davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1937-02-23
ROOSEVELT SIGNS
BILL TO PROVIDE
AUDITORIUM STUDY
Commission of Five Will
Consider Questions of
Site and Cost.
DIRECTED TO SPEED
REPORT TO CONGRESS
Ickes Proposes Structure Be
Named in Honor of Thomas
Jefferson.
BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG

President Roosevelt today signed the
bill sponsored in the Senate by Ma
Jor1ty Leader Robinson of Arkansas
creating the Capital Auditorium Com
mission.
This commission, to be composed of
five members, will make a study of the
question of a site for a huge and
magnificent auditorium for Washing
ton and at the same time will study
the possible cost of such a project
and recommend what portion of the
cost should be borne by the Federal
Government and what by the District
government.
This commission is directed in the
bill to report to Congress as soon as
possible.
Proposal for Name.
Those who have been sponsoring
an auditorium such as is contem-
plated have suggested that it be
known as the Thomas jefferson Me-
mortal Auditorium This idea was
first advanced by Secretary of In
terror IckeS, whose Office has super.
vision over the Office of Public Build
ings and Parks and has the indorse-
ment Of a large number of citizens
as well as numerous members of the
House and Senate. President Roose-
welt, who is anxious to see the Ma.
tional Capital have an adequate audi
tor1um, is favorable to the proposal
OF having this building named in
honor of the third President.
The Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Commission, which was created about
two years ago, already has approved
drawings for memorial to be located
on the south shore of the Tidal Basin
on a line directly south of the White
House. While this commission has
no objection to Washingtons obtaining
such an auditorium as is proposed, it
dlSapproved OF the suggestion to make
the auditorium serve as the Nations
monument TO Jefferson in the National
Capital. The commission insisted that
the memorial should be of an archi-
tectural beauty comparable to or even
greater than the Lincoln Memorial.
Auditorium Committee.
The Auditorium Commission of five
as named in the act itself are Secre-
| tary of the Interior Ickes, Senator Con-
nally of Texas, chairman of the Senate
Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds; Senator Austin of Vermont,
ranking minority member of that com.
mittee; Representative Lanham Of
Texas, chairman of the House Com
mittee on Public Buildings and
Grounds. and Representative Taylor
of Tennessee. ranking minority men,
Der of the House Committee.
Evening star., 1937-02-23
F. A. SEBRING RITES
SET FOR TOMORROW
st. Johns Rector to Conduct
Funeral Service for Police
Court Clerk,

Funeral services for Francis A. Sc
bring. n, clerk of Police Court for the
last 80 years. who died yesterday at
his home, 1920 Colorado avenue, after
a two-month illness, will be held at
his house tomorrow at 2 pm Rev.
Oliver j. Hart, rector of st. Johns
Church. will officiate.
Burial will be in Congressional
Cemetery. where both church and
Masonic blue lodge services will oe
conducted. Eight Masonic pallbear-
ers will serve, two being from Temple.
Noyes Lodge, of which Mr.. Sebring
was past master, Collin Guy and
Adolphe GUIDE He was thirty-third
degree Mason.
An employe of the court for more
than 40 years, Mr.. Sebring would
have been retired March in recogni-
ton of a request made by him to Pre-
siding Judge John P. Mcmahon last
month.
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Carrie
H. Sebring; two daughters. Mrs.
Stephen o. Ford of this city and Mrs.
George p. Plummer of Rockville, Md.
and two sisters. Mrs. Celia Sebring
Knoeppel of Nashville, Tenn, and
Mrs. Libbie Doremus of Newton Gen.
ter, Mass.
Evening star., 1937-02-23
DINNER TO HONOR
DR.. |. H. TAYLOR
New Head of Visiting Staff
of SibIey Hospital to Be
Guest Monday.

A testimonial dinner in honor of
DR.. Lewis Harvie Taylor, newly elected
president of the visiting staff of Sibley
Memorial Hospital, will be given by
members Of the staff at 8 pm. next
Monday at the Mayfower Hotel
DR.. Taylor is nationally known as a
surgeon and as the author of numerous
papers on surgery. He was born near
Richmond on July 26. 1875. and re-
ceived his early education in the public
schools of the District. He graduated
In medicine from Columbian Medical
College. now George Washington Med
ical School.
Taught at G. w. U.
After serving as an inferno at ST.
Elizabeth's Hospital, DR.. Taylor be-
came resident physician in 1904 at
George Washington University Hospi-
tai. For two years he was assistant
professor in surgery there and later
became associate professor Of surgery
in the medical school. Since 1911 he
has been attending surgeon at George
Washington and Casualty Hospitals.
He is past president of the American
Therapeutic Society and for the past
i've years has been chairman of its
council. Since 1880, he has been chair
man Of the Medical Council of Sibley
Memorial Hospital. He has been for
years a member of the District of Co
lumbia Medical Society
Almas Temple Member.
DR.. Taylor also is past president of
the University Club, a member of
Lebanon Lodge, No. Z, Masons. and
of the Scottish Rite, and a member Of
Almas Temple.
Among those expected at the dinner
are John Oliver La Gorce, vice presi-
dent of the National Geographic So
ciety; DR.. william Gerry Morgan. past
president of the American Medical
Association; DR.. Walter Andrew Bloc
dorm. acting dean Of George Washing
ton Medical School; Very Rev. Arthur
A. O'Ieary, S. j., president Of George
town University; Rear Admiral P. S
Rossiter, surgeon general of the Navy;
DR.. william A. White, superintendent
Of st. EliZabeth's Hospital; Surg.
Gen. Thomas Parran, United States
Public Health Service; DR.. Arthur c
Christie, president Of the board Of
trustees of American University: Hugh
D. Miser, president of the local board
of directors for Sibley Hospital.
Evening star., 1937-02-23

habilitation Corp, Government agency
in charge Of the colony, had entered
suit in United States District Court
at Anchorage to oust Mrs. Ruddell
and her seven children from the 80
acre Ruddell farm. The Government
charged Ruddell was the most expen-
sive colonist there, costing $4,000 to
date.
Ruddell, in Washington after trip
Of several thousand miles from Alaska,
said everything was going to be all
right and his conference here had
paved the way for settlement Of his
own differences, as well as those OF
other colonists. The issues included
prices for food, feed and farm imple-
mentS and the amount coloniSts are to
pay On their debts to The Government.
Evening star., 1937-02-23

bia Heights Business Mems Associa-
tion, serving as chairman of its recent
annual banquet: belonged to the
Hiram Lodge of Masons at winchester,
Va; the knights Templar, the Mys-
tic Shrine and Lincoln Post of the
American Legion. He served in the
Army Engineer Corps during the
World War, rising to the grade of ser
geant.
Surviving him are his widow, Mrs
Alma K. Lemley, and three sons, Theo-
dore Frederick Lemley, William Kerr
Lemley and John Edgar Lemley, this
city, and his parents of Stephens City.
Funeral services were held early
this afternoon at his late residence.
with Rev. DR.. Carl C. Rasmussen Of
Luther Place Memorial Church on
ciating The body will be taken to
Stephens City for burial there tomor-
row.
The list of active pallbearers in
eludes DR.. w. v. Connors, George
Ford, William F. Dismer, Albert Brick,
Leslie Rucker and Walter Gray.
Evening star., 1937-02-23
LOCAL S. A. R. SOCIETY
OPPOSES COURT PLAN
Resolutions Adopted at Meeting.
Judge Josiah A. Van 0rsdel
Discusses Constitution.

Resolutions opposing President
Roosevelt's proposal to increase the
membership of the Supreme Court
were adopted yesterday by the District
Society. Sons Of the American Revo-
luton.
Before considering the resolutions.
copies of which were sent to the Presi-
dent and the Judiciary Committees
of the Senate and House, the group
heard Judge Josiah A. Van Orsdel,
District Court Of Appeals. discuss the
Constitution without reference to the
proposed court changes.
The resolutions urged that the Su-
Teme Court personnel remain intact
and charged that the Presidents pro-
posal was an effort to bring the judi
ciary under the control Of the execu-
tive branch of the Government"
Evening star., 1937-02-23
GUILTY PLEA MADE.
BYLAYT0N IN CASE
OF PERSH|NG BUST
Admits Improper Solicitation
of FundS-0ther Charges
May Be Dropped.
MAXIMUM SENTENCE
OF 10 YEARS FACED
Defendant Accused Of Signing
Gen. Squiers' Name to
$4,000 Letters.

Charged with improper solicitation
of funds to purchase a bust Of Gen.
John j. Pershing, which was to be
given to the Nation, Alfred M. Layton
pleaded guilty when brought before
Justice James M. Proctor for trial in
District Court today.
Layton entered guilty pleas on two
counts Of Six-count indictment. The
remaining four counts, according to
Assistant United States Attorneys
Walter M. Shea and George E. Nc
Neil, will be dropped. Layton faces a
possible Jail sentence of 10 years.
The prisoner, in his guilty plea. ad-
mitted sending letters soliciting funds
to Paul D. Cravath, prominent New
York attorney.
$4,000 Letters Mailed.
Layton was engaged by the late Maj.
Gen. George o. Squier to solicit funds
from a restricted group Of individuals
for the purchase of the bust, which
was to be turned over to the National
Gallery Of Art. The Government con-
tended that Layton went beyond the
scope of his instructions and signed
Squier's name to some 10000 letters
mailed to wealthy persons soliciting
contributions
Gen. Squier. it was said. did not
know of these solicitations, and after
his death his executor purchased the
bust with funds from the generals
estate and presented it to the gallery.
After he had been indicted and re-
leased on $4,000 bond, Layton left the
city and was fugitive for two and a
half years. He was arrested last July
80 in Atlantic City after he had been
recognized by a Washington attorney.
Bust Work Of Dykaar.
The bust was the work of Moses
Dykaar. famous sculptor, who since
has died. 1t is said to be the only
bust of himself which Gen. Pershing
approved.
Among the well-known names found
in Layton's correspondence files were
those of Daniel Willard, president of
the Baltimore g. Ohio Railroad; the
late Gen. w. w. Atterbury, president
Of the Pennsylvania Railroad; Roger
w. Straus, New York financier;
Charles G. Dawes. former Vice Presi-
dent; Andrew w. Mellon, former Sec
retary of the Treasury; the late
Adolph Ochs. publisher of the New
York Times; Alfred P. Sloan, jr.,
president of General Motors Corp;
Charles NJ Schwab. steel magnate:
Ogden L. Mills. former Secretary OF
the Treasury, and former Gov. Alfred
e. Smith.
Evening star., 1937-02-23
PLEA FOR $83O,0QO
ADDITIONAL RELIEF
FUND IS REFUSED
No Prospect of Money at
This Session, Hazen
Tells Welfare Units.
URGES LARGER AMOUNT
BE GOAL FOR NEXT YEAR
Budget Bureau Informally De-
clined to Consider Request, Com.
missioners Tell Civic Leaders.

Petitions by public and private well
fare leaders for supplemental dis
trict relief appropriation of s83o,oOo
for the remainder of this fiscal year
we're turned down today by the Com
missioners.
Commissioner Hazen announced
there was no prospect of obtaining ap-
proval of the request at this session OF
Congress and advised the delegation
representing private charitable groups
to work for larger appropriation 1or
the next fiscal year.
At conference between the Com
misSioners and spokeSmen for the prl-
vate welfare organizations 1t was stated
that the Budget Bureau informally had
declined to consider the requested ad-
ditional $3.50, 900 appropriation.
Sum Sought Months Ago.
The additional sum was asked sew
eral months ago by the Board OF
Public Welfare, but the Commission
ers delayed action until today. The
sum was intended to provide aid for
1000 cases which were stricken from
! the direct relief list early last Sum-
mer when it was found that they
were technically classed as employ
able
Some of the money also was in
tended to permit an increase in the
budget of persons on direct relief
during the Winter months. when costs
of fuel, clothing and other necessi-
ties increase.
Hazen said the Winter now is
nearly over and there is virtually no
prospect of obtaining approval In
the next place, everybody knows the
District has no money. Already we
are facing large deficit at the end
of this fiscal year, June 30.'
Budget Bureau Position.
The Commissioners have not for
mally asked the Budget Bureau to
permit them to send the supplemental
request to Congress. Informally, the
subject was discussed with Budget
Bureau officials, who have charge of
District appropriation requests. We'll
fare leaders have been advised a bu-
reau spokesman has said he would
not consider giving approval to the
request.
Attending the conference today
were Coleman Jennings. Mrs. William
Kittle, Maj Campbell c. johnson and
Mrs. William A. Roberts, executive
secretary Of the Council of Social
Agencies.
Evening star., 1937-02-23
SWEENEY IS HELD
IN CAB DUMPING
Remanded to Grand Jury.
Gang Link Theory Not
Sustained.

Morris Sweeney, 90, of 1892 Thir-
teenth street, was ordered held for the
grand jury under $500 bond when ar
raigned in Police Court today on a
charge of destroying private property
as a result Of the finding Of a battered
taxicab in the Potomac River last
Wednesday.
Nothing was developed through testi-
mony to sustain the police theory that
the cab, owned by Clair A. Kensinger,
1928 Pennsylvania avenue, was pushed
into the river as q reprisal by gam
blers who mistakenly believed Ken.
singer had tipped off" authorities
concerning the operations of an al
legged numbers" syndicate
Cab Found After Raid.
The cab was found the morning after
raid on the headquarters of the So
called syndicate, located in the building
where Kensinger lives.
KenSinger told the court he was
awakened about $50 am. when he
heard a noise in the driveway adjoin-
ing his home. He said he saw four or
five men moving his cab and later saw
it pushed away by another machine.
He said he then went back to bed.
Park Policeman Melvin Leech said
his attention was called to the presence
of the overturned taxi in the Potomac,
near the Titanic Memorial, by q group
Of p. w. A. workers. Tracks of two
machines led across the grass to the
point where the taxi had been showed
into the water, he testified
Auto Tag Found.
Leech said an automobile tag, which
later was found listed to a car Sweeney
allegedly owned, was picked up from
the snow in the middle of the auto
mobile tracks. The license plate was
discovered by Third Precinct Detective
John P. Meshkoff, it was testified.
Sweeney denied ownership Of the
car in question, but an automobile
salesman testified he sold the machine
to Sweeney.
Judge Walter j. Casey ordered
Sweeney held on prima facie evidence,
although his attorney, Myron G. Ehr-
Itch, claimed testimony did not reveal
Sweeney had been in the vicinity Of
the park nor had he been identified as
one Of the men Kensinger saw pushing
the taxi.
Evening star., 1937-02-23
RETIRED EMPLOYE
OF u. S. is BURNED
Miss Anna Brown, ", in Serious
Condition-Injured by Fire
in Kitchen.

Miss Anna E. Brown, II, retired
employe of the Post Office Department.
was in a serious condition today at
Casualty Hospital from burns received
last night when the flame from q
match she was using to light the gas
started q blaze in q collection Of
clothes and old papers.
Cropping in the dark for the Jet, 1t
was probable that the match Miss
Brown held ignited some dresses and
the flames spread to the papers.
In fighting the fire. Miss Brown was
burned about the face, arms and legs.
Cal O'Donnell, 1923 Michigan ave-
nue. northeast, who detected the
flames, forced his way into the room
and carried Miss Brown to the street
after beating out the blaze.
Evening star., 1937-02-23
CLARENCE B. BROWN, 63,
VETERAN OF '98, DIES
Hagerstown Cigar Manufacturer
Buried in Arlington-Was
Native of CAPITAL.

Clarence Burkett Brown, SO, Hagers-
town, Md, cigar manufacturer and a
native Of Washington, died in Mount
Alto Hospital Friday after an illness
OF two years.
Mr.. Brown, a Spanish-American
War veteran, was the son of Winfield
Scott and Sarah K. Brown and lived
here for many years before moving to
Hagerstown. He served with the Sd
Virginia Volunteers in the Spanish
War.
He Is survived by his widow, Mrs.
Anna Barbara Brown; daughter,
Miss Julia Kate Brown; two sons,
Charles Albert and Winfield Scott
Brown, both of the United States
Army; four sisters, three brothers and
one grandchild.
Services were held with military
honors at the grave in Arlington Ma
tional Cemetery at noon today.
Evening star., 1937-02-23
DOZEN HURT HERE
IN HOLIDAY TRAFFIC
Children Among Injured in
Auto Crashes in D. c.
and Nearby.

Nearly a dozen persons-one an
18-month-old baby-were injured in
traffic accidents during the last "a
hours during heavy holiday travel in
the District and on nearby highways.
None was believed critically hurt.
One of the most seriously injured
was Laurence Battista, S. Of 2716
Twenty-seventh street. who suffered
fractured pelvis when he was knocked
down on Woodley road in front of
Wardman Park Hotel He was taken
to Emergency Hospital.
Nathan w. Walker, so, Of Gathers
burg, Md, and ACHE Wilson, 20, Of
1867 Monroe street, were treated at
Georgetown Hospital for head in
juries after their machine collided
with a parked car in the 5000 block
of Wisconsin avenue.
Woman Is Injured.
Mrs. Georgia McGawan 81, Of 5729
Ninth street, required treatment for
scalp lacerations and shock at Emer-
gency Hospital after she was struck
at Seventh street and Pennsylvania
avenue.
Annie Bishop. 8, of 323 Seventeenth
street southeast. suffered conclusion
when police were told she ran be-
tween parked cars near her home
and was hit by a machine. eH 5
taken to Gallinger Hospital.
Margaret Pitoni, 20, and Guido
Pitoni, 18 months, were cut and
bruised when the car in which they
were riding, driven by Venanzio p.
Pitoni, "a, of 1890 w street south
east, was in collision with another
automobile at Fifteenth and v streets
southeast. They were treated at
Casualty.
Three other Washingtonians were
injured early today when their auto
mobile struck a tree on the Washing
Baltimore Boulevard at Laurel,
Md.
Taken to Emergency Hospital,
Henry F. Alt, %, of 414 K street, was
treated for a fractured jaw and
abrasions to the right leg. Police said
he was the driver of the car.
Five-year-old Joyce Hanley, daugh-
ter Of Joseph Hanley. Hyattsville. was
in a fair" condition at Casualty
Hospital today, where she was taken
after she had been struck by a street
car near her home yesterday. Thrown
from the track by the trolley's cow
catcher, the child suffered brain con-
cussion, possible skull fracture and
abrasions Of the legs and chest.
Evening star., 1937-02-23

driving by. Taken to Emergency
Hospital in the taxicab of Charles
Hinton. the boy was believed to have
fractured skull and perhaps internal
injuries.
Turned on its side the damaged
wagon was found about 20 feet from
where the boy lay.
The finding of the injured boy was
recorded by park police at $50 pm.
A fairly heavy flow of traffic along
Constitution avenue at the time led
them to believe he could not have lain
unnoticed for long.
About 9:55 Georges mother, worried
because he had stayed away from
home since late afternoon, called
Metropolitan Police Headquarters.
The boys identity was learned after
the lookout had been sent and the
hospitals were checked.
Evening star., 1937-02-23

Mr.. LIE m / e y
owned stores at
1888 Irving street
and 3A07 Four
teenth street. A
native of Ste
phens City, Va,
he engaged in
business t er e
with his father,
Edgar L. Lemley,
until coming to
Washington about
six years ago to
establish his buSi-
ness here.
He was a mem
Evening star., 1937-02-23

MatanuSka VAL
ley country Of
Alaska two years
ago, settled his
differences with
Uncle Sam here
today and plan
ned to get home
soon enough to
settle out Of court
q Federal suit to
d po s sess his
family.
From Palmer,
Alaska, came an
Associated Press
dispatch stating
n
Evening star., 1937-02-23
MEMS CLASS FORMED

A mems class in physical exercises
will be inaugurated at 7:30 o'clock
tonight at the Roosevelt Community
Center under the direction of Her
man Littman, Roosevelt High School
physical director. Weekly meetings
will be held.
The class is being formed at the
request Of husbands of women en-.
rolled in a similar group directed by
Miss Adelaide Courtney.
Evening star., 1937-02-23
MASONS RECEIVED

More than 40 grand masters of Ma
sonic lodges throughout the country
were informally received by President
Roosevelt in his Office today.
The grand masters are in Wash
ington at this time to attend an an
nual conference being held at the Will
lard Hotel today and tomorrow. To.
nights program will be featured by .
banquet
Evening star., 1937-02-23
SEWING exhibition

An exhibition of the sewing work OF
l.341 Works Progress Administration
women is on display at the Roosevelt
Hotel today from 10 am. to 8 pm.
According to Deputy Administrator
Otto J. Cass, the woman workers have
completed $4,000 garments during the
past year.
The garments will be distributed
among relief families of the District
and to local institutions.
Evening star., 1937-02-23
BABY DIES OF SCALDS

LURAY. Va, February 23.-James
William Sours, 2, died in Rock
ingham Memorial Hospital, in Har-
risonburg. yesterday following in
juries received when he fell backward
into a bucket Of boiling water at
his parents home. The child is the
son of Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur Lee Sours
Of Rileyville.
Evening star., 1937-02-23

4 MOTHERS premonition that
~ her son was in danger prompt
~ ed Mrs. Lulu Widmyer to seek
4 a police aid last night-a short
time after her 11-year-old boy had
been run down and seriously injured
by hit-and-run driver.
A lookout containing the boys de-
scription had been sent out from
police headquarters an hour after the
youngster was found unconscious near
his battered coaster wagon.
The young traffic victim-George
Widmyer, 1925 Mount Pleasant street
is believed to have been returning
from the Washington birthday exer-
cises at the Monument when he was
struck.
He was discovered on Constitution
avenue near Twenty-seventh street by
T. c. Curry, 3731 T street, who was
Evening star., 1937-02-23
Commandery Plans Banquet.

WINCHESTER, Va, February %
Especially committee of Win
chester Commandery, No. IL, knights
Templar, was today shaping elaborate
plans for banquet March in honor
Of 18 past eminent commanders. The
principal speaker will be Rev. S. B.
Daugherty, Washington, D. c., a
clergyman of the United Brethren
Church.
Evening star., 1937-02-23
HARRY A. VINALL DIES
AFTER HEART ATTACK
Deceased Served for % Years as
Agronomist in Agriculture
Department.

Harry A. Vinall. 81. Of $500 Van
Ness street. for 2S years an agrono-
mist at the Agriculture Department.
died at his home yesterday after q
heart attack.
MIR. Vinall, a native of Iowa, is sur
vived by his widow, Mrs. Ma J A.
Vinall; a sister, Mrs. Allie Goodier,
San Dimas, Calf, an a brother, G..
N. Vinall, Redlands, Calf.
Funeral services will be held at his
late home Thursday at 9 am. and
at st. AIMS rectory at $50 O'Clock.
Rev. ]. Maurice King, acting pastor
of st AIMS, will officia. A burial
site has not as yet been decided on.
Mr. Vinall was a member of the
Holy Name Society Of st. AIMS
rectory.