purposes land within its present holdings in Rock Creek Cemetery on which burials are now prohibited. Mr. Shannon described as “out- rageous” the proposed 10-year maxi- mum penalty for theft of tires, tubes and other automobile equipment. One of his colleagues, Representa- tive Cochran, Democrat, of Missouri previously told the House the legis- lation was needed to “stop the thieves” that have been stripping cars of tires since the Government tire rationing order. He declared tire thievery had become a “racket” throughout the country. New Effort Promised. Mr. Randolph said he may make another effort to call up the bills later in the week. Meanwhile, the House had before it a formal report from its District Legislative Committee urging pas- sage of a bill to increase the maxi- mum pay of police and firemen $300 a year. The report pointed out Washing- ton policemen and firemen have not ‘had a raise in pay since 1930, and that the increase would amount to only 8 cents an hour for privates. House action on the bill is to be sought later in the week by Repre- sentative Schulte, Democrat, of In- diana, its sponsor. New Auxiliary Police Get First Job Friday The Police Department’s new auxiliary force will have its first big job Priday night relieving reg- ular officers who are to be assigned to patrol duty in connection with celebrations on the President's birthday anniversary for the benefit of infantile paralysis funds. None of the civilian volunteer officers will be on duty at the dances, it was said. It was planned to use them wholly to relieve reg- ular officers. Leaves of the regular force have been canceled Friday to insure an adequate number of patrolm=n for trafic and other duty in the " :inity of the cele- brations. Woodrum Named to Board MONTPELIER, Vt., Jan. 27 (#).— Representative Woeodrum, Democrat, of Virginia was elected today a imember of the Board of Directors of the National Life Insurance Co. President Clears 1D. C. Defense Work Projects $2,135,250 Program Includes School and Water Facilities ‘The approval by President Roose- velt of a $2,135250 public works program for the District had paved the way today for urgently needed expansion of municipal water, sewer, school and fire protection facilities. Assistant Federal Works Admin- istrator Baird Snyder, 3d, acting for Administrator Philip B. Fleming, disclosed that the President ap- proved seven defense public works projects to cost that amount to aid war efforts in the District. Included are several water, sewer and school projects for the South- east area, which has expanded | enormously under the impact of the war effort. $1,563,250 in Grants. Of the total cost, $1,563250 will be in grants and $572,000 in loans. The $2,135250 approved by the President will use up all that re- mained of an original $150,000,000 Lanham bill for the relief of com- munities whose facilities have been strained by defense population in- fluxes. The amount is also just $364,750 below the $2500,000 which is the limit to which the city is now authorized to participate, either by lom or grant, in. such emergency fun n the District is to have access to any of a second $150,000,000 com- | munity facilities measure now on its way through Congress, another en- abling act will be required. These community facilities bills are completely separate from two Lanham Acts of $300,000,000 each for emergency housing. Chairman Lanham of the House Public Build- ings and Grounds Committee is on the point of introducing a bill en- abling the Disiurict to use some of the second $300,000,000 housing money. Enabling Act Essential. Enabling law is necessary in all ‘cases where the District incurs debt. ‘The approved items will add $572,- 000 to the District debt to the Fed- eral Government, bringing that total to about $12,934,000. They will not, however, nearly meet the total city needs due to defense growth which the Commissioners recently esti- mated at some $13,000,000. When the Commissioners first sought Lan- ham funds for community facilities months ago they asked for projects g fome $6,000,000. These fttled to $2,500,000 and when ral Works Agency an- that out of the $150,000,000 only about $2,000,000 was left which | could be used by the District, the enabling legislation figure was cut 1rdm $6,000,000 to $2,500,000. Willard Rally Will Open Fund Drive for Boys’ Club The campaign for funds for the Metropolitan Police Boys' Club to- day received pledges of support from military, naval and Federal officials. The drive will open with a rally at the Willard Hotel tomorrow night. Ralph Goldsmith, chairman of the Campaign Committee, announced that Admiral Harold Stark, chief of naval operation$; Lt. Gen. Thomas | Holcomb, commandant of the Ma- rine Corps, and J. Edgar Hoover, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, had accepted honor- ary chairmanships. Brig. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey, se- lective service director, will aid the drive by delivering the principal address at tomorrow night's meeting of the campaign workers. The campaign is designed to raise $100,- 000 for operation of five club units in different parts of the city and the summer camp at Scotland, Md. Ban to Be Placed On Use of Brass For Shoe Eyelets The War Production Board today issued an order prohibit- ing the use of brass in shoe eye- lets after March 31. Officials’ estimated the action will save enough to make a million artil- lery shells a year. Manufacturers have agreed to uge lacquered metal instead of brass, the board said, and they anticipate no loss in wear. The order also provides that between January 1 and March 31 no shoe manufacturer may make a greater number of eye- lets than will be necessary to fill orders for deliveries before April.1. The restriction alsogapplies to the use of copper in hooks, packs, nails, hobnails, screws, spikes, plates, snaps, slide fasteners, rivets, wires and other metal used in shoes. a waiver of whatever right the land- lord may have had under the notice.” He further ruled that Mildred C. Smith “is entitled to re- main in possession of tl. ; property as long as she continues to pay her rent.” Evidence Unconvincing. The court held that burden of a | proof is on the landlord to establish the commission of nuisance in & case where the landlord charged the defendant had abused the prop- erty. Judge Cayton declared the evidence was “too remote and un- convincing” to establish the charge and that acceptance of rent after the alleged acts of nuisance consti- tutes a w=iver of landlord rights. The court upheld a tenant who had received an eviction notice be- cause of alleged subletting of the premises without written consent of the plaintiff and failure to pay water rent. The court maintained the latter contention was void, as the tenant can escape forfeiture by the basis that continued payment of rent after notice to vacate has “yitiated the notice and that such peayment and acceptance constitate - paying the bill. The defendant told the court the landlord had visited the house and was aware of the subletting. Girl Drowns in Nearby LilyPond Sixth Fatality Since Saturday Two-and-one-half-year-old Jane Sunderland drowned yesterday in a neighbor’s lily pond after she had wandered away from her home at 5511 Greentree road, Alta Vista, Md., while her mother was shopping and a maid was busy with house- work. She was the sixth Maryland child, to drown since Saturday. Police said the child's mother, Mrs. J. Edwin Sunderland, returned home to find her daughter missing. She then began a frantic search which ended with the discovery of the child’s body in a pond in the yard of Mrs. Richard Titlow, 8912 Seneca lane, about & block away from the Sunderland home, police reported ‘The girl's body had been in the water about three-quarters of an hour when it was found, ac- Rescue Squad worked over the little girl for more than an hour in a vain attempt to revive her. The child’s father is a lieutenant in the Navy, attached to the Bureau of Navigation. Charles Talbert, 11, and Wilbur ‘Talbert, 14, drowned yesterday when they fell through the ice of a pond in Worthington Valley, Baltimore suburb, the Associated Press report- ed. Vernon Myers, 13, their com- panion on a bicycle trip, said Charles went to Wfll‘),ur's rescue, and :otih disappeared. Vernon summoned help after diving twice under the water trying to reach them. Pikesville police recovered the bodies. Lee N. Wheeler, 12; his brother, ‘Washington. An indication that some motorists are not using their automobiles as much as formerly, presumably to conserve tires and the machines themselves, was seen today in a sur- vey of parking lots, some of which reported a slackening of business. Another sign that fewer cars were on the city's crowded streets was a report by the Capital Transit Co. that buses were not thrown off schedule as much lately in the aft- ernoons because of traffic jams. ‘The transit firm also reported that a check of traffic on Sixteenth street N.W. in the morning rush hours was 17 per cent less on a day the middle of this month compared with a check made November 1, despite the fact that many new residents have come to the city in this period. It was emphasized, however, that the check was made on only one day and did not reflect an average over any length of time. Steady Customers Still Heavy. The survey among parking lots revealed that only those lots that have a considerable itinerant busi- ness have felt the effect of the strict rationing of tires and automobiles. Big lots handling large numbers of monthly parkers report no decrease or even a turnover. Three firms which operate a total of 17 lots and garages said the drop has been “very noticeable.” pening Slaf WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION D. C, TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1942, HIGHEST HONOR—Capt. Chester Wells, president of the National Capital Area Council, Boy Scouts of America, is shown last night awarding Scoutdom’s highest honor, the Silver Beaver, to (left to right) the Rev. William C. Royal, Frederick, Md.; William M. Rohrer, scoutmaster of Troop 97; John H. Bayless, scoutmaster of Troop 5, and the Rev. Edward J. Fuller, 8. J,, all of Parking Lots Notice Trend To Conserve Tires, Machines Transient Business Is Hardest Hit; Decline in Traffic Jams Reported Two of the firms reported that most of the loss has been among women shoppers, but the other said its lots are not fllling up as fast early in the morning, indicating that the all-day worker is riding on the pub- lic transportation system. One operator said he has found only one case of a monthly parker who had pooled his transportation with three other motorists and they each bring the others downtown a week out of each month. They are using the same parking stall. Night Business lloldh‘ Up. Another large manager said that he was lurprlsed the drop had not come in night parkers who stop in while they go to a movie, | but this pleasure-riding business is ‘holdirg up as well as before. One of the operators was frankly fearful of what the future holds for their business. “We have to pay something for these lots, you know,” he said. , C. W. Reod superintendent of el tage of faulty tires than the 4 per cent that prevailed last year. His in- spectors will not be any more len- ient, however, Mr. Reed said, em- phasizing that safety would still be the consideration of whether the vehicle will be per- mitted on the streets. Civil Service Board Calls for Data Under New Annuity Plan Liberalized Program To Cover Estimated 200,000 Workers The Civil Service Commission to- day began to lay the groundwork for administering the new Rams- peck-Mead retirement law which | liberalizes the annuity system for | Government, workers and extends its coverage to an estimated 200,000 new beneficiaries, including mem- | bers of Congress. The law, signed yesterday by President Roosevelt, permits ex- clusion by the President of those persons whose employment is of intermittent or uncertain duration, and the commission consequently is calling on the various agencies to list those groups which it is be- lieved should not be covered. When this data is assemb) it will be forwarded to the President for is- suance of the necessary regula- tions. The retirement law heretofore has been confined to employes in the classified service; this restriction is wiped out, and the coverage be- comes universal except for those services having their own retire- | ment plans. Opposed by Capper. Senator Capper, Republican, of Kansas made a last-minute ap- peal to the President Saturday to veto the bill because of the inclu- sion of pensions for members of Congress, but he had no objection to the remaining provisions affect- ing employes in Government bu- reaus. Represéntative Hoffman, Repub- lican, of Michigan today intro- duced a bill to repeal the provision providing benefits for members of Congress. “Many members of Congress were caught napping when Chairman Ramspeck called up the resolution for consideration by unanimous con- sent,” Mr. Hoffman said. “This is no time for granting annuities to Congressmen or any other persons or for the granting of Jn 7 | compensation so long as soldiers are serving for $21 a month.” As’ the bill became law, any member of the House or Senate option of retiring without making any back payments for past serv- ice. Since the act gives members of Congress until the end of this cal- endar year to exercise the option, it has been estimated that s member defeated in November could de- cide to join the retirement system on the last day of December and retire January 1 upon payment of $1.39, or 5 per cent of his salary for one day. greal many e their lnununnm:mmnke mmnxmg covering their entire service, in order to increase the annuities they eventually will receive. The term “elective officer” used in the act was construed in debate to extend the retirement option also to a President or Vice Presi- dent, provided he had served the minimum of five years and reached 62. For Government employes gen- erally the major changes this law | makes in the retirement system are: Fixes a uniform age limit of 70 for compulsory retirement, of work, in the old law. Gives employes the option of re- tiring at 60 after 30 years of service or at 62 after 15 years of service. Gives the Government the same option of retiring the employe at these age limits when it is deemed advisable, but subject to the right of a hearing before the Civil Serv- ice Commission. Gives the employes the further option of retiring at age of 55 after 30 years of service, but on a smaller annuity. Members of Congress also can retire at 55 on a reduced an- nuity. Permits Work After 70. Exceptions could sffll be made to compulsory retirement at 70 by ex- ecutive order and department heads could re-employ persons retiring at 70 when they believe the employe has special qualifications. ‘The employe contribtuion to the fund is increased from 31; to 5 per | cent to help meet the cost of the| more liberal provisions, but the m- crease does not take effect until | July 1, 1942, In the past employes leaving the service before they had earned a retirement annuity have been al- lowed to withdraw their contribu- . Under the new law future payments will not be withdrawn, but a person leaving the service will be entitled to receive whatever annuity his contributions will jus- tify when he reaches retirement age. The formula for computing annu- ities has been broadened to give employes in the higher salary brack- ets, above $2500, a more equitable retirement allowance in proportion to the contributions they make. Housebreaking Laid To 2 Youths, 1 Wounded A 17-year-old youth with s gun- shot wound in the knee was in Gal- linger Hospital under police guard today, shot accidentally by an 18- year-old youth who has confessed, place | of three separate age limits of 62, | | 65 and 70, depending on the type .| Corps Selection Board, has Presiden! Society and. General —Star Staff Photo. Silver Beaver Award, Boy Scouts’ Highest, Givep fo Four Here Father Fuller Contends Honor Should Go to His Collaborator The highest award of the Boy | Scouts of America, the Silver Bea- ver, was conferred last night by the National Capital Area Scout Council on four of its members at the an- nual meetiing held at the Willard | Hotel. Araund the necks of the Rev. Willlam C. Royal, Prederick, M the Rev. Edward J. Fuller, 8. J., Washington; William Rohrer and | John Bayless, both of Washington; Capt. Chester Wells, council presi- dent, hung the bright-colored rib- bon 'from which a silver beaver | dangled. The award is for out-| standing aervice to boyhood through | ‘ scouting within the various local | council of the Boy Scouts of | America. All of them accepted the award except Father Fuller, who contend- ed it should go to the Rev. Louis Scouting within the various local with whom he wrote “Scouting for Catholics.” Since the award is re- stricted to residents of the National Capital area, the council took no | action on Father Fuller's request. | B-1 Staggering Adds 5HourstoD. C. Workers” Week 4,000 Put on 8 A M. To 4:30 P.M. Shift Starting Feb. 9 District government workers, ex- cept for school teachers, policemen and firemen, will work from 8 am. to 4:30 pm., except on Saturdays, under a staggered-hour system or- dered today by the Commissioners. The change is effective February 9, the same day that daylight saving time goes into effect. This will raise the work week from 39 to 44 hours. ‘The order will apply to nearly 4,000 municipal workers who now re- port at 8:45 am. and quit at 4:15 pm. On Saturdays, under the new system, these workers will work from 8 am. until 12, instead of 8:45 am. until 12:45 p.m. The rules were recommended by Budget Officer Walter L. Fowler and had the indorsement of Traffic Di- rector William A. Van Duzer. Meanwhile, about 35 specialty stores in downtown Washington have agreed to change their closing hours from 5:45 to 6 p.m. to help relieve traffic congestion, Edward D. Shaw, executive secretary of the Merchants and Manufacturers’ As- sociation, said today. No definite action was taken, Mr. Shaw said, by members of the de- partment store division of the asso- | ciation at a meeting today. The de- partment store executives, he ex- plained, wanted more time to study the problem. Mr Van Duzer told the Traffic Committee of the Board of Trade yesterday , that he had recom- mended to department store of- ficials that they change from their present 9:30 am. to 5:45 pm. schedule to a 10 am. to 6:15 p.m. schedule, and had suggested that this step not only would relieve traf- fic congestion, but would give Fed- eral workers now on longer sched- ules more time to shop after work. Hour of 6 Indicated. It was believed, however, that if | the larger stores do decide to change, the closing hour would be shifted to 6 pm., rather than 6:15 pm. One department store, Woodward & Lothrop’s, already has shifted to the 6:15 closing hour. Mr. Van Duzer said merchants are co-operating “wholeheartedly,” but that the main problem facing officials is that of reducing the 5 Capt. Wells Re-elected. Mr. Royal is a member of the | Executive Board of the council, | which comprises the District and 18 surrounding counties in Mary- land and Virginia. He is chairman of the Frederick District Commit- tee and pastor of the First Baptist Church of Frederick. assistant pastor of St. Catholic Church here and director of the church’s school. Mr. Rohrer is Scoutmaster of | ‘Troop 97, meeting in Memorial United Brethrent Church, and skip- per of Sea Scout Patrol 97. Mr. Bus- less is Scoutmaster of Troop 5 at| St. Alban’s Church. At the annual election of officers, Capt. Wells was named to serve his| 10th consecutive year as president. | Others elected are Dr. Paul Bartsch, | Ralph A. Van Orsdel, Ernest H. Daniel, vice presidents; Jo V. Mor- gan, Scout commissioner; William | B. Willard, treasurer; Lloyd B. Wil- son, jr., and Caesar L. Aiello, assist- ant treasurers, and Scout Executive | Linn C. Drake, secretary. Other Awards Made. 1 Members of the Executive Board | re-elected are Dr. Bartsch, Mr.| Afello, Henry P. Blair, Carlile Bol- ton-Smith, Gardner L. Boothe, Dr. ‘Walter Willlam Boyd, Ben B. Cain, Washington I. Cleveland, Mr. Dan- fel, Jack Gates, Col. Stuart C. God- frey, George E. Hamilton, George E. Hamilton, jr.; B. Powell Harrison, jr.; Arthur Hellen, John Rowland Hill, Ray C. Hopkins, Samuel H. Kauffmann, Dr. Cloyd Heck Marvin, Arthur J. May, Dr. Willlam T. Mc- Closky, David E. McCoy, Dr. Walter H. Merrill, Mr. Morgan, Walter F. Mulligan, Geoge Hewitt Myers, Robert S. Pickerls, Mr. Royal, Rich- | ard Shands, Monroe H. Stockett, L. | Corrin Strong, Mr. Van Orsdel, Capt. Wells, Mr. Willard, Warren N. Wat- | son, the Rev. Arthur P. Wilson, Col. Lester G. Wilson and Lloyd B. Wil- son jr. Dr. Marvin, president of George Washington University, was the main speaker. The Scoutmaster's key was awarded to Eric Daenecke and the Scouter’s Training Award to Willilam H. Richardson and Fran- cis E. Schulte. House Unit Votes Renewal 0f Sailors’ Home Lease The House Naval Affairs Com- mmee today ordered a favorable report on the bill sponsored by Rep- resentative Bradley of Pennsyl- vania authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to renew the lease on the | old Naval Hospital for a period of 15 years. This property is between Pennsylvania avenue and E street, Ninth and Tenth streets SE. The lease is held by the Board of Man- agement of the Temporary Home for Soldiers and Sailors. The new lease provides that when the property shall cease to be used as a temporary home for soldiers and sallors the lease shall b¢ au- tomatically terminated and the property revert to the control of the Navy Department. Linaweaver Approved For Naval Promotion The promotion of Paul G. Lina- weaver of Washington from lieu- tenant to lieutenant commander, recommended by the Chaplains n approved by t Roosevelt, the Ntvy Department announced Father Puller is a deputy special | national fleld Scout commissioner, | Aloysius | pm. load. At that hour, he said, some 74,000 Federal and private em- ployes leave their places of employ- ment. A similar situation prevails at 9 a.m., when some 52,000 workers, including both Government and pri- | vate employes, report for work. “The new staggered-hour system | which has just become effective will improve the general picture,” he said, “but we need a wider spread of the starting and quitting hours, as well as a reduction in the num- | ber of workers reporting at 9 am. end the number leaving at 5 pm.” Mr. Ven Duzer predicted that “serious traffic congestion” will result unless about one-third of those starting work at 9 am. and the same percentage of workers leaving their offices at 5 p.m. are shifted to other starting or quitting hours. Efforts are being made toward this end, he said. Earlier Starts Suggested. He suggested that the situation could be improved materially if more employes could be shifted to earlier staritng hours—7:15, 7:30 and 7:45 am. The traffic director voiced hope that most of the thousands of new Government workers expected to come to Washington by July would | be placed on the early starting hours. Pointing out that the mass trans- portation systems now carry between 51 and 55 per cent of the riding public, Mr. Van Duzer predicted that the figure may go as high as 75 per cent when the public begins to feel the effects of tire rationing. The traffic director said that when the first systematic stagger- ing of employment hours was put into effect in April, 1941, there were about 160,000 Federal workers. By {July 1, 1942, the aumber probably will be at least 260,000, he seid. Dean J. Locke, Capital Transit Col. engineer, told the committee that the response of private indus- try to requests for staggering their hours had been gratifying, but that the job is “far from done.” He predicted that some Federal de- partments and agencies would find it necessery to inaugurate individual staggered hour systems as their per# sonnel increases. [ National Civic League Urges D. C. Dry Law Resolutions urging passage of legislation providing prohibition for the District, dry zones around Army and Navy establishments and scien- tific tests for drinking drivers were adopted last night at the annual meeting of the National Civic League in its headquarters at 1311 G street N.W. Dr. O. R. Miller of Albany, N. Y., founder of the organization, was re-elected president. J. Raymond Schmidt was re- elected secretary and general super- intendent. Others elected were: Dr. Norman Vincent Peale of New York City, vice president, and H. Lee Smith of Washington, treasurer, Employment Center Goes On 44-Hour Week ‘The District Employment Center is increasing its work week from 39 to 44 hours in compliance with an order issued by Federal Security Administrator McNutt, Director Ed- win W. Jones said today. Three local offices of the Center, which include the Commereial and Professional at 808 E street N.W., the Industrial and Building Trades Office at 928 Fifth street N.W. and the Hotel and Restaurant and Domestic' Service Branch, will remain open until 7 p.m. on Tues- days and Thursdays of each week. Hours for other days will remain the same.