davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1937-10-08
COURT SOON TO SEE
FIDELITY CONTRACT
Proposal for Sale of Assets Due
to Be Submitted Early
Next Week.

The proposed contract for sale of
assets Of the Fidelity Building and
Loan Association to the new First
Federal Savings and Loan Association
probably will be submitted for court
approval early next week, according to
indications today.
Legal experts of the Treasury De-
partment and the Federal Home Loan
Bank Board are ironing out final de-
tails Of the contract. which has been
approved "in principle" by all parties
There was possibility that another
meeting of the F. H. l.. B. B. might
be necessary to give formal approval
to the amended plan of the First Fed
eral This provides for action on SO
per cent of the dollar value of Fidelity
assets pledged to purchase of new
First Federal shares. The original
plan had provided that rs per cent
Of the shares must be pledged.
It IS believed by officials that with
no restrictions on Withdrawals from
the new institution, many sharehold-
ers may wish to purchase some shares
in the First Federal after it opens,
bringing the proportion to probably
more than IS per cent.
Each shareholder will be given IS
cents on his dollar, either in shares
in the new institution, or in cash.
Evening star., 1937-10-08
Man WHO KICKED BOY
SOON TO BE SENTENCED

Edward Beach, 1921 M street, who
pleaded guilty in Police Court yes
terday to charge of assaulting an
8-year-old boy, will be sentenced next
Wednesday by Judge Walter j. Casey.
The victim of the assault was
Charles Baggett, 1921 Canal road. who
said Beach kicked him after he and
another boy accidentally knocked
bundle from the mans arm while
playing tag"
Arrested on warrant, Beach plead
ed guilty, but asked that the case be
investigated further. Bond was set
at $500.
Evening star., 1937-10-08
NAVAL ACADEMY
STUDIES REVISED
Change Designed to Liberal
iZe Education Made
After Survey.

A revised curriculum at the Naval
Academy, designed to liberalize edu-
cation, with emphasis on general
reading during the two-year proba-
tionary period after midshipmen re-
ceive their diplomas. was made public
today by the Navy Department.
The new schedule is the result OF
study conducted since last March
by a board comprising Rear Admiral
Charles P. Snyder, president of the
Naval War College at Newport, r. l.;
Capt. Chester w. Nimitz, assistant
chief OF the Bureau Of Navigation,
Navy Department, and Capt George
v. Stewart, head OF the Postgraduate
School at Annapolis.
Secretary Swanson has approved
the new curriculum, under which the
course in economics-other than per-
sonal economics and insurance-was
eliminated. The time thus saved will
be devoted to professional subjects.
mainly navigation.
The course in Government, the
Navy Department said, is transferred
to the Department of English and
History, which was enlarged and re-
named the Department Of English,
History and Government. Additional
time Is allotted for instruction in
Government in this department.
In order to broaden the education
OF the midshipmen both during and
after their four years of academic
training, steps are being taken to
bring to the Naval Academy an in
creased number Of prominent lecturers
on non-professional subjects, and to
inagurate a course of compulsory
reading along cultural lines to be
pursued by all graduates during their
two-year probationary period after
graduation" the department said.
Rear Admiral Adolphus Andrews,
chief of the Bureau of Navigation,
named the board after agitation for
a more liberalized program of study
at the academy had been heard.
Onicers at the Navy Department
explained that very good course
in economics and Government is given
at the Postgraduate School at An
napolis. International relations are
stressed at that school and the stu
dents are given courses in higher radio,
engineering, navigation and other
professional subjects, ofncials ex-
planned.
Evening star., 1937-10-08
WidOlu of Suicide Is C0ns0led
By Fact She Was S@Best Wife,
Mrs. ". C.. BransOn
KneiU What Note From
InraIid Meant.

The misfortune that has harassed
Mr.. and Mrs. William c. Branson for
the last year seemed to have done its
worst today-but, as the grief-stricken
woman took time off from her $2-a-
day job to complete arrangements for
her husbands funeral, she had the
consolation of knowing that. up to the
moment he sent bullet into his brain,
he regarded her as 'the best wife any
man ever had"
Mrs. Branson was happy as she re-
turned home late yesterday from the
Job she had obtained three weeks ago
in a downtown store. Two dollars a
day wasn't much, but it was enough
to enable her and her invalid husband
to live without the donations that
their friends had been making for the
last year.
Knew Meaning Of Note.
In the bed room of her apartment
at 1921 Decatur place. however, the
48-year-old wife found a note lying
beside his eyeglasses.
Il knew what it meant before I
read it," she said today. "B. B.
that's what I always called my hus-
band-had been worn down by his
long battle to overcome the pain and
uselessness of an arm injured in an
accident about year ago."
While friend-Edward A. Howard,
also a resident of the Decatur place
address-went to see what had hap
pened to Branson, the distraught wife
read the note. 1t brought back heart
breaking memories of the struggle she
and her husband had made to carry
on despite his invalidism. Written in
pencil, the message said:
ITO the best wife any man ever
had: I have given up and cannot
take 1t any longer. I have suffered
with my arm more than you think,
but you were always ready to do your
best. You will be better off without
me, so good-by, and don't spend too
much money on me and save it. Your
loving husband, B. B."
Howard, chauffeur, found Branson
in the bath room, bullet hole in his
right temple and .32-caliber revolver
nearby. An Emergency Hospital in
terne pronounced him dead a few
minutes later and Coroner A. Ma
gruder Macdonald issued a certificate
Of suicide.
Underwent Four Operations.
Branson, Sc, and a chauffeur, also,
received a compound fracture of the
arm when he slipped and fell while
getting out Of an automobile. Since
then he had undergone four opera
tions, but an infection had virtually
destroyed all hope of recovery.
"Of course, my husband couldn't 60
Evening star., 1937-10-08
MISSING ALExANDRIAN
HUNTED BY POLICE HERE

Washington police today were asked
to be on the lookout for Robert H.
Hancock, 79-year-old Alexandria, We,
resident, who has been missing from
During the last year the man has
suffered four memory lapses, members
of his family told police, and may be
wandering in Washington, not know
ing the whereabouts Of his home.
He was last seen at . tea shop at
Ridge road and Mount Vernon ave-
nue.. Alexandra, wearing q gray hat,
dark gray trousers, q light coat and
blue shirt, without q tie. He Is
short and weighs little more than 100
pounds, police were told.
Evening star., 1937-10-08
MRS. CL0RINDIA CURRIER
DIES AT HOME HERE

Mrs. Clorindia c. Currier, 81, widow
of Thomas j. Currier, contractor and
builder. died yesterday at her home,
1925 N street. Death was attributed
to complications which developed
after she suffered hig fracture In
. fall in her home three weeks ago.
A native of Charlottesville, Va,
Mrs. Currier had lived here for many
years. Surviving are four daughters,
Mrs. Laura B. Burns. Mrs. Lillian v.
Carrico, Mrs. Elsie Andrews and Miss
Betty l.. Currier: son. John S. Cur
rier; a number of grandchildren, sew
eral brothers and sisters.
Funeral services will be held at
1880 am. tomorrow in Hines fu-
neral home. 2901 Fourteenth street
Burial will be In Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Evening star., 1937-10-08

strong and vigorous individuals
have their bouts with the malady
with apparently the same frequency
IS the more puny and delicate per-
sons and pay their tribute equally
with every recurring cold season.
For the average man, woman and
child-and young children appear
to be more susceptible than adults
the Public Health Service says
there is no better insurance
against colds than . sedulous avoid
ance Of over-heavy or over-warm
clothing and over-heated dwellings
or work rooms in Winter. The too
sudden exposure Of the overly warm
body to . cooler atmosphere IL
undoubtedly one Of the most com.
Hann axcitaufa Of oolds IN Hinte3.
Evening star., 1937-10-08
MINIMUM WAGE
HEARINGS ENDED
Vote Due Next Week by Re-
tail Trade Parley on
Women's Pay.

Members Of the retail trade confer
ence Of the Minimum Wage Board will
face the task next week of deciding
what should be the least wage per-
mitted to be paid to Washington S
8,000-odd woman workers in the in
dustry. Estimates OF their minimum
budget requirements vary from $2l.5l
. week down to $1457.
Debate on specific items in the
budgets offered by worker and en-
ployer representatives on the confer
ence was concluded at a lengthy ses-
sion last night, with a discussion OF
conflicting data on costs of sundries
The three representatives Of the gen.
eral public are to meet Tuesday night
to prepare their recommendations
and a final vote may be taken next
Thursday night
Study of estimates made by the
employer spokesmen indicated last
night that their minimum proposals
Tor such items as health. recreation,
church and charity, savings and in
surance followed closely the estimates
adopted nearly 20 years ago by the
old minimum wage board.
Higher Standards Cited.
In contrast to this position was a
declaration to the conference by E. J.
Tracy, spokesman for the Stenogra-
piers Union, an affiliate of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor, that stand
ards OF living had increased greatly
since 1919 and that the wage mini
mum to be fixed by the board should
be considerably in excess of a mere
subsistence cost"
The needs OF . worker in 1918
were relatively simple as compared
with what they are today. Standards
OF living have increased. In those
days We enjoyed cat whisker' radios
put today modern radio set is no
longer regarded as a luxury.
Tracy also declared he did not think
1t proper for Washington stores. bene-
flting BY the large Government pay
roll here. to propose q minimum wage
OF less than SIS while the lowest paid
Government clerk gets about $25 q
week.
There was considerable amusement
over the debate on some Of the sundry
cost items.
Employer spokesmen had allowed
5000 q year for recreation for the
woman clerks, whereas the worker
representatives held out for $50. Dur
ing this discussion Mrs. Erma Ketchem
asked: What kind of amusement dc
you expect . girl to be able to buy al
the rate Of 20 cents q week?" Mrs
William Kittle, chairman of the board
wanted to know the answer to the
same question.
One Movie = Week at $50.
Arthur L. Schoenthal, labor repre-.
sentative on the board, said his grour
found that the $50 allowance woulc
permit q girl to attend one neigh.
borhood movie per week and perhaps
soft drink to top OF the vening.
When the question Of cost Of lee.
lures was brought up, John Hasley
employer representative, said, II thinl
the girls get enough lectures withou,
paying to hear any more"
For church and charity the en-
ployers offered . budget figure Of
$3.50 per year, or 10 cents per week
whereas the workers claimed . figure
Of $l2.
Evening star., 1937-10-08

dustry (Which is around 42,000,-
000) it is figured some 10000 work
days are lost yearly. II the average
value of q workers service is IS .
day, it means q loss Of not less than
$45O, 100000 every year on account
OF colds alone.
Even though unable to detect the
actual invisible cause Of the cold,
the Public Health Service points out
J. IS safe to proceed from the
premise that the disease is acquired
by contact, and thus attempt to
limit its spread.
To Judge from experience and
observation, there can kpe. little
natural immunity to TN common
cold. Susceptibility to mere attack
aeeuns 70 b aluoGt untYer1al Jha
Evening star., 1937-10-08
PITTS TEST|F|ES
IN HART TAX CASE
Identifies Document and
Tells of Transactions
With Defendant.

Out of prison for day, G. Bryan
Pitts, former Washington mortgage
banker, was forced to spend most OF
his time hiding from newspaper pho
tographers, who lay in wait for him in
the Internal Revenue Bureau Build
ing. where he appeared as a witness
late yesterday in a case before the
Board OF Tax Appeals.
In . final effort to avoid being
photographed Pitts did sprint
through the long corridors of the
building with four photographers at
his heels and took refuge in an once
of one of the bureaus attorneys.
Pitts was released for the day from
the District Reformatory at Lorton,
Va, where he is serving a 14-year
sentence for attempted embezzlement
in connection with the failure Of the
old F. H. Smith Co. He was &C.
companied to Washington by Ray L.
Huff, general superintendent Of Dis
trict penal institutions.
Clashes With Attorney.
The Government used Pitts as its
witness in case involving Henry o.
Hart, an accountant, who for several
years handled Pitts income tax and
other affairs. Hart had appealed to
the board for redetermination Of al
legged deficiencies In his income tax
for 1882.
Neatly dressed in a dark brown
suit, Pitts spent nearly IS minutes
on the witness stand, describing his
business relations with Hart. Once
he clashed with Richard 8. Doyle,
attorney for Hart.
please stop interrogating me and
answer my questions" Doyle shouted
to Pitts. You're on the witness
stand. I'm not"
Pitts testified he had q verbal
agreement with Hart to pay him
$3.50 q week for his services, but de-
MED he promised the accountant 4
fee Of $350,000 to save his property
when the Government placed q $2,-
100000 jeopardy assessment on it.
Pitts likewise said he did not remem-
Der authorizing Hart to make busi-
ness trips to New York and Florida
for him in 1882.
Identifies Document.
Pitts was called to the witness
stand primarily to identify = seven
page document which he testified
was copy he had made Of an &C.
counting Hart submitted to him after
he was placed in the District Jail.
He said he made the copy while in
Lorton, but it disappeared and he
had not seen it again until several
weeks ago, when it was shown to him
by Thomas F. Callahan, Government
attorney.
How the Government got possess
sion of the document, Pitts said, was q
mystery to him. Il had not seen it
for several years." he testified. II
looked for 1t and wondered where It
was"
When the hearing concluded Pitts
asked permission to take the docu-
ment with him. But Attorney Gala
han shook his head in disapproval.
1t had been admitted in evidence.
Evening star., 1937-10-08

I'VE find, therefore," the health
service says, that = hot-house
existence Is the surest path to the
common cold"
Doctors are frequently asked why
they do not know more about the
cure and prevention Of disease as
prevalent a. the common cold.
This can be explained" the
health service reports, when 1t
Is remembered that the cold be-
longs to that obscure group of So
called filtrable viruses and no one
has been able to cultivate the
causative agent on artificial media.
Even II 1t were grown artificially,
as may be done with many disease
germs, it Is extremely doubtful II
the attenuated orsanisms, or vac
cine. Xhen o}2tajnsd could b uoed
Evening star., 1937-10-08
DISTRICT HEADS
DISCUSS FINANCES
WITH TAX GROUP
Advisory Council Told of
Commissioners Perma-
nent Program for Levies.
Committee is URGED
TO ASSIST IN EFFORT
City officials Request Advice on
Substitute for Business
Privilege Tax.

Acute financial problems of the
District and the necessity for develop
ment of a permanent tax program
were stressed by the Commissioners
today at a joint meeting with the
Municipal Tax Committee and its
recently created Advisory Council OF
civic and business leaders.
Behind closed doors, members of
the council we're told of the tentative
plans of the Commissioners to frame
a program of taxation that would re-
main static for a period of at least
seven years-a program that will per-
NIT definite planning of capital i'm
provements through the l945 fiscal
year. The council was urged to as
sist IN development of the plan.
Donovan Explains.
Need for such a program was ex-
planned by Maj. Daniel ]. Donovan
auditor and budget officer who also
heads the Municipal Tax Committee
He pointed out the current $4,000 .O0C
rogran1 of taxation was Of an "emer.
gency" nature, designed to preclud.
q serious budget shortage this year
and that two of its features-the busi-
ness privilege tax and the 25-cent in
crease in the real and personal prop
erty levy-would expire at the close
of the present fiscal year.
The Commissioners said they wanted
the advice of the advisory council, es.
specially with respect to a substitute
Tor the business privilege tax, which
Is meeting ever growing opposition
Commissioner Hazen expressed hope
the permanent taxation program
would permit substantial reduction
IN the existing SITS tax on real and
personal property. For next year, he
believes the rate should not ex.
eeed $1.60.
Will Be Ready for Congress.
Maj. Donovan said the new and per.
manent tax program would be com
pleted in time to submit to Congress,
by January IS. so it can be considered
early In the next session. Members oil
his Tax Committee are the same one.
who prepared the current emergency
tax plan now in effect. They are Cor.
poration Counsel Elwood H. Seal, Capt
H. G. Whitehurst, director of high.
ways; Richmond B. Keech, vice chair.
man of the Public Utilities Com.
mission; Fred D. Allen, tax assessor
and Chatham M. Towers, collector Of
taxes.
The Advisory Council is composed
Of Edgar Morris of the Washington
Board of Trade, L. A. Carruthers OF
the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions, F. Eliot Middleton of the Wash
ington Real Estate Board, Arthur J.
Sundlun OF the Merchants and Manu-
facturers' Association, Rufus S. Lusk
OF the Washington Taxpayers Protec-
tive League, Prof. Charles M. Thomas
OF the Federation of Civic Associa-
tions, Mrs Harry Lee Parkinson of the
Voteless District League of Women
Voters and Joseph H. Bait of the Fed
Grafton of Business Mems Associations
Immediately after the conference
with the Commissioners, the Advisory
Council met in the board room of the
District Building and organized. Car
ruthers was elected chairman and
Lusk secretary. The council also
voted to hold its future meetings at
pm, but did not designate the day
OF the week. leaving that to the
chairman.
Evening star., 1937-10-08
STRIKE SUIT POINT
IS SW0NBY BAKERY
Demurrer by Four Unions
and Members 0verruIed
by Justice Let's.

Gundersheimer's Bakery won a pre-
liminary legal tilt yesterday in its
100000 District Court damage suit
against four unions and 1877 union
members who it charged with con-
spiracy in connection with a strike
at its plant.
Overruling demurrer by the de-
PENDANTS, Justice F. Dickinson Let's
said the bakery's allegations consti-
tute valid basis for recovery.
The unions now must reply to the
suit and go to trial or take the case
to the United States Court of Appeals.
Last July Gundersheimer's filed
suit against the Bakery and Confec-
tionery Workers International Union
OF America and its Local No. l18 and
the International Brotherhood of
TeamSterS, Chauffeurs, Stablemen
and Helpers of America and its local
affiliate. the Bakery Salesmens and
Drivers Union, No. 33, of Washing
ton.
Through Attorneys Needham c.
Turnage and Charles T. Clayton the
bakery charged that the two local
labor organizations called a strike at
its plant July Z because the bakery
would not desist from purchasing part
of its pastry from Philadelphia firm.
The unions, it was said, wanted
everything sold by the bakery to be
made here, although the Philadelphia
firm employed union labor.
Contending the unions were not
justified in striking, the bakery ar
gued that they were guilty of a con-
spiracy in violation of the Sherman
antitrust law and the Clayton anti
trust act.
The bakery has remained closed
since the strike began 1t estimated
the injury to its business at 100000
and asked for 100000 damages, since
the Sherman law permits three fold
recovery.
Evening star., 1937-10-08
Burglar Digs
Through Wall,
Steals Suits

A burglar who dug a hole through
rear wall and crawled into the
Smith Cleaners e. Dyers branch at
1901 Seventh street during the night
took . large amount of clothing and
$6.25 in cash, police were told today.
The loot included % mems suits and
2 women's suits, 2 shirts, l dress, l
pair Of trousers and / coat.
The burglary was discovered by WAL
ter Kleinman, manager OF the branch
plant, when he opened up today.
Later Policeman r. E. Williams ar
rested . colored suspect, who is being
held at the second precinct.
Evening star., 1937-10-08

to confer immunity since the dis
ease itself confers little, If any
immunity. Then, an experimental
study of the common cold is diff
cult and expensive because there is
no laboratory animal aside from
man and the anthropoid apes
known to be susceptible to colds.
Experiments must be carried out
on human beings and this is not
easily arranged"
The Capitals weather is often
blamed fer common colds, but
health service survey says: I'VE
flnd no definite association of re-
spiratory attack rates with marked
variations in climate as represented
by six American cities (including
WaShington) with wide geographic
And c1iYnati difYerAnoAH
Evening star., 1937-10-08
BAND CONCERT

BY the Army Band in the auditorium
at 1880 am. tomorrow. Capt. Thomas
r. Darcy, leader; Karl Hubner. assist
ant.
Program.
March, Emblem of Victory"
v. Leftwich
Overture, Americana" IN. L. Lake
Serenade, Lambeth Walk"
A. Ketelbey
saxophone solo, "Sunspots,"
F. Trumbauer
Nicholas L. King, soloist.
Characteristic, "Serenade for the
Doll" Debussy
Popular, "A Study In Brown"
r. L. Clinto1
waltz. "Amorettentanz." Gungt
March, Liberty Bell"- P. Sousa
The star Spau3led Banner.
Evening star., 1937-10-08
VCod Bue Getcha They Plan Enemy

which is the most frequent cause Of
illness, accounting for far more
days lost from work, from school,
from productive activities of every
type than can be charged to any
other disease.
Since practicing physicians are
not required to report ordinary cold
cases, 1t is impossible to cite figures
accurately, but United States Public
Health Service statisticians esti-
mate that in the United States
there is an average yearly loss Of
work Of about two and one-fifth
days for each worker on account
Of colds. 4
On this basis and tax into
consideration only that pa{t Of our
v><s4s,1a t{osa sMRAwAA - 1n{a<S,1 ~.
Evening star., 1937-10-08
INCREASE is SHOWN
IN U. S. FORCE HERE
Total Addition in Capital 483.
Decrease Outside 1,416-Pay
Roll Smaller.

A slight increase in the number OF
Federal executive department en-
ployes in the District during August
was reported today by the Civil Serv-
ice Commission. The figures for SIM
liar employment outside the District
showed q decline.
The total increase in the District
was 483, while the decrease outside
was 1,416 This left Ito employees
in Washington and 736,473 outside
The total August pay roll was $126,-
746,So8, as compared with $l26,974, ,57a
In July.
Evening star., 1937-10-08
CLUB NOW RECEIVING
MEDAL NOMINATIONS
Cosmopolitan Group Again to
Make Award for Most Outstand-
ing Service in City.

Nominations for the Cosmopolitan
Clubs distinguished service medal,
an award made annually to the per-
son who performs the most outstand-
ing, unselfish service for the city
during the year, are now in order.
This announcement was made at
the clubs luncheon yesterday at the
Carlton Hotel by DR.. j. Rozier Biggs,
chairman of the Medal Committee.
The honor last year went to Police
Supt. E. w. Brown
Celebrating District day." the club
had many high city officials, includ-
ing Commissioner Melvin c. Hazen
and Col. Dan I. Sultan, Engineer
Commissioner, as its guests.
Col. William H. McCarty was in
charge of the program and introduced
the guests. Arthur w. Defenderfer,
club president, presided.