davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1931-12-07
WATERWAYS CONGRESS
WILL MEET TOMORROW

Between 500 and 600 representatives
OF water, land and air transportation
systems throughout the country will as
Semble at the Willard Hotel tomorrow
for the twenty-seventh annual National
Rivers and Harbors Congress. Problems
relating to flood control and to the de-
velopment of waterways and harbors
will be discussed at the congress, which
closes Wednesday,
Secretary Of War Patrick j. Hurley
will be the POSTMASTER at the annual
banquet of the congress, scheduled for
7 o'clock tomorrow night at the Willard
Hotel. Speakers will include Repre-
sentative Sol Bloom of New York. asso-
ciate director of the United States
George Washington Bicentennial Com
mission, who will discuss plans for the
approaching celebration, and John Bel
lamy Taylor, consulting engineer of the
General Electric Co., who will describe
his experiments with audible light"
Joseph E, Ransdell, former Senator
from Louisiana, is president of the con-
gress and will preside at the sessions
S A. Thompson is secretary of the Or
ganization.
Evening star., 1931-12-07
ROCKVILLE FIREMEN
TAKE FIRST-AID WORK
Volunteers Preparing for Service
With New Rescue Truck
Soon to Arrive.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

special DlSpatcn 10 Inc star.
ROCKVILLE, Md, December THE
rescue wagon recently purchased by the
Rockville Volunteer Fire Department, at
cost of S6,750, is expected to be deliv-
cred within the next two or three weeks,
and in the meantime members of the
organization are being instructed in
first aid.
The lessons are being given in the fire
engine building here by William M.
James OF Washington, Red Cross expert.
Two lessons were given last week, three
are scheduled for this week and the
course will be concluded with two les
sons next week
Members of the department compos-
ing the class are M E. Anders, J. C.
BarnSley, w. H. Gartner, Albert Hamke,
Ernest Helbert. Frank H. Higgins, John
G. Lambert, Francis S. Lyddane, Way
man See, Joseph N Starkey, Norman
Pyles, w. Valentine Wilson and William
Wootton.
Others not members of the depart
nent who are taking the course are
Russell Gray, George Starkey and
Franklin Wilson.
Evening star., 1931-12-07
REHEARSALS TO BEGIN
FOR PLAY TOURNAMENT
Preliminaries for Annual District
of Columbia Event to Run Three
Nights Week for Two Weeks.

Rehearsals for the annual District of
Columbia orle-act play tournament will
begin soon. The event will be held
next March in order not to interfere
with the opening ceremonies of the
George Washington Bicentennial cele-
bration.
Beginning March /, the preliminaries
VIII continue three nights week for
TWO weeks. The finals will be conduct
ed the following week Although all
drama groups and clubs in the District
nave been invited to participate. only
the flrst "a entries will be accepted, due
10 the necessity of keeping the pre-
hmlnarles within the two-week period
Registration will begin at once. All
entrants must be registered by February
l. The groups will be asked to present
plays OF the American Colonial or
Revolutionary period The two out
standing serious plays and the two best
oHerlngs OF light nature will be chosen
In the finals. Well known drama
critics Will be the judges.
Early American plays will be made
available by the Community Center
department through the cooperation of
the District of Columbia Bicentennia1
Commission.
Inc tournament Committee will in
ciuoe Mrs. E. K. Peoples, director of the
Community Center department; DR.
De Witt G. Croissapt, president of
board OF governors, Drama Guild of
washington; Mrs. Marie Moore Forrest.
Miss Bess Davis Schreiner, Capt. Ray c.
Montgomery and Denis E. Connell.
Evening star., 1931-12-07
LONE BANDIT RObS
STORE, TRUSTING
THREE EMPLOYEES
Gunman Holds Up and Binds
Each Man With Neckties
as He Comes to Work.
FIRST VICTIM SLUGGED
WITH BUTT OF WEAPON
Robber Makes Escape With $172
and Valuable Wrist Watch.
After Looting Safe.

Using the stores neckties to truss
ana gag three employees, a bandit held
up haberdashery at 729 Fourteenth
street this morning, slugged one clerk
win an automatic, forced the manager
10 open the office safe and escaped with
VIZ and valuable wrist watch.
Inc gunman came in Just after the
opening hour at O'Clock and forced the
olly employe then present into rear
room, He then laid in wait for the
others, binding and gagging them when
they came in unaware tilat a hold-up
was In progress. The employees freed
themselves few minutes after the
bandit fed
Robs First Man OF S42.
john J. ,Schleith, GA Tenth street
northeast, had just opened the store
for business when the bandit entered
and asked for some hosiery. Schleith
pulled some from a showcase and arose
facing a gun. 0''S
Get back there" the man ordered,
"and lie DOWN.
ne stuffed a handkerchief into
ocnIetn mouth, tied another about
ms head and bound his wrists and ankles
with neckties, then robbed him of sac
aoout hat OF which was the stores
money.
Three Trussed Up by Bandit.
Seeing the safe, the bandit removed
Schleiths gag and ordered him to give
the combination. The clerk did not
know the combination, and when he
protested his inability to supply the in
formation, the gunman clubbed him
over the head with the butt end of his
automatic.
A moment later the manager. Keith
u. Price, 3l42 Oliver street, walked into
the rear office and was forced to open
the safe, from which the bandit OBJ
tanned $120. He then tied up Price
and took $40 from his person.
The third employe, Bruce M. Yontz,
1927 Lamont street, was forced to lie
down on top of Schleitn and Price. He
likewise was trussed up and forced to
part with wrist watch valued at SIS.
Robber Makes Escape.
The intruder then left by the front
ooor, leaving the employees lying on the
moor. In few minutes they worked
tree OF the bandages and called police
NO one could be found 'on the street
outside who had seen the bandit.
headquarters detectives and police of
NO. | precinct investigated the robbery
and broadcast lookout for the bandit,
who was described as well dressed and
self-assured young man of about "a
years.
Schleith was not seriously injured.
He declined hospital treatment
Evening star., 1931-12-07
J. B. TREAT KILLED
AS AUTO HITS POLE.
Son of Retired General Dies
After Maryland Crash.
Inquest Is Likely.

Joseph B. Treat, 81, son of Maj. Gen
Charles G. Treat, U, s. A., retired,
former commandant of West Point,
died in Casualty Hospital early today
of injuries sustained when an automo-
bile in which he was riding struck a
telephone pole on the Marlboro pike
21a miles beyond the District line yes
terday.
Mr.. Treat, who lived at 1918 Nine
teenth street, suffered fractures of both
legs, internal injuries and severe shock
in the crash. A blood TRANSMISSION was
given in vain effort to save his life
He died approximately IL hours after
his left leg was amputated below the
knee
According to County Policeman r. A.
Naylor, who investigated the accident,
Mr.. Treat was passenger in a car
driven by Charles Fascine, 1900 block
Massachusetts, avenue. Policeman Nay
lor said an inquest probably would be
held, but arrangements had not been
made this morning.
Ambulance Misdirected.
A mistake In the location stated by
the person who called for an ambu-
lance. following the mishap, caused a
delay of more than an hour. The am
buiance was at first directed to the
District line on the Bladensburg road
instead of the Marlboro pike. Mr..
Treat was greatly weakened by the
effects of shock. cold and loss of blood
during the long wait.
Mr.. Treat attended ST. Luke's Pre-
paratory School, near Philadelphia,
and graduated from West Point in
1914. He was in Paris on graduation
leave when the war broke out and at
that time assisted Ambassador Herrick
In getting out of the city all Americans
who wished to depart.
Served in World War.
Returning to this country, Mr.. Treat
served with the 5th Cavalry in It's
Mexican campaign with Gen. Pershing
and later transferred TO the 21st Field
Artillery, remaining with that unit
throughout the World War After the
war he resigned from the Army. He
was unmarried
Besides his father, Mr.. Treat is sur
vived by two sisters, Mrs. A. V. Ar
mold, wife of Maj. A. V. Arnold of Fort
Benning, Ga, and Mrs. A. B. Butler,
jr., of Tulsa Okla Mrs. Arnold was
notified today and left Immediately for
Washington.
The body will be cremated and inter-
red at West Point. Funeral services
here will be private
Evening star., 1931-12-07
ONLY 6 POLICE COURT
CASES LEFT UNTRIED
Up-to-Date Condition of Calendar
Shown in DeNeal's Report
to Bride.

The up-to-dste condition of the iury
calendar IN the District Branch of
Police Court is shown by the fact only
six Of the November cases remained
untried on December i, according to a
report to Corporation Counsel William
W. Bride by Stanley DeNeale, chief of
MS assistants assigned to Police Court.
Mr. Bride pointed out that, when he
TOOK office in 1927, the jury calendar
was about 900 cases behind.
OF the cases going over for trial, four
could not be tried during November
because of illness or compulsory absence
OF witnesses or defendants. In one case
a witness had had his leg amputated
and was confined to bed; in a second a
witness was in bed with broken leg:
IN third witness was confined to
bed with pleurisy, and in the fourth the
defendant was in jail in Alexandria,
whence he will not be released until
late in December.
Raymond Sparks and Edward M
Welliver are assigned as assistant cor
poration counsel at Police Court in ad-
oitlon to Mr. DeNeale.
Evening star., 1931-12-07
BURGLARS FLEE
POST OFFICE lob
Small Sum and Stamps OBJ
tanned in Brightwood--Sus-
pect Arrested.

What is regarded by police as an at
tempt to rob the safe of the Bright
wood Post Office was believed frustrated
last night when burglars who broke into
the building at 1921 Georgia avenue
fled with small quantity of postage
stamps and 81 in cash as their only re-
ward
A man giving his name as Michael
Quinn, SIS, of Philadelphia, was arrested
by Patrolman S. r. Mckee of the elev-
enth precinct station as suspect soon
after midnight when he was discovered
sitting in a car in which was found
nitroglycerine, burglars tools and
stamps.
Discovered by Clerk.
Fred W. Heine, AIT Iowa avenue,
night clerk at the post Office, discovered
the robbery when he reported for work
at 1890 o'clock and found that the lock
on the door of the main mail room had
been forced and a small amount of
stamps and approximately S4 in cash
missing from the cage.
Further search revealed that the bur-
glars had gained entrance to the yard
at the rear of the post office by prying
the lock from the gate.
1t Is believed by detectives and postal
inspectors that the intruders were pre-
pairing to blast open the safe when they
heard Heine put his key in the front
door lock, and fed
Quinn Taken Prisoner.
Pvt. Mckee was patrolling his beat
in a police car two hours after the
theft was discovered, when he noticed
sedan bearing New Jersey tags parked
in the $500 block of Benning road
northeast. Hating his car and walk
ing over to the machine, Mckee found
Quinn sitting in the sedan and dis
covered hammer, jimmy tool a
safe combination dial punch, guam
tity OF nitroglycerin and two over
coats in the rear of the automobile.
Quinn was taken to No. IL station
and refused to talk and would not say
who owned the overcoats. Police believe
he was waiting for two companions
when Mckee arrested him.
Photographs OF fingerprints believed
to have been left by the burglars were
taken by identification experts from de-
tective headquarters this morning and
were to be compared with those of
Quinn. His prints also will be COM
pared with those on file at the DeIart-
ment o. Justice.
Evening star., 1931-12-07
SLUMP HITS SCHOOLS,
EDUCATORS REPORT
Speakers Over Radio Chain Show
National Education Hurt
by Depression.

Economic stress is resulting in the
closing of schools, shortening of school
terms, curtailment of kindergarten, abb
clifton of night schools and vocational
classes and abandonment of courses, ac-
cording to the severity with which the
depression is striking various communi-
ties, it was reported by the National
Education Association in Nationwide
radio broadcast last night over the Ma
tional Broadcasting Co. chain.
Florence Hale, president OF the asso-
citation; John H. Finley, associate ed
itor of the New York Times, and Willis
A. Sutton, Atlanta superintendent OF
schools. were the speakers. They traced
the effects of the depression which a
survey of the country made by the ed
ucation association revealed,
This survey, it was declared, was the
first step in the appeal of the Nations
teachers for 1.-The help of all citizens IN
the effort to shield childhood from the
harmful effects Of economic conditions"
In the report, the National Education
Association urged a general tax system
reform as a means of preventing re-
currence of depression.
Evening star., 1931-12-07
DISTRICT FISCAL REPORT SENT
CONGRESS; EXPENSES, $42, ,434 120
Education Item of $13,109,4o4 Largest
Among Those Listed Up to June 30-Re-
ceipts, $4O,O77 589, Including u. S. Sum.

Drafts of three bills were sent to
Congress from the District Building
shortly before noon today so that they
would be ready for early introduction,
The bills are to authorize merger OF
Washington's street-car companies, to
compel liability insurance for taxicab
concerns and to incorporate the District
Bicentennial Commission.
Rate Clause Missing.
The merger bill. submitted by the
Public Utilities Commission, is the same
as that introduced last year. which
failed of passage. There is one impor-
tant concession to the companies, how
ever. Last years bill provided that the
fares in effect on August /, 1929 (8
cents cash, six tokens for 40 cents
should remain in effect for two years
after the completion of the merger
That clause is stricken out of the pres
ent draft. SO that there would be no di-
rect benefit to the riders in the way Of
reduced fares assured by the merger.
Various references in the old bill to
reduced fares for school children have
Evening star., 1931-12-07
VISITING MAYOR VICTIM
OF THIEVES IN CAPITAL

John j. Murphy. mayor of Somerville,
Mass, was one of several persons
victimized last night in a series of rob-
berries. Mr.. Murphy, who is stopping at
the Willard Hotel, lost camera valued
at SITS to thieves who broke into his
automobile parked at Eleventh and C
streets.
Lee c. Cole, 2l9 Seventh street north
east, taxicab driver, told police he was
robbed Of ST by four colored men who
drew a gun on him when he deposited
them at First and Canal streets south
west. The four had hailed Coles cab
at North Capitol and l. streets about
1890 O'Clock.
Thomas Audrey told police two
colored men called at his home, 1908
Fourth street, at about the same hour
last night and, drawing pocket
knives, robbed him of an overcoat
containing $16.
Evening star., 1931-12-07
BULK OF GIFT MAIL
THIS WEEK is ASKED
Time Limit for Sending Certain
Type of Christmas Packages
Rapidly Approaches.

Expressing approval of the action of
Washington merchants in making their
complete Christmas stocks available
earlier this year, Postmaster William
Mooney today urged cooperation with
the post office to the extent of mailing
the bulk of Christmas gift packages this
week.
by the first of next week the annual
pre-Christmas strain and overload will
be thrown on the postal departments
throughout the country" Mr.. Mooney
pointed out. Reports from other cities
show that the earlier mailing of Christ
mas gift packages has attained ire
mendous headway throughout the
country this year. We hope to see this
week big mailing week in this CITY,"
The postmaster further pointed out
that the "dead-line" for certain types
of Christmas package mailing is rapidly
approaching. Gift packages destined
for foreign countries should be mailed
Immediately if they are to catch the
ocean mails, while packages for the
Far West and Southwest points in this
country should be in the mail by
December IA
The use of the label" Not to be
opened until Christmas" has become
generally recognized the world over"
Mooney said. 1T is a fine protection
against the crowded mail conditions
which Immediately precede Christmas. +"
Evening star., 1931-12-07
TAXI DRIVER BEAT
HER, WOMAN SAYS
Man Held on Assault CHARGE
After Husband Trails Him
and Calls Policeman.

Arrested after allegedly beating and
abducting woman who refused to ac-
company him to his apartment, Joseph
E. White, 3l-year-old taxicab driver, of
the 1900 block of Thirty-first street,
was being held on an assault charge
at the tenth precinct station today
The woman, Mrs. Katherine Baker of
2100 Ontario road, estranged wife of
Clarence Baker, 6407 Ninth street was
badly bruised about the face and head
but refused hospital treatment. She will
appear against the hacker in Police
Court tomorrow morning.
Says Man Beat Her.
Mrs. Baker, according to police, said
White and she were out riding in the
latter's automobile shortly after |
O'Clock this morning and the cab driver
asked her to go to his apartment She
refused and insisted that she be taken
to her home Immediately.
Upon arriving at her apartment Mrs.
Baker said she leaped from the auto
mobile and dashed up the steps leading
into the apartment house, but wss
overtaken by White, beaten about the
face and head and dragged back into
his car.
Her roommate, Miss Bertha Young.
drove up IN a machine with a friend
just as White drove away and tele-
phoned Mrs. Bakers husband. who re-
ported the alleged attack to police.
Husband Trails Hacker.
Baker then got into his machine and
started a systematic search of the city
for Whites taxi, and espied it in the
1900 block Of I street. He followed the
car to the l400 block of Pennsylvania
avenue, where he hailed Policeman
Charles Masonheimer of the first pre-
inct station and had the hacker ar
rested.t Mrs. Baker, according to police
was IN the car at the time of White s
arrest.
White was taken to police headouar-
ters and questioned by Detective Serpt
William j. DuBuskey, after which he
was transferred to No 10 station.
Evening star., 1931-12-07
BONDING COMPANY
WINS APPEAL CASE
Supreme Court Reversed in
Holding Fidelity House Re-
sponsibIe for Surety.

The United States Fidelity & Guar
anty Co. today won in the District
Court of Appeals a reversal of the de-
cree of the District Supreme Court
holding it liable on the bond of Alex
ander G. Bentley, lawyer, who COM
mitted suicide when summoned in a
contempt proceeding for failure to re-
port the disposition of funds of the
estate OF Susan B. johnson, who died
in Texas.
Bentley had been named as testa-
mentary trustee under the will which
contained no power of sale He applied
to the court to authorize a sale of the
real estate and gave a bond of ST 900
with the company as surety. He made
sale and reported proceeds of s6,145.10
to the court and was authorized to
make investment of the proceeds, which
he turned over to himself as testa-
mentary trustee. After his death, Mrs.
Pearl B. Klein was named as trustee
IN his place and brought suit against
the bonding company The lower court
held against the company, which ap-
pealed.
Bond Held Violated.
In an opinion by Justice D. Lawrence
Grcner the appellate court holds the
liability of the bonding company ceased
when Bentley turned the proceeds over
to himself as testamentary trustee
under the will
The District Supreme Court was also
reversed in an opinion by Justice
Charles H. Robb, who held the report
OF special master was in conflict
with the evidence and amounted to
nothing more than conjecture" The
opinion was rendered On the appeal of
Mike Falcone from a decision in favor
OF A. Paradise in partnership case.
Justice Josiah A. Van Orsdel rem
dered the third opinion of the Court
OF Appeals reversing the District Su-
preme Court. The lower court had rem
dered Judgment in an election suit
in favor of Kesiah Reed and others in
volving part of the estate of Silas
Holmes who died November IL, 1892.
The lower courts decision had been
against Lorenzo Allen, a great-grand-
son of the deceased, who appealed
Mother Wins Appeal.
The Appeals Court reversed the de-
cree Of the District Supreme Court re-
fusing Helen P. Merritt a hearing on
her application for the custody of her
three children and for j maintenance
decree against her husband, Robert G.
Merritt. The appellate court held the
woman should lave been beard and di-
rected hearing.
Two cases from the District Supreme
Court were affirmed. Chief Justice
George e. Martin held that Edmund j.
Flynn was entitled to keep his Judgment
for $1,6l8.51 awarded against the Ward
man Construction Co. for his services as
real estate agent.
The Board of Tax Appeals was up
held in an opinion by Chief Justice
Martin in it's finding against the Ra-
diant Glass Co. of Arkansas.
Evening star., 1931-12-07
D. c. FISCAL REPORT
SHOWS S4O,077,89
RECEIPTS IN YEAR
Sum Included S9,661, ,049
Federal Payment, Commits
sionerS Tell Congress.
EXPENSES JUNE 80
TOTALED S42,434,12O
$13,10s,464 Education Item Larg-
est-Gas Tax $1,74o,921,
New High Mark.

In their annual report for the 1881
fscal year, sent to Congress today, the
District Commissioners adhered to their
custom of past years in emitting any
general recommendations, and sending
forward simply a compilation of the
annual reports of the various District
departments
The financial portion of the report.
dated back to June 80, 1881, shows that
the District entered the current year
with a cash balance to its credit in the
United States Treasury of S1l ,l43 ,973 27.
The cash receipts during the year we're
$40, OFT, ,5ss .o2, including payments of
1861 ,049.l7 from the United States
s42,434,I2e Expenditures.
The cash expenditures from appropri-
ations were S42, ,434, ,l20.67. The largest
single item of expense was education,
accounting for $l3,l09464 ollowed by
protection OF life and roperty, with
s6.614947.97 public welfare. s5,46l =
1912; highways, s4,507 1872. 10; health
and sanitation, So GAL ,59269; recre-
alton, s3,623, ,103.71; miscellaneous,
1858, 25s70, and public service enter
prises, s101 ,622.56.
Receipts for the gasoline tax not only
reached new high figure OF lao
e2l AS, bu- showed a record increase of
1911 ,529.70 over the preceding year.
Personal Property Gain.
In spite OF the enormous decrease in
security valuations, the levy of in
tangible personal property stocks,
bonds mortgages and other evidences
of indebtedness) rose from $685., 900 600
in 1880 TO $3.50, ,274 in 1881.
In explaining this increase the report
OF the assessor says: The increase in
the intangible levy in spite of the mar
ket slump is accounted for by the fact
that during the year the Office took ad-
vantage of the provisions of the act of
Congress effective July /, 1880, whereby
taxable persons are required to file per-
sonal tax returns, and upon refusal the
Commissioners of the District of CO.
lumbia are empowered to file man
damus proceedings against such per-
sons and compel the filing of a return.
Durlng the past year it was only neces-
sary to advise number of persons as
to this provision of the law, and 1t was
not necessary to take advantage of the
act and file any mandamus proceedings.
1t Is the intention of this Office to use
to the fullest extent this provision of
law for the fiscal year 1882, and it is
anticipated that number of persons
VIII comply with the law when they are
advised of its requirements.
Evening star., 1931-12-07

been eliminated, since Congress has al
ready legislated on that subject.
Taxi Insurance Asked.
The taxi insurance bill empowers the
Public Utilities Commission to REQUIRE
any one owning, controlling or manag-
ing any taxicabs to satisfy the COM
mission of their ability to discharge all
claims adjudged against them by filing
with the commission an insurance poll
cy or bond in amounts to be dictated by
the commission.
The Bicentennial Commission bill in
corporates the District Bicentennial
Commission and gives the corporation
power to buy or construct platforms
and to manufacture or buy flags,
posters, badges and the like
Havenner Tells Purpose.
The purpose of this BILL as explained
by DR.. George C. Hayenner, is to allow
the commission to raise funds through
the sale of programs, ETC., for the Bi-
centennial Celebration, since the amount
appropriated for the purpose will be far
from sufficient to cover the commits
sion's expenses last year.