davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1938-08-05
ABILITY To PAY
HELD SL|CHTED|N
D. c. TAX SET-UP
Dr.. Chester Pond Reveals
First Impression Of p!
Study Here. I
SECOND PARLEY TODAY J
WITH ADVISORY GROUP
Question of Federal Payments Is
Expected to Enter Survey
at Later Date.

A belief that the ability-to-pay
principle has been given little cog
nizance in the development of Wash.
1ngton's tax structure is one of the
frst impressions formed by DR.. Ches-
ter Pond. directing the new local tax
study for Congress, he indicated to-
day as he prepared to hold his second
conference at the District Building
this afternoon with the Advisory
Committee on Taxation.
The meeting was scheduled for Z
pm. in the of1ice Of Maj. Daniel ].
Donovan. District auditor and budget
omcer,. who heads the Advisory Conn
mittee. Since the survey has been
In progress only about two weeks and
is not due for completion until jan
uary. it Is not expected today's session
will get beyond tentative discussion
OF course Of procedure.
To Take Up Federal Payment.
DR.. Pond also indicated today that
ne expects the question of the Federal
payment to enter into the survey
later on, when the time comes to COM
pare the city's future budget require
ments with its present tax yield. He
emphasized, however, that he is not
in a position to discuss at this time
what should be done about the fiscal
relations phase of the problem.
Although DR.. Pond said that to the
outsider it appears little recognition
has been given to the ability-to-pay
principle. as compared with benefit
and privilege type of taxes. he made
it clear he has not reached the stage
Of considering revisions or alternative
revenue proposals.
The first stage of his work is being
confined to a careful analysis of the
existing tax structure, and this phase
probably will take several more weeks.
After that the tax expert will turn
to forecasts Of the probable total Of
the District budget for the next several
years. presumably to ascertain to what
extent the present tax yield may or
may not meet the budget demands
Exemption Study Urged.
1t is at this point that the size Of
the Federal payment probably will
enter into calculations. In this con-
nection, Chairman King of the Senate
District Committee already has sue-
gested the survey should cover the
question of the growing volume of tax.
exempt Federally owned property in
Washington. and data on this subject
will be brought up to date, it is under
stood.
Although the suggestion of the
expert that ability to pay has been
minimized. might lead some to infer
that the controversial income tax may
be brought up for renewed discussion
before the inquiry is over. DR.. Pond
emphasized today that his study Is
still for from the point of deciding
on changes in present tax levies or
new forms of taxation.
Chairman Donovan of the Commits
sioners Advisory Tax Committee is
preparing rough estimates of budget
requirements for the next five or more
years.
1t was not expected. however, the
advisory group would make any fnal
decisions today as to types Of taxes.
Evening star., 1938-08-05
GIRL, 7, ASKS $50, 900
IN DOG.BITING SUIT
Katrina Stanford, through Her
Mother, Charges Disagreement
by Neighbor's Chow.

-year-old Katrina Stanford Of
3l8 A street NE. Is seeking to collect
$40, 900, charging in q suit filed in
District Court yesterday through ner
mother, Mrs. Ruby M. Stanford, that
a Chow dog belonging to James e.
Shea and Edna j. Shea Of 328 A street
NE. bit her last June S near her home.
She advises the court that because Of
the, alleged bite, her face will be dis
figured for hfe. Attorney Louis E.
Spiegler represents her.
A slander suit for 10000 was filed
in District Court by Joseph W. Farrell.
1890 Wisconsin avenue NV. against
Frances Clapp Hall. 4l2o Fort-second
street NV. He contends that last
February the defendant, in the pres
ence Of Donald Campbell, made false
remarks involving the disappearance
of household goods.
Mr.. Farrell's suit says his reputation
has been damaged and he has been In
mental anguish because Of the. de-
fendant's alleged actions.
Evening star., 1938-08-05
RELEASE
DENIED BY COURT
Federal Judge 0verrules
Plea Attacking Legality
of Trial Evidence.

A Federal judge in Atlanta yester-
day overruled : motion for writ of
habeas corpus brought by attorneys
for Sam Beard on the ground the
former Washington gambling czar is
serving two-to-six-year sentence ~
result of wire-tapping evidence COL
lected illegally.
The petition for the writ was flled
in the Federal Court at Atlanta IN
May after the Supreme Court ruled in
another case that evidence obtained
from the tapping Of interstate tele-
phone lines could not be used in court.
Justice Joseph w. Cox in District
Court interpreted the ruling as apply
ing to telephone lines in the District.
and the United States attorneys Office
here dropped cases against several
gamblers which were based on wire
tapping evidence. One Of the cases
dropped was against Abe Plisco, alias
."Jew-boy Dietz," alleged to have
taken over some Of Boards business
when the latter was sent to the Fed
eral Penitentiary in Atlanta.
Federal Judge E. Marvin Under
wood ruled in Atlanta yesterday that
Boards petition failed to establish
sufficient grounds for haheas corpus
order, the Associated Press reported.
Beard and IL associates were con-
victed in May, 1895, following a Bit
terly contested trial in District Court.
He entered the penitentiary in April,
1886. The 13 men were arrested in
a raid on an elaborate gambling plant
on the fifth floor of the Mather
Building.
Warrants for the raid were based
largely on evidence gathered by police
and representatives of the United
States attorneys office. who tapped
wires over which bets were conveyed
to the gambling establishment.
At Boards trial the Government Of
fered in evidence q number of loaded
dice said to have been seized in
Boards place during the raid.
Evening star., 1938-08-05
ICE PICK HOLD-UP
NETS ROBBER $50
Taxicab Driver Tells Police of
Theft Early Today-Grocery
Burglar Suspect Held.

How a colored man held him up at
the point Of an ice pick early today
and robbed him Of $50 was related to
police by Robert Phelps. 80, of 1881
Second street NE. a taxicab driver.
Mr.. Phelps said he picked up the
man in the downtown section and
drove him to the 1900 block of Fourth
street S.W.. where he produced the
ice pick and escaped with the money
Patrolmen in a radio scout car from
No. precinct captured a colored
youth early today in an attempt to
break into a grocery at 20l Morgan
street NV. Nearby residents had
heard a noise and notified police. The
youth was held for investigation.
Bernice Woods, 1920 Connecticut
avenue NV, reported last night that
the door to her apartment was jimmied
by burglar who escaped with jewelry
valued At $50.
Evening star., 1938-08-05
D. C. W0MAN'S BODY
IS FOUND IN RIVER
Miss Mary B. Owen Had Been
Missing Since Wednesday.
Discovered in Virpinia.

The body Of Miss Mary Briscoe
Owen, about 50. Of sos Twenty-second
street NV, was found in the Dan
River at South Boston. Va. last night,
according to an Associated Press re-
port. She had been missing since
Wednesday.
A clerk in the Office of the adjutant
general, Miss Owen left the home of
Miss Louise Thompson, a relative, in
South Boston. about s am. Wednes-
day presumably to go to the home Of
her brother, DR.. John A. Owen of
Turbeville. about II miles away,
friends said.
She had gone to Halifax County
Monday to rest after q recent opera =
ton. it was said. She had lived in
Washington about 16 years. Police
said they plan no investigation.
DIR. Owen said his sister had re-
sided recently at the home Of Dr., and
Mrs. Herman E. Kittredge at the
Twenty-second street address.
A highway bridge crosses the Dan
here at the point where the body was
found. near the South Boston buh-
ness district.
Evening star., 1938-08-05
BOUNDARY ISSUE
OPENED BY SUIT
OVER RESTAURANT
Operator of Cafe Near
Airport Seeks to Stop
Arlington Officials.
DENIES THEIR RIGHT
TO REGULATE AFFAIRS
Asks D. c. Court to Enjoin Them
and Declare Contested Area
Is Capitals.

The old problem of exactly where
the boundary Of the District Of Co.
lumbia lies was thrown into District
Court today when Harry J. Riganis,
119 Carroll avenue, Takoma Park,
Nd. brought suit for an injunction
against four officials Of Arlington
County, Va.-Harry X. Green, COM
missioner Of revenue; Ray Cogswell,
electrical inspector; Lawrence w.
Douglas, Commonwealth attorney, and
Sheriff Howard Fields.
Acting through Attorneys w. Gwynn
Gardiner, James M Earnest, w. Gwynn
Gardiner, jr., and Achilles Catsonis,
Mr.. Riganis advised the court that he
operates q restaurant near the High.
way Bridge. adjacent to the Washing
ton Airport land This, he contends.
was formerly upland marshland on
the Virginia shore Of the Potomac
and is within the District Of Columbia,
and the United States has never relin-
quished title to this area.
Since the District Of Columbia has
exclusive and sole jurisdiction to the
high-water mark on the Virginia
shore. this court has exclusive juris-
diction Of the subject matter Of this
suit" the bill Of complaint said.
Assumption Of Power"
Individually or as officers Of Arling-
ton County. Mr.. Rganis informed the
court, certain of the defendants have
unlawfully assumed to assert the
power of government against the plain
TIL and are guilty Of an invasion OF
property rights"
On July rs, the plaintiff said, Mr..
Green declared licenses for Mr..
Riganis' cigarette vending machine
and music machine are necessary,
but that he has not complied with
the request to secure Virginia
license. Mr.. Riganis told the court
he proposes to operate q filling sta
ton As an adjunct to his business
and is in the process Of installing
a gasoline pump to sell and dis
tribute gasoline. but has been advised
by Electrical Inspector Cogsvell that
he shall not cover up the electrical
wires" connected with the gasoline
pump until after Arlington County's
inspection and approval.
Advice From Virginia.
Commonwealth Attorney Douglas
has advised the plaintiff that his busi-
ness is within the State of Virginia
and is in Arlington County; further
that If Mr.. Riganis proceeds with the
operation of any business, without
first having obtained proper license
from the Virginia authorities for it.
he will be subject to criminal prosecu-
ton, according to the suit.
The plaintiff contended he has been
advised that authority and jurisdic-
ton Of the State of Virginia ends at
the high water mark on the Virginia
side Of the Potomac River" Accord
ingly. he argued. Virginia has no
jurisdiction in the premises of any
kind or character and the Arlington
County officials are unlawfully assum-
ing to exercise the power Of govern
ment over the plaintiff.
Mr.. Riganis asked District Court to
enjoin the Arlington County officials
from interfering with him. He also
asked the court by proper decree to
declare the District of Columbia has
sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the
disputed area.
Evening star., 1938-08-05
8 Boys Are Held
In Series OfHOt
Weather Thefts

Eight boys. IA to 10 years old, were
held ut the Receiving Home today
while police investigated their ad-
missions to q series Of robberies in
which pieces Of wire and the current
heat spell played major roles.
The hot weather was an invaluable
Aid to the youths, all of them news
paper carriers. because they discovered
that apartment dwellers in the third
precinct area, in their efforts to get
better ventilation, were making =
practice of leaving their doors par TALLY
open by using a chain safety lock.
Through this small opening, accord
ing to police, the newsboys thrust
lengths of wire with hooks at one end
and picked up pocketbooks. jewelry,
cigarette cases and other articles.
When third precinct policemen ar
rested the boys yesterday they found
about SIS in their pockets. One had
IS in q shoe. Authorities said they
admitted 10 or IL" apartment rob-
berries reported in the precinct within
the last few weeks.
Evening star., 1938-08-05
LIQUOR RAIDERS
ARREST TWO MEN
IS Gallons of Alleged Corn
and Two Automobiles
Also Seized.

Police and Federal agents seized two
men. IS gallons of what was described
as corn liquor and two automobiles
last night in a raid reminiscent Of the
prohibition era.
Onicers Of Capt. George M. Little's
vice squad and Federal Agent F. J.
Sweeney. acting on = tip. lay In wait
in the 1900 block of Fourteenth street
for load Of untaxed whisky expected
from Southern Maryland.
Behind Convoy Car.
When the liquor car arrived. the
ofncers said, it was behind a convoy
car. just as in the old days. One man
alighted and went into the building
with two five-gallon tins under his
arms. the officers reported.
Policeman w. M. McEwen followed
the man up the stairs. The fugitive,
1t was said. threw the two tins of
whisky at the ofi1cer before he was
arrested. Meanwhile, the other OH
GERS arrested the second man after a
two-block chase.
The two who identified themselves
As John A. Stea. rs, of the 3700 block
OF New Hampshire avenue NV, and
Elmer j. Buckler. rs, of Charlotte
Hall. Nd. were held under 81 900 bond
for the grand jury by United States
Commissioner Needham c. Turnaze
today on charges Of transporting un-
taxed liquor.
Held on Narcotics Charge.
Commissioner Turnage also held
William Wesley Brown, IS, colored, of
the 400 block of Sixth street S.W,
for the grand jury under 5000 bond
on . charge Of possession Of narcotics.
Brown was arrested yesterday after
noon by Treasury agent and MEM
bers Of Capt. Lttle's squad In . mar
cotics raid on house In the 1900 block
Of Ninth street NV.
Dorothy Z. Lewis. ~, colored, 1900
block Of Ninth street NV, was ar
rested in the same raid on q charge of
violating the new national Marihuana
Act. Commissioner Turnage dismissed
the charge against her today. Six
other colored persons were arrested
and released after questioning.
Evening star., 1938-08-05
DOCTORS NAME FEAGANS

DR.. r. E. Feagans of Fairfax yes
terday was elected president Of the
Fairfax County (Va.) Medical Society
at meeting held at the home of
DR.. E. c. Shull of Herndon.
DR.. Elmar S. Waring of Fairfax
was elected vice president, DR.. Alice
Kiessling of Falls Church. secretary.
and DR.. F. M. Brooks of Fairfax
treasurer. DR.. William Meyer of
Herndon and DR.. Edward M. Holmes,
jr.. county medical director, were
named delegates to the State medi-
cal meeting in Danville in October
Evening star., 1938-08-05
PARKING AVAILABLE
NEAR INTERSECTIONS
Drivers Given More Space ~
Police ignore Violations
Of DISPUTED Ban.

Hundreds Of motorists today were
expected to resume the practice Of
parking as near to Intersections AZ
the old signs permit, after the recently
promulgated 20-foot-from- building
line parking regulation was virtually
suspended yesterday.
Police today were ignoring violations
Of the 20-foot regulation under orders
from Maj. Ernest w. Brown, super
intendent Of police. who acted while
Judge Walter ]. Casey studied two
cases involving violations Of the widely
criticized restriction.
After q. conference with Acting
Corporation Counsel Vernon Z. West
yesterday afternoon, Mai. Brown In
structed officers to cease ticketing cars
violating the regulation and make no
further arrests.
The cases before Judge Casey We'd
nesday were continued by him until
he has studied them thoroughly. The
jurist said that al such other eases
would b eontdnusd tsnpogaRily.
Evening star., 1938-08-05
D. c. CHALLENGES
TAX REFUND SUIT
District Grocery Stores
Claim for $1,470. Under
Privilege Levy Fought.

Challenging the contention of the
District Grocery Stores, Inc. that the
corporation received 100000 gross
receipts in interstate commerce, the
District government. as another step
in the business privilege tax battle,
went into District Court late yes
terday and called on the company to
prove it.
The D. G. S. Is maintaining that the
business privilege tax is a burden on
interstate commerce and is thus
illegal. but District officials declare
this is the first they have heard of
the interstate commerce angle in the
litigation.
Through Corporation Counsel e.
wood H. Seal, Principal Assistant
Corporation Counsel Vernon E. West
and Assistant Corporation Counsel
Glenn Simmon. the District govern
ment f1led an answer to one of the
counts in the declaration Of the plain
tif grocers that survived recent court
attack.
Three Original Counts.
The District Grocery Stores. Inc,
which has its headquarters at Fourth
and D streets S.W.. recently filed a
declaration in three counts to seek
to get back from the District treasury
moneys 1t paid under the business
privilege tax, under protest. The Dis
trict government then filed demurrers
to each of the three counts.
On July 81. Justice Jennings Bailey
in District Court sustained demurrers
to the first two counts, but denied it
as to the third count. Yesterday
afternoon. the District government
went into court and presented its plea
to the third count.
Deny S1,470 Refund Owed.
In its plea, the District govern
ment said that it is not indebted to
the grocers for $1,470 for taxes al
legedly illegally paid and which the
District Grocery Stores. Inc. is seek
ing to recover in the District Court;
that the tax assessed against the
grocers was Illegally exacted or that
the said assessment Is an undue
burden on interstate commerce"
The District denied that the grocery
group "is non-profit making. either
in law or in fact" and tells the court
that the District Grocery Stores, Inc
return on September %. 1887. re-
ported gross receipts Of $5,023, ,591 SO
as having been derived from its busi-
ness in the District Of Columbia" and
the tax was assessed on the basis Of
this return. The District government
said it was without knowledge or in
formation sufficient to form q belief
as to whether $1.470.38 or any portion
of it was based on gross receipts
derived from business transacted with
its members in Maryland and Vir-
ginia.
Evening star., 1938-08-05
Milford Will Probated.

ROCKVILLE, Md. Aug. S (SpeciaD
The will Of Morton NJ Milford Of
Bethesda. Nd, which has been ad-
mitted to probate in the Orphans
Court here, bequeaths his entire estate
to his widow, Mrs. Florence Moffett
Milford. The court appointed Mrs.
Milford Administrative, the will having
failed to name an executor. The in
strument was executed June 1. 1926.
It does not reveal the value of the
estate.
Evening star., 1938-08-05
CUT IN GAS RATES
EXPECTED HERE;
RULING TUESDAY
Public Utilities Officials Hint
Reduction Will Save
$4,000 or More.
PRIMARY RETURN FIGURE
WILL REMAIN SAME
Special Charges Due to Be
Removed or Lowered by
Boards Order.

Oficials of the Public Utilities Com
mission indicated today the would
order reductions somewhere along the
line in the rates of the Washington
Gas Light Co. which would accomplish
. saving of $4,000, possibly as high
As $4,000.
The commission indicated it would
reject the motion Of William NICK.
Clayton, representative of the Fedora
ton of Citizens Associations, for =
cut from 612 to 6 per cent in the pri-
mary rate Of return allowed the COM
pany under its sliding-scale plan.
The final decision is expected to be
made by the commission Tuesday. and
any changes would be effective Sep
tember /. Because of the relatively
small sum shown to be available this
year for possible consumer rate re-
duction, the commission has problem
to determine how to apply the Swing
Of from 337, 900 to $4,000.
II applied to the large number Of
domestic consumers, the effect on
monthly bills would be substantially
nothing.
It was said the commission would
consider various plans for removing
or lowering various special charges
made on some brackets of consumers.
One Of these is said to be q minimum
charge per month for apartment
houses having as many as 100 differ
ent units.
Mr.. Clayton moved at the public
hearing Wednesday for the reduction
in the basic rate Of returns. on the
ground the Potomac Electric Power
Co. and the Chesapeake & Potomac
Telephone Co. now are allowed 6 per
cent returns on valuations, but COM
mission experts say the financial con-
dition Of the gas company is not COM
parable to that of the other utilities.
Evening star., 1938-08-05
Benefit LAWN PARTY
Arlington Hospital Association
Affair August 16.

A benefit lawn party will be staged
by Unit No. 2 Of the Ladies' Auxiliary
Of the Arlington (va.) Hospital As
sociation at pm. on August l6 In
the grove In the $500 block Of. Wilson
boulevard, It has been announced By
Mfs. Clarence W. Watts, Arrangements
Committee chairman.
Evening star., 1938-08-05
PROGRAM TRANSFERRED
National Parks Talk Changed to
Old Interior Auditorium.

The National Capital Parks weekly
campfire program. scheduled for 8
O'Clock tonight ut the Pierce Mill pic
mic grounds. will be held instead In
the old Interior auditorium At $50
O'Clock, due to weather conditions.
The program features an illustrated
talk on wild flowers Of the District
BY Arthur w. shively. National Capt.
tai Parks ranger naturalist. Colored
slides to Be used q illustrations were
prepared bv Donald Edward keHenry,
parks naturalist
Evening star., 1938-08-05

day, the L-SSo-
ciated Press re-
ported.
President of the
Dancing Teach
ers' Club Of Vir-
ginia and Wash
ington. Mr.. Thay-
er was first vice
president of the
national organi-
zation and chair
man Of the Ar
rangement . n d
+ n t er tainment
COMMITTEES last
year.
Evening star., 1938-08-05
Program.


Quickstep. "Hostrauser's
March" ----C Chambers
Overture, "Phedre" Massenet
Popular, "A Garden in
Granada" Lewis.
Trombone solo, Thoughts Of
Keig E. Garvin, soloist.
Characteristic. Hungarian
Dance No. Brahms
Tone picture, Deep Purple DeRose
Marimba trio, "Recuerdos Del
Pasados'' -Velasco
Joseph L. Young, Charles D. Her.
shey and Clyde J. Bowman at
the marimba; Donald K.
Shupe, string bass.
Selections from Mile.
Modiste" Herbert
Novelette,. "springtime in
Chinatown" Renton
Nocturne. "Liebestraume" -Liszt
March. "Barnum & Bailey's
Royal Pageant" -Duble
Tho Star Spangled Banner"
BY the Army Band In the auoltOflum
at the Army War College at 1880 am.
tomorrow. Capt. Thomas F. Darcy, jr-,
leader; Karl Hubner, assistant.
Program.
March, THE Military Maestro" Becker
Excerpt, Sea Chanties" "------- Wood
From the suite. "Frescoes."
Piccolo duet, 1.-TWO Little
Bullfnches" Killing
Robert E. Cray and Henry
p. Weichler, soloists.
Cuban Mosaic, "Rhumba
Rhythms"
Novelette,. "Springtime In
Chinatown" Ren Renton
Morceau, waltz In "A" Fiat" Brahms
March, THE Sixth
Massachusetts" Nissu0
"The Star epansled Banner"
Evening star., 1938-08-05
THAYER IS ELECTED
BY DANCE MASTERS
D. c. Teacher Is Named by
Acclamation at Session
in New Orleans.

Leroy H. Thayer. 6435 Barnaby
street NV, was elected president of
the Dancing Masters of America at
its convention in New Orleans yester-
Evening star., 1938-08-05

by reclamation Is his only opponent
for the post withdrew. More than
500 dancing teachers are attending
the convention.
Mr.. Thayer was accompanied to the
convention by his wife and two sons,
Leroy. jr., and Jack.
Evening star., 1938-08-05
BAND CONCERTS

BY the Army Band at the Capitol
at 7:30 O'Clock tonight. Capt. Thomas
F. Darcy, jr., leader; Karl Hubner.
assistant.
Evening star., 1938-08-05

Joseph L. Young, Charles D. Her.
shey and Clyde J. Bowman at
the marimba; Donald K.
Shupe, string bass.
s1Aefions from "NH1le
Evening star., 1938-08-05
Provides Segregation.

(see WELFARE BOARD, Pare B-4.)