davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1935-07-03
Pitcher Weaver
Buys Apartment
House in Capital
Irring Street Property
Mere Investment of Ma
tiOnal's Former Star.

Monte Weaver. erstwhile star right
handed pitcher of the Nationals, who
was sent to Albany. was disclosed to-
day as the purchaser of a four-story
apartment house at l473 Irving street.
Monte, according to all reports, and
as indicated by stamps attached to pa
pers filed with the recorder of deeds,
has made an $4,000 purchase 1t
was said he planned to hold the prop
erty as an investment.
The deal was handled by the H. L.
Rust Co. and the VIM. H Saunders
Co. for the purchaser and for Joseph
T. Sherier and Stanley D. Willis,
trustees, who sold the property
The building was erected about six
years ago by Harry M. Bralove, build
er. The building contains 80 apart
ments.
Local real estate agents said they
did not believe the transaction indi-
Gated any intention on the part of
Weaver to quit base ball.
Evening star., 1935-07-03

Traffic regulation changes in the
Washington Monument Grounds and
vicinity, the better to handle the
hundreds of motorists expected to
witness the Independence day cele-
bration tomorrow night, were an
nounced today.
Automobiles will not be permitted
to pass through the Monument
Grounds after 6 pm, with the ex-
ception of the south roadway, north
of the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing, west of Fourteenth street,
where traffic will be permitted west
bound along the Fifteenth street road
way in rear of the bureau. Parking
will be permitted on both sides of the
Fifteenth street roadway at this point
One-way traffic will be In effect
from the east side of the Tidal Basin
from Fourteenth street, west to the
John Paul Jones Statue: Seventeenth
street from Constitution avenue south
to John Paul Jones Statue will be two
way traffic; traffic southbound from
Constitution avenue will be directed
west around Tidal Basin. Parking will
be allowed on both sides of the Tidal
Basin roadway, the Polo Field, Con-
sVtution avenue west Of Seventeenth
Evening star., 1935-07-03
Blast Blamed on Short Circuit;
Deaths of 4 Held accidental
Thermometer Tubing Made Contact
With Transformer Casing, Engineer
SAYS in Report on Explosion.

the thermometer in SUFFICIENT volume
as to ignite and cause intense heat
throughout the vault and in the base
ment Of the building, with disastrous
result as to the lives Of those Involved
in the accident"
Circuit Breaker Acted.
Sager also found that further dis
aster would have resulted had not q
circuit breaker controlling the trans
mission feeders operated promptly to
cut of the power supply. This cir
cult breaker was found to have func-
toned in three-fourths of a second.
The transformer is used to change
power from direct to alternating cur
rent. Similar transformers are in
service at various points in the city.
The transformer was immersed in oil,
the oil being used for cooling the
equipment and also for insulation pur-
poses. The thermometer is used to
show the temperature of the oil which
becomes heated when a heavy current
is carried. The oil is under pressure
of as much as 10 pounds wien 1t ex-
pands and congresses at the top Of
the case
Workmen on the transformer. which
had been installed and tested a few
hours prior to the accident, were
attaching an electrical relay to the
thermometer. to operate in starting a
fan to blow q current of air over the
cooling coils on the side of the trans
former whenever the temperature OF
the oil reached a specified point,
Sager said. In this work the ther-
mometer was unscrewed from the
case. Previously power had been ap-
piled to the transformer and the high
tension coils were "alive."
The explosion was so great 1t lifted
the transformer a few inches and set
it down on the foot of one of the
workmen and an intense flame filled
the whole vault. The fame was SO
intense it burned and later caused
the death Of two workmen who were
standing about 20 feet from the vault
Sager said.
Evening star., 1935-07-03
CHILDREN SAVED
IN EARLY BLAZE
Third Street Fire Causes
Little Damage-Woman,
Sick, Guarded in Bed.

Several children were rescued from
a smoke-filled apartment at 500 Third
street early today by parents and FIRE
men when a small fire In the boiler
room filled the building with smoke.
Some TO occupants of the building
made their way to safety. most of
them via fire escapes.
Nine-year-old Mary Sklerakis. oc-
cupying fourth-floor apartment, was
taken down the fire escape by fire.
man. Meanwhile, her father and sew
eral firemen guarded her grandmother.
Mrs. Nina Hadoukosta. Sc, who was
sick IN bed Although considerable
smoke went into the apartment, fire
men finally decided 1t would not be
necessary to remove her.
Family Of Three Safe.
Harry Granted. 80, and his wife,
Mrs. May Grantell, "a. went down the
fire escape from the third-floor apart
ment with their 4-year -old daughter
Barbara Jean.
Mr.. and Mrs. Raymond Taft. occu-
pying a fourth-floor apartment, went
out on the fire escape with their five
young children, spanned an areaway
and took the children to safety
through the window of an adjoining
building.
Mrs. Annie Wells, occupying a base
ment apartment with her daughter,
Miss Viola Wells. was taken from the
building by flremen.
Rescues Two Cats.
Mrs. Dorothy Williamson, occupying
an apartment on one of the upper
floors, rushed back into the smoke
filled structure with firemen to rescue
her two Persian cats, Blackie and
Freddie.
Mrs. Margaret Perry led her g.
year-old son to safety. The blaze
was discovered by the colored janitor,
j. c. Smith, who sounded the building
alarm. Two fire alarms were turned
in Immediately afterward. Police
placed an early estimate of the damage
at only $3.50.
Evening star., 1935-07-03
D. c. GUARDS LEAVE
FOR FORT MONROE
Advance Party to Prepare
for Arrival of Artillery.
men.

An advance party of the 260th
Coast Artillery, District National
Guard, moved out of Washington
during the early morning hours to-
day headed for Fort Monroe. Va,
where the troops will train this Sum-
mer.
The detachment will prepare the
quarters assigned to the local artil-
lerymen, who will arrive in force Sat-
urday for two-week training period.
In command of the advance party
was Lieut.. Carl Santilli, supply officer.
He and his men travelled in five trucks
and were to proceed by way of Rich
mond. The movement is the first real
test of the regiments new motorized
equipment.
The main body, under command Of
Maj. Walter w. Burns, will mobilize
Saturday morning and leave the city
at am. Their transport consists of
81 new 11a-ton trucks and station
wagons. Passing through Richmond
late in the morning, they are expect
ed to reach Fort Monroe at S pm.
Maj. Stewart M Grayson, senior
medical officer. will accompany the
troops and command the medical de-
tachment.
Anti-aircraft guns assigned to the
unit will not be taken to the Summer
encampments, since armament at
Fort Monroe will be available for
training
Clarence F. Donohoe, president OF
the Southeast Merchants Association
is expected to visit the regiment July
IS to present the silver cup won by
its buglers and drummers in competi-
tion with other local military musical
units in the parade of the Veterans OF
Foreign Wars June "a.
Evening star., 1935-07-03
POLICING PLANNED
FOR VIRGIN ISLANDS
Natives Would Be Organized and
Trained by U. s. Service
CONTINGENT.

The Roosevelt administration has
under consideration program to es-
tablish a native constabulary in the
Virgin Islands.
This was learned today, as a Senate
committee prepared to delve deeper
into the tangled affairs of the Carib-
bean group. Under the plan being
studied, United States Marines, ON
GERS and enlisted men. who have had
experience in that recently-acquired
domain of Uncle Sam. would be sent
down to whip into shape native
force. This would be similar in char
acter to what the Marines already
have done for Haiti, Santo Domingo
and Nicaragua.
Half a dozen officers and around
20 non-commissioned Marines would
be sent down to st. Thomas and st.
Croix, under the tentative program, to
comence the building up of the con-
stabulary, which would be confined to
natives of the Virgin Islands. It is
known that the Bureau of the Budget
has been studying the proposal IN
the past few days.
According to advices reaching
Washington from the islands. the To-
cal police force has fallen into disfa-
vor with certain leaders and there is
q strong element there that desires a
native constabulary. so that the islands
may be more efficiently policed. There
are manv Marine Corps officers and
enlisted men In Washington who have
seen service in the Virgin Islands,
which were under control of the Navy
Department, from the time they were
purchased from Denmark In 1917 un-
til former President Herbert Hoover
transferred them to the Interior De-
partment. 2
Evening star., 1935-07-03
D. c. DIVORCE BILL
STATUS IN DOUBT
FOLLOWING ROW
ParIiamentarians Debate
Issue of Whether Ap-
provaI Given.
FULL COMMITTEE PLANS
MEETING ON JULY 10
If Majority o. K. Was Reached
Prior to II AM, Action
May Be Binding.

The question Of whether the bill
to liberalize the District divorce laws
has been reported out of the Judiciary
Subcommittee Of the House District
Committee continued today to puzzle
parliamentary authorities at the Capt.
tol
Two members of the subcommit-
tee-Representative Carpenter, Demo
crat of Kansas and Brewster, Repub-
lican Of Maine-inSist the measure is
ready to go before the full District
Committee as result of their indorse-
ment. Representative Palmisana,
Democrat Of Maryland, chairman Of
the subcommittee, however, insists
just as strongly that the measure is
still in an unapproved state.
Meeting Set for July 10.
As the situation now stands the
status of the bill is not expected to
be definitely settled until July 10. when
the full District Committee holds its
next meeting and Carpenter and
Brewster attempt to make favorable
report. At that time Chairman No.
ton will be forced to make a rLhng.
Even then, her decision will De sub
lect to appeal and it is possible that
the committee may override it
The solution, it seems, now rests
on the actual time that Carpenter and
Brewster decided to report the bill
favorably. Parliamentary authori-
ties have held that if the action was
taken prior to II am, the time the
House convened yesterday, then the
measure is ready to go before the full
District Committee, despite the fact
that the chairman was not present.
But If their decision came a second
after that, then their action is auto
matically nullif1ed by House rules
which forbid committees from Off
cially passing on bills after the House
convenes without first having House
approval.
Time Important Factor.
Whether a time check was kept on
the meeting is not known Carpen-
ter, nevertheless, expects 70 produce
witnesses to show that their decision
vas reached before II am.
The controversy over the status Of
the bill is due to Palmisanos action
in abruptly adjourning hearing and
Walking out of the committee room in
protest against what he described as
the attempt of Carpenter and Brew
ster to railroad" it out Of the sub
committee.
Palmisano has been charged by
Carpenter with dilatory tactics in
handling the bill.
Evening star., 1935-07-03
ENLARG|NGSYPHAX
SCHOOL IS SOUGHT
Washington Housing Group
Sees More Pupils in Hous.
ing Project.

Enlargement of the Syphax School
to provide for expansion Of the school
population in its vicinity expected to
result from the Governments low-cost
housing project in Southwest WASH
ington should be started in the Fall.
the Commissioners have been advised
by the Washington Committee on
Housing. a civic group Of which Mrs.
Franklin D. Roosevelt is honorary
chairman.
The new low-cost housing for COL
ored families is to be built in the area
bounded by Half, Canal, P and M
streets southwest. The committee told
the Commissioners the development is
expected to add $50 more colored
families to the section, resulting in
an addition Of about 200 children to
the enrolment of the Syphax and
the Anthony Bowen Schools.
In a letter signed by Clarence
Phelps Dodge, chairman of the Hous-
ing Committee, the body proposes that
the Commissioners ask Congress for a
supplemental appropriation to provide
six additional class rooms, two rooms
for industrial arts and crafts, a gym
nasium, an auditorium with a seating
capacity of between 300 and 400 and
six small administration and equip
ment rooms, as an addition to the
Syphax School.
Commissioner Hazen Is inclined to
believe the housing project will not
increase school population of the sec
ton as much as now estimated and
that the new housing may not be fin-
ished and occupied as soon as plan
ned. He believes the Commissioners
should consider expansion of the
school in development of the 1887
budget, rather than to ask Congress
now for a supplemental appropriation.
Evening star., 1935-07-03
CAPITAL LEADS NATION
IN FOOD PRICE DROP
O.S of l Per Cent Recorded Here
for Two Weeks Ending June
1S, Says Bureau.

Food prices in Washington declined
eight-tenths of l per cent for the
two weeks ending June 18 and a food
price decline of six-tenths of per
cent was registered for the same
period for the entire country. accord
ing to the price index issued by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The greatest drop in any one food
item for the period was on cabbage.
which is now selling 10 per cent less.
and bananas we're next with a cut of
81 per cent. Butter declined 2.5 per
cent,
Almost without exception beef
changed to slightly lowered prices,
with rib roast taking the biggest
cut-1.3 per cent. Sliced bacon in
creased 1.3 per cent and pork chops
went up IA per cent. These percent
ages are for the country as a whole
and vary slightly in Washington.
Evening star., 1935-07-03

A short circuit established acci-
dentally during work on a thermome'
ter caused the explosion of the power
full transformer in the basement o,
the Potomac Electric Power Co. Build
ing last Saturday, which resulted In
the death of four men and the IN
jury Of others, investigating ofllcials
reported late yesterday.
The report was submitted to the
Public Utilities Commission by Fred
A. Sager, its chief engineer. Coroner
A. Magruder Macdonald concurreo
in the finding and declared the deaths
accidental He waived the holding
of inquests.
Walter E. Kern, District electrical
engineer. and j. S. Zehley, chief elec-
trical inspector, also made the same
finding.
Situation Re-enacted.
Ofhcials found evidence to believe
that a short circuit resulted when
the tubing attached to thermometer
accidentally touched the case OF the
transformer and one of the high
tension terminals inside the case
Re-enacting the supposed situation
prior to the blow-up, officials found
burned spots on the thermometer tube
and the case and terminals in con-
tact when the instrument was held
at an angular position.
Sager informed the commission:
From the inspections of the equip
ment and from the operating records
and conditions noted, conclude that
as result of the accidental contact
of the metallic thermometer tube with
one high tension terminal and the
transformer case a short circuit Of
large amperage occurred, resulting In
volitization of oil in an explosive man.
ner. burning of the metallic parts ano
resulting metallic vapor spreading the
short circuit to all three terminals ol
the transformer, thus increasing the
heat and with increased volitiZation oi
oil and ignition of oil vapor or gas
resulting in the explosion, the oi
spraying out of the hole prepared fol
Evening star., 1935-07-03
PUBLIC WELFARE
HEADS REELECTED
Number of Committees Is
Cut From 8 to q in New
Organization.

Frederick W. McReynolds has been
reelected chairman of the Board of
Public Welfare. Elwood Street, director,
announced today. Other officers of the
body also we're sre-elected.
Judge Michael NJ. Doyle will serve
another term as vice chairman and
Mrs. Charles A. Goldsmith another
term as secretary.
The number of committees of the
board has been reduced from eight to
four, with consequent realignment
OF institutions under their supervision.
The four new committees are Public
Assistance, Penal and Correctional In
stitutions, Child Welfare and Medical
Service. The four other committees
which have been abolished are Home
Care for Dependent Children, Feeble
Minded and Insane, Miscellaneous In
stitutions and Social Conditions Com
mittees.
The following were assigned to the
four new committees: Public Assist
ance, Mrs. Goldsmith, chairman, and
DR.. Frederic w. Perkins, Mrs. Spencer
Gordon, DR.. H. J. Crosson and Mrs.
Coralie Franklin Cook; Penal and
Correctional Institutions. Judge Doyle
chairman, and DR.. Worth B. Daniels
and Mrs. Gordon; Child Welfare. DR..
Perkins, chairman, and Mrs Goldsmith,
Mrs. Cook and Dr.. Crosson, and
Medical Service, DR.. Crcsson, chair
man, and DR.. Daniels and Judge
Doyle.
The Public Assistance Committee
will have supervision over the public
assistance division formerly emer-
gency relief. home care division,
municipal lodging house and the
Temporary Home for Ex-Soldiers
Sailors and Marines. The Penal Com
mittee will supervise the jail, work
house. reformatory and the National
Training School for Girls. The Child
Welfare Committee will supervise the
child welfare division. Industrial Home
School, Industrial Home School for
Colored Children, and the Receiving
Home for Children. The Medical
Service Committee will supervise Ga.-
linger Hospital. tuberculosis Hospital
Children's tuberculosis Sanatorium
District Training School for Feeble
Minded, Home for Arged and Inflrm
and the permit Office.
Evening star., 1935-07-03
BANDIT REWARDS OFF

The Justice Department has quit
putting a price on public enemies
hunted by the "G-men." One year
ago, Congress handed Attorney Cen
eral Cummings $25.000 for this pur-
pose. Since then, $1,000 has been
paid-for the death of John Dillinger.
At present, at least IA kidnap sus-
poets are being sought, but aides OF
the Attorney General say there are
no plans to offer public rewards from
the 5000 fund. They assert there
is some doubt whether it could be
used now. for q new fiscal year has
started since it was made available
June 23, 1884. =
Evening star., 1935-07-03
Church Plans Parade.

The annual street parade will for
mally open the st. Gabriel's Church
carnival Monday night, it has been
announced by James w. Gessford, di-
rector general of the carnival, which
will run through July 20. Thomas A.
Mcnamara of Baltimore Is attending
to details for the parade. The car
nival will be held on the school
grounds, Just Of CVant Circle.
Evening star., 1935-07-03
X-RAY AIDS "G-MEN"

The "G-men" do not intend to be
blown up if modern science can pre-
vent it. Director J. Edgar Hoover Of
the Federal Bureau of Investigation
demonstrated today an X-ray eye
which detects bombs or guns in pack
ages without the danger of opening
them.
Inventors with gadgets that can
help cope with criminals always find
Q welcome at Hoo3sr's headquarters.
Evening star., 1935-07-03
DELIVERY MAN ROBBED
1874 Taken From Man With
Liquor for Apartment House.

Lesser Mccoy, colored, was robbed
of s754 last night when he was held
up by man while making a liquor
delivery in an apartment house in the
1900 block of Fourteenth street. The
robber had called the store where
Lesser worked requesting the liquor
and change for a $40 bill.
Another robbery was reported to po-
lice last night, the victim, William
Earl Bryan. of 1905 Park road, report
ing that two men held him up at
Eleventh and Lamont streets and
robbed him of $26.
Evening star., 1935-07-03
WARNING TO FISHERMEN

RoacheS Run Anglers to Be Ar
rested, Gartside Announces.
Those who are fishing illegally
in Reaches Run on the Mount Ver-
non Memorial Highway were warned
yesterday by Frank T. Gartside. acting
superintendent of the National Capt.
tol Parks, that they would be arrested
and taken before the United States
commissioner at Alexandria, Va, who
will impose sentence upon them.
Gartside has received numerous
complaints recently about persons
fishing in Reaches Run, despite the
mo Fishing sign displayed there.
Evening star., 1935-07-03
ART TREATY RATIFIED
Senate Action Perfects Agree
ment for Protection in War.

ment Tor Protectlon IN war.
The Senate today ratified a treaty
signed April IS by the 81 American
republics looking toward protection Of
libraries, art galleries, cathedrals and
other artistic or scientific institutions
or historic monuments in time of war.
The treaty embodies the "Roerich
pact" initiated by the Roerich Mu-
scum of the United States, providing
for the universal adoption of a flag
to preserve all nationally and pri-
vately owned immovable monuments
in time of danger.
Evening star., 1935-07-03
MCCORMACK BILL O. KID
House Committee Approves Move
to End Watch Smuggling.

co Guu WdICH oHU6 8 1IHB'
Drastic steps to break up the watch
smuggling racket we're approved yes
terday by the powerful House Ways
and Means Committee.
It submitted for House action the
Mccormack bill, providing for destruc-
ton, instead of auction sales. Of hum
dreds of thousands of smuggled
watches seized annually.
As described by Representative Nc
Cormack, Democrat, of Massachu-
sets, the racket Is to order lots of
non-duty paid watch movements, tip
of customs oficials, and buy the
seized goods at Federal auctions for
less than the duty.
Evening star., 1935-04-13
i. S. DUST FUNDS
CHEERAR|D REGION
Hopkins Authorizes Cash
for Five States as
Wheat Hits ST.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Release of Federal relief funds for
dust control work cheered residents
OF the Midwest's drought area today
as short crop reports influenced wheat
in q rise to the dollar-a- -bushel mark
at Chicago and silt clouds whipped
up by the Spring winds spread afar.
Payment for tractor fuel-at the
rate of 10 cents an acre-and the use
of relief workers was authorized by
Administrator Harry L. Hopkins in
the relatively small affected region.
The Federal funds and labor will
be used on projects in Kansas, Texas.
New Mexico, Colorado and Nebraska.
Strip listing already is under way in
Kansas, the project being financed by
a previous s25o,00o allotment.
Damage Survey Begun.
Seeking to withdraw arid areas from
agricultural production, the Depart
ment of Agriculture projected sur
vey of the damage. Plans under con-
sideration call for withdrawal of be-
tween 50,000,000 and 100,000.000
acres for grazing, forest planting, rec
reation and wild life.
F. K. Reed, Federal crop statisti-
clan at Topeka, Kans, said that West
ern Kansas wheat farmers should re-
ceive in round numbers s15,000,000
this year in Government payments.
More millions are counted on by
wheat farmers in the other affected
States. Additional funds were sought
to make possible gigantic listing pro-
gram, creating high burrows intended
to toss the dust-laden winds upward
and break them up.
Health Measures Taken.
Cary T. Grayson, chairman Of the
American Red Cross, said nursing
service would be furnished communi-
ties where illness has resulted from
the dust.
At Dodge City, Kans., physicians re-
ported after a careful check-up that
harmless hay bacillus was the worst"
germ they could find in the dust clouds
which have rolled over Western
Kansas. They added, however, that
lung irritation by dust could be seri-
ous and may have been responsible
for several measles cases that turned
into pneumonia.
Pessimism over the wheat outlook in
the dust area of Western Kansas,
Continued on Page 2, Column -