davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1934-08-22
CHARGE OF UNF AIR
DISCOUNTS H|NTED
IN GAS PRICE WAR
Cut.Rate Dealer Suggests
Retaliation in Face of
Code Prosecution.
TAX WARRANT ISSUED
FOR 'THIRD-GRADE' FIRM
Concern Accused of Being in Ar
rears-Ten-Cent Fuel Con-
tinues On Sale.

Retaliation with a charge of unfair
discounts allowed to certain. preferred
retail gasoline distributors by large
wholesale companies~was hinted today
by one of the cut-price distributors
facing prosecution for alleged viola
ton of the national petroleum code.
The veiled threat was made after
L. S.. Scott, chairman of the District
of Columbia Petroleum Committee,
yesterday called upon Secretary Ickes
as oil administrator to prosecute the
cut-price dealers for violating the pro-
vision against selling gasoline below
cost.
Tax Warrant Out.
Scott also called upon District Of
f1cials to prosecute some of the So
called "third-grade" dealers for fail
ure to pay the District gasoline tax.
AS a result, Edward w. Thomas, as
sistant corporation counsel, filed for
NAL information and asked for a war
rant against the Barrett Oil Co., 1000
M street, of which Russell Barrett is
proprietor, charging the company with
being in arrears more than 5000 in
taxes.
The charge, if sustained, would
subject the defendants to a double as
sessment.
Scott charged that another un-
named dealer is now $4,000 in ar
rears, although all such assessments
collected on gasoline sales are due
within the subsequent 80 days.
Scott accused the 25 or 80 third
grade" dealers with financing the
present price war with the money
that in reality belongs to the Dis
trict tax funds.
Price Still Down.
The accused dealers, however. con-
tinued today to sell motor fuel for 10
cents, including tax, which, it is
charged by the larger companies, is
.09 cent below actual cost.
\ The larger companies continued to
ignore the lower price and stuck to
their retail figure of II cents a gallon.
They are supported by the independent
dealers who distribute standard brands
of gasoline, and, there was little pos
sibility today that they would make
further reduction. ~4
Whether additional warrants will
be issued was not determined early
today. Nor had Scott received a reply
to his request that Secretary Ickes
act Immediately to prosecute under
the petroleum code.
Evening star., 1934-08-22
TUGBOAT TINDECO
DAMAGED BY FIRE
No Injuries Reported When En-
gine Backfres and Ignites
Woodwork.

The tug boat Tindeco, lying of Of
South Capitol street, was damaged
this morning by a fire which broke
out when the gasoline. engine back
fired and is believed to have ignited
woodwork. No injuries were reported.
Harbor Launch No. 2, the Fire
fighter. responded to the call and ex-
tinguished the flames. Loss from the
fire was estimated at $500 by Capt. J..
Wilkerson, in command Of the tug
boat. The crew of the Conoco, q
private boat Of the Continental Oil
Co., had the fire under control when
the harbor police arrived.
The Tindeco is owned by the L. E.
Smoot Sand & Gravel Co. Consider
able excitement was evidenced during
the early stages Of the fire as many
oil companies have storages near the
scene Of the fire.
Evening star., 1934-08-22
MRS. GRAPE SEEKS
LIMITED DIVORCE
Claims Husband Refused to Speak
After frequently Swear
ing at Her.

Charging her hubsnad, Theodore S.
Grape, president Of the Bearings Sales
Corp. who, allegedly. has an annual
income of more than $50, 900. gave her
only $40 weekly to run q 12-room
house and buy clothing for herself
and their 8-year-old son, Mrs. Ella B.
Grape filed suit for limited divorce in
District Supreme Court today.
She told the court her husband re-
fused to speak to her and commune
Gated with her through a servant as
part Of a deliberate and avowed
intent" to compel her to leave their
home at 2909 Forty-fourth street,
Wesley Heights. She also alleged that
Grape struck her on one occasion and
frequently swore at her.
Last Winter he gave her $40 to buy
clothing, she stated in the suit, and
then attempted to deduct 1t In So pay
ments from the $50 weekly allowance.
Through Attorney Edmund D. Camp
bell Of the firm Of Douglas. Obear.
Morgan & Campbell, she asks main
tenance and custody of the child.
Evening star., 1934-08-22
Industry Output
For 1888 Totals
S6O,877,356 Here
385 Establishments
Pay Out $780,.
OBJ, Says Report.

Washington manufacturing and
printing and publishing plants in 1888
turned out goods worth $50, 0,877 1856.
Census Director William L. Austin re-
ported today on the basis on a pre-
liminary summary of data collected in
the biennial census Of manufactures.
This total was reported by 385
establishments and the number Of
wage-earners employed by these es-
Establishments in 1888 was 1858"
Austin said. wages paid during the
year amounted to $ll l,206,03l, and
materials, fuel and electric energy
cost $20,862,0 ,060"
The census director revealed that,
because of the necessity for economy,
the bureau was forced to rely more on
mail and telephone reports than on q
personal canvass, and for this reason,
he explained, the number Of establish
ments 'is likely to be somewhat un-
derstated, but it is not believed that
the remaining statistical items are in
complete to any material extent"
In 1881, when the last census was
taken, there were 400 establishments,
8,616 wage earners and total salaries
Of $13,890,762 reported. Similarly,
cost of materials, fuel and electric
energy was placed then at $27, 7,651 ,735,
value of products at $76,917,959 and
value added by manufacture was $40
266 ,224, as compared with SAC, ,025 1896
in 1888.
Evening star., 1934-08-22
RELIEF. HOUSING 9
CONDITION SHOWN
Statistical Survey Reveals
Lack of Adequate and
Sanitary Homes.

Lack Of adequate, sanitary and
otherwise desirable housing for Wash
ington's relief families is described in
detail in the first section of Stats
tical study of the living quarters Of
6,595 clients of the District Relief Ad-
ministration, published today by Leroy
A. Halbert, director of research.
This survey was, in part, the basis
Of a recommendation for the construc-
ton of low-cost housing projects for
relief families, to combat rental
charges made for really uninhab-
table" dwellings, which was an
nounced Monday in summary Of the
study.
Half In Northwest.
The first section of the survey shows
6,595 clients lived in the Northwest
section Of the District. The Southwest
section was second, with 1882 relief
families; the Northeast third; with
$50, and the Southeast last, with SAT.
OF the total, 77.2 per cent were COL
ored and 22.8 per cent white.
All types of houses where relief
clients were quartered came in for
criticism. In fact, 81 per cent were
classed as street-front dwellings and
but per cent as alley dwellings. The
survey report, compiled by Norman T.
McManaway, declared congestion in
some street dwellings was just as seri-
GUS as that found in alley houses.
Physical conditions of many street
dwellings. he added, are quite as de-
plorable as found in alley dwellings.
Most of the families, 76.7 per cent,
were found in row houses, most of
these of brick construction. "At best" +"
the report continued, row houses pro-
vided light from only two directions,
but comparatively few families occu-
that few of them had light and air
from more than one direction"
Apartments quartered the next
largest number, or 1878 per cent.
Many afforded the best accommoda-
tions discovered in the study, but
among these some presented condi-
tions even worse than in small houses.
the report stated. Remodeling had
been employed to multiply the num-
ber of rooms for rent.
The most homelike conditions were
found among detached dwellings,
where per cent of the total lived,
but in some of the houses 80 to 40
years old the worst conditions were
noted, Halbert said. Lack Of sanitary
facilities, running water and sewage
connections we're cited.
Evening star., 1934-08-22
SHARP CUT IS SSEEN
IN UNPAID EEV|ES
D. c. Officials Expectations
Based on Reduction in
Past Fiscal Year.

A major portion of the unpaid real
estate taxes now on the levy books
of the District will be wiped out dur
ing the current year as taxpayers
take up their obligations, District of1-
cials declared today.
This Is based on the record of the
past fiscal year when $2,96l, TOT Of
delinquent real estate levies were paid
off by property owners. This sum,
paid during the year ending June 80,
last, incidentally, is greater than the
amount Of realty taxes which are now
delinquent. y Az
of6cials PROUD Of Record
Z District pfncials expressed them
Seivess tod4y as heifsg rather proud Of
the record OF the local real estate tax
payers during the past hscd year. all
conditions considered
Real property owners paid into the
District Golfers a total Of $18,157,-
83741 in the fiscal year ended June
80. This was $1,661, ,972.54 less than
actual realty tax collections during
the preceding year. But It should be
remembered, officials say, that it had
been estimated that the reduction in
the real estate tax rate last year
from $1.70 to $1.50 was expected to
effect q saving of some $4,000 to
the taxpayers. Hence, the decrease
of $1,661 ,972.54 in total realty tax
collections really is a remarkably good
showing, observers say.
Through misinterpretation Of
these figures, The Star enormously
reported Monday and yesterday that
the amount Of unpaid real estate taxes
at the end of the fiscal year 1884 was
300 per cent greater than for the
fiscal year 1888.
$3,s56,o55 Unpaid Last Year.
At this time last year the reports of
the collector of taxes showed a total
of $3.50, ,055.02 in uncollected realty
taxes, as compared with the total Of
$2,835, ,280.77 Just reported by the col
lector as now being outstanding for
the past fiscal year. Thus the unpaid
realty tax collections now are some
80 per cent less than the total of q
year ago.
A table released Monday by the
collector showed in historical form, by
fiscal years, the amounts of unpaid
realty taxes now on the books. Fol-
lowing the listing of s2,835, ,280.77 for
the fiscal year 1884 was the figure of
1894, ,347.70 for the fiscal year 1888,
leading to the presumption that un-
paid taxes for the past year totaled
some 800 per cent more than for the
preceding year. Of1cials explained
yesterday these were not comparable
figures, since during the year ending
last June 80 the 1886 ,055.02 Of un-
paid 1888 fiscal year taxes has been
reduced to 1894, ,347.70.
Evening star., 1934-08-22
Cut in D. c. Street Light Funds
Works Hardship on Watchmen
Seventh Street Merchants Protest Cut
ting Off Current So Early IN Morn
ing, but La,U Prescribes Hours.

Night wetchmen who have looked
after the safety Of the downtown
stores whiis the city sleeps are carry
ing on their work under added Diff
culties these nights, owing to the
parsimony Of Congress in slicing the
appropriation for street lights.
In the days before the cut, which
went into effect July /, it was pos
sible for them to keep an eye on any
stray prowlers who wandered into
store entrances. They were sharply
silhouetted by the rays from the street
lights. But now one-third of the
street lights are out.
II have been watching the stores on
Seventh street between e and I streets
for 20 years." said A. G. Groves, 608
F street, land it used to be that you
could walk up one side of the street
and see If anybody was tampering
with windows or doors on either side.
Nowadays, with some of the lights out,
you cannot see into the entrances
in there, and unless happen to walk
lignI Llto Lne entrance, ne would pe
safe. ~r'.''
Stumbled Over Drunk.
"On one of my tours the other
night I walked into an entrance and
stumbled over man lying on the
ground, dead drunk. I hadn't seen
him until stumbled over him"
Groves said that the lights were
turned out too early in the morning,
while it is still dark. This Is par
ticularly troublesome on mornings in
bad weather, when 1t remains dark
long after sunrise. especially In Fall
and Winter.
The Seventh Street Business Mems
Association is greatly concerned over
the loss Of illumination downtown. A
letter from its president, C. D. Kauf-
mann, to Commissioner Hazen recent
ly said:
I'VE are given to understand that
Evening star., 1934-08-22
BLAST VICTIM ASKS
/ $4,000 DAMAGES
Highway Engineering G Con-
struction Co. Sued by Mother
Of Daniel Leonard, 49,

Suit for $4,000 against the High
way Engineering g. Construction Co.
of Seventh and T streets northeast
was filed in District Supreme Court
yesterday afternoon by Daniel Leonard,
18, of 1735 Euclid street, one of four
boys burned when an overheated BAR
rel of liquid asphaltic cement exploded
in their hands last october.
According to the suit, the defendant
company was engaged in repairing the
street and left the barrel of cement
and tar furnace on a vacant lot at
Sixteenth and Lamar streets near a
grade school. 1t was said that young
Leonard and some companions saw
several children start brush fire and
were moving the barrel from the path
of the flames when it exploded. hurl-
ing the hot cement in all directions
The court was told the boy was
crippled and suffered burns about the
legs, hands, body and face. The suit
was brought by the boys mother. Mrs.
Agnes R. Leonard, his next friend.
Evening star., 1934-08-22

on the behalf Of ecor1cmE measures
that only 50 per Cent Of the street
li&fts ebarzf al night. ~ conse-
queflce there arises automatically ad-
ditional dangers to property and win
dow breakage. It is not only dam
gerous to the general welfare of prop
erty rights, but works an additional
hardship on the. Police Department
Of this city, for it has been reported
to us that it is practically impossible
for policemen to see into darkened
doorways on various parts of Seventh
street."
Robbery in Early Morning.
The particular reason for their con-
Germ was a robbery from the Kay
Jewelry Co. in the early hours Of the
morning. Mr.. Kaufman said that
according to reports there we're no
lights on Seventh street at 3:20-3:40
am. on the day Of the robbery.
At the District Building today Capt.
Herbert c. Whitehurst said investiga-
ton had shown the lights on Seventh
street were turned OF at 4:32 am.
However, the light Just opposite the
robbed store Is one which has been
permanently turned out due to the
cut In appropriations.
In the 1885 District appropriation
bill Congress allotted $768,50O to the
District for its entire street-l lighting
program, q reduction Of $68, TOO. Even
this was q much smaller cut than the
reduction of $137, 500 first proposed
by the bill as 1t passed the House.
This made it necessary to turn out
certain lights all over the city, about
80 per cent being affected.
1t was impossible to save the money
by turning on lights later or cutting
them of earlier, because Congress has
decreed by law the time, to the very
minute, at which lights shall be
turned on and Of. Fifteen minutes
after sunset and As minutes before
sunrise are the official times. Any
other would be against the law.
Evening star., 1934-08-22
UNSAFE CROSSINGS
HIT BY AUTO CLUB
Overhead Passes for Traffic Asked
in Three Sections by Key
stone Group.

Elimination of three dangerous rail-
road crossings, where life is constantly
in danger in the District was asked
today in statement issued by the
Keystone Automobile Club, which de-
clared that the Michigan avenue
crossing in Brookland, the Bates road
crossing and the Eastern avenue cross
ing in Benning are "a serious menace
to safety"
The keystone Club will make an
appeal for the development of over
head passes over the tracks, the state
ment reads. Their elimination at
this time would be a great stimulus to
safety and would prove constructive
influence in the local employment sit
uation," the statement said.
Two other crossings, in Kensington
and Rockville, Md. were declared un-
safe for the volume of trafflc that
passes over them daily.
Evening star., 1934-08-22
De MILE TO ARRIVE
TOMORROW FOR TALK
Movie Director to Address Ma
tional Press Club at Luncheon
Meeting at 12:45 pm.

Cecil B. DeMille, motion picture
director and pioneer airline operator,
is to arrive at Washington Airport in
his own plane at II am. tomorrow to
address members of the National Press
Club at a luncheon meeting at 12:45
pm.
Mr.. DeMille, although he has had
some experience as a pilot, is being
flown on tour of the country by
Paul Mantz of Burbank, Calf. In
1919, DeMille inaugurated the first
aerial passenger service in California
and during a period of three months
carried 5000 passengers. His trip
here marks the fifteenth anniversary
of his airline pioneering work. He is
coming tomorrow from New York and
expects to leave Friday for Cleveland.
Evening star., 1934-08-22
DISTRICT ASKS j. s.
TO TAKE CONV|CTS
Formally Requests Transfer
of 30 From Lorton and
Nine in City Jail.

The District Commissioners today
formally requested the Department Of
Justice to remove 80 of the prisoners
involved in the recent disturbances at
the District Reformatory at Lorton to
Federal penitentiaries properly equip
ped to handle trouble makers. They
also asked the department to take
nine prisoners from the District Jail,
considered too dangerous to have been
sent to Lorton in the first place.
In order 10 avoid attempts to rescue
the prisoners, the names of those for
whom the Commissioners requested a
transfer were not made public, but
they viii be announced after, the men
are safely Behind the bars OF Leaven-
worth or Atlanta.
Capt. Morris M. Barnard, superin-
tendent of District of Columbia penal
institutions, called on Commissioner
Melvin C. Hazen this morning ac-
companied by Eiwood Street, director
of public welfare. After a long con-
ference, Commissioner Hazen sent
Assistant Corporation Counsel Robert
E. Lynch over to the Department of
Justice to make the request.
Everything Normal.
Capt. Barnard reported everything
at the institution was once more nor
NAL and that prisoners in the tag shop
and foundry were back at work.
These were the only two industries
which did not resume functioning yes
terday after an insipient demonstra-
ton had been nipped Monday morn
ing.
Barnard said some of the men
locked up as trouble makers had al
ready been let out Of the cells on
promises of good behavior, and others
probably would be after he has COM
pleted his questioning of the $50 put
in cells Monday.
He said that aside from sending
80 persons to Federal penitentiaries,
the only punishment which would be
meted out to those who were to have
taken part in the demonstration would
be loss of time off for good behavior.
The punishment would have been
more serious, he said, had the dem
onstration resulted. in any physical
injuries or damage to property.
Will Be Reasonable.
Barnard added that since no prop
erty was destroyed and nobody was
hurt. he would adopt a reasonably
lenient course toward the prisoners.
At the moment 1t Is not planned
to send any more prisoners to Fed
eral institutions. Barnard said he
would see what the psychological re-
action of shipping away the first
batch turned out to be. II 1t Is not
satisfactory, others will be sent later,
he said.
The fact that Barnard left the in
stitution to come to Washington to-
day for the first time since Sunday
was taken to mean he was confident
the situation was now well in hand.
Evening star., 1934-08-22

ner averred. and that said sale wa,
properly approved by a court Of com,
petent Jurisdiction as required by law
Averments of the stockholders thai
expenses of the conservatorship and re-
ceivership were excessive, exorbitan,
and extravagant and that the cost q
organizing the Hamilton Nationa
Bank was borne in large part out d
the assets of the District National
Bank constitute conclusion Of fact,'
said Evans, having no probatiW
value as such, and form no basis fol
equitable relief or for an accounting
and furthermore constitute an att
tempted attack upon the administers
tive action of the controller taken pur-
suant to Judgment and discretion
vested exclusively in him by law"
U. s. oficials' Opinion.
The Government officials declared
the stockholders bill shows thai
stocks and bonds and assets of similar
nature were sold at the current mar,
ket price prevailing at the date oi
delivery, with adjustment for Interest
when interest bearing. Bills receiv'
able were sold at face value with in.
terest adjustments to date of trans
fer. The fact that some of the Sc
curities appreciated in value after ths
sale Is irrelevant"
II a preferential payment was made
TO the Secretary Of War on secured
deposit the controller claims he has
the primary and exclusive right
through the receiver, to maintain an
action to recover such alleged prefer,
ence. No demand upon or refusal By
the controller or the receiver 10 bring
such action Is shown.
Evening star., 1934-08-22
LET SEWER CONTRACT

Construction of the last short sec
ton of the Upper Potomac interceptor
sewer, started years ago, to provide
sewerage connection from Northwest
Washington to the outfall sewer at
Blue Plains, will be started within a
few days.
The Commissioners yesterday award
ed q contract for this work to the
Peter D'Adamo Construction Co.. of
Baltimore, which submitted bid Of
$l3,375.32. The project was made
possible out of the grant Of $1,759, 500
to the District by the Public Works
Administration for sewer improve
ments.
The city heads yesterday also
awarded contract to the Capital Ex-
cavating Co. for grading Of miscel-
laneous streets and alleys. The con-
tract totals $S.41o.
Evening star., 1934-08-22
PILOTS ARE WARNED

All airplane pilots are cautioned to
keep clear Of the Naval Air Station,
Lakehurst. N, j.. between today and
September z because of airplane gun
merry exercises to be conducted daily
except Sundays and Labor day.
The Navy photographic ONCE,
which issued the warning, advised
pilots to be on the watch for naval
aircraft operating in formation or
singly during this period. and to avoid
flying under such planes or directly
over the landing area at Lakehurst,
since the firing is TO be at ground tar
gets.
Evening star., 1934-08-22
CAMP BOYS ENTERTAIN

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md, August
22.-Some of the counsellors and boys
Of Camp Conoy on the Chesapeake.
in Calvert County. operated by the
Baltimore Young Mems Christian As
sociation, gave q minstrel show In the
Prince Frederick Town Hall Monday,
sponsored by st. Paul's Protestant
Episcopal Church School, the proceeds
divided between the camp and the
school. Mr.. l.. d. Cairns of Baltimore
Is director Of the camp, and acted as
interlocutor.
Evening star., 1934-08-22
Language Is Held
Possibility Twixt
Human and Beast
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
The possibility that human be-
ings may be able eventually to
communicate with animals or re-
cord the conversations of birds
and beasts was advanced last
night by George Henry Payne,
member of the Communications
Commission.
He suggested the possibility In
q radio interview.
Payne also repeated prophecy
by David Sarnoff, Radio Corp.
executive, that the time would
come when a man could glance
at his wrist watch and, by
manipulating a spring, telephone
his wife that he could not be
home for dinner. A tiny mouth
piece and a private ultra-short
radio wavefhe said, might make
this possible.
Payne said he could not con-
ceive that the law setting up
the Communications Commission
would result in censorship.
Evening star., 1934-08-22
FIRE DAMAGE $1,000
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
WARRENTON. Va, August o.
Damage estimated at $4,000 was
caused by fire last night in an unfin-
ished house owned by Maurice A. Par
tween Marshall and Rectortown.
The fire broke out in the central
part of the building, upper floor. and
was discovered at II o'clock by neigh
bors who gave the alarm. BY the ef-
forts of the Warrenton Fire Depart
ment the wings of the house were
saved.
Evening star., 1934-08-22
WOMAN DIES OF BURNS
IN FIRE IN APARTMENT
Man Attempted Unsuccessfully
to Rescue Her--Authorities
Seek Relatives.

Mrs. Marguerite Roberts, so, who
was burned yesterday in a fire in her
apartment at 1101 Ninth street, died
in Emergency Hospital last night.
When the fire was discovered, police
reported, an unidentified eolored man
broke open the apartment door and
made an unsuccessful attempt to res
cue Mrs. Roberts. Police wired au-
thorities ct Lynchburg. Va, in an ef-
fort to locate the mother Of the dead
woman.