Evening star., 1934-04-17

tending over term Of five years,
of the new ships which are needed
and Of requirements for vessels which
become overage. Five years Is the
estimate, but it will probably run into
six years, he said. The act provides
for increase of air strength to figures
commensurate with ship strength.
Explaining the act, Mr.. Roosevelt
some persons apparently had that a
large sum was Immediately appro-
priated up to 81 100000. Moth
ing is appropriated now, he explained,
but only authorized" and the Navy
will now prepare the appropriation
bill to go to the Bureau of the
Budget and then to Congress. He
could not estimate now the cost of
construction nor state now for what
ships the department will request
appropriations this year. But I can
assure you" he said. that the sum
will be nothing like the enormous
amount sometimes mentioned"
Both Secretary Dern and Assistant
Secretary Roosevelt quoted from
George Washington concerning the
preparation for war as the best
means Of preserving peace"
Hall Popularity Grows.
The increasing popularity of Consti-
tuition Hall for entertainments, includ-
ing concerts, and large gatherings ad-
dressed by notables. including the
President Of the United States, was
reported to the congress by Mrs. John
M. Beavers, chairman of the Commit
teee on Buildings and Grounds. Mrs.
Beavers listed entertainments given in
the hall during the year, and said the
committee had rejected many requests
of organizations to make price conces-
Sions. This was done, she-explairled,
because the National Board of Man
agement had fixed minimum charges
for the use of the halls, basing them
on fair operating cost, and no one
has any authority to deviate from this
action of the national board"
The committee report made no men,
ton Of the drive being made by the
corporation owning the nearby Wash
ington Auditorium to force the Dis
trict Of Columbia government to COL
lect taxes on Constitution Hall. The
Washington Auditorium corporation
has charged that Constitu-
ton Hall is no longer tax-free, because
it is rented out. They claim that all
D. A. R. property previously has
escaped taxation because it was listed
in the favored group Of property of
educational, religious or patriotic ma
ture which does not feel the burden of
taxes. The Washington Auditorium
people have demanded that the Dis
trict government now collect taxes
from the D. A. r.
Mrs. Reeves listed many improve
ments in the buildings and grounds.
THE E Pluribus Unum Chapter of the
District of Columbia" she reported,
has dedicated an elm tree on the
south lawn in honor of the founder of
the chapter, Mrs. Sylvanus Johnson.
who came from California to attend
the exercises"
Everything from fine family jewelry
down to parts of spectacle rims and
filings from back teeth have been
received by the Committee on Con-
stitution Hall Memory Book, it was
reported today by Mrs. G. l.. H. Bros
seau, chairman of this committee.
S423,7S7 Is Expended.
AS chairman of the Finance Com
mittee, Mrs. Frank M. Dick reported
that vouchers had been approved to
the amount of 423,787.58, of which
S43,959.17 represents contributions re-
ceived for approved schools and Amer
icanism; $9,306.l0 for student loan
fund, S6,276.53 for preservation of his
toric spots. Disbursements included,
among others. the following: Notes
payable, S115,000; services of superin-
tendent, manager and employees Of
buildings, including printer messenger
and extra labor for auditorium events,
S32, ,120.20; national defense expense,
S13,067; Ellis and Angel Islands ex-
pense, $7,252.02; expense of forty
second congress, $5,739.82; expense OF
forty-third congress, $2,469.9l; PEN
sion for real daughters and Spanish
War nurses, S4,145.
AS historian general, Mrs. William
Louis Dunno reported Maryland, Mis-
sissippi and the District of Columbia
had completed their State histories,
making SO State histories of the work
of the D. A. r. now on file In the
library.
AS the result of survey conducted
into teaching of history and civil gov
ernment in public schools and college
schools, Mrs. Dunno rec
commended that in States where both
American history and civil govern
ment are not required courses, and
also not required credits for gradua-
ton, committees composed of the
State regents and others be appointed
to confer with the State superintend-
ents or commissioners of education,
urging that both these subjects be
made required courses and be required
for graduation. In regard to college
preparatory schools, it was recon-
mended that the president general
and historian general take up the
matter with. members of the college
entrance. board
Historian Gets Medal.
Miss Ethel Lane, State historian of
Massachusetts,, was awarded medal
for the report showing the most in
itiative and being the most compre-
hensive. Mrs. Arthur Y. Casanova,
State historian Of the District of Co
lumbia, received first honorable men,
ton and Mrs. Edward q. Passano.