Evening star., 1937-01-02
CHRON|CLER LISTS
YEAR'SH|GHL|GHTS
Oldest Inhabitants Associa-
ton Hears Review by
J. c. Proctor.

J. c. Proctor.
Declaring that during the past year
the District Of Columbia had to take
the bitter" as well as the sweet"
John Clagett Proctor, chronicler Of
the Association of Oldest Inhabitants,
yesterday reviewed high lights Of 1896,
and interspersed into his record. trag-
edy. pathos and many chuckles OF
characteristic humor. He spoke at
the New Year meeting of the asso-
citation In Old Union Engine House.
1.-THE boundary dispute between the
District and Virginia." he said, still
was officially undecided, though the
commission reported adversely to the
District, as the most intelligent might
have suspected.
"The street car service is just as
bad as ever, and the 80 deaths from
traffic accidents has brought sorrow
to many homes" he said. But taking
the bitter with the sweet, it is all one
could expect the Lord to give U.s."
Pointing to new developments in the
long pending question of fiscal rela-
tions between the District and Federal
governments, Mr.. Proctor outlined the
hopeful steps now under way through
the Presidents new special commit
tee of experts, to reach new recon-
mendation on the proposed payment
by the Federal Government toward
upkeep of the Nations Capital. Theo-
dore W. Noyes, president of the Oldest
Inhabitants, was praised for leading
the fight for fiscal equity.
Proctor traced the changes made by
the last Congress in the Federal pay
ment, which had been cut by the House
to $2,700, 900, and then brought back
up to s5,000,OO0 for this fiscal year.
Political Equity Question.
Linking this question with political
equity for residents of Washington, Mr..
Proctor reported on the renewed re-
quest to Congress for national repre-
sentation during the past year. and
pointed to the Democratic convention
resolution which asked Congress to in
vestigate the question Of suffrage Tor
the District. On election day in No
vember. the chronicler said, the vote
less District people were not per-
mitted to take part in this great
American event."
Proctor INDUCED in a bit Of gentle
irony about two different cases OF
false fire alarms during the past two
years. He reported how two young
men charged with turning in 20 false
alarms on January "a, had their per-
sonal bonds taken in six cases, we're
given one suspended sentence. ~
cases dropped and the record marked
Senator Davis interested"
Referring later to a laborer, father
Of six children. convicted Of turning
In one false alarm and committed to
Jail, Proctor said: "It Is quite prob
able If he had pulled 90 false alarms,
and had enjoyed the friendship Of
Senator Davis, the case would have
been marked Senator Davis in
terested.'"
Walter Johnson's Loss.
Proctor provoked humorous discus
sion with his remark that when Wal
ter johnson, base ball pitcher last
year threw q dollar across the Rap
pahannock, 1t went with such speed
that 1t changed into a 50-cent
piece"
John B. Dickman wanted to know
how the dollar got "devalued" so
quickly, but Proctor declined to ex-
plain. referring the problem to Secre-
tary Of Treasury Morgenthau.
The chat between President Roose-
welt, victor, and ALI Landon, van
quished, at the White House recently
prior to the Gridiron dinner was
characterized by the chronicler, as
indicative of real American spirit.
The King Edward-Wallis Simpson ro-
nance stirred Proctor to poetry.
During the year here. the chroni-
eler said, one blind peanut vender"
was arrested and fined IS for selling
peanuts behind the White House,
while a "two-eyed peanut vender was
allowed to sell peanuts in front of the
White House"
Generally. Proctor touched on prin-
cipal events both in the District Of
Columbia and abroad, including the
Spring food, the Spanish war, defeat
Of Representative Thomas Blanton,
suicide of Representative Zioncheck
and the conquest Of Ethiopia. He was
accorded a vote Of appreciation from
the association and his chronicles
were ordered put into the archives
Of the association.
Banquest Discussed.
The annual banquet Of the asso-
ciation In December. when the ques-
tons Of fiscal and political equity Of
this city were discussed. and hope Of
betterment expressed for the near
future, was termed by several at the
meeting yesterday as the most sue
cessful ever held by the organization.
The association authorized a spe-
cial committee, headed by Jesse C..
Suter. and enlarged by the addition
Of Mr.. Proctor and Charles A. Lang
ley. to investigate further a new heat
ing system for the Old Union Engine
House. and to proceed with installa-
ton Of one. not to exceed $500 in
cost, after approval of President
Eoyes. who presided.
J. Eliot Wright reported to the
association, both as secretary and
treasurer. The annual report of John
r. Mahoney as financial secretary
Vas recorded.
Public Health Nurse Named.
I,EONARDTOWN Md january .